Arthouse film screening: extra homework

Well done to everyone who attended the first of our arthouse film screenings yesterday - Run Lola Run. 

Run Lola Run contains so many creative filmmaking techniques, particularly with regards to narrative, cinematography and editing. If we can use similarly creative techniques with our own productions it will give us a great chance of a top-level mark.

Unfortunately, some of you decided not to attend the screening which was very disappointing. You now have an additional piece of Christmas homework that is due on Wednesday 6 January:

1) Watch Run Lola Run. You will have to find, download or buy a copy of the film because you missed the screening.

2) Write a 350 word review on your blog, commenting particularly on narrative, cinematography and editing.

Due: Wednesday 6 January

Students who must complete this:

Missing from 12C 
Mamduh 
Rashida 
Abdirahman 

Missing from 12D
Hussein 
Aliza 
Alayna 
Aashir 
Ammar 
Taranjit 
Akash 
Ria 

Students who missed the screening due to Post-16 Intervention training also need to catch up with watching the film over Christmas.

MEST2: Pre-production

Having completed extensive existing product research, institution research and audience research it's now time to move on to pre-production.

This is the absolutely crucial planning phase where you create a script, storyboard, shot list and mise-en-scene planning (cast, props, costumes, locations etc). You should have received some excellent feedback from the class as part of your focus group so now it's time to put that feedback to use. This is a great YouTube video taking you through 15 common mistakes filmmakers make...



This will be very useful for your pre-production - particularly in terms of casting, lighting and locations.

As a group, you need to complete the following:

1. Project schedule
2. Script
3. Storyboard
4. Shot list
5. Mise-en-scene: casting details, location scouting with photographs, props, costume and make-up, lighting.

Your project schedule means laying out a week-by-week plan for shooting and editing your film - you may wish to use Microsoft Excel or Word for this.

You'll find guidance for setting out a script by visiting the BBC Writer's Room (click on the Script Library tab) and storyboard sheets are available in DF07. A three-minute film will require extensive storyboarding - you may wish to share this out between two people.

I advise laying out your shot list simply using Microsoft Word - this is an example of what it should look like. The key with a shot list is to plan lots of extra shots that give you options when editing - particularly a large number of extra close-up and cutaway shots.

The mise-en-scene planning can be formatted as you wish.

Important note: you only put work YOU completed in your coursework folder so make sure the pre-production tasks are shared equally between members of your group.

Due: First drafts of ALL your pre-production documents must be produced for Wednesday 6 January.

Arthouse film screening: Run Lola Run

Our first arthouse film screening is taking place this afternoon in the Lecture Theatre: Run Lola Run.

This is an acclaimed 1998 German film with brilliantly creative cinematography, animated sequences and a superb narrative concept. It's the perfect film to watch as you finalise your film pitches for the MEST2 coursework.

Lecture Theatre 3.10pm 

Audience research focus groups: blog task

I hope the audience research focus groups for our MEST2 film pitches have been useful - it's a brilliant opportunity to share good ideas and improve our productions. 

You now need to write up your own group's recording in a blog post - note this write-up is an INDIVIDUAL task. 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 film now you have completed some audience research: gender, age, social class, education/employment, race/ethnicity, psychographics etc.

Your recordings will probably be on your phone and therefore on of you will have to upload and share the file with your group. If you used one of our sound recorders, you can easily capture the file using the USB attachment and share the file on the M: Media shared drive.

Your blog post for this aspect of your audience research needs to be AT LEAST 500 words - it may well be a lot longer and remember you will use bits of this later in your MEST2 evaluation (worth 25% of the overall marks).

MIGRAIN intro to Media: end of unit index

We have now completed our MIGRAIN introduction to Media unit and need to create an index to organise revision for the upcoming assessment. 


January assessment

You will have a MEST1 Section A assessment in your first double lesson after Christmas. This will be an excellent opportunity to show the progress we are making towards our Media target grades and also develop the skills needed for the exam in May.

You need to revise everything you have covered in the Autumn term - both for the Introduction to Media unit AND Film Language.

Due: first Monday back

MIGRAIN index

You already have a MIGRAIN index from early November but now need to update it to include the work from this half-term. You also need to re-publish the index so it appears as the latest post in your blog. 

