Film Pitch

For 12C1 students...

Organise yourselves into the groups that you want to work in for your practical productions (remember that the maximum number allowed by the exam board in a group is four).

Look at the brief you have been issued with for your practical production coursework. Your task is to prepare a film pitch (where you would try to sell your idea to a film studio/production company to get the budget you require of £5m).

Prepare a presentation in which you can make use of powerpoint, video, multimedia (moviemaker) etc. to include the following for your pitch:

• Overview of the idea (film treatment) explaining the genre of your film, a synopsis of the narrative (referring to narrative theory), details of setting, characters etc. (use Propp's character terminology).
• Which production company(ies) would you be pitching to? Detail them and explain why they would be relevant for the genre of film you are aiming to produce.
• Explore fully how your film would appeal to more than the mainstream 16-25 youth market.
• Address what content is likely to be in this film that would mean the trailer could only be shown in cinemas showing films that have been classified as 15 or 18.

Bear in mind that in order to make a meaningful trailer (where you condense the narrative using a montage of shots) you must understand the full narrative structure of your film. After Xmas - on 5th January 2009 - you will pitch your ideas to the 'film board' to see if they consider your idea suitable for funding. You must all play a part in the pitch process!

Remember from here on in this is all about being CREATIVE, let's see the creativity start flowing now and not just have people reading from the whiteboard!

To get an idea of how NOT to pitch a film please see the Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn attempt!

'Creating Media' Blogs

For 12C1 students...

In your production groups, set up a new blog that will record your progress in Unit 2 (Creating Media).

We expect this to help you 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 the following tasks to complete and submit as separate posts on your blog before Monday 5th January 2008...

• A short outline of your project so far (obviously this may change but use info from the film pitch you're also doing for homework).
• Information about the research that you have done so far and the ideas it has given you.

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 previous years 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!!

Film Language Essay

For 12C1 students...

Write a 1000 word essay analysing a 2-3 minute extract from a film of your choice.

The essay must be word-processed and handed in on paper on the first day back after the holidays - Monday 5th January 2009 - but also posted on your blog (with the clip as well if you get this from YouTube, but you could get it from a DVD instead).

Remember that spelling, punctuation, paragraphing, introductions, conclusions, etc. will all be assessed, as well as your ability to apply the key terms you've learnt from the Film Langauge pack. (Keep the pack close at hand when writing).

It's not enough simply to describe the features being used; you also need to explain their purpose/effect on audiences...WHY has the director chosen to use a particular technique?

12C1 P2 Mon 15th December Cover Work Miss Holliday

LO: To explore how film trailers are used to attract an audience.

Using your learning from last weeks' lesson on film trailers and their purpose watch the trailer for Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix and answer the questions below IN FULL SENTENCES NOT BULLET POINTS and give relevant examples and explanations to support your points using appropriate media language:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iKC0W3mF1wA

1. What aspects of the film are emphasised in the trailer? Why do you think this is?
2. How is the genre of the film established in the film trailer? (refer to the mise-en-scene including editing and sound in addition to visual/symbolic/written iconographies).
3. From the information you see/ hear on screen only (and not from prior knowledge) who are the target audience of this film and how do you know?
4. How does the trailer show that this film is worth coming to see?
5. Harry Potter & The Order of The Phoenix is obviously a sequel. The trailer must ensure the potential audience can understand the film even if they haven't seen the first one. How does it do this?
6. Trailers are not 'mini-films'. They are a genre in their own right and have their own set of easily recognisable conventions. List the conventions of film trailers -you should be looking at a list of at least 5 points and up to 10! (1 or 2 is NOT enough)

Work to be completed on paper, typed up and ready for discussion in Wednesday's lesson (17th Dec). Anyone with any outstanding work at this point will be coming back after school to complete it.

12C2 P1 Mon 15th December Cover Work Miss Holliday

LO: To develop a film pitch.

Organise yourselves into the groups that you want to work in for your practical productions (remember that the maximum number allowed by the exam board in a group is four).

Look at the brief you have been issued with for your practical production coursework. Your task is to prepare a film pitch (where you would pitch [try to sell] your idea to a film studio/ production company to get the budget you require of £5m).

