Wednesday, 21 August 2019
AUTUMN TERM 2 NOV 5 - DEC 20
tbc
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Wednesday, 17 April 2019
BLOG final post order, final tweaks
Included elsewhere in Word; you should also carefully check the indicative list of links lists/gadgets from this post to complete a final tidy up. That final tidy up should include looking for posts with zero/limited illustration, poor layout, glitches in font size, vids/docs that are private or have been taken down, and spelling mistakes in post titles (eg 'coventions' - I'll name no names!!).
HELLO...A LOOK BACK
A brief overview of what the blog's about, what's in it; highlights and challenges; what you're proud of; the best stuff on the blog! A short video (group or individual) including a few screenshots is best.
FINAL CUT OF (TITLE)
Make sure to include a list of final improvements from the last rough cut! BRIEF aud feedback is ALWAYS useful, + including this would help indicate you have been paying attention to this critical aspect.
Include a short statement of THE TARGET AUDIENCE (sub-heading!!), including any blog links you think useful.
A links list of rough cuts would help emphasize the journey.
Split into 2 posts if you prefer.
All Eval posts need to start with a large size statement of the Q being answered.
If sharing resources in a group you should state clearly what each person, especially YOU, has contributed.
If its a long post, then do as I do and provide an IN THIS POST sub-heading with bulleted list of content.
See points on Q1!
FINAL BLOG POST ORDER SHOULD BE...
A brief overview of what the blog's about, what's in it; highlights and challenges; what you're proud of; the best stuff on the blog! A short video (group or individual) including a few screenshots is best.
VITAL CHECK...Be sure to check all embedded material is accessible by examiner/me - and NOT set to private (or blocked by YT).
FINAL CUT OF (TITLE)
Make sure to include a list of final improvements from the last rough cut! BRIEF aud feedback is ALWAYS useful, + including this would help indicate you have been paying attention to this critical aspect.
Include a short statement of THE TARGET AUDIENCE (sub-heading!!), including any blog links you think useful.
A links list of rough cuts would help emphasize the journey.
TIME-SAVING TIPFeel free to copy/paste links lists (ie, NOT from edit mode) to save time on providing useful links!!!EVAL Q1 CONVENTIONS + REPRESENTATIONS
Split into 2 posts if you prefer.
All Eval posts need to start with a large size statement of the Q being answered.
If sharing resources in a group you should state clearly what each person, especially YOU, has contributed.
If its a long post, then do as I do and provide an IN THIS POST sub-heading with bulleted list of content.
EVAL VID SCRIPTSThere are multiple good examples of this, and they do help secure marks (eg Evie's, Sophie's): either in blog post style or (preferably!!) as an embedded doc, especially if you bold+pink terms, these are very helpful to the marker.EVAL Q2 AUDIENCES + DISTRIBUTION
See points on Q1!
Wednesday, 7 November 2018
BLOG links lists
...
OG pageviews
OG blog archive
OG followers
OG About me (optional, feel free to remove)
LL Eval Qs
Obviously no posts in this until January!
LL: Vodcasts (all)
You'll have separate, shorter lists for topics like General Conventions, but this helps highlight the range of your vodcasting.
LL: Key websites I've used
BoxOfficeMojo, IMDB, film Wikis, the-numbers.com, Film Guardian, artofthetitle, ... Any further suggestions (great sites for film-related research), please pass on as a comment to this post
LL: Blogs I've used
That includes past student blogs you've looked at
RSS: (all Film Guardian, + any others you've added)
- Box Office UK
- Working Title
- NBC-Universal
KEY:You should have a top (horizontal) links list, with:
LL = links list
RSS = RSS feed!
OG = other gadget
- Group partner/s blogs
- your YouTube
- their YouTube/s
- any group YouTube
- pitch
- audience summary
- industry summary
- social media1 [make context, eg as artist or as record label or manager or design agency]
- social media2
- social media3 (if in a group of 3)
- final cut
- EvalQ1 Conventions/representations
- EvalQ2 Aud engagement/distribution
- EvalQ3 How production skills developed
- EvalQ4 Technologies
OG pageviews
OG blog archive
OG followers
OG About me (optional, feel free to remove)
LL Eval Qs
Obviously no posts in this until January!
LL: Vodcasts (all)
You'll have separate, shorter lists for topics like General Conventions, but this helps highlight the range of your vodcasting.
LL: Key websites I've used
BoxOfficeMojo, IMDB, film Wikis, the-numbers.com, Film Guardian, artofthetitle, ... Any further suggestions (great sites for film-related research), please pass on as a comment to this post
LL: Blogs I've used
That includes past student blogs you've looked at
RSS: (all Film Guardian, + any others you've added)
- Box Office UK
- Working Title
- NBC-Universal
OG our Twitter feed see links at the bottom of this post
OG our Insta feed
These require some HTML tweaks - see the links at the bottom of this post.
LL: Media theories I've tackled
As you encounter theories, you should add individual posts on each, eg THEORY1 auteur. Other examples: big six, Gant Rule, Bechdel test, Stuart Hall's readings, Proppian archetypes... Avoid copy/pasting from me or websites; explain in your own words (adding detail with hyperlinked/sourced quotes if you like). Give an example of how YOU would APPLY this (eg detail Proppian archetypes seen in 1 or more film openings), even if you simply copy/paste from 1 of your own posts. This will help hugely with exam prep, this year and next!
LL: General Conventions research
OG our Insta feed
These require some HTML tweaks - see the links at the bottom of this post.
LL: Media theories I've tackled
As you encounter theories, you should add individual posts on each, eg THEORY1 auteur. Other examples: big six, Gant Rule, Bechdel test, Stuart Hall's readings, Proppian archetypes... Avoid copy/pasting from me or websites; explain in your own words (adding detail with hyperlinked/sourced quotes if you like). Give an example of how YOU would APPLY this (eg detail Proppian archetypes seen in 1 or more film openings), even if you simply copy/paste from 1 of your own posts. This will help hugely with exam prep, this year and next!
