12D Christmas task list

For 12D...

Your production ideas are sounding good, culminating in the excellent focus groups over the last two lessons. You now need to work through the following tasks over Christmas (though don't forget to have a break and recharge the batteries for an intensive Spring term!)

Task 1
Mr Bush has put some fantastic resources together for our benefit - read the through the following documents and write at least one thing you learned or found useful from each one:

• The coursework brief (Brief 1, Broadcasting Task a.i.) you have been issued with for your practical production.
• MEST 2 General Advice & Guidance (really good for seeing what you research you need to gather).
• The Specific Guidance for 2013 Briefs (Brief 1: again, highly useful).
• The specification outline of the unit.
• The MEST 2 mark scheme.

Task 2

Start writing weekly progress reports on your production work (reflecting on the group's work: WWW/EBI, and outlining your specific contributions - crucial to ensure you are given the mark you deserve) and Action Plans (stating clearly who's doing what and by which deadline) on your blogs.

Task 3

Keep posting up images on your blogs so that it becomes a visual diary of your progress. Take pictures at planning meetings. Get shots of potential actors. Go out location spotting. Scan in sketches, storyboards and shot lists etc.

Task 4

Ensure you've carried out detailed research into media institutions/channels (E4, BBC3, C4, etc.) that might broadcast your programme. Identify their audience, typical programmes, audience ratings, history, etc. Write up a blog post with detailed research on at least three institutions/channels.

Task 5

Ensure all previous work is complete:

• Existing product research into five TV programmes similar to your production idea - including their target audience and textual analysis of an opening scene
• A minimum 500-word write-up of your focus group discussion (details further down on the blog)

Finally, in the words of Mr Bush, well done to Akshay and Harvy who have taken the initiative and set up a brand new Media Studies blog called Mise En Media where they intend to share loads of ideas about the subject - theories, production tips, etc. It's a brilliant idea and already has some great revision resources on it (a keywords glossary and a summary of media theories). But the best posting for this task is a list of Practical Production Tips they picked up from a media conference they went on last week. Read it carefully - some great advice. 

Have a great Christmas - next up is the production rollercoaster of the Spring Term so be ready!

Coursework: Programme Pitch

For 12E...

Apologies - a mammoth posting, but it's vital you read this very carefully. Come and see me/email me if you have any questions.

Please work on the following during today's lesson (p3, 18/12) and complete for homework (for the first lesson in 2013). Feel free to choose the order to complete them...

A. Make sure you look carefully at the following key documents, making notes on your blogs to help you...

• The coursework brief (Brief 1, Broadcasting Task a.i.) you have been issued with for your practical production.
• MEST 2 General Advice &Guidance (really good for seeing what you research you need to gather).
• The Specific Guidance for 2013 Briefs (Brief 1: again, highly useful).
• The specification outline of the unit.
• The MEST 2 mark scheme.

B. Ensure you complete weekly Progress Reports (reflecting on the group's work: www/ebi, and outlining your specific contributions) and Action Plans (stating clearly who's doing what and by which deadline) on your blogs. Each group has been given a detailed list of tasks after yesterday's tutorials. Make sure this is on your blog and you're acting on it.

C. Keep posting up images on your blogs so that it becomes a visual diary of your progress. Take pictures at planning meetings. Get shots of potential actors. Go out location spotting, etc.

D. Carry out a focus group interview with 5-6 people from the target demographic. Ask qualitative questions where you can get detailed answers. Record the interview on your phones and write up a summary of the key findings on your blogs using the bullet points on the link to guide you.

E. Ensure you've carried out detailed research on your blogs into media institutions/channels (E4, BBC3, C4, etc.) that might broadcast your programme. Identify their audience, typical programmes, audience ratings, history, etc.

F. Make sure you've analysed at least five programmes similar to your idea and posted the details on your blog. You should continue doing this throughout your production as it's important to keep developing ideas.

HOLIDAY TASK

Your holiday task is for your group to prepare a programme pitch (where you try to 'sell' your idea to get development funding).