Prepare a presentation can be on powerpoint, video, multimedia (moviemaker) etc. to include the following for your pitch:

• Overview of the idea (Film Treatment) explaining the genre of your film, a synopsis of the narrative (referring to narrative theory), details of setting, characters etc (use Propp's character terminology).
• Which production company(ies) would you be pitching to? Detail them and explain why they would be relevant for the genre of film you are aiming to produce.
• Explore fully how your film would appeal to more than the mainstream 16-25 youth market.
• Address what content is likely to be in this film that would mean the trailer could only be shown in cinemas showing films that have been classified as 15 or 18.

Bear in mind that in order to make a meaningful trailer (where you condense the narrative using a montage of shots) you must understand the full narrative structure of your film.

In Wednesday's lesson you will pitch your ideas to the 'film board' to see if they consider your idea suitable for funding. You must all play a part in the pitch process!

Remember from here on in this is all about being CREATIVE, let's see the creativity start flowing now and not just have people reading from the whiteboard!

To get an idea of how NOT to pitch a film please see the following Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn attempt!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=w1KMg6bLDlw

12D1 P1& 2 Miss Holliday Cover Work Friday 5th Dec

(12C2 P1 Miss Holliday Cover Work Thursday 4th Dec)

Analyse the trailer of the film ‘300’:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wDiUG52ZyHQ
Using all of your knowledge of media texts and their construction write an analysis of the trailer using media language applying MIGRAIN and relevant theory. Consider in particular how narrative and genre are communicated to the audience particularly through lighting and sound.
Analysis to be typed up and should be a minimum of 750 words (maximum 1,000)

12C2 Cover Work Thurs 27th Nov P1 Miss Holliday

Institution Case Study
Investigate a British independent film institution. Carry out a case studyinto its workings, using at least three different internet sources. (Include the urls in your posting). Find out:

• who owns it...people and other organisations involved
• a history of the institution...how has it developed or changed
• the texts it produces...give lots of examples
• institutional values...what is its remit
• information about its finances & income...provide actual data
• recent developments...how is it responding to the 'new media' age
  

Try to make this as detailed as possible, include images & logos etc. that are relevant, and make sure it has been written in your own words and not cut and pasted from other sources.

All work to be completed by Monday 01/12/08

13C1 Cover for Miss Holliday Fri 21st Nov P 5&6

Med 5 Independent Study Presentations (peer reviews)
Students to present their Med 5 work. Students to peer assess presentations and write a www and ebi comment for each focusing on relevance and range of research gathered/applied. Students should each be covering where they are currently at, what else they still need to do and what problems they are currently facing with their study. Homework: each student to post up their www/ebi comments onto their peers' blogs and of course to develop their study in line with feedback.

12D1 Cover Work Miss Holliday Friday 21st Nov P1 & 2

Film Poster Analysis

Study the images here and note how they have been analysed (images are also in shared documents on VLE if these are difficult to read).

Find 2 film posters of your own for British films produced in the last 5 years on a budget of less than £5m. Post the images to your blog and annotate (use headings and write up notes under each heading following the structure above using media language and key concepts). Once you have annotated both please analyse any differences between the two account for why these differences may have occured through difference in genre conventions, representation, target audience etc).

PLEASE NOTE: This analysis should be in the form of extended prose (NOT bullet points!). Students to stay in DF10 throughout the lesson to complete this work. Please all make sure you sign a register and give to the English office.

Institution Case Study

Choose a media institution that is responsible for producing one of the British trailers you've analysed so far.

Carry out a case study (#1) into its workings, using at least three different internet sources. (Include the urls in your posting). Find out...

• who owns it...people and other organisations involved
• a history of the institution...how has it developed or changed
• the texts it produces...give lots of examples
• institutional values...what is its remit
• information about its finances & income...provide actual data
• recent developments...how is it responding to the 'new media' age

Try to make this as detailed as possible, include images & logos etc. that are relevant, and make sure it has been written in your own words and not cut and pasted from other sources.

Then, carry out another case study (#2), this time into a different institution: "A British independent Film and Television production company" (i.e. not the BBC or anything to do with Hollywood, as it states in the brief). The company you looked at in case study #1 one may also have fulfilled this criteria, if so choose another one. The Wikipedia page on British Cinema is a good starting place.

This - along with the peer assessment work from yesterday - all needs to be completed for homework by Monday's lesson 19.11.08.

12C1 COVER Wed 12.11.08 p6

Stay in the classroom throughout the period...do not leave!

