Welcome to Nativity 2021 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven
Thank you so much for volunteering to take part in this year's extraordinary Christmas Nativity Play
This year we will be performing the nativity itaking into COVID precautions by again asking familes to record the videos in their own houses or for some scenes through carefully-managed scenes at the Church.
Our Lady Queen of Heaven has purchased the right to share the songs and the words, and to modify the Nativity play. We film the play and publish it, with the songs, on the internet using a channel like YouTube.
What you need to do...
On the right you will find links to the latest script of the Nativity play which includes your role and everyone elses to give you context to the Nativity. You will also find the Nativity's film direction notes for all the roles, and then further down this page links to the role you are playing specifically.
You'll also see links to the songs and to guidance on how to take video and how to then upload them so we can put the film together
When recording, please remember your Scene number - just like real films we need to work out where the video (or clip) you are making fits into the overall film.
There are over 50 scenes in this short film alone!
Role Specifics
Click on the link below that matches the role you are playing. This will take you to a new page specifically for you to read which contains your words and the film direction.
Click here to download a copy of the Script for the play. We are still tinkering with it a little so there may be some minor adjustments.
Narrator 1 | Sheep 1 |
Narrator 2 | Sheep 2 |
Narrator 3 | Sheep 3 |
Narrator 4 | Sheep 4 |
Late Angel - one solo verse | Balthasar |
Angel 1 | Melchior |
Angel 2 | Caspar |
Angel 3 | Mary |
Angel 4 | Joseph |
Angel Gabriel | Donkey |
Shepherd 1 | Innkeeper |
Shepherd 2 | |
Shepherd 3 |
Songs
Below is a link to download each of the songs in the Nativity. Please record yourself singing each song (have the camera in portrait, ie the way it is usually used, not on its side for the songs), but don't record the song playing in the background as well... so listen to it using headphones and sing along.
Video yourself singing the songs individually. In the final version all the children will be on screen at the same time so don't worry we won't single anyone out.
Songs:
The words for the songs can be downloaded:
And a traditional one:
- We Wish you a Merry Christmas
Checklist:
- Know what part you have by looking at the list on the left
- Click on the link for each role below left
- Understand what costume your child needs to have.
- Learn lines
- Have scene numbers ready
- Read how to take video recordings
- Record your videos
- Upload them to DropBox, share them with Simon
- Record your children singing the songs
- Upload these to DropBox too
- Email Simon when all is completed
- Email if you have any questions at all
How to take videos
Watch the short video below for some tips on how to record the video for the film.
Always use the best camera / phone that you have.
Shoot the scene in Landscape mode, not Portrait. It might seem odd when filming a person to not have the camera at the same proportion to the person, but think about where the film would be seen: It will be on a TV or a PC and the screens for these are always landscape.
So put the camera on its side when filming. Don't worry if it looks upside down, we can turn it around.
You're unlikely to be able to influence the format of the video so shoot it on whatever you like, so long as it is as good as you can make.
The video files will normally be large. Don't send them via WhatsApp or similar as the quality will be reduced to get the size of the file down.
Use DropBox to send the files. Click here to learn how to set up a DropBox account if you don't already have one. Once you have this you can upload your scenes there, either individually or all together.
Once the files are uploaded share them with Simon@Simon-Johnson.com
If you have any problems at all email Simon@Simon-Johnson.com
Script
There are two elements to the script - the overall words that each person says, and the film direction.