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

• Overview of the idea (programme treatment) explaining the genre of your programme (its use of conventions, iconography, etc.); a synopsis of the narrative (referring to narrative theory, e.g. Todorov, Barthes, Levi Strauss); details of setting (mise en scene, CLAMPS); characters (use Propp's character terminology, refer to stereotypes: challenged/reinforced?), etc.. Ensure you also discuss some film language ideas (cinematography, lighting, sound, editing) and employ competent use of the key concepts (MIGRAIN) and media terminology.
• Explore fully how your programme would appeal to the 15-35 E4 demographic. Refer to audience demographics (CAGES: class, age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality) and psychographics. Use Young & Rubicam's 4Cs.
• Address what content is likely to be in this programme that would mean it could be shown before the watershed. Use the OFCOM Guidelines (Section One: Protecting the Under Eighteens) to help you.

For each of the three bullet points above, make sure you have your own individual notes on your blogs as this will be necessary when submitting your research/awarding grades.

After Xmas - on 7th January 2013 - you will pitch your ideas to the 'commissioning editor' to see if your idea will receive funding. Everyone in the group must play a full 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! Get in role! Rehearse your performance! Be convincing! Use this guide about how to prevent Death by PowerPoint, especially the checklist on slide 58.

Finally, well done to Akshay and Harvy who have taken the initiative and set up a brand new Media Studies blog called Mise En Media where they intend to share loads of ideas about the subject - theories, production tips, etc. It's a brilliant idea and already has some great revision resources on it (a keywords glossary and a summary of media theories). But the best posting for this task is a list of Practical Production Tips they picked up from a media conference they went on last week. Read it carefully - some great advice.

Good luck getting this done. it's a lot of work, admittedly, but the coursework is worth 50% of the grade remember and we want you to be ready to start shooting after the holiday. I don't want to hear excuses from people/groups who've left everything until the last minute and then run out of time but if you have any problems over the next fortnight then please feel free to email me.

Ill Manors: TEDx Lecture, Website

12D: please work on this during p1 on Tue 18/12 and complete for HW (to be handed in on the first lesson in 2013)...

A. Remind yourself of what Plan B/Ben Drew says in his TEDx lecture...

Plan B: 'Find out what kids are good at. It will change their lives'

Embed the video on your blog and write up the answers we discussed in class:

1. What are Plan B's beliefs/politics? What are his values/ideologies? Explain.
2. Who is the target audience of the TEDx lecture? Demographics? Psychographics? How do you know? How does this compare to the audience for his music/films?
3. What does Plan B say about the media? Explain how this can be linked to Cohen's media theory of moral panics? Read this summary of moral panics and the definition from Wikipedia and use them in your answer.

B. Look at the Ill Manors website. Spend some time exploring it, watching clips, reading etc. Then, on your blog, write a description/summary of all the features it includes, explaining how each one might engage/interest the potential target audience. 

Make sure you consider and comment on the concept of synergy (read this PowerPoint link, make some notes on it - it may only work at home).

C. Find one example from all three of the separate columns (broadcast, print, e-media) on the Case Study Checklist. 

Post up the examples on your blog. 

Analyse each one, identifying their key features, codes and conventions, and saying how they would be useful/effective in promoting the film/DVD/album release.

12D Focus groups

The audience research focus groups for our MEST2 TV show ideas have been incredibly useful and so many good ideas have been shared and developed. You now need to write up your own group's recording in a blog post. The blog post should include the following:

• A brief introduction to what the focus group involved
• A list of key quotes from the focus group recording (you don't need to identify who said each quote and using bullet points is fine)
• What you learned from the discussion and how this will impact on your final product
• A detailed breakdown of the target audience for your TV programme now you have completed some audience research: gender, age, social class, education/employment, race/ethnicity, psychographics etc.

The focus group audio recordings are available on the GHS VLE. Go to: Departments > Media Studies > Shared Documents

I expect your blog post to be at least 500 words - it may well be even longer.

Due: Tuesday 8 January

Ill Manors Trailer Analysis

12D - please complete for Monday 17/12.

Watch the Ill Manors trailer again and answer the following questions on your blog...

