CHRISTMAS CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT FEEDBACK

I was really impressed by the quality of work here, especially considering that it had been a while since you completed a timed essay and the clip is a tricky one to evaluate at times. On the whole, these results definitely bode well for next year - very well done Year 13 :)

Class average: 73% - highest to date.

Strengths

• Editing and sound is much stronger - a clear effort has been made in these areas.
• Excellent and continuous links back to the task.
• More students making reference to representations and stereotypes in society.
• Very well structured.
• More sophisticated and complex responses are emerging eg low key/high key lighting is being used more, rule of thirds and depth of field is being accurately and insightfully analysed.

Areas to consider

• Points and observations are excellent across the board - no one is struggling with terminology. Still elaboration/explanation needed in parts. Remember, if you make a great observation, don't move on until you have fully analysed it.

• Keep remembering my point about solving an equation - ie in this extract, I could see a few people were trying to put the representation of all men in the same box and the same for women which in this extract, is near impossible. Its ok to make a brief sweeping/general statement at the start or the end ie 'overall, women appear to be more manipulative etc' but don't try and force, in this case, all of the same gender into the same points of analysis - this will only result in vague statements which aren't really analytical.

• Vary analysis - don't fall into the trap whereby every piece of evaluation is 'he is in control, she is not', 'he has the power, she does not' etc. This might be true at times and it's ok to include it, but don't overdo. Put a different slant on it eg 'here, through the use of a close up on the woman smirking as her plan falls into place, the female is portrayed as being very manipulative and cunning - she has the man wrapped around her finger which could be said to be a stereotypical representation of females.'

Getting Prepared for Your Main Piece

By now you should have hopefully completed your preliminary and evaluation. Once you have completed both videos, you should post them to youtube and embed on your group blog.

Your next task is to create an opening, complete with soundtrack and titles, for a new movie. You can choose any genre you wish.

It is important that you understand the codes and conventions that are used in your genre. You should post research into these genres using clips from similar types of films, along with commentary on the codes, styles and conventions used (the language from your TV Drama Analysis will be useful here).

You also need to research who your audience will be and methods on how you can attract an audience to your film.

Eventually, you will create a detailed overarching story for your whole movie and then you will decide what you are going to show in the opening, what type of atmosphere and enigma you hope to establish. You will then create a detailed storyboard for your opening, which will have a detailed shot list. You will also create a script, shooting script and schedule on google docs to have detailed information as to where and when you will film, the props and actors and equipment you will need, and also who is required to be there and the roles they will fulfill.

You must also take into consideration holidays, exams, work and work experience.

VIDEO EVALUATION OF PRELIMINARY COURSEWORK

VIDEO EVALUATION OF PRELIMINARY COURSEWORK

In your group film the discussion of the following points:

PLANNING

How well you managed to plan your storyboards, scripts and how you managed actors, location and props;

Did you encounter any problems at various stages with theses? Did you make any changes to your original plans? Why? How did you overcome any difficulties?

FILMING

What was successful in your filming?

Did you use a variety of shots? What were you trying to achieve with certain shots and why do you think your choice of shot mattered?

How well do you feel you are framing shots, positioning subject, using camera techniques?

Continuity successes and difficulties?

Did you observe the 180 degree rule?

How did you manage lighting, sound, mise en scene?

EDITING
How did you manage continuity using editing software?

Did you encounter any problems in the editing stages of your production?

What new processes/techniques have you learned using new software and how has the use of software enhanced your production?

What successes and difficulties have you experienced during editing?

WHAT ARE THE KEY LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNED THAT WILL ENSURE SUCCESS IN YOUR MAIN PIECE?

Edit evaluation and upload to Youtube. Embed evaluation and preliminary onto your group blog.

CLASS AND STATUS ANALYSIS

HOW IS THE REPRESENTATION OF CLASS AND STATUS CONSTRUCTED IN THIS CLIP FROM MERLIN?

CLICK HERE FOR LINK

NOTE:

• Take on board last week's task feedback - editing and sound still a priority.
• Look at your own personal feedback.

DUE MONDAY 28TH DEC

REPRESENTATION OF AGE - GENERAL FEEDBACK

A great effort all round. Clear evidence that advice is being taken onboard from last week's feedback.

