Camera skills - scavenger hunt

ECU of leaves
A whip pan
Mugging to the camera
2-shot
Birds-eye-view
Happiness
Worm's-eye-view
Smoke/steam
Lips
Eyes
Blinking
An animal
Running water
Buttons
A light coming on
Shock zoom
Extreme long shot
Lens flare
A hand gesture
Misery
Tables
Jumping
Fear
Food
Still water
Bricks

Learning conversation - first year version

A learning conversation is a chance to catch up with your teacher at key points throughout the course, and to discuss anything that is going particularly well, or anything that might be concerning you.

Most importantly, you also set goals for the coming weeks. Having a goal helps with organisation, and allows you to become a more effective Media Studies student.

• What do you think has gone particularly well so far this year? What are your strengths?
• What is stopping you from achieving your goals? What threats might you face, (for example not enough time, lack of organisation, pressure from other subjects...)
• Identify 3 specific targets for yourself for the rest of this year. They can be both academic and organisational goals.
• What grade do you want to achieve in media studies?
• Do you have any suggestions about the course?
• Do you have any learning needs that you would like your teacher to know about? Don't fill this out, but this is something you will discuss with your teacher, so keep it in mind.

BFI Film Academy - apply before Friday!

The BFI Film Academy, run by the British Film Institute, gives students an experience planning, filming and editing a short film with the help of industry professionals.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your creative and technical skills, and to gain industry experience working alongside professional film makers.

The academy runs through 21st - 29th October, which is over the half term-holiday. The deadline is Friday 29th September, so act fast if you want to take advantage of this rare opportunity

For more information, and to apply online, please click here.

Advertising week one - QUICK QUIZ

1 – Define 'media'? 

   

2 – What is an hermeneutic code?

   

3 – What is the name of the theorist who discussed semiotic codes?

   

4 – Name 3 semiotic codes

   

5 – What is a binary opposition?

   

6 – What is the name of the theorist who devised binary oppositions?

   

7 – Define textual analysis

   

8 – What is mode of address?



9 – What does lexis refer to?

   

10 – What is the difference between rule of thirds and the Z-line?

   

11 – What does mise-en-scene mean?

   

12 – What is the difference between sans-serif and sans font type?

   

13 – What is one connotation of sans-serif font?

   

14 – What is the purpose of an advert?


BONUS


15 – Name every other person in the class

Examples of vintage cosmetic advertisments

Advertising and marketing set products

The following two print adverts and audio-visual advert are key texts for component one section A. It is essential that you know these images like the back of your hand!

Set product one - Tide print advert (1950s). Image Courtesy of The Advertising Archives. Click image to see in full resolution.

You can find higher resolution details from the Tide advert by clicking here!

Set product two - Wateraid - Claudia Sings Sunshine on a Rainy Day (2016). Click to view advert.

Set product three - Kiss of the Vampire film poster (1963). Everett Collection, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo. Click image to see in full resolution.

Examples of print adverts

The production workflow - how to use equipment

Step one: formatting your device

Before you do anything, you must delete the files which are already on the memory card. This process is called formatting. 

Formatting the Canon cameras

• Make sure your camera has a battery and an SD card inserted in the battery/SD card compartment
• Go to menu ---> scroll right to the first yellow spanner ---> select format ---> OK

OR

• Go to menu --->. show others ---> scroll down to manage media ---> media format ---> OK

Formatting the ZOOM mics

• Make sure the mic is OFF
• Hold down the 'BIN' button
• While still holding the 'BIN' button, switch on the mic by holding the 'POWER/HOLD' slider to 'POWER'
• Push the middle red 'RECORD' button at the 'FORMAT?' prompt

Step two: dumping (AKA backing up) your files

Dumping or back up is where you move files from the device onto the computer. Never skip this step, as if you try to import directly from your memory card, you will loose your project the second you move the device!

Dumping and importing audio-visual files from the Canon cameras

• Open the battery and SD card compartment and remove the SD card by gently pushing it
• Place the SD card in to the back of the computer
• If your terminal does not have an SD card slot, then use and SD to USB adaptor
• DO NOT CLICK AUTOPLAY OR IMPORT THE FILES. CLICK 'NO' TO ANY PROMPT THAT APPEARS
• Find the SD card, either on the desktop or in file manager
• Find your block folder on the computer
• Create a folder within this folder, and copy the entire contents of your SD card to this folder.
• Remove the SD card and put back into the camera case
• NEVER MOVE FILES AFTER THIS STEP. DOING SO WILL STOP PREMIER FROM BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THEM

Dumping and importing sound files from the ZOOM mics

• Turn off the mic
• Connect the mic to the USB port
• Push REC when the device says card
• DO NOT CLICK AUTOPLAY OR IMPORT THE FILES. CLICK 'NO' TO ANY PROMPT THAT APPEARS
• Find H1_SD (on the desktop) (or in file manager)
• Copy folder 1 to media/AS/induction/x block

Step three: importing video or audio footage to Premier Pro

Remember, importing files doesn't actually move anything, it just allows Premiere to 'work with' the raw footage. ONLY import files that are on the computer, in your own block, and are in a specially made folder that you will be able to access later on.

