HW - due Wednesday 12th and Friday the 14th November

Due Wednesday

As individuals write a script for the opening two minutes of your film. To research this read a selection of screenplays from the site below. As a guide, two minutes of screen time will take approximately 2 pages of formatted A4/ Please remember that you do NOT have to write lots of dialogue in fact is strongly recommended that you don't.. Think visually and remember you are establishing genre and aiming for something with professional production values.

Drew's Scriptorama

Make sure that you use the appropriate script format. You can find a word template here.

How to format word and downloadable screenplay template

Your screenplay can be handwritten or typed and posted using Scribd.



Due Friday

Write the essay based on our work in class on representation of disability/ability in the clip coming Down the Mountain.

The clip is below.



Remember the task is to write about HOW the representations are created through the use of camera, mise en scene, sound and editing. You must use media language and cover ALL four areas to access the higher marks.

The essay must be either hand written or printed out and brought to Friday's lesson. If you missed this week's lessons due to Geography or absence please watch the clip four times and attempt the essay just the same.

HW due Friday 17th October

Due Friday 17th October

HW1

9 Frame analyis of an opening sequence from the wedsite The Art of the Title.

1. Choose a film or TV drama to analyse - you should look at a few and really take your time to find one you feel strongly about - it cannot be one did in class today.
2. Screen grab the 9 frame image and transfer it to a word document. Analyse around it in the same way that you did in class. Box it out to make it really clear.
3. Ensure that you are commenting using:

• Media Terminology (techincal codes - low key lighting, shot sizes and angle, diegetic sound etc.), media langauges (we did these today - Visual, Aural etc.), semiotic language (connotations, denotations, signifier, signified etc)
• Media Key Concepts: representations (who, where, what), audience (theories - active, passive, two step flow), narrative (including enigma codes, binary opposition, references or links to other texts, iconography), institution (who made it - production company, distributor), genre, ideology (the world view which is suggested - political, social, good v evil, vampires are sexy, crime corrupts the police etc.)

Watch the sequence after you have analysed and then write an additional paragraph and comment on how the movign images sequence with sound changes or alters your view and adds to your understanding of genre, representations and narrative.

HW2

Write a 1 page story outline for a new feature film which you would like to make in one of the following genre.

• Coming of Age
• Ghost Horror (or paranormal if you prefer)
• Action Thriller

You will need to be prepared to pitch the idea to the class next Friday.

• Tip: write a 25 word pitch for the film as a way of refining your idea and making it attractive to an audience.
• MUST: you must make links with existing dramas in the genre to show research.
• You must give us a clear idea about how the movie will start and perhaps have some visual clues about the opening sequence.

Homework

A reminder of the expectations for homework this week.

Due on Wednesday the 8th of October

• View the Primeval extract on the G322 page 4 times while taking notes using the grid framework we have used in class - Camera/Mise en scene/Sound/Editing
• Then write an analysis of the extract focussing on the representations of Gender.
• Ensure that you are explaining how the representations are created using the four parts of the grid.

This should take a minimum of 1 hour.

Due on Friday the 10th of October

• Research a film genre of your choice and be prepared to present your ideas.
• Focus on: representations, narrative, target audience.
• How is genre created through the use of camera, mise en scene, sound and editing?
• Give specific examples. This may be a development of the research you did this week OR it may focus on a different genre.
• Consider the role that binary opposition plays in the narrative and how it is shown - if you don't know what binary opposition is you will HAVE to look it up.

All BLOGS should now be up to date with all HW, incomplete work will lead to letters home.

Opening sequences - Week 4

Please watch, annotate and write/record your analysis of 3 of the opening sequences including the two we looked at in class.

I encourage you to use different means of presenting your ideas. Can you make it like a DVD commentary? Can you use animation? Can you use Prezi instead of word? What about a recorded discussion between two of you? What about a filmed interview where you have decided the questions?

Manhattan



The Godfather



Once Upon a Time in the West



Veritgo



Fish Tank



City of God


Look for some other opening sequences and upload to your blog with your reasons for choosing them.

GENRE RESEARCH

For those you did not complete this, I want you to look closely into the Vampire sub-genre. Find and watch trailers and opening sequences of Vampire movies from Nosferatu - Dracula - The Hunger - Interview with a Vampire - Let the Right one in - What we do in the Shadows. And any others you may know of.

