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  • You should have lots of feedback now from the other 12s and 13s - go through it as a group - reflect on it, some might be rubbish but there will also be some gems. Write up an analysis of the feedback and what you will take on board and change. Also upload a few pics of the most constructive feedback. 
  •  Make a plan of changes and post them, who will do what in the group to complete the work and have all blog and productions done by Christmas? 
  • Design a film poster - in landscape and portrait and insert on some buses and underground etc see Film Posters
  • Establish your marketing campaign fully including where you would do interviews on what radio and tv programmes for example. Also find a similar website for a low budget film which would be similar to yours and upload it explaining why.
  • Check through the planning list to make sure this is complete - At the end of the process, you will be completing an anonymous group assessment about each other's performance within the group

Blog reflection

 
Blog Reflection 1 - date
 
  • Technology - Have you learned new online programmes for showing off work? Have you tried new premiere effects that you haven't told us about
  • What mark out of 20 is it so far?
  • Where could you be a little more thorough or a little less complacent?
  • Is it fun to look through?
  • Is the learning journey (blaaaghh) evident?
  • Three targets to improve blog - research or planning (have you thoroughly covered all key media concepts - forms and conventions of your film , audience, institution, representation
  • Planning Task List

    This week commencing 17th November is planning week.

    In  your lap charts you have a series of tasks that need to be completed by your group and/or delegated to a member in your group. Make sure these are uploaded onto your blog. Create a calendar of frees, evenings and weekends you are all free to film.

    1) Initial film idea to your group
    2) Photograph/Video evidence of group planning
    3) Moodboard of initial ideas including inspirational shots and titles from real film
    4) Synopsis planning - this is when you take each of your ideas for the film opening and break them down with what you need in terms of location, props, actors etc.
    5) Evidence of how planned opening is going to fit with codes and conventions of genre.
    6) storyboard - drawn, filmed, edited and voiceover added (see below)
    7) titles research
    8) group pitch
    9) class feedback and peer assessment on pitch and amendments planned
    10) timeline of titles with rough shots, locations and plannned timings
    11) script
    12) location and recce shots
    13) shot list
    14) rpt sorry! so I've replaced this with blog reflection (see blog link)
    15) fonts for titles research
    16) props research and list
    17) shooting schedules (see template )
    18) risk assessment forms
    19) music/sound research ideas/foley re-recordings
    20) Changes made along the way including re-shoots, edit changes, sound difficulties, slight changes in script.
    21) Production Diary - dates and individual responsibilities and tasks
    22) Marketing campaign - look at a film that influences yours and follow prezi below in terms of research then design a poster, and discuss how you would market your film with websites, social media etc
    23) Audience research - who are you targeting, who is most likely to see your film? Who is your primary and secondary audience?
    24) Institution - information on your film production company and who will produce and distribute your film...
    25) Representation - who, what and where are being represented in your film opening? What does it say about them?





    https://prezi.com/gppkd8tgbo8k/shaun-of-the-dead-target-audience-research/#share_embed


    Titles tasks







    www.artofthetitle.com is an amazing website dedicated to titles.

    Watch this and be inspired by some of the best title designs of all time:

    http://www.artofthetitle.com/news/a-brief-history-of-title-design-announced/

    http://www.artofthetitle.com/feature/the-title-design-of-saul-bass/

    Be inspired. Then listen to Richard Morrison's interview and advice and write three points he makes which may be relevant to your own production.

    http://www.watchthetitles.com/articles/00193-Richard_Morrison_interview

    Choose three title sequences from films in www.artofthetitle.com
    Screengrab each title in order, write down the jobs titles and seconds from the start so that you can and the length of each title. Write a summary discussing the various titles, fonts, colours, sound, effects and any meaning that may link them to the genre or narrative. Titles are numbered T1, T2 etc

    Here are some examples:

    http://dannywhitebreadmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/panic-room-title-sequence-time-line.html


    http://christiehibbert.wordpress.com/title-sequence-analysis/

    https://prezi.com/umiyz1jy55vr/title-sequence-timeline-of-the-roommate/
    www.timetoast.com/timelines/se7en-title-sequence





    Research and Planning

    You must blog everything - all ideas, inspirations. You must never stop (until Jan) researching opening sequences for your particular genre and uploading them. Your blog is the remaining 40 marks so absolutely crucial. Very importantly you must set up a whatsapp or facebook group so that you're constantly in communication which each other and know where everyone is and what they're responsible for. Also, from now on every member of the group must have a target/task/objective that they are completing for the opening. So if the film pitch is still not up to scratch, who's doing which part of it.