Task - Peer Assessment of Trailer Analyses

Select three trailer analyses that you all did for homework and that are up on your blogs (the most recent ones, in essay format on the Year 12 productions).  

Read them carefully and then carry out an evaluation of each one, just like we did in Monday's lesson for Kiran's. You need to cover at least three www and one ebi. These need to be posted onto their blogs in the comments section, after their analysis.  

Then choose one paragraph for each and re-write it (three paragraphs in total), improving on it by...

• adding more detail, 
  
• making the spelling/punctuation more accurate, 
  
• writing more clearly, 
  
• using more media terminology, 
  
• including other missing key concepts or aspects of media language. 
  

These re-written paragraphs need to go on your own blogs.  Include a link to the original blog (and say whose it is) so we can compare fully the two versions but also cut and paste the original paragraph after yours in your blog posting so we can be sure you have made some aactual improvements.

Anything not completed in the lesson needs to be done for homework by tomorrow, Thursday 13.11.08, p1.

12C1 HW - Trailer Analysis #3

You've already analysed a teen movie trailer and one of last year's practical production trailers (and these should be on your blogs...catch up if they're not!)

Next...analyse another student-produced trailer from last year (for Monday 10.11), covering all the areas you did before (including the points you looked at on the worksheet you were given to analyse trailers on last Monday's lesson). This time, though, it must be written in essay format...look at Sadoon's as a good starting point, although this could be longer. It also needs to cover the new aspects of Media Language you've been learning about this week, so try to include the following terminology where possible...

Camerawork

Types of shot (BCU, CU, MS, LS, high/low angle)

Movements (pan, zoom, tilt, tracking, crane)

Sound

Diegetic (story sound, e.g. dialogue)

Non-diegetic (sound-track, voiceover)

Editing

Cut, dissolve, fade in/out, wipe. Pace?

Mise-en-scene

Costume

Lighting (high/low key)

Actors' (expressions, body language)

Makeup

Props

Settings

Title - connotations?

Narrative - enigmas?

Genre - iconography?

12C1 + 12D1 Cross Media Study Research Task

• Choose three broadcast fiction texts – a film, a TV series and a radio drama, show or series. The texts should be linked in some way.
• Gather materials for analysis detailing how the texts are promoted – adverts, trailers, web pages etc. and post them on your blog.
• Prepare a short presentation for the next lesson, outlining your chosen texts, the materials you have unearthed so far, explore the links between how they are promoted (similarities and differences) and the institutions that produced them.
• (You may talk through your blog if you wish or produce a separate powerpoint but all links to promotional materials should be on your blogs also).

Deadline for 12D1 - period 6, Tues 11.11.08

Cover work 12D1 Miss Sivanesen P3 and P5 Tues 4th Nov

'How is the opening sequence (first 5 minutes , including the titles) of a TV drama used to establish narrative?' Referring to at least 2 examples, of your own choosing.

Your answer should cover narrative and audience theories and MIGRAIN.

Minimum length 1,000 words (typed) in essay format.

Evaluations 10.08

To be completed over the course of the next week (by Friday 24-10).

Your responses will be used to help write your Interim Reports and help us to plan a better course for you.

1. SELF EVALUATION

Write an evaluation of your progress on the Media course so far.
Post the work up on your blogs. If you haven't been asked to set one up yet then do this work on paper and hand in to your main Media teacher.

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

b. Make a list of three achievements (www) and three targets/areas for improvement (ebi) over the next half-term.

2. COURSE EVALUATION

Write an evaluation of the actual course/teaching.
Please submit the work as a comment on this blog after this post. Include your name!

a. Answer each of the following with a grade (1-5), giving reasons/examples:

(Grading should again be1-5: 1 = excellent, 2 = v. good, 3 = good/average, 4 = poor, 5 = v. poor)

• How well is the course organised?
• How interesting is the content that is covered?
• How useful are the handouts?
• Have the lessons been well-paced?
• What is the standard of the teachers’ presentation/subject knowledge?
• How well has the course met your expectations?
• Have the extra-curricular events been useful? (eg. Awards Eve.)
• Has the Macguffin Blog been useful?

b. Make a list of three things you like and help you to learn (www) and three suggestions of things you’d like to see changed/improved (ebi).

Introduction Lessons Catchup/Revision

Not all of you have 100% attendance...more's the pity as you surely know how vital being in school is for the grades you'll ultimately get. There's no substitute for learning in the classroom, with other students, helped by your teachers.

But if you did miss anything, or if you'd like to go over the work we've done (strongly recommended) so everything is clear then you can access all the lesson Powerpoints here (you'll need to log in with your GHS VLE username/password)...

• Broadcasting Introduction Lessons
• Print Introduction Lessons
• E-Media Introduction Lessons

...it's worth downloading the files and printing them out to put in your folders so you have notes for reference and to revise from.

12C1 HW - Magazine Pitch

To be completed on your blogs by Monday's lesson (period 1, 20.10.08)...

Write up the magazine title and reader profile you created last lesson (that includes key demographic and psychographic features...age, class, attitudes and aspirations).

Create a list of target advertisers (both products and brands) x20.

You have decided that one of these brands should run a promotion (competition) with your magazine.

What will that competition mechanic comprise (what does the reader have to do to enter) and what will the prize be?

You must prepare a ‘pitch’ presentation to the marketing director (300 words) of your chosen product/brand explaining why they should provide you with the given products and what value.

Make sure you consider your target audience in any decisions you make.

Internet Regulation Task

12c1 Homework

Please post up on your blogs by the next lesson (Mon 06.10), even if you weren't in the lesson last week!

Devise a system for regulating the internet.

• Consider firstly what are the issues surrounding being able to access ideas from all over the world publishing our words and images?
• Who would be responsible for internet regulation
• Are there any existing bodies who could/should do this?
• Would it require a new organisation?
• How would the regulation be monitored?

12C1 Cover Work: Mon 29.09.08

Stay in DF07 for the whole of the lesson (period 1). Work quietly and sensibly. Some of you will have to share machines. Mr Babu will be monitoring you.

Start watching the lecture...An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube. Some of it you'll already be familiar with; other bits will be more challenging, but persevere with it.

It lasts 55 mins so the task will have to be completed for homework with your work posted up on your blogs by Thursday's lesson (01.10). Please ensure you've sent me your blog address! The video can be divided into the following sections...

• 0:00 Introduction, YouTube's Big Numbers
• 2:00 Numa Numa and the Celebration of Webcams
• 5:53 The Machine is Us/ing Us and the New Mediascape
• 12:16 Introducing our Research Team
• 12:56 Who is on YouTube?
• 13:25 What's on Youtube? Charlie Bit My Finger, Soulja Boy, etc.
• 17:04 5% of vids are personal vlogs addressed to the YouTube community, Why?
• 17:30 YouTube in context. The loss of community and "networked individualism" (Wellman)
• 18:41 Cultural Inversion: individualism and community
• 19:15 Understanding new forms of community through Participant Observation
• 21:18 YouTube as a medium for community
• 23:00 Our first vlogs
• 25:00 The webcam: Everybody is watching where nobody is ("context collapse")
• 26:05 Re-cognition and new forms of self-awareness (McLuhan)
• 27:58 The Anonymity of Watching YouTube: Haters and Lovers
• 29:53 Aesthetic Arrest
• 30:25 Connection without Constraint
• 32:35 Free Hugs: A hero for our mediated culture
• 34:02 YouTube Drama: Striving for popularity
• 34:55 An early star: emokid21ohio
• 36:55 YouTube's Anthenticity Crisis: the story of LonelyGirl15
• 39:50 Reflections on Authenticity
• 41:54 Gaming the system / Exposing the System
• 43:37 Seriously Playful Participatory Media Culture
• 47:32 Networked Production: The Collab. MadV's "The Message" and the message of YouTube
• 49:29 Poem: The Little Glass Dot, The Eyes of the World
• 51:15 Conclusion by bnessel1973

For each section, post up at least one key idea/fact (but 2-3 if you're gifted and talented) on your blog.

Web 2.0 - We Are The Media

Your task is to set up your own blog on Blogger.

Personalise it, make it your own, allow it to express who you are, your identity. This is your Media Studies blog, where you'll include stuff about what you learn on the course.

Post the address as a comment at the end of this posting, with your name (and don't forget your password, etc.). Soon you'll see your name on the sidebar as a link so we - your audience - can all see your blog.

Then start posting on your blog, this time about web 2.0 (in your own words!)...

• what is web 2.0?
• how does it differ from web 1.0?
• how does this affect you as a media student, consumer and producer?

