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Lucky Dip, The

Emily Skinner, 2001

A young girl visiting the seaside slips into a gloomy arcade, unnoticed by her relatives. She sees a sweet toy rabbit in a machine, pleading for rescue. She attempts to free it, even though a scary-looking employee stands in the way. But is everything – and everyone – as it seems?

 

Clip Details

Genre: Adventure

Country of Origin: UK

Clip Length: 3:50

Age Group: P5-P7

Classroom Activities

  • Screen the film and pause it after 01:27. Ask the children to predict what might happen next.
  • View the film focusing on the music. Discuss how it makes you feel at different times. When and why does it change?
  • Note times/scenes/moments when the camera focuses on the little girl. Note the kinds of camera shots/angles used. How does the camerawork suggest what she is thinking and feeling?
  • Note moments when we see things from the girl’s point of view. Review these sequences to show the series of shots that demonstrate her point of view (look for moments where she looks, we cut to a POV shot or eyeline match, then cut back to her reaction). Discuss how these sequences create an understanding of the little girl.
  • Look for examples of close-ups and long shots. Discuss why these shots are used at certain points in the story. Why do we sometimes see a close-up of someone or something?
  • Before viewing the film, hand out still images of the characters. What might each character be like based on their appearance alone? What might happen to them? What might they do?
  • Assign a group one of the three main characters: the girl, the rabbit and Pin Man. Watch the film then discuss how their character changes over the course of the film: what were they like at the start and what are they like at the end? Think about how others in the story react to the characters as well as what the character does.
  • Ask children to write a short character profile of each of the significant characters: the little girl, the Pin Man, and the rabbit.
  • Watch the film, looking for key moments when things are scary or characters feel safe. Describe these scenes or the actions going on (e.g. why does lightning flash when the girl sees the Pin Man?). Discuss how action and setting create mood in stories.
  • Discuss notions of ‘goodie’ and ‘baddie’. List examples of each from other films, books and stories.
  • What parts of the film did you find exciting or scary? Give reasons for opinions.
  • Discuss what the moral of the story is (if you think it has one)? You may want to discuss ideas of perception and ‘never judge a book by its cover’.
  • Continue the story: where did the rabbit go when he ran away? Create a class story or a book that develops into a series that tells the rabbit’s next adventures.
  • Write a prequel, explaining how the rabbit ended up in the lucky dip machine.

Clip Details

Genre: Adventure

Country of Origin: UK

Clip Length: 3:50

Education Level: Second Level