Merry Christmas Everyone!

Enjoy the holidays and we'll see you back in class on Tuesday January 5th 2016!

Mock Examination Revision

Section A – TV DRAMA – 60 MARKS 

You will be allowed two minutes to read the question for Section A before the extract is screened. The extract will only be screened twice, therefore must ensure that you have watched it several times before the examination to familiarise yourself with it. 

• First screening: watch the extract; and make notes 
• There will be a brief break for note-making. 
• Second screening: watch the extract; and make notes 
• There will be a brief break for note-making after second screenings 

You must write your notes for Section A in the Answer Booklet provided. Rule a diagonal line through your notes when you are finished. 

You should answer the question with detailed reference to specific examples from the extract only. 

The question asked will be:

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of ________ using the following: 

Camera shots, angle, movement and composition 

• Shots: establishing shot, master shot, close-up, mid-shot, long shot, wide shot, two-shot, aerial shot, point of view shot, over the shoulder shot, and variations of these. 
• Angle: high angle, low angle, canted angle. 
• Movement: pan, tilt, track, dolly, crane, steadicam, hand-held, zoom, reverse zoom. 
• Composition: framing, rule of thirds, depth of field – deep and shallow focus, focus pulls. 

Editing 

• Includes transition of image and sound – continuity and non-continuity systems. 
• Cutting: shot/reverse shot, eyeline match, graphic match, action match, jump cut, crosscutting, parallel editing, cutaway; insert. 
• Other transitions, dissolve, fade-in, fade-out, wipe, superimposition, long take, short take, slow motion, ellipsis and expansion of time, post-production, visual effects. 

Sound 

• Diegetic and non-diegetic sound; synchronous/asynchronous sound; sound effects; sound motif, sound bridge, dialogue, voiceover, mode of address/direct address, sound mixing, sound perspective.
• Soundtrack: score, incidental music, themes and stings, ambient sound. 

Mise-en-scene 

• Production design: location, studio, set design, costume and make-up, properties. 
• Lighting; colour design. 

The blank space in the question with be replaced with one of the following: Gender, Age, Ethnicity, Sexuality, Class and status, Physical ability/disability, Regional identity

Section B – EVALUATION MAIN TASK - 40 MARKS

In this section you will be asked to explore and discuss the following questions relating to your main task (opening sequence):  target audience and media institution to use for distribution

Main task: The group work commences!

As group you will need to decided your job roles and upcoming tasks

Job roles  

Camera (actual filming)

Lighting and Sound with Additional Research (sound is crucial and many student films fail on this, it is not simply executed at the editing stage - think about sound levels, dialogue pick up, choice of diegetic sound....).

Editor (group contributions but he/she will physically edit)

Scriptwriter/Researcher/Director (artistic control, mise-en-scene, decision making, key organisational roles).

First meeting

In groups call a meeting

• Identify Roles and Responsibilities (ownership of the film)
• Analyse the Script and Storyboard (all become familiar)
• Discuss additional ideas
• Exchange mobile numbers (in case of absence)
• Organise a Production Schedule (Call Sheets available)
• Consider Storyboarding more of the film (not marked)
• Have back up plans (weather/student absence.......). 

Remember to date your meeting and to take detailed notes to ensure your planning process is documented. 

Script help

Now it's time to write the script for your opening sequence, please use the guide provided to help you. 

Script/Screenplan help guide from CoombeMedia1

Storyboards

Storyboard at least 15 frames with full audio and video instructions including editing, timings of shot (duration), lighting, colour, sound, framing, camera angle, camera movement and elements of the mise-en-scene.

THERE MUST BE EVIDENCE OF NARRATIVE CONTINUITY AND GENRE CONVENTIONS.

You can use the link below to download the storyboard.

 

Storyboard template from CoombeMedia1

This is an example of a filled out storyboard: 

Skating storyboard from CoombeMedia1

Script & Storyboard

On Thursday you will begin to individually Script and Storyboard the titles and opening sequence for a new film for your RESEARCH and Planning PORTFOLIO. The planning will only cover a maximum of two minutes.

Once you have completed your script, you will decide as a group which script will be filmed. 

Inspiration for Main task: Film opening

Evaluating feedback and individual involvement

Using 300-400 words 

Summarise the feedback received from the focus group and and evaluate your own contribution in the project using WWW/ EBI (What Went Well and Even Better If)

Discuss: 

• Skills used/developed during the process (pre-production, production and post-production)  
• Strengths of the final product (include feedback)
• Improvements identified/needed to the final project (include feedback)
• Impact of exercise (before embarking on the main task)    

Submit by October 7th

Feedback session for preliminary task

Thursday's lesson you will show your film to the class. You all need to take notes on the feedback you receive ahead of the main task – you will be working in the same groups. 

