Stand+By+Me

[] **Activity 1: Movie title** Discussion question Due date: Wednesday 5 August

**Activity 2:** **//Stand By Me// post-viewing questions** Due date: Wednesday 5 August

**Activity 3:** **//Stand By Me// character profile** You are required to create a character profile of one character from //Stand By Me//. The first set of questions require you to identify physical, mental and emotional traits in your character. The second set of questions provide a opportunity for you to make assumptions about your character and to discuss your opinion of them. Make sure you present this on an A4 or A3 sheet and provide a picture of your character. NAME AGE (approx.) HAIR EYES BIRTHPLACE OTHER FACIAL FEATURES/OTHER APPEARANCE DETAILS DRESS (Style, colours) DESCRIPTION OF MAIN CHARACTER TRAIT BEST FRIEND/S FAMILY

How does person interact with others? (name persons and describe interaction): Sees self as: Is seen by others as: Sense of humour: Temper: Basic nature: Ambitions: Educational background: Why is or is not character likable? What do we know about their family?

Due date: Wednesday 5 August

**Activity 4: Finding the theme** A theme is a unifying concept or message that runs through a film (or book etc.) that gives both a focus for the film-maker making the film and provides the audience with a core message to take from the film. Many works of art may exist on various levels and provide both a core theme and also different sub-themes within the same work of art. This reflects both the fragmentary nature of all our individual viewpoints and provides for a deeper experience when watching a film or play. 'Stand By Me' is about friendship, the friendship between a group of boys and in particular two of them, Gordie and Chris. Yet the four boys seem a mixed hunch with very little in common when it comes to backgrounds. What do you think it is that binds the four of them together? At times they seem to hate each other, throwing insults around whilst later making it up. Try to give some reasons for them being friends.

One of the key conflicts in 'Stand By Me' is the one between the four boys and the older group led by Ace. What moments in the film do we see this conflict occurring? Why do you think the group of elder boys are bothered about the younger boys? Surely they are nothing to them? Why should they not simply ignore them? They are always trying to prove something but what are they trying to prove? Is there a difference in the way that the young boys relate to each other in their group and the way that Ace and the older boys relate to each other.

**What is the theme of //Stand By Me//?** Some of the following statements from the film may help you.

‘Kids lose everything unless there’s somebody there to take care of them’ //(Chris to Gordie)//

'I never had any friends like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?' //(the Narrator - The adult Gordon Lachance)//

'Do you think I'm weird?' //(Gordie to Chris)//

'Everyone's weird' //(Chris to Gordie - in answer to the above)//

'Chopper' (the dumpkeeper's dog) was my first lesson in the difference between myth and reality' //(the Narrator - The adult Gordon Lachance)//

Due date: Thursday 13 August

**Activity 5:** **Historical context** ‘Stand By Me’ is set in __1960 in America__. Although the film does not reflect much of the politics of the era, it suggests a period of time before American civic and cultural life changed. ‘Stand By Me’ is set before the __U.S. involvement in Vietnam__, before the __assassination of President John F. Kennedy__; before the __Watergate Scandal which caused the removal from office of President Nixon__ and before the __radical shifts caused by the counterculture movement of the 1960’s__.

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 * America in the 1950's - Style**
 * []**
 * America in the 1950's - Commercials**
 * American involvement in the Vietnam War**

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 * The Assassination of JFK**
 * []**
 * Watergate Scandal**
 * []**
 * America in the 1960's**
 * []**

So while //Stand By Me// is a somewhat nostalgic look at young people’s lives in 1960, it offers a realistic viewpoint on life, touching on issues such as w, x, y and z. What are the issues that are brought to light in //Stand By Me//?

Reflecting also that ‘Stand By Me’ was made in 1986, it may be a comment on the __Reagan era in America in the 1980’s__ which __encouraged a return to traditional family values__, such as those thought to be prevalent in the America of the 1950’s. ’Stand By Me’ above all suggests that the praised family values of the 1950s and early ‘60’s were probably a falsehood.

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 * Ronald Reagan Inauguration

 If //Stand By Me// was made in this present day, what would be the issues faced by the four boys? Will they have the same names? Will they all be white? Will the boys still encounter the same problems (Chopper, sick balls)? What you need to do is look at interpreting //Stand By Me// into the present day for audiences today.What things will be similar? What the things will be different?

Write an outline of //Stand By Me// for today's audience. An Outline is a synopsis of the plot of a film. It gives a brief account of the story and characters and is used as a guide as to whether the prospective film will be made. It is usually about 500 words long. A production company can option a treatment or screenplay from this source. Your outline only needs to be one typed page of 300 words. Your outline must include a new title. Seeing the original was named //The Body// and renamed after a song, perhaps you could do the same.



Due date: Monday 24 August

**Activity 6: Finding the theme** You are required to create a character profile of one character from //Stand By Me//. The first set of questions require you to identify physical, mental and emotional traits in your character. The second