Well done to all Media students for completing the PPE on Monday morning. It's the first step in making sure you get a fantastic grade in the summer.
Unfortunately, I won't be in Tuesday's lessons due to being out at an A Level Media conference. The cover work is as promised:
Complete Assignment 2 production work.
This means your film poster on Photoshop and your film trailer storyboard by hand.
I'll leave equipment out for your storyboard.
Remember: your deadline for Assignment 2 production work is Thursday.
Good luck - I will be back in on Thursday to give final feedback and collect in your work!
Monday, December 14, 2015
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Exam revision - BBC iWonder feature
With absolutely perfect timing, the BBC website today has a feature on the most significant CGI moments in film history. Not all of these are Science Fiction films but most are.
Read the article here.
I'd recommend making a few revision cards on the key moments from the Science Fiction films quoted and then you can use this in the exam on Monday!
Read the article here.
I'd recommend making a few revision cards on the key moments from the Science Fiction films quoted and then you can use this in the exam on Monday!
PPE preparation: glossary of key words
Ms Fowler has very kindly put together two excellent glossaries to help with you exam preparation.
These lists of key words and phrases will significantly increase your mark if you can use them accurately and extensively in your exam answers.
This Exam Glossary is full of useful phrases for film marketing and meeting the brief.
This Science Fiction Glossary will give you all the key terms to use when pitching your idea for a new Science Fiction film.
Keep working hard on your exam preparation and good luck!
Thursday, December 3, 2015
PPE exam preparation: Science Fiction homework tasks
Your PPE Media Studies exam is on Monday 14 December at 08.30am.
The preliminary material that gives you the brief you need to follow in the exam is available here. You will also be given a printed copy in class.
You MUST complete the following research and planning tasks before the exam on Monday 14 December.
Research
1) Complete the Independence Day case study questions.
2) Revise your summer project research into a Science Fiction film that you chose. Write down the following from your summer project film:
- Title and tagline for the film
- The sub-genre of Science Fiction the film fits into
- The narrative (storyline) of the film
- The characters and why they might appeal to an audience
- The setting of the film and how this fits the Science Fiction genre
- The mise-en-scene (props, costumes, colour, lighting etc.) of the film and how this fits the Science Fiction genre
- The institutions behind the film and how much money it made
- The stars and/or director of the film
- The critical reception - did it get good reviews? How can you tell?
- The target audience for the film (including the age rating)
Planning
1) Brainstorm ideas for a new Science Fiction film aimed at a family audience. Plan out the following:
- Issue/fear that drives the storyline (e.g. alien invasion, contagious disease, overpopulation etc.)
- Title and tag line
- Logline – summing up the film in one ‘hook’ sentence
- Other successful Science Fiction films similar to your idea
- The narrative elements / plot and the sub-genre of Science Fiction it fits into
- Location: the setting of the film and how this fits the Science Fiction genre
- The hero / heroine and their appeal to the audience
- The conflicts the hero / heroine encounters during the film (can be physical, moral or internal)
- Other characters and their role in the film
- Presentational style: The look, style and feel of the film e.g. will it feature 3D? Visual and Sound FX? CGI?
2) Which of the aspects of the brief have you successfully included in your idea? (Note: you do not need to include all but must include at least two of these aspects.)
- Futuristic Earth setting
- Another planet such as Pluto or Mars
- Outer space or set on a spaceship
- Issues of genetic engineering, cloning or AI
- Changing people, robot technology or how people may develop in future through scientific advancement
3) How will you make your film popular with a family audience?
4) Plan a marketing campaign for your film: trailers and video content, social media, apps, tied-in merchandising, franchise opportunities (e.g. sequels, spin-offs etc.)
5) Prepare for the creative task in the exam. Plan, sketch and draw the following:
- Logo and graphic identity for your new Science Fiction film
- Film poster
- Website homepage for your Science Fiction film
- Storyboard for a 30 second trailer for the film. Use this AQA storyboard sheet if you don't pick up a paper copy in class.
All tasks MUST be completed before Monday 14 December
Science Fiction Case Study 1: Independence Day
Your first case study for our Science Fiction exam topic is the classic 1996 blockbuster Independence Day starring Will Smith.
Work through the following tasks in order to make yourself an expert on the film. You will need this knowledge to answer Task 1 in the exam.
Case Study 1: Independence Day
Most importantly, watch the film. You can buy it on YouTube, Amazon or iTunes or if you have a Netflix subscription it should be available on there.
Then, use imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com and any other relevant websites you can access to find out the following information about the film...
Institutional background
Use IMDB to find out the institutions behind Independence Day. Click on Company Credits and then look for the production company and UK distributor.
1) What was the film studio or production company behind Independence Day? E.g. Warner Brothers, Paramount etc.
2) Who was the distributor for the theatrical release of the film in the UK?
Genre and Media language analysis
1) What sub-genre of Science Fiction does Independence Day fit into? What issues or fears in society might be addressed in the film?
2) How can you tell it fits that sub-genre? Be specific with reference to specific clips or scenes from the film.
3) How does the narrative (storyline) of the film fit the Science Fiction genre?
4) Who are the main characters in Independence Day and why might they appeal to an audience?
5) How does the mise-en-scene in Independence Day fit the Science Fiction genre?
Release date and marketing campaign
1) What was the UK release date for your chosen film?
2) Find the trailer for Independence Day, embed it in your blog and explain why it might appeal to an audience.
3) What other examples of marketing can you find on Google for Independence Day (film poster, teaser trailers, main trailers, newspaper reviews or TV interviews etc.)
Critical reception
1) What is the IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes rating for Independence Day?
2) What is the word-of-mouth like for Independence Day? Use the IMDB user review rating or the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating to judge whether the public rate the movie.
3) Find three quotes (no more than 25 words each) from user reviews of Independence Day and post them on your blog.
Box office success
Use IMDB to find out the box office records for Independence Day. Click on Company Credits and then Box Office/Business. You may also want to use the excellent website Box Office Mojo to find out the budget and box office success for the film.
1) What was the original budget for Independence Day?
2) How much money did Independence Day make in the opening weekend?
3) How much money has Independence Day made in total? (Look for the subheading ‘Gross’ which has the total box-office earnings listed).
4) For a film to be considered a box office success, it needs to make at least two-and-a-half times the budget in box office takings. Using this method, was Independence Day a success at the box office?
Stars and director
Research the stars and director for Independence Day.
1) What other films has the director made? Are they in the same or similar genres?
2) Who is the main star of Independence Day?
3) What other films has the main star appeared in? Are any of those films similar to Independence Day? Are any of them Science Fiction films?
4) Are the stars or the director or writer mentioned in the trailer for Independence Day?
Audience pleasures
1) What specific aspects of Independence Day would an audience enjoy?
2) Identify three key moments in the film that audiences would particularly enjoy and explain the audience appeal for these key scenes. Use media language in your analysis.
3) Which characters in Independence Day would particularly appeal to different audience types? Use specific examples from the film to support your points.
4) Write a detailed demographic breakdown of the possible target audience for Independence Day. Include age, gender, social class, education, job/earnings, where they live, what they enjoy in their spare time and brands they are attracted to.
All tasks MUST be completed before Monday 14 December
Work through the following tasks in order to make yourself an expert on the film. You will need this knowledge to answer Task 1 in the exam.
Case Study 1: Independence Day
Most importantly, watch the film. You can buy it on YouTube, Amazon or iTunes or if you have a Netflix subscription it should be available on there.
Then, use imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com and any other relevant websites you can access to find out the following information about the film...
Institutional background
Use IMDB to find out the institutions behind Independence Day. Click on Company Credits and then look for the production company and UK distributor.
1) What was the film studio or production company behind Independence Day? E.g. Warner Brothers, Paramount etc.
2) Who was the distributor for the theatrical release of the film in the UK?
Genre and Media language analysis
1) What sub-genre of Science Fiction does Independence Day fit into? What issues or fears in society might be addressed in the film?
2) How can you tell it fits that sub-genre? Be specific with reference to specific clips or scenes from the film.
3) How does the narrative (storyline) of the film fit the Science Fiction genre?
4) Who are the main characters in Independence Day and why might they appeal to an audience?
5) How does the mise-en-scene in Independence Day fit the Science Fiction genre?
Release date and marketing campaign
1) What was the UK release date for your chosen film?
2) Find the trailer for Independence Day, embed it in your blog and explain why it might appeal to an audience.
3) What other examples of marketing can you find on Google for Independence Day (film poster, teaser trailers, main trailers, newspaper reviews or TV interviews etc.)
Critical reception
1) What is the IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes rating for Independence Day?
2) What is the word-of-mouth like for Independence Day? Use the IMDB user review rating or the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating to judge whether the public rate the movie.
3) Find three quotes (no more than 25 words each) from user reviews of Independence Day and post them on your blog.
Box office success
Use IMDB to find out the box office records for Independence Day. Click on Company Credits and then Box Office/Business. You may also want to use the excellent website Box Office Mojo to find out the budget and box office success for the film.
1) What was the original budget for Independence Day?
2) How much money did Independence Day make in the opening weekend?
3) How much money has Independence Day made in total? (Look for the subheading ‘Gross’ which has the total box-office earnings listed).
4) For a film to be considered a box office success, it needs to make at least two-and-a-half times the budget in box office takings. Using this method, was Independence Day a success at the box office?
Stars and director
Research the stars and director for Independence Day.
1) What other films has the director made? Are they in the same or similar genres?
2) Who is the main star of Independence Day?
3) What other films has the main star appeared in? Are any of those films similar to Independence Day? Are any of them Science Fiction films?
4) Are the stars or the director or writer mentioned in the trailer for Independence Day?
Audience pleasures
1) What specific aspects of Independence Day would an audience enjoy?
2) Identify three key moments in the film that audiences would particularly enjoy and explain the audience appeal for these key scenes. Use media language in your analysis.
3) Which characters in Independence Day would particularly appeal to different audience types? Use specific examples from the film to support your points.
4) Write a detailed demographic breakdown of the possible target audience for Independence Day. Include age, gender, social class, education, job/earnings, where they live, what they enjoy in their spare time and brands they are attracted to.
All tasks MUST be completed before Monday 14 December
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Assignment 2 Film poster: steel tongs font
The institutional information at the bottom of a film poster is in a very distinctive font - you can't make a film poster look authentic without it...
