PAST PROMPTS 

It’s another ‘Night at the Museum’. You have had to take over as the night security guard and need to manage all the exhibits that come to life. Who do you meet? What do you learn? This is your chance to cleverly integrate all your knowledge into an awesome short film.

You’ve been magically transported into your favourite video game and can’t get out! It’s like you’ve just stepped back into ’Jumanji’ again, with surprises and challenges at every turn. What will you do to escape? What special effects and/or sounds can you use to enhance your short film?

What a full day looks like for something - and that something can be anything! It could be a person, a pet, a wild animal, a school bag, a pencil, or even something silly like a sandwich or a pair of shoes. Use video, photos, animation, or storytelling to take us through their day from start to finish. Be imaginative, have fun, and think about what your chosen subject sees, hears, feels, and does during their day!

Your challenge is to put a modern twist on a classic fairy tale. Rewrite the story with the same characters and story concept but add modern twists to the story. Use present-day settings, language, and character types, but generally stick to the original plot and theme. You could change the point of view of who is telling the story, change the genre, or the place. Have fun, keep us guessing!

Time to make a wish! Will you wish on a star, come across a magic fountain, blow out your birthday candles , or even discover a genie in a bottle. Either way, it’s time for your wish to come true! What will you wish for? Could you add any special effects to your short film to ‘wow’ your audience.

Not all superheroes wear capes…or do they? Sometimes they’re just ordinary people who do extraordinary things. What is your superpower? What happens when you put on your cape? Could you add some special effects to your short film to really impress your audience?

Take us to some of the greatest man-made or natural wonders of the world. What sort of amazing things would we see, hear and/or experience there? How could you effectively develop this into an awesome short film? Will you use a green screen or come up with another creative way to portray where you are? Be creative with your angles and/or audio/music to enhance your project.

Record someone from an older generation - like a parent, grandparent, teacher, or family friend - telling a true story from their past. Then, using their voice as the narrator, recreate the story in a cinematic way. Be creative and thoughtful with how you bring their memory to life, using music, visuals, and editing to help tell the story. It’s all about capturing and celebrating the memories and experiences of those who came before us in a powerful, visual way.

Your story begins (or ends!) with a single, dramatic moment - a coin being tossed. But this isn’t just any coin toss… It means something big. Who’s flipping the coin, and why is it so important? Is it deciding someone’s fate, settling a challenge, or hiding a deeper mystery? Use clever filmmaking, suspenseful music, creative camera angles, and smart editing to build tension and keep your audience on the edge of their seat.

Your film doesn’t have to be about the next day - it can be about any time in the future, as long as the word or idea of “tomorrow” is used in some way. You might explore what the world could look like in 10, 50, or even 100 years or focus on future issues like climate change, technology, or space travel. Or take a more personal approach - what does “tomorrow” mean for someone chasing a dream, making a big decision, or imagining their future? Let your imagination lead the way!

We are so fortunate in New Zealand to live in such a multicultural and diverse society. What is special and/or unique about your culture? What special traditions and cherished values would you like to showcase? How could you portray your cultural values, celebrations and/or practices to your audience in an engaging short film?

With so much going on around the world at the moment, it’s important to show kindness, empathy, and manaakitanga. In what ways could we show kindness to others? What small things could we do to make a difference or have a positive influence on our peers and/or our community? What messages could you send your audience through a clever, well-thought-out, scripted film?

Create a fun and easy-to-follow cooking video that shows viewers exactly how to make something tasty - step by step! It could be a full meal, a simple snack, or even a creative twist on a classic recipe. Make sure to show the ingredients, explain the techniques, and include visuals of what everything should look like at each stage. Add your own flair, personality, and maybe even a bit of humor - you might just be the next big celebrity chef!

Create a mini documentary to showcase a local event or area of interest. This could be an event at your school or in your local community. It’s a good idea for your mini documentary to include interviews with key persons of interest who can share their knowledge and experiences. Quality audio recording and carefully selected visuals are the keys to success. What interesting events are taking place in your community?

It’s time to become a filmmaker and a magician! Use clever editing, creative camera angles, and special effects to make something magical happen on screen - like disappearing, teleporting, levitating, or switching places. The key to making it believable is smooth editing and perfect continuity, so everything looks seamless between shots. Plan carefully, think like a magician, and wow your audience with your movie magic skills!

Create a video that communicates an important environmental message to your audience. Think about what issue you care most about - whether it’s reducing waste, saving water, protecting wildlife, or fighting climate change. Your video should inspire viewers to make positive changes in their own lives, whether it’s by adopting greener habits, spreading awareness, or taking action. Show how small changes can add up to make a big difference, and encourage others to help protect the planet for future generations!

Create your very own news show, where you get to decide what’s on the agenda - whether it's breaking news, a fun interview, or an exciting event happening in your world. Use your creativity to make it look professional, and if you’re feeling adventurous, try using a green screen to transport yourself to different locations or add a Picture-in-Picture (PIP) effect to show multiple scenes at once. Have fun presenting your story and bring the news to life in your own unique style!

Share a meaningful story from your whānau (family) or the history behind a special taonga (treasure). This could be a cherished memory, a cultural tradition, or an object that has great significance. You can record a family member telling the story, use voiceovers, or even film a personal reflection. Think about how the right music or audio can help bring the story to life, adding emotion and depth. It’s all about celebrating your whānau’s unique history and sharing it in a creative, heartfelt way!

