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Mike Q. HanlonDrama Teacher at Étude Middle & High Schools
mhanlon@etudegroup.org
Mike Q. Hanlon has been teaching theater and film classes at the Étude schools since 2007. He specializes in helping students tell stories, both real and fictional, using a variety of strategies and formats. Sharing stories is one of the most crucial methods to build empathy and understanding for others. It's also a way to make sure your own voice is being heard in a clear, concise and relatable way. Live performance builds self-confidence and eases fear of public speaking. Media production is ubiquitous in our digital world, and students have an edge over peers when they have a foundational understanding of recording and editing technology.
Outside of school, Hanlon plays boardgames, has traveled the country as an avid geocacher, and has created interactive murder mysteries for Mead Public Library, Bookworm Gardens, and several private events. He has a BA in Theater Education from UW-Milwaukee, a Master's in Educational Administration from Concordia, and he has studied film at The New York Film Academy and writing at The Second City in Chicago.
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ÉTUDE MIDDLE SCHOOL
SEMESTER ONE
In this Project Seminar, students will learn how to tell stories with video. Tasks include creating storyboards during pre-production, practicing cinematography in production, and editing with professional software in post-production.
Evidence of Learning: Cinematography Portfolio, Storyboards, Final Video
SEMESTER TWO
Scriptwriting:
All students, regardless of writing experience, will begin writing a script in the first week of Scriptwriting, and finish it by the end of the course. Along the way, we will explore narrative structure, character development, and writer’s intent. Although you will be writing individually, you will also workshop in small groups on a weekly basis in order to help your peers improve their work as well.
Evidence of Learning: Final Script, Description of Narrative Structure
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OFFICE HOURS
During regular office hours, I am available via email or Hangout. If requested in advance, I will also meet over video.
Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri:
9:50 - 11:00
12:50 - 2:35
ÉTUDE HIGH SCHOOL
SEMESTER ONE
During Cinematic Language, students must consider film as a visual medium in order to answer the question, "How do we use cinema as a visual language?" Tasks include creating storyboards during pre-production, practicing cinematography in production, and editing with professional software in post-production. Throughout all of this, students must use images, rather than words, to communicate their story.
Evidence of Learning: Cinematography Portfolio, Storyboards, Final Video
SEMESTER TWO
Drama Production:
Many people have a specific, and limited, idea of what a “play” looks like on stage. There is a multitude of dramatic styles from around the world and across time. Students will begin in Drama Production by exploring these different styles and determine together which is most interesting for them to dive deeper into. Whether they settle on “commedia dell’arte” from Italy, “epic theater” from Germany, or the classic “Greek tragedy,” the class will study narrative structure, acting styles, and dramatic intent in order to produce a live, public performance.
Evidence of Learning: Exploring Dramatic Styles Presentation, Production Script, Performance
COURSES NOT OFFERED DURING THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR (20-21)
The majority of theatre productions begin with a script. Before that script can become a live experience though, directors, actors, and designers have to interpret the ideas in the script through the lenses of their own roles. In this course, students will examine scripts from the perspectives of various acting and production roles, then create a plan that could be used for production.
Evidence of Learning: Blocking Maps, Beat Breakdown, Performance
Theater Games is an improvisational theater class. Students will learn the basic principles of improvisation and how to apply them to a variety of warm-ups, exercises, and short scenes. This course is great for veteran performers to further hone their skills, and for timid students to get comfortable in front of an audience. Students will work in small teams to face off in dramatic competitions.
Evidence of Learning: Live performance, rehearsal videos
Special Topics: Horror in Film:
The most effective horror films do more than startle us with loud noises and surprising or shocking images. To really get under our skin, a film needs to remind audiences of the things that they are most afraid of. Students in Special Topics: Horror in Film study our current culture to identify what political, environmental, technological or sociological concerns are affecting us most. In a tradition dating back to the cautionary fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, the class will work as a production team to create a film with a metaphorical story about those concerns.
Evidence of Learning: Storyboards, Final Video, Horror Essay
All students, regardless of writing experience, will begin writing a script in the first week of Scriptwriting, and finish it by the end of the course. Along the way, we will explore narrative structure, character development, and writer’s intent. Although you will be writing individually, you will also workshop in small groups on a weekly basis in order to help your peers improve their work as well.
Evidence of Learning: Final Script, Description of Narrative Structure
In this course, students will collaborate to determine curriculum, including the topic, goals, and the final project to demonstrate their learning. Students will collaborate with members of the Sheboygan community to make professional connections. By the end of this class students will understand independent and collaborative decision-making that connect with their future goals.
Evidence of Learning: Curriculum Unit Plan, Collaborative Product TBD
In this course, students will consider discuss what a game is by analyzing the elements that make up all games. Once those elements are identified, students will also make decisions about how to balance those elements for an enjoyable game experience. Students will work collaboratively to design a game from scratch. Student games will be playable, and also have design elements to attract and engage potential consumers.
Evidence of Learning: Final Game, Game Review, Game Drafts
Non-Fiction Film & Podcasting:
Evidence of Learning: Interviews, Final Video or Recording