“How To Start
using the KDB Human Video Scripts”
by Sherry L. Kirton

SO YOU JUST GOT YOUR SCRIPT...

The scripts will all look pretty scary at first to everyone, but what is easy is usually determined by how determined your group is... I mean: each of these scripts follows the lyrics to a song... if the actors want to learn that song, then it becomes fairly easy, and if they understand that they could reach even their most hardend friends, then it becomes pretty easy, and if they are ready to try and ask God for help all along the way, then it becomes great fun.

All of the scripts are flexible enough to accomodate all levels of acting abilities. It usually takes at least three rehearsals for the actors to feel comfortable doing their parts.

WHERE TO GET THE MUSIC...

I try to get a downloaded copy of the song from www.downloaditfirst.com, which is legal, www.mp3.com, or another pay-to-listen site (the artists get their royalties etc.). Plus, you only pay for what you download. Then you can get inexpensive copies for your all of your actors so that they can practice or at least listen to the song until they memorize it (and for teens that is just a few listens). Musicmaker.com is no-longer in business, but you can also purchase the CDs from www.christianbook.com (Christian Book Distributors Wholesale-- which has joined with www.musicforce.com).

THEMES...

One thing most people don’t realize is that the concepts for these human videos are broad enough to work with most any theme (which wouldn’t be true if all we did was act out word for word what the singers lyricize). The HV, Hands, is great for sermons with these themes: missions, missions/outreach, witnessing, evangelism, relationships with God, God’s power in His children, being obedient - even when afraid, and as an introduction to the story of John Mark in the New Testament. But the concept is broader than that and even little children would get something out if it. The HV, Testify, carries some of the same themes, but also: intimacy before marriage, family relationships, miraculous intervention, and on the simple side it is a modern-story of the Bible showing Creation, The Fall, redemption, resurrection, etc. I am amazed at how God has put these scripts together so that they can be used for many sermons/events. See the suggestions listed in the scripts for the themes to each one.

PROPS?

Some scripts have props that you’ll need to collect (pantomiming the knife and gun in Testify doesn’t work well) and in Hands getting the group to learn to reset the “benches” into chairs on time while on stage can be scary. However, if you (I am assuming you’ll direct) take the time to learn the script well (including the song) before you teach it, you’ll have an easier time.

NOW TO TEACH IT...

Break the teaching time down by choruses/verses. And start by explaining the storyline. I even choose some of my actors before we start even though I remind all of them that the people playing those parts now may not be doing so every time. Therefore, they all need to learn each other’s parts keeping them alert and my headaches down when we need to make cast changes.

Hands has lots of musical repetition which is always good, but can be hard to teach when going over a section again and again. So, I usually run through all of the blocking all in one sitting before we start using the music.

ALSO Why not provide a video tape? from which to learn. [tip 6]