Media Studies Conference

For all Year 12 students...

Don't forget to be on time on Wednesday 15th - 8.45am outside school - and to bring pen/paper etc.

Homework to do this week in relation to the Media Conference...

TASK ONE

Before the conference - read the three related internet articles and info about the key media professionals you'll be seeing and hearing at the following links...

Politics and the Media
A special report from The Guardian newspaper entitled 'The Fourth Estate Under Fire' that will prepare you for the session by Polly Toynbee, one of the top female journalists in the UK.

Bollywood - An Insider's Guide
A brief summary of some of the key points that Fuad Omar - the highly regarded writer on Indian Cinema - will raise in his presentation.

New Media Technology
A Guardian article outlining 'Why The Internet Will Revolutionise Politics'. This is the topic that will be covered by the Guardian Media Editor, Matt Wells.

TASK TWO

Then respond to the questions posed below, making use of your notes from the conference and the articles posted above. Each answer can be brief - a sentence or two - and should be submitted in the comments at the end of this posting.

This needs to be done by Monday 20th November for 12D1 and 12C2, and for Tuesday 21st November for 12C1.

1. Politics and the Media – reporting or creating the news?
(Polly Toynbee, Observer and Guardian)

a. Do the media determine or influence the political agenda?
b. Do the media turn politics into the cult of the personality?
c. Are the media more concerned with what is “of interest to the public” rather than with what is in the “public interest”?
d. Who is responsible for political spin - the politicians or the media?

2. Why is Bollywood so popular?- a comparative look at World Cinema
(Fuad Omar, Bollywood Director and Producer)

a. Just what is “Bollywood”?
b. What are the significant differences between “Bollywood” and “Hollywood”?
c. How has Bollywood influenced film making internationally?
d. Is there a “British Bollywood?”

3. How effective is new media technology?
(Matt Wells, Media Editor, The Guardian)

a. To what extent have new technologies led to information overload?
b. How can we trust sources of information with increasing use of podcasting, blogs and raw news from the public?
c. Do new technologies democratise access and polarise views?

TASK THREE

Also, remember that you also need to type up your conference notes for each of the seven lectures. These have to be ready for the same time as the answers to the questions.

Kidulthood Trip

Don't forget that you must be at Ealing Empire Cinema on Uxbridge Road (opposite Ealing Town Hall) by 9.45am at the latest Tuesday 17th October.

You've been given your Kidulthood packs (with all the tasks you have to do in relation to the film) but if you lose them they can be downloaded from here. (So no excuses!)








Also, check out these relevant webpages...

• Official Kidulthood Film Site

• Kidulthood 'My Space' Site

Make sure you ask the director of the film lots of questions when you get the chance (a credit to anyone who's brave enough).

Then, after the film, as well as completing all the questions in the pack, please leave a comment about the film after this post. It must be a minimum of 50 words, it should be written in standard English, and it should evaluate the film's strengths and weaknesses (like you did for the student productions you saw...refer to film language etc.)

Also, give the film a star rating (out of five...five = excellent, four = v.good, 3 = good/average, two = poor, one = terrible).

Media Awards Evening Tasks

Year 12s - you have a lot to learn from this year's Media Awards Evening. It's a fantastic opportunity to see what it takes to get a top grade for the Module 3 Practical Production (which is worth a huge 40% of your grade this year).

Hopefully, you'll leave with your head buzzing with ideas about what you might like to do when you get started on your production in just a few months time.



To make sure you get the most out of the evening you need to complete the following:

• Read all the reviews in the programme booklet.

• Choose your two favourite productions - one documentary, one fiction. If you can't remember, or if you'd like to see any of them again, you can do so by going to the GHS Videos 06 playlist on YouTube.
  

• Post a comment to this blog entry - see the link below - in which you say what you think the best production was and why. Give specific details - credits for the ones that make most references to the key terminology you've been learning about film language (checklist below).
  

(You don't need to register as a blogger user first but you must make sure that you type your full name at the end of your comment so we know who's saying what).