Luckily, we have downloaded the font on to school computers - it is called Steel Tongs. The way the font works is that CAPITAL letters work normally while lower case letters each correspond to one of the movie credits ('Directed By...' 'Written By...' etc.)
You need to use the Steel Tongs guide to see which letter you need for each credit - there are plenty online, this link has one website you can use.
Note: we have an older version of the Steel Tongs font so not every credit is possible - if you can't find the one you need, just change the credit. It won't cost you any marks!
Luckily, we have downloaded the font on to school computers - it is called Steel Tongs. The way the font works is that CAPITAL letters work normally while lower case letters each correspond to one of the movie credits ('Directed By...' 'Written By...' etc.)
You need to use the Steel Tongs guide to see which letter you need for each credit - there are plenty online, this link has one website you can use.
Note: we have an older version of the Steel Tongs font so not every credit is possible - if you can't find the one you need, just change the credit. It won't cost you any marks!
Monday, November 16, 2015
Assignment 2: Writing a film pitch
Our production task for Assignment 2 involves coming up with our own film promotion for an original movie that we have created.
But before we create the promotion, we need to come up with a good idea for a new movie.
Work through the following tasks to develop your film pitch. Remember, it must be original and individual to you - this is NOT a group task.
Task 1: top tips
Read these top tips for coming up with your own idea:
1) Think carefully about setting and genre – the sci-fi genre is unavailable due to it being the exam topic but sci-fi would be difficult to realise anyway with the time and resources at your disposal.
2) Avoid major stars – you’ll need an original image for the film poster and unless you know Brad Pitt that will be a difficult photoshoot to arrange.
3) Make sure the film’s narrative is easy to understand and follow – you only have a 30 second trailer to play with. If you can't tell the basic story in one sentence you need to simplify it.
Task 2: the key details
Come up with the basic idea for your film - title, genre, storyline, characters, setting etc. Discuss it with someone else and make sure you can tell the story clearly and easily. You may want to start by simply brainstorming different genres and ideas.
Task 3: writing the film pitch
You now need to start building your film pitch for your idea. This is the chance to sell your film idea using just one side of A4. Use this template to build your film pitch - this will be handed in and marked as part of your Assignment 2 Production work.
Film pitch planning
1) The first part of a film pitch is the title and tagline - basically a slogan for your movie. E.g. Alien - In space no one can hear you scream. The Shawshank Redemption - Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free.
2) Next, you need a 'log line’ – a one sentence summary that will immediately grab the attention of a film studio or your audience.
Example log line - from Pirates of the Caribbean: "A 17th Century tale of adventure on the Caribbean Sea where the roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow joins forces with a young blacksmith in a gallant attempt to rescue the Governor of England's daughter and reclaim his ship."
The rest of the pitch needs to cover genre, narrative, character and target audience. Follow the template and you will cover all the aspects you need.
Use this example we've written for the Hunger Games to help you if you're stuck.
Task 4: planning and sketching
When you have completed your film pitch - and it may take some time because you want a very good, original idea - you need to start planning your film poster and trailer. First, plan your photoshoot and work out who will be in your film poster and when you will shoot the picture. Then, sketch a draft of the film poster and start writing the text that will go on it. Remember: a film poster can be either portrait or landscape.
Help! Online resources
There are many resources online to help with writing a film pitch. Try these ten top tips for selling your script to Hollywood and the BBC Writer's Room for help.
Extension task
When you have finished your film pitch, planning and sketching, ask another student to look over your plans and suggest ways to improve them. Make sure you can tell the story of your film in one clear sentence - that's how you would sell the idea to a film studio in the first place.
If you have completed everything, you can start sketching a potential storyboard for the trailer of your film.
Homework: film poster photoshoot costume
The photoshoot for your film poster will be during Thursday's lesson. That means you need props and costume with you on Thursday.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT bring anything resembling a weapon in for the photoshoot. If you need a weapon for your genre you can add it digitally using Photoshop.
You also need to finish your film pitch if you don't finish it during the lesson.
Due: Thursday
But before we create the promotion, we need to come up with a good idea for a new movie.
Task 1: top tips
Read these top tips for coming up with your own idea:
1) Think carefully about setting and genre – the sci-fi genre is unavailable due to it being the exam topic but sci-fi would be difficult to realise anyway with the time and resources at your disposal.
2) Avoid major stars – you’ll need an original image for the film poster and unless you know Brad Pitt that will be a difficult photoshoot to arrange.
3) Make sure the film’s narrative is easy to understand and follow – you only have a 30 second trailer to play with. If you can't tell the basic story in one sentence you need to simplify it.
Task 2: the key details
Come up with the basic idea for your film - title, genre, storyline, characters, setting etc. Discuss it with someone else and make sure you can tell the story clearly and easily. You may want to start by simply brainstorming different genres and ideas.
Task 3: writing the film pitch
You now need to start building your film pitch for your idea. This is the chance to sell your film idea using just one side of A4. Use this template to build your film pitch - this will be handed in and marked as part of your Assignment 2 Production work.
Film pitch planning
1) The first part of a film pitch is the title and tagline - basically a slogan for your movie. E.g. Alien - In space no one can hear you scream. The Shawshank Redemption - Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free.
