MEDIA STUDIES AS LEVEL 2012, FOUNDATION PORTFOLIO, MAIN TASK

THE EVALUATION

Marks for your Foundation Portfolio coursework are distributed as follows :-

Product
Opening to thriller Research and Planning Evaluation
( (posted on blog)
60 20 20

• Foundation portfolio Product (Film opening) – Final editing deadline: Friday 23rd March

• Research and Planning are ongoing (and you should continue to improve content over Easter)

You now need to start your individual Evaluation

Draft deadline: Friday 30th March (5 days from when sat)
Final deadline: Friday 20th April

An evaluation must be completed by every student individually in the group, and must be on the blog by the final deadline: April 20th.

Make your own copy of your product before the end of term so that you can make precise references to shots in the sequence. You will need to supply your own blank dvd for this.

In order to acquire audience feedback (essential for your own evaluation), you must upload your final film to youtube (use our account – ask Andy or Ollie). You could also use Facebook, Twitter or similar. When you have done this, put a link on your blog.

Format for the Evaluation:

The exam board states that the evaluation must address the questions appearing below. There is no word count specified. Ensure that your answers address each of the questions fully.

The evaluation must not be written as an essay. The examiners are looking for a creative and visually interesting submission. You will have a number of questions to answer, and for each, you will have to present your answer in a different format – however, it will all be accessed through your blog.

In addition, you will need to demonstrate informative and analytical discussion which uses media terminology and answers questions in full.

The questions that must be addressed are as follows:-

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Demonstrate that you understand the conventions of a thriller, and use terms to explain this. Discuss how this can be applied to your product.

You should make reference to both your own film and actual thrillers in your answer.

You need to explain how your product uses those conventions and forms of a thriller film, and how you have tried to do something unique and different.
If you have had any feedback from members of the target audience (eg through youtube), then you should incorporate comments as supporting evidence.

FORMAT

Present this in the same way as “The Art of the Title” 9 frame sequence. Choose any 9 shots from your film opening. For each, apply the conventions of thriller, the aim being to clearly demonstrate that you understand the conventions of thriller. You should be looking to apply concepts such as :- enigma, restricted and unrestricted narration, iconography, protagonist & antagonist, binary oppositions, use of camera, sound, & editing, typical elements of mise en scene (the 11 areas, and specifics within them eg low key lighting), use of typical themes and issues, and how the 3 stages of narrative





2.How does your media product represent particular social groups?

‘Social groups’ refers to the types of social groups your characters belong to; for example, their gender, age, social class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.’

Here, you need to consider the same questions on representation as you are going to use to frame your work on representation in TV Drama. For example, you need to ask who is being represented by your product (Gender? Age? Ethnicity etc)?

Be sensible about this, and focus on the main characters in your product. You then need to ask How they are represented? Here you need to analyse the representation of your types of characters in terms of the use of technical codes (eg camera, mise en scene, editing, sound).

You should consider whether these are positive or negative representations (ie stereotypes) of this social group, and how this is achieved.

You might also discuss who has the power or higher status in your film opening. Is this more in line with traditional or modern representations of the types of people you have chosen to represent?

Next you need to ask Why? Here you need to explain why you have represented a particular character (eg a woman) in this way. Perhaps you wanted to create empathy with the audience, or perhaps you wanted to indicate that he/she is an antagonist? You may need to link this to the conventions of a thriller, but you must explain clearly your rationale for creating the characters this way.

You will need to specify who your audience is for the product, and why you think the characters help to target this audience. Perhaps your representation fits in with standard stereotypes? If so, you will need to discuss why this is, and explain why you did this. Do not simply describe what kind of person your character is: description is not textual analysis, and will not achieve a pass grade!

Use material from your work and real media products throughout.

FORMAT

Standard Blog Format – lots of visuals - still images and screengrabs, embedded moving image and hyperlinks. All text should be written as precise bullet point responses and clearly structured around sub titles.

3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Here you need to consider the distribution route for your product. You will receive some teaching on this SOON, so do not attempt to write this section until you have received specific teaching on this issue. Use links and visuals here to illustrate where possible.

FORMAT

Standard Blog Format – lots of visuals - still images and screengrabs, embedded moving image and hyperlinks. All text should be written as precise bullet point responses and clearly structured around sub titles.


4. Who would be the audience for your media product?

Your audience must be clearly stated, in terms of gender and age. You should also suggest which other real thriller films your audience has enjoyed (try to find evidence of this). Normal age categories include 11-17, 18- 35, 18-45 or 35-55.

FORMAT

Standard Blog Format – lots of visuals - still images and screengrabs, embedded moving image and hyperlinks. All text should be written as precise bullet point responses and clearly structured around sub titles.


5. How did you attract/address your audience?

Here you need to explain why your audience would enjoy your film. Select detail from your film to support your answer, including material on, for example, the story told through the narrative, the use of camera, the use of mise en scene, the use of character, the reference to certain themes or issues, and the use of sound.

