HALF TERM
Don't forget that you have dedicated time this morning (16th of February) to work on and complete your edits and ancillaries. Please check the schedule below to remind yourself of the DEADLINES.
spring 1
Your AP productions are now overdue. These must be finished by the very end of this months at the absolute latest in order to complete your coursework in time for the deadline and for me to mark it. We also need the time for you to work on Section B of the Exam: Postmodern Media.
Wednesday 10th Jan
We are working on peer assessment in pairs and evaluations.
Wednesday 10th Jan
We are working on peer assessment in pairs and evaluations.
CW FEEDBACK AND IMPROVEMENTS
Week 11 - feedback
Here is the general feedback for the exam.
All of you need to go back to basics and remind yourselves of the key concepts of media studies, of media languages and how to apply terminology appropriately and effectively.
There will be re-sits for some of you and FIT for all of you.
- For some of you the exam was not successful because you didn't answer the questions asked
- Some of you also didn't have a strong enough knowledge base to answer either question.
- There was a distinct lack in the use of media key concepts and terminology.
- The language in most answers was unsophisticated and not of the standard expected at this level.
All of you need to go back to basics and remind yourselves of the key concepts of media studies, of media languages and how to apply terminology appropriately and effectively.
- Another issue was use of examples from real media products, these were used by a few of you to effect some others made scant reference to existing media products in either 1a or 1b.
- Picking appropriate examples and developing an argument from this was a problem for many of you as well. Think about how the research has inspired you and how you have copied, adapted or ignored conventions you observed in real media products.
- Structure of essays: very few of you had a clear structure and used it effectively, when it was applied it made the essays easier to follow and easier to reward. Think about structure.
- Use of theory in 1b. This was confused. The purpose of the question is to explain if a narrative theoretical approach can be applied and if so how. Think about the real media products which you researched and maybe drew from - were their narratives? Did you product have a narrative - do use Vernallis, Goodwin, Dyer and Carlsson but remember that they are music video theorists whose ideas touch on narrative - Vernallis talks about music videos having 'incomplete narrative' - which 'suggest' but don't make clear. Explain how you have applied these ideas and compare with real media as well. Goodwin - think about lyrics and visuals - is there a narrative suggested in the lyrics have you tried to show this literally, figuratively? Dyer - the star narrative, how have you encoded this in your MV, explain again with comparisons. Does the MV build a wider sense of narrative of the star - a bigger story which is only touched on in the MV?
- Don't forget to use Levi Strauss - binary opposition - but make it clear through denotation and connotation, always give examples from the text. The same with Barthes and 'enigma codes'. I you use Todorov and Propp remember that you cannot force the theory to work and it is absolutely fine to say it DOESN'T apply.
There will be re-sits for some of you and FIT for all of you.
WEEK 10/11 |
Less than 3 weeks till ALL Advanced Portfolio (except evaluations) is completed.
What do you need to do today?
REMEMBER:
What do you need to do today?
- Any additional shooting MUST happen this weekend.
- Edits should be nearing completion
- All Digipaks should be nearing completion
- All websites or adverts should be nearing completion
- You should be EVALUATING after each new completed version of your edit/digipak/website/advert TO EXPLAIN THE CHANGES YOU MADE AND WHY
- You should be keeping a BLOG of you production to help with the evaluations
REMEMBER:
- Apply media key concepts (media language, audience, representation, institution, narrative, genre)
- Apply music video theory whenever you can to justify your decisions
- Apply the feedback you receive from surveys
- Use media terminology regularly and accurately
- reference your woirk.
EXAm preparation lessons
Here are the documents from today's lessons for any of you who were not present or who might have lost them. I have included the presentation, the exemplars and the questions from the last 6 years or so. Please use these in your revision for next week's exam.
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deadlines
week 4
I noticed that not all of you have completed the response task I set you from last week when you received feedback on your Weeblys. Please ensure that this is completed ASAP.
