We have just added five new Media Factsheets to the archive on the M: Media Shared drive...
141 Media and Identities
142 Identity and Film
143 Politics and Persuasion
144 DTP coursework
145 VICE News
They are in the usual place on the school network: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets
Several of these are extremely relevant right now - the DTP (desktop publishing - print design) could be very useful for your MEST2 print brief. Similarly, Identity and Film or Politics and Persuasion could be linked to our work on Ill Manors.
These are brilliant resources - if you want an A grade, you need to be reading this kind of resource along with the latest issue of Media Magazine.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Ill Manors broadcast: music video analysis
The Ill Manors music video is a great example of cross-promotion and synergy.
The institutions behind Plan B/Ill Manors tapped into Plan B's music fanbase to promote both the film and soundtrack album. Analysing the music video gives you another superb example to discuss in your MEST1 Section B essay and allows you to write about the synergy (links) between the two texts.
Ill Manors: music video
Ill Manors is a hip hop protest song by English singer and songwriter Plan B. The track was released in the United Kingdom in March 2012 through the American company Atlantic Records (a subsidiary of the Warner Music Group conglomerate) as the lead single from the Ill Manors soundtrack, a low budget film which Plan B also directed. The song was written in reaction to the 2011 riots across England, and specifically Plan B's perception of "society's failure to nurture its disadvantaged youth." The song deals with both the causes and the consequences of the riots, concentrating on society's attitude towards the disadvantaged youth population. Drawing upon Plan B's own experiences of being expelled from school the song sarcastically attacks the media view of working class children: "Keep on believing what you read in the papers / Council estate kids — scum of the earth."
Writing in The Independent, Tim Walker called it "an all-time great protest song." However, Samuel Breen, also writing for The Independent, describes the song as "a cliché riddled attack on politics" and suggests that Plan B is justifying the action taken by the rioters, something Plan B denies.
The music video for "Ill Manors" expands upon the themes of the song, and uses footage from the 2011 riots. David Cameron and Nick Clegg, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, both feature in the video, despite not being mentioned in the lyrics. However, Cameron's "Hug a Hoodie" campaign is alluded to.
Ill Manors music video: blog task
Watch the music video again and analyse it closely, making detailed notes. Use the same skills you are developing for the MEST1 Section A unseen text.
Answer the following questions on your blog using the minimum three-paragraph structure we have discussed for MEST1 Section A:
Media Forms
How is it typical of a music video?
(Use this PowerPoint on the key conventions of music videos to help you).
Media Representations
How does it represent the London riots/rioters?
Media Audiences
What audience pleasures does the music video offer?
Media Institutions
How does the music video help to promote the film?
Ill Manors soundtrack research task
Research the Ill Manors track and soundtrack album - focusing particularly on the institutions and critical reception. Find out:
Post the research on your blog below the music video analysis - minimum of 350 words research (bullet points and sub-headings are fine in terms of structure).
Complete for homework - due next week.
The institutions behind Plan B/Ill Manors tapped into Plan B's music fanbase to promote both the film and soundtrack album. Analysing the music video gives you another superb example to discuss in your MEST1 Section B essay and allows you to write about the synergy (links) between the two texts.
Ill Manors: music video
Ill Manors is a hip hop protest song by English singer and songwriter Plan B. The track was released in the United Kingdom in March 2012 through the American company Atlantic Records (a subsidiary of the Warner Music Group conglomerate) as the lead single from the Ill Manors soundtrack, a low budget film which Plan B also directed. The song was written in reaction to the 2011 riots across England, and specifically Plan B's perception of "society's failure to nurture its disadvantaged youth." The song deals with both the causes and the consequences of the riots, concentrating on society's attitude towards the disadvantaged youth population. Drawing upon Plan B's own experiences of being expelled from school the song sarcastically attacks the media view of working class children: "Keep on believing what you read in the papers / Council estate kids — scum of the earth."
Writing in The Independent, Tim Walker called it "an all-time great protest song." However, Samuel Breen, also writing for The Independent, describes the song as "a cliché riddled attack on politics" and suggests that Plan B is justifying the action taken by the rioters, something Plan B denies.
