•Although you need to answer all the questions, they are misleadingly simple and just writing a sentence or two in response to each one is not going to get you top grades
•You need to critically evaluate your work – focus on strengths and weaknesses and how you feel quality could be further improved in some places
•Do not focus on evaluating the production process (e.g. how long it took to film something or some one not having the right costume), but do comment on directorial decisions that you had to make e.g. casting & setting & film work & editing where appropriate
•There is a model to look at on my blog.
•Use the mark scheme to check how well you are doing.
You also need to do a summary of your findings from your audience feedback questionnaire. Don't forget to do this bit!!!
A section which addresses “What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?” BADLY. DON'T DO IT LIKE THIS!!!!!!
I have learnt a lot about the technologies I have used constructing my film opening. I have learnt how to film effectively, thinking about location and camera angles and I have learnt how to capture footage to Premiere and how to split clips, create timelines, add transitions and other effects. I have also learnt how to put a music track over the top of my footage.
This is better:
Having chosen to make a film which was set in a busy environment, I have learnt a lot about the importance of shooting schedules and timing. I wanted to re-create the atmosphere of a school with people in the background getting on with their normal activities, but I also needed to be able to get good quality footage of my actors and not have too much background noise. In order to do this I realised that I needed to stage the scene properly: rather than just filming at lunch time I needed front of the camera or distract attention away from the main events.
Another aspect of filming that I have now gained experience of is how to direct actors and think about camera angles and mise-en-scene. I felt that I was particularly successful in this area when I filmed the opening montage of my film, which followed a character getting ready for work. The very first shot was… I felt that this connoted the impression of… very successfully as it is very clear that the character is…
During the editing process I became very adept at creating good continuity, learning exactly how precise I needed to be with cutting clips when switching shots. This was particularly important in the scene when …
And the “Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you think you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?” question:
When I was working on the preliminary task the main focus was on continuity rather than plot line or character. This was very different to working on my film opening because I had to ensure that not only was the piece technically good, but that it also introduced my characters and the situation of my characters well. In order to do this I needed to use a few different techniques, such as parallel action and split screens when… The purpose of this was to connote…
Friday, 24 April 2009
Friday, 3 April 2009
Example evaluation & evaluation questions
You need to answer all of the questions in bold at some point in your evaluation - make sure you scroll down to see questions 3 -7.
Below is the start of an example evaluation that starts to deal with the questions:
• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
• How does your media product represent particular social groups?
We decided to start our piece with a sardonic talk-over from the main character of the piece, Jon. It was felt that this would set out who the main character was, what their personality was like and it would reflect ironically on the action that was happening on screen.This kind of narration usually happens in comedies. One that springs to mind is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. He narrates the start of the movie, explaining how to fake illness to fool his parents into giving him the day off school. You understand that he is intelligent, quick-witted and able to play on his parents’ obvious sympathy. As it is delivered in a dead-pan style, you get the impression that the main character is savvy and cynical. We use the narration to anchor the movie, which is nominally about Jon and his adventures and mishaps in and around school.
The mise en scene was bright, taking place in sunny school corridors and classrooms. It was felt that the lighting needed to be as bright as possible in order for the connotations of comedy and happiness to shine through. Obviously the iconography of a school was strongly visible, including desks, whiteboards, and schoolbags. This again, gives the audience a heads up to the nature of the genre, or more realistically the sub-genre. We could exploit prior knowledge of codes and conventions of a school comedy and use this to good effect.
The opening two minutes clearly establishes Jon as the typical high-school jock, only interested in two things: women and sport! This character type appears again and again in this type of genre, though rarely as a main character. It could be argued that we were pushing a relatively minor character (usually a side-kick in these movies) centre-stage. A nice idea to explore another aspect of school life.As mentioned, we really wanted to focus on the jock or jocks in school, play on their image as tough guys obsessed with sport, who mistreat their girlfriends and dominate the school social hierarchy.
The other questions that you need to address are:
• What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
• Who would be the audience for your media product?