• Vote in the Macguffin Poll - Best Media Production 2006 - that is on the left of this page
  

• Write a detailed review on paper for each of your two favourites - use the film review guidelines you received in September (for the competition you entered) and don't forget to comment on MCCAT (Media language, Conventions, Creativity, Attention to detail, Technical Proficieny)

• For Media Language, make sure you cover...

cinematography/camerawork: composition, framing, BCU, CU, MS, LS, pan, tilt, tracking shot, zoom

mise-en-scéne: clothing, props, gestures, facial expressions, sets, setting (CLAMPS)

lighting: key light, back light, filler light; underlighting, top lighting, back lighting; low-key/high-key lighting

sound: diegetic/non-diegetic; on/off screen, sound bridge; parallel/contrapuntal sound, voiceover narration

editing: continuity editing, jump cut, dissolve, wipe, fade in/out, cross-cutting, paralleling, cutaways, montage, suturing (shot/reverse shot)

• Produce a one page summary entitled: "What Makes A Good Practical Production"

If You Needed Reminding...

The site meter suggests that a number of Media students have been checking in here every day (although there's no way of knowing if it's Year 12s or 13s). Hopefully, this means that many of you have the exams uppermost in your minds at the moment.

However, there are no comments posted to either the Module 1 Revision/Preparation or the Module 2 Revision/Preparation blog entries. Is this because you've done no work or is it because you want to pretend you've done no work?

Come on...share with us what you've done!!

And if you haven't started yet then here is the place to begin!

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The episode of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' that you need to revise for the Module 2 exam on Thursday (yes, only a few days to go!) is available on YouTube.

It's the one called 'Krazee Eyez Killah' but there are a whole load of other episodes posted up here too.

Check it out...from 'Your Caucasian'.

City of God Study Guide

Click on the image for a link where you can download a useful Study Guide on City of God. It's not very advanced (you received a similar one on Bullet Boy before you went on study leave) but it's good for refreshing your memory.

Try to do some of the activities that are suggested as this will make a change from essays and essay plans (and I'm sure you've done dozens of those already!).

Bowling for Columbine on TV

Set your DVD recorders/PVRs (or VHS recorders for those still in the 20th Century) for Bowling for Columbine. Details as follows...

Tues 23 May, 9pm
More4 (available on Sky, Cable and Freeview)

There is a short Michael Moore season on the channel this week. Try to record/see one of his other films too if you can...Farenheit 911 (Monday 22nd, 9pm) or Roger and Me (Wednesday 24th, 9pm).



Also, once you've found the channel you might like to know that they are currently broadcasting the second season of another of your Module 2 texts...Curb Your Enthusiasm (every Sunday at 9.30pm or 10.10pm, depending on which listings guide you read). It is worth checking out a few extra episodes so you can spot some of the conventions more clearly and the way the humour works.

Module 2 Revision/Preparation

Your revision/preparation for Module 2 should be...

• Read through all notes, handouts and past essays on the key texts...

1. Film & Broadcast Fiction - 'Bullet Boy', 'City of God', 'Curb your Enthusiasm', 'Eastenders'.
2. Documentary - 'Bowling for Columbine', 'Big Brother', 'Man With a Movie Camera', 'Triumph of the Will'.

This includes all the general handouts on documentary, soaps and sitcoms, etc. - particularly those that you've been given this week that have a range of activities for you to consider.

• Make new notes on each key text (above)...your own mini-revision guides, focussing on the Key Concepts for each one.

• Re-read Module 2 revision pack.

• Revision of MIGRAIN - key questions to ask, keywords/glossary + film language worksheets.

• Read through all 'Film & Broadcast Fiction' & 'Documentary' past questions.

• Write essay plans for as many different questions as possible.

• Complete as many timed essays as you can (45 minutes/question).

Please post up as comments on here a record of the practice you have done- it will be useful for people to share ideas about how to approach certain questions and an opportunity to ask Macguffin to explain anything about any of them.

