First read the tasks carefully.
Then read the text Project on the following page.
Then do the tasks. Make sure to write about all the aspects presented in each task.

Describe what you learn about Jay and Ash.

8 BE

Analyse the girls’ discussion about Jay’s idea of working together.

Focus on

Jay’s motivation and reactions,
Ash’s reactions,
their use of language.

12 BE

You have a choice here. Choose one of the following tasks. Do only ONE of them!

In the text Jay says to herself: “I’ll be honest, I’ve never shot a video in my life.” (l. 43)

Comment on Jay’s offer to help Ash with her video.

Include the following aspects:

Jay’s possible reason(s) for wanting to help Ash
your personal experience with trying something new

10 BE

In her next Open Studio class, Jay gets a text message from Ash. Ash has accepted Jay’s offer to help her with her video.

Write a continuation of the story.

Include the following aspects:

Ash’s reason(s) for accepting Jay’s offer
Jay’s hopes and doubts about the project
Jay’s thoughts on what they should do next

You can start like this:

I’m in my Open Studio class thinking about what to write in my portfolio when I get a text message from Ash. …

10 BE

Project

Extract from Li Charmaine Anne’s novelCrash Landing(2024)

Set in Vancouver, Canada, the novel presents high school students Jay and her new neighbour Ash. Today is the first day of school after summer break and Jay is meeting some of her friends in the hallway.

Schüler unterhalten sich in einem Schulflur.

That’s when I spot her – Ash, skateboard tucked under one arm,

backpack slung over the other. She stands in the middle of the

hallway holding her locker assignment¹ with white-knuckled

fingers. Weight on one leg, eyebrows pulled together. I didn’t know you could look cool and stressed

at the same time. I jump up and wave her over. Ash cheers up when she sees me. She comes over

and we fist-bump. “Fuck,” she breathes. I wince² because to be honest, I’m not used to such casual

f-bombs³. “So this is where the goddamn grade 12 lockers are,” she says.

I feel everyone else’s eyes on the back of my head. “Guys, this is Ash. I met her yesterday. She just

moved onto my block.”

* * * * *

I go to my first class alone: Open Studio, which is pretty awesome because it’s essentially a do-what-

ever-you-want class where you put together a portfolio. The teacher spends fifteen minutes outlining

class expectations then dumps piles of university brochures on the tables and tells us we have free

rein⁴ for the rest of the class.

I flip through some programs, and one catches my eye: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media. The

world needs designers. I think about how, over the summer, I’d visited skate shops just to look at

the boards. Someone had to design those. And I think about the skateboarding videos I watch every

night before I go to sleep. Someone had to shoot those and set them to music.

When lunchtime rolls around, Ash walks up to me. “I wanna show you something.” She pulls out a

piece of paper. It’s a printout of an e-mail, and the printer needs more toner. I squint⁵ to make out

the words:

Hello Ash,

We are thrilled to inform you that your video entry for the BC Next Gen Skaters

Contest has been accepted. Congratulations, you are now in the next round!

Please send us your next video entry by November 30, and we will vote on final

contestants by early next year. We look forward to your next video.

Cheers,

The BC Skaters Guild

“Wow. What’s the BC Skaters Guild?” I ask.

Ash’s eyes go wide the way people’s eyes do when you admit to never having watched a famous

film. “Only the hottest skate organisation in the province. I’m their hugest fan, and whoever wins

this video contest will get to compete in an invitational⁶ next spring.”

We sit there staring at our food trays for a moment, and then it strikes me. “Hey. I can help you film.”

She turns to me. “What?”

“I want to practice using digital tools,” I say. “And I love watching skateboarding videos. Like, I’m

obsessed⁷ with them. I’ve always wanted to shoot some myself, but I don’t skate well enough.”

“I just don’t want to waste your time,” she says.

“Well, if you let me use your videos as part of my digital art portfolio, then it’s not a waste of time.”

“Well…” Ash blinks. “See, I really need to win. If I do good at this contest, there might be sponsorships.

And contracts. And bigger contracts, with more money. I need that. I need to move out as soon as

possible. Fuck, I gotta move out…” She looks away.

“If you’re not confident in my video skills, we can do a test run,” I say.

Because I’ll be honest, I’ve never shot a video in my life; I just have cinematographically⁸ incredible

videos playing in my head all the time. In the car. When I’m listening to music. When I’m trying to

fall asleep.

¹locker assignment – piece of paper given to new students to tell them the number of their locker

²to wince – here: to suddenly make an expression with your face that shows you are embarrassed

³casual f-bomb – the swear word “fuck” used carelessly, as if it was nothing special

⁴to have free rein – to have freedom of action

⁵to squint – to look at sth. with your eyes partly shut in order to keep out bright light or to see better

⁶invitational – a competition, especially a sports event, that you can take part in only if you are invited

⁷to be obsessed with sb./sth. – to think about sb./sth. all the time

⁸cinematographically – connected with the art or process of making films

Anne, Li Charmaine (2024).Crash Landing. Annick Press.

