HOLIDAY HOMEWORK

Watch BRITISH TV dramas over the holidays - try to see a range of dramas and from them pick two which you are going to analyse in some detail.


What to analyse:


What are the conventions of TV drama?
Think about: storyline/plot, characters, length of episode, setting, theme.


Ensure that you have set up a NEW PAGE on your blog for TV DRAMA.
The first post is going to be your detailed analysis of the TWO drama's YOU WATCH.
Important: one of these drama's should be an episode of Eastenders, the other can be a drama of your choice as long as it is British.

FIRSTLIGHT

Firstlight

Check out the link to find out about funding for short films.

Homestudy

As all of you are mid shoot and edit at present, the onus is on you to complete the shooting before next weeks Tuesday Deadline.

In addition it is up to you to start collecting your work together in a suitable form to mark and moderate which presents all your research, planning and production tasks and will also accommodate your evaluations in response to the 7 key questions. I am happy for you to use a blog - though this must be created new for the WHOLE group OR to use a WIX website or any other online web/blog creation tool which is suitable. If in doubt send me a link to the site and I will check it out.

Below you will find information about these but it is my strong recommendation that you don't try and answer them yet.

What I am expecting from you is to document for yourself your own process, to make notes on what you have been doing, the successes and the failures. These notes will prove useful later on when it comes to answering the questions. In addition they provide evidence of your developing as learners.

Evaluations


Each candidate will evaluate and reflect upon the creative process and their experience of it. Candidates will evaluate their work electronically, this evaluation being guided by the set of key questions below. This evaluation may be done collectively for a group production or individually. Examples of suitable formats for the evaluation are:


A podcast
DVD extras
A blog
A powerpoint


In all cases, candidates should be discouraged from seeing the evaluation as simply a written essay and the potential of the format chosen should be exploited through the use of images, audio, video and links to online resources. Marks should be supported by teacher comments and may be supported by other forms such as audio or videotaped presentations.


In the evaluation the following questions must be answered:


 In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?


 How does your media product represent particular social groups?


 What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?


 Who would be the audience for your media product?


 How did you attract/address your audience?


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


 Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?


The production element and presentation of research and planning may be individual or group work (maximum group size is four candidates). Where candidates have worked in a group, the evidence for assessment may be presented collectively but centres will still assess candidates on an individual basis for their contribution to aspects of the work, from planning, research and production to evaluation.


G321 is marked and internally standardised by the centre and marks are submitted to OCR by a specified date, a sample is then selected for external moderation. The unit is marked out of a total of 100 marks: 20 marks for the presentation of the planning and research; 60 marks for the construction; 20 marks for the evaluation.

Strangers - Short Film

TASK WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED

RESEARCH

For Tuesday. All groups will present their research either on paper or online to the class. I will be expecting everyone to take part in this and it is very important that this is presented coherently. Amongst this shoudl be evidence gthat you have thought about what you learnt from the preliminary task and recorded this in some way. Commentary on the task itself is a good idea.

I recommend that you have some form of Powerpoint to help you throug. You will find details of what you should include in the research on ealier posts.

PLANNING

For Thursday. All groups will present their planning tasks, again the list of what you should have is in previous posts but you know it anyway.

I don't expect a polishedd website with everything uploaded, I do expect to see finsihed versions of scripts, storyboards, animatics, locations photos, plans, shot lists, schedule and even pre-shoot materials.

I want to know that you have a cast and crew in place, understand the equipment you are using and have done a risk assessment. All the forms you need are downloadable (look back to earlier posts) but if you cannot download, they are easy to make and you will be able to find templates by searching online.

Once again this material will need to be presented to us coherently and with a sense of purpose and confidence in what you are doing.

YOU SHOOT THE NEXT WEEK!!!!

Research and Planning Tasks

Research and Planning

PROPS - BLOOD

If you need blood for your film here is a good guide to making it.



Enjoy.

Sample Storyboard

Exemplar Storyboard

From another school.

This shows good practice and is the level of detail at which I would like you to work.

Tuesday 9th

AS RP 2

One shot - Opening Sequences

Touch of Evil
The Player
Goodfellers
Children of Men

Check out these openings and long takes.

CAMERA MOVEMENT

More useful information regarding shot construction good for analysis and your own script development.

PLEASE SEE OTHER POSTS BELOW AND COMMENT ON THIS ONE TO LET ME KNOW YOU HAVE READ IT.

COURSEWORK - RESEARCH AND PLANNING

Following on from last lesson.

