With a Piece of Chalk

With a Piece of Chalk

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBZAFJ-Q6Mw

You can use this video to introduce the topic of bullying, self esteem, coping, respect etc.

Discussion questions:

What is yoru first reaction to the video?
How this boy's interactions with people picking on him make you feel?
How did you feel when you watched this boy dance?
How do you think dancing makes him feel?
Do you think this boy respects himself?
What sorts of positive things do you use to cope?
Move over, Justin Bieber, there's a new YouTube star in town.
A new short film called With a Piece of Chalk starring a gifted young break-dancer Justen Beer has captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands of web users with its inspiring message of finding joy through dance in the face of hardship.
The video, which comes in at just over three minutes, was produced by JubaFilms, a team of four young filmmakers based in Germany, according to Mashable.com.

Scroll down to watch the video

Chaotic home life: The video shows the little boy facing turmoil at home as his parents fight in front of him

Bullied: The 12-year-old is seen being harassed by classmates and called a loser

Safe place: Facing turmoil at home and in school, the boy in the film creates a performance space for himself where he can find escape in his craft

Jaw-dropping moves: Beer shows off impressive skills on the floor, leaping in the air and performing hand stands

Two of the budding filmmakers, Julien Bam and Gong Bao, are break-dancers themselves and teach the art to younger children.
The protagonist of the heart-warming film is the 12-year-old Beer who is part of the group Hustle Kidz. Beer portrays a child who faces turmoil at home and is bullied at school, but finds escape in his ability to dance, which ultimately sets him free. 
The team hopes the film will show viewers ‘how important dancing can be.’
The low-budget short was planned over two months and shot in just three days. The stirring and dramatic score for the otherwise silent film was composed and arranged by Vincent Lee, another member of JubaFilms.

Seasoned pro: Beer is part of a break-dancing group called Hustle Kidz

Lucky find: The German filmmakers behind the video stumbled upon the 12-year-old online and invited him to join the project

Message of hope: The short film focuses on the importance of dance in the face of adversity

The German filmmakers stumbled upon videos featuring Beer online and contacted his family to see if they had any interest in taking part in the project.
‘We were not only fascinated by his dance moves, but also by his acting and his dedication during the shootings,’ said Bam and Bao.
The video cuts between the child’s real world, filled with angry parents who fight and classmates who terrorize him, and his imaginary world  - a performance arena drawn with a piece of chalk where he finds peace through break-dancing.

Web stardom: The uplifting short film has been viewed more than 700,000 times since being uploaded on August 5

Mini-masterpiece: The low-budget film took months of planning, but was filmed in only three days

The camera follows little Justen who shows off gravity-defying moves, pirouettes, hand stands and an assortment of jaw-dropping tricks of the trade that would put a seasoned veteran of the genre to shame.
Besides his smooth moves on the dance floor, the 12-year-old also shows off impressive acting chops in the tough scenes with his ‘parents’ and vicious ‘schoolmates.’.