Saturday, January 27, 2007

Documentaries Online

Many of you are producing documentaries and need to research at least three each and post up details and analysis of these to your blogs.

Here's a useful site that has lots of really good documentaries grouped together under different headings...

Best Online Documentaries

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Cover Work for 12C, Thur 25-01

Read the post below about Big Brother and carry out all the tasks (that have also been set for 12D). Make sure you also use the handouts given to you by Mr Munro on Tuesday to help you.

The deadline for the essay for 12C is next Tuesday 30th January.

You also need to be reminded that the four tasks from the last two weeks must be completed by tomorrow (Friday 26th) when I will be in the lesson! So far I haven't even had all the blog addresses sent to me.

There will be serious repercussions if you don't meet this new deadline!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Big Brother Essay (12D)


Big Brother
...it's the biggest media story of the year so far and very much linked to Module 2: Documentary, because although, strictly speaking, it's a reality TV programme, we all know that these contain a lot of the features of documentary (as well as game show, etc.) so you can focus on this as a main text in the exam.

It's almost certain that you've all been watching over the past few weeks. If you haven't...what's going on? Call yourself a Media student? In all honesty, I've watched very little of this series but I feel like I know as much as if I've watched it (and so should you) because of all the press and broadcast news coverage its generated.

12D need to do the following for homework...




Read The Guardian article about Jade's eviction and the racism row. Then take a look at these Media Guardian links to other stories about the current series. Read through as many of these as you can to help you research and prepare for your homework essay. The title of the essay is a slightly reworded one from June 2001a...

“The editing of the show was designed to cast certain people in defined roles.” [Sada Walkington, the first person evicted from ‘Big Brother 1’ house] How do documentaries, particularly reality TV shows, shape and show reality?

Use 'Celebrity Big Brother' as your main text, write at least two sides of A4, word process the finished outcome, and hand in on your lesson on Monday (29-01).

Thursday, January 18, 2007

12C or 12D?

Thanks to the (unnamed) student who emailed me pointing out that there has been some confusion about which Year 12 class you belong to and so you've been unsure what to do in my absence. For the record (although you should all know this)...
  • 12C is the class with Kabir, Jagjeet and Naziya first on the register (and have me Tue, Thur & Fri);
  • 12D is the class with Anamul, Rohini and Manveer first on the register (and have me Mon & Wed).
Please work out which class you're in and do the work set for you.

It doesn't really matter either way now though. Just remember that you have to complete all the following tasks by your next lesson, next week (either Monday for 12D, or Tuesday for 12C)...

Good news for 12C - you can work from home if you wish on Friday (19/01) and you do not have to attend my lessons to register. But please remember, all of you, that if this work is NOT completed by next week you will NOT be allowed to go out filming your Practical Production, and you will almost certainly get a bad grade in your interim reports which I'm doing as soon as I get back.

Good luck - let's see if you can prove you're capable of working independently!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Cover Work 12C1

On Thursday 18-01-07, 12C1 need to do the following during your double period...

Research for Practical Productions


Each person in the group needs to find three texts that are in some way similar to your production idea - either because they cover the same topic, or because they are the same genre/type of text (eg film trailer, reflexive documentary, etc). The best places to look are YouTube, Google Video or on some of the other sites listed in the Macguffin del.ici.ous video bookmarks. You then need to post up a link to each clip on your group blog (or, better still, embed the clip in it...see if you can work out how).

For each clip or extract you then need to carry out some analysis that will help you with your own production. Answer the following questions...

1. About the text...
  • What is the text? When was it produced? Who produced/directed it?
  • Who is the target audience? How do you know?
  • Where would you usually expect to see this text? What channel? Time? etc.
2. Different features it has...
  • What is distinctive about its camerawork, editing, sound, mise-en-scene, etc.?
  • What typical conventions of its genre does it use?
  • What elements could you appropriate (borrow) for your production?
The final bullet point is the most crucial aspect and needs to be done in the most detail.

Obviously, this requires you to have set up your group blog. If that hasn't been done then that has to be the priority. Don't forget the other work that was set for you on last week: the group blog and the self-evaluation, and the cover work from Tuesday on Freshie Idol.

All of this work must be completed in full by next Tuesday 23-01-07, when I will be in the lesson, so finish anything that you don't complete for homework.

Cover Work 12D1

On Wednesday 17-01-07, 12D1 need to do the following during your three lessons...

A. Freshie Idol Analysis

Follow this link to view the new version of 'Freshie Idol' (produced by Hasnaa, Jalna and Jasmit in association with Channel 4) that appeared on T4's 'Homemade' on Saturday. Watch it a couple of times and then carry out an analysis of it using the MC CAT Practical Production assessment focii that you yourselves will be judged on when you complete your short films (write one short paragraph on each)...
  • Media Language (comment on cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene, editing, etc.)
  • Conventions (how does the production make use of reality TV and trailer conventions?)
  • Creativity (in what ways is this creative or original?)
  • Attention to Detail (consider the little factors that make this appear authentic or not)
  • Technical Proficiency (camerawork, editing, post-production sound & graphics etc.)
You'll obviously need to do this in the library or Post-16 centre, after you've registered in the classroom. Post up your finished response at the end of this (as a comment). Make sure you include your name at the end and DO NOT copy what other people have written!

B. Research for Practical Productions

Each person in the group needs to find three texts that are in some way similar to your production idea - either because they cover the same topic, or because they are the same genre/type of text (eg film trailer, reflexive documentary, etc). The best places to look are YouTube, Google Video or on some of the other sites listed in the Macguffin del.ici.ous video bookmarks. You then need to post up a link to each clip on your group blog (or, better still, embed the clip in it...see if you can work out how).

