Assignment 2: December task list

1) Research and planning: find five film posters and five trailers for five different films and post them to your blog. Write an analysis to go with each one outlining the genre of the film, the key conventions of the poster/trailer and any interesting additional information such as the representation of people or places in the poster/trailer.

2) Brainstorm possible film ideas for your original film idea. Plan the following:

• Genre
• Title
• Narrative
• Characters/actors (advise not using major stars)

3) Write a film pitch for your original film idea.

Film pitch guidance

You need to create a sales pitch for an imaginary film of approximately 150 words. The pitch should be no longer than 150 words and begin with a ‘log line’. 

The pitch will include:

• A ‘log line’ (a one sentence summary of the film's narrative)
• brief reference to your film's genre
• brief reference to at least one similar film
• brief reference to the target audience for your film
• indication of main characters
• brief summary of narrative (what happens in the story)

Websites to help you:
scripthollywood: Hollywood script writing and film pitching 
BBC Writer’s Room: guidance for planning and writing creatively for TV and film

4) Plan your photoshoot for your film poster:

• Who will be in it?
• What location will you use?
• What costume and make-up is required?
• What type of shots are you planning?

5) Carry out your photoshoot, capture the images then design your film poster using Photoshop.

6) Plan your storyboard for your film trailer:

• Camera shots and transitions (remember: plenty of close-ups and fast-paced editing)
• The on-screen text you will include (e.g. release date)
• How your main characters will be introduced
• Script any dialogue in the trailer 
• The different locations your trailer will feature

7) Draw your storyboard on the official AQA storyboard sheets

8) Choose one of the five films you researched to be the film you will analyse in your 1,000 essay. Make sure there is enough for you to analyse.

9) Research the institutions behind the film (film studio, distributor etc.) and post what you find on your blog.

10) Analyse the representation of people, places, events or ideas in your chosen film and post your analysis on your blog.

GCSE Media homework 05/12/12

In class, you presented your table's film poster and trailer to the class, answering these five questions:

1. What is the genre of the film?
2. What key conventions of a film poster can you find?
3. What key conventions of a film trailer can you find?
4. What is the target audience for the film?
5. Why is the film promotion successful?

You now need to post your group's film poster and trailer on your blog with written answers to those five questions.

Due: Friday

GCSE Media homework 28/11/12

You need to write an analysis of a film trailer - just like last week's homework - but this time you need to focus on the representation of people, places or groups in the trailer. Make sure you embed the trailer from YouTube and use the key word 'stereotypes' in your analysis. Here's an example for Die Hard 4.0...

A variety of people, places and groups are represented in this trailer. Unusually, the trailer subverts the stereotype of a villain by having the enemy as an American. Often, the villain in an action or action adventure film is foreign. This is largely off-set by the representation of Bruce Willis as a stereotypical white, American patriotic male. He shows key characteristics - bravery, strength, intelligence and a desire to save lives and protect other Americans - that we would expect from the action adventure genre.

The representation of women is less positive and very stereotypical for an action film. The only female characters of note are a woman in one early scene in the trailer who is stereotypically beautiful and wearing tight clothing - exactly what you would expect for a genre aimed primarily at a male audience. The more significant female character is Bruce Willis's daughter who is represented as a classic 'damsel in distress' and requires men to save her.

There is also a stereotypical representation of young people in the trailer. Younger characters are linked to technology and gadgetry and indeed the very last scene of the trailer mocks the younger characters for this ability ("It's not a command centre - it's a basement"). This is in keeping with the stereotype that young people are comfortable with technology and quite 'geeky' and that older people - particularly those who are strong and brave - are the real heroes.

Due: Wednesday 5 December

GCSE Media homework 23/11/12

Well done to every GCSE Media student for the hard work on Assignment 1. There were some absolutely spectacular magazine covers produced and if the written analysis is equally good we'll be looking at a whole host of A/A* grades.

We have now started Assignment 2 - Film Promotion. A reminder of your homework:

1. Make sure your blog is up-to-date with your finished Assignment 1 magazine cover.
2. Choose a film trailer, embed the clip from YouTube and write an analysis of what genre the film is in and why.

Due: Wednesday 28 November

Mr Halsey

Assignment 1: Print - Analytical task guidance

Assignment 1: Print

Analytical task: Analyse the cover pages of two popular magazines. How do the covers appeal to their audiences?

Pages 1&2
Write a short paragraph introducing the popular magazine you are analysing and outlining its target audience (if you can find the target audience by researching online this is even better).

You then need to annotate the magazine cover, picking four or five key aspects that target that specific audience (use the 12 key conventions of magazine covers to help you). Remember to use media language throughout and make sure you are ANALYSING rather than just describing. 

Page 3
Your third page should analyse your own magazine cover. First, write a paragraph explaining how your research, planning and sketching helped you produce the final mock-up on Photoshop. Next, explain your target audience in detail (use your notes from the audience demographics lesson to help you).

Then, annotate your magazine, picking four or five key aspects that target your specific audience.

Remember:

D = Denotation = What you can see
C = Connotation = What it means
A = Analysis = WHY it is produced in that way and the EFFECT on the reader/audience

October GCSE mock - pre-release materials

October mock exam: Music Press (print and online)

Pre-release briefing notes

We are loudproductions.com

We are a new media production company with serious attitude. We’re passionate about music and reckon there’s a major gap in the market where young people are simply not engaging in music magazines.

We also recognise that today’s dynamic 15-24 demographic wouldn’t be seen dead buying a magazine in WHSmiths, so we’re looking to launch a new online music magazine that our target audience can interact with on the web and on the move.

The key decisions: title, slogan, genre, features and design are still to be decided – and that’s where you come in. We want you to pitch an online music magazine that will fill that gap in the market and show that we are genuine players in the music press.

We are loudproductions.com

Preparation tasks

1. Research the following magazines online: NME, Mojo, Q, Vibe, The Wire, The Situation, Kerrang!, B&S, The Source, Rock Rap Confidential, BBC Music Magazine. What style of music does the magazine focus on? What artists are featured? Who do you think is the target audience for each magazine? How can you tell?

2. Find the following print music magazine covers on Google images: NME, Mojo, Q, Vibe, Kerrang!. What key conventions appear on every front cover? What artists are featured?

3. Brainstorm ideas for your music magazine: title, slogan, genre, features, USP etc. 

4. Come up with five creative ways you could promote your website to the 15-24 age range.

5. Think about the design of your website – what would it look like? What colours would you use? What artist would feature on the homepage? What different sections would appear in the menu bar? Feel free to sketch ideas out or mock it up on Photoshop.

Photoshop - colour workshop

1) Create a colour palette based on one of the following words:


Urban
Fashionable
Expensive
Skin-tone
Pastel
Vibrant

Fresh

Youthful

Earth

Autumn

Winter

Fruity

2) Choose an image from the internet that represents your chosen palette well and copy it. Download the empty Fruit Bowl image from the VLE > Media Studies > Shared documents and paste your image in the top corner. Then, use the eyedropper tool to colour the fruit bowl:

N.C.I.S Homework for Miss Rodden's class: Due Friday 5th October

Watch a Teen Drama this week.

Analyse it in terms of how the Narrative, Character, Iconography and Settings appeal to and attract a specific teenage target audience.

You may find the following prompt questions helpful:

Narrative:

1.    What types of narratives (storylines) do you think this Teen Drama may include and how do you know?

2.    What are the narrative hooks (what is it that draws the audience in and stops them from turning over)?

3.    Can you identify any narratives that would be typical of other genres (hybrid)?

Characters:

1.    What types of characters do you meet in this Teen Drama?

2.    What other types of characters do you expect to meet in this drama and why?

3.    How are the central characters introduced and what does this tell you?

4.    Are there any stereotypical characters? Why?

Settings:

1.    What types of settings (locations) are used in the drama?

2.    What clues does this give you about the style of the drama (types of narratives, characters etc)?

3.    How does this setting appeal to the primary audience (teenagers)?

4.    Can you identify any setting that could be typical of other genres?

Iconography:

1.    What can we see and how does that tell us this is a Teen Drama (visual codes)?

2.    What can we hear and how does that tell us this is a Teen Drama (sound codes)?

3.    What specific type of audience are these codes aiming to appeal to?

4.    Can you identify any iconography from other genres?

Audience:

1.    What types of teens do the themes, characters and settings appeal to?

2.    Create a primary audience profile (ethnicity, gender, age, interests, sexuality etc) using evidence from the opening sequence.

3.    What might the secondary audience be and why?

Minority Report - shot-by-shot analysis

Now you've learned everything you need to know about camerawork, it's time to put it into practice.

Download the Minority Report shot by shot analysis document here and then save it to your documents. Copy the images into your blog and write a detailed analysis of each one - the first one is done for you to provide an example.

Finish it for homework if you don't complete it in the lesson.

Good luck!

Camera shots in action!

Now you've learned the different camera shots and angles, we need to put it into practice.

In groups of four, you will have to come up with a photo storyboard in the genre we give you, making sure you include each camera shot and angle we have learned.

You will then upload the photos to your blog and write a short analysis of each one explaining why you've used that shot and what the meaning of the image is.

Good luck!

Camerawork research task

Some of the key knowledge you'll need as you work through GCSE Media involves the 'language' of film and TV. That means how the meanings that we see on our screens are created by directors. Even though you've only just started studying Media, you're already an incredibly advanced consumer of moving image media and will understand a huge amount about the different meanings certain shots or transitions hold. You don't need a media teacher to tell you that a fade to black in a film probably means the passing of time, for example.

