Your summer project contains compulsory and optional elements; everybody will be researching music videos and promos, creating a concept, writing a first draft Statement of Intent and presenting this to class as an Ignite presentation in September. However, you may wish to also plan and film elements of your production over the summer while you have time and actors available - this is up to you.
Summer project tasks
Complete the following tasks on a blogpost on your coursework blog called 'Summer Project: coursework planning':
1) Research: music videos and music promos
You need to write a 150-word close-textual analysis of SIX selected videos that will inform your production work. The music video videos you analyse are up to you but focus on a different aspect of media language for each one (see guidance below). For promos, we've suggested a few options but if you can find your own examples you are welcome to study those. Focus more on interviews, cutaways, structure and graphics/brand identity for the promos.
Music videos
Music Video 1: Narrative
How is narrative used in the music video and what impact does this have on the audience? Can you apply any narrative theories to the story in the music video?
Music Video 2: Technical codes (camerawork, mise-en-scene, editing)
What do you notice about the use of mise-en-scene to create meanings for the audience? Use CLAMPS to help you here and think in particular about how mise-en-scene is used to communicate the genre of music. Look for particular camera shots and movement - remember that movement is a critical convention of most music videos and camerawork can contribute to this. For editing, analyse pace, transitions, the number of shots and juxtaposition. How does the music video create pace and excitement - or does it create a different effect for the audience?
Music Video 3: Conventions
Think back to our Introduction to Music Video and our work on Andrew Goodwin's theory on music video conventions as part of the Ghost Town CSP. How many key conventions of music video can you find in your fifth music video example?
You can find a range of notable music video examples in this blogpost or you are free to select videos of your choice. You may wish to write more about one video than another but as long as you have 500+ words of music video research in total you will be fine.
2) Planning: music promo script and treatment
In many ways, a music promo is a mix between an advert, a documentary and a music video. In order to produce this, you'll need to write a script but you should also plan to write a music video treatment too. A treatment is like a script for a music video - it tells the band or artist exactly what will happen in the video and the kind of style or effect the video will have. You'll need choose what songs you are going to use at this point - remember, you can use an existing artist's work but it needs to be appropriate for the brief.
You can find further music video treatment guidance here plus an example of a genuine director's treatment for the brilliant alt-J video Breezeblocks.
Music Video 1: Narrative
How is narrative used in the music video and what impact does this have on the audience? Can you apply any narrative theories to the story in the music video?
Music Video 2: Technical codes (camerawork, mise-en-scene, editing)
What do you notice about the use of mise-en-scene to create meanings for the audience? Use CLAMPS to help you here and think in particular about how mise-en-scene is used to communicate the genre of music. Look for particular camera shots and movement - remember that movement is a critical convention of most music videos and camerawork can contribute to this. For editing, analyse pace, transitions, the number of shots and juxtaposition. How does the music video create pace and excitement - or does it create a different effect for the audience?
Music Video 3: Conventions
Think back to our Introduction to Music Video and our work on Andrew Goodwin's theory on music video conventions as part of the Ghost Town CSP. How many key conventions of music video can you find in your fifth music video example?
You can find a range of notable music video examples in this blogpost or you are free to select videos of your choice. You may wish to write more about one video than another but as long as you have 500+ words of music video research in total you will be fine.
Music promos
Music Promo 1: Frank Palangi - Artist Promo - No Plan B
How does this video use mise-en-scene to create meanings for the audience? Look for settings/locations, cutaways, use of colour/black and white, lighting and costume:
Music Promo 2: Bel Thomson Artist Promo Video
Focus on the content here: what camera shots are used? What topics are covered in the interview? What other interviews are included aside from the artist herself? How are graphics or text-on-screen used?
Music Promo 3: SBTV interview with Slaughterhouse
This is more an interview than a promo but contains many of the conventions we will want to use. How does the video begin? What questions are covered in the interview? How does the video incorporate live performance/music video elements?
Again, it is absolutely fine to write about different promo videos (particularly if you can find them for the genre you are thinking of using) - as long as you have around 500 words of research/notes on promo videos you will be fine.
In total, your research notes on your blog will be approximately 1,000 words - bullet points are fine.
2) Planning: music promo script and treatment
In many ways, a music promo is a mix between an advert, a documentary and a music video. In order to produce this, you'll need to write a script but you should also plan to write a music video treatment too. A treatment is like a script for a music video - it tells the band or artist exactly what will happen in the video and the kind of style or effect the video will have. You'll need choose what songs you are going to use at this point - remember, you can use an existing artist's work but it needs to be appropriate for the brief.
You can find further music video treatment guidance here plus an example of a genuine director's treatment for the brilliant alt-J video Breezeblocks.
For this aspect of your summer project, write a combination script/treatment that will tell a reader what your three-minute promo will be made up of.
3) Statement of Intent
Write the first draft for your genuine 500-word Statement of Intent. This will be submitted to the exam board alongside your media products and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.
The original AQA brief is here: NEA Student Booklet - brief 3.
3) Statement of Intent
Write the first draft for your genuine 500-word Statement of Intent. This will be submitted to the exam board alongside your media products and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.
