Monday 29 September 2014

Preliminary Task

This week you are to be working on your preliminary task.

Ideally in small groups (although not compulsory) you need to come up with a storyline which features a character OPENING A DOOR, CROSSING A ROOM AND SITTING DOWN.

There then needs to be a small EXCHANGE OF DIALOGUE with another character.

The aim of this task is to experiment with varying camera shots and editing together work.

Your preliminary should be short and simple. And it MUST feature the following:

- A match on action shot
- A shot-reverse shot
- Follow the 180 degree rule.

This clip from friends gives examples of the shot types - as does the Hot Fuzz example further down the page.




You preliminary posts must include:

  • Notes on 3 shot types. 
  • Brainstorm to show ideas for film 
  • Storyboard for film 
  • Script for the dialogue to film 
  • Edited film 
  • Evaluation/analysis of preliminary production (Keep it brief – must say what was learnt and how the preliminary task will help you in your main project.

These are some example preliminary tasks from previous years.






Tuesday 23 September 2014

Project task list

Below are all the tasks required for this project, split in to research, planning, production and evaluation.


Remember - presentation is important, Try to vary your methods and be creative!


DEADLINE – Friday December 19th.
Preliminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on actionshot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.
o    Notes and examples on the 3 shot types. 
o    Brainstorm to show ideas for film       
o    Storyboard for film    
o    Script for the dialogue to film
o    Edited film      
o    Evaluation/analysis of preliminary production (Keep it brief – must say what was learnt and how the preliminary task will help you in your main project.

Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.

All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source.
Research:
    Types of genres 
    Camera shot types
    History of Horror
    Conventions of horror films
    Conventions of film openings in general (look at content, style, features)
    Different genres of films (list films linked to the genre)
    Questions on ‘What is suspense’
    Institution research (2 companies)      
    Notes on at least 8 film openings
    Conventions of openings of films from horror films (such as regular features, specific techniques, ways narrative is explained)
    Detailed analysis of AT LEAST 4 existing film openings (at least 2 must be horror)
    9 frame storyboard for films
    Opening timelines
    Audience profile for horror genre
    Horror location shot types
Planning:
    Brainstorm/plan ideas for your film (to include narrative, ideas for opening sequence, styles, colours, styles of copy, inspiration)
    Brainstorm names for your film/state why you chose a particular name for your film.
    Suitable institution to produce your film. And why.
    Survey of your target audience to find out what hooks them onto a film from this genre.
    Audience profile for your film.
    Storyboard ideas for the opening, with annotations to show development of ideas.
    Script for film
    Animatic storyboard
    Locations photographs with comments on suitability and when they could be used.
    Costume plans
    Prop list
    A range of photographs for the storyboard/opening – blocking out your film.
    Explanation of your film’s concept in 25 words or less.
    A production schedule/shooting schedule.
    EVidence of organisation of actors (screen prints of text messages, call sheets, facebook group screen prints etc 
    A final draft version – with annotations/commentary on good and bad aspects of the production.
    Survey/feedback of the target audience again to get their opinions on your production and any changes.
Construction:
   □    Final opening and titles to your film – lasting no more than 2 minutes. Make sure the music is COPYRIGHT FREE.
Evaluation:
 Evaluation of whole project (MUST answer ALL of the set questions and NOT just as an essay)
1.     In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
2.    How does your media product represent particular social groups?
3.    What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
4.    Who would be the audience for your media product?
5.    How did you attract/address your audience?
6.    What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
7.    Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?


All this is to be included on your BLOG. Keep uploading work to your blog regularly.
The evaluation MUST go on to the end of your blog.
You must present your work using creative and digital media forms where possible – avoid ‘essay’/text based answers as much as you can.
Remember to check http://ktsasmedia2013-14.blogspot.co.uk/ regularly for guidance, resources, and tasks, as well as comments from teachers on work done.
Make clear the roles each person plays in all aspects of the filming and editing process.
The unit is marked out of a total of 100 marks:
o    20 marks for the presentation of the planning and research;
o    60 marks for the construction;
o    20 marks for the evaluation.

Tuesday 16 September 2014

How to analyse film openings

Remember to use various methods to show your analysis of existing film openings.

Some methods could be:

  • The screen shot with written annotations.
  • A voice over narration over the film opening.
  • Written notes annotating the moving image (see Edward Scissorhands example below)
  • Using 'Padlet' to present your work
  • Prezi analysis


You need to discuss the following when analysing anything:

  • Camera work (how the camera moves, angles used, shot distance etc)
  • Sound (soundtrack, sound effects, dialogue)
  • Editing
  • Mise-en-scene (everything you see in the frame, such as costume, lighting, props, titles, font choices, graphics etc


For everything you comment on, make sure you explain WHY it has been done - what does it add to the narrative or tell the audience?


As well as detailed analysis of the opening, we also need a 9-frame mood board showing key points from the opening and a timeline, showing exact timings of everything. See below for the Juno example.

Edward Scissorhands example:




Juno 9 frame storyboard and timeline.








Monday 15 September 2014

Links to good blogs from previous years

For inspiration or guidance, here are some of the top blogs from our previous students.

http://charliesonlinemedia.blogspot.co.uk



http://hannahcovingtonhorror.blogspot.co.uk

http://flynnmedia.blogspot.co.uk

http://maxfarmerasmedia.blogspot.co.uk



http://maxcanningasmedia.blogspot.co.uk



http://sophiebarnesg321.blogspot.co.uk

http://jakehayesmediacoursework.blogspot.co.uk


Task 2 - What are the key conventions of film openings?

Type/copy up the table comparing film openings across genres.
Write a short piece for your blog on the key conventions.
Give examples/illustrations to support your points.
Watch a further 4 more openings – add your initial notes of these to your chart/blog.

Write a brief summary about what you learnt from this exercise and how it has helped you to understand film openings.

Friday 12 September 2014

Preliminary task example using Hot Fuzz

This is the example I showed you in class showing examples of all the preliminary shot requirements within a real film context.



I obviously do not own the rights to the footage (although I did do the analysis), but it is great for education purpose.



Tuesday 9 September 2014

Task one - research and answer the questions. Try to be creative in your presentation

1.List genres of films (consider your presentation style)
2.What are the conventions of the horror/thriller genre?
3.What is ‘suspense’?

4.write a definition (with image example) for each of the 3 shot types - match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule