Final Disney Project
In class, we have discussed the way that Disney movies are created, designed, and
fashioned, thus making them important icons in our society. Their use of music is
imbedded in our culture, as are the images that they create, the lessons they teach, and the
way we view society and life.
We, Ms. Silverman and Ms. Fritts, are officially appointing ourselves as CEO and CFO
of Stern MASS Music and Movie Corp. Your assignment in groups of five or less is to
turn a non-Disney movie into a Disney-styled film complete with musical numbers. You
will need to pitch your group’s movie as a bonus in the “company.”
Your project pitches need to include the following
1) What is the storyline of the movie? (part 1)
2) Make sure your characters have growth and we can see their change through the film
(part 2)
3) Every Disney film has crazy characters! That’s part of the joy (part 2)
- Who are your primary characters/heroes? (2-3 characters)
- Secondary Characters (2-6 characters): some of them need to be animals unless the
whole film is only animal characters. (Think Flounder in Little Mermaid, the mice in
Cinderella, Iago in Aladdin, etc.)
- Villains! Make sure the sidekicks are in there, too!
4) 2 places where the movie reverts back to the silly-symphony styled scenes (part 3)
5) 5 musical numbers whose songs are dependent on whether your film is a “Love Story”
or an “Adventure Film” (part 1)
-When doing this portion, make sure you choose places where there is a large amount of
character growth and development
-Remember, songs are not always strictly “love songs” or “I wish” songs; many crossover and fill numerous roles. “Be Our Guest” and “Hakuna Matata” are prime examples
6) An explicit style of music mentioned and used. What about your movie? Examples
include: Snow White had the operatic style, Princess and the Frog had the New Orleans
styled jazz, Little Mermaid had Calypso from Sebastian the crab. (Part 1 and 2)
7) One song needs to be written out with lyrics and a melody and harmony line (part 4)
During this time period, we’ll also be working on guitar, drums, keyboard, and bass.
We’ll also be working on strumming patterns and a few more chords. Write one of these
songs out for one of your characters in the given style that you’ve chosen. Yes, the whole
group needs to perform in some capacity! There is an intro, 2-verse, chorus, and coda
requirement. You may write more.
8) How is your film going to be advertised? (part 5)
Be innovative on this process! Examples: Snow White used Silly Symphonies, Cinderella
used radio and TV add space, The Little Mermaid used a “making of” film, Frozen used
airplay of “Let It Go” on the radio, Lion King used the theme parks, etc.
9) Be Creative and use your own personal skills (part 6)
Include character sketches, casting choices, setting, backgrounds, era this film takes place,
or even lyrics to your songs. Thinking outside the box is the key to this project!
10) Presentation (part 6)
Your group has ~20 minutes to pitch your project to the CEO of Stern MASS Music and
Movies.
You may present your project in a variety of different ways including but not limited to:
-Powerpoint
-Poster
-Flip/chart
-Song and dance routine
Your presentation includes:
a) WHY you chose this movie to convert into a Disney film
b) The characters
c) The song titles and scenes where the music occurs. Please mention where you’re
reverting to the silly-symphony scenes
d) Your song
e) Why should I choose your film above the others?
You don’t need to mention everything in the packet during the presentation. I will read
and go through your group project packets as well. Make this into a convincing
presentation and be sales-people!
Have fun!
I look forward to seeing your projects when they’re completed 
Members Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Movie Title: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Standard
1. Student(s)
presentation
contains an
appropriate and
cohesive story line
that has a conflict
with a beginning,
middle, and end
with songs and their
locations within the
story.
(CC.W.3b;
CC.W.3e)
4
3
2
1
0
Students present
an appropriate
story line,
providing a full
story arch. The
story translates in
a Disney-styled
format with
proper themes.
Students present
an appropriate
story line which
provides most of a
story arch that
translates to a
Disney-Styled
format with
proper themes
Students
formulate a
story idea, and
have only
partially
determined the
arch of the
story or the
story is
inappropriate
for this project,
though thought
out.
