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Ida Makes a Movie

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Episode Details

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Synopsis

Ida makes a movie about garbage and submits it to a filmmaking contest. She wins, but the judges mistake the film for a profound statement on war. Ida must decide whether to come clean or accept the award under false pretenses.

Plot

9-year-old Ida Lucas and her 6-year-old friend, Cookie Peters, are playing in the park on Degrassi Street. Upset by the amount of litter—and after stepping on a discarded sandwich—Ida decides to enter a children’s film-making contest sponsored by the National Film Board of Canada.

She retrieves her father’s old camera from the attic and, with a meager budget of $20, sets out to film a movie about garbage. During filming, a scuffle ensues between her brother Fred Lucas and Cookie, resulting in a “tug-of-war” over a doll that accidentally gets thrown into a passing garbage truck and crushed.

The judges view this scene as a powerful anti-war metaphor. Ida wins the contest but is racked with guilt over the misunderstanding. At the awards ceremony, she attempts to confess the truth, but the presenter commends her honesty and awards her the prize for her film on “how to wage war… on garbage.”

Cast

Main Cast:

Supporting Cast:

Crew

Trivia

  • This is the very first episode of the entire Degrassi Franchise.
  • The story was adapted from the 1974 children’s book Ida Makes a Movie by Kay Chorao.
  • The movie was filmed at 98 Degrassi Street in Toronto, which was the real-life home of Bruce Mackey.
  • Elwy Yost (Harry Druffle) was a famous Canadian television host, best known for Saturday Night at the Movies.
  • Lewis Manne, who plays the camera shop clerk, also composed the music for the episode.

Transcript

Ida: Honestly Cookie, don’t you know you’re not supposed to litter? Can’t you read the signs that say, “It’s your part, keep it clean”?
Cookie: I can’t read, Ida. I’m only six years old. Wait for me! Wait for me, Ida! What do the signs say, Ida?
Ida: Oh, just something about a movie making competition for kids.
Cookie: What’s a competition, Ida?
Ida: Well, you know, that’s where everyone makes a movie scene, then they send it in, and the winner gets a prize, and that’s a contest.
Cookie: Are you going to make a movie, Ida?
Ida: I might. I might.

(Scene shifts to Ida finding the camera)
Cookie: How do you make a movie, Ida?
Ida: Come on, Cookie! Here it is. It must have been Daddy’s.
Cookie: Wow! I always pictured Hollywood differently.
Mom: What? You said you were going to make a movie. Oh, hi Mom. Where are the lights, the camera, the action?
Ida: I don’t know about the lights and the action, but the camera’s here. It’s broken.
Mom: What’s going on?
Ida: Well, I changed my mind about that movie making contest, but I changed my mind again. It’s probably a stupid idea.
Mom: Why do you say that, Ida?
Ida: Because I don’t have a camera.
Mom: Wait a minute. Don’t give up hope yet. Let me look at it. It isn’t exactly a new camera, you know. Was it Daddy’s? It doesn’t seem so bad. I think it just needs a part. Why don’t you take it down to the camera store tomorrow and find out how much it’ll cost to repair it.

(Later)
Ida: It’ll probably cost $100.
Mom: Ida, just go and get an estimate.
Ida: I need film for this and to find out how much it’ll cost to fix it.
Shopkeeper: What kind?
Ida: Pardon?
Shopkeeper: What kind of film do you want? Well, what kind do you have? Well, it’s an 8mm camera. It requires 8mm film.
Ida: I know. Uh-huh. And what seems to be wrong with it?
Shopkeeper: It won’t work. Well, it’s only the spring. You’re going to have to leave it with me for a couple of days. And it’ll cost you about $14 or $15 to fix. And with the cost of the film all told, it’ll be about $20.
Ida: $20?

(Ida and Cookie preparing)
Ida: Ida, Ida, look what my sister and I prepared for the movie. And look at the dance I made up. Did you like it? I made it up myself. I’ve been practicing in front of the mirror all day.
Ida: I’m ready for the movie, Ida. There isn’t going to be a stupid movie because I don’t have enough money to fix the stupid camera.
Cookie: No movie, huh?
Ida: No movie. No money, no movie.
Cookie: Why can’t your mom give you the money?
Ida: We can’t afford it.

(Enter Fred)
Cookie: What about… Fred? Hi, Fred.
Ida: Hi, Fred. Did you win your game?
Fred: Nope.
Ida: That’s too bad. Got any money?
Fred: Yeah, we need money.
Cookie: I made up a dance.
Fred: What are you talking about?
Ida: We’re going to make this movie for this contest, see? And we need the money fast, Fred.
Fred: I just lost the last game of the season, and you’re asking me for money?
Ida: I asked you about your game first, but Fred, I’m desperate.
Fred: So why don’t you earn it?
Ida: Earn it? But how?
Fred: Well, I don’t know. Mow lawns or something.
Ida: Mow lawns? You could have a big sale. No, that’s a stupid idea.