LL: General Conventions research
LL: General Film Openings I've Analysed
Use YT trailers/openings/full film or Wiki for the link (or an individual post on it). general is simply defined as openings explored before research switched to genre examples.
LL: YouTube playlists of films I've analysed + other resources
Build playlists as you go, using shared or individual YT channel. These can overlap (1 film in multiple playlists) + would include: Past coursework film openings; General film openings [break this + others down into topics if you wish]; X Genre film openings; Key influences. Other resources might be themed by director/s, SFX, company/ies, age rating; any area you think useful. You'll also embed these eventually into a single post.
Use YT trailers/openings/full film or Wiki for the link (or an individual post on it). general is simply defined as openings explored before research switched to genre examples.
LL: YouTube playlists of films I've analysed + other resources
Build playlists as you go, using shared or individual YT channel. These can overlap (1 film in multiple playlists) + would include: Past coursework film openings; General film openings [break this + others down into topics if you wish]; X Genre film openings; Key influences. Other resources might be themed by director/s, SFX, company/ies, age rating; any area you think useful. You'll also embed these eventually into a single post.
LL: Podcasts
These should be posted weekly, with brief textual summary of contents
LL: Genre Films I've Analysed
Use YT trailers/openings/full film or Wiki for the link (or an individual post on it).
These should be posted weekly, with brief textual summary of contents
LL: Genre Films I've Analysed
Use YT trailers/openings/full film or Wiki for the link (or an individual post on it).
LL: Genre: Additional research
Director case study for example; history/timeline; key films/directors/companies. For social realism you need to look at the history including the 1920s-40s British Documentary Movement; 1950s/60s French New Wave and Italian neo-realism, and British New Wave (often referred to as kitchen sink dramas, on both TV and in cinema). Ken Loach and Mike Leigh are key directors, arguably Shane Meadows. You'll be looking at budgets/box office (contextualised by comparison with mainstream films - eg WT's + other (US) NBC-U tentpole productions. Production strategies reflected in low budgets (eg of Warp - stars/casting; IP, franchise, CGI/SFX - and lack of these!). Micro-budget productions. BBFC age rating, distribution, self-distribution, Netflix/Amazon, convergence (TV/film) may all go here and also appear on other links lists.
Director case study for example; history/timeline; key films/directors/companies. For social realism you need to look at the history including the 1920s-40s British Documentary Movement; 1950s/60s French New Wave and Italian neo-realism, and British New Wave (often referred to as kitchen sink dramas, on both TV and in cinema). Ken Loach and Mike Leigh are key directors, arguably Shane Meadows. You'll be looking at budgets/box office (contextualised by comparison with mainstream films - eg WT's + other (US) NBC-U tentpole productions. Production strategies reflected in low budgets (eg of Warp - stars/casting; IP, franchise, CGI/SFX - and lack of these!). Micro-budget productions. BBFC age rating, distribution, self-distribution, Netflix/Amazon, convergence (TV/film) may all go here and also appear on other links lists.
LL: Ideas: the evolution
You should have (usually short but ...) clear posts on every idea thats been considered. Once the final idea has been detailed in a post, further changes would be noted in posts entitled IDEA UPDATE1 etc, not just IDEA.
You should have (usually short but ...) clear posts on every idea thats been considered. Once the final idea has been detailed in a post, further changes would be noted in posts entitled IDEA UPDATE1 etc, not just IDEA.
LL: Industry research
This is a very broad category you may wish to break down into smaller areas later. Issues include box office analysis + Gant rule, Indie v studio/subsidiary, big 6, convergence + disruption (decline of physical media but also multi-format + editionalising to monetise this; Netflix + Amazon + Google Play specifically, piracy, marketing (keep notes for Eval Q on this in an unpublished draft post), BBFC/MPAA etc, release dates/strategy, cinemas' response to home cinema (IMAX, 3D, Real-3D, Universal's Prima [see blog tag], Curzon's directors' Q+A for members, adult-friendly boutique cinemas, tie-ins eg with Orange etc)
This is a very broad category you may wish to break down into smaller areas later. Issues include box office analysis + Gant rule, Indie v studio/subsidiary, big 6, convergence + disruption (decline of physical media but also multi-format + editionalising to monetise this; Netflix + Amazon + Google Play specifically, piracy, marketing (keep notes for Eval Q on this in an unpublished draft post), BBFC/MPAA etc, release dates/strategy, cinemas' response to home cinema (IMAX, 3D, Real-3D, Universal's Prima [see blog tag], Curzon's directors' Q+A for members, adult-friendly boutique cinemas, tie-ins eg with Orange etc)
LL: Initial audience research
Primary: audience survey to establish suitability (if the numbers aren't encouraging, respond: what will you do to boost hopes of successfully appealing to this aud?); moodboard of male + female aud members. Secondary: typical BBFC, MPAA + any other national ratings (its useful to note the huge differences across countries); typical box office to establish appeal (there are outliers like Secrets and Lies, Slumdog Millionaire, Billy Elliot that break the trend); quotes from box office columns, books etc on that genre's audience or challenges it faces
Primary: audience survey to establish suitability (if the numbers aren't encouraging, respond: what will you do to boost hopes of successfully appealing to this aud?); moodboard of male + female aud members. Secondary: typical BBFC, MPAA + any other national ratings (its useful to note the huge differences across countries); typical box office to establish appeal (there are outliers like Secrets and Lies, Slumdog Millionaire, Billy Elliot that break the trend); quotes from box office columns, books etc on that genre's audience or challenges it faces
LL: Pre-production planning docs
This is where marks are often lost - many of these are specifically in the markscheme: script/screenplay; storyboards; shotlists/call sheets; animatic; moodboards; pitch.