Consider the role that Vampire films play in mirroring what is happening is society at the time they were released. What similarities are there across the films, what significant differences are there? How is the vampire represented? Why? 

You do not have to conclude this research but you must begin it.

EVENTS

There are a couple of events coming up soon which may involved you.

Wednesday 24th September

Open Evening - helpers needed, 3 or 4 students who would like to assist on the day explaining what Media Studies is and working doing some practical work possibly with the year 6 visitors.

5-8pm

Thursday 9th October

Brentford Film Screening
in the Theatre

A celebration evening for all Brentford Media Studies students when their work will be shown and awards given. An opportunity to watch the work of the A2, AS and GCSE students produced in 2013/14.

Any of you who did Media GCSE, AS or A2 will be invited and it would be lovely if you could come with your family and friends.

6-7.30pm

Tuesday 16th December

Media Magazine Conference

Cost £20 plus your travel and food expenses. You will need to pay a non-returnable £5 deposit to secure your place by the beginning of October. Highly recommended for all AS and A2 students.

All day
(you will be able to apply for a 50% discount if you qualify for Free School Meals etc.)

Preliminary Exercise

Shooting a dialogue scene.

Watch the video and make notes on the terminology used and on the main rules for shooting dialogue.

Be prepared to explain these. The notes you make are important and you will need to write them up on your blog.



The first practical exercise you will need to complete in groups is the planning and filming of a short sequence including at least one person going through a door and a scene of dialogue. Today you will plan and film this in groups.

Lesson 1

This lesson was about getting you up and running with the online systems - we had some problems - this is normal.

Now you are at home please make sure that your blog is working and that you have a SCRIBD account and preferably PREZI, POWTOONS and other useful free online apps which can be embedded into your blog.

The work you do organising this now will pay off later.

HW1

Watch the opening of Three Colours Blue and write about the way the opening 4 minutes tells the story using images and sound. How is character established? Which shots are most effective and why? Why do you think the director chose to start his film in this way?

Aim to write about 500words and post onto you blog using SCRIBD.

AS L1 14

Welcome to AS Media

Welcome back

If you were part of Head Start Day then you will have submitted some work and will already have created a blog and begun your journey into the world of AS Media Studies.

If you are new then this will be an exciting week packed with things for your to do.

The first of these things is make a blog.

We will be communicating using blogs and our new VLE Frog throughout the year and it is essential that you get to grips with the way these online tools work and how they will help you succeed.

The first thing to learn is that you need to check my blog and frog a few times a week and you should also update your own blog at least once a week with HW, CW and general reflections on the world of Media.

Here you will find the lessons and tasks, links to sites and information about the course, Frog will replicate some of these things but also give you some other support and it is more interactive so will be useful in different ways.

More to follow...

Head start Day

Head Start Day

DEADLINE

Reminder.

The deadline for completion of your foundation portfolio is today.

Preliminary marks will be based on completion by the deadline and those who fail to make best efforts to ensure that research, planning, production and evaluations are available for marking tomorrow Tuesday the 22nd of April will have their overall mark reduced for poor time management.

Remember that you should be aiming to achieve a high mark for your portfolio especially if you are not as confident in the written exam.

SEVERAL PORTFOLIOS ARE NOT COMPLETE AND SOME OF YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE OF YOUR WORK SHOWING.

G322 TV DRAMA

Link to G322 clips

G322 Section a Exam Prep 14

Exemplar for G322 including FIlm Industry section B

Candidate C Film Industry

EVALUATION QUESTIONS AGAIN

The questions that must be addressed in the evaluation are: 

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? 
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups? 
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? 
4. Who would be the audience for your media product? 
5. How did you attract/address your audience? 
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product? 
7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? 

Media Ownership

1. Issues Raised by Media Ownership

KICKSTARTER - crowd source funding

The above link is to a new article about KickStarter which is a high successful crown founding site. How might this change the power balance in the film industry?

Check out the following links as well:

50 Kisses
Life in a Day (wiki)

How have these innovative film productions circumvented the usual film production route?

