Year 12 Film Studies - Learning focus this week: EDITING

Week Beginning 1st December 2008

I am absolutely thrilled that you have managed to shoot the rushes for your short films and I have particularly enjoyed looking at Tara and Jake's blogs where they have documented their filming processes. Check them out - they are both fantastic! The focus of this week is therefore going to be looking at post production technique - editing. Although you are ambitious, we are going to begin with i-movie because if you can edit well here without all the amazing frills of 'Final Cut Pro', you can edit on any software. Editing is a craft that needs to be learnt without frills first. Once competent here, you can graduate to 'Final Cut'. We are going to be watching the first installment of a BBC4 documentary in this week's lesson entitled: 'The Cutting Edge'. I have decided to post it here alongside part 2 for you to watch at your leisure.

Part 1

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xJcQgQHR78Q

Part 2:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex4XGiyJugY&feature=related

See you on Tuesday x

Year 12 Media Studies - Lesson Outcomes This Week 1/12/08

WEEK BEGINNING DECEMBER 1ST 2008


This week, the focus of our lessons is going to be on developing the 'Big Picture' for your film - the narrative framework for the entire film in the form of a detailed mind-map.


What happens to who? In what sequential order? Where? Why? Linear? Non-linear?


You are then going to move from MACRO (Big Picture) to MICRO (your opening title sequence) in developing an effective 'Logline' and film title/name that will sum-up your film to all parties interested. The following link takes you through how to create a 'logline' - a process integral to developing a 'pitch'.

http://www.screenwritersvault.com/creating/creatingloglines.asp

The 'Logline' will serve as a compass for the story as it develops, and is the single most important tool in marketing the script or concept to film production companies. Odds are, if you can't boil your script down to a solid 1 or 2 sentences of the basic idea, producers will never be attracted to it for development. Developing your logline is also an opportunity to express a very original hook that your story has to separate it from others within the same genre or theme. A great logline should provoke interest and inspire the producer to see the potential of the film.

Here are three questions to ask yourself as you write your logline:

1. Who is the main character and what does he or she want?

2. Who (villain) or what is standing in the way of the main character?

3. What makes this story unique?

Use action words when writing your logline. Film captures the actions of characters.Add descriptive words to create an image that will stay in the mind of your reader.
Examples:
The following examples show how dull loglines can be made exciting by adding descriptive words.

Dull logline: A woman plots to murder her sister.
Intriguing logline: A woman obsessed by jealousy plots to murder her sister, who married the man she loves.

Dull logline: Two lovers plan to flee from their feuding families who forbid them to marry.
Intriguing logline: Two young lovers living in a ghetto defy their feuding families' ban on marrying and plan an escape that propels them toward tragedy.

Young lovers defying their feuding families is not unique. But, putting the lovers in a ghetto setting and adding the element of tragedy to their escape plan gives the story an interesting twist. It's Romeo and Juliet in a ghetto, a setting that helps add conflict to the story.

Dull logline: A woman confronts her past when her illegitimate daughter shows up after twenty years.
Intriguing logline: A minister's wife confronts her long-buried past when her illegitimate daughter shows up after twenty years.

An illegitimate daughter showing up after twenty years is not an unusual plot. But, the fact that the main character is a minister's wife implies conflict, morality vs. immorality, and deception. Defining the woman's past as "long-buried" peaks interest.

These logline examples all have a hook, something that can stimulate serious interest. They make a statement about the central problem that will be resolved by the character(s), and they define a concept that gives the story its power to entertain.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN -
Use the suggestions in this article to help you write your own loglines. Keep in mind that a well-constructed logline answers three key questions and post your ideas on a 'Post-it' :

1. Who is the main character and what does he/she want?

2. Who (villain) or what is standing in the way of the main character?

3. What makes this story unique?


Once this is complete you will be ready to create your 'storyboard' that will embody your creative ambitions for the title sequence. Combined, these two elements will form your PITCH in a couple of weeks.



EXEMPLAR PITCH:
http://www.scripthollywood.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/destinypitch.pdf



Enjoy your 1st week of Christmas. Only two weeks to go until the holidays and until filming! Ninax

Year 12 Media Studies - Homework 2 and a 'Moan'

It appears that lots of you have not completed the Saul Bass research and posted this on your blogs which is quite disappointing. You should be spending 4 hours a week on media work outside of lesson time and this is not evident from looking through many of the blogs. Also, there are a number of you who have not yet e-mailed me with your blog URL address links - Shazna, Deepak, Becky O'Keefe, Becky Hammond, Luke Bradshaw, Harry, Ellis, Hannah Davies come to mind. I know some of you have done it, but I have not yet received an e-mail from you. My e-mail address is: ninanoo@btinternet.com

PLEASE GET YOUR BLOG POSTED ON 'THE NOODLE' ASAP - IT IS PART OF YOUR ASSESSMENT! 

If you want to see some great blogging visit Tara Costello and Joe Smith's links as they are looking super-duper. By now, you should have the following on your blog:

1. An introduction to your brief and film production team with some initial ideas for your title sequence documented as an entry.
   