• From Premiere, hit CMD+I (CTRL+I if you're using Windows) 

OR

• Drag and drop the file into the timeline directly

Media 1st year induction project - suspense sequence

GOAL:  To plan, film and edit a 20-30 second sequence that establishes atmosphere and positions the audience in a suspenseful situation

Scenario choices

• Someone entering a lift
• Someone ascending a flight of stairs
• Someone waiting for something (what they are waiting for is not made clear)

Limitations

Your completed sequence must...

• Contain NO dialogue
• Include sound effects that  you have recorded yourself and NO music.
• Not rely on performance (facial expression, dramatic movements etc.) to create meaning
• Rely mainly on cinematography and editing techniques to create meaning
• Include at least 3 empty shots, 2 low angle shots, 2 high angle shots, and 3 extreme close ups.

Editing

You will discover that varying shot duration will impact the effect on the audience significantly. You may wish to edit your sequence like this:

               
How does shot duration affect  how a spectator responds to a sequence?

Cinematography

As you design your sequence, ask yourself the following questions:

How does distance impact on audience positioning?

How can you use the required shots in an interesting way?

Check out this post on cinematography for some examples of how to use shot types and camera angles

Music video production - pre-production tasks

Preparing for your individual role

Mise-en-scene (typically this role needs to be fulfilled by both members of the group)  - Provide details of costume, hair/makeup, actors, setting, set dressing (how you will make the set look interesting), lighting, colour, etc. In particular it is important that you discuss what sort of star persona you are creating, what messages do they communicate?

Camerawork   - What movement and how much? What angles? What shot distances.? (for example if you want a performance how many different camera positions will their be and why/what will they be?)

Editing  - how will the editing match the track? Lip synching? Cutting on the beat? Use of transitions? Split screens? Other effects? Is there going to be a strong link between the music and visuals in other ways? (instruments? Dancing? Etc.) Is it going to edit between different scenes? (Performance? Narrative?)

Before you begin anything, you must complete:

• A detailed storyboard (digital or sketched)
• A comprehensive shot list
• A detailed location research document
• Costume designs 
• Requisition documentation 
• Complete health and safety documentation

Shooting guidelines 

In order to maximise your grade, it is essential to include a variety of technical codes and visual codes. This list may seem overly didactic, but following it will ensure you include a variety of visual and technical codes

Specialist editing techniques

There is a vast amount of different editing techniques that you can use in your music video. Some of these are very specific to music videos, and can completely change the pace, atmosphere and meaning of a particular sequence.

Watch a range of music videos, making notes on the visual and technical codes employed. In particular, pay attention to editing techniques.

How can you emulate these techniques using the resources you have? You will almost certainly have to research this using YouTube.

Technical codes

• Three different shot types
• An extreme close up
• A long shot
• A high/low angle shot
• High key lighting
• Varied pace of editing
• A temporal effect (time lapse, slow mo, reverse, fast forward, freeze frame…)

Visual codes

• Generic iconography
• Use of graphics (could be extremely brief)
• Distinctive mise en scene
• Two distinct facial expressions

Other

• Consideration of modes of address

First year Media Studies - an introduction

Welcome to A-level Media Studies!

Over the two years of the course, you will explore a variety of media products, and will analyse who has made them, how, for whom, and why. You will explore how different audiences can react in different ways to the same media product, and how the producers of media products attempt to manipulate audiences. You will also have opportunities to use a variety of software and techniques to create your own media products, both individually in groups.

The first year is absolutely packed, and it's really important to hit the ground running.

Please read this post in detail, and ask your teacher if you have any further questions

How many exams are there, when are they, and what are they on?

You will sit two exams at the end of your second year. These two exams are each worth 35% of your total mark, adding up 70% of the total A-level. The two exams are as follows:

Component one - media products, industries and audiences2 hours 15 minutes35% of A-level

There are two sections in this exam.

Section A: analysing media language and representation.

There are two questions here, one based on an unseen media product (either print or audio-visual), and one question comparing the representation in one product you have studied with one unseen product.

The media forms that can come up here are advertising, marketing, music videos and newspapers.

Section B: understanding media industries and audiences

There are two questions here, one on industry and one on audience.

The media forms that can come up here are advertising, marketing, film, newspapers, radio, videogames and media contexts.

Component two: media forms and products in depth2 hours 30 minutes35% of A-level

There are three sections in this exam, all covering products you will have explored in class.

Section A: television in the global age

Section B: magazines: mainstream and alternative media

Section C: media in the online age

This seems like a lot of work

It really is. But you'll get used to it. Also remember that in addition to your final exams, you'll have at least one key assessment for every subject you cover, so there will be every opportunity to test yourself along the way.

What about the coursework?

The coursework is known as

Component three: cross media production

We won't know the exact details until later, as the specific brief is published by Eduqas just before we start coursework to keep us on our toes. However, it will be along these lines:

Create a cross media production to include an original music video for a new or local/unsigned artist or band, and related print or online promotional products.

