Reminder

Just to remind you all this is the pre-summer work;

 

• Research different blog sites and styles of blogs.
• This will not take long – you used blogs last year and know what you need - blogger/blogspot is very reliable, wix is a bit flash but temperamental, Wordpress doesn’t work on the Macs but is fine on other PCs. You can use the same platform or even the same blog as last year.
• If using the same blog address, archive your year 12 work Set up your blog and get the address to me – you have until the end of term to do this. 
• First entry: statement of intent; who you are, what you are doing, what you did for last year’s coursework, what you hope to achieve through the project? 
• Invite classmates to follow you – this will help you gather evidence of audience feedback 
• What do existing texts in your chosen area look like?
• What elements make up a typical example?
• Do some research and add it to your blog as a short post
• Come up with an idea: NOT just for a your main task, but for the whole package
• Post your initial thoughts on your blog – you can always change them later.

 

This all needs to be done before the summer - DEADLINE 19th July.

Pre-Summer Task List

Research different blog sites and styles of blogs.


This will not take long – you used blogs last year and know what you need - blogger/blogspot is very reliable, wix is a bit flash but temperamental, Wordpress doesn’t work on the Macs but is fine on other PCs. You can use the same platform or even the same blog as last year.


If using the same blog address, archive your year 12 work Set up your blog and get the address to me – you have until the end of term to do this.


First entry: statement of intent; who you are, what you are doing, what you did for last year’s coursework, what you hope to achieve through the project?


Invite classmates to follow you – this will help you gather evidence of audience feedback


What do existing texts in your chosen area look like?
What elements make up a typical example?
Do some research and add it to your blog as a short post


Come up with an idea: NOT just for a your main task, but for the whole package


Post your initial thoughts on your blog – you can always change them later.


This all needs to be done before the summer - DEADLINE 19th July.

Case Study Research

You need to make sure you have a solid understanding of synergy and convergence as well as linear and vertical integration.

The best way to do this is create a family tree for your case studies

E.G

As you do this you should be able to make both vertical and horizontal connections (horizontal would represent companies responsible for the same process e.g. prodution, while vertical demonstrates the different levels e.g. distibution.

G321 evaluation powerpoint

In the evaluation the following questions must be answered:

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?

 

Remember, although you are presenting your research and planning via your blogs, you can use other media to provide your evaluation. Other acceptable formats include Prezi, DVD extras, podcast, and website.

 Below is the presentation from the lesson - you only really need to refer to slides 10 - 24

 

Year 12 media coursework g321 evaluation techniques from MediaGeorge

Epic Exam Prep PowerPoint Lesson

This is the mammoth PowerPoint from today's lesson;

Section b g322 sow from boogedy

G321 Final Research and Planning and Task Guidance.

First a little gentle reminder of the timescale remaining;

All research and planning work MUST be with me by the 27th March. Ideally you will also be in a position to submit a finished film.

Films, if not submitted before Easter, MUST be ready for the first lesson, the first week back (Monday 13th April period 2). These can be either uploaded to YouTube and a link provided on your blog or you can put the film onto a pen drive or disc and hand it to me. Please clearly mark disc/pendrive with your name.

Evaluations will be completed by the 24th April. There are six questions you need to answer and I will be going through these next Monday so that you are clear about what you need to do.

Therefore you have six weeks, including the holidays, to get all this work finished and handed to me. Work is being sent to the exam board on the 27th which means I have no room to move the final submission date by.

Although not all of this work is to be submitted electronically it is advisable that you do. You will need to submit work electronically next year.

I have taken screenshots of relevant pages from the exam board spec which should answer any of your questions;

 

Hopefully this answers any questions you have about the task and the expectations of the exam board.

Example Research and Planning for G321

My film is going to be a Supernatural Fantasy film. Its aim is to introduce the audience to the main characters - kind of an origin story if you like. This is because in the genre of Supernatural Fantasy sequels and trilogies are big business. Therefore I'd set my film up in the same way.

Although most films in the genre tend to be aimed as a teen audience - consider The Hunger Games, Divergent series and Maze Runner - mine would be elevated to a slightly older demographic. This is because I think a lot of adults enjoy Supernatural Fantasy but that only television shows seemed to be aimed at them, for example Grimm, Fringe, Warehouse 13 or Supernatural. I'd like my film to bridge the gap between the two mediums by appealing to hte same demographic as those shows. However I would also consider keeing the rating to a 15 as I think young adults would still enjoy my film.

The plot;

Amber is a witch and demon hunter. She spends her time on the road with brothers Duncan and Seth, hunting demons and monsters from folklore and protecting the innocents - people who are fortunate enough to be oblivious to things that go bump in the night.

Amber's cases lead her to Hemingford where an evil cult is seemingly enacting their own form of divine retribution. It is up to Amber and the boys to infiltrate the cult and fight whatever evil is at the root of it. It is a case that will cost Amber more than ever before and will raise questions about her own history. Can she trust what she has been told her entire life? Why was her mother really murdered all those years ago?