2) Next, you need a 'log line’ – a one sentence summary that will immediately grab the attention of a film studio or your audience.
Example log line - from Pirates of the Caribbean: "A 17th Century tale of adventure on the Caribbean Sea where the roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow joins forces with a young blacksmith in a gallant attempt to rescue the Governor of England's daughter and reclaim his ship."
The rest of the pitch needs to cover genre, narrative, character and target audience. Follow the template and you will cover all the aspects you need.
Use this example we've written for the Hunger Games to help you if you're stuck.
Task 4: planning and sketching
When you have completed your film pitch - and it may take some time because you want a very good, original idea - you need to start planning your film poster and trailer. First, plan your photoshoot and work out who will be in your film poster and when you will shoot the picture. Then, sketch a draft of the film poster and start writing the text that will go on it. Remember: a film poster can be either portrait or landscape.
Help! Online resources
There are many resources online to help with writing a film pitch. Try these ten top tips for selling your script to Hollywood and the BBC Writer's Room for help.
Extension task
When you have finished your film pitch, planning and sketching, ask another student to look over your plans and suggest ways to improve them. Make sure you can tell the story of your film in one clear sentence - that's how you would sell the idea to a film studio in the first place.
If you have completed everything, you can start sketching a potential storyboard for the trailer of your film.
Homework: film poster photoshoot costume
The photoshoot for your film poster will be during Thursday's lesson. That means you need props and costume with you on Thursday.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT bring anything resembling a weapon in for the photoshoot. If you need a weapon for your genre you can add it digitally using Photoshop.
You also need to finish your film pitch if you don't finish it during the lesson.
Due: Thursday
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Assignment 2: Film posters and trailers
Film poster key conventions
- Central image
- Secondary images
- Title
- Tagline (like a slogan)
- Release date
- Stars
- Critic reviews
- Social media hashtags / website details
- Production blurb
- Iconography of the film’s genre
Film trailers: key conventions
- Institutional details – film studio, actors, director etc.
- Clear opening laying out setting, characters and narrative
- Short clips of key moments in film
- Fast paced editing to suggest drama and excitement
- On-screen text (replaces tradition of voiceover)
- Stars – usually early on and often with text-on-screen
- Title and release date – always at END of trailer
- Critic reviews / quotes
- Social media hashtags / website details
- Production blurb (usually final shot of trailer)
- Sound that communicates genre and ‘feel’ of film
Film trailer: structure
Always look for the typical structure of a trailer:
O = Opening
B = Build up
P = Problems
E = Events
Film language notes
Sound
Sound in film includes:
- Dialogue
- Sound effects
- Music
- Voiceover
Diegetic and non-diegetic sound
Diegetic: sound that is coming from within the sphere of the film. Remember: the characters can hear it. Example: dialogue.
Non-diegetic: sound that is NOT within the sphere of the film – only the audience can hear it. Example: soundtrack/music/score.
Mise-en-scene
Mise en scène literally translates from French as ‘putting on stage’.
We use it in film studies to describe everything that appears in front of the camera.
When we analyse mise en scène, we need to look at the following:
- Actors (placement, movement, expression)
- Costume and make-up
- Setting and props
- Lighting and colour
Film posters and trailers: blog task
You are currently working on a case study for the film you have chosen from our list of 10. Now you need to complete the following tasks on your blog:
- Create a new blogpost called ‘Film trailer and poster analysis of [your chosen film]’
- Find the poster on Google Images and the trailer on YouTube for your chosen film
- Embed them in your blogpost (you may need to save a small version of the poster to ensure it displays correctly)
- List all the film poster key conventions you can find. How do these attract a potential audience?
- List all the film trailer key conventions you can find. How do these attract a potential audience?
- In your opinion, do the poster and trailer successfully promote the film you have chosen to investigate? Why?
Take it further...
Thinking back to your lesson on institution and the film industry, can you find any good examples of film marketing in the trailer or poster?
Can you find any institutional details that link to your case study research (director, stars etc.)?
If not finished during the lesson, complete for homework - due next Thursday
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Assignment 2: Film case study research
For your Assignment 2 coursework, you need to research key institutional information about a film and use this to inform your essay. We are giving you a choice of ten different films to choose (note: they cannot be Science Fiction due to the exam topic) and you need to work through the questions below to learn everything you can about your chosen film.
Research the institutional details behind ONE of the following films:
Your chosen movie
1) What film have you chosen?
2) Why did you choose this film in particular?
Institutional background
Use IMDB to find out the institutions behind your chosen film. Find your film, click on Company Credits and then look for the production company and UK distributor.
1) What was the film studio or production company behind your chosen film? E.g. Warner Brothers, Paramount etc.
2) Who was the distributor for the theatrical release of the film in the UK?
No brand loyalty
1) What genre does your chosen film fit into?
2) How can you tell it fits that genre? Be specific with reference to the trailer.
3) Does your chosen film have any stars or a director that are known for that particular genre?
It’s all a matter of timing
1) What was the UK release date for your chosen film?
2) When did the first trailer appear on YouTube for your movie? Find the earliest example you can and embed it in your blog.