This process is an excellent start to your revision for the assessment and will also highlight if you've missed anything through absence or trips. Your index should include the following:

1) Media consumption audit
2) Language and Genre: Reading an image - advert analyses
3) Institution: major media institution research and presentation
4) Institution: brand values
5) Institution: CoolBrands research
6) Narrative: narrative theory YouTube clip analysis
7) Audience: psychographics
8) Audience: audience theory blog tasks/questions
9) Audience: audience theory - dependency theory
10) Representation: clip analysis - dominant and alternative representations
11) Representation theory: 500 word analysis on blog
12) Representation: Media Magazine articles and questions
13) Ideology: BBQ QT analysis and binary opposition
14) Ideology: Media Magazine reading 

For your index, the text should link to YOUR corresponding blogpost so you can access your work on each key concept quickly and easily. This also means you if you have missed anything you can catch up with the work and notes and won't underperform in the assessment due to gaps in your knowledge.

Important: your index needs to be completed during the lesson.

Ideology: further reading and tasks

Our final key concept of this introductory unit to A Level Media is Ideology.

This is one of the trickiest concepts to get our head around as it encompasses politics and cultural studies as well as media theory. We've obviously applied our work on binary opposition to an episode of BBC Question Time but it's important to be able to apply ideology and media theory to a cross-section of media texts.

Media Magazine issue 52 has two good articles on Ideology. Today you need to read those articles and complete a few tasks linked to them. Follow the instructions below...

MM52

Page 34: The World Of Mockingjay: Ideology, Dystopia And Propaganda

1) Read the article

2) What view of capitalist ideology is presented in the Hunger Games films?

3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?


Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology

1) Read the article

2) What are the four accepted ideological beliefs in western societies highlighted by the article?

3) What does Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggest about power and ideology in society?

4) What does French theorist Louis Althusser suggest about ideology and consumerism?

5) Do YOU agree with the idea behind They Live - that we are unthinkingly controlled by the media which is run in the interests of the economic elite? These are the big questions of A Level Media!

You'll need to finish this for homework - due Monday.

Year 12 Electric Cinema trip - Wednesday 9 December

Don't forget the key details about our trip to the Electric Cinema:

Date: Wednesday 9 December

Meeting time: 1.15pm

Meeting place: Notting Hill Gate underground station (street level)

Full address details, a map and further information is available on our trip briefing handout.

See you there!

MEST2: Film pitch and audience focus group

Your final double lesson before Christmas will see you pitching your film idea to the rest of the class in an audience research focus group.

In order to prepare for this focus group, your group needs to develop a detailed film pitch. This is for the complete 30-minute film, not just the three minutes you plan to make for the coursework itself.

Use this MEST2 Film pitch template to make sure your film pitch contains all the information you need.

The MEST2 brief is here if you need to check the topics that you can work from.

Due: for the START of your final double coursework lesson of the year. You will pitch the film to the rest of the class during this lesson.

MEST2: BBFC Institution research

Your MEST2 brief clearly states that your film must be suitable for a 15 certificate. Film certification in the UK is the job of the BBFC - the British Board of Film Classification. Your final piece of institution research requires you to read up on the BBFC and the guidelines your film must follow.

Complete the following tasks on your blog:

1) Research the BBFC: what is the institution responsible for? How is it funded? What link does it have to government?

2) Read this BBFC guide to how films are rated. Summarise the process in 50 words.

3) Read this BBFC outline of the issues faced when classifying a film. Summarise the debate in 50 words.

4) Read this BBFC section on controversial decisions. Why did The Dark Knight generate a large amount of media coverage regarding its certificate? Do you agree with the 12A certificate The Dark Knight was awarded?

5) What are the guidelines for a 15 certificate?

6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Choose one 15-rated film from the BBFC case studies section and summarise the classification the film was given and why. 

Complete this for homework if you don't get it done in the lesson - due next week.

12D Cover Work - Monday 7/12, p1/2

Read the following two articles on Ideology in the Media in MM52, in the Media Magazine archive:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0i5diL3vrEiSGxRNHIyZmM4Ums&usp=sharing

P34: The World Of Mockingjay: Ideology, Dystopia And Propaganda

P48: They Live: Ideology

Then make summaries of each article on your blog, finishing for homework if necessary. 

