Genre Feature Film

Synopsis

When young Onnoval is bullied by the mean and jealous Gino, he decides he won’t take it anymore. But instead of confronting Gino, he decides to fight back by writing a horror story in which Gino is the prime suspect. When Onnoval gives the story to the evil Feluci… he must really start to think fast to save the day – and his classmates!

Key Themes

Bullying
Creativity
Imagination

Main Characters

Onnoval – 11-year-old Onnoval does not fit in easily with most of his classmates. He hopes to be a writer when he grows up.

Liselore – the girl Onnoval likes.

Gino – another boy who likes Liselore and trys to make things difficult for Onnoval.

Mr. Friend – the school teacher.

Nol van Paul – a famous writer of horror stories who is invited to read in Onnoval’s classroom by Mr. Friend.

Ferluci – the devilish spectre who can turn horror stories into reality.

Before the Film

• Before beginning the film, ask yourself what type of film you are watching: this is called the genre. Genre means style of film. For example, is the film a feature film (a long film which tells one main story), a short film (usually from a few minutes to half an hour), a documentary or an animation?

• Ask yourself what the title of the film might mean: speculate as to why the filmmakers would have chosen the specific title. After watching the film, try to make sense of the title in context to the film. Compare your understandings about the meaning of the title before and after watching the film.

• Films use lighting, sound, different angles, movement, sequence and timing to convey meaning. Remember to keep these aspects in mind when watching a film.

Things to Think and Talk About Post-Screening

• What do you think t There were many special effects in The Horror Bus: devilish spectres, fog, people changing into crows and crows into people. What affect did this have on the film? Did it enhance the feeling of an “other-dimension” which Onnoval talks about? Or did you find it made the film sometimes unrealistic

• What did you think about the costuming in The Horror Bus? Everyone from the teacher, Mr. Friend, to Onnoval’s artist parents, to the famous writer Nol van Paulo to the bizarre creatures of The Horror Park had very definite and often extreme cultures.

• The lighting in the Horror bus also played an important role. Onnoval is often shrouded in darkness, feeling lonely, or red, feeling angry. When he is at the horror bus, the atmosphere is tinged with different shades of yellow. Name other instances where you think lighting played an important role in setting the mood in The Horror Bus. Do you think it was effect?

• What did you think of Onnoval’s relationship with his parents? Why do you think his mother never believed him and his stories? Have you ever said something or told a story that was true that no one believed? How did this make you feel?

Questions and Discussion Topics

• What were the main themes of the film? Use examples from the film to demonstrate at least three major themes. Did you find any of these themes particularly important to you personally? Why or why not.

• What do you think the most important scene of the film was? What made it so powerful? Describe why you think it was important as well as what techniques were used to create and emphasize its importance: narrative, action, music, sound, lighting, camera work, framing and editing should be considered.

• If you had to eliminate one scene from the film, which would it be? Why would you choose that scene? What do you think would be lost from or change in the film by eliminating that theme?

• What scene was your particular favourite? Briefly describe what you thought the funniest, scariest and saddest scenes in the film were, and what made them this way.

• If you were to recommend The Horror Bus to a friend, why would you recommend it and what would you tell them?

Exercises and Activities

• Write a review of the film, 300-400 words long.

• Create a storyboard to the next scene after the film ended. What happened to the characters? Pick at least three characters and describe what happens to them afterward.

• Write a letter from the point of view of one character to that of another.

• Think of another film (or book) with similar themes and compare how the two films examined the issue and dealt with the issue. Were they similar or did they treat the issue very differently? Which film did you think better represented the theme/issue?

• Write about the film as if it were an event in a newspaper, a fairy tale or myth, or a personal diary of events that had happened to you!

• Draw a map of what you think the location might have looked like.

• Make a character sketch explaining how their appearance represents their character.

• Create a scene broken down into a sequence of six (6) pictures.