1. What are the typical codes and conventions of film trailers - what information is usually provided?
2. How are trailers distributed? 
3. How does Ill Manors use trailer conventions?
4. Who is the target audience? Does it have a unique selling point or use particular techniques to appeal to the audience? Consider the way the scenes are edited together – does the trailer give away any clues about the narrative? Are the main stars visible in the trailer? Is there information about the director of the film? Is there information about the release date? Is a narrator’s voice-over used? 
5. How has the genre of the film been represented through characters, settings, lighting, colour, music, camera shots/movements/angles and editing?

Case Study Checklist

These are the different aspects that need to be covered when researching the case study...

 

12D Ill Manors Film Research HW

Complete the following on your blogs by Mon 10/12:

1. Research all the Institutions involved in the production of Ill Manors. List them with a summary of what their contribution to the film was.
2. How much Ill Manors cost to produce (its budget)
3. How was Ill Manors funded?
4. What is the target audience for Ill Manors?
5. Who is the main distributor of Ill Manors?
6. How was Ill Manors promoted?
7. Compare this with a big budget blockbuster. What are the main similarities and differences?
8. How does the trailer for Ill Manors hook audiences into the narrative and pose questions that the film will answer? Identify 3 ways/techniques.
9. How does the trailer for Ill Manors balance plot and spectacle?
10. Think about the certificate of Ill Manors (18 certificate). Research film certification and outline what is deemed acceptable for this certificate. What is the difference between a 15 certificate and an 18 certificate?

MEST2 Creating Media: Research and Planning (12D)

There are three stages to your research and planning.

Existing product research: Watching and analysing existing programmes and advertising campaigns in the genre you are working in.

Target audience research: Both researching the target audience of existing shows/channels AND conducting audience research into your own idea (focus groups)

Pre-production: All scripts, storyboards, shot lists, sketches, contact sheets, Photoshop drafts etc.

IMPORTANT: Research, planning and evaluation are all to be completed and assessed individually.

Your first task involves completing existing product research:


Complete the following as an extended blog post or a selection of five blog posts:

1. Find five programmes similar to the idea or genre you want to produce.
2. Write an analysis of a two-minute opening sequence using everything you have learned about film language (camerawork, sound, mise-en-scene etc.) for each of the five.
3. Research the target audience for each show and produce your own assessment of who each show appeals to and why.

Deadline for your existing product research: Thursday 13 December

Mr Halsey

Cover Work 12E p1/2 03/12/12

Please complete this task in the lesson, preparing for your Practical Production coursework.

DO NOT leave the classroom. Mr Babu and a cover teacher will register/supervise you.

Discuss in your groups, make detailed notes (p1), and post up your own summaries on your personal blogs (p2).

Include research ideas, links to similar texts/institutions, and analyse some examples, making a note of some of the key genre codes/conventions, media language techniques, audience appeal, etc.

AQA MEST2 Brief: Initial thoughts

AQA MEST2 brief:

You work for Silver Lining Productions, a multi-media production company that has had recent television success with fly on the wall documentaries, structured reality programming and fiction products.  They have also developed supporting media for their broadcast productions in print, audio and e-media. 

The company is known for its work in pushing the boundaries of existing formats and so is willing to consider original and creative approaches to existing formats. 

You have been given an opportunity to prepare a pitch for development funding and so will need to present sample production work.  The programme will have a target audience similar to E4’s demographic (15–35) and will be suitable for pre-watershed broadcasting.  You are free to work in any format you wish.


Tasks - you must complete both (a) and (b)

(a) Broadcasting - group task

Produce the opening few scenes of your TV programme establishing narrative themes, 
characters and location.  You could include a title sequence and your finished product 
should be approximately two minutes long.

(b) Print - individual task


As part of the promotion for the TV programme, create a teaser ad campaign that will 
be published before broadcast which aims to generate discussion amongst your target 
audience.  Your print based campaign may make reference to advertising materials on 
other platforms.

OR 

Create a front cover and two further pages from a specialist souvenir magazine that will 
be produced to promote the broadcast production at the time of broadcast.

Initial task
Today you need to confirm who you are working with for the actual coursework project and what kind of TV programme you intend to make. This will then inform your research and planning - the first stage of the project.

Once you have confirmed who you are working with, create a detailed brainstorm/spider diagram of all the potential programmes you could make.

Write this up in a blog post called 'MEST2 Initial thoughts'

Ill Manors: Music Video

For 12D (for Mon 3/12 p3/4)...

• Embed the Ill Manors music video on your blog;
• Research the Ill Manors track and soundtrack album - Record companies? Sales? Music reviewers' response? Post the research on your blog.
• Read/answer (on your blog) the Ill Manors MEST 1 Section A style outline/questions. Spend a minimum of twenty minutes on each one. Highlight media terminology.

12D - Preliminary exercise evaluation

I have been incredibly impressed watching you work on your Preliminary Exercises - excellent dedication to filmmaking. I'm also pleased that you've learned so much, a lot of which you simply can't pick up until you start shooting and editing. Continuity editing, the importance of close-ups and the 180 degree rule were just some of the key learning points of the last fortnight.

We will be screening our preliminary exercises in class. Following that, you need to write a detailed evaluation of your group's Preliminary Exercise, focusing on the following:

• Clear reference to the brief, your planning process, how your storyboard and shot list helped create the final product and what you would do differently next time in terms of pre-production
• Detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your film
• Confident use of media language, particularly film language, showing clear understanding of the key concepts of Media Studies

Your evaluation should be an absolute minimum of 500 words and be posted to your blog no later than Thursday 6 December.

12E Media Theory Assessment (Tues 27th Nov)

You will pitch an idea for your own new teen drama under exam conditions, providing an outline of the opening episode.

You will analyse and justify your choices of narrative, setting and character to show how and why this appeals to the target audience (teens).

You will be expected to apply and analyse the theories we have studied:

Narrative 
Todorov – 3 Part Structure
Barthes – Action and Enigma Codes
Levi Strauss – Binary Opposites
Propp – Character Types

Representation
Stereotypes – Written, Symbolic and Technical Codes
Amplification – Construction & Contrast
Theories – Reflective, Intentional, Constructionist

Audience
Socio-economic audience demographics
Psychographics and the 4 C's
Interpellation
See the pg 62 in the AQA text book for specific info on teen audiences.

This assessment will test how much theory you have learned and whether you can apply it effectively. You should prepare for this assessment and it will count towards your overall interim.

12D Psychographics HW

Look at the 4Cs Summary.

Find an advert on YouTube that targets each of the seven categories and embed on your blog. Explain WHY you think it would appeal to that psychographic group, using some of the descriptive words from the PowerPoint and linking to specific details in the text.

Then, write a description of yourself and your psychographic profile.  Write down TEN brands that appeal to you and say how they fit into that category.

Intro to Representation and Skins (12E)

Binary Opposites and True Blood (12E)

Intro to Narrative Theories (12E)

12D 13.11.12 p1

How could these products be gendered through advertising? Find one print and one moving image advert from each category and upload onto your blog. Explain which gender is being targeted/associated with the product and why you think this is the case…

• ·         a sports car?
• ·         a diving watch?
• ·         bottled beer?
• ·         toilet paper?
• ·         deodorant?
• ·         cigarettes?
• ·         a hi-fi system?
•        a domestic cleaning product
• ·         trainers?
• ·         a games console ?
• ·         an airline?

How might you represent these products in a different/alternative way that would appeal to the other gender?

Pitch an idea for each one, arguing how you think it would be successful. Complete for homework (Monday 19/11).

Storyboard Sheets/Practical Exercise

Use these storyboard sheets for the preliminary exercise (you may need to print out several in DF06). 

For 12E they need to be worked on in the lesson on 13.11.12 p1 and completed for homework (for Monday 19.11.12).

Here are the details of the task...

Preliminary practical exercise: continuity task

Your preliminary exercise involves filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue.

This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule. 

You are advised to work in the group that you will work in for your MEST2 coursework project.

12D Half-term homework: coursework prep

You've got plenty of Media work to do over half-term with your Fish Tank work for Mr Bush. However, you will also be starting your MEST2 coursework (worth 50% of the overall AS level) next month and need to start thinking about the following:

1) What will you create to meet the brief?
2) Who are you planning to work with?

Due: Tuesday 6 November

Both of these may change when you return after half-term - so be flexible. However, the more you think about things now, the better position you'll be in later.

Well done on a strong first half-term in Media and have a well-deserved break (as well as completing the homework, of course!)

Mr Halsey

12E - Half Term H/W (Miss Rodden)

1.

1. Complete all learner response tasks on your blog.
2. Finish the FISH TANK institutional research (on your blog - use the questions).
3. Finish your magazine cover mock up (on paper - see PPT).
4. Take a photo that could be used on your front cover and write a short analysis of why it appeals to your target audience. Upload this onto your blog.

12E Preparing for the print coursework: research and design tasks (Miss Rodden)

1.

1. Read the ‘12 conventions of a magazine cover’ worksheet 
2. Find a front cover from an existing magazine the appeals to the target audience you chose last lesson (i.e. Tween Girls, Lads, Independent Women, Teen Boys)
3. On PPT, annotate that cover with the 12 conventions from the sheet and write a paragraph that analyses how it appeals to it’s target audience (using media language from the sheet) 
4. Using your magazine title and reader profile from last lesson, create a (hand drawn) mock up of your own front cover that includes the key conventions and appeals to your target audience 
5. Annotate the key conventions (in a different colour pen) and write a paragraph (on the back of your mock up) on how your front cover appeals to your target audience (using media language from the sheet) 

MEST2 Coursework Briefs

These are the tasks you have to start considering for the AS coursework (worth 50% of the marks this year):

MEST2 Coursework Briefs

Fish Tank and UK Film Industry Case Study

Both 12E (for Ms Rodden) and 12D (for Mr Bush) need to complete the following:

Research the following:

1. All the Institutions involved in the production of Fish Tank. List them with a summary of what their contribution to the film was.
2. Two other Independent British Film production companies – their “brand”, as well as current and previous productions.
3. Out of the three Production Companies you have researched, which do you see as most successful and why?
4. How much Fish Tank cost to produce (it’s budget)
5. Film budgets – find 5 films made for £5 million pounds or less – what types of films are feasible on this budget?
6. How was Fish Tank funded?
7. Research one other way that British films are funded. Are there any similarities or differences?
8. What is the target audience for Fish Tank?
9. Research the mainstream 16–25 youth cinema market and decide which 3 genres are most targeted at them and justify your decisions with your research.
10. Who is the main distributor of Fish Tank?
11. What is the role of a film distributor? Are there any differences between distribution in the US and UK?
12. How was Fish Tank promoted (when it was released in 2009)?
13. Compare this with a big budget blockbuster. What are the main similarities and differences?
14. How does the trailer for Fish Tank hook audiences into the narrative and pose questions that the film will answer? Identify 3 ways/techniques.
15. Analyse the trailers for 2 different films (from different genres). Are there any differences in the way they hook the audience into the narrative and pose questions that the film will answer? Identify at least 2 similarities and 2 differences.
16. How does the trailer for Fish Tank balance plot and spectacle?
17. How do the trailers for your other films balance plot and spectacle? Identify at least 2 similarities and 2 differences.
18. Think about the certificate of Fish Tank (15 certificate). Research film certification and outline what is deemed acceptable for this certificate. What is the difference between a 15 certificate and an 18 certificate?

Extension:

Come up with you own idea for a narrative for a film with a budget of £5m for a mainstream 16-25 youth audience. Write a short synopsis and decide who would star in your cast and why.  

Film Review Tasksheet

Use the above to plan a film review of 'Fish Tank' of at least 750 words, posted on your blog.

You should refer to the best film review sites to help you...

• IMDB
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Metacritic

...but DO NOT plagiarise anything. Your review MUST be entirely in your own words.

