CROSS CULTURAL: giving feedback on scripts in another language. email conversation

From: Mark Eaton

Date: January 28, 2008 9:48:08 AM PST

To: lady beth

Cc: kimberly@worldcreasmans.com, chuck@mastersimage.com, ethnodrama@acquirewisdom.com

Subject: Re: Giving feedback on scripts in another language.

Hey, Everybody,

Thanks for the input:  My plan at this point is to lay out some rock-bottom basics in English (with a translator) about plot, character vs. caricature, milieu & culture, theme, subtext, etc.  I'm also looking at the exercises in Jeffrey Sweet's "Solving Your Script" as really good for just-beginning writers.  As they will be writing in Arabic, my plan is to work with a lot of simple handouts with charts and get someone over here to translate them into Arabic.

As they will be writing in Arabic, my idea at this point is to have them write very short scenes at first (less than one page), with a rough "on the fly" translation--not ideal, and we won't get to everybody, but doable for the initial exercises.  (I'll settle for a synopsis as they do longer works.)

Then have them read them to each other without translation, for their classmates to get the flow of the language, and possibly even have them do some impromptu staging, if they feel that brave--practice the "page to stage" aspect as well.

Then follow Kimberly's idea of teaching them to critique each other, and me asking what they responded to.

I know it's going to be cumbersome and we may not get very far, but hopefully enough seeds will be planted to inspire their next steps.

Blessings,

Mark

lady beth wrote:

in what language is it written?

On Jan 28, 2008 5:50 AM, K!Mberly Creasman <kimberly@worldcreasmans.com> wrote:

Mark:

Julisa asked

Anyone have any ideas for Mark as to how he can give feedback on scripts that are written in another language?

My answer:

NOPE.

it just can't be done! and on the spot translation of each script is tedious!

But there are some things that you can do to teach and move them fwd in their understanding. 

It's not as satisfying 'cause you don't get to really know and see the improvement from your input!

It also means that you won't get to really know if they are "getting it" cause you don't know what they are saying/reading!

Here's how it can work if you are asking the participants to come with pieces they've already worked on (the other way would be to have them work on a short piece at the conference as you teach also not ideal...),

the best way I can think of is to teach only a few concepts - elements, one at a time, and with each item you're teaching have them spend loads of time in groups to evaluate one another's work. 

Ah hah! You have to teach them how to give critique too!

Then you become a facilitator for them to teach one another. 

Once they've read selections of their pieces and given comments in their group, then you can ask if anything they heard is remarkable, then allow time for the whole group to hear the example.

Does this help?

praying for you!

K!M

On Jan 27, 2008, at 9:21 AM, Julisa Rowe wrote:

Anyone have any ideas for Mark as to how he can give feedback on scripts that are written in another language?

Mark Allen Eaton

971.409.4223

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