This is where marks are often lost - many of these are specifically in the markscheme: script/screenplay; storyboards; shotlists/call sheets; animatic; moodboards; pitch.
LL: Pre-production organisation
Casting, rehearsals; costume, props, make-up; location scouting. Its a good idea to add a post, IDEA: summary of how it evolved, to link here.
Casting, rehearsals; costume, props, make-up; location scouting. Its a good idea to add a post, IDEA: summary of how it evolved, to link here.
LL: Practice exercises
Prelim; Tyrannosaur swede; microdrama if there's time
Prelim; Tyrannosaur swede; microdrama if there's time
LL: Production schedule and updates
The pitch should include an early draft plan to get done by Xmas, regularly updated with a SCHEDULE UPDATE1 post whenever required (eg for re-shoot or a shoot is cancelled)
The pitch should include an early draft plan to get done by Xmas, regularly updated with a SCHEDULE UPDATE1 post whenever required (eg for re-shoot or a shoot is cancelled)
A google calendar (from the combined group account) is a smart tool to use, + screenshot in schedule posts. It could be usefully embedded at the bottom of the blog (not the side) - google to see how (I've blogged on this in mediatechtips too)
LL: Sample scenes, rough cuts, final cut
The sooner you start sample scenes - these would boost any pitch - the better. Never film without blogging - if it looks awful upon review, fine - blog it, explain why, and detail what you'll change to get better results. Such material is important to evidence "THE JOURNEY", a key phrase in the markscheme.
The sooner you start sample scenes - these would boost any pitch - the better. Never film without blogging - if it looks awful upon review, fine - blog it, explain why, and detail what you'll change to get better results. Such material is important to evidence "THE JOURNEY", a key phrase in the markscheme.
LL: Audience feedback
As much as possible, try to blog some audience feedback on every sample or rough cut, no matter how minimal, + post a clear response to this (which could be disagreeing with sample audience views sometimes). Include within a single post with the footage or split as you prefer. If in a single post, then add + AUDIENCE FEEDBACK to the links list title for sample scenes etc
As much as possible, try to blog some audience feedback on every sample or rough cut, no matter how minimal, + post a clear response to this (which could be disagreeing with sample audience views sometimes). Include within a single post with the footage or split as you prefer. If in a single post, then add + AUDIENCE FEEDBACK to the links list title for sample scenes etc
LL: Shoots
Best to keep a single post for every shoot, in which you post (updating the post as you go): PLANNING (shotlists etc; script updates; location scouting; set dressing/costuming/mise-en-scene plans); RUSHES (a few clips before you've had time to actually edit; any edited behind-the-scenes which evidences set-dressing, production [using call sheets], directing, cinematography setup etc - such material is key for the social media); REFLECTION (how did the shoot go? Anything unplanned added? Re-shoot or follow-up shoot needed? Sound issues to note and tackle in post as Foley sound? Logistical issues with transport, catering, lighting etc?)
Best to keep a single post for every shoot, in which you post (updating the post as you go): PLANNING (shotlists etc; script updates; location scouting; set dressing/costuming/mise-en-scene plans); RUSHES (a few clips before you've had time to actually edit; any edited behind-the-scenes which evidences set-dressing, production [using call sheets], directing, cinematography setup etc - such material is key for the social media); REFLECTION (how did the shoot go? Anything unplanned added? Re-shoot or follow-up shoot needed? Sound issues to note and tackle in post as Foley sound? Logistical issues with transport, catering, lighting etc?)
LL: Uses of technology
You can set up single posts to add to, and later tidy up, or multiple posts (in which case, multiple links lists). Topics include: Final Cut Pro X, Blogger, online research, sharing documents, group comms + communicating with cast, AV kit, social media, etc
You can set up single posts to add to, and later tidy up, or multiple posts (in which case, multiple links lists). Topics include: Final Cut Pro X, Blogger, online research, sharing documents, group comms + communicating with cast, AV kit, social media, etc
LL: Misc
The brief, assessment criteria etc - anything that doesn't fit in with another links list. If you spot a useful theme, then give it its own links list.
The brief, assessment criteria etc - anything that doesn't fit in with another links list. If you spot a useful theme, then give it its own links list.
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Tuesday, 23 October 2018
2018-19 Deadlines
Updated as we go; use for planning ahead
Dates are week beginning / deadline, eg 22nd / 25th
15 / 16 GENERAL CONVENTIONS
22 / 25 PITCH
12 / 13 AUDIENCE + SAMPLE SCENE1
16 PRELIM
19 / 20 IDENTS
22 TYRANNOSIR
5 ALL BLOG IMPROVEMENTS, ALL COMMENTS ACTED ON
PRE-PRODUCTION COMPLETE (storyboards, screenplay etc)
10 / 13 MOCK EXAM
17 / 20 FULL ROUGH CUT, R+P COMPLETED
5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
Dates are week beginning / deadline, eg 22nd / 25th
OCTOBER
15 / 16 GENERAL CONVENTIONS
22 / 25 PITCH
NOVEMBER
5 / 8 GENRE CONVENTIONS, HISTORY ETC12 / 13 AUDIENCE + SAMPLE SCENE1
16 PRELIM
19 / 20 IDENTS
22 TYRANNOSIR
DECEMBER
3 / 4 SAMPLE SCENE 2 5 ALL BLOG IMPROVEMENTS, ALL COMMENTS ACTED ON
PRE-PRODUCTION COMPLETE (storyboards, screenplay etc)
10 / 13 MOCK EXAM
17 / 20 FULL ROUGH CUT, R+P COMPLETED
JANUARY
3 / 4 TBC5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
FEBRUARY
3 / 4 TBC5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
MARCH
3 / 4 TBC5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
APRIL
3 / 4 TBC5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
MAY
3 / 4 TBC5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
JUNE
3 / 4 TBC5 TBC
10 / ?? TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
17 / 20 TBC
Wednesday, 19 September 2018
BOX OFFICE WT TASK Gant report Sept 2018
As I strongly recommend you do, to enhance both coursework and exam knowledge and understanding, I usually read the box office columns in the Film Guardian. This week's has a particularly useful snippet...