Mr Halsey's 12D homework

12D - thanks for your brilliant presentations on parallel and contrapuntal sound. We saw some really interesting responses which raised some excellent debates. A reminder about the homework:

1) Make sure you publish your parallel and contrapuntal collages to your blog if you haven't done so already. A YouTube link embedded for the music is also important.

2) Don't forget your cinematography homework:


Choose two extracts from different eras (e.g. one from the 1940s and one from 1990s) and analyse the cinematography.  What are the key differences?

All due next Thursday - 18 October.

Have a great weekend in the meantime!

Mr Halsey

Outstanding H/W for Ms. Rodden

 Some people are still missing work from their blog. There will be lunchtime detentions for any students whose blog is not completely up to date. Please see below for the H/W assignment and the list of students that need to complete this work either before Tuesday's lesson or during Tuesday's lunchtime.

Save TV!

Please upload your presentation slides, print adverts and take a picture of your storyboard (I have some of these, please collect from me). Please see Rohit and Akshay’s blogs if you are confused about how this should look. Please see Mr. Bush’s previous post which gives detailed instructions on how to upload documents.

This applies to:

Amina

Anil

Arshia

Arjan

Dupinder

Kiran D

Kiran

Mathew

Mandeep

Rajneet

Rashmi

Raghav

Saira

Shivani

Simranjit

Media Consumption Analysis

Please use the worksheet to analyse your own consumption of the media. Please see Amina’s blog if you do not have the questions. Please complete this as a media studies student. If you have not completed this H/W you are now required to complete the extension task:

Research Blumler and Katz’s Uses and Gratifications Theory and apply this theory to each media platform, identifying which use/gratification each platform fulfils for you.

This applies to:

Anil

Arjan

Kiran D

Mathew

Mandeep

Raghav

Saira

Does the opening of Kidulthood challenge or reinforce the dominant ideologies of society? 

If you have not completed this H/W you should do so in the following way:

Analyse the mise-en-scene from the opening 5 mins of the film and apply C.L.A.M.P.S: how the Costumes, Lighting, Actors, Make-up, Props and Setting in the opening reinforce or challenge the dominant ideology of society. Write a P.E.A.E.L  (POINT, EVIDENCE, ANALYSE, EFFECT on audience, LINK back to question) paragraph for each element of C.L.A.M.P.S.

This applies to:

Amina

Anil

Arjan

Saira

Shivani

Simranjit

12D homework (Mr Halsey) - Film noir research task

A reminder that our homework is to complete the lighting extension tasks:


1) Research ‘film noir’ focusing on the genre’s distinctive lighting style.

2) Find one still image and one short extract (youtube clip - example below) and write two paragraphs on each, analysing the lighting and its effects.   

Due: Tuesday

Additional HW (12D)

To be completed by Monday 1/10:

• Ensure you complete your Learner Response for your film poster analysis. This must be submitted as an additional comment below the one you've received with your WWW/EBI.

• Embed your 'TV Is Dying' debate PowerPoints to your blogs. Go to Google Drive for this (you'll need to sign in with your Gmail/Blogger account): Upload your presentation to Google Drive; Click on the PowerPoint once done; Click 'share' (top right); Change who has access to 'anyone on the internet'; Click 'file' and then copy the 'embed link'; Paste this link in a blog posting, entitled 'TV is Dying?'

• Try to watch the newly posted Macguffin student videos, especially the Y12 trailers.

• Finally, don't forget to attend the 'Silver Screens of Southall' film workshop at 3pm on Tuesday 25/09 in DF05.

Save TV! Homework (12D)

For 12D, please complete the following for Monday 1/10:

• Target a specific audience – who will be the most faithful or valuable?
• Decide how to sell them the benefits of TV over E-Media.
• Create a memorable campaign concept, slogan and brand image.
• One person must produce a TV advert script and storyboard. Use these storyboard sheets.
• The other must create a full page print ad on Photoshop (see Mr Babu for help if required).
• A two minute pitch to be performed to the rest of the class in Monday’s double period.
• Upload both the print advert and storyboard to your blogs before the lesson (use the 'insert image' tool).

