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!).