The music video for "Ill Manors" expands upon the themes of the song, and uses footage from the 2011 riots. David Cameron and Nick Clegg, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, both feature in the video, despite not being mentioned in the lyrics. However, Cameron's "Hug a Hoodie" campaign is alluded to.
Ill Manors music video: blog task
Watch the music video again and analyse it closely, making detailed notes. Use the same skills you are developing for the MEST1 Section A unseen text.
Answer the following questions on your blog using the minimum three-paragraph structure we have discussed for MEST1 Section A:
Media Forms
How is it typical of a music video?
(Use this PowerPoint on the key conventions of music videos to help you).
Media Representations
How does it represent the London riots/rioters?
Media Audiences
What audience pleasures does the music video offer?
Media Institutions
How does the music video help to promote the film?
Ill Manors soundtrack research task
Research the Ill Manors track and soundtrack album - focusing particularly on the institutions and critical reception. Find out:
- the record companies/institutions behind Plan B
- sales/downloads for the soundtrack
- music reviews
- Plan B's fans' reviews and comments
Post the research on your blog below the music video analysis - minimum of 350 words research (bullet points and sub-headings are fine in terms of structure).
Complete for homework - due next week.
The Wednesday arthouse screening: Donnie Darko
Today's arthouse screening is the acclaimed American indie film Donnie Darko (2001).
This is a quirky drama (with a hint of sci-fi) that is rated 8.1 on IMDB.
The screening will be in DF07 at 3.10pm.
This is a quirky drama (with a hint of sci-fi) that is rated 8.1 on IMDB.
The screening will be in DF07 at 3.10pm.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Ill Manors broadcast platform: trailer analysis
Homework
A reminder of your homework - write a 750 word review of Ill Manors. All the details and compulsory planning sheet are on this blogpost.
Ill Manors trailer analysis
Consider the discussion points from analysing the Ill Manors film trailer in class - then watch it again and answer the questions below on your blog:
A reminder of your homework - write a 750 word review of Ill Manors. All the details and compulsory planning sheet are on this blogpost.
Ill Manors trailer analysis
Consider the discussion points from analysing the Ill Manors film trailer in class - then watch it again and answer the questions below on your blog:
- What are the typical codes and conventions of film trailers - what information is usually provided?
- How are trailers distributed?
- How does the Ill Manors trailer use trailer conventions?
- 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? Why?
- How has the genre of the film been represented through characters, settings, lighting, colour, music/dialogue, camera shots/movements/angles and editing?
If you don't finish in class, finish for homework - due next lesson.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Ill Manors Film Review
Please complete for the next lesson after you've watched the film:
1. Use the above to write a plan for a film review of ''Ill Manors". Post the notes on your blog.
2. After planning, write a review of the film 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.
2. After planning, write a review of the film of at least 750 words (posted on your blog).
You should refer to the best film review sites to help you...
...but DO NOT plagiarise anything. Your review MUST be entirely in your own words.
12D: MEST2 Progress report
Individually, you need to create a new blogpost with the title ‘MEST2 Progress Report – 20 January’.
Use the following subheadings to write a detailed progress report on how your production work is going:
Use the following subheadings to write a detailed progress report on how your production work is going:
- Work completed since 6 January
- Any incomplete pre-production tasks
- Next steps/Action plan
- Date filming will be complete
- Requirements for photoshoot next week
Homework for next week:
Bring in costume/make-up and props for photoshoot next Wednesday in class.
Important: remember you CANNOT film with any kind of weapon (or anything that resembles a weapon) in school or any public place.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
The British film industry: institutional context
To complete our introduction to the British film industry, we need a little more institutional background.
We will be using another Media Factsheet to finish our background research on this exam topic. Complete the following tasks on your blog:
Important note! Our Media Factsheet archive is now on the M: drive Media Shared:
M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets.
1) Find Media Factsheet #100 on the British film industry. Save it to USB or email it to yourself so you have access to the Factsheet for homework.
We will be using another Media Factsheet to finish our background research on this exam topic. Complete the following tasks on your blog:
Important note! Our Media Factsheet archive is now on the M: drive Media Shared:
M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets.