And don't forget - you can bring any timed essays in over the next one and a half weeks of school to show to your teachers before the exam on Thursday June 8th at 9am (straight after the Module 1 exam). ARRIVE 15 MINUTES EARLY!!

Module 1 Revision/Preparation

Your revision/preparation for Module 1 should be...

• Revision of MIGRAIN - key questions to ask, keywords/glossary + film language worksheets.

• Read through all Module 1 class notes, practices and handouts.

• Re-read Module 1 revision pack.

• Timed practice - MIGRAIN analysis of a range of two-minute (or less) moving image sequences...

1. extracts, title sequences and opening sequences from any genre of TV programme or film (soap, sitcom, documentary, news, gangster, thriller, etc.).
2. TV adverts and film trailers.

It is vital that you practice under exam conditions - spend 15 minutes note-taking/planning (watch the extract three times during this period) and then one hour writing your answer.

If you are short for time then you can always just do the 15-minute MIGRAIN note-taking exercise on some days but try to do this as often as possible (every day?).

Please post up as comments on here a record of the practice you have done - it will be useful for people to share ideas about what texts are good to try and an opportunity to ask Macguffin any questions about any of the Key Concepts.

And don't forget - you can bring any timed essays in over the next one and a half weeks to show to your teachers before the exam on Thursday June 8th at 9am. ARRIVE 15 MINUTES EARLY!!

Mentor Evaluation

For 12C & 12D students...

So you've evaluated the benefits of using blogs when working on the Practical Production - and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive so it looks like they're here to stay. Now it's time to ask whether having student media mentors to advise and support you with your coursework was a good idea or not. It's not the first time we've employed students in this capacity but the whole scheme was greatly expanded this year whereby either Danny, Chiraag or Sofia from Year 13 were on call every day, both before and after school, to troubleshoot for you and offer you assistance. Was it worth it?

Please answer the following questions as fully as possible, providing concrete examples where you can. Remember to put your name at the end of your posting so we can check off who has completed the task and reward the most detailed responses (credits at the very least). The deadline for completion is Friday 19th May...

1. How did the media mentors help with your practical production/editing?

• Did they offer useful advice?

• Were they polite and professional?

• Were they supportive and encouraging?

• Did they have the right level of technical expertise?

• Had they received the right amount of training?

2. Do you think you did better in your practical production through having had the mentors' support?

3. Do you think next year’s Year 12s would benefit from having media mentors? Is it a good idea?

4. What could be improved about the mentoring system?

5. Would you be interested in being a media mentor? Why?

Blog Evaluation

For 12C & 12D students...

Now that you've completed your Practical Productions, we would like you to reflect on the whole process. This will allow us to think about how you (and future students) can best be helped in the future. In particular, we need to evaluate the impact of using blogs when preparing for coursework.

Therefore, could you please answer the following questions as fully as possible, providing concrete examples where you can. Remember to put your name at the end of your posting so we can check off who has completed the task and reward the most detailed responses (credits at the very least). The deadline for completion is Monday 15th May...

1. How easy was it to set up your Practical Production blog and to get used to posting things on it? Were you given enough support in doing it? What other help would have been useful?

2. How did the blog help with your research, preparation and planning? Did the blog motivate you to do more and better research? How? Why?

3. In what ways was the blog a useful tool for keeping in touch and communicating with group members?

4. How often (honestly!) do you check the Macguffin blog? (Remember, it should be at least twice/week).

5. Was it useful being able to see and access everyone else’s research and planning through their blogs?

6. How do you feel about the fact that your teacher can keep a close check on your progress through accessing your blog? Is it too intrusive and controlling or is it encouraging and supportive?

7. How useful have the comments been that you received from…a. Macguffin, b. other students.

8. How would you evaluate the quality of your blog? What could you have done better?

9. Do you think you will get a better final grade for your practical production through having used a blog?

10. Which are the best three blogs? Why?

11. Do you think next year’s Year 12s would benefit from setting up a Practical Production blog?

12. Are there any negative aspects to preparing for the Practical Production using a blog?

13. What could be done to improve teaching and/or learning in future through blogs?

14. Are you happy that we are planning to use blogs for your 3000-word Independent Study coursework in Year 13 (that you'll be working on individually)?

