Year 12 Film : Cover Work for Nina on Tuesday

Good evening. Just wanted to let you know that I won't be around for Film in the morning as I am going to be interviewing new candidates for a Media and Film teacher post. I would like you to use your FS2 Case Study work on Hollywood and the support materials on Will Ferrell in the link below to answer Q1 in Section A of the FM2 exam paper: 

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

You may use your two hour lesson time on this and submit it to me for marking by FRIDAY at the latest. You can come in and use my lesson time or find some other study time to put your knowledge into action. We will finish watching American Beauty next week and before then, can you read the links on my last posting - American Beauty - Look closer?

Missing you already x

A/S Media Studies - Today's Crit; evaluation support; assessment criteria and some stuff on 'Number 23' Title Sequence Analysis

"Giving something to the audience that allows them to have an emotional response would probably be the perfect title to me. I also believe in appropriatenesss vs. superfluousness. Some filmmakers choose to have simple titles for their films and they work."
Michelle Dougherty 

I really enjoyed the 'Crit' of your opening title sequences today and I am thrilled at the standard of work being achieved. Brilliant! Thank you for such a pleasurable morning. I have been putting some stuff together for you to support you with refining your blogs; film productions and evaluating your projects. Whilst doing this, I found some super resources on Jim Carrey's film 'Number 23' and the design processes involved in the development of the titles. For those of you that need to make reference to more examples and would like to use some quotes on your blogs, here are some super sources which include interviews with director Joel Schumacher and title sequence designer Michelle Dougherty: 

Interview 

http://www.studiodaily.com/main/news/feed.rss/7756.html

An awesome opening title sequence website:

http://mmbase.submarinechannel.com/titlesequences/video.jsp?video=26692

http://www.submarinechannel.com/

I have posted the assessment criteria used in today's 'Crit' below with a link to a really excellent blog from Latymer School that I would like you to look at as an example of excellent evaluative practise. Ideally I would like you to produce individual evaluative write-ups on your blogs and then compliment this with either:

1. A group evaluative podcast

2. A group DVD commentary. 

Can I suggest that you have a look at this girl's blog from Latymer School. Her evaluation is really excellent. Mature, conscientious, informed and thorough. Look and Learn! 

http://latymerfoundationtanya09.blogspot.com/search/label/Evaluation%3A%20Question%201

Here is the assessment criteria/mark scheme and the questions which should direct your evaluative writing about the production process and your finished texts. PLEASE WRITE IN FULL SENTENCES USING APPROPRIATE ENGLISH, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR. 

A/S Media Foundation Production Assessment Criteria

View more documents from mummymedia. (tags: team media)

YOUR NEW DEADLINE FOR ALL A/S FOUNDATION

PORTFOLIO WORK (BLOG, FILM, EVALUATION) IS NOW: 

FRIDAY 27TH MARCH 2009 (3 WEEKS )

Year 12 Media - 'Crits' and sample exam paper

Evening all. I hope you are having a fabulous weekend. I thought I'd remind you all that 'crit' sessions are taking place next week to critique your blogs and opening title sequences. The aim is that you will all be involved in peer assessment and I will be publicly grading your work. 

The project is marked out of 100 with marks allocated in the following way: 

Skill Area Mark
Planning (max 20)
Construction (max 60)
Evaluation (max 20)

The first crit will take place Period 1/2 on Monday 9th March in my double lesson and the other crit will take place in Alan's Media double on Friday 13th March (unlucky for some!) Sadly we are unable to showcase all of the work to all of you in one single hit because I am not able to withdraw you from other lessons. It will however, still be an excellent opportunity to evaluate your work and offer ideas for improvements. 

For those of you interested in what the TV Drama paper is going to look like, here is an example with a marking scheme. We will refer to it in lessons, but should you choose to be ahead of the game, here is the link:

http://www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/assessment_materials/AS_Level_Media_Studies_SAM_Unit_G322.pdf

American Beauty. LOOK CLOSER.

I hope you enjoyed the screening of American Beauty. I absolutely love this film and can't wait to explore its ideological framework with you. I have packaged together a few 'Bits and Bobs' to help you study the film and read more widely around the American Dream in relation to the film and its critical reception. Look closer. I'll add more as I stumble across it and feel free to add anything to the pot that you find.



Critical Analyse of American Beauty

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Academic Work Science & Engineerin Science

Useful 'American Beauty' articles and sites worthy of reading/exploration:

American Beauty and The American Dream

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=6328

http://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/american_beauty/index.cgi?read=198

Film website
http://www.dreamworks.com/ab/

The Guardian - Review

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2000/jan/28/4

Dreamworks Production Notes
http://thora.org/magazines/drmwrksinfo.html

Year 12 Film Studies: The American Dream in Film

As we move through the the topic of the 'American Dream' in Hollywood Cinema, Leanne and I will post lots of useful articles, essays, clips and videos to support you with your critical analysis of this ideological framework. 

View more documents from Nina Moore.

Pursuit of Happyness: Chris Gardener Talking about the Film

For many Happiness can be so elusive, yet we search for it every moment of every day for an entire lifetime. Our education, our careers, our money, our homes, cars, clothes, toys and even looks can all be trophies of evidence in our ‘Pursuit of Happyness.

What is happiness to you? What does it look like, feel like and taste like? Can true happiness ever be obtained? How do you know when you really have true happiness? and does it really matter as long as you are happy?

What messages and values about 'Happiness' are embodied in 'Pursuit of Happyness'? What portrait of the American Dream does it seek to paint?

Other Useful Links:

http://americandreamthemovie.com/americandream.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3512897.stm

Year 13 Film : Lara Croft - Feminist Icon or object of desire for the Male Gaze? Today's Debate.

Some notes on Tomb Raider:

"Lara Croft" may seem like an empowering role model for some women because of the way she triumphs in an apparently male-dominated world. However, Lara merely comes across as an object designed to inspire male fantasy as demonstrated by her clothing, demeanor, and relationships, all of which beckon for attention from a predominantly male audience.
Lara's haughty behavior and demeanor not only broadcast the false message that a woman needs to be improper to succeed, but are also used in a way to shamelessly draw male attention.
Lara doesn't have any men in her life at first gives the impression that she is a strong, independent woman. Though, she is actually quite dependent on her father, while the absence of a male by her side invites the male viewer to occupy that empty space in his imagination.

"Thus, male clothing becomes synonymous with victory over males, and Lara ostensibly becomes a symbol of female empowerment as one who transcends the overwhelming obstacles set forth by a male dominated society - all with the aid of her attire. In actuality, however, Lara's victory-by-apparel suggests that if a woman is to succeed in a male dominated world, she must wear a man's clothes, which ultimately disassociates her with her feminine identity, despite the feminine features her clothing may accentuate. Instead of signaling empowerment, Lara's clothes acknowledge that one must possess male traits in order to excel in an openly male-dominated world."

Amazing Bill Shannon Performance in New Visa Ad

A while ago I introduced my A'level Media students to an amazing music promo for 'Work it Out' by RJD2 that Alan and I had seen at a BFI conference. I've just been watching TV and seen the same performance artist 'Bill Shannon' in a great advert for 'Visa' by 'Saatchi and Saatchi'. He's brilliant. Check it out! I've added the 'Making of' video too for anyone interested in the production processes: