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.