Ideology and binary opposition

The key notes from today's lesson:

Ideology

What is an ideology?
An ideology is a world view, a system of values, attitudes and beliefs which an individual, group or society holds to be true or important; these are shared by a culture or society about how that society should function.

Dominant ideologies

Ideologies that are told to us repeatedly by important social institutions such as the government or media are called dominant ideologies.

Dominant ideologies are ideologies or beliefs that we live by in our day-to-day lives and often do not question – they have become 'natural, common sense' things to do. This effectively dissuades people from rebelling against these beliefs, and keeps a sense of stability in society.

Why is ideology important in Media Studies?

Media texts always reflect certain values or ideologies though sometimes we may not be aware of this. When studying a media text you may look for the dominant ideology present and question whose world view is represented and which groups have not been represented.

Levi-Strauss: Binary opposition

Claude Levi-Strauss (1908-2009) was a French philosopher and one of the most important cultural theorists of the 20th century. 

His theory of binary opposition is important for media students.

Levi-Strauss suggested everyone thinks of the world around them in terms of binary opposites such as up and down, life and death etc. and therefore every culture can be understood in these terms.

Binary opposition in media

Binary opposition is used to create narrative and conflict in media. It is also used to simplify complex situations for easy consumption (e.g. TV news).

Along similar lines, if something is not easily reduced to binary opposites, it is far less likely to receive widespread media coverage.

Binary oppositions can be used to create stereotypes and promote certain ideologies or beliefs.

Blog task: binary oppositions and ideology

1) Watch this clip from BBC Question Time with Russell Brand and Nigel Farage. The BBC deliberately placed the two against each other and the episode resulted in far more people watching and tweeting than usual.

What examples of binary opposition can you suggest from watching this clip?

What ideologies are on display in this clip?

Embed the video into your blog (as above) and answer these two questions in full paragraphs.

Ideology and your own choice of clip

2) Now do the same activity for a clip of your choice. Embed the YouTube video in your blog and answer the questions in detail:

What examples of binary opposition can you suggest from watching your clip?

What ideologies are on display in your clip?


Complete for homework if you don't finish it in the lesson - due next week.

MEST2: Arthouse film institution research

Research the institutions that produce, distribute and exhibit independent arthouse films.

Work through the following tasks:

Production: Independent film studios

1) Look back at the five films you have analysed for your existing product research. Find which studios made them – e.g. Film Four, Studio Canal, BFI, BBC Films etc.
2) What other films do these studios produce? Can you find any any other independent, arthouse or low-budget examples?
3) Do the studios have any notable successes? What is the most successful low-budget or independent film the studio has released?


Distribution: Independent film distributors

1) Research film distribution using this guide from the UK Film Distributors' Association. It's called Launching Film and takes you through the whole process of distributing a movie.
Read the whole step-by-step guide (warning: this is LONG and will take you around an hour)
2) Summarise the 10 steps of film distribution in a list using your own words.

3) Now research the distributors for each of the arthouse films you have analysed for your existing product research. Who distributed each film in the UK?

4) How many cinemas did each film open in?
5) How much money did each film make? Did it make a profit against the budget?
6) Research Curzon Artificial Eye. Who are they and what do they do?
6) Look at the Curzon Artficial Eye YouTube channel. Watch three trailers for recent or upcoming independent films and identify something you can learn from each film to use in your own film production.

Exhibition: Arthouse cinemas

Find some London-based arthouse cinemas and research the following:
1) What is the name of the cinema? Where is it?
2) What type of films do they show? What films are on this week? How do their programmes differ from the major cinema chains like Vue? 
3) What type of audience attends this kind of arthouse cinemas? Are there any clues on the website regarding the target audience? How can you tell?


A case study in independent film production: Film London and Microwave Film

1) What is Film London and why does it exist?
2) What is the purpose of Microwave Film?
3) What is the London Calling project for Film London and how does it encourage independent filmmaking?

4) Choose three feature films funded by Microwave Film and embed their trailers in your blog. For each film, explain why it fits the profile for an arthouse or independent film and what target audience the film might attract.

5) Watch these top tips for film production. List three things you've learned from these short videos that you can apply to your MEST2 production work. 

You will be given lesson time for this research but will need to complete a considerable amount of it at home. Due: Friday 11 December.