Furthermore, you have a responsibility to ensure that you have all research and planning completed and are ready to film by the 13th of October. This will mean for all groups that you have secured you locations, have completed risk assessments and have published final schedules and call sheets.
This Wednesday you must return your permission slips as I stipulated last week. I also need your equipment requirements including whether you are or are not using tracks/ped, lights etc.
Furthermore, you have a responsibility to ensure that you have all research and planning completed and are ready to film by the 13th of October. This will mean for all groups that you have secured you locations, have completed risk assessments and have published final schedules and call sheets.
This Wednesday you must return your permission slips as I stipulated last week. I also need your equipment requirements including whether you are or are not using tracks/ped, lights etc.
autumn 2017
Welcome back. We have a busy start to the term with the focus completely on G324 Music Promotion (Music video, digipak and website). All research and planning for this needs to be completed by the 11th of October ready for filming the 13th-15th October.
I will be writing to you to let you know that these dates have been approved for your filming and that you will be given that time. It is therefore crucial that you are well prepared and complete everything in time.
HW1 for this week and next is therefore as follows.
HW3 Evaluation Question 1 - prepare a plan for how you will answer the first question. What evidence will you need? What method will you use for presentation?
The four questions that must be addressed in the evaluation are:
I will be writing to you to let you know that these dates have been approved for your filming and that you will be given that time. It is therefore crucial that you are well prepared and complete everything in time.
HW1 for this week and next is therefore as follows.
- Secure choice of song - evidence of effort to secure rights
- Complete detailed visual plan - storyboard, shot list, floor plans, mood board
- Complete production breakdown for each scene/part of your video -
- casting (any lip-syncing, characters, background artists etc.) - arrange a casting session/screen test
- locations, props, costumes, design, make-up (photo of locations etc. contact details/addresses)
- camera equipment required for specific shots (specific types of camera/lens effect needed, tracks, steady-cam?)
- lighting requirements for each scene/part (natural, artificial, colours, strobe etc.)
- special effects (explosions, smoke, dry-ice etc.)
- Draft schedule, call-sheets, contracts ready for artists, locations etc.
HW3 Evaluation Question 1 - prepare a plan for how you will answer the first question. What evidence will you need? What method will you use for presentation?
The four questions that must be addressed in the evaluation are:
- In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
- How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?
- What have you learned from your audience feedback?
- How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
WELCOME TO A2 MEDIA STUDIES
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You will now find your work on this tab rather than the AS tab. There is the whole history of the previous year below and some of the year before that as well which you may find useful.
Use this regularly and don't forget that being well organised and adding to your blog regularly. |
ALL THE THEORIES
GENRE THEORY
pomo
Deadpool 2 teaser scene - and analysis of it. Worth considering how this further extends the ideas of post-modern media. Consider the concept of the 'Easter Egg' or hidden gift which offers clue about further attractions or inside information about what you are watching. This is a signifier of the changing relationship between the audience, the product and the institution. Further levels of intertextuality are present in the clip which could feed into your essay. Superman, Logan, Cable - also the inclusion of a reference to The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway.
Plenty to add to your study on Deadpool.
Plenty to add to your study on Deadpool.
The clips below relate to the merging of reality TV, drama and documentary and the creation of the simulacrum. In Boyhood we have a drama about a boy growing up filmed over 12 years with the same boy who grows up as this fictional character. In 56 UP we have the iconic documentary about a group of people who were first filmed at the age of 7 and subsequent every 7 years, their lives being charted in reality as they aged. We also have shows about shows, constructs which mirror the lab-rat scientific approach to behavioural psychology and fictions which mirror or perhaps construct both.
