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Mining Poems and Odes

Callum Rice, 2016

This documentary challenges our expectations of people, telling the story of an ex-welder who worked on the River Clyde in Glasgow in the shipyards. Made redundant when the shipyards closed, he has turned to poetry as he searches for meaning through words instead of tools.

Clip Details

Genre: Documentary

Country of Origin: UK

Clip Length: 10:48

Age Group: S4-S6

Classroom Activities

  • Listen up to 01:07 mins without the picture on. What are these words telling us? Can you describe what sort of images you think might be on the screen?
  • Watch up to 03:13 mins. Why do you think the first thing we see is a close-up of the man whose voice we heard at the start?
  • What is he telling us about what happened as a 17-year-old apprentice welder? What techniques are used to reinforce the story he is telling?
  • Watch up to 04:47 mins. “The ability to do damage, and the willingness not” – what is Robert telling us about Archie? How do you think he feels about Archie?
  • What does Robert mean when he says, “He taught me the industry of life.”?
  • Pause on 05:18 mins. What sort of camera angle is this? Why has it been chosen at this point? What do you notice about the mise-en-scene?
  • Watch up to 06:22 mins. How can we tell that we are now hearing his poetry?
  • What type of imagery is used as insert shots between shots of Robert writing? What sort of effect and atmosphere is created by these images?
  • Watch up to 08:30 mins. What does Robert tell us about how welding prepared him for becoming a writer?
  • As Robert’s voiceover tells us about his writing process at the end, what shots have been chosen to emphasise the ideas he is trying to convey to the audience?
  • Interview an adult to make your own short documentary about their chosen occupation. Film a mixture of “talking head” style – where they talk to the camera on their own, using a prepared script – and voiceover recordings to be edited with your filmed footage of the place the person works, where they live etc.
  • Using your own poem or someone else’s, record a reading of the poem and use this as the voiceover for footage you have created to build up the setting, imagery, characters and so on that you want to emphasise.
  • Design a poster for the film. Remember to include the name of the film, the director, the writer (Robert Fullerton) and a striking image which would convince people to watch the film.

Clip Details

Genre: Documentary

Country of Origin: UK

Clip Length: 10:48

Education Level: Senior Phase