Class Av to date: 70%

• Everyone has either equalled or bettered their previous result.
• More people using a short, brief intro to keep themselves focused.
• Overall, students were on task.
• Wider contextual views of a particular group is beginning to creep in - ie is the representation stereotypical? Are society's views met? etc.

Areas for continued focus:

• Editing and sound still not sufficiently discussed in a number of papers - this must remain on the priority list of issues to address.
• Continue to push representation in relation to how society views a particular group of people - ie typical? etc
• Push analysis even more through stronger use of adjectives ie 'the grandmother is presented in a typical fashion here in that she is caring, concerned and genuinely distressed over the fact that Amy has disappeared'.
• Be careful that in the madness of it all, terminology doesn't fall by the way side which happened in a few papers.

Ensure you look at your feedback notes throughout your essay and also at the end - this will help you avoid making the same mistakes twice. Anything you don't understand or agree with, always see me for clarification.

Keep up the great work!

Miss Hunter

AGE REPRESENTATION JAN 09 PPQ

'How is the representation of age constructed in this extract?'

CLICK HERE FOR LINK

DUE MONDAY 21ST

ETHNICITY FEEDBACK NOV 2011

Overall, a solid effort for the most part on a difficult task.

More of a focus on sound and editing was evident.

A few points to note to help with the next task:

• Where possible, give a short (a few lines) of an intro to state your overall position. You DON'T have to make an official statement saying 'ethnic minorities in this clip are always...' or 'women in this clip are constantly painted as...' but a more general statement such as 'for the most part...' or 'overall...' or even 'the representations of various ethnic groups change throughout this clip...' - even though this isn't a definitive position, it is a position nonetheless. Some essays are too disjointed and read as though you aren't entirely sure about classification at all.

• Remember the key word - REPRESENTATION. You should be using the phrase 'this group are represented as being...' a few times.

• You MUST consider the society in which we live and bring what you know about representations into it. Is a particular group painted in a stereotypical light? Or are they presented as being completely different to how we might normally perceive them? If so, why?

ETHNICITY TASK - DUE MONDAY IN BOTH FORMATS

EXAM PRACTICE

'ANALYSE HOW ETHNICITY IS REPRESENTED IN THE HOTEL BABYLON EXTRACT'

REMEMBER:

* ENSURE ALL AREAS ARE COVERED - SOUND AND EDITING FELL A LITTLE SHORT IN OCTOBER ASSESSMENT.

* ENSURE TERMINOLOGY IS USED AND IS ACCURATE - IF UNSURE, CHECK TERMS ON YOUR BLOG.

* LOOK OVER WHOLE CLASS FEEDBACK AND INDIVIDUAL FEEDBACK FROM OCTOBER ASSESSMENT - BUILD ON STRENGTHS AND ENSURE SAME ERRORS DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

* NO EXCUSE FOR THIS BEING UNDERDEVELOPED - YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE CLIP OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME; IF YOU CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING TO SAY FOR PARTICULAR AREA, LOOK AT YOUR GLOSSARY AGAIN - I GUARANTEE THIS WILL JOG YOUR MEMORY.

DUE MONDAY IN BOTH FORMATS PLEASE

AS ALWAYS, ANY PROBLEMS COME AND SEE ME AND I'LL GO OVER IT WITH YOU.

HANDY EDITING DOCUMENT

CLICK http://www.slideshare.net/raybloggs/glossary-of-editing-terms-for-television-drama FOR HANDY EDITING POINT OF REFERENCE DOCUMENT

SELF EVALUATION OF OCT ASSESSMENT

Complete the following tasks:

• 1 paragraph evaluation how you did - pleased? Not pleased? What area(s) do you need to work on? Specifically state how you can rectify this/these problems.

• Analyse the area of sound with regard to representation of gender in the Primeval clip. Minimum 6 separate examples each with terminology and specifically linked and detailed analysis. No generic statements please!

• Analyse editing in the same fashion as above (same minimum number of examples)

DUE THE FIRST MONDAY BACK AFTER THE HALLOWEEN BREAK.

CLICK HERE FOR PRIMEVAL EXTRACT

EXAM FEEDBACK - WHOLE CLASS

• Class Av = 65%

Strengths

• excellent range of examples
• revision evident
• sound use of technical terminology
• analysis is developing - everyone avoided the 'shopping list' essay.
• good links back to task. A few areas drifted off but overall, good.