So, your task today is:
POST: BOX OFFICE WT's [Film Title] analysis
Read through Gant's weekly UK box office report, dated 18.9.18.
Adjust your post title with the relevant film title.
Use (copy/paste then edit) the text below as a layout guide, and add relevant details for yours.
Add relevant tags.
Add to a links list on box office and/or distribution.
(SUB-HEADING): WT'S RECENT BOX OFFICE RECORD: THEIR LAST 10 RELEASES
You might find it better to do this in Word or Ppt and upload/embed through slideshare. You can copy/paste a lot of this. You could also create one doc and share using O365, and do 5 each...
Use the WT Wiki (its linked below!!) to:
(SUB-HEADING): ANALYSIS OF WT'S RECENT HISTORY
You can work together on this.
Comment on any pattern you see in:
BBFC age rating (eg, many 18s?)
budget
box office (UK ['home'] biggest market? Gant Rule? consistent?)
wide international release (20+)? China?
always same distributor/s? Do you see any change looking further back (using the Wiki table)?
(SUB...) KING OF THIEVES: BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS!!!
Based on what you've discovered, I'd like you (separately for this one!!) to predict:
final UK, US, world box office;
# of territories it will get theatrical release in
will it be released in China
will it follow the Gant Rule
its peak # of screens at the UK box office
Explain your predictions - ie, link to films/trends from your research.
LINKS: Wiki; YT trailer; IMDB; boxofficemojo. Universal site. WT page. WT musical page.Guardian.
.
...
So, your task today is:
POST: BOX OFFICE WT's [Film Title] analysis
Read through Gant's weekly UK box office report, dated 18.9.18.Adjust your post title with the relevant film title.
Use (copy/paste then edit) the text below as a layout guide, and add relevant details for yours.
- Don't add box office figures yet, but DO add the relevant BoMojo hyperlink (just £m etc for now; just 1 BoM link needed, + below in your list. Ignore last 2 on my list for BillyE).
- Put x for # of countries
Add relevant tags.
Add to a links list on box office and/or distribution.
(SUB-HEADING): WT'S RECENT BOX OFFICE RECORD: THEIR LAST 10 RELEASES
You might find it better to do this in Word or Ppt and upload/embed through slideshare. You can copy/paste a lot of this. You could also create one doc and share using O365, and do 5 each...
Use the WT Wiki (its linked below!!) to:
- list their previous 10 films (Everest to Darkest Hour) including Wiki hyperlink
- budget (use Wiki or BoM)
- UK, US, world box office
- distributors
- # of countries released in
- BBFC age rating (don't need link, but add if you want to)
(SUB-HEADING): ANALYSIS OF WT'S RECENT HISTORY
You can work together on this.
Comment on any pattern you see in:
BBFC age rating (eg, many 18s?)
budget
box office (UK ['home'] biggest market? Gant Rule? consistent?)
wide international release (20+)? China?
always same distributor/s? Do you see any change looking further back (using the Wiki table)?
(SUB...) KING OF THIEVES: BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS!!!
Based on what you've discovered, I'd like you (separately for this one!!) to predict:
final UK, US, world box office;
# of territories it will get theatrical release in
will it be released in China
will it follow the Gant Rule
its peak # of screens at the UK box office
Explain your predictions - ie, link to films/trends from your research.
Stephen Daldry, 2000 (BBFC 15)
- PRODUCTION: BBC Films, Tiger Aspect Pictures, Working Title Films
- DISTRIBUTION: Universal Pictures, Focus Features
BUDGET: £3m; BOX OFFICE: UK £73m US $22m World: $109m
DISTRIBUTED IN 7 COUNTRIES
LINKS: Wiki; YT trailer; IMDB; boxofficemojo. Universal site. WT page. WT musical page.Guardian.
.
Here's WT's last 10 productions, according to the Wiki:
...
Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Blog post tweaks for better analysis + presentation
I've used a main heading (green, Georgia, bold, largest), + 1 level of sub-heading so far (Arial, large, red, Arial). My main text is Times, which you should stick to as well.
TITLES IN NUMBERS: How many, how long, companies...
 |
| 21 titles, quite typical! |
TYPICAL # OF TITLES: 23
I looked at 10 films from multiple genres (listed in this post), and counted how many titles were featured in the opening sequence.
There was a lot of variation - some (example, example) had
very few, but an average of those with 10+ was 23 [add your number!]
Film Title, for example, had 23 titles - see below for the
full list.
TYPICAL DURATION OF TITLES: 3:20mins
 |
| Sherlock Holmes had titles for 2:54, fairly typical |
Counting from the 1st to the last, I also saw considerable
variation in how long the titles sequence lasted.
This variation reflects the variation in the length of film
openings overall, but I did calculate an average for those with 10+ titles
Film Title, for example, had a 3:40 timing between its 1st
and final title (while Film Title had just 0:40, showing the variety!)
- About 20-30 titles (However sometimes only the companies
and the director is mentioned)
- The duration of titles is usually about 5 minutes long.
(It can be shorter and a gap between them)
- +/- 5 companies are usually credited (But it can be less)
Blog improvements
I'll add some pointers here on specific ways to improve posts.
Here's Sam's post after initial improvements, and below, what I'd do.
This variation reflects the variation in the length of film openings overall, but I did calculate an average for those with 10+ titles
Here's Sam's post after initial improvements, and below, what I'd do.
GENERAL CONVENTIONS 2: TITLES Research Summary
Titles (Numbers):
- About 20-30 titles (However sometimes only the companies and the director is mentioned)
- The duration of titles is usually about 5 minutes long. (It can be shorter and a gap between them)
- +/- 5 companies are usually credited (But it can be less)
The wording of the titles:
1. A...Film (Director)
2. Starring... / With... / Introducing... / Co-starring... (Actors)
3. Technical Roles (about 10):
- Casting by...
- Costume designed by...
- Music composed by...
- Editor...
- Director of photography...
- Lightning by...
- Production designer...
- Screenplay by...
- Executive Producer... / Produced by...
- Directed by...
4. Directed by... (Director)
(Director is the only one who always gets credited twice)
Spider-Man 3 (Sam Raimi), 2007
...
- About 20-30 titles (However sometimes only the companies and the director is mentioned)
- The duration of titles is usually about 5 minutes long. (It can be shorter and a gap between them)
- +/- 5 companies are usually credited (But it can be less)
The wording of the titles:
1. A...Film (Director)
2. Starring... / With... / Introducing... / Co-starring... (Actors)
3. Technical Roles (about 10):
- Casting by...
- Costume designed by...
- Music composed by...
- Editor...
- Director of photography...
- Lightning by...
- Production designer...
- Screenplay by...
- Executive Producer... / Produced by...
- Directed by...
4. Directed by... (Director)
(Director is the only one who always gets credited twice)
Spider-Man 3 (Sam Raimi), 2007
...
[MY EXAMPLE]
TITLES IN NUMBERS: How many, how long, companies...
TYPICAL # OF TITLES: 23
TYPICAL # OF TITLES: 23
I looked at 10 films from multiple genres (listed in this post), and counted how many titles were featured in the opening sequence.
There was a lot of variation - some (example, example) had very few, but an average of those with 10+ was 23 [add your number!]
Film Title, for example, had 23 titles - see below for the full list.
TYPICAL DURATION OF TITLES: 3:20mins
Counting from the 1st to the last, I also saw considerable variation in how long the titles sequence lasted.
This variation reflects the variation in the length of film openings overall, but I did calculate an average for those with 10+ titles
Film Title, for example, had a 3:40 timing between its 1st and final title (while Film Title had just 0:40, showing the variety!)
- About 20-30 titles (However sometimes only the companies and the director is mentioned)
- The duration of titles is usually about 5 minutes long. (It can be shorter and a gap between them)
- +/- 5 companies are usually credited (But it can be less)
- The duration of titles is usually about 5 minutes long. (It can be shorter and a gap between them)
- +/- 5 companies are usually credited (But it can be less)
Tuesday, 19 June 2018
Summer 2018 task + getting started
TBC Your summer task is simply this:
REQUIRED: Blog; intro posts; initial general examples analysis + summary- Set up coursework blog with options/settings including template as set out in the guide post
- Publish initial posts: My hopes!, The Brief and Markscheme, My Fave Film
- Publish posts on at least 5 film openings + a summary as video, or as post with assets (video clips, screenshots, script) saved and ready to edit
- Begin some preparation for your film opening pitch: (genre research including history, conventions [characters, narrative, opening, history, box office/distribution, age rating etc]; location scouting; audience research; casting; costume; script/themes; sample rough footage ...).
- You could also read + blog what you've learnt from the regular box office columns (UK; Charles Gant (rule); US/global) in The Film Guardian, or any other source (eg my Cinema blog) which is expanding your knowledge of the film industry and audiences.
THE CIA JOURNEY
At its simplest, your coursework can be boiled down to this:
C - research into conventionsYour film opening needs to reflect the knowledge + understanding from this (apply research)
I - research into industry
A - research into audience
JOURNEY - you need to evidence your journey through pre-production/research, production, post-production and critical evaluation. What you don't explicitly evidence on your blog doesn't exist marks wise: the examiner will only see your blog.
You can find guidance on how to blog on film openings here + here [DB: replace posts], and you can see examples of what student blogs look like by browsing past student blogs! There is a lot more you can find out by browsing my blog specifically on the AS coursework, and of course my Cinema blog, which by now has a massive archive of posts on the film industry (use the tag cloud, search or just browse by clicking on the arrow beside each year/month).
Note that you analyse film openings in 2 steps: general (look at a mix of genres) and then genre (what are the more specific conventions for your chosen genre?).
You should analyse at least 1 film opening in high detail, but you can approach this by mainly blogging on THEMES/ASPECTS and so discussing several films in each theme post. This approach makes doing a summary much quicker. You're building towards a summary of general film opening conventions, and should have 3+ specific examples (films) to illustrate each point. It also helps to note features of some unusual (unconventional) aspects. You will later need to justify your film choices by referring to the conventions your research uncovered.
Here's an example of a fairly detailed post I did on an old (80s) film opening; you should notice how film language has changed for more recent films. There are many ways to approach the blogging; here's another example, on The Boat That Rocked (a Richard Curtis/WT rom-com), and one more focused on industry and audience/representations: Submarine v Wild Child.
Wednesday, 16 May 2018
CIE AS Exam paper and past questions
I'll update this over time, gathering past questions here.
You can find details on past UK papers here - useful as its basically the same (but UK TV drama, and one area of representation specified for each exam)
The Word doc below has the June and November 2015 paper questions (TV drama clips were Breaking Bad and Mad Men) and the topics the Cinema questions might cover. The Ppt below gives you all the past CIE AS Qs (from 2015-), updated on an ongoing basis.
I've posted an exam overview here.
Below the line: screenshots of these in case Slideshare gets blocked.
...
