2011-2012 AS Media Class Blog

Thursday, 15 March 2012

Assignment 11: (draft ___ - whatever you are on)

SET: THUR MAR 15

DUE: 12E: TUES 12A: WED (next week)

Year 12 Agenda Thur Mar 15.

1. You have now all received teacher feedback for draft 1.

2. You need to revise your PLANNING before you film

You decide on which elements from first draft you want to include (may not have to be all of them)

These are the initial instructions:

A. TITLE PAGE:
-Title page that includes all group members names and colour code key.

B. RECORD OF GRADE FOR DRAFT 1
-Include teacher assessment for assignment 9
-clearly label what grade you got (individual and group)
-WWW
-EBI
-Targets to improve

C. DECISIONS & REVISIONS

-You must identify decisions your group made about changes you had to make for your draft 2
-you can describe what problems/obstacles you had, how you overcame them,
-what changes you made from draft 1 to draft 2
-how have these changes helped you improve

D. GENRE:
-What genre (or subgenre) has your group agreed on taking forward? (why has this stayed same or different from draft 1)

a. CONVENTIONS OF REAL FILMS
-What are the conventions of this genre (if subgenre you must do both genres)

-remember to have a detailed range of conventions in chart shown in class. You need to have minimum 4-5 conventions, remember to use examples from films (from same genre) to support your points

b. CONVENTIONS OF YOUR OPENING SEQUENCE
-What are the conventions of this genre you are using (if subgenre you must do both genres) (can be same as D. a.)

-remember to have a detailed range of conventions in chart shown in class. You can draw a picture/explain scene in your opening sequence of how you are applying the conventions for example column. You COULD include scenes from other films that are similar to yours here too – to show the similarities between yours and another real films.

E. INSPIRATIONAL FILMS:

-Each person should do 1-3 films each
-What films inspired you and how? Remember to be specific of something from that film that inspired your opening sequence such as camera shots, music, pace, character, lighting etc.

-remember to apply PEEE structure (like you learned from the assignment)

F. THEME and/or CONCEPT:
-What were your previous themes/concepts?

-WWW & EBI of each of them

-Did you change your theme/concept? Why?

-After explaining the process of how you got to your chosen theme/concept – make it clear of your final choices.

Themes examples: revenge justice poverty perseverance

Concepts examples: time pregnancy memory loss DNA

G. RESEARCH OF TOPIC (THEME/CONCEPT -complete in depth research of the topic and/or theme that you have chosen to do, this research should be presented in a clear yet informative way. It should show you have knowledge and insight into this topic. (example you can’t make an opening sequence about eating disorders without knowing and understanding the disorder)

-research can include written text, photographs, video interviews, etc Try to explore different platforms

H. IDEA DEVELOPMENT:
-What were your previous ideas for whole film? WWW/EBI of this?
-What were your previous ideas for opening sequence? WWW/EBI of this?

-Explain clearly how you are improving your last opening sequence idea to your new one

-Identify how you have changed and developed the idea from it’s original form

-how is everyone contributing?

-Explain your new idea:

-5 bullet points of whole film

-5 bullet points of opening sequence

-explain how you improved from draft 1 to draft 2 (with details)

I. STORYBOARD

-Complete a full storyboard of your opening sequence using the template and correct format

-remember to include EVERY single shot – should be 30/40 boxes – not 10!

J. SCRIPT

-Complete a full script of your opening sequence using the template and correct format

-remember the shot number should co-ordinate with the storyboard

K. SHOTLIST

-Complete a full shotlist of your opening sequence using the template and correct format

-remember the shot number should co-ordinate with the storyboard and script

(shotlist is simple a list of all shot you used and brief description of those shots)

L. ENIGMA:

-How do current films in your genre create enigma in their opening sequences? Use PEEE structure for this.
-How are you creating enigma in your opening sequence?

(consider your genre and conventions when answering this)

(you may discuss and show how you got ideas and inspirations from other opening sequences)

-How have you improved this from draft 1?

M. TARGET AUDIENCE:

a. -Who is your target audience? (give details of age, gender, ethnicity, location, interests/hobbies, lifestyle etc.