Completing your FP

As Completing FP Mar14

MM competition

MM Application

The proliferation of Hardware and Content for Institutions and Audiences Lesson 25/03/2014

HOME WORK: Create a prezi/presentation around the following questions. To be posted to your blogs by Tues 01/04/2014... See below for help with the questions, Miss Downton has broken down for you...

1. Identify and Illustrate Hardware and Content used and produced by Independent (British) and Hollywood Institutions.

·         Pick a film made by a Hollywood studio.

·         The content - What is the genre?  Who is the auteur/director?

·         How does this fit in with the fact it is a studio film?

·         What hardware was used to produce the film?

·         Pick a film made by an independent production company.

·         The content - What is the genre?  Who is the auteur/director?

·         How does this fit in with the fact that it is an independent film?

·         What hardware was used to produce the film?

2.      Critically Analyse the effects of the proliferation of Hardware and Content for the same specific studio and production company and talk about production, distribution and exhibition/consumption. 

·         Pick a film made by a Hollywood studio.

·         The content - What is the genre?  Who is the auteur/director?

·         How does this fit in with the fact it is a studio film?

·         What hardware was used to produce the film?

·         Pick a film made by an independent production company.

·         The content - What is the genre?  Who is the auteur/director?

·         How does this fit in with the fact that it is an independent film?

·         What hardware was used to produce the film?

Proliferation of Hardware by MsCowan

ASSESSMENT PAGE

Please look on the assessment page to see detailed notes on your production blogs with feedback on what you need to do and current working levels and marks.

All marks are subject to change and I anticipate all will go up significantly as you complete tasks and improve your blogs including RPP, Production and Evaluation.

I EXPECT ALL OF YOU TO READ AND TAKE ACTION BEFORE TUESDAY PM AFTER SCHOOL SESSION WHICH - MAY I REMIND YOU - IS COMPULSORY.

A downloadable copy of the feedback is below.

As Blog Notes Mar14

Evaluation Question lesson: Q3/4

Evaluation Lesson Q3 and Q4

HOMEWORK:

The next evaluation Questions…

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Production - LAST THREE WEEKS

As Edit Last Three Weeks

Pete's Media Blog - MEDIA MAGAZINE COMPETITION

Websites

Your homework (due Tues next week) is to...

1. Look at the applicable website and answer the questions on Miss. Cowan’s slide about piracy.

2. Research the business methods Pearl and Dean are employing (to deal with audience consumption trends).

3. Update your review tracker sheets that Miss. Downton provided.

Your homework (due Tues next week) is to…

Websites concerning the rights battle for Watchmen (2009):
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/20/movies/20watc.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/16/business/fi-watchmen16
Website to look at when considering piracy and the effect on the industry:

http://www.launchingfilms.com/who-gains

http://www.fact-uk.org.uk/about
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/film-and-music-piracy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25575298

Websites to look at when considering Pearl and Dean Cinemas (Audience Consumption question):

http://business.pearlanddean.com/
http://www.pearlanddean.com/

Ownership and Piracy

Unit G322, Section B 18march

Homework 20/03/2014

• Please see the last three slides of the Evaluation lesson PowerPoint.
• Email me if you have any questions.
• You will need to have completed questions 1-4 by Thurs 20/03/2014.
• Draw up a to do list, a schedule and divide up the responsibilities for the end of term deadline on the 04/04/2014.

Ms. Cowan.

1st lesson on Evaluations

Evaluation Lesson by StaffCowan

Help for the evaluation homework due on Thursday 13/03/2014

Hi Melina, sure I can help.

So the questions are...

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? This is asking you how your product fits in with the genre type and also filmic conventions i.e. how is your opening sequence similar to existing vampire/horror/thriller films out there? Have some examples of films to make comparisons to. Or is it different to the norm and how? Consider the following technical aspects: camera work (shot types, etc), mise en scene, editing, sound. You might want to break this question up into 3 parts and answer one by one... How your product a) Used b) Developed c) Challenged.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups? This question is all about representation within your media product, think of representation of individuals, groups, objects and issues in your Media product. Do your representations fit in with existing representations (any examples)? Do your representations challenge existing representations/stereotypes shown in the Media? You might want to split your reps up into categories...

First of all, write the questions up in an essay style and then once you have done that, consider how to present using innovative technology to answer the question (be creative about it) you might answer the question using 2 to 3 different new technologies per question.