All three groups need:

1. Script and synopsis as word of PDF docs.
2. List of research activities to be completed, identifying who will be doing them, how and by when these must include a range of approaches and you should look to model yourselves on the Demented Pictures site I have shown you. Focus on Genre, Audience research, Media Language and forms, Institutions and Representations. Your analyses should cover moving image, print and websites. Should take in some film history, understanding of how movie openings are constructed and demonstrate knowledge of titling and credits.
3. Planning: location research (photos, plans, directions), casting lists and plans (photos of who you want and explanations of why, arranging casting sessions etc. contact Drama departments!) storyboarding, equipment lists and the beginning of a schedule using the time allocated in the term plan on the blog.

There will be after school detentions on Wednesday for any group who do not demonstrate that they are on top of their planning and research. 

At the top you can watch guides on basic shot construction from OCR - you know it but it's still good to remind yourself so watch. It also uses specific terminology which you need to know.

YOU MUST COMMENT ON THIS POST TO LET ME KNOW YOU HAVE READ IT

Next Half Term

Plan for lessons for next half of term.

You will see that there will be a number of tasks which you will be required to do and it is important that you complete these to gain maximum marks for your coursework.

You will also have a limited time to shoot during our two week filming period. Be prepared to spend no more than 3 days actually filming with full access to the equipment. Before you have access to the equipment you will need to complete the research and planning and demonstrate that you have solid production plans in place with justification for your use of specific equipment. To achieve this you will be guided through the process.

To get ahead you should take advantage of the resources available in the Vital Link section where you will find lots of examples of good research and planning.

Media AS Autumn 2

Check out this link....

Writing a scene

Thursday and Half Term

Today's lesson was focussed on developing your pitches for possible movies that you'd like to make for your coursework.

This coursework as you know is 50% of your overall mark and also should be the most fun you have during the AS course as long as you take it seriously and make sure that you work in a disciplined way.

1. Your first task which must be completed over the half term in your teams is to develop the synopsis of the film and write the script for the first two minutes.
2. Here is a link to a site which makes available published film screenplays.  If you download and use any don't forget to make a clear blogged note of what you did, how you found it useful etc.
3. Also in your development process you should be thinking about genre conventions, directors (who you admire and why - check them out on IMDB) and what detail needs to be in the script and what doesn't.
4. Start thinking about production: Dependent Films have lots of useful stuff for film makers from script templates to production schedules and call sheets (I will explain there uses next half term). Get familiar with what they offer it all adds to your grade!
5. Ash, Kyle, Loren: you all need to post your short synopses to your blogs ASAP for your group to access.
6. All others make sure you check your team 'leader's' blog regularly and if they haven't posted anything put some pressure on them.
7. Ensure that you have made contact and got each other's numbers and contact details. DON'T PUT NUMBERS ETC ON BLOG.

So for Thursday the 4th of November, I want to see each group have uploaded the following.

I will be expect each team to have:
Title of film and refined pitch (25 words)

1. Synopsis of film (250words), target audience.
2. 1st draft of script for opening.
3. Evidence of research into relevant genres: NOT LOTS OF WRITING PLEASE, find different ways.
4. Extension: storyboard, animatics, shot list, location photos, cast lists/photos, production schedule (without dates yet), design drawings, props/costume lists, equipment lists, risk assessment.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER.

LET ME IN

Well done to those of you who made it to the film showing of Let Me In today. I think we all found it a stimulating and provocative film which prompts us to ask lots of questions and examine the way it is filmed.

Those of you who missed it: Latasha, Kyle, Ash and Loren we will have a screening of the original Swedish film after half term. Instead could you check out the trailers for the US and Swedish versions of the film and write short analysis of them.

In the meantime please read the blog posts and ensure that the homework set is completed for Thursday PLUS that you blogs are up to date by Friday latest as I will be grading and levelling you then.

Cinema Trip TUESDAY 19TH October

Odeon Covent Garden

Please follow the link above to find the Cinema - it is indeed the same one we were at last year. Nearest Undergrounds are Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road.

I will be leaving school at about 8.30 and heading up to Boston Manor to catch underground from there. You are welcome to join me but don't be later than 9.45am.

Film starts at 10am and will finish about 12pm then we will head back for afternoon lessons. 

The Film we are watching is:

Let Me In

The US remake of

Let the Right One In

PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS POST TO LET US KNOW THAT YOU HAVE READ IT

HOMEWORKS

I notice from your blogs that not all homeworks have been completed.