(The Garage Sale)
Ida: I can’t bet. Ida, if you don’t find a place for that junk from the attic, I’m going to throw it out. Come on, Cookie. Let’s get rid of it.
Cookie: Where are we going?
Ida: We’re going to sell that junk.
Customer: Fifteen cents?
Ida: Yes. Fifteen.
Customer: How much?
Ida: Well, it’s better than mowing the lawn. Silly fives. Silly fives. Don’t you put this on the other place.
Fred: Fred, where did you get that helmet?
Fred: Over there.
Ida: Did you pay for it? I don’t have to pay for it. You look silly, Fred. Fred, if you pay for it, will you take it off right now?
Fred: I don’t want to take it off.
Ida: That’ll be 75 cents, please, Fred.
Fred: Oh, all right. I’ll give you my 75 cents. Oh, what good is it going to do that? You don’t even know how to use a camera.
Ida: I do, too.
Fred: OK, tell me how, then.
Ida: I can learn, can’t I?

(Camera is fixed)
Ida: Oh, the camera’s ready. It’s ready. It’s fixed. It will only be $20.
Shopkeeper: It’ll only be $18.92.
Ida: Good.
Shopkeeper: You know how to use one of these things?
Ida: I beg your pardon?
Shopkeeper: The camera. Do you know how to use it?
Ida: Sure.
Shopkeeper: Would you like me to show you?
Ida: Yeah.
Shopkeeper: OK, well, this is where you wind it up. This is where your fault was, by the way, on the spring. Over here, right? This is the lens. You look up through the lens like that. OK. To open the camera, to load your film in. So you can’t overwind it. And this is where you put it.

(Filming Day)
Ida: Isn’t that Mom’s hat?
Fred: It’s not a hat. It’s a beret. Why are you wearing that hat in summer?
Ida: All directors wear them. I saw it in a book. But anyway, what do you care? You don’t even want to be in it.
Fred: Don’t you want to be in the movie, Fred?
Cookie: My doll is in it. What movie? She doesn’t even know what it’s about.
Ida: I do, too. The film is about garbage.
Fred: What? Garbage.
Ida: Now you should pick up all your junk and plant flowers in your lawn so your neighborhood will be a nice place to live. Come on, Fred. I need you. It’s important. Please.
Fred: What do I have to do?
Ida: When the garbage truck comes down the street, I want you to start handing the garbageman the garbage. And, Cookie, I want you to put these flowers along the curb.
Cookie: When can I do my dance?
Ida: Start off with your dance. Dance around here a while. And, Fred, take off that stupid helmet.
Fred: You can wear that beret. I can wear my helmet.
Ida: I’m the director. You have to do as I say. I paid for it.
Fred: Go have it your way.
Ida: Okay, everybody, ready, set, action. Come on, Fred, I’m filming. Pick up the junk. Okay, you asked for it. ♪♪ Watch it, Fred. Keep dancing, Cookie. ♪♪ That’s not garbage, Fred. That’s good, Fred. Pick up the garbage. That’s not garbage, Fred. Only a big order. Keep on dancing. Oh, oh, my dance. ♪♪ My dolly, my dolly. Don’t hurt my dolly. Oh, no. ♪♪
Ida: Okay, thanks, everyone. That was real good.
Cookie: No, it wasn’t. I look stupid, and the garbage truck ate my doll.
Ida: No, you were great. You looked good. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Fred: Really? What a dumb movie. Who’s going to know it’s about garbage?
Ida: No, it’s a good movie, and it’s going to win.
Fred: Don’t count on it. Who’d give a war for a garbage truck?

(The Letter Arrives)
Ida: ♪♪ Come here. Listen. Dear Ida T. Lucas, it is my pleasure to announce that your imaginative film on war and its effect on children has been selected as a finalist in our Children’s Film Festival. Congratulations. You are cordially invited to attend the festival on September 2nd at 7 o’clock p.m., at which time an award will be presented to the winning filmmaker. I look forward to seeing you there. Sincerely, Harry Druffle, Children’s Film Committee Chairman.
Cookie: Did they like my dance?
Ida: They must have. They liked my whole film on war.
Cookie: But I thought you said it was about garbage.
Ida: It doesn’t matter what it was about. All that matters is that we win and we get an award.
Cookie: But I did a garbage dance, not a war dance. Do you think they’ll be mad? Why should they be mad? If they find out it’s about garbage, they’ll say you lied and won’t give you your award.
Ida: Don’t be silly, Cookie. They won’t be mad. Will they? I don’t know, Ida. Well, nobody’s going to know it’s about garbage if nobody tells. Make sure you get all the paint off.
Fred: Okay. So you’re a finalist, eh? That’s terrific.
Ida: Yeah, I am. I told Fred I would probably win. But he said that nobody could win an award for Filmberg. He said what? He said it was garbage.
Fred: To each his own, I suppose. May I see the letter?
Ida: What? The letter from the film festival. I want to read it. Oh, I lost it. The wind blew it away. But I remember that it said that I was a finalist, that me and my family should come to the festival if they would award the winning filmmaker.
Mom: But Ida, how are we going to know the time and date if you lost the letter?
Ida: We can call. I guess we have to.