So that's a music video (audio visual) and promotional material (print).

We'll provide you with loads more information when component three comes around.

What are we doing this year?

Here's the first year of A-level Media Studies at a glance. While a few things may get swapped around, we'll keep you informed. You will be told which component (i.e exam) everything is related to as

(If you're wondering where television, websites, radio and videogames are, we study them next year!)

How to do well in A-level Media Studies

As you can see from the guide above, we cover a lot of ground in A-level Media Studies. However, most of the theories and concepts we use are repeated throughout the course. So when you study representation of ethnicity in the advertising and marketing , you'll come back to this when we study and make newspapers.

Because we study so many different industries, it's important to watch and read as much as possible, not just the products we study in class. Your teacher will give you tips on this.

Keep detailed notes. Your own blog will serve as not only a way of completing class work and submitting homework, but also will turn in to a comprehensive revision guide.

First year media studies - making your blog

The first thing you'll do as an A-level media student (after meeting the rest of your class) is create your own A-level Media Studies blog.

This blog has several uses:

• A way of completing tasks set in class
• A way of completing and submitting homework
• A way of taking notes in class, which will eventually lead to
• A comprehensive and personalised revision guide
• A portfolio to show to employers
• And maintaining a blog is a valuable skill with many applications in marketing, journalism and related media industries

Follow these steps to create your own blog

1 - Create a new gmail account

It doesn't matter if you have one already. You need a completely fresh one for Media Studies. Make sure to keep this email professional. Try a variation on your name.

2 - Go to blogger.com and create a new blog

3 - Give your blog a professional and memorable name and url. 

It must include the word 'media' and cannot include your full name. You may have to try several before you get an available name. 

While you're here you can select a template, but don't worry about this too much at the moment. You'll be personalising your blog in just a minute. 

4 - Click 'new post'

5 - On your new post, click 'labels'

Labels are a way of organising your blog, both for you when looking for important information, and for your teacher when they need to mark your work. It is essential that we all use the same labels.

6 - Copy the text below, and paste it into the 'labels' box

Advertising and Marketing, Audience, Component 1, Component 2, Component 3, Context, Film Industry, Genre, Magazines, Media Industries, Media Language, Music Industry, Music Video, Narrative, Newspapers, Online Media, Radio, Representation, Television, Textual Analysis, Theory, TV, Videogames

Note - we just found out there's a limit to how many labels you can include in one post, so paste this instead: 

Advertising and Marketing, Audience, Context, Film Industry, Genre, Magazines, Media Industries, Music Industry, Music Video, Newspapers, Online Media, Radio, Television, TV, Videogames

7 - Create your first blog post

Your first blog post is a pen portrait of yourself. You cannot include any personal information, but you will detail your favourite media products.

Here are some suggestions of headings, lists and sections. It's up to you which bits you complete, but the more you do, the more you will be thinking about media studies, and the more your classmates and teacher can get to know you.

Here are the suggested headings:

Top five films

Top five TV shows

Top five bands

Best albums of [year/decade]

Best actors

Best music videos

Style icons

Best videogames

Top directors

Top five film posters

Best radio presenters

Top bloggers/vloggers

Best Youtube channels

Top record labels

Best moments in [favourite TV show]

Best TV opening theme tunes

Anything else? As long as it's media related, it can go in here

8 - Make it look really good

It's a matter of preference whether you format your post as you complete it, or after you've finished the raw text. Regardless, play around with the formatting tools, and find images from the internet to illustrate your post. Save the image to Downloads, and then click the photo icon in the formatting bar to insert the photos.

9 - Personalise your blog

There's lots of ways to do this, so you're on your own here. Please remember to keep it professional and readable. You'll probably have to finish this off later.

10 - Email your teacher your blog url

You will not be able to leave until you have emailed your teacher!

EXTENSION TASK - Introduction to cinematography

Create a NEW BLOG POST with the tags

Component 1, Component 2, Media Language

and follow the instructions below:

A2 Media - the first half term

Welcome back second year Media Students! We were delighted by your results, and we hope you're ready to get stuck into the next big coursework assignment; the music video production.

There are three things you cover over the next half term.

1 - Research investigation buffer

The first two weeks will be spent responding to your teacher's feedback and polishing up your research investigation to receive the highest possible grade. Some of you will have a lot more to complete than others, so during the second week, you may move on to preproduction tasks for the music video

2 - Introduction to the music industry

In order to make a music video, you're going to have to learn about the music industry itself. These three weeks will look at many key concepts behind the music industry, and will also allow you to brush up on the most important aspects of A2 - genre, narrative, representation, audience and industry.

3 - Music video pre-production

After forming a group of two and selecting a song from the shortlist, he final two weeks of this half term will be spent completing pre-production work, which will vary wildly depending on who you are working with and what song you choose.

Important note - production of the A2 music video will commence the week starting Monday 30th October. All aspects of your music video, including costume, setting, performers, lighting, props, rehearsals and so on need to be completed before this date, as the expectation is that you will be filming from this session. Deadlines for the production itself will be published before the half-term.

Week by week planner for the next half term. Click to see full size.