For each clip or extract you then need to carry out some analysis that will help you with your own production. Answer the following questions...

1. About the text...
  • What is the text? When was it produced? Who produced/directed it?
  • Who is the target audience? How do you know?
  • Where would you usually expect to see this text? What channel? Time? etc.
2. Different features it has...
  • What is distinctive about its camerawork, editing, sound, mise-en-scene, etc.?
  • What typical conventions of its genre does it use?
  • What elements could you appropriate (borrow) for your production?
The final bullet point is the most crucial aspect and needs to be done in the most detail.

Obviously, this requires you to have set up your group blog. If that hasn't been done then that has to be the priority. Don't forget the other cover work that was set for you on Monday: the group blog and the self-evaluation.

All of this work must be completed in full by next Monday 22-01-07, when I will be in the lesson, so finish anything that you don't complete for homework.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Cover Work 12C1

On Tuesday 16-01-07, 12C1 need to do the following...

Follow this link to view the new version of 'Freshie Idol' (produced by Hasnaa, Jalna and Jasmit in association with Channel 4) that appeared on T4's 'Homemade' on Saturday. Watch it a couple of times and then carry out an analysis of it using the MC CAT Practical Production assessment focii that you yourselves will be judged on when you complete your short films (write one short paragraph on each)...
  • Media Language (comment on cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene, editing, etc.)
  • Conventions (how does the production make use of reality TV and trailer conventions?)
  • Creativity (in what ways is this creative or original?)
  • Attention to Detail (consider the little factors that make this appear authentic or not)
  • Technical Proficiency (camerawork, editing, post-production sound & graphics etc.)
You'll obviously need to do this in the library or Post-16 centre, after you've registered in the classroom. Post up your finished response at the end of this (as a comment). Make sure you include your name at the end and DO NOT copy what other people have written!

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Cover Work 12D1

On Monday 15-01-07, 12D1 need to get started on the following during your two lessons...

A. Group Blog
Set up a group blog for your Practical Production. You'll need to go to the Sixth Form computer rooms or the library to do this. Go to Blogger.com and click on 'Create Your Blog Now'. Follow the on-screen prompts to create your account and set up your template etc. Although I intended to demonstrate this during a lesson, I'm sure that there is at least one person in each group who is IT-literate enough to work things out. Ask a Year 13 Media student if you're stuck because they all know what to do.

Read carefully through the posting (below) about Practical Production Blog Setup before getting started. Then make sure you carry out all the tasks there in as much detail as possible before the deadline of Monday 22-01-07.

B. Self Evaluation
Click on the link or see the posting below for info.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Evaluations 2

To be completed over the course of the next week (by Monday 22-01-07).

Your responses will be used to help write your next Interim Reports.

SELF EVALUATION

Write an evaluation of your progress on the Media course so far.
Do the work on paper and hand in.

a. Comment on each of the following, giving yourself a grade with an explanation outlining why:

(Grading should be1-5: 1 = excellent, 2 = v. good, 3 = good/average, 4 = poor, 5 = v. poor)
  • Attainment
  • Effort
  • Punctuality
  • Submission and quality of homework
  • Ability to work independently
  • Quality of writing
  • Organisation of Media folder
  • Oral contributions in class
  • Comments & contributions to the Macguffin blog (Year 12s only)
  • Contribution to the group Practical Production.
b. Make a list of three targets/areas for improvement over the next half-term.

Practical Production Blog Setup

Each Practical Production group needs to set up a group blog by Monday 22-01-07...quite straightforward, especially as you will have it demonstrated in lessons. You may do this all together or one of your group can set up the account and then email you the username and password. Don't tell anyone else your password!

This is the second time that we have done this for Module 3 and last year we found that it was beneficial in a number of ways. We expect this to help you too because...
  • It will be a place where your group can suggest ideas, make decisions and plan actions.
  • As a result you will be clearer about what needs to be done - how and when.
  • You will receive comments and feedback about your work in progress from other groups.
  • Over time it will serve as on online record of your achievements (as a group and as an individual).
  • This will be monitored by your teachers & will ensure you are rewarded fairly when it comes to assessment.
  • It will be helpful to refer back to when writing your evaluation (for the examiner).
Once the blog is set up you each have four tasks to complete and submit as separate posts on your blog before the deadline...
  • A short outline of your project (base this on what you said in your brief).
  • An entry that summarises the work that both you and your group have completed so far.
  • Information about the research that you have done and the ideas it has given you.
  • A plan for what you'll be doing over the next week.
Remember - every individual in the group must make their own separate posts. Also, make sure you include your name at the end of each one so you can be identified. And, crucially, make sure that one person in the group posts up the blog web address and project working title at the end of this message so that a quick link to it can be added on this page.

You will be required individually to add to this on a weekly basis, to cover the following...
  • outlining the work planned and equipment to be used;
  • reporting on what was achieved;
  • reflecting on the outcome and whether it was different from what was planned and why.
It will also be good to see photos and stills from your shoot and production as it starts to take shape. The whole thing should eventually look like a big online scrapbook of your project that will culminate in the finished piece - uploaded and streamed into people's homes via the internet. Of course there will be credits, commendations and perhaps even prizes for the most committed and interesting bloggers. Also, for homework, check out the Med 3 Blogs from last year (05-06) that you can get to via the links on the sidebar to the left. Some of them are superb and will be a real source of inspiration, we're sure. Particular good ones include Lost is a Reflection, Teenage Daze, Guilt, A Life of Grime, and Three Shades of Red. Get going!!