15. Overall, are you pleased that we used blogs? Has it been interesting and enjoyable? Why? Why not?

Revision Class

Don't forget the compulsory revision class on...

Tuesday 4th April, from 9am until 4pm, in the Post-16 Centre.

We'll be taking a register and any of you who don't turn up will receive a phone call home early in the morning. Nice!

And don't say you have to go to a different class instead - we booked you in for this one months ago!!

Also, we'll be spending some time working on your all-important evaluations for your practical productions. If you miss this you will miss out on vital info to help you get the task done in time for the deadline...the first lesson when you come back after Easter, that's Tues 18th April for 12D and Thurs 20th April for 12C.

Please be on time and bring with you...

• Your media folder(s) with all your notes and handouts from the year,

• Some paper and something with which to write,

• Your finished practical productions as both AVI files and mastered DVDs (for those who are editing at home),
  

• Your brain.

And also don't forget that you can come in and edit on Monday (3rd April) and Wednesday (5th April) if you need to but please turn up between 9am and 10am.

BTEC Production - Gone!

With just a few days to go before the BIG deadline - for Year 12 AS Practical Productions to be completed - we thought it might be nice for you to see a finished piece from some other students on another Year 12 course.

Making its premiere - exclusively here on Macguffin - is a thriller film opening by a group of BTEC Media students (Parminder, Satvinder, Sabah and Fahad) for their video production unit. Called 'Gone!', it has a range of interesting camera angles and a clever non-linear narrative.

Mock Exams

For all Year 12s...

Don't forget...mock exams are next week and you should all be revising hard for them this weekend. This is your only chance to practise these questions and develop these skills under full test conditions so make the most of the opportunity - if you haven't prepared you'll be wasting both your own and your teacher's time as the only feedback you'll get is 'do some work' - not very helpful when the purpose is to help you improve for the real thing on June 8th.

The dates/times are (in case you've forgotten)...

• MODULE 2 Mock for 12C - Monday 27-03, periods 1 & 2 (in E01)

• MODULE 1 Mock for 12C - Tuesday 28-03, periods 7 & 8 (in P06)

• MODULE 2 Mock for 12D - Tuesday 28-03, periods 3 & 4 (in P06)

• MODULE 1 Mock for 12D - Wednesday 29-03, periods 3 & 4 (in P06)

Your revision/preparation should be...

MODULE 1

• Revision of MIGRAIN - key questions to ask, keywords/glossary + film language worksheets.

• MIGRAIN analysis of 'Neighbours' title sequence (15 minutes note-taking/planning;one hour writing).

• MIGRAIN analysis of any non-fiction title sequence of your choice (15 minutes note-taking/planning;one hour writing).

MODULE 2

• Read through all notes on the key texts...
• Film & Broadcast Fiction - 'Bullet Boy', 'City of God', 'Curb your Enthusiasm'.
• Documentary - 'Bowling for Columbine', 'Big Brother', 'Man With a Movie Camera', 'Triumph of the Will'

• Read through all 'Film & Broadcast Fiction' & 'Documentary' past questions.

• Write essay plans for as many different questions as possible.

• Complete at least one timed essay for each topic (Film, Doc - 45 minutes/question).

Good luck and make sure you turn up on time!!

Blog Comments

For 12C and 12D students...

Each group needs to appoint one person to create a post title called 'Blog Comments' and to cut and paste the following to it. It must be posted to your group blog before the end of Monday 20-02...


1. What do you think of our blog?

• What do you particularly like about it? What's especially impressive?

• What could be improved? What's missing or could be added?

2. Based on what you've read on the blog (and maybe seen in test screenings in class) what suggestions do you have regarding what we could do to make our Practical Production really successful?

• What other things could we include in the production?
  

• How should we go about filming any remaining scenes or editing the footage during post-production (+ suggestions for music, etc.)?

