HOLIDAY WORK

Prepare for assessment on MEST 1

Continue production diaries and post shoot plans so that you are ready for next term - storyboards, shot list, schedule. All should be on weebly by 5th of January.

Begin paper edit of trailer - think about titles, voice over, credits, fonts, industry information, codes and conventions - be prepared, your edit time will be short and this is work you can do before. In preparation re-read the brief for MEST2 it gives all of the necessary details regarding institutions and budget.

Watch some REALITY TV over the break and begin to think about the different varieties of reaity programming, which channel they are on and how the formats for each programme work.

Enjoy your break!

THURSDAY 10th

PRODUCTION


I am hoping to see all of you tomorrow at the beginning of Period 5 to report on your success during filming and to back-up the footage you have shot so far for your trailers. Please ensure that you are here at that time and that you bring all equipment with you.


Some of what I have seen from the groups who have reported in has been excellent. However, not everyone has followed my clear instructions.


On Tuesday I made a firm request for groups to contact me and report back on their progress, only two out of the four groups have done this with any consistency. The other two groups need to contact me urgently if they are to avoid generating letters home regarding they reliability and attendance.


I also need you all to update your weebly blogs with evaluations of the production experience so far and to explain the decisions you have made and the problems which you have confronted and how they have been solved. This is an important part of the evaluative process and needs to be done.


As you know the production window closes on Tuesday and I am expecting you all to have completed filming by the end of Period 4 that day. You will irrespective of any other needs report in Period 1 that day.


COMMENT TO ENSURE THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE READ THIS

WEDNESDAY 9th PRODUCTION DAY

I have received no communications from any groups after yesterday's filming. Please rectify this.

It is also vital that you communicate asap to let me know where you are filming today so that I can come and observe.

I am also expecting some of you to come and find me today before 4pm to back-up your footage on the iMac, this is very important.

PRODUCTION ISSUES

It has come to my notice that a number of productions have been struggling during this two week production window with various issues including: illness, attendance, lateness, poor communication, disorganisation and poor planning.

To try and ensure that you all get back on track I need you all to come in tomorrow in your groups so look through your plans, see any footage you have shot (and upload it) and address the issues which have occurred.

It is not too late to fix things but in order to do this you MUST work as a team and that starts with personal responsibility and good communication.

Please email me ASAP to confirm that you will be coming.

Shooting Guide

Here is the shooting guide.

Please ensure that you download it and USE it.

Shooting Guide

FRIDAY'S LESSON UPDATE

Unfortunately I still can't be with you tomorrow.

However, it is not like you don't have enough to do!

Everything that I was expecting from you for Friday I will now be expecting on Tuesday. It does give you a little more time to prepare and get your acts together for the presentations of your production and to have REALLY GOOD storyboards, production plans and scripts.

Also, it allows you a little more time to ensure that your weebly sites are up to date and working properly. Help each other if you get stuck.

For examples of good script writing check out previous blogs and also take a look at Drew's Script-o-rama where you can find examples of hundred of screenplays for films old and new. Reading some pages will not do you any harm.

Keep watching and annotating and ALWAYS refer back to the MEST2 brief I gave you. This is your BIBLE (or other holy book if you will) and you must use the information contained in it. remember who the audience is, what they watch and why (research this), the budget, the means of funding and the planned distribution. Which specific cinemas would you choose around the country? How are you going to find out this kind of information?

Comment to let me know that you have read this and please pass on information to others regarding tomorrow's lessons.

FRIDAY'S LESSON

Please bring with you ALL notes for your groups production to be discussed with me in 10 minute sessions. have pens, pencils and MAKE NOTES we will need to work fast.

Period 5 you will be editing work shot last week when NOT meeting with me.

Period 6 will involve a short iWeb workshop followed by you preparing you own iWeb site and when not working with me.

