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Hollywood
High
(Tap, tap, tap.) Is this microphone on? Welcome ladies and gentlemen. We have a great evening of entertainment lined up for you tonight, with a special screening of the latest from that newest Hollywood sensation - (drumroll please) - YOU! Welcome to Hollywood High, where creative writing has been taken to an all new level. You won't find any boring lectures or pop quizzes here. At Hollywood High we have one purpose and one purpose only - movie making. With a huge selection of music and sound effects, thirty seven teenage hangouts, and twelve actors at your disposal, you can quickly become Hollywood's next Steven Spielberg, or George Lucas. At Hollywood High, you're in the director's chair, with everything you need to make your own animated movie classics to share with family and friends. The Show begins on the set up screen where you pick your scene. You can pick from the mall, classroom, lookout point, a city street, the prom, even the bathroom! Next, pick the characters who will star in your show. You can click on a character's picture and take what you get, or if you want to learn more about each character, click his or her picture, then click on the red star to bring up that character's profile. The profile contains the character's name, role (movie usher, prom queen, rug rat, etc.), hobby (gossiping, skateboarding, time traveling), and voice, (nerdy male, fast talking, alien). If you like the looks of the character, but aren't thrilled with the profile you can change it anyway you want. There are 27 roles, 29 hobbies, and 26 voices to choose from. After you've picked your setting and characters it's time to start putting your show together. This is where the fun begins. Click on the script button and start writing. The script screen works like any other word processing program, with cut, copy, and paste features. But this word processor has something the others don't - action and sound effects. Want the doorbell to ring? Don't write, "the doorbell rang." Click on the sound button, (it looks like a bullhorn), go to bells and alarms, and page through until you find a doorbell sound you like. Do you have a really rude character? Click on the action button and you can make him burp. The list of possibilities is almost endless. Stuck for an idea? No problem. Click on the lightbulb to go to the idea machine. Here you can pick from a huge selection of story starters, plot twists, and dialogue suggestions. It's like having your own personal script consultant. Anytime you want to see what you've written, click on the playback button. If you don't like it, go back to the script screen and change it. If you want to change a scene, or add a new scene you can do that too. Just go to edit scene to change, or add scene to add. And, in all your excitement, don't forget to periodically save your work. Just like with any other word processor, better to be safe than sorry. Oh, and don't forget to add a title. Just click on the title button whenever you are ready. Hollywood High is designed for ages 9 through adult. I love it! And when our system crashed in the middle of the show, and my husband got it working again, (typical male to the rescue) I couldn't get him off it. My ten year old loves it too. She used it in school and her teacher highly recommended it. But even younger kids will love Hollywood High. My six year old picks her characters and settings, then uses the idea machine, sound effects, and action buttons to put her shows together. As a matter of fact, Hollywood High is so popular at our house if I want to use it I have to make sure everyone else is in bed first. Otherwise they will take over. Hmm, maybe we should all co-produce a family production. See you at the Oscars. System
Requirements: Macintosh |