Missing work from some of you includes: analysis of the openings of at least two films (not TV) which demonstrate knowledge and understanding (K&U) of media terminology including shots sizes and types, angles, use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound, how narrative is created and explored, the conventions of opening sequences in films including titles, credits (who, what and when during the opening).

Also missing from some analysis of the opening of City of God, script for preliminary exercise, reflections on lessons both those in CLC and my room.

For next Thursday I want you to make sure that this is ALL up to date, I also want you to read and comment on at least three others work - especially the analyses of the openings.

NEXT TUESDAY

Trip to cinema:

You will need to be at the Odeon Covent Garden by 9.45 at the very latest. Nearest tube is Leicester Square on Piccadilly and Northern Lines.

Film will finish before lunch and we will return to Brentford for the PM class which will involve some work on what we have watched.

NEXT THURSDAY

Developing pitches for your films, viewing examples of good and not so good student work, understanding how and why you have to present your Research and Planning in a variety of forms and the importance of this research and the evaluation you will do after the film has been made.

Schedule for second half of term: list of filmed exercises, editing exercises and sound workshops leading to production of films in December.

HOMEWORK FOR THURSDAY

Plan 25 word pitches for the four genres below.

1. Action adventure film
2. Romantic comedy
3. Political Thriller
4. Drama

You must establish who the target audience is as well as the narrative.

In the lesson you will be working on improving theses and developing your Synopses for them.

After half term you will be presenting them ON VIDEO and the class will choose which ones they want to work on. This work DOES COUNT TOWARDS YOUR COURSEWORK as part of research and development. As of course does the analysis work.

AS Media Class - Tuesday 12th October

For those of you who missed today's lessons.

Some students worked on editing the exercise from last week in the CLC, other students watched the openings of at least two films and analysed the shots within them. The films included, Amelie, United 93, Three Colours Blue and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

All analyses for these plus a reflection about the editing processes, what worked from the shoot and what didn't must be posted ASAP.

Thursday's lesson

Once again for a final time this half term we are in the CLC.

The objective will be to film your Preliminary exercise on tape with the same cameras we used last week.

You will therefore need a clear plan for what you are going to do on the day.

I will give you 20minutes at the beginning of Period 1 to plan, decide roles and using your blogs update them with the plan: whose script is being shot, a shot list (in brief) and all the roles which you are taking in the production: director, camera operator, set designer, actor, etc. Ideally you should be prepared to swap around.

You will have periods 2 and 3 to film ONLY.

The groups will be announced on the day but expect to work with anybody on this exercise.

HOMEWORK

Update all blogs with work due especially analysis of opening scenes from films.

Begin thinking about what you would like to make yourself and in particular look at the genre of film you would like to make: horror (and it's sub-genres), thriller, comedy, romance, action-adventure, etc.

Remember that after making your film opening you will have to answer questions explaining your thought processes in development, pre-production, production and post-production. If you don't understand the conventions of the film genre you are working in answering these questions will be virtually impossible.

After half term there will be a two week period of intense script development alongside the editing of the preliminary exercises (which you will all need to complete). And then a pitching competition.

I will issue you with some advise on developing good film projects next week - and things to avoid!!!!


PLEASE COMMENT BELOW TO LET ME KNOW YOU HAVE READ THIS POST.

script

rose runs across the dark night in the woods ( profile long shot) she is breathing rapidly .
(close up) on her face showing her nervousness and she is sweating
all of a sudden in the dark woods a load of noise of the leaves on the damp floor we can hear the movement behind rose, she turns to find no one there (over the shoulder shot  behind rose) but she can vivadly see a shadow a but of who she isn't aware of. than  she carries on running as fast as she could. when she reaches a a bulding  she races to the bulding and the she tries to look through but is unable to as it i unclear.she opens the door.(hand on the handle) while she opens the door (wide shot), where there was only one table and to chairs n one of the chair was filled with the man faceing his back to rose

 ( rose) may i come in? she doesn't get a replay so she than steps in the room ( shot from above on her feet close up stepping in) the room is complete silence where there is only the sound of  rose"s steps  rose finaly reaches the man and stands in from of him ( a above shot from the eyes of rose on the man) rose looks upon him wear his eyes are shut and a pale man with no movement rose finds him to be dead  on the chair and holding on his right hand a bottle of passion that is when rose scream and drops on her knees( birds eye view)

Sample Scene

Sample Scene

Notes on Scripts for all

Great start.

Now you all need to format these so that they are in the expected format for a script or screenplay, please follow the link on the blog to the Bourne script and use the same conventions.