Pitch;

Monsters do exist. Ever get the feeling that you are being watched from the shadows? That's because you are............... Ghosties, Ghoulies and eight legged beasties stalk the Midnight realm with only the Hunters to keep them at bay. Working in secret the Hunters protect you from creatures once thought to only exist in the world of make-believe. My name is Amber Thessaily and I am a Hunter. You are holding my diary, the record of a smoking hot Hunter on the frontlines of the battle against the things that go bump in the night.

Example Research and Planning for G321

My main character Amber will wear outfits similar to Faith in Buffy - tank top, jeans, boots. Basically low maintenance, easy to run and fight in clothes;



I'm also really influenced by the slightly steampunk look of Claudia Donovan in Warehouse 13 and think I'd like to incorporate some of that into Amber's costume. Expecially as Faith's look is slightly outdated. Therefore;

 

Basically, leather, boots, badges, studs and band t-shirts (obviously no Farnsworth or Tesla!)

 

For the brothers, as their characters are very much based on Dean and Sam from Supernatural I'd go with a similar look to them. Looking around, another influence would be Dale Barbara from Under the Dome. Simply, jeans, t-shirt or checked shirt, khaki or leather jacket.

 

 

Obviously I'm not going to go out and buy clothes for my actors so I'm going to have to work with what they, or I have, but this gives me a starting point which I can adapt. For the most part, as none of this is particularily specialist I think I'll be able to recreate the three costumes fairly faithfully.

Example Research and Planning for G321

Initial ideas mind map;

This shows my first thoughts on the three possible genres. From this I can see I have the most knowledge and understanding of the horror and syfy/fantasy genre. Horror would be easier to do while some of my ideas for syfy/fantasy are possibly a little out of my means. 

Ideally I'd like to combine the two creating a horror urban fantasy cross genre...

G321 Coursework marking

I have started to mark your blogs for the research and planning component of G321 and am a little surprised to see work still missing.

I posted the link to the booklet, which explained what you needed to include and had advice on how to do well, a while back. All of you should have saved a copy to refer to - especially as the booklet had a checklist of tasks on the back. I am assuming that not all of you did.

I have uploaded the booklet to slideshare, and posted it below, for you to access. I suggest you do.

G321 booklet(1) from Charlotte Cowles

For those of you missing work, I have graded what you have on your blogs. I will look at them again on the 9th March. If work is still missing you will be expected to attend intervention.

Year 12 today - 25/11

Today you should be either working on exam case studies or, using the draft booklet for G321, starting to think about coursework.

The booklet can be found here; O:\Media Studies\A Level and is the pdf titled G321 Booklet (make sure you open that one and not the G324 booklet!).

I have included deadlines - planning and preparation is due in the week we get back.

Note - some of you still have a lot of tasks to catch up on!

Exam Preparation - Year 12

Here is the powerpoint from today's lesson;

G322: AS Media Studies Section A & B from hannahmedia

In the lesson on Wednesday, if you have no tasks to catch up on, you can start compiling information for your case study. You will need to pick at least one British film company (remember, if you pick Film4 you cover all three areas of production/distribution/exhibition, if you pick something like Working Title, you will need to look a companies that cover the other two areas not covered by Working Title.) and look at a number of films produced by that company.

You do need to begin this now, although your exam still seems a long way off. Once we begin the coursework proper I will expect you to split your time between exam prep and coursework tasks. Therefore when you come to lessons you should have already decided what you are going to do, rather than me giving you tasks to complete.

Some example case studies - just to give you an idea of what sort of information you should be collecting;
 

G322 case study working title Case Stu from Alleyn's School Media Studies Department

Case study - The Inbetweeners Movie from alevelmedia

G322 case study monsters from Alleyn's School Media Studies Department

Year 12 checklist

Having looked at your blogs I am concerned that there is a lot of work missing for some of you. I have put together a checklist of what work we have covered and, therefore, what should be posted on your blog. You will need to catch up on this work before we move on.

Media profile and collage
Notes on TV Drama and Editing techniques
Photography task - sequencing photos to show a short scene
Storyboard for your Preliminary Task
Preliminary group task (done in school)
Evaluation of group preliminary task
Outline for new preliminary task - to be done at home
Notes on Narrative supported with screenshots
Narrative flowchart of your favourite film or story using Tordorov
Analysis of a film opening in the same genre as your film
Table comparing the BBC with Warner Bros
Research of a media company looking at what Media it owns
Table comparing 1960s audience to modern audiences
Preliminary Film Task (due by the end of November)

You don't have any lessons with me this week but should be using study time and some home learning time to complete work. I expect to see this work on your blogs by the end of next weeks lessons.

G321 Task

A helpful article for you to look at with examples of really effective opening scenes. Might help with ideas...

Ten Great Opening Scenes

The 180 Degree Rule: Doing it Right, Doing it Wrong & Doing it With Thre...