1) Find Media Factsheet #100 on the British film industry. Save it to USB or email it to yourself so you have access to the Factsheet for homework.
2) Read the whole of Factsheet #100 British film industry
3) What is the 'cultural test' to see if a film counts as British?
4) Complete the task on the Factsheet, researching the films listed and finding out what they score on the cultural test: Sweeney, Attack The Block, The King's Speech, We Need To Talk About Kevin and Skyfall.
5) What is the main problem for the British film industry?
6) What are three of the strengths of the British film industry?
7) What are the two options for the future of the British film industry?
8) In your opinion, which of these two options would best safeguard the future of the British film industry?
You have a week to complete these tasks for homework as next week's lessons will be used to watch our case study film Ill Manors. Due: next Friday.
3) What is the 'cultural test' to see if a film counts as British?
4) Complete the task on the Factsheet, researching the films listed and finding out what they score on the cultural test: Sweeney, Attack The Block, The King's Speech, We Need To Talk About Kevin and Skyfall.
5) What is the main problem for the British film industry?
6) What are three of the strengths of the British film industry?
7) What are the two options for the future of the British film industry?
8) In your opinion, which of these two options would best safeguard the future of the British film industry?
You have a week to complete these tasks for homework as next week's lessons will be used to watch our case study film Ill Manors. Due: next Friday.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Arthouse screening cancelled
Apologies, due to staff absence we are unable to run this afternoon's film screening. This will be rescheduled for next week.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
MEST2 Print brief
Your MEST2 Print brief is as important as the video work you are currently filming. It is crucial that you research, plan and design print work that could comfortably holds its own alongside professional examples. Our AQA MEST2 brief is here, with the key task as follows:
Print
All entrants have been asked to create pages for a promotional booklet which will demonstrate the variety of local film-making talent and provide information on the shortlisted entries. Each entrant is therefore asked to create their own pages for the booklet. You should create two to three A4 pages. You are encouraged to be creative in your approach and try to make your pages distinctive and visually appealing. You should include information about you, your production team and the film itself.
What do you need to produce?
1) A5 Little Picturehouse programme front cover featuring YOUR film
2) A5 Double-page spread contents page
3) A5 Double-page spread feature on YOUR film
Now complete the following tasks to plan and prepare your print work:
Research
1) Key conventions. Look over the magazine cover key conventions notes sheet and ensure you can confidently identify the key aspects that are found on a magazine cover.
2) Write an analysis of this BFI Film Festival programme front cover. How many of the 12 key conventions of magazine covers can you see? In what way does this print product differ from a traditional magazine cover? How have the designers made this programme visually interesting?
3) Find at least 5 arts centre or cinema programmes/brochures aimed at a similar target audience to your project (arthouse cinema). For each one, pick out one design idea that you could use in your own print work.
4) Find at least 5 contents pages from arts programmes or magazines. How are contents pages designed? How do they use a combination of text and images to create an effective design?
Planning and sketching
1) Create a spider diagram or bullet point list of all the things your target audience might be interested in. How can you use this information to create a main feature about your film that will appeal to your target audience?
2) Produce an A5 sketch of your front cover including the key conventions and design tricks you have studied in existing programmes and then planned in planning task 1 above.
3) Produce an A4 sketch of your double-page spread contents page. In terms of the text for your contents page, you will need to find out the names of the films of other groups in your class. The other films in the class will make up the rest of your contents page.
4) Create a spider diagram or bullet point list of ideas for your double-page spread feature. Write a list of potential headlines and sub-headings for the article you choose to go with.
4) Produce an A4 landscape sketch of your double page spread design now you have chosen the subject matter.
Photoshoot
1) Which of your main characters will appear on the front cover of your programme?
2) What image or images do you need for the contents page?
3) What image or images will you use for the double-page spread?
4) Write a shot list for the photoshoot. Make sure you plan a variety of camera shots you will look to capture - medium shots, close-ups etc.
5) What costume, props or make-up will you require for the photoshoot?
6) How will you make sure you have everything prepared for the photoshoot on Wednesday 20 January?