-why would your target audience be interested in your film because of the idea/plot

-why would your target audience be interested in your film because of the form (how a film is constructed = editing, transitions, music, etc)

-why would your target audience be interested in your film because of the genre & conventions

b. Develop a questionnaire for your most recent draft – ask them specific questions about your current draft to get their opinions about your idea. You should ask them questions about genre/conventions/theme/concepts/plot/characters/locations etc. You may do this electronically/video/photograph

-when done this, you must have a slide to identify what you learned from getting audience feedback

N. CHARACTERS:
-how have you developed your characters from draft 1?

-for your newest character section, use layout I explained

-Actor as self

-actor as character

-inspirational photos

-costume/props for character

-other mise-en-scene details

-what character represents

O. LOCATIONS:
-Include all pictures of ALL locations. Need to have a good range of angles for each location. Each image to be labelled.

-are these locations always accessible? If not – when?

-how will you get there?

-any health & safety concerns/risk in these locations?

P. NARRATIVE:
-What type of narrative are you using in your opening sequence? (example linear/non-linear, open, closed….)

-how has this developed from draft 1?

Q. FILM THEORY:
-How are you considering and applying the theories of:

-Todorov

-Propp

-Strauss.

-If you don’t apply their theories you must explain why you are not

R. FILM DISTRIBUTING COMPANY:
-what film distribution company would you use and why. You could embed assignment 10 here

-You must choose 1-3 companies you want to include and fully explain why you would choose them

(consider what genre/films they release, budgets, locations, etc)

S. TITLES/CREDITS:
-what titles/credits from real films are you inspired by (still shots with annotations)

-what font would you like to use and why? (remember show EXPLORATION OF IDEAS) – don’t be predictable!

-what colour font would you like to use and why? (remember show EXPLORATION OF IDEAS) – don’t be predictable!

- what animation for titles/credits would you like to use and why? (remember show EXPLORATION OF IDEAS) – don’t be predictable! (you might need to pop on imovie to investigate what is available)

T. MUSIC/SOUNDS:
-what non-diegetic sounds inspire you (background music) in real films that you might want to capture in yours?

-what diegetic sounds inspire you (real sounds) in real films that you might want to capture in yours?! (if there are any)

-look at some copyright free websites and show some sounds you could potentially use for your opening sequence. Make sure you describe where in the opening sequence you would apply the sounds

-You can make your own sounds in garageband if you wish, but still show you have explored copyright free sites for ideas

U. BBFC AND RATING:
-what is the BBFC and what is used for?

-explain the rating system and ages in the UK (U, PG, 12, 15) and explain generally their rating details

-What would your film be rated and how are you meeting the BBFC standards?

Film would be rated _____.

Make a chart that has BBFC standards on one side, the other side, how you are meeting those standards

3. You complete a new draft of assignment 11 (group presentation)

a. You may include:

i. The marks/grade (sheet that I will scan and send) and complete self-assessment chart

ii. Decisions and revisions: Reflection the feedback and what you need to change. Be sure to point out the EBI/targets I gave you

iii. Consider conventions and genre

iv. Narrative structure: what is the narrative structure? Why?

1. do you consider Todorov (narrative theorist about structure disequilibrium/equilibrium/new equilibrium)

2. Don’t be too literal with linear narrative – these are not trailers and short films – they are opening sequences!

3. Opening sequences – INTRODUCE a story and characters and give little hints (pieces of puzzle) to create enigma.

v. New idea

1. Be sure to be clear about information you give the audience (this is why you need to get audience feedback!!!!)

vi. New storyboard

1. Consider better match on action

2. Variety of shots

3. Other filming techniques such as 180 rule, continuity

vii. Consider marks for transitions, special effects etc.

viii. New script

ix. New shotlist

x. Changes in character/mise-en-scene (think about how your character is REPRESENTED).

1. Consider Strauss – character types (and the other newer/contemporary theorists for newer character types (on the narrative research assignment)

xi. Distribution company – you need to consider the evaluation question before you stick in a distribution company!

xii. Titles – what films are you inspired by? What style of titles are you using and why? does it suit your genre? Are you putting enough credits THROUGH OUT your opening sequence

NEW PLANNING DUE: (new powerpoint – TUES – 12E and WED 12A)

Wednesday, 7 March 2012

AS Evaluation Questions

AS EVALUATION QUESTIONS

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?