(Later)
Ida: Would you stack those papers for me, please?
Mom: Sure. That’s nice. What is it?
Ida: Thanks a lot. It happens to be loneliness. It’s for an article on people who live in high rises.
Mom: Why is she flying in the air?
Ida: Because that’s how I interpreted it.
Mom: She looks weird, but it’s good. Ida, how are we going to know where to call?
Ida: Oh, just a minute. The number is… 369.
Mom: Isn’t that the letter? I guess it is. I thought you said you lost it. May I see it? “Dear Ida T. Lucas, where did you get the T? Sounds more official. I didn’t know your film was about war, Ida. That’s an excellent theme. What made you think of it?”
Ida: I don’t know. I just thought of it.
Mom: I’m really proud of you, Ida. I’m really surprised. I never thought you could be so concerned about such an important theme.
Ida: Thanks. It’s not like lying. I never said anything about war. It’s not my fault they don’t understand garbage.
Cookie: Are you going to tell them, Ida?
Ida: Why should I? Isn’t that like cheating?
Cookie: But, Cookie… If I tell them what it’s really about, they for sure won’t give us the award.
Ida: Come on, Ida. We’ll be late. Why are you in bed? Is something wrong?
Ida: I’m very ill. I think it’s an ulcer.
Mom: Ulcer?
Ida: So you should go without me and get my award. Because I don’t want to spread ulcers to everybody.
Mom: They’re not contagious. Don’t you want to go?
Ida: Yes, but, Mommy… Suppose you drew a picture of a horse. Somebody said, it’s a nice cow you drew. Would you say, it’s not a cow, stupid, that’s a horse? Or just say thank you and let them think it was a cow?
Mom: I’m not sure, Ida. It would be misleading to let them think I’d drawn a cow. And if I knew they were misled and didn’t say anything about it, I guess that’s lying, isn’t it?
Ida: But how can it be lying if they’re the ones who made the mistake?
Mom: That’s true. But I would be the only person in the whole world who could tell them what it is. And that’s important to me. I guess you’d better go, then.
Ida: What about your ulcer?
Mom: I think it’ll be okay if I take it easy. Mommy, would you be proud of me even if I didn’t win the award?
Mom: I’m always proud of you, Ida.

(The Ceremony)
Announcer: Ida? Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our third annual film festival. Earlier this summer, we announced a film competition for very young filmmakers. Well, let me tell you the results have been absolutely overwhelming.
Cookie: Do you think we’re going to win, Ida?
Ida: I wish you would hurry up and be over.
Mr. Druffle: Tonight, it is my very great honor to announce the winner of this contest. The winner is a young girl who used the resources of her neighborhood and her imagination to create a film depicting how devastating war is to children. It’s a very strong statement, as I’m sure you’ll agree. However, the film speaks for itself. Let’s watch it, shall we?
Fred: But that’s your film, Ida. But your films are about war.
Ida: It’s about garbage.
Fred: I know, Fred. But he said it was about war.
Ida: Would you please be quiet? We have to talk. We’re the winners. And we got problems.
Fred: That’s me.
Mr. Druffle: Now it gives me very great pleasure to invite the director of this very fine film up here onto the stage. Ida T. Lucas.
Fred: T., where did she get that? Are you going to take the water? Tell them.
Mr. Druffle: Ida, would you come up here, please? Go on, Ida. They’re waiting for you. Oh, there she is. Here she comes, Ida T. Lucas. Let’s give her a great big hand.
Ida: Thanks, Mr. Druffle. I want to thank my mom and my brother Fred and Cookie. She’s the one in the red dress. For helping me make my film, but…
Mr. Druffle: Yes?
Ida: You don’t understand, see? It’s garbage.
Mr. Druffle: Oh, no, no. It’s very good. Indeed, it’s an excellent film. It is good.
Ida: But it’s not about war. It’s about garbage.
Mr. Druffle: Garbage?
Ida: But Fred wouldn’t take off his helmet. He said it was about war. And Cookie kept falling down. So I guess that’s why he said it was about war. I guess I have to give the award back, eh?
Mr. Druffle: Garbage. Well, I guess that does make a difference. I must have misunderstood, Ida. Still, it was given an award on merit, and… It is an excellent film, and… Ida, Ida, come back here. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m… I’m going to give this award to a very fine young lady. Who’s not only a terrific filmmaker, but has the courage to stand on her own two feet, and tell the truth. This award is yours, Ida T. Lucas. Let’s give a big hand for Ida T. Lucas and her absolutely splendid film on how to wage war on garbage.
Fred: She won, she won!

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