You can find details on past UK papers here - useful as its basically the same (but UK TV drama, and one area of representation specified for each exam)
The Word doc below has the June and November 2015 paper questions (TV drama clips were Breaking Bad and Mad Men) and the topics the Cinema questions might cover. The Ppt below gives you all the past CIE AS Qs (from 2015-), updated on an ongoing basis.
CIE AS past exam Qs by DB3@IGS on Scribd
I've posted an exam overview here.
AS exam paper from DB3igs
Below the line: screenshots of these in case Slideshare gets blocked.
...
Useful reading, books, viewing
 |
| Screenshot of links list/RSS from here |
SUGGESTED READING
Your exam board, CIE, base the syllabus on the UK OCR syllabus, and you can buy a guide book on the AS OCR course.
There are journals you could consider too: Sight and Sound (university level) and also Media Magazine (which St G's subscribes to).
The Guardian is a centre-left UK broadsheet or 'quality' newspaper; its Media section is the most comprehensive of any paper, and you'll learn a lot by regularly dipping into it (I use the free Android app to download new articles automatically overnight, and read this daily). The film section is obviously especially useful! Furthermore, there are weekly UK/US/world box office reports, with a lot of great information on audiences, film companies and marketing, with insights into distribution and how cinema companies operate too. You can find links over on my British Cinema blog, plus RSS feeds for specific topics like NBC-Universal!
KEY LINKS:
 |
| Gant columns from June 2016 |
The top two results from the simple 'british cinema' search below are especially recommended. The British Cinema Book [Amazon] is hefty and very long, but is organised into reasonably short chapters. New British Cinema from Submarine... is an interesting read (and Submarine is from Warp, one of our two core case studies).
Wednesday, 24 January 2018
RE-PITCH POWERPOINT
Two tasks for today
ONE: QUICKFIRE LIST OF 10 THINGS YOU HAVEN'T DONE
(5MINS to do this, just write into books)
TWO: POWERPOINT RE-PITCH
Each group will present, reflect on and blog on a PRODUCTION REVIEW, essentially a re-pitch. You will work on parts of this together, but present your own individual Powerpoint, specific to your blog. To be on blogs for the Thurs P5 lesson.
Work you were supposed to have done over a week ago on illustrating your Hannah interview podcast should make this easier.
(1) Create + save a Ppt with a white or non-black background.
Include your name in the file name.
Every slide must have a clear, specific heading.
No small text - use heading numbering (eg Conventions1, Conventions2) to split across slides if need be.
No silly fonts.
No full sentences unless you feel it is an important quote (bullets only)
To be saved and copied by all, uploaded to individual slideshare accounts and posted before P5.
ONE: QUICKFIRE LIST OF 10 THINGS YOU HAVEN'T DONE
(5MINS to do this, just write into books)
TWO: POWERPOINT RE-PITCH
Each group will present, reflect on and blog on a PRODUCTION REVIEW, essentially a re-pitch. You will work on parts of this together, but present your own individual Powerpoint, specific to your blog. To be on blogs for the Thurs P5 lesson.
Work you were supposed to have done over a week ago on illustrating your Hannah interview podcast should make this easier.
(1) Create + save a Ppt with a white or non-black background.
Include your name in the file name.
Every slide must have a clear, specific heading.
No small text - use heading numbering (eg Conventions1, Conventions2) to split across slides if need be.
No silly fonts.
No full sentences unless you feel it is an important quote (bullets only)
To be saved and copied by all, uploaded to individual slideshare accounts and posted before P5.
Wednesday, 10 January 2018
JOURNEY SUMMARY PODCAST
 |
| links list e.g. (Sophie, A2) |
The links list on the left is an example of some of the work a previous high-achieving student did in this regard - just have a look at the links lists alone to get a good sense of the range of what she did to get (almost) 100%.
Today you will be creating a summary of this, which should also help you identify some key gaps, and along the way demonstrating to a visiting student what you have done throughout the year. You need to clearly demonstrate answers with blog and other relevant content, and should edit in clear screenshots/clips afterwards.
You can add to this before submitting your final blog to help secure high marks on this criteria. Providing clear summaries on your work in posts BEFORE the Evaluation answers (though you could create these at the same time) is very useful in helping secure marks - and for you to identify gaps.
Below is the list of questions you will answer.Be clear and specific - but don't waffle!!!
You should film this - your interviewer could do this for you, so it is only the production team (and Mac screen/s (groups could flip between multiple screens) in shot.
Up next: for AS completing Eval Q2b, for A2 creating a sample digipak image using the chosen Photoshop SFX tutorial (and then Eval Q3b, which is also an opportunity to check on blogging research on industry).
...
Wednesday, 8 November 2017
BLOG CHECKLIST Nov-Dec 2017
TBC: I'll post a summary of the main deadlines for the rest of the year here shortly
Briefly for now (to be on blogs for Tuesday lesson):
NOV 14TH
Podcast 3, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
VODCAST General film opening conventions
Possible Influences Summary
NOV 21ST
Podcast 4, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
VODCAST Slasher openings conventions
[for any hybrid ideas, eg with zombie, a much shorter 2nd vodcast picking out what you consider key conventions to reflect in your film]
VODCAST Slasher franchises
VODCAST Editing in stalking and slashing scenes
NOV 28TH
Podcast 5, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
Pitch/pre-production summary [several key parts can be deferred to next week] *moved to next Tuesday, see Weds 29th lesson notes*
Sample scene1 (30secs+) including idents
VODCAST Slasher sound and music
LESSONS WEDS 29TH NOVEMBER
DEC 5TH
Pre-production summary video [held over from last week]
Podcast 6, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
New (2nd) sample scene (60 secs+). You've 2 weeks to produce a full rough cut - feel free to email a link to blog post with new cuts before then for feedback.