Include images, videos, clips, quotes, hyperlinks, your own ideas etc. Make it look good by playing with the different features available!

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', 'Kidulthood'.
2. Documentary - 'Bowling for Columbine', 'Man With a Movie Camera', 'Triumph of the Will'.

This includes all the general handouts on documentary, film language, etc.

• Make sure you know the texts well enough to illustrate your points in the exam with detailed examples. You can watch all the texts again online by clicking on this link (although a lot of the links are now dead - you'll have to carry out a new search) and it is strongly suggested that you do. Remember that you MUST watch the films again at school before half-term if you missed the revision film clubs. Failure to do so could mean we don't allow you to progress to A2 next year.
  

• 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 & pack.

• 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 week to show to your teachers before the exam (or email them during the holidays) on Monday June 2nd at 9am (straight after the Module 1 exam). ARRIVE at least 20 MINUTES EARLY!!

Module 1 Revision+Preparation

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

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

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

• 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.
3. video games, music videos and internet viral videos.

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 email any timed essays over the next fortnight to show to your teachers (Mr Bush, Ms Jones or Ms Sivanesan) before the exam on Monday June 2nd at 9am. ARRIVE at least 20 MINUTES EARLY!!

Examined texts

Mr Babu now has copies of Bullet Boy, Kidulthood, Bowling for Columbine, A Man with a Movie Camera and Triumph of the Will. If you did not watch these films for a second time at film club, it is your responsibility to borrow them and watch them either in the editing suite or DF07 during your free periods (you will not be allowed to take the films home). Mr Babu has a list of those students who still need to watch the films, and will be ticking names off.

As you have already been warned, if you do not take us up on this invaluable revision opportunity, we may take this into account when making our decision as to whether you will be allowed to continue on to A2.

Year 12 film 'club'

The inverted commas are there to remind you that this is a compulsory club (although you may, of course, bring popcorn if you so wish). The dates are as follows:

Tuesday 29th April - Bullet Boy
Thursday 1st May - Kidulthood
Tuesday 6th May - Bowling for Columbine
Thursday 8th May - Man with a Movie Camera and Triumph of the Will

Please arrive punctually at 3.30pm, to avoid keeping the rest of the audience waiting.

Mock Exams & Revsion

Don't forget...mock exams are straight after the holiday and you should all be revising hard for them NOW! 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 2nd.

The dates/times are (in case you've not been listening in lessons)...

• MODULE 2 Mock for 12C1 & 12C2 - Wednesday 23-04, periods 1 & 2
  

• MODULE 1 Mock for 12C1 & 12C2 - Friday 25-04, periods 5 & 6
  

• MODULE 2 Mock for 12D1 - Thursday 24-04, periods 5 & 6
  

• MODULE 1 Mock for 12D1 - Friday 25-04, periods 1 & 2
  

Your revision/preparation should be...

MODULE 1

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

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

(Remember to spend 15 minutes note-taking/planning; one hour writing).

MODULE 2

• Read through all notes and handouts on the key texts...
• Film & Broadcast Fiction - 'Bullet Boy', 'Kidulthood'.
• Documentary - 'Bowling for Columbine', 'Man With a Movie Camera', 'Triumph of the Will' + the history of documentary.
  
• Read through all 'Film & Broadcast Fiction' & 'Documentary' past questions.
• Use the AQA Past Question Papers & Mark Schemes website (and this includes Module 1 papers too).
  
• 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!!

Med 3 Blog Links

You'll notice in the sidebar that - finally - you can access many of your Practical Production blogs by clicking on the links. There are some really impressive ones and the following three (at the moment) deserve special mention...

Pyar Ki Ek Kahani
Really detailed accounts of the production process with lots of stills from the shoot make this an interesting and informative blog.

Sound of the Underdogs
A nicely customised blog showing good IT skills and featuring regular posts.

Face of Fear
Lots of ongoing research and loads of shots of work in progress...well presented too and demonstrating loads of commitment.

The other superb blog at the moment is the one that's all about you...

The Media Mentors' Blog 2008
You should be checking back on this one every few days because it has some excellent feedback about your productions that you should be listening to carefully. Remember...the mentors have already been through the process and they all know exactly what is required to get a top grade.

It will also be really useful for deciding what to say in your 1000-word evaluations because they help identify both strengths and weaknesses in your work, using the technical media terminology that will get you good marks. And, from what they're saying, you're getting on really well with the editing...so well done! But don't forget...your films must be finished by the next holiday (in two weeks' time!)