3) What other examples of marketing (teaser trailers, main trailers, newspaper or TV interviews etc.) can you find for your chosen film from before the film’s release date?
It’s a social thing
1) What was the word-of-mouth like for your chosen film? If you can’t find tweets (probably blocked) use the IMDB user review rating or the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating to judge whether the public have given the movie a good review.
2) Find three quotes (no more than 25 words each) from user reviews of your movie to create a picture of what the public reaction to the film has been. Post them on your blog.
Risky business
Use IMDB to find out the box office records for your chosen film. Find your film, click on Company Credits and then Box Office/Business. You may want to use the excellent website Box Office Mojo to find out the budget and box office success for the film.
1) What was the original budget for your chosen film?
2) How much money did the film make in the opening weekend?
3) How much money has the film made in total? (Look for the subheading ‘Gross’ which has the total box-office earnings listed).
4) For a film to be considered a box office success, it needs to make at least two-and-a-half times the budget in box office takings. Using this method, was the film you have chosen a success? (Or, if it's a recent release, do you expect it to be a box office success?)
Stars in their eyes
Research the stars and director for your chosen film.
1) What films has the director previously directed? Are they in the same or similar genres?
2) Who is the main star in the film?
3) What other films has the main star appeared in? Are any of the films similar to the one you are researching?
4) Are the stars or the director or writer mentioned in the trailer for the film?
Take it further...
If you've finished the questions above, work through the following tasks to take your case study to another level:
Newspaper reviews
A more traditional starting point for word-of-mouth is press reviews of the film. Almost all national newspapers carry film reviews of the big releases and positive review quotes are often used on the film's marketing material.
Read three newspaper reviews of your chosen film and select five quotes from each review that tell you what the reviewer thought of the film. You can look at the Guardian film website, the Telegraph film website and other reviews in magazines such as Empire.
Additional promotion
Look back 'It's all a matter of timing' question 3... What other examples of promotion can you find for your chosen film? TV chat show appearances (e.g. Graham Norton, the One Show etc.) Radio interviews? Make notes and embed any clips in your blog.
Research the institutional details behind ONE of the following films:
- Taken
- Suffragette
- Spectre
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower
- The Wolf of Wall Street
- Frozen
- Blue is the Warmest Colour
- 12 Years a Slave
- Django Unchained
- Precious
Use imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com and any other relevant websites you can access to find out the following information about the film you have chosen...
Your chosen movie
1) What film have you chosen?
2) Why did you choose this film in particular?
Institutional background
Use IMDB to find out the institutions behind your chosen film. Find your film, click on Company Credits and then look for the production company and UK distributor.
1) What was the film studio or production company behind your chosen film? E.g. Warner Brothers, Paramount etc.
2) Who was the distributor for the theatrical release of the film in the UK?
No brand loyalty
1) What genre does your chosen film fit into?
2) How can you tell it fits that genre? Be specific with reference to the trailer.
3) Does your chosen film have any stars or a director that are known for that particular genre?
It’s all a matter of timing
1) What was the UK release date for your chosen film?
2) When did the first trailer appear on YouTube for your movie? Find the earliest example you can and embed it in your blog.
3) What other examples of marketing (teaser trailers, main trailers, newspaper or TV interviews etc.) can you find for your chosen film from before the film’s release date?
It’s a social thing
1) What was the word-of-mouth like for your chosen film? If you can’t find tweets (probably blocked) use the IMDB user review rating or the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating to judge whether the public have given the movie a good review.
2) Find three quotes (no more than 25 words each) from user reviews of your movie to create a picture of what the public reaction to the film has been. Post them on your blog.
Risky business
Use IMDB to find out the box office records for your chosen film. Find your film, click on Company Credits and then Box Office/Business. You may want to use the excellent website Box Office Mojo to find out the budget and box office success for the film.
1) What was the original budget for your chosen film?
2) How much money did the film make in the opening weekend?
3) How much money has the film made in total? (Look for the subheading ‘Gross’ which has the total box-office earnings listed).
4) For a film to be considered a box office success, it needs to make at least two-and-a-half times the budget in box office takings. Using this method, was the film you have chosen a success? (Or, if it's a recent release, do you expect it to be a box office success?)
Stars in their eyes
Research the stars and director for your chosen film.
1) What films has the director previously directed? Are they in the same or similar genres?
2) Who is the main star in the film?
3) What other films has the main star appeared in? Are any of the films similar to the one you are researching?
4) Are the stars or the director or writer mentioned in the trailer for the film?
Take it further...
If you've finished the questions above, work through the following tasks to take your case study to another level:
Newspaper reviews
A more traditional starting point for word-of-mouth is press reviews of the film. Almost all national newspapers carry film reviews of the big releases and positive review quotes are often used on the film's marketing material.
Read three newspaper reviews of your chosen film and select five quotes from each review that tell you what the reviewer thought of the film. You can look at the Guardian film website, the Telegraph film website and other reviews in magazines such as Empire.
Additional promotion
Look back 'It's all a matter of timing' question 3... What other examples of promotion can you find for your chosen film? TV chat show appearances (e.g. Graham Norton, the One Show etc.) Radio interviews? Make notes and embed any clips in your blog.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Mr Halsey cover work - 05/11/15
Apologies - I'm out on at a Media conference with my Year 13 A Level Media students.
You have two tasks to work through during today's Media lessons:
Assignment 1 improvements
I've now marked all the work that was in your folders for Assignment 1. Mr Qureshi will hand out your folders and feedback sheets. You need to read your comments carefully and then go back to your work and improve it until you are as close to full marks as you possibly can be.
Everyone will be able to find at least one extra mark and some of you will be able to make even more improvements. It all adds up - the more time you put into your coursework the better your grade will be at the end of the year.
Assignment 2: film case study research
When you've finished your improvements for Assignment 1, you can move on to your case study research for Assignment 2.
Your Assignment 2 coursework will involve and in-depth essay on one of 10 films (you choose which film you want to analyse). The first thing you may want to do is watch the trailers for the films available to choose for your Assignment 2 essay. Then, you can work through the questions to make yourself an expert on that particular film.
All the case study questions and instructions are in this blog post - work through it in detail and we'll develop this further in our lessons next week.
You have two tasks to work through during today's Media lessons:
Assignment 1 improvements
I've now marked all the work that was in your folders for Assignment 1. Mr Qureshi will hand out your folders and feedback sheets. You need to read your comments carefully and then go back to your work and improve it until you are as close to full marks as you possibly can be.
Everyone will be able to find at least one extra mark and some of you will be able to make even more improvements. It all adds up - the more time you put into your coursework the better your grade will be at the end of the year.
Assignment 2: film case study research
When you've finished your improvements for Assignment 1, you can move on to your case study research for Assignment 2.
Your Assignment 2 coursework will involve and in-depth essay on one of 10 films (you choose which film you want to analyse). The first thing you may want to do is watch the trailers for the films available to choose for your Assignment 2 essay. Then, you can work through the questions to make yourself an expert on that particular film.
All the case study questions and instructions are in this blog post - work through it in detail and we'll develop this further in our lessons next week.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Assignment 2: Genre and NCIS
Genre
One of the key details a film production company uses to market a film is genre.
A film genre is made up of a repertoire of elements. That repertoire could include particular iconography, lighting, sound, or actors and directors associated with the genre. This list of features is known as a ‘repertoire’ because any given film within a genre may not use all of the possible elements, but it will use some.
NCIS
A useful acronym to remember what you need to look for when analysing the genre of a film is NCIS:
N = narrative (storyline)
C = character (people/character types)
I = iconography (what we can see)
S = setting (where it takes place)
These four aspects will provide enough evidence to identify the genre (or a hybrid of genres if the film fits more than one category).
Your blog task today is as follows:
Example:
Taken (2008)
Genre
Thriller
Narrative
The storyline is clearly shown to be a father willing to go to any lengths to rescue his kidnapped daughter. This is a tense, dramatic narrative that fits the thriller genre well.
Character
The characters are typical of a Hollywood thriller - the main hero: strong, brave and willing to do anything to rescue his daughter. The daughter is a classic 'damsel in distress', a female character requiring saving by a male hero. There are stereotypical villains - in this case Albanian, another typical aspect of a Hollywood thriller.
Iconography
There is plenty of iconography typical of the thriller genre: a car chase, gunshots, violence, technology, running and jumping from a bridge, explosions and smashing glass. All of these are typical of the action or thriller genres - in connection with the narrative, we can confidently say this is a thriller.
Setting
Although the trailer is only two minutes long, it has a safe American location for the daughter's birthday party and then a glamorous foreign location (Paris) for the rest of the narrative. Within Paris, there are clearly action sequences on roads, off bridges and in other settings that suggest action and drama.
Anything you don't finish in the lesson is homework.
Due: Next Tuesday
One of the key details a film production company uses to market a film is genre.
A film genre is made up of a repertoire of elements. That repertoire could include particular iconography, lighting, sound, or actors and directors associated with the genre. This list of features is known as a ‘repertoire’ because any given film within a genre may not use all of the possible elements, but it will use some.
NCIS
A useful acronym to remember what you need to look for when analysing the genre of a film is NCIS:
N = narrative (storyline)
C = character (people/character types)
I = iconography (what we can see)
S = setting (where it takes place)
These four aspects will provide enough evidence to identify the genre (or a hybrid of genres if the film fits more than one category).
Blog task / Homework
- Make sure your blog is up-to-date with your finished Assignment 1 magazine cover.
- Choose three film trailers, embed the clips from YouTube and write an analysis of what genre each film is in and why. Use NCIS to help you. Note: if the YouTube video is not embedding, post a link to the trailer instead.
Example:
Taken (2008)
Genre
Thriller
Narrative
The storyline is clearly shown to be a father willing to go to any lengths to rescue his kidnapped daughter. This is a tense, dramatic narrative that fits the thriller genre well.
Character
The characters are typical of a Hollywood thriller - the main hero: strong, brave and willing to do anything to rescue his daughter. The daughter is a classic 'damsel in distress', a female character requiring saving by a male hero. There are stereotypical villains - in this case Albanian, another typical aspect of a Hollywood thriller.
Iconography
There is plenty of iconography typical of the thriller genre: a car chase, gunshots, violence, technology, running and jumping from a bridge, explosions and smashing glass. All of these are typical of the action or thriller genres - in connection with the narrative, we can confidently say this is a thriller.