VODCAST Narrative and Representations in slasher movies
[pushed back to next week] VODCAST Audience - feature moodboard and aud feedback on initial sample scene/s
Audience moodboard (for both male and female)
Screenplay
Treatment
Storyboard
[Ideally call sheets, just make sure they're on blogs BEFORE each shoot]
[2 posts for each shoot: Shoot x Preparation; Shoot x Reflection]
Health and safety review (list all possible risks and simple steps to reduce risks, eg driving: keeping within safe speeds, not distracting the driver; train station: personal items/equipment in bags/zipped pockets to avoid theft, keeping clear of platforms)
Performer Image Use Permissions (hard copy of each signed to me, but you only need to splay these out with the top sheet clearly visible/readable, photograph and put on blog)
LESSONS WEDS 6TH DECEMBER
We'll go over the Bride of Chucky opening, and possibly the Cherry Falls opening, in the way you will for your mock exam next Weds. You need to revise terminology including semiotics and narrative terms before these lessons. You have the question now, so can be preparing for this ... now!
DEC 12TH
Podcast 7, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
[held back from last week] VODCAST Audience - feature moodboard and aud feedback on initial sample scene/s
DEC 19TH
Usual updates, links lists reviewed and updated, podcast 8
Full rough cut on blog before lesson, with some evidence of, summary of, response to audience feedback. The rough cut may still be missing some soundtrack music, or other audio elements, but should otherwise be complete, including formatted titles
DEC 21ST
Blog up to date
Provisional final cut, including music soundtrack (no copyright music, only your own recordings/FCPX library sound effects). There will be a final opportunity to make improvements following up on feedback in January, but the focus then will be on Evaluation and exam preparation.
Briefly for now (to be on blogs for Tuesday lesson):
NOV 14TH
Podcast 3, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
VODCAST General film opening conventions
Possible Influences Summary
NOV 21ST
Podcast 4, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
VODCAST Slasher openings conventions
[for any hybrid ideas, eg with zombie, a much shorter 2nd vodcast picking out what you consider key conventions to reflect in your film]
VODCAST Slasher franchises
VODCAST Editing in stalking and slashing scenes
NOV 28TH
Podcast 5, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
Pitch/pre-production summary [several key parts can be deferred to next week] *moved to next Tuesday, see Weds 29th lesson notes*
Sample scene1 (30secs+) including idents
VODCAST Slasher sound and music
LESSONS WEDS 29TH NOVEMBER
- Brainstorm + list pre-production tasks. Be comprehensive. You can use deadlines above, handouts, notes, blog etc to help with this
- Make notes on what you have completed; be specific on started but incomplete steps
- Make a to-do list. Assign a name/s to each with a completion date
- Summarise in video form before Tuesday 5th Dec lesson. That means visually illustrating general/genre conventions research (eg clip or YT upload or blog post screenshot of vodcast/individual opening/theme analysis), audience research (shot of moodboards, clip/s from videos etc, practice exercises, industry learning, location scouting etc) and the rest. Just outline + illustrate what you've done, don't repeat full, detailed vids or posts.
DEC 5TH
Pre-production summary video [held over from last week]
Podcast 6, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
New (2nd) sample scene (60 secs+). You've 2 weeks to produce a full rough cut - feel free to email a link to blog post with new cuts before then for feedback.
VODCAST Narrative and Representations in slasher movies
[pushed back to next week] VODCAST Audience - feature moodboard and aud feedback on initial sample scene/s
Audience moodboard (for both male and female)
Screenplay
Treatment
Storyboard
[Ideally call sheets, just make sure they're on blogs BEFORE each shoot]
[2 posts for each shoot: Shoot x Preparation; Shoot x Reflection]
Health and safety review (list all possible risks and simple steps to reduce risks, eg driving: keeping within safe speeds, not distracting the driver; train station: personal items/equipment in bags/zipped pockets to avoid theft, keeping clear of platforms)
Performer Image Use Permissions (hard copy of each signed to me, but you only need to splay these out with the top sheet clearly visible/readable, photograph and put on blog)
LESSONS WEDS 6TH DECEMBER
We'll go over the Bride of Chucky opening, and possibly the Cherry Falls opening, in the way you will for your mock exam next Weds. You need to revise terminology including semiotics and narrative terms before these lessons. You have the question now, so can be preparing for this ... now!
DEC 12TH
Podcast 7, production schedule update
Ongoing blogging, improvements
[held back from last week] VODCAST Audience - feature moodboard and aud feedback on initial sample scene/s
DEC 19TH
Usual updates, links lists reviewed and updated, podcast 8
Full rough cut on blog before lesson, with some evidence of, summary of, response to audience feedback. The rough cut may still be missing some soundtrack music, or other audio elements, but should otherwise be complete, including formatted titles
DEC 21ST
Blog up to date
Provisional final cut, including music soundtrack (no copyright music, only your own recordings/FCPX library sound effects). There will be a final opportunity to make improvements following up on feedback in January, but the focus then will be on Evaluation and exam preparation.
Wednesday, 11 October 2017
BLOG CHECKLIST Sept-Oct 2017
So far you should have the following:
Titles are suggested; note the numbering system.
I've used all-caps only to make suggested titles stand out; if you look at my blogs you'll see I use capitals in titles only to highlight themes, and you should do the same. I'll underline/Italicize any bits you should keep in caps.
There should be NO posts with NO illustration. This post doesn't - what an ugly post it is!
If the post consists only of a video/PowerPoint, briefly state what its about/sum up its content in brief bullets.
- Blog set up as per instructions (set widths, hyperlinks blue, comment moderation on but word verification off, etc)
- A relevant background image - change once you've done ident/filmed sample scenes.
- GADGETS: Blog archive at the top. Blog visitor counter.