2. Your completed 'Continuity Sequence' embeded in your blog.
   
3. A 500 word analysis/critique of the work of Saul Bass having looked at a minimum of three Saul Bass titles and the documentary posted last week

HOMEWORK FOR WEEK BEGINNING:

1ST DECEMBER 2008

THIS WEEK I WANT EVERYONE TO CRITICALLY ANALYSE 2 OPENING TITLE SEQUENCES FOR FILMS THAT HAVE INSPIRED YOUR DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS AND ENABLED YOU TO EXPLORE YOUR GENRE. I EXPECT LINKS OR EMBEDDED VIDEOS ON YOUR BLOG WITH A 250 WORD ANALYSIS (MIN) OF EACH SEQUENCE BY NEXT WEEK'S LESSON. BE PREPARED TO SHARE YOUR BLOG AND TO SHARE WITH THE CLASS YOUR ANALYSIS. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DONE THE OTHER TASKS, I ALSO EXPECT THOSE TO BE POSTED BY NEXT WEEK. 

I'm sorry if I sound grumpy but I want the best for all of you and if you fall behind at this stage, it is difficult to catch-up later especially since Blogs record dates of entry! Alan and I are really looking forward to seeing the development of your title sequences and feel confident that they will look fantastic. However, it is essential that you put the work into evidencing and showcasing your film development as this forms a significant part of your overall grade for coursework and cannot be done 'last-minute' as sketch books could. Rise to the challenge! 

Finally, I know some of you are interested in creating an animated title sequence and this is great. Here is a nice little site I found to share with you that has some good tips for creating different styles of animation in i-movie. Check it out!

http://www.mindbites.com/lesson/536-how-to-make-paper-animation

Year 13 Media - Critical Research Study Mock Exam Countdown

With your Critical Research Study Mock Exam in 

ONE WEEK 

it is crucial that you complete the two essays that we have gone through in lessons. I have posted essay frameworks on 'The Noodle' already and you need to use these to write your responses. If you have missed these lessons, take a look at the paper so that you are familiar with its structure (again posted on an earlier Critical Research post). This week I will focus on writing the four sides of notes that you can take into the mock with you next week. I hope you will rise to the challenge and work hard to realise your potential. We have spent one term on the research, and now it's time to communicate what you have learnt from this process. Dave Jelliman is the only student so far to submit 'Essay 1 - Research Methods'. Well Done Dave - you are high on my 'Love-O-Meter'. See you all next week and Good Luck with your Drama performances this week.  

A'Level Media Studies - Music Promo Coursework Evaluation Part 1

As Christmas moves closer, so too does the writing of your 3,000 word 'Advanced Production' music promo evaluation. The essay is split into three distinct 1,000 word parts, all of which you will be given writing frames for:

1. Research, planning and production of your video.

2. Textual Analysis of your finished music video.

3. How your music video fits into the current music industry.

Leanne will be taking a lead on this aspect of the course, but Mummy-Media will lend a hand, a here is the first of my offerings for 'Section 3' - a short video exploring the rise of manufactured music. Enjoy!

Watch The Rise Of Manufactured Music in Music Videos  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Media and Film Studies: Mindmap Examples

Here are a few examples of mindmaps that I have created to support you with the process of creating your own masterpieces this week. There are no hard and fast rules but try to make your mindmaps visually stimulating; colourful and memorable by consolidating ideas through key words, terminology and ideas. Have fun! 

A/S Film Studies - FM2 Film Marketing Case Study

Hello Film-noodlers. Welcome to 'The Noodle'. I am going to begin posting information for you on the blog including homework and links, and of course some movies and clips.

You have been working on your FM2 case studies undertaking a detailed study into the marketing and promotion of a Hollywood film of your choosing. Your collection of artefacts can take two forms -

a. A dedicated FM2 blog where you can post all your research, videos, trailers, links etc.

or

b. A paper based file where you keep all of your research in a print form.


Ideally I would like all of you to create a Film Studies blog where you can keep all of your film work from here on (including all your preparatory work for FM2). Your Hollywood case study needs to show evidence of the following:

1. Research into the studio/s involved in the production and distribution of your chosen film. What questions does this raise?

2. What marketing, promotion and merchandise deals have you discovered? What do these say about the target audience/ the ideology of the film and the company behind it?

3. How successful was the movie in terms of box-office ratings both here and abroad? What was it's USP? What led to its success?

In short I want you to find out as much information about your chosen film from the initial stages of production through to marketing, distribution, exhibition and audience reception (some primary research) and exploration of the REVIEWS process and the impact this has on reception. You will then use all of your collected material to construct an essay on the main thrust of this examination - the relationship between PRODUCERS and AUDIENCES. Here is an example of the WJEC FM2 exam paper for you to see how this project relates:

www.wjec.co.uk/uploads/publications/5797.pdf

I have also found some really useful links to support you with the Hollywood case study below.

www.filmology.co.uk/uk_film_distributors.aspx

www.filminfocus.com/

www.moviemarketingmadness.com/blog/

www.impawards.com/

This case study work will need to be completed in readiness to complete the essay by Tuesday 9th December 2008. 2 WEEKS!
Good Luck