• How did you attract/address your audience?
• What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
• Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
You need to answer all of the questions in bold at some point in your evaluation - make sure you scroll down to see questions 3 -7.
Below is the start of an example evaluation that starts to deal with the questions:
• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
• How does your media product represent particular social groups?
We decided to start our piece with a sardonic talk-over from the main character of the piece, Jon. It was felt that this would set out who the main character was, what their personality was like and it would reflect ironically on the action that was happening on screen.This kind of narration usually happens in comedies. One that springs to mind is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. He narrates the start of the movie, explaining how to fake illness to fool his parents into giving him the day off school. You understand that he is intelligent, quick-witted and able to play on his parents’ obvious sympathy. As it is delivered in a dead-pan style, you get the impression that the main character is savvy and cynical. We use the narration to anchor the movie, which is nominally about Jon and his adventures and mishaps in and around school.
The mise en scene was bright, taking place in sunny school corridors and classrooms. It was felt that the lighting needed to be as bright as possible in order for the connotations of comedy and happiness to shine through. Obviously the iconography of a school was strongly visible, including desks, whiteboards, and schoolbags. This again, gives the audience a heads up to the nature of the genre, or more realistically the sub-genre. We could exploit prior knowledge of codes and conventions of a school comedy and use this to good effect.
The opening two minutes clearly establishes Jon as the typical high-school jock, only interested in two things: women and sport! This character type appears again and again in this type of genre, though rarely as a main character. It could be argued that we were pushing a relatively minor character (usually a side-kick in these movies) centre-stage. A nice idea to explore another aspect of school life.As mentioned, we really wanted to focus on the jock or jocks in school, play on their image as tough guys obsessed with sport, who mistreat their girlfriends and dominate the school social hierarchy.
The other questions that you need to address are:
• What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
• Who would be the audience for your media product?
• How did you attract/address your audience?
• What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
• Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Monday, 2 February 2009
Where we should be at and what we need to be doing now!
You should now be well underway in the planning stage of your coursework. You need to make sure that you have the following:
1. Research on your genre of film – production company/ other films in genre etc.
2. Analysis of at least 2 film openings from the same genre
3. Film treatment – the whole film (story summary)
4. Film opening & credits treatments (details on media language and step by step action – as much detail as you have) X 2 (though one can be more detailed than others)
5. Storyboard of opening scene/ credits – inc. visual representation and written description of each shot
6. Any comments about how your decision making process is going - what have you had to consider/ alter etc.
The next things to think about are:
1. Script - for opening scene
2. Camera map/ shot list for opening scene
3. Shooting schedule
4. Set designs/ costume designs – can be pictorial or written or a mixture
See below for some tips:
Script
You should now draft a script for that opening section. If you need help on the layout for your script, you should look at, and follow, the format from this website Remember, it is just a script for the opening two minutes. We don't have time to write a full script. It's not Hollywood, baby!
Shot List
After you have a script, you should have a Shot List. You can find it here in the resources folder on the school network:R:\SUBJECTS\English\AS media\OCR AS Media\FoundationPortfolio CourseworkYou need to list all the different shots you will use in the two minute section. List them in the order in which they will come in the film (they may not be shot in that order!). You need to fill in the duration of each shot; the cast who will be in the shot (sometimes there may not be any cast); the camera angle used for the shot; and also any movements of the camera that happen in that shot. The notes are any additional information that you think proves relevant.If you need a copy, please save it into your H drive or onto a memory stick.
Shooting schedule
This is a plan for when you will shoot things. You can see an example hereRemember, you may not shoot your opening sequence in chronological order, as you may not have the necessary costumes for the first part, or you may not be able to shoot at the specific setting, or you may not have certain actors early in your shoot. You need to decide what will make sense to shoot first and why.If you have a look at Principal photography on The Lord of the Rings movies you can see that in the shooting schedule, "The first scene filmed was the Wooded Road sequence where the Hobbits hide underneath the tree from a Ringwraith." Again, you can find a template for the shooting schedule in:R:\SUBJECTS\English\AS media\OCR AS Media\FoundationPortfolio Coursework
Costume
Costume design/inventoryCamera mapsSet design/location listYou may want to use the internet to find some appropriate formats for the above.
Get planning folks - we want you doing the Steven Spielberg thang as soon as we get back after half term. But no plans means no cameras!!
1. Research on your genre of film – production company/ other films in genre etc.
2. Analysis of at least 2 film openings from the same genre
3. Film treatment – the whole film (story summary)
4. Film opening & credits treatments (details on media language and step by step action – as much detail as you have) X 2 (though one can be more detailed than others)
5. Storyboard of opening scene/ credits – inc. visual representation and written description of each shot
6. Any comments about how your decision making process is going - what have you had to consider/ alter etc.
The next things to think about are:
1. Script - for opening scene
2. Camera map/ shot list for opening scene
3. Shooting schedule
4. Set designs/ costume designs – can be pictorial or written or a mixture
See below for some tips:
Script
You should now draft a script for that opening section. If you need help on the layout for your script, you should look at, and follow, the format from this website Remember, it is just a script for the opening two minutes. We don't have time to write a full script. It's not Hollywood, baby!
Shot List
After you have a script, you should have a Shot List. You can find it here in the resources folder on the school network:R:\SUBJECTS\English\AS media\OCR AS Media\FoundationPortfolio CourseworkYou need to list all the different shots you will use in the two minute section. List them in the order in which they will come in the film (they may not be shot in that order!). You need to fill in the duration of each shot; the cast who will be in the shot (sometimes there may not be any cast); the camera angle used for the shot; and also any movements of the camera that happen in that shot. The notes are any additional information that you think proves relevant.If you need a copy, please save it into your H drive or onto a memory stick.
Shooting schedule
This is a plan for when you will shoot things. You can see an example hereRemember, you may not shoot your opening sequence in chronological order, as you may not have the necessary costumes for the first part, or you may not be able to shoot at the specific setting, or you may not have certain actors early in your shoot. You need to decide what will make sense to shoot first and why.If you have a look at Principal photography on The Lord of the Rings movies you can see that in the shooting schedule, "The first scene filmed was the Wooded Road sequence where the Hobbits hide underneath the tree from a Ringwraith." Again, you can find a template for the shooting schedule in:R:\SUBJECTS\English\AS media\OCR AS Media\FoundationPortfolio Coursework
Costume
Costume design/inventoryCamera mapsSet design/location listYou may want to use the internet to find some appropriate formats for the above.
Get planning folks - we want you doing the Steven Spielberg thang as soon as we get back after half term. But no plans means no cameras!!
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Sample Whole Film Treatment
Gull Rider - example treatment
This is just an example of the first part of a treatment. You will need to ensure that your full treatment tells the whole story.A group of children, find themselves are transported to another world. They are caught up in a struggle for the control of the kingdom and along the way they pick up some very special skills.In a dusty attic of their new home, two young children are rummaging through the boxes from the move when they come across a magic bracelet. After deciphering the clue written on the bracelet, a door opens in the air, they walk through and transport to the magical kingdom of Haperion.We see a King sitting on a throne, surrounded by advisers and courtiers. Each of whom are intent on putting their view across about the war. Some are urging a truce with the enemy, others are urging all out war to crush the rebellion. The King sits head in hand as if waiting for some sort of divine inspiration.This scene is cut with another scene where we jump to a scene in the rebel castle where the King's brother (the true heir to the throne) is planning a full scale assault on his kingdom. The people here are more belligerent and demanding the Prince regain his birthright. We cut back to the two children who have been left up on a cliff overlooking a torrid sea. The magic door has closed and the children are about to set off when people riding on gulls appear in the sky. They swoop down and surround the children, who are quite obviously afraid. The gull-riders are from the King's army and have been sent to secure the borders against incursions from the rebels.After pressing the terrified children for information, they decide to take them back to the King. The King, puzzled by their nature and clothing, sees them as the key to the war aginst the rebels. He is convinced that the boys can summon a portal, using the bracelet, to dump the rebels into. Failing that, he wants the boys to bring weapons from their world to wipe out the rebels.The King decides the boys must prove their mettle. They are dispatched (after a prolonged debate) to the rebel fortress to re-capture the King's sceptre, which is locked in a deep dark dungeon. We cut to the boys who have been introduced to their gulls for the journey. They are packing and strapping equipment to a saddle on each gull. They are discussing the quest when one gull turns around and starts talking. The two boys jump as they did not realise until now that the gulls were capable of speech. The gull laughs at the boy's and dismisses their chances on the message. They finish packing and one of the boys keeps bickering with the gull...