Setting
Although the trailer is only two minutes long, it has a safe American location for the daughter's birthday party and then a glamorous foreign location (Paris) for the rest of the narrative. Within Paris, there are clearly action sequences on roads, off bridges and in other settings that suggest action and drama.
Anything you don't finish in the lesson is homework.
Due: Next Tuesday
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Assignment 1: Analytical task
It's now time to complete the Assignment 1 Analytical Task. A reminder of the task AQA have set you:
Analyse the cover pages of two popular magazines. How do the covers appeal to their audiences?
Word count: 750 words
10 marks
AO2: Analyse and Respond
Remember - we add a couple of details to that. Firstly, the two magazines must be from the following choices and aimed at different audiences:
Magazine 1: GQ OR Men's Health
Magazine 2: Glamour OR Empire
Secondly, you also need to analyse your own magazine cover.
You can find guidance for the layout of the Assignment 1 Analytical Task here.
Remember, you must use the official magazine Media Packs to help you with the target audience:
GQ Media Pack
Men's Health Media Pack
Glamour Media Pack
Empire Media Pack
Remember, we analyse something by explaining HOW and WHY it is produced in that way and the EFFECT it has on its audience. For an A*, you need to explain in real detail and offer alternative interpretations.
One of the ways of doing this is making sure we use those key words and phrases to show connotation:
This tells the reader...
This could signify...
A possible interpretation of this is...
The reader could infer that...
This shows the audience...
This suggests to the reader...
From this, the audience will understand that...
This connotes...
This is significant because...
This creates...
This emphasises...
Your analytical task is due next week - good luck!
Analyse the cover pages of two popular magazines. How do the covers appeal to their audiences?
Word count: 750 words
10 marks
AO2: Analyse and Respond
Magazine 1: GQ OR Men's Health
Magazine 2: Glamour OR Empire
Secondly, you also need to analyse your own magazine cover.
You can find guidance for the layout of the Assignment 1 Analytical Task here.
Remember, you must use the official magazine Media Packs to help you with the target audience:
GQ Media Pack
Men's Health Media Pack
Glamour Media Pack
Empire Media Pack
Remember, we analyse something by explaining HOW and WHY it is produced in that way and the EFFECT it has on its audience. For an A*, you need to explain in real detail and offer alternative interpretations.
One of the ways of doing this is making sure we use those key words and phrases to show connotation:
This tells the reader...
This could signify...
A possible interpretation of this is...
The reader could infer that...
This shows the audience...
This suggests to the reader...
From this, the audience will understand that...
This connotes...
This is significant because...
This creates...
This emphasises...
Your analytical task is due next week - good luck!
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Media Awards nominations 2015
We are proud to announce the Media Awards nominations for 2015!
A Level
Best Y12 Cinematography
Labrat (Tejas, Ammar & Leila)
Ransom (Kunal, Ahmed & Zubair)
Second Level South (Kishan & Kacper)
Best Y12 Sound Design
Conscience (Alison, Sarika, Serenna & Sophia K)
Clairvoyance (Shanara & Daine)
One Girl’s Story (Ashmita, Dhruvina & Sarese)
Best Y12 Production Design
Problematic (Izzah, Tina & Sophia Q)
Ransom (Kunal, Ahmed & Zubair)
Tribulations (Abdishakur, Blitz, Hussein & Shivum)
Best Y12 Dialogue/Voiceover
The Experiment (Rabia)
Second Level South (Kishan & Kacper)
In Mind (Lee, Luke, Ryan & Kirath)
Best Y12 Original Screenplay
Off The Corner (Mansour & Abdiasis)
The Experiment (Rabia)
Labrat (Tejas, Ammar & Leila)
Best Y12 Film Editing
Follow Me (Harmony, Samsam & Jasmine)
Tribulations (Abdishakur, Blitz, Hussein & Shivum)
Trace (Indera)
GCSE
Best GCSE Cinematography
Chandelier – Sia - Imani
Everytime- Loreen - Amrit
It G Ma – Keith Ape - Abhisek
On My Way – Charlie Brown – Sylwia & Yasmin
Run Boy Run - Woodkid – Abdi, Mamduh & Mohammed A
Best GCSE Editing
Birthday Card – Example – Shivam
Major Lazer – Watch Out For This – Anjali, Brianna & Klea
Rap God – Eminem - Akash
SchoolboyQ – The Purge - Amar
Stranger – Jhene Aiko - Era
Best GCSE Music Video Concept
7/11 – Beyonce - Jaya
Hold On – Skepta – Danish
Recovery – James Arthur - Amina
These are the songs – Bashy - Daniel
Zombie – The Pretty Reckless - Sophie
Best Actor & Actress
Best Actor
Mr Artus - Mithras
Viraj Juneja - Copyrighter
Rahul Malik - Clairvoyance
Chandell Williams – Labrat
Best Actress
Shirin Alaa – The Experiment
Tyra Brown - Ransom
Devi Joshi - Clairvoyance
Emily Rhodes – Pocket dreams
Congratulations to ALL our Media students from last year – there were some incredibly difficult decisions, particularly with so many music videos to choose from at GCSE level.
The Media Awards takes place on Tuesday 20 October.
The theme is LAS VEGAS which means dressing to impress!
Tickets are £3 if you buy before Friday 16 October (£5 afterwards) and available from the Media department.
See you there!
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Assignment 1: Magazine cover key conventions
Today's lessons are all about learning the 12 key conventions of magazine covers and starting to develop our written analysis.
The detailed notes on the key conventions of magazine covers can be found here.
Your blog task is as follows:
1) Use Google images to find a magazine cover of your choice. Make sure it is a UK-based magazine.
2) Copy the image into PowerPoint.
3) Find as many of the 12 key conventions of magazine covers as you can on the front cover and annotate the key conventions on PowerPoint using arrows.
4) Choose three of the key conventions and write 50-100 words of analysis for each. The key here is to explain how the key conventions target the magazine’s audience. Example:
5) When finished, save your PowerPoint slide as a JPEG and upload to your blog with a brief explanation of the task.
Good luck!
The detailed notes on the key conventions of magazine covers can be found here.
Your blog task is as follows:
1) Use Google images to find a magazine cover of your choice. Make sure it is a UK-based magazine.
2) Copy the image into PowerPoint.
3) Find as many of the 12 key conventions of magazine covers as you can on the front cover and annotate the key conventions on PowerPoint using arrows.
4) Choose three of the key conventions and write 50-100 words of analysis for each. The key here is to explain how the key conventions target the magazine’s audience. Example:
5) When finished, save your PowerPoint slide as a JPEG and upload to your blog with a brief explanation of the task.
Good luck!
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Target audience
Notes from today's lesson on Audience
Demographic classification:
Audience profiles
When it is complete, save your audience profile as a JPEG and post it to your blog at the end of this afternoon's lesson.
Demographic classification:
- Age
- Gender
- Education
- Social class
- Race/ethnicity
- Job/profession/earnings
- Home (city/village/countryside)
Social class classification
Advertisers have traditionally classified people into the following groups:
- AB – Managerial and professional
- C1 – Supervisory and clerical
- C2 – Skilled manual
- DE – Unskilled manual and unemployed
Audience profiles
Advertisers these days are interested in more than just a social class classification. Now they try to sell a brand or lifestyle.
So you also need to think about the kind of brands your audience will be interested in.
Armani and Porsche? Banana Republic and Apple? John Lewis and The Times? Nike and PlayStation? Peppa Pig and Haribo?
Audience profile task
Create an audience profile for a magazine of your choice using Photoshop.
First, use demographics: Age, gender, education, social class, race/ethnicity, job/profession/ earnings, home (city/village/countryside).
Then write some statements that your target audience agree with. Look at the NME example for inspiration. Statements such as 'It's important to look good' or 'Enjoy life and don't worry about the future' work well for this part of the profile.
Then write some statements that your target audience agree with. Look at the NME example for inspiration. Statements such as 'It's important to look good' or 'Enjoy life and don't worry about the future' work well for this part of the profile.
Then use brand logos that the audience will use or enjoy and build them into your profile.
NME magazine example:
When it is complete, save your audience profile as a JPEG and post it to your blog at the end of this afternoon's lesson.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Brilliant blogs
Aside from a few minor issues, marking your summer projects has demonstrated what a brilliant start we've made in Media. Across the classes we've seen some excellent choices of Science Fiction film and some really detailed analysis and research.
In my class, there are several blogs that are worth checking out to see what A/A* potential looks like... Avneet, Krissah, Sabrin, Shivani and William have all made a terrific start in Media and their blogs are an excellent example of what we all need to be doing.
Keep up the good work!
In my class, there are several blogs that are worth checking out to see what A/A* potential looks like... Avneet, Krissah, Sabrin, Shivani and William have all made a terrific start in Media and their blogs are an excellent example of what we all need to be doing.
Keep up the good work!
Matthews' Blogscar of the Week
Typography
Typography
– task 1
Create an A4 document in Photoshop. Choose a font to represent the
following words.
Think about:
UPPER or lower case? Font size?
Angle? Position on page?
Mistake
Harmony
Falling
Personality
Elastic
Emperor
Brittle
Globe
Radiation
Relax
Madness
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Camerawork: Minority Report shot-by-shot analysis
We are now going to use everything we have learned about film language (camera shots, movement and editing) to produce a shot-by-shot analysis of key shots in the Minority Report sequence.
Remember, writing analysis in Media means picking out the interesting or important aspects of something and then examining WHY or HOW they have been put together to create an effect on the audience.
Remember, writing analysis in Media means picking out the interesting or important aspects of something and then examining WHY or HOW they have been put together to create an effect on the audience.
The images are below and also on the M: Media Shared drive > Resources > Camerawork - Minority Report
Here's an example of what you need to do:
Over-the-shoulder / medium shot (OTS/MS)
The over-the-shoulder angle allows a point-of-view shot from the perspective of the man reading the newspaper. The medium shot allows enough background to establish the location as a metro train. The corner of the seat immediately in the foreground also helps place the location. The over-the-shoulder shot also means the following shots, with the newspaper man recognising the fugitive, are easy for the audience to interpret.
The shots you need to analyse:
Shot 1
Shot 2
Shot 3
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