Today, we're going to start with camerawork. That means learning the different camera shots, movement and  - if you have time - transitions. Complete the following tasks on your blog:

1) Research the following camera shots: establishing shot, long shot, medium shot, medium close-up, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot, high-angle shot, low-angle shot. For each one, find a definition or description (or, even better, an image to illustrate).

2) Research a variety of examples of camera movement. Here's a clue: one example is a tracking shot. How many other styles of camera movement can you find? Make sure you also include definitions.

3) A transition refers to editing - something we'll cover in detail another day. But you could research a few different styles of transition: the cut, dissolve or wipe, for example. Again, make sure you also include a definition.

You may feel the urge to cut and paste your responses but I'd strongly advise you to type it out - you'll be much more likely to remember it!

Good luck - and let's hope our individual blogs are really showing what fantastic media students we are...

Welcome to GCSE Media 2012-13

My name is Mr Halsey, I'm the new Head of Media here at Greenford and I'm very much looking forward to working with you on some brilliant projects over the next year. With 93% of GCSE students achieving an A*-C grade last year we've got a hard act to follow, but I'm more than confident we can do it. In fact, I think we'll see a fair number of A/A* grades too.

If you've got any questions about Media, or any concerns about the subject or what the course involves, please come and see me at any time. You'll usually find me in DF05 or DF07.

Let the outstanding media work begin!

Mr H
September 2012

Subject information and summer homework task

What is meant by the Media? 
‘The media’ refers to the different channels we use to communicate information in the everyday world. ‘Media’ is the plural of medium (of communication), and the main media are 
Television 
Magazines 
Film 
Radio 
Advertising 
Pop Music 
Newspapers
Internet 


What is Media Studies? 
Media Studies involves the close analysis of the images, sounds and text that we experience via the media. It is the study of individual media texts (such as movies, TV shows, magazines, websites) and 
Who made them (institution)?
How they were made (process)? 
Why they were made (purpose)? 
Who they were made for (audience)? 
What rules were followed when making them (conventions and genre)? 


 As well as essays, research, and reports, Media Studies also involves practical work, where you learn the techniques involved for the production of your own media text. Students at Greenford have recently produced pop videos, TV and radio commercials, magazine advertisements, computer animation, film trailers and posters. Media is a ‘learn by doing’ subject, and you compare your own experiences with what the ‘professionals’ go through. Most of our production in school is done digitally (ie using computers) and we have the latest software and equipment to help with this. 


Media Studies can be taken as a GCSE, AS or A-level course and many students go on to study it at university. Success in this subject comes from a combination of creativity and understanding. It is a unique combination of practical and theoretical learning, which, although it can be hard work and very time consuming, is always rewarding. It’s also a lot of fun - what other subject deals with your favourite movies, magazines and TV shows? 


Why is it so important? 
In the 21st century, communications are becoming faster and faster and faster. Think of the millions of different media images you are bombarded with every day. It is as important now to be able to read and make sense of those images, as it has been to be able to read ordinary text. If you do not know how to read the messages coming at you from TV, the Internet, advertising etc, then you may become very lost in the modern world. You also need to have a good idea of how those messages are made, and who is making them, so that you may quickly become aware if someone (or some corporation!) is trying to manipulate your thoughts and feelings. 


Media Studies is also about appreciating the skill and creativity which goes into the production of media texts. Just as analysing the different techniques used in the creation of a poem or novel helps you appreciate the talent of the writer, so does learning about media techniques help you appreciate value the skill with words and pictures that the creators of a media text must possess. 


Media Studies deals with the very latest ideas, although you need to have some understanding of the history of media (particularly how new technological developments have changed things). However, the focus of your studies is what is happening right now, buzzing round the airwaves of the globe. 


Homework due Wednesday 5th September


Everybody must continue to personalise their Blog, embedding clips and images of their favourite and least favourite media (see Blogger Task post from 6th July).


Media Consumption Diary 


Keep a daily blog of your contact with media products over a three day period. Be sure to record both… 


1. The media products you choose to use (TV shows, CDs, computer programmes) 
2. The media products you see and hear around you by chance (billboard advertising, magazines, music in shops, and media in the classroom!) 


After three days, how much time have you spent consuming media products? What does this reveal about you? Are there any media platforms you should consume more (i.e. listen to more talk radio)?

Media Blogger Task

Customise your blog and then complete the following tasks:


Find your favourite Music Video and explain why. Provide one critique as a media student.

Find your least favourite Music Video and explain why. Provide one positive comment as a media student.


Repeat the above steps for the following:

1. Magazine (with an example article embedded)
2. Film trailer
3. TV show - entertainment
4. TV show - factual (i.e. documentary or reality)
5. TV show - drama
6. Website
7. Social networking site
8. Radio station/show

Welcome GCSE Students!

Please submit your new blog address (copy and paste the URL from the address bar in your browser) and your first name in the comments section below this post.

This will give us access to your blog and - in time - we'll put a link to your blog in the sidebar.

Happy blogging!