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ADVANCED PORTFOLIO - PREMIERE SCREENING
IMPORTANT
All Artwork created for your Advanced Portfolio as well as your completed MV must be saved at the highest quality into the Media Studies A2 folder on the s-mac-01 server. PLEASE CAN YOU DO THIS ASAP. MVs should be exported as a Master file. Digipaks as a high resolution image file JPEG is fine but make sure that the image size and resolution are the best possible. We are planning to print all the Art Work and display it during the Premiere screening on the 27th of April - A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY.
All Artwork created for your Advanced Portfolio as well as your completed MV must be saved at the highest quality into the Media Studies A2 folder on the s-mac-01 server. PLEASE CAN YOU DO THIS ASAP. MVs should be exported as a Master file. Digipaks as a high resolution image file JPEG is fine but make sure that the image size and resolution are the best possible. We are planning to print all the Art Work and display it during the Premiere screening on the 27th of April - A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY.
WEDNESDAY 1ST FEB
I am out of school today and therefore relying on you to use your time wisely to work on completing your Coursework. It would be excellent if you were able to demonstrate what you have achieved by posting completed or developing Evaluations on your Weebly at the end of the lessons.
REMEMBER: That your deadline for completing your Advanced Portfolio including Evaluations is the Monday after HALF TERM. SO just over two weeks away ONLY.
At this stage I expect you to have completed all MVs and ancillaries, written/researched prepared Evaluations 1 and 2 and begun to record/edit Evaluation 1. Today you should look to complete anything outstanding. Email me with a list of what you have done today and what is still outstanding and needs completing.
REMEMBER: That your deadline for completing your Advanced Portfolio including Evaluations is the Monday after HALF TERM. SO just over two weeks away ONLY.
At this stage I expect you to have completed all MVs and ancillaries, written/researched prepared Evaluations 1 and 2 and begun to record/edit Evaluation 1. Today you should look to complete anything outstanding. Email me with a list of what you have done today and what is still outstanding and needs completing.
BFI TRIP
Please check the information to the right to ensure that you know where you are going on Thursday. It is very easy to get there from Brentford by train. Brentford to Waterloo then 5 mins walk to BFI Southbank, follow signs. We will meet at the BFI Southbank at 10am. I will provide you with a contact number should you get lost or have difficulties with transport.
We will leave the BFI about 3.45 and head back to Brentford. Parents evening begins at 5.30pm and all of you are expected to attend with a parent or guardian. Please make sure that you bring with you notebook, pens and pack lunch unless you want to buy your own at the many places along the Southbank. HW
Essay: Complete your Exam Essay re-writes by Monday. These can be typed and emailed to me if you prefer. CW: Prepare Evaluation 1 I suggest that you go through your research and your completed products, consider theories and write about your approach to all three products and how you developed your ideas into the completed products. If you haven't finished your edits and ancillaries these MUST be completed ASAP or you will struggle to evaluate successfully. |
AN INTRODUCTION TO POST-MODERN MEDIA
check list:
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postmodern media
EXAM REVIEW MONDAY
Please make sure that you complete the re-sit of the exam questions informed by our lesson by next Monday.
COURSEWORK WEDNESDAYS
Please make sure that you are up to date with all your CW and that research and planning, MV and ancillaries are uploaded. On Wednesday we will be beginning to prepare evaluations starting with Evaluation 1. Ensure that you have some planning for this - holiday work - and come prepared to begin the task of developing your evaluations. This is much harder if you haven't completed your final edits and versions of ancillaries.
POSTMODERN MONDAYS
Please write up ypour notes from today on your exam Weebly. And consider the following:
How can we apply some of the ideas we discussed today to media texts? If you want to develop your skills then I suggest you begin researching some potential case studies.
Also begin to become aware and familiar with the following theorists and theories:
Please add your research completed over the holiday to your exam Weebly ASAP. |
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NEW YEAR
Welcome back.
A bit of house keeping. From a quick scan of your Weeblys it appears that not all of you have met the deadline and posted your completed production edits and ancillarieis. I cannot therefore give you feedback on your work. Please make sure that you have everything uploaded by the end of the week.