Areas for improvement

• Occasional confusion of terms - eg jump cuts
• Editing and sound underdeveloped
• Analysis needs to be pushed more still - keep linking and comment on micro elements.
• Don't forget about composition eg depth of field, framing etc. Look over notes again.

REMEMBER!

• 'Analysis is contextual rather than universal in value' - eg red could suggest passion, but could suggest power, anger etc. All depends on what's happening on screen.
• Representation is all about how the makers/producers want these characters and situations to be perceived.
• Some are analysing areas separately, but if doing it all at the same time, you must be strict and ensure all areas are dealt with sufficiently.

GENDER REPRESENTATION - PPQ

JUNE 2009 PAST PAPER QUESTION - DR WHO EXTRACT

rathmoremedia10: Gender Representation: (June09)

Discuss the ways the extract constructs the representation of Gender using the following: -

camera shots, angles, movement and composition

editing

sound

mise en scene

EDITING AND SOUND FEEDBACK

Feedback for Editing parts 1 and 2 as well as Sound work is on everyone's blogs now (apologies for the hold up with editing). Feedback is either at very start or end of the specific section, depending on how your blog is designed.

General whole class feedback:

STRENGTHS

• Overall quality definitely on the up.
• Great definitions
• Some excellent examples (even of the tricky ones)
• More students now beginning to analyse the specific clip and comment on effect/impact on audience.

AREAS TO WORK ON

• A handful of people still submitting incomplete work with no reason given on or after deadline (I will speak individually to these students)
• Analysis still needs developing - eg commenting that in this clip, the use of fade allows 1 person to gradually disappear and another appear is correct, but doesn't go so far as to say why this technique has been used.
• Make sure your definitions make sense to YOU. I know all definitions have, understandably so, been taken from the internet, but where possible, avoid copying and pasting everything word for word - this could cause problems come revision time.

Any problems or queries with your feedback, please ask for help to avoid any confusion.

Miss Hunter

MISE EN SCENE

From the French 'putting on a play'.

It's all about production value!

Produce definitions/examples/analysis for the following: (a few obvious ones will be definition only)

• Production Design

* Location

* Studio

*Set design

*Costume and make up

*Properties

• Lighting

* Colour design

EDITING AND SOUND ANALYSIS

TASK

In groups, watch the 'Hotel Babylon' clip from last week again.

Viewing 1: note down any sounds you hear AND the type of sound technique used (technical terms please)

Viewing 2: look at editing decisions during those clips noted above - what ones are used (technical terms please).

As a group, discuss if you can you draw any parallels/links?

*The key here is to think - why this sound with this editing/why this editing with this sound?

**Approx 4 sufficiently analytical points will be fine.

QUICK RECAP - MISS HUNTER'S LESSONS

What has been covered?

• Camera shot types/movement/composition (1)
• definitions, examples and brief analysis (individual and group)

• Editing (2)
• definitions, examples and brief analysis (individual and group)

• Sound (3)
• - definitions, examples and brief analysis.

Where next?

• Sound and editing analysis combined
• Mise en scene (4) - definitions, examples and brief analysis.

Then...

Knowledge of all 4 areas will be combined by completing past paper questions on the following topics:

• Gender representation (October Continuous Assessment - 2 lessons)
• Ethnicity representation
• Age representation
• Class/social status representation
• Regional identity representation
• Sexuality representation
• Ability/disability representation

Before each task is set:

• We will discuss the specific topic and any issues surrounding it.
• I will put a sample essay answer onto the teacher blog (obviously analysing a different clip than you will be completing your essay on!) so you can see how to structure it, what level of analysis is required etc.

Remember: The exam is worth 50% of your AS .

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Hi all,

I came across this website which has some interesting articles on various issues and developments in the music industry of late. musicindustryreport.org. Isn't all relevant but there might be the odd piece which could be of use to you.

NB REMEMBER! SOUND WORK DUE WEDNESDAY.

SOUND

Complete definitions/examples/analysis of the following. You may double up on some examples if needs be.