Standard Blog Format – lots of visuals - still images and screengrabs, embedded moving image and hyperlinks. All text should be written as precise bullet point responses and clearly structured around sub titles.


6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Here you need to consider all of the technology you used for this main task. You could include images of you using some of the equipment. what have you learnt about the camera (methods, procedures etc), and what you learnt about using the editing software (image, sound & titling). Be honest and discuss difficulties that you had and how you overcame these. Again illustrate with imagery.




FORMAT

You will need to upload a film of yourself discussing this OR upload a sound commentary of your discussion


7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the full product?

Here you need to explain how you think you have progressed from the preliminary task to the main task. You should discuss your development of technical skills – the use of camera, sound editing, vision editing, your use of continuity editing (if this has improved!), your construction of character and story. Again, use screen grabs and make cross refs to earlier blog entries).


FORMAT

Again, present this in the form of the 9 frame sequence used by “ART OF THE TITLE”












If you need help with uploading anything to the blog/youtube, see Andy or Olie



Work to be done in own time – No lessons are allocated to this.


DRAFT EVALUATION DEADLINE – POST TO BLOG – Friday 30 March
Failure to post your draft evaluation, without prior discussion and agreement by your supervisor results in zero feedback.


You will receive your feedback from Monday, April 16th. You then have 4-5 days in which to make adjustments/incorporate the feedback.


FINAL DEADLINE for evaluation and entire portfolio:
Friday 20th April.

The evaluation.

You should now all have a copy of the evaluation. Copies are available on Moodle.

You have a draft deadline for this. If you meet this deadline we will give you feedback to help you improve. Please appreciate that this will be critical feedback - the purpose being solely to help you improve.

Draft deadline (5 days from when it was set)

AS -2 - Set on Thursday , so 2nd April.
AS-7 - Set on Wednesday, so 1st April.

What ever is submitted, I will comment upon. You can get your feedback returned from Monday 16th April.

Remember, it must have the feel of a multi media format.

The fianl deadline will be Friday April 20th.

Adding Film titles and credits.

This will form part of your opening sequence and will need to be incorporated. If you are to do this, you can't do it cold and therefore need to do some research. Therefore :-


On your blog, you should now post a discussion of 3 title sequences of your own choice - try to use thrillers from either TV Drama or Film. Ensure that you consider how the film title, graphics, music, and placement, all work in the overall construction of the sequence. Do they contribute anything to the meaning about character, mood, atmosphere or any aspect of narrative.

http://www.artofthetitle.com/A very useful site for looking at title and credit ideas.

A useful short YOUTUBE interview with title designers another useful link

Do NOT simply reproduce an analysis of those that we have covered in class.

Waiting to film and further planning

You may now be in a position where you have secured permission to film, but are waiting to film. What should you be doing in the meantime?

1. Experiment - consider some of the more complex sequences that you want to film and rehearse them or experiment with particular camera techniques like Slow Mo, Focus Pulling , Tracking, lighting etc. Film your efforts. Post them.
2. Make up any key props that you require - newspapers front pages etc. Secure particular costumes etc.
3. Make sure that you have blogged all your permissions and risk assessments.
Research into films/dramas that have used particular props or sequences that you intend to use and see how they have been filmed. Can you pick up useful tips from these?

If you want to film during Media lesson time

This is OK. The best period to use is your double period. If this is preceeded by a lunchtime or a P4 on which you are all free, even better.

The procedure for this is simple :-

1. E mail BOTH your media teachers on the day that you plan to film.
2. If you are already in college, sign out in the normal way and say what you are doing and where you are going.
3. We will then record you as a C as oppoesed to a 0 - so your attendnace is unaffected.
4. Make sure that you booked out your equipemnt in advance.
5. Make sure your risk assessments are in place.

This will not be permissable after the 9th March.

Just ensure that you follow the procedure

Feedback on deadline one

As with the first deadline, any missed deadlines or very incomplete offerings will again be cause for concerned. If you have a small number of gaps still to fill, you can always edit your posts.

Those groups that I am most concerned by are:-

Ella, Jo and Tegan - very little posted for deadline

Josh, Dan, Anna and Joe - ony original ideas posted - these have changed and need to see what these are.

Shay, Dan and Jordan - a second deadline missed. Not good for your overall R & p mark. Have you really progressed no further than this?

Jonah, Tommy, Sascha and Alicia - Getting behind - no storyboard.

Charlie, Rhian and Colette - same, no storyboard. Absences by group members is a concern.

Dani, Danielle and Charlotte - consider your format - again, no storyboard.

Maddie, Matt and Tom - No storyboard

Marlon, Dani, Aimee and Kieren - No storyboard. Absences by group memebrs starting to concern me.

You will all recieve cause for concerns on your ILPs. You must keep up. Some groups have alreay filmed and are now editing! Why? Becuase they made the time and were prepared to go that extra yard!

Congratulations to :-

Harrison, Carla, Izzy and James

James, Jason, Dan and Curtis

.... for particularly good postings.