Mr Halsey's homework - 20/09/12

We are starting to get to a position where our blogs are up-to-date, linked to the Media Macguffin Y12 page and demonstrating our introduction to AS Media. Your homework is as follows:

1) If you are missing any of the work set over the last two weeks (Media consumption post; film poster analysis for Mr Bush; advert analysis for me etc) then GET IT POSTED!

2) Finish your analysis of the Reebok 50 Cent advert started in class. Use the subheadings we discussed: colour, pose, framing, composition, size, type of shot, subject matter, setting, lighting.

3) Use the same headings to analyse a moving image text - embed a youtube clip into your blog and write an analysis below. It could be a film trailer, clip from a TV show or even one of your own films or another user-generated youtube clip.

Due: Tuesday

12E Cover Work, Tue 11/09/12

Please do this work on your MEST1 blogs (or post it up on them for homework if you can't get access in school).

Previous GCSE students will have no problems with this, but it may be a little challenging if you've never studied Media before...just do your best. 

Make sure you've set up your new "Media Studies MEST1" blog and posted your name and blog address url here.

Find an interesting film poster online and upload it onto your blog.

Carry out a textual analysis of the poster, using these key ideas: colour, composition, framing, size, type of shot, subject matter, setting, lighting, pose.

Write in full sentences, use paragraphs, proofread your work for spelling/punctuation, and try to include the phrase: "This connotes..." as often as possible.

Use this Key Concepts Glossary: try to include media terminology where possible (as much as you can) and highlight each keyword a different colour from the rest of the text.

Focus particularly on Media Language, Audience and Representation.

To help you, click on the links for a model of a C grade answer and a B grade answer.

New Y12 Blogs

Could ALL Y12 students click on comments (below this post) and leave the address for your new blog, along with your first name. Please complete before Friday 14/09.

12C Cover Work Tues July 10th P6 (for ROD) & 12A Lesson work Wed July 11th P6 (for VAN)

Find two music videos which REPRESENT women in very different ways. Answer the following questions on each music clip: 1. How is the representation made to seem 'true', 'commonsense' or 'natural'?   2. What is foregrounded and what is backgrounded? Are there any notable absences?   3. Whose representation is it? Whose interests does it reflect? How do you know?   4. At whom is this representation targeted? How do you know?   5. What does the representation mean to you?   6. With what alternative representations could it be compared? How does it differ?   7. Why is the concept of representation problematic?

MEST1 Exam Revision!

Here is your complete checklist to prepare you for the MEST 1 exam that takes place on Tuesday 15th May at 1:30pm.


Firstly, make sure you use the 6 Part Active Revision Cycle whenever revising:

This is the most productive approach:

1. STEP 1 Read your notes/text book/online resources carefully
2. STEP 2 Reduce/summarise the information (e.g. draw a mind map, write key words on A5 card, write a table, draw a diagram)
3. STEP 3 Learn/memorise the reduced information - using rhymes, acronyms, etc.
4. STEP 4 Do an exam question under timed conditions
5. STEP 5 Review what you have done
6. STEP 6 Traffic light topics (red - don't know it; amber - know it a bit; green - know it well)

A. MediaMagazine


Spend as much time as possible reading and actively making revision notes (mindmaps etc.) using the MediaMagazine (email Macguffin if you need login details). 


This is the best resource available - up to date examples, written by A Level media examiners, with all the key terminology and theory in bold in every article:

• MediaMag past issues library
• MediaMag FILM articles (for the 'Super 8' case study)
• MediaMag MUSIC articles (for Coldplay)

B. MEST1 Exam Papers (Section A)


Practice Section A questions, under exam conditions:

• January 2009
• June 2009 
• January 2010
• June 2010
• January 2011
• June 2011

Typical questions (fifteen minutes per question)...

• Media Forms: What techniques does the extract use to establish the text’s genre and/or engage the audience?
• Media Representations: How is gender/ethnicity/age/disability/sexuality/a place represented in the extract?
• Media Institutions: In what ways is the extract typical of the film/advertising/television industry and/or what values does it promote?
• Media Audiences: Who does this text/brand appeal to?

