Jackie Chan and James Bond movies
This lesson plan is adapted from the Studies of Asia Curriculum Support Document. It derives from curriculum suggestions in that document

Learning areas
English
In relation to English - a Curriculum Profile for Australian Schools, this lesson can contribute to all strands.

Level
Years 9-10

Outline
Students investigate similarities and differences between popular films made in Asia and those made in the West. They compare the conventions used in the series of Jackie Chan movies with those used in James Bond movies.

Studies of Asia emphases
Major emphasis: Understanding contributions made by the peoples of Asia to the world.
Other emphases: Developing concepts of Asia, Challenging stereotypes.

Curriculum context
This lesson would complement other studies of types of film texts and their conventions.

Duration
At least several class sessions, plus time necessary to view films.

Materials required

• A Jackie Chan movie, such as First Strike.
• A James Bond movie, such as Goldeneye.
• Reviews and information about Jackie Chan and his movies, available from Internet sites such as:
  
  http://www.jackie-chan.com/
  http://www.afn.org/~ejw/jackie.html
• Similar information about James Bond movies, available through sites such as:
  
  http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Bungalow/8436/movies.html
  http://www.00heaven.org/

Procedure

Establishing the formula

1. Ask students to use what they already know about Jackie Chan movies to suggest things that they would expect to find in one of his films. Use a whiteboard to list suggestions.
2. Discuss reasons for the likely appearance of these formulaic features.
3. Ask students to use the list of features to write a formula which could be followed by a filmmaker making a Jackie Chan movie. This work could use phrases like 'Take a large helping of... add dashes of... take care not to...'
4. Repeat the above activities for what students already know about James Bond movies.
5. Arrange for students to work in small groups to discuss similarities and differences between the formulae for Jackie Chan and James Bond movies and possible reasons for the differences. Ask for reports to the whole class.

Viewing the texts

1. View a Jackie Chan movie with students, asking them to take notes during the viewing about: plot sequence, characterisation, and anything that surprises them about the movie.
2. Ask students to expand their notes about plot sequence to make a diagram of the storyline of the film.
3. Discuss with students any surprising parts of the movie. Replay these sections and ask students to consider whether they think the deviations from the formula enhance or detract from the film, and give reasons for their opinions.
4. Repeat the above activities with a James Bond movie.

Writing a script

1. Ask students to work in small groups to write a script or storyboard for a film which incorporates both the Jackie Chan and James Bond characters. Groups should first establish a general premise for their work, such as: Jackie Chan joins James Bond in a hunt for gold stolen by spies. Internet sites could be used to provide plot ideas. Emphasise that the task is to use elements of the formulae used in Jackie Chan and James Bond movies.
2. Ask students to discuss, verbally or in writing, elements of the formulae which combine well and those which do not.

The construction of gender

1. Discuss with students various examples of the characterisation of females in Jackie Chan movies. Ask students to write an account of the way females are predominantly represented.
2. Discuss with students possible differences in a Jackie Chan movie if 'Jackie' was an abbreviation of 'Jaqueline'. Ask students to write an outline of a movie with 'Jaqueline' as the main character.

Adapted from the Studies of Asia Curriculum Support Document.