Storyboards and animatics

Part of the deadline is to submit a storyboard. Normally a storyboard will have a whole range of information about the particular shot. If you are using POST ITs it is possible that some of this has nbeen left off. Therefore, you need to have two versions of your animatic.






Version one - drawn SB tiles of all the shots you expect to film - this includes things like Match on Actions and Shot Reverse Shots. This does not require a voice over - each shot reflects the length of the actual shot/take you intend to use and if you frame it accurately, it will be clear what the shot distance is.

Version two, can be longer and should have a voice over expalining what is taking place in each shot and other important info about angles, movement etc. that are normally documented on a storyboard like the example above

Review Day

Use Review day sensibly. You will have to come in anyway, so as well as seeing all your teachers, try to organise it so that your group can meet up for some quality time to organise and plan your film opening at some point during the day.

Filming over half term

will only be allowed to film over half term if you get permission to do so from your supervisor. This will be based on seeing your completed storyboard and evidence of permissions if filming in particular locations.

Addition to deadline two - evidence your permissions

Please consider how you will evidence that you have permission to film in particular locations. You can post letters, screengrabs of text messages, video of conversations or someone giving you consent to film. Be creative!

Deadline Two - Pre- Production planning - Feb 10th.

What you need to do!

A completed storyboard for the entire opening (preferably having used ‘post it’s), including initial ideas about title placing.
This needs to be made into an animatic of approximately the same length as the final film will be (shots to be timed carefully) with a voice-over explanation and embedded onto the blog.

Also:
- a synopsis for the whole film narrative from which this will be the opening
- the script for any dialogue,
- list of roles (see pre-production planning advice)
- images of locations and decisions about locations,
- prop research and justification in terms of character and story
- health and safety, including risk assessments for filming and use of equipment.
- lighting decisions.
Blog Heading “Pre-Production Planning”(clearly label which group member has taken responsibility for each of the various posts).

Again, consider blog format – images, text, screen grabs, embedded video, hyperlinks, etc

If you want to film over half term, this needs to be handed in earlier in order that we can check it through and grant permission.

Deadline - Friday 10th February

Feedback for Deadline one

is on your blog - look under comments.
Those who have failed to do the task will be cause for concerned. those that are only partially complete, you have till end of Wednesday or you are also cause for Concerned

Deadline One - clerly name your posts

Each group member has to do 5 posts - please make sure these are clearly named - it should be absolutely clear whose work has been posted.

Deadline one - Foundation Portfolio

Deadline One – Initial research

What - Each group member must post research findings on at least 5 thriller openings onto the group blog. It’s up to you to find these thriller films independently. Explain HOW film language has been used to construct meaning and mood appropriate for a thriller text. Make at least two references to each of the 4 areas of editing, camerawork, mise en scene and sound, using appropriate terms for each.

Comment on why this works as an opening to a thriller (consider conventions for film openings of this genre)

Comment on its narrative structure.


How – remember this is a blog posting – use bullet points, embed video, links, screen grab imagery from the opening, clear sub headings – it must be easy to follow.

Clearly headed “Research task” by (Your Name) and tagged. All individual members of the group need to complete this.

Deadline – Friday 27th January, midnight

Finding thriller openings for deadline one

You will need to use your initiative here a little. Possible sources are :-

1. College Library
2 Ask your media teacher if you can watch any from our department library during free periods
3 YouTube - Part one of thrillers
4 You are likely to have access to some thrillers at home.

REMEMBER - do not use Thriller Trailers (that is something completely different)

Rememeber - we expect more than just an embeded video and some some structured notes. Import screen grabs to illustrate key points.

Deadline ONE - Friday 27th January

Each group member to post 5 thriller openings.

Plan your posts - don't just write - consider how to incorporate screen grabs that illustrate key thriller conventions and try to comment on all 4 areas. Structure the post clearly as well.

Use vocabulary and key terms throughout

Lighting Homework

You have been set this with a deadline. The task is on Moodle under "Homework 6" in the Textual analysis section. Complete this a s a group and you can undertake this in college for convenience. It has to be uploaded to the group blog - it will count as both a homework mark and towards your research and planning grade for the Foundation Portfolio. Remember that the purpose of this is that Low Key Lighting is likely to form an important part in your opening!

Feedback

My feedback on your prelim task is now posted as a comment on your blog, probably in the post with your uploaded completed film.

Final deadline for Preliminary task

Final deadline is Friday 13th January. (Block 6 have an extension to Mondat 16th Jan).

For the deadline you will need to have

1. File the final version of your moving image piece to the correct folder on the network. This is to be found at Preliminary/Completed Work/ Block ?/ Your full names.

2. Complete your Blog Posts. Rememebr what makes good practice. You neeed to have defined the three terms as well as documenting all planning decisions, Mise en scene planning, Evidence of filming and editing.

3. Upload your film to your blog.

4. Publish a new post with a heading only of "Teacher feedback on Preliminary task". Your supervisor will then write up an evaluation of your prelim task for you to read.