Students
Students do
present an
not present
inappropriate any story
story line
which has
errors in
translation to
a Disneystyled format
2. Project contains
a cast of characters
uniquely developed
to show growth
(VPA Music 4.2,
CC.W.3a)
- The main
characters within
the story show
growth through
the story.
- The secondary
characters find a
way to assist the
main characters in
order for them to
achieve their goal.
- New and unique
characters are
added who may
have not been in
the original script.
- The main
characters within
the story show
some growth.
- There are a few
secondary
characters
presented but
they do not add
much to the story.
- There may be
one or two new
characters added.
- The main
characters in
the story show
little growth
- there are a
few secondary
characters but
they add
nothing to the
story line
-There may be
one or two new
characters but
they add
nothing to the
story
The story has
only a few
characters,
and they go
without any
depth or
development.
Students
present no
information
on their
characters
or their
growth
3. Students discuss
which 2-movie
sequences will be
converted into a
silly-symphony
styled scene,
complete with what
parts will have
Mickey-Mouse-ing.
(VPA Music 4.1, 4.3,
5.2)
At least 2 sillysymphony
sequences are
presented, with
full detail
including MickeyMousing, which
characters are
involved, and the
music that will
work with the
sequence
Two sillysymphony
sequences are
presented. There
is some detail
included.
Students explain
a few places
where MickeyMousing is
present.
Two or less
silly symphony
sequences are
present; there
is little detail
included and
the idea is
vague
Less than two
sillysymphony
sequences
are presented
with no
detail.
Students do
not present
any sillysymphony
styled
sequences
Student(s) project
contains
information on 5-7
musical numbers
and their style,
which coincides
Students’ Disney
Project contains
each song
required in a
Disney film and
the location as to
Students’ Disney
Project contains
each song
required in a
Disney film, but
do not specify the
Students’
Disney Project
is missing some
songs in the
Disney song
structure.
Students’
Disney
Project
contains less
than half the
songs
Students do
not present
musical
numbers.
4. Student(s)
presentation
contains one 2minute unique song
fully written out
with chords, rhythm
patterns, lyrics, and
involves all group
members in the
performance.
The song must
contain at least 2
verses, a chorus, and
a coda.
(VPA Music 2.3, 2.5,
2.6, 3.4)
Students present a
song that is fully
rehearsed,
organized and
thoughtfully
prepared. It
includes correct
rhythm and chord
writing, a
performance
including all
students, and all
parts of the song
are present.
Students present
a song that is
organized. There
is evidence that
students
rehearsed, though
the performance
is not cohesive. It
includes written
rhythm and chord
diagrams, but a
part of it may be
inaccurate or
something may
be partially
missing.
Students
present a song
that 2 minutes
in length but is
not rehearsed
well. The lyrics
do not dictate
what the point
of the song is
within the
overarching
song arc. The
song is
performed less
than half of the
group
members.
Many of the
song elements
are missing.
Students
present a
song that is
not prepared,
less than 2
minutes, and
is missing
most of the
content. The
song is only
performed by
one member
of the group.
Students do
not present
a song as a
part of
their
project.
5. Presentation
contains elements
as to how the film
will be advertised
(VPA Music 5.1)
Students present
several (3+)
unique and
innovative ideas
on how to
advertise and
make their project
successful.
Students present
several ideas on
advertising their
project, but they
have been used
previously and
are not unique.
Students
present two
advertising
ideas to
advertise and
make their
movie
successful, but
it is vague.
Students
present only
one
advertising
idea and it is
undeveloped.
Students
don’t
present any
advertising
ideas.
6. Students
creatively present
their project to the
class, involving ALL
group members.
All students
participate in
presenting the
project to the class
in an innovative/
creative way
2/3 of the group
presents and/or
an unequal share
of work is done
by the group
members
Half the group
presents and
an unequal
share of work
is done by
group
members
Only one
person
presents in
the group.
The group
does not
present
their
information