Monday, 8 December 2008

Year 13 Critical Research Study Mock Exam Preparation

























Hi Year 13. Hopefully you now know that the 'Mock' Critical Research has been postponed until NEXT WEEK! Leanne is not going to be around for your lesson on Tuesday so here I am setting you some Critical Research work to get on with as I need to use the Edit suite with my Yr 12 students to do a Final Cut Pro lesson. The majority of you have still not done a draft of Q1 and 2 yet. Please spend the two hours in Leanne's lesson writing these up - IT IS IN YOUR INTERESTS TO DO THIS ASAP IN ORDER TO REALISE SUCCESS IN THE MOCK NEXT WEEK. I NEED TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT AND PREDICT HOW YOU WILL PERFORM IN THE REAL EXAM IN JAN. 

FINALLY CAN I PLEASE SEE OLIVER AND HABIB ASAP? THANKS. 

See you all tomorrow. Use the advice on the postings here to support you with the essays and either print them off or e-mail them to me at: ninanoo@btinternet.com

x

Friday, 5 December 2008

Year 13 Critical Research Study Mock Exam Notice













I understand from Leanne that there is an air of panic about the Critical Research Mock Exams next week. Given that I have been off poorly I have decided to move the mocks into the last week of this term (an extension - yipeeee I hear you cry!), giving us next week to construct notes. I have posted some advice about notes on a blog posting yesterday so please have a look at these. I still have only received 2 essays and really do need to see some evidence of essay preparation by next week. 

Becky and Si Pui I have added the 'Women and Film' Essay 2 outline as requested and updated the original posting which can be found under 'Year 13 Critical Research' zone (see top of 'Noodle' under Quote of the Week). Sorry it's a bit late in getting up there! 

In a previous post I asked you to begin the process of writing your notes. Here is the document I am sent by the exam board regarding the 'RULES' on what can and cannot go into your notes. 

http://www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/prerelease_materials/L_A_Level_Media_Studies_PRM_Unit_2734_Instruction_for_Teachers_Jan_2009.pdf

This document will also prove useful to many of you interested in knowing how your MOCK will be marked. This is the Exam Board Assessment Criteria PDF for all examiners marking papers for A/S and A'level last June. You can find the Assessment Criteria for the Critical Research exam by scrolling down a few pages once entering this document.
http://www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/mark_schemes_2008/L_A_Level_Media_Studies_MS_Jun_2008.pdf

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. I hope to be back in school on Monday. x

Thursday, 4 December 2008

A'level Media Studies - Critical Research Study Stuff For You

Women and Horror - Some stuff for Lewis and Remdeep
This site offers some insight into important feminist theories around Women and Horror films including Carol Clover's exploration of representations of women in Horror. You should be making reference to these theories if you want the A-C grades! 

Another theory based site this time drawing upon the work of feminist theorist Laura Mulvey
http://www.helium.com/items/132886-women-in-horror-films-ripley-the-alien-and-the-monstrous-feminine

John O'Grady - Where are you?


John. 
Where is your blog? Have you created a new one? I found a lovely little site with quotes from Morgan Freeman about his performance in 'The Bucket List'. I thought this one on his performance was particularly good:

"No moments are ever pushed. There's no overacting. Everything he does is so simple, elegant and subtle, yet it's all so filled in. Every moment is filled in with the right emotion. He's a gift -- and to have both him and Jack together in the same movie? A director can't have a better situation."
Bost
on Channel.com




Here's the link with some other lovely quotes about the 'Big' man:
">http://www.daylife.com/article/087Q5X7a2RdMi/quotes/1

Here is a collection of sound files on Shawshank Redemption that could be of some use:
http://www.entertonement.com/collections/1507/Morgan-Freeman
Let me have your new blog address if you have one. My e-mail address is:
ninanoo@btinternet.com
Ninax

A/S Film Studies - Hollywood Case Study Nina's Class

I hope the editing of your short films is going well in i-movie. Gerry has agreed to come and do a session on Final Cut Pro next week to help you bring your creative ideals to life with some 'Jazz Hands' snazzy effects! 
As you know, your Hollywood case study research is due on Tuesday. I have seen what Jake, Tara and Ruby have been up to but am not sure what the rest of you are up to? I have not received any blog links from anyone else so if you are creating a Film blog can you e-mail me your url address to: 


I am off work feeling poorly and a bit sorry for myself. I hate daytime TV so have spent a bit of time in my cosy bed sourcing useful stuff for you. Here are a couple of useful links that might help you research the institutional aspect of your case study:

This blog focuses on 'Distribution' facts:
http://moviedistributionfacts.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/using-a-study-of-popular-movie-audiences-to-promote-your-film/

This site explores Hollywood studios as Oligopolies 'multi-national corporations' that dominate media output. Some interesting stuff especially in the Movie Industry section.
http://www.oligopolywatch.com/2003/08/06.html

This site is great for accessing 'fan-sites' where you can find loads of great marketing and publicity for your case study film+ facts/figures to do with box office sales and studio info.  
http://www.hollywood.com/

Oh and Jake, I think Sarah Jessica Parker launched a perfume called 'Lovely' when 'Sex and the City' was released. I saw an ad on TV for it last night and it reminded me of our conversation. 

Thank you all for your efforts in Tuesday's lesson. Despite not taking his badge, Mr OFSTED was very impressed with the class. 
See you on Tuesday. x

FS4 Film Studies Presentation Script Development

The presentation script (1000 – 1500 words)
The presentation script must take the form of notes for a presentation and could
combine (for example) subheadings, bullet points, short pieces of connected prose
and reference to visual extracts to illustrate the presentation. Candidates are
encouraged to devise a presentation format appropriate to their needs. This is not an essay but a presentation of research findings.

To access the higher grade tiers you MUST:
Reference key items of research from the catalogue and cross reference these
explicitly in the presentation.

Make use of short credited quotations derived from primary and secondary research but care must be taken that the words of the presentation are the candidate’s own. Credited quotations are excluded from the word count.

Here is some more information from Freddie Gaffney one of the principal examiners at WJEC for this paper with examples to show how each element of this project should be laid out and constructed: 

I hope this helps. Miss you all and still feeling rotten. See you soon x

Monday, 1 December 2008

Year 12 Film Studies - Some Awesome Editing

















Here are a few of my favourite 'Edits' from films that I will share with you in class. How does the editing help to construct meaning? How does the editing create mood, pace, tone and emotional responses?

City of God

Psycho Shower Sequence
Some amazing 'Long Takes' from De Palma, to Orson Welles and of course Hitchcock