HOME STUDY: For Next Tuesday: prepare powerpoint presentation AS A GROUP to showcase what you are intending to make. Elements that you must include:

• BRIEF PITCH OF PROJECT
• STORYBOARD (at least 12 frames with detailed annotation)
• SAMPLE SCRIPT (written in suitable format)
• PRODUCTION: locations and sets, cast, props and costumes: production roles for members of group.
• SCHEDULE: first draft of when you are planning to shoot and when.
• PROBLEMS: which you have identified that you need to solve.

Time limit is 10 minutes per group plus feedback.

THIS HOME STUDY WILL REQUIRE YOU ALL TO COMMUNICATE IN YOUR OWN TIME AND TAKE ON INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

TODAY

Sorry for not being there today. An unforeseen event has made it impossible for me to be with you.

Therefore, in the meantime I am expecting you to work in your groups on MEST 2 practical projects. Preparing scripts, storyboards and plans for your shoot.

Please include:

1 equipment list
2 schedule for shoot
3 designation of all roles in the production (look up what each role is responsible for)

ALSO

You MUST ensure that your WEEBLY site is up to date with all work from this last half term. I will be checking from home and there will be 6th form detentions for inadequate sites issued on Friday.

Please comment below to ensure that I KNOW YOU HAVE READ THIS.

FRIDAY Lesson + powerpoints + script example

Here is the powerpoint from today's lesson and a page of script to give you an idea of layout and how succinct you can be in conveying images and story.

Please bring everything you need for Tuesday including: the script for your trailer, storyboard, planning as identified in the term plan.

Period 1 and 2 will be focussed on looking through your plans and ensuring that you are all up-todate, you may also have time to update your WEEBLY sites with details which you discuss. ENSURE THAT THESE ARE UP TO DATE ASAP.

Period 3 and 4. You will be editing the material you shot on Tuesday and creating a quick website for it using iWEB.

Ensure you comment so that I know that you have read this.

AS L2 Den Conn

AS L3

Bourne Super P1

AUTUMN TERM 2

Here below is the schedule for the second half of the term.

Also embedded are powerpoints used last lesson.

As Media Studies Autumn 2 Schedule

AS L1 Intro v2

AS L2 Den Conn

MEST 1 Keep practicing your analytical skills ON EVERYTHING YOU SEE, WATCH, READ, SURF. remember that these skills well practiced will stand you in good stead for the exam and coursework.

MEST 2 You should be preparing for the second half of term by working on the BRIEF you have been given. We are still in the development stage and at this time we have some freedom. Enjoy the process.

WATCH as many trailers relevant to your project as you can - do this by checking out any film leads you can. Identify SPECIFIC MOMENTS which you want to 'steal' for your trailer. A shot, an effect, a development of tension, a mise en scene, acting, music etc. Make notes ALL THE TIME.

Check out IMDB and use the menus down the side to identify further details. Check out fan sites for specific genres, social networking links for new horror and suspense films. Use all means at your deposal to build a dosier for YOUR film. THIS IS IMPORTANT IN PROVING THAT YOUR TRAILER WILL INDEED HELP PROMOTE THE FILM AND THAT THE FILM IS SUITED TO THE AUDIENCE.

Good luck.



NB. ATTENDANCE AT ALL LESSONS IS VITAL.

TODAY'S TRIP

I trust you all got something from today's trip and weren't too late for your afternoon classes to get something from them.

It would be good if you could reflect on the film and write a short review which you could post on your weebly.

Also, it might be an idea to write some notes on what you learnt about film promotion from the talk at the beginning which I thought was especially valuable to us as we head into the MEST2 production. It would be a shame to let these nuggets of information slip away.

Here below are a couple of useful sites to do with film distribution which you might like to check out to see what's coming and when. It will be valuable when you come to write your evaluation.

Launching Films
Scoop

See you tomorrow.

Assessment + MEST 2

Below is today's powerpoint.

Please reflect on it for yourself and consider what you did well and how you could improve.

Identify three areas for development for yourself and write these in your comment at the bottom of the page.
As Assessment 1

The MEST 2 groups:

a) Camping trip horror
Kamil
Mary
Yancia

b) Identity thriller
Rena
Henna
Wes

c) Ghost story
Lul
Ayesha
Mahnoor

d) TBA
Saaema
Hawwa
Amy

Please ensure that you communicate with each other and develop your project together. The best way to do this is to give each other specific task which don't overlap too much. Areas to think about: genre references, location research, casting ideas, story points to reveal in trailer/exciting moments to create, technical needs of film.

Have fun and keep notes of everything you do.

MUSIC RESEARCH

Today's lesson was focussed on Music research picking up on the home study set last week. We developed this from your brief and succinct comments answering the questions set to last Friday to a task involving content analysis on the opportunities which exist for watching / listening to music on Television.

I have posted here the Powerpoint which we generated at the end of the lesson.

Music Content Research

The next stage of this process is to develop the content analysis individually in a more thorough and rigorous way for your individual case study - the 'band' which you are seeking to promote.

Questions to ask:

• Which channels will I need to get my band played on to reach my target audience?
• How will I be able to tell if I am getting my music to the right people?
• Which other platforms will I need to utilise to maximise my audience?

Think about which research techniques you might use to answer these questions: content analysis, surveys, controlled experiments, data analysis. How would you go about obtaining the data? How would  the data help develop your stratergy?

When you write about this be detailed and disciplined in what you say - avoid generalising.

It is very important in this process that you think clearly, don't spend too long on one area of research, draw conclusions form your data (even if you don't feel 100% about them) and have your strategy in either a presentation or document on your WEEBLY site.

Useful sites:

BARB

uktribes

demographics

channel 4

NME

Please complete this work by next Tuesday.

Fiday's lesson

Lesson powerpoint.

As Pitches and MEST1

MEDIA site

Check out the Media Massage site where I will gradually put more and more information which may be useful to you on the course. There is a sample analysis of a film poster to give you a flavour.

Best of luck with the home-study and remember that I am expecting you to have research on the music industry on Tuesday and re-written synposes and ideas for any of the 3 film ideas chosen by next Friday.
extension: for those of you motivated, take a look at the screenplays which I will post links to and think about what you are going to write and how it should be on the page.

Mr H.

FRIDAY'S PITCHING SESSION

HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE.

At this stage the way to think about it is in story terms – use the pitch as you starting point.

Write a really short idea which you think will work for the audience you need to reach.
Next expand this to some simple plot points in your brief synopsis – the twists in the story – hero falls in love, villain kills hero’s mother etc. showdown between villain and hero – do you get the idea?
Finally, pick some references – types of movie trailers you like which might give a bit of the feel of what you want.

At this stage you DO NOT have to write either the story or all the scenes for the trailer. Perhaps you might like to describe one or two key moments – and suggest the atmosphere - show us pictures, play us music, act bits of it out. Help us 'SEE' your trailer in our mind's eye.

Don't worry about practicality yet - there will be time for that later.

TRAILERS

Cape Fear

Cape Fear remake

Please feel free to add other trailers you think might be worth watching for the suspense or thriller genre.

WEEBLY and SCRIBD and HOME STUDY

http://www.apple.com/trailers/summit/sororityrow/trailer_medium.htmlYou have a choice.

You can use Weebly simply set up your own site and upload your work. It is ideal for essays and you can also embed video from YouTube easily.

The other option is that you create your own blog and this will also allow you to embed documents using SCRIBD an online publishing facility which will allow you to upload word and powerpoint documents which will then appear on the site as they originally were.  You can also embed or link to YouTube on a blog. SCRIBD also has a photo gallery which could be useful for location stills.

I will be expecting you all to have created your own site in some form by Friday - I also want you to upload your work so that I can read it and assess it.

Your trailer analysis should be the first thing you upload and I am expecting you to have added and refined what you prepared last week.

As practice is useful, I would recommend that you complete an analysis of the SORORITY ROW trailer showing that you have gained a good grasp of media language and understanding of how to apply it.

HOMESTUDY

Look again at the MEST 2 brief and prepare you pitch for Friday.
Include in it:

• the genre of your movie and reasons for choosing that genre: audience, budget etc.
• 25 word pitch of your idea
• half page synopsis of your film
• either the opening or one other key scene from the film
• film references which might be helpful to the class

Good Luck.

Semiotics

For further reading about semiotics go to the following site.

Semiotics for Beginners
Newcastle university

HOME STUDY for Tuesday 6th October.

I know I gave you free choice of genre for the trailer you choose and I don't want to change that but I would like some of you to consider the following genres: horror (and its sub-genres: vampire, ghost, psycho, slasher, zombie), suspense, thriller. You might also consider comedy.

In your annotations try to figure out what conventions are being used in the trailer.

Useful sites for trailers are:

Apple trailers

Yahoo trailers

But you might also consider older trailers which have clearer conventions, and which may be easier to analyse.

Keep your presentation to no more than 10 slides please and post notes to the BLOG in advance of Tuesday's lesson. Please also ensure that you have emailed me you presentation by Monday evening.

This Friday we will be beginning to consider the MEST2 Brief - in other words the coursework side of your AS Media Studies course.

PLEASE COMMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE READ THIS.

For TUESDAY

BE PREPARED.

THE UNEXPECTED IS COMING.

ENSURE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR FRONT PAGE ANALYSIS.

WATCH TV!!!!!!!!!!

THINK

CROWNGATE AND BEYOND week beginning 21st September

The point of today's exercise in research into 'Crowngate' was that you begun to familiarise yourself with the process of finding what you need to know on the internet, reading it and distilling it into a readable form which makes clear the most important areas to consider. It was also important that you engaged with the power and responsibility which the media has to influence our opinions. Think about the trail of events which led to this 'misrepresentation' of the Queen and the consequences. What were the reasons for the decision to edit the 'raw' footage in such a way as to change the narrative of the documentary? Why didn't the decision makers at the BBC when they realised there had been a misrepresentation seek to immediately change it? Who stood to gain? How? What does it say about our society that we are able to understand the issues, the processes and repercussions?

MIGRAIN

The second part of the lesson was about getting to grips with the process of analysis and understanding that part of you job both in the preparation and evaluation of your MEST2 coursework and in the MEST1 exam will be to use a set of 'tools' to deconstruct the media texts you are shown. These tools will need to become second nature and therefore the HOMESTUDY is an opportunity for you to practice.

Please begin this process with the Media Language.

This will include: descriptions of denotation, images, colours, fonts, size of text, layout etc.

Chart your way through representations, narrative, genre, institution, audience and finally ideology. The reason to save ideology till the end should become clearer as you work.

Don't forget to bring your FRONT COVER with you and / or scan it onto the BLOG and write your analysis there - please also email me with it.

The Crowngate Scandal

The Crowngate scandal was based on a misleading trailer for the fourth coming series 'A year with the queen'. On July the 11th the queen was shown in the trailer storming out of a photo shoot after photographer Annie Leibovitz suggested she remove her crown. The queen was presented apparently 'walking out in a huff'. The footage was misleadingly edited by RDF showing her walking out of the shoot when she was actually walking in, Peter Fincham who was the BBC1 controller aired this to an audience of journalists. Fincham and his head of press Jane Fletcher knew by 5pm on the day of the BBC1 press launch that the story was untrue. But they did not correct it until the following morning, allowing the media,including BBC News to run with the story. Hence they had not apologized since the following day on July 12. As a result Peter Fincham and Jane both resigned as well as the Head of RDF who was mainly responsible for the edit. The BBC and RDF were highly criticised by former BBC executive Will Wyatt.

Hawwa,Lul,Saaema.