It is your job to ensure you receive quality feedback. As a group, you could ask questions to the focus group to ensure you receive feedback on the following: 

• The dialogue used
• Match on Action example
• Use of Shot/Reverse Shot
• Use of 180 degree rule of narrative continuity
• Representation of characters featured
• Genre conventions followed
• Sound e.g diagetic/non-diagetic, synchronous/asynchronous etc.. 
• Framing used e.g. range of shot sizes, angles, camera movements, rule of thirds etc
• Editing: e.g. transitions, vfx, sfx, credits/text   
• Other improvements

After session: Summarise feedback received and evaluate project using WWW/EBI

(What Went Well and Even Better If)

RESEARCH PORTFOLIO Deadline October 20th

RESEARCH PORTFOLIO

(Minimum 600 words)

You now need to analyse two contemporary film openings (from the same genre you intend to use for your opening sequence) for your RESEARCH PORTFOLIO. Using PLENTY of screenshots (where possible) and include the following to your analysis:

Institutional factors

Production

For this section you should research when and for how long the film was in production. It is important to explore each stage of production (including pre and post). You could also explore which locations and/or studios were used during the making of the film. Do not forget to mention aspects of the post production stage as the editing of the film will have taken place in a separate studio. To enhance the analysis you could also explore the key personnel involved with the production.   

Funding

You should explore which companies were involved in the funding of the production and what the total sum of the production was. It is also interesting to compare this sum with the income that the film made at the box office.   

Distribution

Research the distribution company/ies involved in bringing this product to the masses, both nationally and internationally. You could also look at how it was distributed to the UK audience (using independent vs mainstream/multiplex cinemas).  

Audience and Audience Appeals

Who are the target audience for these two films and how have you come to that conclusion. For this section you could look at how the chosen films were accepted by the audience, e.g. compare box office figures with how critically acclaimed the films are (awards the film has been nominated for and/or won). You could also look at professional review scores online and general popularity figures to support your analysis.   

Genre Conventions

Most genres have elements that the audience expects as they have been used many times in previous films from their genre/subgenre. The genre conventions of a film in the horror genre are either to a dark isolated setting e.g. forest/abandoned building and/or tense building music. Use screen shots to show a range of genre conventions present in the extract. Ensure you cover a range of genre conventions covered e.g. portrayal of characters, environment and music used, framing techniques, editing techniques etc… If you are unsure which conventions are associated with your chosen film genre, there is something called Google which you can use…    
  

Narrative and form and style (use of technical and symbolic codes)

In this section of the analysis it is important to use as many screenshots as possible. Explore which framing (shots, angles and movement) and composition (rule of thirds or depth of field) techniques are used in the sequence and to which effect? Try to give three examples from each film. Analyse how the narrative works in the sequence, i.e. in what way is there continuity? What clues do we get from the opening sequence of film’s story? Are there any examples of match on action, shot/reverse shot or the 180-degree rule? If so, in which capacity? The text credits obviously play an important role in the sequence. Explore and show how they are introduced and in which order? Also comment on font style/colour used and positioning in the screen.

Issues of Representation

Which characters are we introduced to in the sequence and in which way? If there are no characters present, what do we see instead and why?  What are your first impressions of the characters introduced (general appearance and personality)? How do they speak to the audience? Which stereotypes would you use to try to describe them? How is the location of the sequence represented? What are your first thoughts on the environment? What association do you get?  

Filming/Uploading Preliminary Task

This week will be devoted to capturing and uploading the footage required for your AS Unit G321 Preliminary task. 

You need to undertake the following Continuity Task, in no more than groups of four to prepare you for the Main Task:

• Film and Edit a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character.
• Film and edit 2 or 3 lines of dialogue.
• Ensure there is Matchon Action.
• Include evidence of Shot/Reverse Shot.
• Ensure you have followed the 180 degree rule of narrative continuity.

Examples from other centres: 


New to editing: watch the tutorial: HOW TO USE ADOBE PRO 

Camera movements

Establishing shots

Camera Shots Overview

Framing

This slideshow includes information on camera shots and angles and camera movement. It also details composition rules, such as rule of thirds and depth of field. 

Textual analysis Introduction to Framing from CoombeMedia1

Introduction to G321

AS Media Studies: G321 foundation portfolio from CoombeMedia1

Research task Week 1

Research task week 1 from CoombeMedia1

Welcome to the course

OCR AS Media Studies from CoombeMedia1