Evaluation notes.

-this is a video task which is mainly you recording yourselves in front of a video screen with powerpoint/video and voiceovers to support what you are saying.

-it is best to film this in front of a large clear screen such as a TV (use connecting wires) to support if possible

-the cutaways (supportive footage) will be video and print screens

-15 mins total max

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Agenda and deadlines for this week

This is the agenda and deadlines for this week and next week

Mon/Tues - finish editing preliminary exercise, complete self-assessment sheet, assignment 15 set
Tues/Wed - turn preliminary into quicktime, upload on youtube, put on blog, self assessment e-mailed from teacher and on blog, start evaluation questions, print out and
thur - mock exam lesson, h/w - redrafting mock exam
weekend - filming entire opening sequence - be sure to take pictures of yourselves filming as evidence, upload these onto your blogs

Next week:
-editing your opening sequence in FREE TIME
-EVERYONE in your group must participate in filming (pictures on blog) and editing. As a group, you need to agree on times to edit, if you aren't here, you will score less than group.
-you can come from 8am in mornings, break, free periods, lunch, afterschool = plenty of time is available to you
-if someone in your group is not participating in filming and editing, let me know straight away please
-draft 1 due next week
-weekend: to film draft 2
-

Monday, 5 March 2012

Assignment 15: Self-assessment of Preliminary Task

Assignment 15: Self-assessment of Preliminary Task

Set: Mon/Tues Mar 5

Due: Thur Mar 8

You have now completed your preliminary task. You must now grade yourself to understand what went well (WWW) and how would it be even better if (EBI). You will put this together in a PowerPoint that is structured in the same way as the lesson you had about pre-preliminary. (This is in the W drive)

You decide on how you divide work in group but must be colour coded.

Before completing this assignment, you need to convert your video into a QuickTime and put in your folder on the desktop.

After saving it here, you need to upload your video onto your blog by either:

A) Uploading the video file (QuickTime) directly on your blog

B) Uploading the video file on YouTube* and then embedding the YouTube video on your blog.

On your blog give it the title: Preliminary Exercise Video

*If you upload on YouTube, you need to make sure you use the option that in the middle (not fully public (not searchable) but not fully private (or moderator can’t view it on your blog)

Slide 1: Title page and colour code (most should be done as a group though)

Slide 2: WWW & EBI

Slide 3: Self-assessment chart (sheet) with overall level and grade

Slide 4: 4A Controlled use of camera (with still shots as evidence)

Slide 5: 4B Attention to framing (with still shots as evidence)

Slide 6: 4C Variety of Shot distances (with still shots as evidence)

Slide 7: Editing: 180 degree rule (with still shots as evidence)

Slide 8: Editing: Match on action (with still shots as evidence)

Slide 9: Clear Targets to improve (To improve our filming we need to….)

Slide 11: What did you learn? List the technologies you used to make the preliminary

a) Researching the preliminary (could talk about other preliminaries for research)

b) Planning the preliminary (how did you plan it: script, storyboard, overhead plan, shot lists etc.)

c) Filming the preliminary (equipment)

d) Editing the preliminary (computer and iMovie)

e) Uploading the preliminary (turning it into QuickTime and uploading video on blog or YouTube)

f) Assessing the preliminary

Slide 12: What did you learn? List the skills you acquired (gained) in completing make the preliminary. This could be anything from time management, working with others, technologies, etc.)

a) Researching the preliminary

b) Planning the preliminary

c) Filming the preliminary

d) Editing the preliminary

e) Uploading the preliminary

f) Assessing the preliminary

Embed this presentation on your blog above the video calling it Assignment 15: Self-assessment of Preliminary Task.

Thursday, 9 February 2012

AS MEDIA BLOG CHECKLIST (FROM ASSIGNMENT 9-assignment 14)

This is a checklist from assignment 9-14. Make sure it is on your blog before Sat Feb 11^th as I will be marking them then. Make sure they are in this order.

1. Assignment 9: Group presentation (draft 1)