 

Mini Practical

Well done today on your first mini practical for AS.

You presumably realise how vital the planning process is and that there are many factors involved in creating suspense. Please ensure that in your Homestudy you explore what you did in detail.

Here for those of you who didn't record it in class is what I would like you to do.

• To write an evaluation of the practical.
• Include in this: storyboard, analysis, www and ebi.
• Commentary on the most effective shots - why did they work?
• Create a new storyboard with notes for an improved sequence - developing theme of suspense.
• Research: ‘Crowngate’, what was it - use the internet to research and collate some information - identify the main issues and outcomes. Think about the roles of audience, institution and representations as well as Media languages in this media event.

Good luck and see you Tuesday.

Mr H.


As always, please comment to let me know that you have read this.

Plan for next two weeks

Please take note of the plan for the next two weeks of lessons.


There will be a more comprehensive term plan available soon which will involve a preliminary schedule for your practical productions as well as the MEST1 course breakdown.


On Friday as I said in class you will be engaged in a short practical exercise to be shot on video and edited in class. In addition I will be issuing you with the course handbook which cost about £3 to produce, so please look after it and take note that you will have to pay for any replacements.


Could I also recommend that you start keeping a file for Media as I will periodically issue you with hand-outs which it would be sensible to keep hold of for revision purposes. 


In preparation for Friday please watch some TV or films with the sound down and think about how (if at all) narrative is created.


Week beginning 14th September


Tues 1-4
Analyse institution with reference to The Simpsons
Crash course on image and meaning


Fri 5-6
Mini practical
Creating narrative: shoot and edit


Homestudy
Evaluation and analysis of practical
Explore importance of editing
Research 'Crowngate'
Answer questions


Week beginning 21st September


Tues 1-4

Crowngate analysis and debate

Institutions, audience and regulation.

Introduction to Teen reality shows

Fri 5-6

Explore teen audiences

T4, MTV, BBC Switch, on-line programming (Bebo), Youtube

Homestudy

Do own textual analysis of either web page or a magazine cover. Using the how to read an image sheet. 500 words
Present your schedule for teen channel

Prepare arguments for 'chat show' styled filmed debate

Research evidence

Please comment to ensure I know you have read this.

AS Media Studies

Thanks for all coming to the first lesson. I hope that it is just the beginning of your journey into the study of Media and your developing awareness of the importance of Media understanding to modern life.


Today we scratched the surface of the subject and introduced you to the main demands of the course. If you want to know more please feel free to check out the AQA website. Follow the link and have a surf around. Look at the specification in particular MEST 1 and MEST 2 which are the units you will be studying this year.


I also recommend you consider the following questions and do some of your own research around the subject before Tuesday.


Who broadcasts The Simpsons in the US and in the UK?
What do you know about the organisations or institutions who broadcast The Simpsons in terms of ideology?
What is the dominant ideology of The Simpsons? 


Please write your answers as notes or in continuous prose as you wish.


BLOGGING


For Homestudy this weekend I also asked you to keep a media log of what you consume, when and for how long: use of different platforms, time spent on leisure, time spent on study etc. Try to itemise.


Enjoy and see you Tuesday.
Any issues, please email me:
tholloway@brentford.hounslow.sch.uk

WELCOME TO AS MEDIA STUDIES

The purpose of this blog is to be a forum for research; a place to let others know about what you have discovered; a place for peer assessment of homestudy; an environment for online learning which can continue outside the classroom.

The first thing that you will have to do is register to receive this blog. To do this you will need to ensure that I have a current email address for you. This is compulsory as I will use this blog to post reviews of lessons, resources, links, students work and to mark some assignments I set you.

Once we are up and running this will also be a place which I would like you to invite parents and carers to visit to see how the course works. I want them to begin to understand what you are learning about in Media Studies, the academic demands and rigour of the course, the opportunities for creativity and relevance to our ever changing world.

I want this to be your course and for you to influence it through the way that you think, write and create.