Then it's the job for everyone in Year 12 to go to each blog, read through it and answer the questions above about each one (there will be thirteen in total) as a comment on the above post. DO THIS WORK ON YOUR OWN!

The more detail and feedback you give, the more you are likely to receive and it could be very useful to you, especially as most of you are targetting your productions at this very demographic - it's like a perfect focus group setting. By the end, each group should have 40+ comments.

Also, by reading each other's blogs carefully you should get extra ideas about how to improve your work. The aim is for you to be inspired! Make sure you include your name with each post so you can be identified by the group concerned and Macguffin (who will be closely monitoring what's going on - no unfair negative comments).

This must be completed before Monday 27-02.

Blogs Looking Good!

For 12C and 12D students..

It's great to see so many groups getting on with their Practical Productions so enthusiastically and your blogs are providing an excellent medium to record your progress, reflect on achievements and plan new ideas and actions.

Your blogs are also great to read - I'm a big fan and I check in each day to see what's been added. Hopefully, you're all doing the same with each other (just follow the links on the sidebar). It would also be helpful for you to post some comments on each other's blogs - words of encouragement, advice etc.



What's been particularly impressive so far?

The producers of the arthouse film trailer Guilt were one of the first groups to get blogging and they've set the standard much of the way. They have documented many of the twists and turns that their production has undergone so far (the crises as well as the good things) along with lots of shots of the production team in action and links to websites that they've found useful. Well done, grrrls. Credits all round.

One of the most visually appealing blogs has to be Gahoongsta which contains info about their documentary on teenagers' obsession with image. It is very pink and has loads of uploaded images of both celebrities and the Gahoongsta Crew - lots of pouting. There's some good research here into some of the issues they're hoping to cover too. Good stuff...credits.

Another good blog is called The Life of Grime and tells of the work underway to produce a documentary on this important music genre. There are links to pirate stations that play the music (one of which the team visited to shoot footage) and there is some interesting discussion of new ideas as they emerge. The two producers have also been invited to come into some Yr 10 Media lessons after half term to share their wisdom. Brrraapp! (Credits).

There is loads of detail on the Bullycide blog demonstrating the careful research they've undertaken for their documentary about the topic of bullying. Horrific examples of this social problem (taken from both tabloid and broadsheet sources) are posted alongside clear information about how the group intend to progress. Well done and credits to you too.

Finally, there is some truly excellent work taking place on Teenagers: Behind the Scenes which is certainly the most comprehensive blog produced so far. The most important thing that makes it so special is the regularity with which the contributors make postings, keeping us informed of each development. But there's also some very good research, great pics (and diagrams!) and even uploaded video too. Superb effort, well deserving of credits.

Will you all, then, please take note of the things that make a good blog...

• regular, frequent posting by every person in the group (at least once/week) to include...
• outlines of the work planned and equipment to be used;
  
• reports on what was achieved;
  
• reflections on the outcome and whether it was different from what was planned and why.
  

• images (and video) as well as text

• hyperlinks and research findings

Please continue posting throughout the half term holiday. If you want to have a go at uploading video then use YouTube (the site that Macguffin uses - quite straightforward). What would be great would be for people to start uploading sneak peeks of their material that they've shot so we can give our opinions (like in lessons with the 'Test Screening Feedback Form'). This way you can gain vital knowledge about whether you need to re-shoot or re-edit...before it's too late!

Don't forget all filming needs to be done by the day you return Monday 20-02-06, along with all logging too. You have single log sheets in your packs - you may need to photocopy a load if you didn't pick up spares from school. Each individual shot must be logged accurately on the sheets...this may take some time!! When you return it is time to start editing (but only if you've finished filming and logging, so get going!).

Practical Production Blogs

For 12C and 12D students...

Each Practical Production group needs to set up a group blog by Monday 30-01-06...quite straightforward, especially as you've had 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 first time that we have done this for Module 3 and it is hoped that it will be beneficial in a number of ways...

• 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 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 three 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.
• 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. You will be required 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. Get going!!