    We've given you a lot of advice on what to avoid. Keeping it simple is most everyone's hardest challenge, pace and enigma crucial. Beautiful shots that establish character, genre and setting. In those shots extremely well thought out mise en scene. It all has to be really well planned and a group effort. Also, keep in mind that there will be bits that don't work and may need to be re-shot. Have a plan B schedule.


    When we've greenlit your ideas and you're good to go Mr Amato and I can start sending you links to anything which may be useful.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAWv9CkLW_4 This got 52



    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzefKbMKMF0 This got 56


    So film pitch, titles tasks, planning ideas, inspirations, shooting schedules, risk assessments, moodboards, props and costumes list, music research, storyboarding this week and next (list in LAP chart)


    Filming and Editing - following two weeks - you must find time you can all work together. Alongside this will be your film posters and how you will market the film etc



    week commencing November 10th

    • from now on your blogging will have the label planning
    • any film ideas, titles that inspire you make sure you upload
    • read through the elements of an opening sequence and make sure you have thought about all these elements for your film opening
    • Any group discussions should be blogged about as a production diary so 10th November - today we presented our film idea to the rest of the class...
    • upload and analyse presentation feedback
    • photos of group meeting
    • moodboard of real films/titles
    • timeline of opening - timings of footage, titles and sound. Try the programme www.timetoast.com

    BFI trip 7th November 2014

    Elements of an opening sequence

    After you've decided on your film, make sure you discuss and blog about how you're going to include all the elements of an opening sequence.

    The purpose of an opening title sequence to a film is to establish the visual style of the film and to introduce the viewer to all or some of the following:

    • Characters
    • Location
    • Narrative/Plot
    • Genre
    • Themes
    Typically, an opening sequence will contain:
    • Details of cast and crew.
    • The film's title.
    • An introduction to character or character type.
    • Indication of place.
    • Indication of historical period.
    • Information regarding mood and tone.
    • Introduction to signature theme tune.
    • Information about genre.
    • Questions that the viewer finds intriguing.
    • Patterns and types of editing that will be echoed in the remainder of the film.
    • Mise en scene and cinematography that will be echoed or elaborated upon later in the film.

    Helpful Links

    Opening titles
    A fantastic website with lots of recent titles too - a site you must refer to throughout.

    http://www.artofthetitle.com/

    Some of the youtube links don't work but if you search in youtube they will come up.
    http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/12/19/30-unforgettable-movie-title-sequences/

    These you have to look for yourselves:
    http://www.imdb.com/list/2mdHt8unYqs/

    Media Meister October 2014

    Congratulations to Issy this half term's media meister your certificate is ready

    w/c 3rd November

    - One post discussing student videos you watched in class and marking criteria
    - One post finding your own three student videos and using the marking criteria what
    - Film pitch for your group due Thursday see next post

    Individual Film Pitch

    Student film openings



     

    Find three student productions of your choice and upload onto blog (post title student film openings) - one to present to the class that you found interesting and two others to mark using the criteria below. What went well, Even better if and give them a grade. It would be fab if you emailed any students' work with queries on their productions or their marks and got a reply. Upload the film you liked and why.


    Youtube - Latymer film openings, Hurtwood House film openings, G321, AS Film openings

    Level 1 0–23 marks The work for the main task is possibly incomplete. There is minimal evidence in the work of the creative use of any relevant technical skills such as:
    • Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;
    • using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
    • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
    • shooting material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
    • using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.

    Level 2 24–35 marks There is evidence of a basic level of ability in the creative use of some of the following technical skills:
    • Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;
    • using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
    • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
    • shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
    • using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.

    Level 3 36–47 marks There is evidence of proficiency in the creative use of many of the following technical skills:
    • Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;
    • using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
    • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
    • shooting material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
    • using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.

    Level 4 48–60 marksThere is evidence of excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:
    • material appropriate for the target audience and task;
    • using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;
    • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;
    • shooting material appropriate to the task set;including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;
    • using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.
     