Get creative with your ideas! What does it take to make a really effective short film? Amaze us with your digital skills. What creative camera angles will you use to enhance your film? Continuity (remaining the same) between shots is key!

Take us beneath the waves and show us the magical world under the water! What amazing creatures will we meet - colorful fish, playful dolphins, or even mysterious sea creatures? Think about the background carefully - will there be coral reefs, underwater caves, or sunken treasure? Add lots of interesting details to make it come to life. Let your underwater adventure be full of surprises!

Mysterious lights have been spotted in the sky! Who could these visitors be, and what are they doing here? Are they friendly explorers from another world, or do they have a secret mission? What could they want, and how will they interact with us? Use your imagination to create a story full of mystery, adventure, and maybe even a few surprises. Will these visitors bring peace, or will their purpose be something unexpected? Let the sky be the limit!

It’s another "Night at the Museum," and now you’re the night security guard in charge! All the exhibits are coming to life, and it’s up to you to keep everything under control. Who do you meet? What amazing things do you learn from the exhibits? This is your chance to bring all your knowledge to life in an exciting and clever animation. What will happen when the museum comes to life at night?

You’ve been magically transported into your favorite video game, and now you can’t get out! It’s like you’ve just stepped into your very own version of Jumanji, with surprises and challenges around every corner. What will you do to escape? What clever tricks, special effects, or sounds can you use to make your animation even more exciting? Get creative and turn your adventure into an unforgettable escape!

It’s time to turn your own life into a cartoon! Use animation to show us a day in your world - it could be your whole day from morning to night or just a few fun, funny, or memorable moments. What do you do? Where do you go? What makes your day unique? This is your chance to bring you to life on screen in the most imaginative way possible! Check out this stop-motion animation for inspiration: https://bit.ly/2Twy5w7

What do your toys do when you're not around? Maybe you're at school or having lunch, and back at home or in your classroom, your toys come to life and have wild adventures! They might explore new places, throw a dance party, build forts, or go on a secret mission. Now you get to make your own Toy Story! Think about what your toys might do when no one is watching. You can even give them voices and bring their story to life in a fun animation. Let your imagination go crazy!

Time to make a wish! Will you wish on a star, find a magical fountain, blow out your birthday candles, or even discover a genie in a bottle? No matter how your wish happens, it's time for it to come true! What will you wish for? Get creative and think about how you can add special effects to your animation to make it even more magical and wow your audience!

Not all superheroes wear capes… or do they? Sometimes, they’re just ordinary people who do extraordinary things. What’s your superpower? What happens when you put on your cape and become the hero? Think about how you can add some cool special effects to your animation to make your superhero moment even more impressive and exciting for your audience!

Take a classic fairy tale and give it a modern twist. Keep the original characters and storyline, but set it in today’s world with modern language, settings, and character types. Maybe Cinderella uses an Uber to get to the ball, or the Big Bad Wolf is a sneaky hacker instead of a huff-and-puff villain. You can even change the point of view, the genre, or where the story takes place. Use animation to bring your updated fairy tale to life - be clever, creative, and keep us guessing!

Use animation to explore futuristic worlds, amazing inventions, or important issues like climate change, science, and technology. Or take a more imaginative approach - maybe your story is about a dream, a prediction, or even a fortune being told. However you choose to bring “tomorrow” to life, use your animation skills to create something exciting, thoughtful, or completely out of this world!

We are so fortunate in New Zealand to live in such a multicultural and diverse society. What is special and/or unique about your culture? What special traditions and cherished values would you like to showcase? How could you portray your cultural values, celebrations, and/or practices to your audience in an engaging animation?

Animate an advertisement for something amazing! It could be a product or service you've invented, a brochure for a local attraction, or even a fun tour of your school for new students. Think about what makes your product or place special—what makes people want to learn more or visit? Use your creativity to make your ad exciting and fun, and show off all the cool features in a way that grabs attention!

Take us on an exciting adventure! Who (or what) is racing, and where are they heading? It could be a high-speed dash around the world, a wild chase under the ocean, or even a race through your own kitchen! You get to choose the racers, the setting, and the challenge. Use sound effects and music to build energy, tension, and atmosphere - these details can really bring your race to life. Ready, set, action!

Bring something to life using stop-motion animation! Choose anything you’d like to create - maybe a cardboard robot, a LEGO castle, a stack of pancakes, or something completely out of the box. Try to keep your camera steady so your frames don’t wobble, and if you’re feeling confident, experiment with different camera angles to make it even more exciting. The only limit is your imagination

If you love playing games, this one's for you! Will you create a stop-motion animation based on your favorite game or maybe recreate a classic one? Or how about making your very own platform game? Bring your game to life with animation and don't forget to add cool sound effects to make it even more exciting! Let your creativity take over!

What is your favorite season of the year? Is it the sunny days of summer, the colorful leaves in autumn, the snowy fun of winter, or the fresh flowers of spring? Think about all the things you love most about your favorite season - whether it's the weather, fun activities, or special traditions. You could even make a stop-motion about all four seasons and show how everything changes as the year goes by. Get creative and make your seasons magical!

Do you have an amazing idea for an animation that you’d love to create and share with an audience? As long as you meet the criteria you can choose whatever theme / topic / style you like. Make that great idea come to life!