Have a look at the weebly site again for how successful candidates have answered the evaluation questions, candidate D got the highest (but their evaluation did have issues) they used technology well but the evaluation wasn't that coherent. You also want to go into the BSFG blogs for last year's candidates to see how they answered the questions...

Hope that helps!

Miss Cowan.

Lesson looking at the work of previous work of AS students (Moderated by the examiner)

RPP, Production and Planning

Film Production Lesson 11/02/2014

Production Lesson. by MsCowan

Lesson on Editing Thurs 6/2/2014

AS Editing Lesson

Lara, Muna, Danika Film Production Presentation: The Idea, Development, Finance and The Role of the Producer

Lara, Danika, Muna Film Production Presentation by MsCowan

Half Term revision and HW

Half Term

C1 will be available to all AS students from 12.30-3pm on the Friday of half term for editing and other post production activities. There is no formal revision lesson BUT it is essential that you all attend to ensure consistent development of your film openings.

A register WILL be taken. Please let me know in advance if you will be be able to come, an official note from your parents/carers is required.

HW

Please ensure that you do your HW for Tuesday's theory lessons.

• Mini-case studies or British film from the last 20 years.

And for the practical lessons.

• Continue to work on developing your research, planning and preparations to include your plan from today of the 'next steps' in production and editing.

First Edit

First Cut as Media

G322 SECTION B

FOR ALL LESSONS AND RESOURCES FOR THE EXAM UNITS PLEASE LOOK ON THE APPROPRIATE PAGE OF THE BLOG.

Ms Downton and Ms Cowan's lessons this term will appear on the G322 Audiences and Institutions pages.

Production

Following on from my chat with each group yesterday, I still have to receive notification from any of you about your shoots.

Please ensure that you email me ASAP with the following:

• A list of the scenes filmed so far
• A list of the scenes still left to be filmed
• Details about when you will complete the filming to ensure that you meet the deadlines

For Thursday

YOU MUST ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE FILMED FOOTAGE WITH YOU READY TO UPLOAD.

Lessons on Thursday will focus on editing and your objective will be to complete an assembly edit by the end of period 4. I would recommend that you prepare two edits on two machines during this time to ensure that all in the group learn the skills.

Remember that your first deadline for sharing edits and to begin collecting audience feedback is next Thursday (13th February).

Editing

YouTube FCProX tutorial


Today you should be beginning your edit of your opening sequence using Final Cut Pro X. If you have not yet filmed anything you will nevertheless be expected to cut together a sequence using the software to demonstrate that you have at least a basic understanding of the process.

SCREENR - great tool for evaluation and research

Watch the promo, go to the website and download the app at home. 

Test it out on your next piece of research or pre-production.

10 MINUTE FILM SCHOOL

P1
Watch the clips - one person for each clip and make notes as you watch - you will need to feedback in your groups. 

How will you use storyboarding to prepare for your shoot? 
How will you use pre-visualising in the locations to prepare for the main shoot? 
What filming techniques will you use on set to ensure success? 

Today: 
P1: Research - filming techniques, storyboarding - developing a way of filming
P2: review all pre-production using chart and complete outstanding items - prepare to present your pre-production
P3: Production meetings - 10mins to talk through all elements of your production - you need to be prepare to explain - you will be filmed for evidence
P4: Loose ends - depending on the needs of your production

Order of production meetings 
10.50 Nimo, Mayleen, Noreen, Louise 
11.00 Lara, Muna, Michelle, Danika 
11.10 Bintu, Zhane, Anahita 
11.20 Melina, Sahar, Andi
 

THURSDAY 16TH JAN

Important

If you want to be able to borrow equipment you will need a signed letter returned to me.

All planning for production should be well under way.

In thursday's lessons I will need to see all evidence of your production and you will meet with me to discuss where you are with pre-production using the chart I gave you last week - please ensure this is with you.

The order of meetings will be published tomorrow in class.

Practical work to be completed in class

• Animatic
• Camera testing
• Any video edits
• Any research tasks which are not yet complete

PRE-PRODUCTION

Some inspiration...

Noel Clarke - interview

http://www.50kissesfilm.com/

and also of course the sheet you were working on yesterday.....

Pre Production Checklist

New term - AS Planning Forward

As FP Planning