A Letter From Fred

A LETTER FROM FRED

 

Step 1

Now you will watch the start of a short film in which record producer Jacob Colgan describes a competition, after watching the film, answer the following question:

What is the competition? Play the film until 00.44.

 

Step 2

What do you think Jacob means when he says they ”didn’t expect any entry like Fred’s”?

Focus on the images you see after Jacob stops speaking. Watch the first part of the film again and answer the question.

 

Step 3

Now watch the rest of the film. After watching,write how Fred’s entry was different and special.

Watch the film until minute 04:42.

 

Step 4

Now  watch the second part of the film again; after watching, answer the following questions:

– How did Fred meet Lorraine?

– When did they meet?

– How long did they date before they got married?

–  How long were they together?

– How did Fred write the song?

– Why did Jacob decide to record the song?

– Why was Fred surprised?

 

Step 5

Below are the answers to the questions:

1. She was a car hop at a root beer stand and she brought the trays to their car.
2. In 1938.
3. two years.
4. 75 years.
5. He was alone at home one night and the lyrics just came to him.
6. Jacob realized that Fred’s wife had died recently and he was moved by the lyrics.
7. Fred was surprised when Jacob got in touch to tell him that his studio was going to record his song professionally for free.

 

Step 6

Now watch the rest of the film in which you see the song being recorded and Fred listening to the song for the first time. Before watching, answer the following question:

How do you think Fred reacts when he hears the professionally recorded version of his song for the first time?

Watch the rest of the film.

 

Step 7

Explain how Fred reacts.

 

Step 8

Read the lyrics to the song which are below.

Look up the meaning of any words you don’t understand.

Sweet Lorraine by Fred Stobaugh

Oh sweet Lorraine

I wish we could do all

The good times

All over again

Oh sweet Lorraine

Life only goes around

Once

But never again

Oh sweet Lorraine

I wish we could do

All the good times all over

Again

The good times

The good times

The good times

All over again

The good times

The good times

The good times

All over again

But the memories always

Linger on

Oh sweet Lorraine

No, I don’t wanna move on

Oh the memories

always linger on

Oh sweet Lorraine

That’s why I wrote this song

Oh Sweet Lorraine

I wish we could do

All tThe good times

All over again

Oh sweet Lorraine

Life only goes around

Once

But never again

Oh sweet Lorraine

I wish we could do

All the good times all over

Again

The good times

The good times

The good times

All over again

The good times

The good times

All the good times

All over again

 

Step 9

Watch the part of the film in which Fred hears the song for the first time and listen and read the lyrics at the same time.

 

Step 10

How do the film and the song make you feel?

 

Step 11

Do you know what the expression “the love of my life” means?

Lorraine was the love of Fred’s life.Think of a couple you know (either among your family or friends) who have been together for a long time and are still in love.

Write about the couple and what makes their relationship special.