March PPE: revision and preparation tasks

Your Media Studies March PPE is on Thursday 3 March.

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 Thursday 3 March.

Research and revision

1) Revise the Independence Day case study questions you researched and posted to your blog in December.

2) Revise and make notes on the key scenes from Independence Day, paying particular attention to Science Fiction key conventions and audience pleasures.

3) Complete the Attack The Block case study questions.

4) Revise and make notes on the key scenes from Attack The Block, paying particular attention to Science Fiction key conventions, audience pleasures and the representation of young people.

5) Use the case study notes sheet we gave you in class to help your revision. You'll want to use your copy of the A3 clip notes worksheet too - original document here if you need it.



Preliminary brief - Planning

1) Complete detailed planning of your ideas for 'The Last Equinox'. Plan out the following:

1. The key characters in the film and why they appeal to the audience. Ensure this is detailed: names, ages, what type of person they are, relationships, motivations or ambitions and more.
2. The main settings for the film: Earth? Spaceship? Alternative planet? Plan and describe the settings in detail with links to Science Fiction conventions and sub-genres.
3. The key conventions of Science Fiction film that your plans for 'The Last Equinox' will incorporate: futuristic world, space travel, AI/robotics, conflict between humans and other life-forms etc.
4. Two or three key scenes from the film: what happens to the characters, how the narrative is developed and where the scenes take place. Link this to your planning of the characters, settings and key conventions above.

2) Why would your planning for 'The Last Equinox' appeal to a Science Fiction audience? Use reference to media theory where possible.

3) How could you use e-media and social networking to promote 'The Last Equinox'? Come up with at least three distinct ideas for using websites, apps or social media to promote the film to a Science Fiction audience.

4) Prepare for the creative task in the exam. Plan, sketch and draw the following:

• Logo and graphic identity for 'The Last Equinox'
• Billboard film poster for 'The Last Equinox' (landscape)
• Bus shelter advertisement for 'The Last Equinox' (portrait)
• Storyboard for a 30 second trailer for 'The Last Equinox'. Use this AQA storyboard sheet if you don't pick up a paper copy in class. 

All tasks MUST be completed before Thursday 3 March