This week we begin with work on the evaluation questions and this is virtually impossible - as you will discover - if you haven't completed the productions, planning, research etc. However, we will be pressing on with this anyway and it is your responsibility to catch this up. SO, Wednesday's lesson is about finding the right approach to Evaluation Question 1. Please ensure that you come with the HW preparation that I have asked for and which is identified in the presentation below, we will be looking at the Post-Modern research on Monday of next week.
Finally, a reminder that I need your reply slips and money paid for the trip on the 26th of January (parents evening afterwards). The trip is only £10 plus travel and you have to make your own way there - though I will tell you when I am travelling and you can follow me if that helps.
A bit of house keeping. From a quick scan of your Weeblys it appears that not all of you have met the deadline and posted your completed production edits and ancillarieis. I cannot therefore give you feedback on your work. Please make sure that you have everything uploaded by the end of the week.
This week we begin with work on the evaluation questions and this is virtually impossible - as you will discover - if you haven't completed the productions, planning, research etc. However, we will be pressing on with this anyway and it is your responsibility to catch this up. SO, Wednesday's lesson is about finding the right approach to Evaluation Question 1. Please ensure that you come with the HW preparation that I have asked for and which is identified in the presentation below, we will be looking at the Post-Modern research on Monday of next week.
Finally, a reminder that I need your reply slips and money paid for the trip on the 26th of January (parents evening afterwards). The trip is only £10 plus travel and you have to make your own way there - though I will tell you when I am travelling and you can follow me if that helps.
xmas break
REMINDER
A few reminders.
- Next week's PPE will take place in class on Monday the 5th of December.
- You are all to prepare a short extract of your music video for screening to the year 10s by the end of Wednesday, and have a survey for them to answer available in their Thursday's lesson. You need audience feedback to secure the top grades in A2 and to help your video move forward. You are also recommended to have a decent draft go your Digipak as well. The questionnaire can be on Survey Monkey or Google forms and the link emailed to me to share - I will put it on FROG. If you put the extract of the video on Youtube I can also add this to FROG so that the students can review it and give meaningful feedback.
- Wednesday's lessons are devoted to the Advanced Portfolio - make sure that you come prepared to use you time effectively and changing your myPLC status by the end of the 4 lessons.
- HW for this week.Revise for PPE - 1a and 1b
Complete new essay - either 1a or 1b depending on which group you were in. - Write the other essay as well - OR - any other essay from the sheets I have
- given you (if you did 1a in class do 1b etc.)
PPE PREPARATION
Please check onFROG where on the Theory page you can download two essays by Carol Vernallis and read about her theory. I cannot post them here because of copyright infringement reasons.
PLEASE DO NOT MISS THE DEADLINE FOR YOUR ESSAYS. |
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last week before half term
In the last week before the half term you should ensure that the following is completed.
In your analysis of music videos, you MUST address representations through visuals, lyrics, music. You should consider MV theory and refer to it in every analysis. Be specific and use terms accurately - shots sizes, angles, specific elements of miss en scene. Identify intertextuality, references to other media texts including films, TV, magazines, games or even cultural iconography.
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research and planning
Below is the level 4 marking criteria for research and planning. Please note the bullet point on "excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT"
production
FOR WEDNESDAY'S LESSONS
You will need to have available for discussion all your planning for the Music Video production, digipak, website and/or advert ancillary productions.
On you Weebly therefore you will have evidence of:
The meetings with groups will be at these times:
On the basis of what I see from your work we will set some individual tutorials to discuss progress towards your target grade.
Below you can download the Photoshop template for a 4 panel digipak
You will need to have available for discussion all your planning for the Music Video production, digipak, website and/or advert ancillary productions.