If your blog isn't listed up here yet, or if there are any mistakes (wrong class, title, etc.) then let me know by leaving a comment at the end of the post. Make sure you have all provided this info by next Tuesday when we return after Easter. And make sure each and every one of you keeps posting to your blog at least once a week!

Hitman Advert

For 12 c2, to be completed by Monday 10-03-08...

This is a version of the text that appeared in the January Module 1 exam. Please carry out a MIGRAIN analysis of it (at least two sides) remembering to include a decent introduction (covering form & function) and conclusion, and not forgetting 'concept flow' (especially M-R-A-I) or to include some background institutional info that you researched last week.

Student Interviewers Wanted

Two days of crucial interviews are scheduled to take place this week...

• Head of Media Studies (to take responsibility for GCSE & A Level Media at GHS)
  
• Year 13 Media Mentors (to support Year 12s when they're doing their editing)

As these posts have major implications for you as Year 12s we're inviting you to be part of the interview panels to help us make the right decision about who to appoint.

It's a great opportunity for you to have your say ('Student Voice' in action) and will be really good experience for you to see how interview panels work (as you'll be applying for jobs yourselves soon, if you haven't done already).

Please email Macguffin by the end of Monday 25-02 if you want to be considered.

You...The Debate Audience

Don't forget Year 12 Media students...

The third annual Media Debate takes place this Thursday, 28-02-08 at 3.30 in the Lecture Theatre and we expect it to last until at least 5pm. Click here for more info.

It is compulsory for you to attend - it has been set as homework, and a register will be taken. Don't forget, there is no excuse not to come as you have had more than a week's warning to re-arrange any other commitments. And you'll need to be back at school for Parents' Evening which starts at 6pm so it may be that you'll find it more convenient to meet your parents at school after the debate ends.

Med 1 Exemplar: Daily Express

This is to help 12c2 students analyse their own tabloid front page (just one paragraph needed) for Monday 11th February...

As is the convention of a tabloid newspaper like the ‘Daily Express’, there is a large central headline that uses emotive language like “scandal” to report a negative story about migrants to the UK, who are often represented as criminals in the right-wing press. It will appeal to the lower-middle class, Conservative Party supporting readership whose prejudices are reinforced by this damaging stereotype of the foreigner. Although it only manages to sell around 700,000 copies a day (as opposed to the more than two million by its rival the ‘Daily Mail’) stories about the problems with immigration are obviously popular as they feature regularly on the front page, along with frequent reporting on Princess Diana and the Madeline McCann disappearance. There is also a large image – a medium close-up of an attractive woman, a “Bond Girl” – which is unsurprising when we consider that the paper is owned by Richard Desmond who owns Britain’s largest pornography TV channel (‘Channel X’).

12C2 Test Screening

In case you haven't already heard, I've organised a test screening for period 3 this Friday (February 8th), not period 6. Please ensure that you bring your tape so that you can present your footage to the rest of the class, who will be evaluating your production so far.

Exemplar Med 1 Paragraph

This will be useful for all of you working on your Med 1 analysis of 'The Guardian' front page (due on Fri 25-01 for 12c2). it contains lots of Key Concepts (see if you can spot G-M-M-R-A-M-N-A-IN-G-A-Id-G-Id) and good 'concept flow'...

As is the convention amongst both tabloids and broadsheets, there is a banner at the top of the text, promoting what’s inside one of the sections of the newspaper. Containing four different images representing key news stories of the past year, this feature entices the audience to look inside. A close up of a child’s cuddly toy is first, creating an enigma perhaps but relevant to a professional yet family-minded middle-class audience. When we realise the toy belongs to Madeline McCann we see that it refers to one of the biggest global news stories of the year – a human interest drama that appealed to a wide cross-section of society but was condemned because of some of the speculative reporting, particularly in the ‘Red Tops’. However, it is unlikely that 'The Guardian' will take this approach, instead focussing more on the intricacies of the police investigation rather than the gossip and rumour that appeared in papers like ‘The Sun’.

Practical Production Blog Setup

Each Practical Production group needs to set up a group blog by Monday 21-01-07...quite straightforward, especially as you have all set up personal blogs. 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 third 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, check out the Med 3 Blogs from last year (06-07) 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.