This is just an example of the first part of a treatment. You will need to ensure that your full treatment tells the whole story.A group of children, find themselves are transported to another world. They are caught up in a struggle for the control of the kingdom and along the way they pick up some very special skills.In a dusty attic of their new home, two young children are rummaging through the boxes from the move when they come across a magic bracelet. After deciphering the clue written on the bracelet, a door opens in the air, they walk through and transport to the magical kingdom of Haperion.We see a King sitting on a throne, surrounded by advisers and courtiers. Each of whom are intent on putting their view across about the war. Some are urging a truce with the enemy, others are urging all out war to crush the rebellion. The King sits head in hand as if waiting for some sort of divine inspiration.This scene is cut with another scene where we jump to a scene in the rebel castle where the King's brother (the true heir to the throne) is planning a full scale assault on his kingdom. The people here are more belligerent and demanding the Prince regain his birthright. We cut back to the two children who have been left up on a cliff overlooking a torrid sea. The magic door has closed and the children are about to set off when people riding on gulls appear in the sky. They swoop down and surround the children, who are quite obviously afraid. The gull-riders are from the King's army and have been sent to secure the borders against incursions from the rebels.After pressing the terrified children for information, they decide to take them back to the King. The King, puzzled by their nature and clothing, sees them as the key to the war aginst the rebels. He is convinced that the boys can summon a portal, using the bracelet, to dump the rebels into. Failing that, he wants the boys to bring weapons from their world to wipe out the rebels.The King decides the boys must prove their mettle. They are dispatched (after a prolonged debate) to the rebel fortress to re-capture the King's sceptre, which is locked in a deep dark dungeon. We cut to the boys who have been introduced to their gulls for the journey. They are packing and strapping equipment to a saddle on each gull. They are discussing the quest when one gull turns around and starts talking. The two boys jump as they did not realise until now that the gulls were capable of speech. The gull laughs at the boy's and dismisses their chances on the message. They finish packing and one of the boys keeps bickering with the gull...
What is a film treatment?
Film Treatments
Film Treatments turn ideas into a synopsis of the action. They are usually about 5-15pages long and are, essentially, a summary of the story told in present tense prose.The first part of writing a treatment (in my opinion) is to try to make sure you have a clear three part structure for your film (Set-up, conflict, resolution). This will give you a clear through line for your story to follow and should help you frame each part in further detail. You don't always have to have a three part structure but let's walk before we can run eh?Then I would storyboard the main beats/scenes/episodes of the movie that are crucial to understanding the movie's action as a whole. It is not necessary to use camera angles in the panel's at this stage. Leave that for your two minute piece!Your treatment should:take the reader through the story of the film. It must bring across the characters and events as they will appear in the film. not give more information than the audience of the film will have. go through each sequence, but does not have to contain every scene. come to about 10 pages for a 90 minute feature film (double spaced, 12 pt arial font) Be separated into acts and sequences (with titles) if it helps. A treatment sells the film to both creative and financial minds, therefore it must: grip the reader in the first line of the first page. make the reader want to turn to the next page at the end of every page. move the action forward and not linger on descriptions You should have a look at the following websites.This one explains the nature of a treatment:http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Movie_Making_Manual/Treatments This one gives an example Treatment. Look at the style:http://www.scribd.com/doc/4089756/Film-TreatmentI think you should aim for about a five page treatment. It ain't Hollywood baby!