In addition you need to address the needs of the task - taking someone from outside a door to inside the room, siting two people opposite each other and having a brief conversation (using shot and reverse) and establishing that you understand the 180 degree rule.

Do's

• Do make them short and to the point
• Do describe the action in detail
• Do think about how each shot looks and what action take place in it
• Do think about using minimum dialogue (2 lines only)
• Do use only two characters
• Do think of this as a chance to really nail some basic skills required in filming drama

Don'ts

• Don't make it too long
• Don't try to make it too complicated
• Don't set it in space or a location which we will not be able to shoot it
• Don't use 10 words where two will do.
• Don't add in fight sequences, car chases, murders etc.

PLEASE remember that this is not marked and will not contribute to your overall mark for the coursework this ONLY serves as a preliminary exercise and test of your skills.

SCRIPT AND STORYBOARDS NEED TO BE FINISHED ASAP - WE WILL BE SHOOTING THESE SEQUENCES NEXT WEEK AND THE WEEK AFTER.


Provisional Groups for prelim exercise - these are not necessarily your groups for the Main task.


A
Chandni
Latasha
Kyle


B
Aneta
Loren
Amanda


C
Simona
Ash
Amira

Good luck!

Bourne and Storyboarding

As Media Week5

Tuesday 28th September

NARRATIVE

Here's today's powerpoint. I realise that we didn't get on to the practical work I had intended but this will be more than made up for on Thursday when we are in the CLC. Please remember that we will be starting at 9.40am on the button so try and be there earlier.

Also, please let me know ASAP whether you are able to come on the trip or not.

HOME STUDY

Get up to date with any outstanding home works and post your analysis of the opening of City of God as per the last slide. There is an extension exercise there also.

AS L4 Narr

Kiddulthood opening

I will analyse the opening of  British drama film.
Denotation- Is what we see once we look at an advert or a image.
Connotation- Meaning or associated meaning that a image or a word carries with it, above its meaning.

  In first few seconds ''Kiddulthood" is written in white writing on black background. Letters are quite large and in the center of the screen. As it progresses I can see someone playing football, but I only see that persons feet hitting it but cant really see the person. In next few seconds I see school kids in uniforms having a regular school day. Dirty close up has been used while showing a boy with  protection glasses on.then school kids are shown again in a wide shot.The boy with protection glasses is using or testing a drill.

  Straight away I started to think that this guy with a drilling machine is up to something, because at the time when everyone is outside and enjoying their break, He has stayed inside planning something. This makes me wonder what is he up to!

  There is a lot of mud everywhere while football was played to show us that it definitely wasn't summer It must have been autumn and because of the dull weather.

  It is easy to understand, that it is school based in England, because of school uniforms!

Thursday 23rd September

Please find the embedded presentations from yesterday's lessons. Also can you note the HOME STUDY which must be completed by Tuesday and POSTED to your own blogs.

Part 1 of Homestudy

Kidulthood Opening

Watch the opening sequence from KIDULTHOOD and apply what you have learnt. remember to start with DENOTATION (the signifiers) and be methodical about it. Only once you have done this should you go on to explore the CONNOTATIONS (the signified) and the possible readings which can be made.

Part 2 of Homestudy

Write a one page script for a scene in which someone comes through a door and goes to sit down with someone else inside the room and they have a brief conversation (or not). In your script you should describe the action, write the dialogue (if any) and give an indication of shots.

Read the sample script to see how to lay out the page. We will do more on this on Tuesday.

The Bourne Supremecy (Screenplay)

AS L2 Den Conn

AS L3 ML

PLEASE COMMENT TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS POSTING

Tuesday 21st September

Here is the presentation for today's lesson with reminders about the homework. Ideally this should be completed on your blog. Please ensure that this is completed by Thursday.

Also, some advance warning. There will be a Media Studies A level trip to the Cinema on the 18th of October to see "Let Me In" (the remake of the brilliant Swedish vampire movie "Let the Right One In") Letters will go out soon - this is FREE just the cost of travel which you will need to pay for - and a very early start as the screening starts in Covent Garden at 10am. So you will need to leave the Brentford at 8.20sm or close to.

If any of you have a problem with this due to other classes please let me know the teachers involved and their email addresses and I will try and smooth things for you. Also be aware that you MUST inform the teach that you are going on a curriculum based trip and assure than that you will catch the work up in your own time.

AS L5

Check out the link...

10 minute Film School

A useful breakdown of how to shoot cheaply by the master of Mexican actioners Robert Rodriguez.

Week 2

This week we have continued to focus on Media Language.

