ACTF

Make a Little Lunch short film

Have you ever noticed how a small problem at school can suddenly feel like the biggest problem in the world? In Little Lunch, everyday events become funny, exciting and memorable stories. Now it's your turn to create your own Little Lunch-style short film!

What You'll Need

  • A small group of classmates
  • A device for filming
  • Planning paper or a notebook
  • Lots of creativity!

Step 1: Find your story

Think about something that could happen during recess or lunch.

It might be:

  • A lost hat
  • A disagreement during a game
  • Someone skipping the queue
  • A missing lunchbox
  • A surprising rumour
  • A friendship problem

Remember, the best Little Lunch stories often start with a small problem that feels very important to the characters.

Step 2: Create your characters

Decide who will be in your film.

Think about:

  • What are their personalities?
  • How do they react to problems?
  • What makes them unique?
  • Are they funny, serious, shy or confident?

Give each character a name and a role in the story.

Step 3: Plan your story

Every story needs a beginning, middle and end.

Beginning

  • Introduce the characters.
  • Explain the problem.

Middle

  • Show what happens as the problem grows.
  • Include different opinions and points of view.

End

  • Solve the problem or reveal what really happened.

Step 4: Add character interviews

One of the special features of Little Lunch is that characters often talk directly to the camera.

Take turns pretending to be interviewed.

You could answer questions like:

  • What happened?
  • How do you feel about it?
  • Who do you think is responsible?
  • What do you think should happen next?

Stay in character and have fun with your answers.

Step 5: Film your scenes

Work together to film your story.

Try to:

  • Speak clearly
  • Keep your camera steady
  • Show different angles
  • Include your character interviews
  • Use facial expressions and body language to help tell the story

Step 6: Share and reflect

Once you are complete, share your films with your class and have a watch party. 

After watching your film, discuss:

  • What was the funniest moment?
  • Which character was the most memorable?
  • How did different characters see the event differently?
  • What did your group do well?
  • What would you do differently next time?

Trop Jr

Want to explore the more technical side of filmmaking?

If you'd like to learn more about planning, filming, editing and storytelling techniques, check out the Trop Jr resources. You'll find practical filmmaking tips, creative activities and production guides to help take your ideas to the next level.

For an extra challenge, try including the TSI (Trop Jr Signature Item) in your Little Lunch short film. Keep an eye out for creative ways to feature it in your story. Once your film is complete, you may even be able to enter it into Trop Jr and share your work with a wider audience!

Add link to trop jr resource