On you Weebly therefore you will have evidence of:
- 3 weeks of research: the flipped learning analyses of music videos and ancillaries
- the suggested production plan with times, dates, locations, crew roles, equipment, props, cast and all other suitable production planning
- pitch, storyboard/animatic, draft drawings for digipaks/websites/adverts, mood boards, lyrics analysis, music analysis
The meetings with groups will be at these times:
- Molly, Lawin, Heba, Beth - 9.40am
- Sade, Maryam, Amy, Laila - 10.50am
On the basis of what I see from your work we will set some individual tutorials to discuss progress towards your target grade.
Below you can download the Photoshop template for a 4 panel digipak
4pan1t.psd | |
File Size: | 7412 kb |
File Type: | psd |
week three
- Postmodern essays due Monday.
- Production plans, storyboards/animatics, location recce and research, risk assessments, cast, props, costumes all in place.
- myPLC completed for research and planning section
Monday's lessons will focus on developing essay skills through marking and discussion.
Wednesday's lessons:
- review of completed research and planning including FLIPPED LEARNING (analysis of Music Videos, digipaks, websites, adverts) - this must be available on your Weebly for me to look at. NO EXCUSES PLEASE.
- production meeting to finalise you shoot
Complete the research and planning sections of my PLC. You should have a login similar to your school windows one. Once in you should be able to use the class code to join the PLC. And then complete the relevant sections by clicking and selecting the appropriate colours.
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my plc
week two
This is you first proper week of preparation back in school but the expectation is that you will already have a great deal prepared for your the G324 Music Promotion coursework. Please look carefully at the list below. The expectation is that you will have most of this finished this week. ALL OF YOU MUST SHOW THIS ON YOUR WEEBLY.
A reminder that the FLIPPED LEARNING for Media Studies for the next few weeks has one main theme. Analysis of music videos. This week's colour is BLUE so please make this clear.
A reminder that the FLIPPED LEARNING for Media Studies for the next few weeks has one main theme. Analysis of music videos. This week's colour is BLUE so please make this clear.
WELCOME BACK - AUTUMN 2016
Click on the links below and join the FREE MOOCs you might learn something.
Also remember that we are back into the swing of production very early this year. No sitting around twirling of thumbs. My expectation is that you and your teams are focussed and up and running quickly and have production planning in place in week two. You will need to have completed the following and have appropriate evidence on your weebly.
It is perfectly possible but there is no time to sit around. |
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week three - shot by shot shoot (tuesday)
Tuesday's lessons are practical and have one main objective but also a number of secondary objectives.
In addition, all groups should aim to create an advert for the song and a digipak based using the still images and the PS5 4 panel template.
- To recreate, shot for shot, a well know music video, paying close attention to shot size, miss en scene, lighting, lip-sync, pace and editing.
- To develop team working practice and professionalism
- To develop individual skills in camera, production, editing
In addition, all groups should aim to create an advert for the song and a digipak based using the still images and the PS5 4 panel template.
- To evaluate your process and outcome and make recommendations for the next shoot.
- All work to be on your Weeblys
WEEK THREE - preparation
This Friday you need to form groups around a project(s) and begin the task of securing the rights as well as planning how you are going to interpret the song/track visually. Today's lesson is about making that bridge, creating a quick storyboard/animatic or written approach. Setting out your idea in a proposal form and backing it up with some evidence from your research and planning. each member of the team will need to show this evidence on their Weeblys.
ALL WEEBLYS MUST BE UP TO DATE BY MONDAY PRIOR TO TUESDAY'S LESSON.
On your weebly you should have all of the following:
ALL WEEBLYS MUST BE UP TO DATE BY MONDAY PRIOR TO TUESDAY'S LESSON.
On your weebly you should have all of the following:
- Analysis of music videos AND digipaks and website/adverts using theory including Goodwin and Carlsson - ideally there should be more than one of these and you should be constantly looking to add more.
- Notes explaining your understanding of both theorists and of others including Shore, Dyer, uses and gratifications theory
- All analysis MUST use media language and terminology and be checked for SPaG. remember to analyse semiotically.