Use the lesson to complete these planning tasks but you'll need to finish for homework - due Wednesday 20 January.
Homework
In Microsoft Word, write the text for your double page spread feature. Plan it out carefully then write a headline, sub-heading and at least 500 words for the main article.
Due: Thursday 21 January/Friday 22 January
All entrants have been asked to create pages for a promotional booklet which will demonstrate the variety of local film-making talent and provide information on the shortlisted entries. Each entrant is therefore asked to create their own pages for the booklet. You should create two to three A4 pages. You are encouraged to be creative in your approach and try to make your pages distinctive and visually appealing. You should include information about you, your production team and the film itself.
What do you need to produce?
1) A5 Little Picturehouse programme front cover featuring YOUR film
2) A5 Double-page spread contents page
3) A5 Double-page spread feature on YOUR film
Research
1) Key conventions. Look over the magazine cover key conventions notes sheet and ensure you can confidently identify the key aspects that are found on a magazine cover.
3) Find at least 5 arts centre or cinema programmes/brochures aimed at a similar target audience to your project (arthouse cinema). For each one, pick out one design idea that you could use in your own print work.
4) Find at least 5 contents pages from arts programmes or magazines. How are contents pages designed? How do they use a combination of text and images to create an effective design?
Planning and sketching
1) Create a spider diagram or bullet point list of all the things your target audience might be interested in. How can you use this information to create a main feature about your film that will appeal to your target audience?
2) Produce an A5 sketch of your front cover including the key conventions and design tricks you have studied in existing programmes and then planned in planning task 1 above.
3) Produce an A4 sketch of your double-page spread contents page. In terms of the text for your contents page, you will need to find out the names of the films of other groups in your class. The other films in the class will make up the rest of your contents page.
4) Create a spider diagram or bullet point list of ideas for your double-page spread feature. Write a list of potential headlines and sub-headings for the article you choose to go with.
4) Produce an A4 landscape sketch of your double page spread design now you have chosen the subject matter.
Photoshoot
1) Which of your main characters will appear on the front cover of your programme?
2) What image or images do you need for the contents page?
3) What image or images will you use for the double-page spread?
4) Write a shot list for the photoshoot. Make sure you plan a variety of camera shots you will look to capture - medium shots, close-ups etc.
5) What costume, props or make-up will you require for the photoshoot?
6) How will you make sure you have everything prepared for the photoshoot on Wednesday 20 January?
Use the lesson to complete these planning tasks but you'll need to finish for homework - due Wednesday 20 January.
Homework
In Microsoft Word, write the text for your double page spread feature. Plan it out carefully then write a headline, sub-heading and at least 500 words for the main article.
Due: Thursday 21 January/Friday 22 January
Sunday, January 10, 2016
MEST1 Section B: The British film industry
We will be focusing on the British film industry for Section B of your MEST1 exam.
In your lesson, you will have been taken through the rich history of British film from the Second World War to the 2000s. Your blog task is as follows:
1) Use our brilliant Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets)to find Media Factsheet #132 on British Film.
2) Read the whole of Factsheet #132 British Film
3) Write a one-sentence definition of what makes a film British.
4) What is the difference between a Hollywood production context and production context of a British film?
5) When did the James Bond franchise start?
6) In terms of film censorship and graphic content, what began to change in British film in the 1970s and 1980s?
7) What groups are often represented in British film? Give examples of films these groups feature in.
8) What does the Factsheet suggest might be the audience appeal of British film?
Complete for homework anything you don't finish in the lesson - due next Friday.
Friday, January 08, 2016
January assessment: learner response
Your learner response for the January assessment will be to type up your feedback and then re-write your weakest question on the blog.
If you have two questions on the same lower mark, choose the one you feel is your weaker area. Use all the following links and documents to help you - the objective here is to use all possible resources to write as close to a 12-mark answer as you possibly can.
The Sussex Safer Roads Embrace Life clip is available here:
The question paper you took on is available here.
The mark scheme - with suggested content for each answer - is available here.
The Examiners' report - with detailed analysis of where students did well and badly in the real exam - is available here.