Clearly demonstrates the 180 degree rule in action - much better than my attempts to explain!

Types of Film Cuts

Really useful video about different type of cuts with clear examples.

Item of Interest

I had an email regarding the following event which sounds quite interesting. Certainly if you were thinking of using your A level to go into film making it would be worth a look. It is in Cambridge which is a bit of a trek however if several of you wanted to go I'm sure you would be able to sort something out.



It is in the day time but for year 13 this is a Media Day so I would be happy to allow you the time to attend rather than coming in. Year 12s I don't know your timetable and therefore couldn't say whether you'd be able to get the permission needed to attend. If you are interested I'd suggest discussing with any teachers you may have on that day.

CFC: The Keeper of Lost Causes | Arts Picturehouse | Cambridge

 



THE KEEPER OF LOST
CAUSES

Friday 14th November,
10.00am - 1.00pm

This is
the first thrilling adaptation of the bestselling Department Q crime novels by
Jussi Adler-Olsen. Carl Mørck (Kaas, The Killing) is a disgraced
detective who is reassigned to a basement-bound job filing cold cases in the
newly created Department Q. He is also allocated a new assistant, Assad
(Fares), a smart young cop. Always one to go against orders, Mørck throws them
headlong into the mystery of a politician’s disappearance five years
earlier. Believing the case to be unsolved, they embark on a dangerous
journey that will lead them into the dark underworld of
Copenhagen.

Presentations:

Barry
Forshawe: Scandinavian Noirs

Trish
Sheil: Silent film influences on contemporary
noir

Dr. Tanya
Horeck: Women in crime thrillers

Suitable
for A/AS/Undergraduate/BTEC English/Film/Media Studies
students

Cost: £4
per ticket. Accompanying teachers free. Anglia Ruskin University student
free.

Year 12 - set tasks 21/10

Today I'd like you to begin preparing for your first piece of AS coursework analysis.  I have copied and pasted a couple of links below to help.

You need to have made a note of relevant key terms using the following glossary as well as supplementing it with your own research (for example antagonist and protagonist are not on this list);

 http://brianair.wordpress.com/film-theory/glossary-of-media-terminology/

 

 

Read through the following two pages on Key Concepts and what you need to think about when analysing;

 

http://mediaalevel.edublogs.org/the-key-concepts/

http://www.mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/alevkeyconcepts/alevelkeycon.php

 

 

Finally, look at the AS blogs from last year's class as well as those included on Reepham's blog as they are generally quite good.

 

http://reephamcollegemedia.blogspot.co.uk/

http://asmediajack.blogspot.com/

http://chanrahan6nr4media.blogspot.com/

http://mannisonmedia.blogspot.co.uk/

http://ellagarnermedia1.blogspot.co.uk/

 

On Thursday I expect you to bring either a copy of the opening two minutes to watch and analyse OR screenshots that you intend to talk about. I aim to mark this analysis over half term week.

 

 

 

 

 

 





Year 12 - set tasks 15/10

Hi guys,

I'm not with you today although you have Miss Ella as tech support should you need. I have put the clips from Monday's lesson on the O drive and I'd like you to summarise your notes from the last two lessons and support with screenshots from the clips.

You have a clip of Horatio's one liners from CSI and an example of how they are funny when taken out of the CSI franchise. As I thought, there is a clip from The Usual Suspects, look at how enigma is created - also if you haven't ever seen the whole film you really should, it is extremely clever. I've given you a Lego Star Wars, which will help you identify Propp's character types.

Once you've done that you can look through the rest of the powerpoint and, using your favourite film or story, try to create a narrative flowchart using Tordorov's model.

Media Studies intro to Narrative [autosaved] from alevelmedia

Introduction to AS Media

The first two weeks of the year 12 Media course has, so far, been a bit of a whistle-stop tour through shot types, editing techniques and almost everything you need to know to set up and film a sequence of your own.

A lot of this has been revision for some of you and, for the rest, nothing you haven't already experienced through your consumption of moving image. 

The whole purpose of this is to get you thinking about not only how the camera is used, but how you might use it in your own productions. You will be completing a preliminary film task as early as next week which will demonstrate your understanding of camera movement and editing techniques.

To begin with I asked you all to complete a questionnaire and write a media profile for yourselves using your answers. I also requested a visual representation of the same information. I haven't had a chance to write my own media profile but I have done an example of the collage;

Media collage from Charlotte Cowles

The following PowerPoints are the ones we looked at in the lessons;

1 film language cinematography space from Charlotte Cowles

2 film language framing from Charlotte Cowles

3 film language camera position from Charlotte Cowles

4 film language camera movement from Charlotte Cowles

5 film language continuity editing from Charlotte Cowles

I would like you to have uploaded all work so far to your blogs by the end of next week. That includes the tasks I set for this week and your photography task. The photography task includes the shots you took and your evaluations as well as your comments and feedback on three of someone else's shots as well as the list of shot types and examples. You can upload PowerPoints to Slideshare and embed them to get them on your blog.