This is a vital element of the overall coursework as it gives you the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them without it impacting on your grade. There's also another crucial factor here too: this is your opportunity to enter work for the 2018 Media Awards in October! Your actual coursework productions won't be complete in time for the 2018 Media Awards so this gives you a chance to see your work up on the big screen.
Preliminary exercise: film scene
Task: Create a scene from either a horror or coming of age drama genre film.
Length: 1-2 minutes
Equipment: Your own camera, smart phone or sign out a school Canon SLR.
Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can act in the film or operate equipment (e.g. camera, sound) as long as they are directed by the candidate submitting the work.
What your film needs to include
Content: Your scene must include at least two characters that either reinforce or subvert stereotypes.
Camerawork: You must include an establishing shot, long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot and either a high or low angle shot. You also must include both fixed camera (tripod) shots and camera movement (e.g. handheld, tracking, pan etc.)
Editing: You must include match-on-action, shot-reverse-shot and adhere to the 180 degree rule.
Sound: You must include dialogue and/or voiceover, non-diegetic sound (e.g. music), diegetic sound (e.g. dialogue, ambient sound, foley sound/SFX).
Mise-en-scene: iconography to establish genre - actor placement/movement, costume and make-up, props, setting etc.
Deadlines *STOP PRESS* deadlines extended due to PPEs
Planning deadline: Wednesday 20 June
Filming deadline: Wednesday 27 June
Final deadline: Wednesday 4 July
Important note: you will submit this film for the 2018 Media Awards.
Research and planning tasks
Create a blogpost called 'Research and planning' and complete the tasks below. First, watch this clip on the mistakes beginner filmmakers make - it will help you identify the errors to avoid when planning and shooting your film.
There are loads more tips and tutorials from Darius Britt (D4Darius on YouTube) that we would recommend watching as part of your research and planning. These include:
- How to brainstorm ideas for a short film
- How to write a short film - principles of drama
- Nine things to check before pressing the record button
Now complete the following tasks:
1) State the genre you have chosen - horror or coming of age drama.
2) Choose at least five films in your selected genre and watch the trailer and one scene from each film. Make bullet-point notes on everything you watch, commenting on camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene.
3) Write a 250 word statement of intent for your film scene. This should follow AQA's guidance (look in your coursework booklet) and clearly lay out how you will use media language to meet your brief. You should also discuss what representations you plan to create (either reinforcing or challenging stereotypes) and how your scene would appeal to an audience. This is an example Statement of intent for a preliminary exercise - it's 370 words so over the word count but covers the four key concepts as per AQA's guidance.
4) Write a script for your film scene. You'll find guidance for writing a script in the BBC Writers' Room (click on the Script Library to read real examples of professional scripts).
5) Storyboard at least five key shots from your scene, take a photo of the storyboard and upload it to your blogpost. What visual style are you trying to create? Storyboard sheets are available in DF07.
6) Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar. I advise using a simple table on Microsoft Word to set out your shot list - you can find an example here.
7) Plan your mise-en-scene: what iconography are you including to ensure your audience understands the genre? Plan your cast, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting.
8) Plan a shooting schedule that will ensure everything is filmed by Wednesday 27 June. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location.
Research and planning deadline: Wednesday 20 June
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