How The Mirror Circus works

Many of our children seem to be dominated by the notion that street credibility is the greatest goal they can achieve.
From the newest mobile phone to the latest super Nintendo computer game, our youth strive to “fit in”.

Rather than argue or challenge the value of their notion of street credibility, The Mirror Circus “fits in” perfectly with the concept of “cool” and provides the students with a tailor made project where they can enjoy both street credibility and education in symbiosis.
By working in groups the students learn how to negotiate ideas, and how to translate these ideas into pictures and sound.
By thinking about how to communicate visually, the students subconsciously assimilate an understanding of the subject. The thinking process becomes 'fun' as the learning associated with that process is unwittingly absorbed in a form of 'edutainment', where entertainment becomes education, and education becomes entertainment.

Because the students productions are filmed and edited to a professional standard, the students realize they have achieved something unique, aiding them to reinvent their status within the world of learning and education.
The full benefits of The Mirror Circus course are attained over a period of time through the various stages of film production:


Brainstorming
Scripting
Storyboarding
Budgeting
Producing
Filming
Editing
The final screening and evaluation

CONFIDENCE BUILDING - “Spirit and Determination”


The completion of the course and the production of the film is a major achievement for the students, a kind of success, which is seldom achieved in other activities.
The Mirror Circus stresses the importance of encouraging the students to realise that the same success and rewards achieved within the film course are achievable in all classroom activities and that “sprit and determination” are the major factors, which separate success from failure.

This is highlighted in one of the schools adaptations of the proverb of “The Eight Winds” where 15 year old student Jemaine plays a character who moves from the wind of Prosperity to Decline, Disgrace, Honour, Suffering, Pleasure, Praise and Censor. Jemaine, who was initially sceptical, troublesome and lethargic, was purposely given the lead role because of his negativity.
By the third week his behaviour and commitment to the production had improved tenfold and he continued to grow in character over the twelve weeks. Jemaine eventually won The Mirror Circus Academy Award for his performance and his behaviour within the classroom improved significantly.