Story Builder Resource Unleashes Students' Creativity in Unscripted TV

Recently, we partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery to create Story Builder: Unscripted TV - a dynamic resource designed for Key Stage 3 (or equivalent) students and their educators. The resource explores narrative development through the lens of unscripted television whilst also highlighting screen industry careers.

Earlier this week, 35 year 8 students from Paignton Academy in Torbay, Devon, took part in a special Story Builder: Unscripted TV workshop as an end-of-year reward for a school reading initiative.

"Our students have been working on developing their reading and literacy", explained Laura Hay, Careers Lead at Paignton Academy. "We want to encourage them to see how this skill can open doors to a wide range of careers, including those in the screen industries. We also want them to have aspirations, to ‘fly the nest' so to speak, to discover the wider world of careers. This Into Film workshop is a great support towards this, particularly in highlighting careers they may not have originally thought were open to them."

This activity is part of a wider scheme of work being delivered in Torbay, which is an area of focus for Into Film at the moment.

During the workshop, the students used both their literacy skills and their creativity. Familiarising themselves initially with what unscripted TV is - and acknowledging that sometimes even this television format needs a script. The group went on to work through the dedicated Story Builder: Unscripted TV activity packs, taking on different job roles to devise their own pilot episode.

The activities required them to consider and discuss several factors, including:

• The type of unscripted show they wanted to create (i.e. reality, lifestyle, documentary, challenge, game, or chat show)
• Their target audience
• Appropriate scheduling for the pilot episode
• Presenter, guests and experts to feature
• Whether to opt for studio or location filming
• What camera shots to include, and why
• The sound design for their show (including the use of dialogue, music, ambient noise, and sound effects)
• And the ethics of their idea - considering notions of truth, accuracy and transparency, consent, respect and privacy, cultural sensitivity, and social responsibility.

Each activity mirrored essential day-to-day tasks in the world of unscripted TV production, demonstrating to students the importance of literacy, communication, and decision-making skills, while also raising awareness of job roles they may not have previously known about.

"At Warner Bros. Discovery, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire and empower the next generation", explained Tania Young, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, International. "Our partnership with Into Film has brought this vision to life through the Story Builder: Unscripted TV resource which has been used in classrooms across the country. Into Film's expertise in creating engaging, curriculum-aligned materials ensures students can explore their creativity while gaining valuable insight into the multitude of careers available in the creative industries. We're excited to continue co-creating impactful resources together which tap into other areas of the WBD brands to excite and engage the next generation of creative professionals."

Laura Hay, Careers Lead at Paignton Academy, spoke further about the impact of the workshop on her young learners. "This Into Film workshop and the wider programme helps the students to identify different careers in the world of TV and provides specialist insight into the screen industries, which is crucial to developing our students' understanding and aspirations. It also supports students to practice the skillset they need to go into the sector."

"I asked one student, upon leaving the session, ‘Did you enjoy the workshop?' and his response was ‘Yes, it was awesome'. Clearly the workshop had an impact - this feedback came from a student who wouldn't usually participate, put their hand up, or confidentially express their opinion - and he left the workshop feeling both excited and motivated!"

More about Story Builder: Unscripted TV

Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery the Story Builder: Unscripted TV resource is available to download now. It includes links to Industry Encounter videos featuring three Warner Bros. Discovery employees and freelancers discussing their job roles: Programme Planner, Production Coordinator, and Camera Operator. There are accompanying educator notes to support classroom activity.

This free resource is adaptable to any curricular subject or topic and supports the Gatsby Benchmarks for Good Career Guidance (Benchmarks 2, 4 and 5). Students are guided through the different stages of developing an unscripted TV episode, take on relevant job roles and use and develop related skills including decision making, creative and critical thinking, and organisational skills.

The resource enables curricular topics to be transformed and reimagined as unscripted TV programmes: a chemistry lesson looking at reactions could be used to devise a competitive cooking show, Animal Farm could be analysed through a chat show format featuring George Orwell, or a maths topic could be turned into an exciting game show! Learners channel their creativity, apply knowledge, and solidify their understanding by designing their own TV pilot episodes.

Additional Story Builder: Unscripted TV tasks allow students to storyboard their pilot episodes and pitch them to teachers or peers. Extension activities include the opportunity to film their pilot episodes, providing exploration of further job roles within TV production.

If you're new to Into Film, all you need to access our free resources and other opportunities is an Into Film Account. Don't worry, it's completely free and only takes a moment to set up.

• Set up a free Into Film Account

More about Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world's most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, HBO, Animal Planet, Warner Bros. Film Group, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network and others.