     




    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuboFoQeI7kjz0HNOzjotGVWFrxg2GPMk

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-gSPqOgs_8&feature=youtu.be

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_P5ZEHuHS2aXqPX1Rz1ra7H6h86VghZ7

    Self and peer evaluation of prelim tasks




    Self evaluation and peer evaluations to be added to your prezi:

    1) Who did you work with and how did you manage the task between you?
    2) How did you plan your sequence? What processes did you use? What theories did you try to take in to account?
    3) What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it?
    4) What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?
    5) How successful was your sequence? Please identify what worked well, and with hindsight, what would you improve/do differently? What did others say about your production?
    6) What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing the rest of your foundation coursework, do you think?

    Make it visual, add screen shots and make sure you have embedded your prelim task too.

    Peer Evaluation

    Prelim Title
     
     
    Group members
    Score out of 10
    Was the genre evident? How, what conventions did they use?
     
     
    Did they include all shots including dialogue, match on action and tracking? Which shot did you like best?
     
     
    How did Camera, Editing, Sound and Mise En Scene work together?
     
     
    Script and Story?
     
     
     
     
    Prezi and presentation
     
     
     
     
    Overall comments – what went well even better if…
     
    Total
                         /50

    Prelim Tasks


    In your groups over the next two weeks you will need to complete your preliminary task:


    • A brief production diary of the process of who did what and screen shots of group and locations
    • Genre conventions to be included
    • Task idea, title and script, any music?
    • Storyboard
    • Shooting schedule When these are approved by your teacher you will then sign out a camera.

    Individually, your planning, prelim task and presentation are all to be uploaded onto an emaze. Sign up to www.emaze.com and start practising!



    The minimum amount of shots you must include are:
    • match on action
    • shot/reverse shot 
    • 180 degree rule
    • an establishing shot
    • at least two close ups of the characters
    • a tracking shot 
    • high angle shot



     





    Past examples:







    Institution Task

    Institutions


    Have a look at some big media companies and smaller companies and their logos and design your own. You will then bring these to your film groups and select the best one.

    http://www.businessinsider.com.au/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6

    http://www.cnbc.com/id/39083257/page/1 - most profitable movies of all time

    http://www.businesspundit.com/10-most-profitable-low-budget-movies-of-all-time/

    http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/records/budgets.php


    Low budget V high budget institution comparison and analysis to be completed. Place onto a powerpoint and upload onto the blog. Choose a big budget blockbuster and compare to a low budget film eg Dark Knight vs Paranormal Activity. Do some research:

    1)What are the main institutions used for each of the films? (in terms of production and distribution?) Find their logo and add it on.

    2)How much money was used to produce each film? (The budget)

    3)How much money was made from each of the films?

    4)How well known are the production companies for both the high-budget and low-budget film?

    5)List the differences between the high-budget film and the low-budget film in terms of the institutions.

    6)List any similarities that exist between the high-budget film and the low-budget film in terms of the institutions.

    7)What other films has the production company made? Were these as successful? Why/why not?

    8)What genre of films does the company usually produce? Is this important when considering who could produce your film? Why?

    9)What audiences do each of the institutions aim to appeal to? Is this reflected through their film choice, or does this vary?

    10)Which institution do you feel outperforms the other and could claim to be more successful, considering your research? Explain your reasons.

    Juno task

    Well done on your dancing animals/James Bond task.

    Hopefully you will be a little more familiar with premiere now.

    In this task you will familiarise yourself with the cameras, practise your camera and editing shots and further stretch your premiere skills.

    Storyboards - number each shot, write down times for length of shot, type of shot and transition

    Post name Juno task - label research - upload your storyboard onto the blog and your Juno task and then evaluate by answering the following questions.

    You are editing your own footage, how did the filming go?
    Was your storyboard accurate?
    What were your strengths and weaknesses in the group?
    Did you get all the footage you wanted?
    What technical skills - camera and premiere - did you learn?
    How does it compare to the original?