Please refer to the previous post for details about some of the ways in which we can look at audio-visual material (films, TV drama etc).

We have also examined the course structure.

Once again can I recommend that you follow the link to look at the course specification and also consider buying the course handbook. I would like a response from all of your regarding this soon.

If you are interested in buying your own copy let me know, otherwise I will by a set for the class and you will be charged a returnable deposit of £10 to use the book for the year. The link to amazon is on the first post I made.

Meantime, here is the presentation from today's lesson, please take note of the HOMESTUDY expectations for next week.

AS L4

Thursday's Lesson

For those of you who missed Thursday's lesson here is a brief overview of what we did and what I would like you to do in order to catch-up the work missed and therefore stay on track.

BLOGS

The three students who attended all linked their blogs to this one, as you can see. This has allowed them the possibility of viewing each other's work and comment on it. To do this for you I will need you to send me the URL (web address) of your BLOG and I will also need you to send me your email so that I can invite you to be a contributor to the main AS blog.

The students also posted their reflections on the work we did in class which dealt with TV drama.

You can see what we watched by following the link to the BBC iPlayer and watching the first 5 minutes of MAD MEN which was broadcast on Wednesday at 10.30 on BBC4.

Our focus of attention was on understanding HOW the filming works and discussing which shots were chosen, for what reason and what other factors are involved with the creation of this carefully crafted TV drama.

Television Drama

• Scenes - discrete units of action which take place in a specific location, scene changes often marked by location changes.
• Locations - places where the action of a scene takes place (sometimes this is a set, sometimes it is a real location or place)
• Sets - controlled filming environments which may be in studio or on location, the important thing is that they are controlled for filming. These are constructed to help create the narrative and support the atmosphere of the drama. Use of specific props, colours, materials and design is vital.
• Lighting - how a set, location and actors are lit for the scene, control over lighting is vital to achieve the appropriate atmosphere for a specific scene. Three point lighting involves Key, Fill and Back lights all of which help to provide natural lighting on the character(s) which are the focus of attention.
• Camera positions - these govern the way a scene is filmed, choosing the right positions is vital in the construction of the drama.
• Shot sizes - ranging from extreme close up to panoramic wide shot, shot sizes (or camera angles) are varied according to the purposes of the drama to help in the telling of the story.
• Focus - the focus of the camera (narrow depth of field - wide depth of field) are chosen to help the audience know what to look at and how to look at it. Changes of focus within a shot can literally move the audiences attention from one place/person to another.
• Costume and Make-up: effectively personal design for characters in the drama, the choices made tell us a great deal about and the personality, job, status, age of the character. They also reflect the time when the drama is set (Period, contemporary, futuristic etc.) and the genre of the drama (comedy, horror, crime etc.)
• Performance: acting, body language, dialogue etc. Vital if conveying the drama and supported by the choices made by the director with regard to all the above.

Look at the clip and using some of what is written above make your own reflection on the scenes and how they have been constructed.

HOME STUDY

This weeks home study is to 'audit' your use of Media across four days (Friday to Monday)

How do you use the media?

Time spent:

• watching TV
• films
• listening to Radio
• online: what do you do?
• mobile: what do you do?

Record this audit to your blog as a new post. Are there any conclusions that you can draw from your use of media.

New Course

A New Course for a New Year 12 intake.

Check out the specification online and look at the recommended course handbook. 

We will be launching into our preliminary filming exercise during the first half of the autumn term and beginning preparations for the main coursework in the second half of term. These are collaborative group exercises where you will all have the opportunity to learn about the different roles in film and video production. 

In preparation for the course you are advised to watch TV drama and take note of how it is made, look at when the cuts happen, the choice of shots and the use of sound. Think about the decisions directors, producers and crew make when it comes to placing the camera, choosing props and costumes, locations and cast. How do these various elements work together? Think also about the decisions writers producers and directors make when developing narrative, constructing scenes, writing dialogue and structuring drama.

As students you will all be expected to use the course blog (this one) and to maintain your own learning blog where you will post written, visual and audio-visual work in response to your exploration and study of Media across the three main platforms (print, audio-visual, e-media/new media).

Therefore you will be expected to have accounts with include: gmail, blogger, youtube, scribd and you will be guided through this processes in the first couple of lessons.

It is strongly recommended: use the same name and password for each account.

Name should be:  Your name followed by AS Media Studies

Keep passwords private but the same.

Your coursework will ultimately be submitted online and running your blog efficiently and successfully blog will be an essential part of your work this year.