If you don't finish this in the lesson make sure it is completed for homework - due Monday.
If you have two questions on the same lower mark, choose the one you feel is your weaker area. Use all the following links and documents to help you - the objective here is to use all possible resources to write as close to a 12-mark answer as you possibly can.
The Sussex Safer Roads Embrace Life clip is available here:
The question paper you took on is available here.
The mark scheme - with suggested content for each answer - is available here.
The Examiners' report - with detailed analysis of where students did well and badly in the real exam - is available here.
If you don't finish this in the lesson make sure it is completed for homework - due Monday.
Tuesday, January 05, 2016
Mr Halsey cover work – 06/01/16
Apologies – I won’t be in lessons on Wednesday for family reasons.
Today is the deadline for your first drafts for pre-production.
Use this double lesson to meet with your group and turn your first drafts into completed planning documents. A reminder of the pre-production tasks can be found here.
Next lesson we’ll be giving out coursework folders so we can print and file our research and planning - make sure it's ready to go in.
Mr Qureshi is on hand if you have any questions and I’ll be back next lesson – good luck!
Today is the deadline for your first drafts for pre-production.
Use this double lesson to meet with your group and turn your first drafts into completed planning documents. A reminder of the pre-production tasks can be found here.
Next lesson we’ll be giving out coursework folders so we can print and file our research and planning - make sure it's ready to go in.
Mr Qureshi is on hand if you have any questions and I’ll be back next lesson – good luck!
Monday, January 04, 2016
Happy new year!
Welcome back and happy new year for 2016!
We’ve got an incredibly important term coming up – it’s only 11 weeks in total but in that time we will be completing all of our coursework and stepping up our exam preparation.
In your exam lessons, you will be focusing on Section B of the MEST1 exam. This will explore the British film industry and particularly the critically acclaimed 2012 London-based social realist drama Ill Manors from director Ben Drew (better known as Plan B). You’ll be researching and discussing the film in real depth across the print, broadcast and e-media platforms looking at how the film was made, marketed and promoted. Towards Easter, you’ll also be choosing a big-budget British film to research independently to give you the second case study you need for Section B of the exam.
In terms of coursework, this is the term when you will shoot and edit your film as well as photographing and designing the print brief. There’s a lot of work and the time will fly by so make sure you’re organised, committed and as creative as you can be.
What can you do to maximise your grade in AS Media Studies?
Now is the time to really step up your consumption of wider issues and debates in the media. If you want an A grade, you need to be doing the following as a minimum:
We made superb progress last term and have given ourselves the platform to achieve the very top grades in Media. Now, we need to go out and get them. Good luck!
We’ve got an incredibly important term coming up – it’s only 11 weeks in total but in that time we will be completing all of our coursework and stepping up our exam preparation.
In your exam lessons, you will be focusing on Section B of the MEST1 exam. This will explore the British film industry and particularly the critically acclaimed 2012 London-based social realist drama Ill Manors from director Ben Drew (better known as Plan B). You’ll be researching and discussing the film in real depth across the print, broadcast and e-media platforms looking at how the film was made, marketed and promoted. Towards Easter, you’ll also be choosing a big-budget British film to research independently to give you the second case study you need for Section B of the exam.
In terms of coursework, this is the term when you will shoot and edit your film as well as photographing and designing the print brief. There’s a lot of work and the time will fly by so make sure you’re organised, committed and as creative as you can be.
What can you do to maximise your grade in AS Media Studies?
Now is the time to really step up your consumption of wider issues and debates in the media. If you want an A grade, you need to be doing the following as a minimum:
- Keeping up with the Media Guardian to find out the big stories in the media each week – particularly on a Monday.
- Reading each issue of Media Magazine. Our full archive is available here – the latest issue (MM54) has excellent features on gender representation (both male and female), Media violence, social media and identity and why watching films is good for you.
- Using our incredible NEW archive of Media Factsheets to revise and increase your knowledge of wider media issues and debates. There are over 100 topics covered, many of them highly relevant to our exam preparation and coursework.
We made superb progress last term and have given ourselves the platform to achieve the very top grades in Media. Now, we need to go out and get them. Good luck!
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