    What went well - What I learnt - What I will take with me to the next production


    Film language

    Film language Analysis homework

    BOYZ IN THE HOOD

    Watch the first six minutes and apply your knowledge of camera, sound, editing and mise en scene to textually analyse the clip and the meaning that it created. Consider: - the symbolism in a lot of the shots - sound / music, dialogue and sound effects - what is the clip saying about race, how? - what have these children seen that you wouldn't expect them to have seen at their age? - How does the shot go from street to classroom? - what are the pictures on the wall?

    http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=boyz+n+the+hood+dutch+subtitles&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=BCA98CE309ED50662AF4BCA98CE309ED50662AF4


    TERMINATOR 2 Consider: - colour contrasts - age contrasts - good vs evil


    UP Consider how they show the passage of time, sound, mise en scene and camera.



    CAPE FEAR



    Narrative





    Narrative Theory

    Select a film opening of your choice and apply Barthes' 5 narrative codes. Write a list of the shots in order, how long they last and what you see.
    1. Identify the key actions within the opening - what kinds of actions are included and how is the narrative moved forward?
    2. Identify the enigma codes within the opening - what kinds of questions are posed and how is the audience meant to read these codes?
    3. Identify key characters and think about what they represent in the opening
    4. Identify key themes and analyse how symbols are presented visually/technically.
    Narrative theory from Katrinabrookes



    Roland Barthes' Three Main Codes student example using The Prestige opening scene:
    ENIGMA CODE:
    •  What are the top hats on the ground doing there? What is their relevance to the plot?
    • "Are you watching closely?" What does this mean?
    • Who is the little girl?
    • Who is the magician?
    • What is the big machine? What does it do?
    • What is the relationship between Angier and Borden?
    • Did Borden let Angier drown? Did he murder him?
    • Was Borden charged for Angier's murder?
    • What will happen to the little girl?
    ACTION CODE:
    • Flattening the cage (killing the bird?)
    • Angier taking off jacket - what is he about to do?
    • Stepping into electrical field
    • Water tank locking - will he get out?
    • Borden putting hand against water tank
    • Wave between Borden and little girl
    SYMBOLIC/SEMIOTIC CODE:
    • Top hats connote magic tricks - pulling something out of the hat
    • Clothing signifies Victorian era
    • Suit - rich, successful
    • Dark, gloomy - mysterious
    • Electricity/lightning - danger, electrocution
    • Warm colours connote comfort, safety
    • Wave between Borden and girl suggests that he is her father
    • Shackles - he is the one being charged
    • Drumming fingers, fidgeting - impatience
    • Top hats symbolise the mystery to come
    • The small bird represents the victim in the magic trick - the place taken by Angier in his own illusion, where he drowns/begins to drown
    • Little girl represents the audience

    Mise En Scene

    REMEMBER CLAMPS WHEN LOOKING AT MISE EN SCENE - Costume, Lighting, Actors, Makeup, Props, Setting

    Film pitch to test your understanding of genre

    Pitch presentation
    Pitch presentation – as a powerpoint to be uploaded onto blog via slideshare.net

    You are to pitch a new idea for a film to producers (the rest of your class). Five minute presentation tops. We, the audience will then decide which film we would most watch and why.
    Genre:
    Target Audience and BBFC certificate:
    You need to come up with:
    · A title of the film and why you chose this title
    · Character types and what stars or upcoming starst would be appropriate and why you’ve chosen these for the film
    · How you are going to create interest for the audiencestraight away (enigma code)
    · What will the narrative be – use storyline, settings, themes
    · How are you demonstrating conventions within the genre
    · What will make your film different
    · How you will create interest in the film (marketing) institution
     
    Here's an example from last year - http://www.slideshare.net/gbhsasbeth/the-code-26094180

    Genre tasks

    All your posts at the moment will have the label Research on the right hand side.

    Upload your photos and apply the DISTINCT (setting, themes, icons, narrative, characters, textual analysis) and describe the genre and why you did what you did. Did it work? What went well/Even better if...

    On your blog write about the following:
    Watch the following trailers and describe what makes them the genre they are applying the DISTINCT conventions. Any hybrids? If so, how.

    The Brief

    Hello year 12s and welcome to AS Media Studies.

    In the first term you will be completing 50% of your AS level by producing an opening sequence to a film of a particular genre. All your work will be stored online and sent to the examiners as a blog link. The marks are divided as follows:

    20 - planning and research
    60 - construction
    20 - evaluation
    Preliminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.
    Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.
    All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source
    Both preliminary and main tasks may be done individually or as a group. Maximum four members to a group.