The original AQA brief is here: NEA Student Booklet - brief 3.
We also strongly recommend you look at our Statement of Intent 2023 questions to consider document too (you'll need to log in with your Greenford Google account to read this).
4) Ignite presentation
Prepare a 5-minute, 20-slide presentation using the Ignite format in which you present your coursework project. In effect, this is your statement of intent in presentation format. You must cover:
Your Ignite presentation will be marked out of 30 on the following criteria (each worth a possible 5 marks):
1) Research (through the presentation AND your blog)
2) Coursework concept
3) Language: terminology and theory
4) Representations / social and cultural contexts
5) Audience and Industry / digital convergence
6) Presentation delivery
You can find more information about Ignite presentations - including examples - in this Ignite presentation blogpost here.
Summer project deadline: all tasks above due in second lesson back in September
4) Ignite presentation
Prepare a 5-minute, 20-slide presentation using the Ignite format in which you present your coursework project. In effect, this is your statement of intent in presentation format. You must cover:
- Your music promo video and print advert concept: artist, genre, songs, interviews, narrative/performance/effects, photoshoot, branding etc.
- Media language: how you will use music promo video conventions and print advert conventions - e.g. camerawork, editing and mise-en-scene to create meanings for your audience.
- Media representations: how you will use or subvert stereotypes in your music promo and print adverts; applications of representation theory; social and cultural contexts - how your coursework will reflect contemporary media culture and society.
- Media audiences: your target audience demographics and psychographics; audience pleasures - why they would enjoy your promo; audience theory if relevant.
- Media industries and digital convergence: the potential record company that would promote your band or artist; the brand identity for your artist; how fans would engage with your products etc.
Your Ignite presentation will be marked out of 30 on the following criteria (each worth a possible 5 marks):
1) Research (through the presentation AND your blog)
2) Coursework concept
3) Language: terminology and theory
4) Representations / social and cultural contexts
5) Audience and Industry / digital convergence
6) Presentation delivery
You can find more information about Ignite presentations - including examples - in this Ignite presentation blogpost here.
Summer project deadline: all tasks above due in second lesson back in September
Summer project: optional extensions
Pre-production tasks
Some students in previous years expressed an interest in filming their video production over the summer break. This makes a huge amount of sense - far more availability of actors, much more time to schedule filming etc. If you do want to film over the summer, make sure you complete the following pre-production tasks here:
Music promo planning and treatment
This is effectively your script for your music promotion. There is guidance/links above on how to write a great music video treatment.
Storyboard
Sketch out a selection of critical shots from your music promo, take a photo of the storyboard and upload it to your blogpost. What visual style are you trying to create? Storyboard sheets can be downloaded from here.
Shot list
Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for the music promo 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 a film example here. It makes sense to organise your shot list by scene or location rather than a huge list of every shot in the music promo in chronological order.
Mise-en-scene
What iconography are you including to ensure your audience understands the genre you are working in? Plan your cast, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. This can be simply completed using your blog or Microsoft Word - the key aspect is to have planned all the critical details.
Shooting schedule
Plan a shooting schedule for your filming over the summer. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location. Again, this can be on Word or Excel or you could simply use your blog. The most important thing is that you've planned it!
Non-assessed participants
You will need to provide a written record of all non-assessed participants in your production work (both video and print). Keep a record of everyone involved - actors, camerawork, sound etc. You will also need a keep a record of any non-original sound and note it on the Candidate Record Form - so this means the song(s) for your music promotion. Keep these on your blog for easy reference when submitting your work in Year 13.
Production: Filming and photography
Once you have completed your pre-production tasks, you can film or carry out photoshoots as you wish.
Good luck!
Pre-production tasks
Some students in previous years expressed an interest in filming their video production over the summer break. This makes a huge amount of sense - far more availability of actors, much more time to schedule filming etc. If you do want to film over the summer, make sure you complete the following pre-production tasks here:
Music promo planning and treatment
This is effectively your script for your music promotion. There is guidance/links above on how to write a great music video treatment.
Storyboard
Sketch out a selection of critical shots from your music promo, take a photo of the storyboard and upload it to your blogpost. What visual style are you trying to create? Storyboard sheets can be downloaded from here.
Shot list
Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for the music promo 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 a film example here. It makes sense to organise your shot list by scene or location rather than a huge list of every shot in the music promo in chronological order.
Mise-en-scene
What iconography are you including to ensure your audience understands the genre you are working in? Plan your cast, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. This can be simply completed using your blog or Microsoft Word - the key aspect is to have planned all the critical details.
Shooting schedule
Plan a shooting schedule for your filming over the summer. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location. Again, this can be on Word or Excel or you could simply use your blog. The most important thing is that you've planned it!
Non-assessed participants
You will need to provide a written record of all non-assessed participants in your production work (both video and print). Keep a record of everyone involved - actors, camerawork, sound etc. You will also need a keep a record of any non-original sound and note it on the Candidate Record Form - so this means the song(s) for your music promotion. Keep these on your blog for easy reference when submitting your work in Year 13.
Production: Filming and photography
Once you have completed your pre-production tasks, you can film or carry out photoshoots as you wish.
Good luck!
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