(Slightly adapted)

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Jay and Ash are high school students in Grade 12 living in Vancouver, Canada, who have recently become neighbours.

Jay is a student who takes an "Open Studio" class, where she explores potential future paths such as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media. She has a keen eye for design, particularly enjoying skateboard graphics and watching skate videos before bed. She is observant and somewhat reserved regarding strong language, feeling a bit uncomfortable when people use profanity casually.

Ash is Jay's new neighbour on her block. She is a passionate skateboarder who carries her board with her and projects a cool yet visibly stressed persona on her first day of school. Ash uses casual swear words frequently to vent her emotions. She is talented at skating, having advanced to the next round of the BC Next Gen Skaters Contest run by the BC Skaters Guild. Ash experiences significant financial and emotional pressure, as she urgently needs to win the contest to secure sponsorships and contracts so she can move out of her home as soon as possible.

The discussion between Jay and Ash begins after Ash shows Jay an email announcing her advancement in the BC Next Gen Skaters Contest.

Jay's motivation stems from her desire to gain practical experience for her digital art portfolio and her personal enthusiasm for skate videos. Spontaneously, she offers to help film Ash ("I can help you film", l. 33). When Ash hesitates, Jay reassures her by framing the collaboration as mutually beneficial—using the footage for her own school portfolio so it will not be a waste of time (l. 38). To ease Ash's anxiety about her skills, Jay constructively offers to do a "test run" first (l. 42). Internally, Jay is aware that she has never shot a video in her life, but she feels motivated by the vivid cinematographic visions she constantly visualises in her head (ll. 43–45).

Ash's reactions display surprise, caution, and serious concern. Her initial response ("What?", l. 34) reflects shock at Jay's unexpected offer. Out of consideration, Ash first worries about wasting Jay's time (l. 37). Once Jay addresses that concern, Ash reveals her high emotional stakes, explaining that winning is crucial for her to get sponsorships and move out (ll. 39–41). Her hesitation shows how much pressure she feels, making her cautious about relying on an untested partner.

Their use of language highlights their distinct personalities and emotional states. Ash relies on informal, raw, and authentic spoken language, using strong expletives ("Fuck, I gotta move out...", l. 41) to express intense stress and urgency. Jay's language in the dialogue is pragmatic, supportive, and structured ("If you let me...", "we can do a test run"). In her internal thoughts, Jay uses sophisticated visual terminology ("cinematographically incredible", ll. 43–44), illustrating her artistic mindset despite her lack of practical experience.

Jay's offer to help Ash film her contest entry despite having zero practical camera experience (l. 43) is a bold move, but it is driven by several convincing reasons. First, Jay has a genuine passion for digital art, design, and skate videos. She constantly visualises artistic video sequences in her head, so taking on this project allows her to turn her imagination into practice. Second, it benefits her academically, as she can use the footage for her Open Studio digital media portfolio. Lastly, Jay simply wants to support her new neighbour, recognizing how important this contest is for Ash. While offering help without prior experience might seem risky, Jay sensibly suggests a "test run" to manage expectations.

Trying something completely new without prior experience can be intimidating, but it is often the most effective way to grow. In my own experience, I once volunteered to design the poster for a school theater project even though I had never used professional graphic design software before. At first, I was worried that I would fail and disappoint my team. However, having a real goal forced me to learn the tools quickly through online tutorials and practice. In the end, the poster turned out great, and I gained a valuable new skill that I still use today. Taking a leap of faith, much like Jay does, often unlocks hidden talents that we would never discover if we only stuck to what we already know.

I'm in my Open Studio class thinking about what to write in my portfolio when I get a text message from Ash: "Hey Jay, let's do that test run. I really need a camera person and I trust your vision. When can we start?"

I stare at my phone, a wave of excitement hitting me. Ash probably realized that shooting quality skate footage by herself while performing difficult tricks is nearly impossible. She needs someone who shares her passion for the aesthetic of skateboarding, and my offer gives her a dedicated partner who is just as invested in making the video look great.

At the same time, doubts immediately start creeping in. What if my lack of technical skill ruins her chances? Ash is counting on this contest to get sponsorships and move out, so the stakes are incredibly high. Having vivid ideas in my head is one thing, but operating a camera, handling lighting, and tracking a fast-moving skater in real life is a completely different challenge.

I take a deep breath and type back. We need a clear plan before we hit the streets. First, I tell her we should meet up after school to look at reference skate videos and plan specific camera angles. Then, we can head to the local skate park for our test run to experiment with tracking shots and lighting. If we prepare properly, we can turn those ideas in my head into something that will actually win her that contest.

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