Diegetic sound
Non degetic sound
Synchronous sound
Asynchronous sound
Sound effects
Sound motif
Sound bridge
Dialogue
Voiceover
Mode of address/direct address
Sound mixing
Sound perspective

Sound tracks
· Score
· Incidental music
· Themes and stings
· Ambient sound

To be completed for next Wednesday.

ANALYSIS PRACTICE

Click here to access link and scroll down to 'Ethnicity'.http://beauchampcollegemedia.com/2011/04/06/tv-drama-and-representation-videos

Before we move away from shot types/movement/editing and onto sound etc, it's important to ensure you are all beginning to analyse the representation of a particular group in a specific clip, and not drifting into generic analysis which could apply to many examples.

Task for today - group work.

• The whole class will watch an OCR exam style example of an extract from Hotel Babylon.
• In groups, you will discuss how 'Ethnicity' is represented.
• Each group will be discussing either camera movement/shot type OR editing.
• Feedback on the task will be during the double on Thursday.

*Although it's only September, this is good exam practice and you need to start to build up your analytical skills before we move onto other areas.

TV DRAMA WEBSITE

Although some articles/clips aren't recent, there's still some good stuff on this website for TV drama. Click here to access it.

test

The Music Industry

25% of your overall mark will be an essay based on the Music Industry and you should be prepared to demonstrate understanding of contemporary institutional processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange/exhibition at a local, national or international level as well as British audiences’ reception and consumption. There should also be some emphasis on the students’ own experiences of being audiences of a particular medium.

What I want you to start now is a record on your blogs of your own experiences and consumption of music to include:

How you obtain your music

How you watch/listen to your music in different environments

How you store and organise your music

How you engage with the artists you like

How you support the artists you like

What would encourage/discourage you to buy music from a band

How your consumption is similar/different from peers and family

Does the possibility of legal action/internet disconnection ever worry you?

Do the people who pay for broadband know how you access your music?

I also want you to keep a record of the new challenges and developments within the Music Industry that i have been posting on Twitter

Imovie 11 tips and tricks

By this stage you should be becoming familiar with at leas the basics of iMovie 11.

There are significant changes from the 09 versions including storyboards etc.

Please post your findings of how to use iMovie on your blogs, from the basic to the advances techniques.

Thanks to Adam for this video:

Click here for Corrie tram crash. Great range of shot types/movements/angles/transitions.

Click here to download a really useful link

A very handy document! Covers lots of areas.

EDITING PART 2

OTHER TRANSITIONS

* Remember: keep the narrative in mind. What do these techniques do to the narrative/story? Is it altered? Taken in a different direction? Is the representation of characters or situations effected?

Complete definition/example/analysis of the following:

• Dissolve
• Fade in
• Fade out
• Wipe
• Superimposition
• Long take
• Short take
• Slow motion
• Ellipsis and expansion of time
• Post production (definition only)
• Visual effects

Hi all,

Feedback should now appear on blogs at the last comment point before editing work begins. Any areas which I've flagged up as needing attention or are simply missing, need to be fixed asap. Remember it's your responsibility to check you haven't accidentally missed anything out.

** ALL MISSING AREAS/OMITTED TASKS TO BE UP TO DATE BY END OF THE WEEK.

On a separate note, blogs are visually looking great - very impressive! Miss Hunter.

180 DEGREE RULE

This schematic shows the axis between two characters and the 180° arc on which cameras may be positioned (green). When cutting from the green arc to the red arc, the characters switch places on the screen.

In filmmaking, the 180° rule is a basic guideline that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is calledcrossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle.

In the example of a dialogue between two actors, if Owen (orange shirt in the diagram) is on the left and Bob (blue shirt) is on the right, then Owen should be facing right at all times, even when Bob is off the edge of the frame, and Bob should always be facing left. Shifting to the other side of the characters on a cut, so that Bob is now on the left side and Owen is on the right, will disorient the viewer, and break the flow of the scene.

In the example of an action scene, such as a car chase, if a vehicle leaves the right side of the frame in one shot, it should enter from the left side of the frame in the next shot. Leaving from the right and entering from the right will create a similar sense of disorientation as in the dialogue example.

