Making a Canadian Vignette

Grade 12 ELA

The Canadian Vignette

• Canada Vignettes are a series of short films by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), some of which aired on CBC Television and other Canadian broadcasters as interstitial programs. The vignettes became popular because of their cultural depiction of Canada, and because they represented its changing state, such as the vignette Faces which was made to represent the increasing cultural and ethnic diversity of Canada.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Vignettes

vi·gnette (pronounced vinˈyet)

noun: a brief evocative description, account, or episode. a small illustration or portrait photograph that fades into its background without a definite border.

verb: portray (someone) in the style of a vignette.

NFB Canadian Vignettes

Growing up with 3 channels in rural Canada I watched a lot of CBC. At the time I was jealous of those with “American channels”. But looking back on it, there was a lot that I gained from watching CBC.

The CRTC and the CBC were established to help to unite Canadians from coast-to- coast- to-coast. When you think about how much closer we are here in our small town to the United States than we are to, say Toronto, or Vancouver, even Calgary, we needed something that would help to unite Canadians; the Canadian Film Board attempted to help with that by introducing the “Canada Vignettes” initiative in 1977.

For Canadians of a certain age, if you mention “The Log Driver’s Waltz” or “The Hockey Sweater” they will all know exactly what you are talking about. The vignettes were short films - no longer than 5 minutes, no shorter than 1 minute - that would run in regular rotation during commercial slots on CBC television programs. The films described our cultural identity, celebrated our diversity, and gave historical significance to people and places in our country.

Examples of Animation – Fiction from fact • Log Driver’s Waltz Bill Miner

The vignette uses HYPERBOLE. A young girl who loves to dance and is ready to marry chooses a log driver over his more well-to-do, land-loving competition. The animated tale is based on the song The Log Driver's Waltz by Wade Hemsworth. Log driving was a job that required some understanding of physics, strong muscles, and extreme agility. It was outlawedin Canada in the early 1970’s for reasons of safety and because it was no longer a necessity; this video honours the tradition.

Bill Miner was a train robber in British Columbia at the turn of the century. This animated film depicts a disastrous episode in his career.Production Agency: National Film Board of Canada http://www.nfb.caProduction Year: 1978We learn a bit about one of our most famous criminals and how important the establishment of the Canadian Mounted Police was at the time. The vignette uses PARALLELISM.

The Performer

Published on Dec 3, 2013This short film from the Canada Vignettes series features tenor Roger Doucet singing the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, before a hockey game in the Montreal Forum.

Directed by Norma Bailey - 1978Category

Film & Animation

License Standard YouTube License

This vignette highlights a day in the life of one Canadian that has a job that is entirely unique to our country and has a special place in the hearts of Canadians. “The Performer” is SYMBOLLICALLY significant in understanding Canadians.

“The Sweater” Published on May 1, 2013An animated version of a short story by Roch Carrier, who narrates this tale based on his boyhood experiences in rural Quebec. Imagine a young boy's chagrin when his only Montreal Canadiens hockey sweater wears out and 'Mr. Eaton' sends him a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater by mistake!License Standard YouTube LicenseThis vignette works as an ALLEGORY for French/English relations.

Highlighting Social Diversity in Canada METAPHOR

This animated story shows that societies in evolution are often in danger of self-destruction.

Directed by Robert Bélisle & Jean-François Pouliot – 1979

The Maple Leaf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNtaiV6rPQw&list=PL152F3CAA7A1D703E

Flin Flon ALLUISION

This vignette uses ALLUSION to explain the curious origins of a community in Canada. Canadian Film Board of CanadaLicense

Standard YouTube License

Where do I get started? Tell me about your story and how it connects to “Being Canadian”.

To the right is an example of a background information document that I want you to hand in before you begin filming. Magic in the Sky gives us a TITLE, provides us with a SYNOPSIS of the story and the BACKGROUND information that connects the film to the theme. Your film will need to be between 1 and5 minutes in length. Will need to tell us about a person, place or thing that makes Canada unique and helps to explain what “Being Canadian” really means.

What next? Create a Storyboard

When you have finished the BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT you should begin STORYBOARDING your film.

To the right you have an example of a storyboard. Make your filming intentions visible. Consider SETTING, CAMERA ANGLES AND POV. In such a short film you will want to incorporate IMAGERY, METAPHOR AND SYMBOLISM to help you tell a full story in such a short piece.

In the lines below the boxes give yourself filming directions and narrative dialogue that you will add in post production.

Storyboard outlines can be found on the web.

http://www.fris.k12.nf.ca/rdalton/tech7/Video_production/storyboard_example.png

Filming • Add narration, sound

effects and music with Film the video on any device that you

feel fit. You can use any editing software that you’d like, but we have Premiere Elements and Movie Maker on the school computers that you can use. The editing “How-to-Documents” are also on the class website.

Expectations for the Video

In a video that is no less than one minute and no longer than five: •Explore the diversity of our country . •Experiment with a different form of story telling. •Use literary techniques to extend our understanding about your subject.•Using prior knowledge, extend our understanding of your subject. •Research your subject (evaluate those sources), create a set of questions that you intend to answer with your video, plan your video, organize your materials, shoot your video. •Make sure your video enhances our understanding of the importance of your subject. •Share with the class. •Evaluate your effectiveness.