“I know you have no way of knowing this, but this is the first thing that Mark has done in a long time that he has felt proud of.  He is getting a lot of recognition from classmates for his effort, which I know is particularly gratifying.  That is the kind of multi-layered affect this project has – it’s not just about making the movie – it’s about students being proud of themselves and each other because not only do I have high expectations for them, but they have high expectations for themselves.”       Teacher 

 

PARENTS

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is the footage graphic?

For secondary schools, the footage is rated PG-14 - the same as you would find in a prime-time documentary on PBS. That said, we did not try to sanitize the stories to the point that it no longer reflected reality in the target region/culture. In the Sudan footage, there are shots of butchers at work in the refugee camps, relatively primitive medical techniques practiced by refugees, and a 7-year-old boy's circumcision.

 

Where is the footage shot and how do you choose your locations?

If you are interested in learning more about the footage from each region, please see the FILM LOCALES section of this website.

 

Will this project interfere with my student's regular curricular work?

We do not make any attempt to dictate to schools how they will use this footage. In our experience, teachers find an appropriate application for this project within their school - either as a core part of a course curriculum, a student elective, or sometimes even as an independent project. All Take 2 units are written to state and national academic content standards, which is one reason schools are so enthusiastic about these projects. Please feel free to discuss Take 2 with your school staff.  And now that colleges are beginning to look at accepting short videos as part of the college application process, participating in Take 2 units in high school allows your student to develop a product that might well help them get into the college or university of their choice!

 

Can my student work on the footage without the oversight of a school?

We have had the most success when the footage is part of a classroom or elective curriculum. Students today are so overwhelmed with other activities that they have difficulties making time for a project that is not a scheduled part of their day and does not have regular adult oversight. That said, we have had extraordinary success with mature, creative students working on their own. Andrew Kamen, a 17-year-old from Florida, created such a superb documentary that we sent it on the the UN Foundation and Curriki. He was also featured in a film festival and we asked him to show his film and speak at a media conference in New England.

If you have any further questions, please contact info@take2videos.org

 

How do I get my child involved?

The simplest and most effective way is to see if your child's school might be willing to incorporate the project into one of their classes. Take 2 projects have been used in social studies curriculums, media classes, economics, government, international relations, and even math and science classes. The video has been incorporated into clubs and after-school activities, and on occasion students with media skills have elected to work on their own and produced stunning documentaries and shorts. If your school is not willing or able to use our modules, you can always purchase a one-year license specifically for your student and have them work on their own.

 

Parents - get involved, stay involved !