An example of sustained use of the 180 degree rule occurs throughout much of The Big Parade, a 1925 drama about World War I directed by King Vidor. In the sequences leading up to the battle scenes, the American forces (arriving from the west) are always shown marching from left to right across the screen, while the German troops (arriving from the east) are always shown marching from right to left. After the battle scenes, when the weary troops are staggering homeward, the Americans are always shown crossing the screen from right to left (moving west) and the Germans from left to right (moving east). The audience's viewpoint is therefore always from a consistent position, in this case southward of the action.

EDITING

EDITING AND REPRESENTATION As a technical code, editing is primarily related to narrative, and many students struggle to make connections between editing and representation. They see how camera-work such as close-ups and low angles conveys status and emotion to the audience. The use of costume, props and settings as functions of mise en scene are also pretty transparent to most students. But what does match-on-action have to do with character or representation? This list is designed to help you to start thinking about how editing can, if sometimes subtly, influence the audience’s reading of a character, and lead on to wider questions of representation. It is not an exhaustive list, and you should be wary of assuming these suggestions are either a) complete or b) foolproof - in the same way that black and white don’t always represent good and evil (just ask a penguin). The role of editing in representation is open to interpretation, and is greatly dependent on context. So use your intelligence!

Tasks:

1. What is meant by transition of image and sound?
2. Explain in your own words, why editing is so important.
3. Find definition, examples and include brief analysis of the following types of cuts -

shot/reverse shot

eyeline match

graphic match

action match

jump cut

corsscutting

parallel editing

cutaway

insert

**HINT - I advise finding definitions of all first, then you might be able to find a few examples in one go.

COMPOSITION

Find definitions and examples of the following, including analysis of why the technique is used.

• Framing
• Rule of thirds
• Depth of field (deep and shallow focus)
• Focus pulls

* To be completed for Thursday

** Individual feedback of your work to date will be posted on your blog over the next few days.

* Remember - definitions, examples and analysis of shot types and movement to be done by Tuesday. Any problems, ask for help.

Battleship Potemkin and Citizen Kane - 2 great films for excellent examples of shot types and camera movement.

Some British TV Dramas

Some good ones worth looking at are (marked with an asterisk means they're past papers):

Ashes to Ashes

The Bill

Casualty

Cold Feet

Spooks

Dr Who*

Downton Abbey

Bleak House

Hotel Babylon*

Merlin*

Primeval*

Inspector Morse

Jonathan Creek

The Knock

Life on Mars

Luther

Midsomer Murders

Monarch of the Glen *

Prime Suspect

Rebus

Robin Hood

Sleepers

Torchwood

Waking the Dead

Camera Angles & Movement

Please find definitions, clips and analysis of the following:

Angles:

High angle

Canted angle

Low angle

Movement:

Pan

Tilt

Track

dolly (equipment)

crane

Steadicam

Handheld

Zoom

Reverse Zoom

Camera Shots

Hi folks, your first bit of work will be to find definitions of the following shot types and put the definition into your own words. You will then find a clip of film (preferably from British TV Drama) on youtube and embed it on your blog below the definition. You will below this write why you think the shot has been used/the effect it has on who is being filmed.

Extreme Long Shot
Close Up,
Medium Shot
Long shot
Mid shot
Wide shot
Two shot
Aerial shot
Point of view shot
Over the shoulder shot

Internet Use

It is forbidden to access any unsuitable sites using the school internet. (Adult sites, social networking sites, inappropriate humour sites). The internet in Media is a privilege and can be revoked at any time. Inappropriate use will lead to severe sanction. You have been warned.

You will be assigned your own computer and you are responsible for this machine.

You must not delete your history from your machine, attempting to do so will result in sanction.

The internet is used mostly for research, blogging and video (browsing, uploading etc).

BLOGGING!

1.These blogs & twitter accounts are solely for the purposes of your Media Studies A-level and should be treated accordingly.

2.Language should always be used appropriately.

3.Please play fair when commenting on the work and ideas of others

4.Don't share this blog publicly, it is only for me and the class to use and comment on. Ensure that your blog is set to private and that you invite only myself and your classmates as followers.

5.Do not link or post up offensive or unsuitable pictures or videos- this will be severely dealt with by the school

6.Please ensure that your blog has no personal information, details or photographs of you

Happy blogging everyone!!

Welcome!

A very warm welcome to our new Lower Sixth Media class, hope you enjoy the course!