Typical texts (it WILL be moving image in the May 2012 exam)...

• TV programme extracts (drama/soap, news, game show, documentary, etc.)
• Adverts
• Film extracts/ trailers (variety of genres)
• Music videos
• Video game extracts/trailers

C. MEST1 Past Questions (Section B)

Firstly, revise your case studies fully. Go back over the PowerPoint presentations you produced on them and posted on your blogs, looking at each other's for extra ideas. 

Also, make sure you do some additional research from the last few months so you have some up-to-the-minute examples.

These are the key questions you should be able to answer:

How are texts in the three platforms constructed?
• Are there similarities and differences in the way the area is dealt with in each platform?
• What type of media language is used and how?
• How are genre codes used?
• How do texts within the three platforms construct narrative?

How do audiences access texts across the three platforms?• Do the texts enable different types of audience activity and/or interaction?
• Are audiences able to play a role in the construction of media texts? (UGC)
• Are there differences in the audience gratifications offered across the three platforms?

How are representations constructed and are there similarities and/or differences across the platforms?
• What values and ideologies are communicated within the representation?

What institutional issues are raised by the topic areas?
• How are institutions reacting to change in technology?
• How are institutions attempting to reach and engage their audiences?
• What economic issues are behind the construction and distribution of contemporary media texts? 

Then, make sure you complete detailed essay plans on ALL of the past questions, and then practice as many as you can under timed conditions (45 minutes/question):

January 2009

To what extent do the media products in your case study do more than just entertain their

audience(s)?

In your answer you should:

● Provide a brief outline of your case study

● Consider how far the media products in your case study also inform, educate and

provide opportunities for interaction and participation

● Support your answer with reference to examples from three media platforms.

Consider the reasons media products from your case study are present across a range of

media platforms.

In your answer you should:

● Provide a brief outline of your case study

● Discuss the advantages for producers of each media platform

● Support your answer with reference to examples from three media platforms.

June 2009

 ‘Audiences are no longer just consumers of media texts but producers too.’

To what extent is this true of the media products in your case study?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● evaluate how far audiences participate in and contribute to the media products in your case study

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

Account for the similarities and differences in the codes and conventions used in the

media products from your case study.

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● compare how and why media products from your case study are similar and/or different within and across media platforms

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

January 2010

Identify how media products from your case study make links with other media platforms.

What are the reasons for these links?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● consider possible links such as targeting audiences, promotion and revenue generation

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

‘All media texts tell stories.’ In what ways is narrative used in the media products in your

case study?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● discuss the different ways narrative functions in the media products in your case study

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

June 2010

'Audiences are becoming increasingly powerful in shaping media output.' With reference to your case study, how far is this true?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● evaluate the roles of audiences in the creation of media products from your case study

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

January 2011

How far have improvements in technology made a difference to the quality of audience experience?

 In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● evaluate the impact of new technologies (eg red button, file-sharing, 3D) on the audience's ability to interact with and/or enjoy media products from your case study

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

Do the institutions in your case study have an equal presence on each media platform?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● evaluate how and why media products from your case study have more of a presence on some platforms than others

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

June 2011

'To be successful, media institutions have to use a variety of media platforms'. To what extent is this true of your cross-media study?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your cross-media study

● consider the possible advantages of using a range of media platforms

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

'Our enjoyment of media products is influenced by the platforms we use to access them.'How far is this true of your cross-media study?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your cross-media study

● consider how audiences use and respond to media products from different media platforms

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

D. Key Media Terminology and Audience Theory

Revise the following really well:

• Glossary: Key Concepts/Key Terminology (the more you include, the better your grade)
• Young & Rubicam's 4Cs (Psychographics)
• How to make sense of audience theories (include some of this in every answer)
• MediaKnowall audience theories

E. AS Revision Booklet

This excellent guide summarises the key theories and key terminology you need to include and provides examples of how to use them in the exam. 

Read this repeatedly in the run-up to MEST1, revise ALL the main theorists here and practice using them in your answers.

AS Revision Booklet