- Blogs I've Used
- Websites used for research
- Learning Media Language
- General Film Opening Analyses
- Film Titles Analysis
- Vodcasts
- Technologies I've used
- Industry research
- Ideas
Titles are suggested; note the numbering system.
I've used all-caps only to make suggested titles stand out; if you look at my blogs you'll see I use capitals in titles only to highlight themes, and you should do the same. I'll underline/Italicize any bits you should keep in caps.
There should be NO posts with NO illustration. This post doesn't - what an ugly post it is!
If the post consists only of a video/PowerPoint, briefly state what its about/sum up its content in brief bullets.
- WELCOME TO MY BLOG - Brief explanation of what its about (tracking your work as you research then produce a film opening for AS Media); 3 Qs: Why I chose Media; What I'm looking forward to; What I'm dreading.
- THE BRIEF (if in the above post just add + THE BRIEF to post title) The specific brief you've been given (can be the image I've provided) Set up a links list: Blogs I've used
- COURSEWORK GUIDES with docs embedded
- MY FAVOURITE FILM - Title (director, year). 3 reasons why. Embedded poster + trailer. Info (with sources hyperlinked): Official website; Amazon DVD; RottenTomatoes User/Critics ratings; IMDB entry; Wiki entry; Budget + UK/US/World box office (using BoxOfficeMojo/the-Numbers); Number of countries with a theatrical release; Age ratings: BBFC/MPAA (+ any other you want) Set up a links list: Websites used for research.
- 5 THINGS I'VE LEARNT ABOUT COURSEWORK SO FAR
- M LANG1: SHOT TYPES POWERPOINT - Make sure the post has some explanatory text.
Set up a links list: Learning Media Language. - M LANG2: DENOTATION OF A PAST COURSEWORK OPENING Add to links list.
- VODCAST1: REFLECTIONS ON PAST COURSEWORK (TITLE) - keep VODCAST in capitals. Set up a links list: Vodcasts.
- TECHNOLOGIES1: TECHS I'VE USED SO FAR - You're going to need a detailed log of techs you've used to answer an Evaluation question later in the process, so work now is gathering materials for this. A lot of your R+P work will be vital to make the Evaluation easier. You've already used blogger (setting up yours, designing/settings, posting, using mine + past students'), YouTube for embed codes,setting up your channel, uploading to and embedding from your channel - you may have started using Playlists too (if not, its a very useful tool: do!). SlideShare to embed docs. Various sites for research. FCPX: setting up a Library, 1st event; basic editing and shortcuts; titles; exporting as a video file. And Macs might have been new to you too! Set up a links list: Technologies I've used
- M LANG3: APPLYING SEMIOTIC TERMS TO THIS IS ENGLAND OPENING - Highlight terminology in this post + throughout blog by using bold+pink. Add to links list.
- FILM OPENING EG1: TITLE (YEAR) or BOOK REPORT 1: TITLE (YEAR). Follow instructions in this post carefully. This should be a thorough, detailed, well-illustrated post. You can add Film Opening EG to 2 links lists: titles analysis, general film openings analysis. Keep FILM OPENING EG1 or BOOK REPORT1 in CAPITALS (upper case). Set up a links list: General Film Openings Analyses.
- EXERCISE1: REFLECTING ON THE SHOOT Include scan/photo of any planning docs you used, and use screenshots/photos from the day (I'll add some to the Media drive: Trips folder) to illustrate. Use clear sub-headings (eg Arial, bold, red, large - or largest if its appropriate). Set up a links list: Practical exercises
- TITLES ANALYSIS: FILM TITLE (YEAR) - Give only very basic contextual detail at the top: director, year, budget, world box office. Follow the instructions in this post carefully. Set up a links list: Titles analysis.
- TITLES ANALYSIS: SUMMARY OF CONVENTIONS - You need to use the same headings/points to come up with your list of CONVENTIONS. Not RULES, conventions: commonly but not always followed practices. State (+ provide screenshots from) examples for each point; you can use each others' blogs to help. You will later be doing a vodcast on this, looking at genre examples. Add to links list: Titles
- EXERCISE1: TITLES LIST + DESIGN - List the titles you will use, in the order and with the wording/use of case you will use. Its up to you individually to decide on font, colour, general title style. Once you've begun adding titles in FCPX, come back to this post and add screenshots with clear, specific justification of your media language choices - mainly how they signify the genre + are appropriate for a particular target audience. You are welcome to search for and install a new TrueType font; follow this guide if so. Add to links list
- M LANG4: SEMIOTIC RAP - Your challenge is to apply as many media terms as you can within a rap format. As silly as you want, just (a) no swearing and (b) not just listing terms but using them in context, eg As I look down from the sky//My angle is pretty damned high//And that little guy is about to cry. Add to links list
- EXERCISE1: PRACTICE FILM OPENING + ANALYSIS - Add to links list
- TECHNOLOGIES2: FCPX TOOLS UPDATE -
- EXERCISE2: PRELIM - Add to links list
- M LANG4: TERMS I'VE LEARNT SO FAR - Add to links list
- INDUSTRY: WARP AS AN INDIE EXAMPLE - Set up a links list: Industry research
- FILM OPENING EG2: TYRANNOSAUR (CONSIDINE, 2011) - Add to links list
- EXERCISE3: TYRANNOSAUR SWEDE PLANNING - Add to links list
- EXERCISE3: TYRANNOSAUR SWEDE SHOOT - Add to links list
- EXERCISE3: TYRANNOSAUR SWEDE EDIT - Add to links list
- EXERCISE3: TYRANNOSAUR SWEDE ANALYSIS - Add to links list
- IDEAS1: MY FIRST ROUGH IDEAS - No great detail expected, simply write up any idea/s you already have before detailed research begins. Set up a links list: Ideas
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