Film Treatments turn ideas into a synopsis of the action. They are usually about 5-15pages long and are, essentially, a summary of the story told in present tense prose.The first part of writing a treatment (in my opinion) is to try to make sure you have a clear three part structure for your film (Set-up, conflict, resolution). This will give you a clear through line for your story to follow and should help you frame each part in further detail. You don't always have to have a three part structure but let's walk before we can run eh?Then I would storyboard the main beats/scenes/episodes of the movie that are crucial to understanding the movie's action as a whole. It is not necessary to use camera angles in the panel's at this stage. Leave that for your two minute piece!Your treatment should:take the reader through the story of the film. It must bring across the characters and events as they will appear in the film. not give more information than the audience of the film will have. go through each sequence, but does not have to contain every scene. come to about 10 pages for a 90 minute feature film (double spaced, 12 pt arial font) Be separated into acts and sequences (with titles) if it helps. A treatment sells the film to both creative and financial minds, therefore it must: grip the reader in the first line of the first page. make the reader want to turn to the next page at the end of every page. move the action forward and not linger on descriptions You should have a look at the following websites.This one explains the nature of a treatment:http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Movie_Making_Manual/Treatments This one gives an example Treatment. Look at the style:http://www.scribd.com/doc/4089756/Film-TreatmentI think you should aim for about a five page treatment. It ain't Hollywood baby!
How to post videos
Posting videos
Is easy. All you have to do is click on the film reel logo (2nd from the right) when you are posting. What I would do is write a bit of commentary to go with the video (you know so you're evaluating as you go along!) and, hopefully, over the course of your project, you will be able to see the changes that have happened; you will have been able to show the examiner where your piece has progressed; and also you will have been constantly documenting your progress in two ways (text and film).
Is easy. All you have to do is click on the film reel logo (2nd from the right) when you are posting. What I would do is write a bit of commentary to go with the video (you know so you're evaluating as you go along!) and, hopefully, over the course of your project, you will be able to see the changes that have happened; you will have been able to show the examiner where your piece has progressed; and also you will have been constantly documenting your progress in two ways (text and film).
Example film opening analysis
Woman In Black - Thriller suspense analysis and research
Here's some example research that is illuminating my planning. Don't know what's happened to the size of the letters below!
The film opening begins directly with the titles. The media language immediately tells the audience they are watching a thriller. The titles are very simplistic with a black background and simple block font, in a an off-white colour. The letters appear to have little chunks missing out of them. Also, at some points more noticeable than others, there is a visible black shadow/cloud effect moving across the words on screen. The imperfect font connotes imperfection; something wrong, as does the off-white colour. The black background together with the shadows connote fear. This will be immediately recognisable to the audience as iconography associated with the thriller genre.
I think that there are some characteristic elements that would be useful in the start of another movie. The iconographic use of cloud could be a useful background to some of the action in the start of our film. It should be relatively easy to shoot on a overcast and gloomy day to ramp up the threat level from the very start.
Here's some example research that is illuminating my planning. Don't know what's happened to the size of the letters below!
The film opening begins directly with the titles. The media language immediately tells the audience they are watching a thriller. The titles are very simplistic with a black background and simple block font, in a an off-white colour. The letters appear to have little chunks missing out of them. Also, at some points more noticeable than others, there is a visible black shadow/cloud effect moving across the words on screen. The imperfect font connotes imperfection; something wrong, as does the off-white colour. The black background together with the shadows connote fear. This will be immediately recognisable to the audience as iconography associated with the thriller genre.
I think that there are some characteristic elements that would be useful in the start of another movie. The iconographic use of cloud could be a useful background to some of the action in the start of our film. It should be relatively easy to shoot on a overcast and gloomy day to ramp up the threat level from the very start.
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