- Your three proposed songs with notes on why you chose them and from the three the one you are taking forward.
- Further research into music video genres, the history of music videos.
- Notes on the representations in music videos, in particular the representations of gender in different genres of music, the self representation of the artist, the representation of social class/wealth/status/ethnicity etc in music videos - YOU SHOULD DEVELOP THIS INDEPENDENTLY AND IT MUST APPEAR
- All references on your bibliography page and/or embedded into your research
- All links to youtube, sound cloud etc embedded and clearly labelled
- Preparation work for your shot by shot exercise which will be completed on Tuesday
- YOUR WEEBLY IS WELL ORGANISED AND EASY TO NAVIGATE
week two
This week you will need to take the next steps in your production research.
See the three week overview below for what we are doing this week.
Those of you who didn't complete your presentations we will be seeing those first thing on Tuesday and then diving deep into the next tasks. Remember we will be starting with a test on Music Video Theory and theorists, media terminology and key concepts.
You MUST ensure that all HW is with you either in your exercise book or on your Weebly (presentations obviously on Weebly).
We will be forming groups based on skills, interests, working relationships and of course around the specific tracks you want to work on.
Finally, a reminder that I will be checking PLCs from AS this week. Please fill these in honestly, it really helps me to understand your needs and ensure you get the best support.
See the three week overview below for what we are doing this week.
Those of you who didn't complete your presentations we will be seeing those first thing on Tuesday and then diving deep into the next tasks. Remember we will be starting with a test on Music Video Theory and theorists, media terminology and key concepts.
You MUST ensure that all HW is with you either in your exercise book or on your Weebly (presentations obviously on Weebly).
We will be forming groups based on skills, interests, working relationships and of course around the specific tracks you want to work on.
Finally, a reminder that I will be checking PLCs from AS this week. Please fill these in honestly, it really helps me to understand your needs and ensure you get the best support.
WEEK 1
Expected Friday:
On the right you will see an example of Music Video analysis. Below are some useful resources to help you during the hunt for the right song.
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welcome to a2 media studies - summer term 2
Or lessons begin on Tuesday the 14th of June in the usual AS timetabled slots. We have approximately 3 weeks of lessons culminating in Brentford University on the 4th and 5th of July.
The scope and purpose of these three weeks is very clear and set out for you below.
In addition, in your group you will be expected to create a shot-by-shot copy of 30sec-1min of an existing music video of your choice, this could be in the same genre that you as a group choose or completely at variance with it. my plc |
week 1Tuesday 14th June
Week 2Tuesday 21st June
week 3Tuesday 28th June
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£1000 a year for three years. Bursary from the Royal Television Society if you are studying towards a related degree and come from a low income background. Click on the link below.
HW
media theorists
g325 section a
postmodern media - towartds a first essay
Check through the Presentation below and ensure that you answer one of the exam questions set.
Please also check the FROG site I have shared with your s it contains lots of helpful links and references. remember that you job is to find the texts and being to apply theory. We will go through this on Friday and you will need a first plan and some texts you intend to use for your essay.
Please also check the FROG site I have shared with your s it contains lots of helpful links and references. remember that you job is to find the texts and being to apply theory. We will go through this on Friday and you will need a first plan and some texts you intend to use for your essay.
EXAM SECTION B
EXAM REVIEW
If you have Twitter, check out the BSFGmedia.
WEEK 5
TARGETs FOR THIS WEEK
- Complete research into similar products
- Analysis of lyrics for your song - how will you approach this visually
- Analysis of rhythm and music - how will you approach this visually
- Planning of shots and beginning storyboard and animatic
- Drafts for both Digipak and Advert
- First schedule for production
- Lists: cast, props, locations, set, costumes, make-up etc.
MUSIC VIDEO AND ANCILLARY RESEARCH
Your research should be well on its way to being complete and it MUST be posted on your Weebly along with a weekly blog post to say what you are working on.
Please date your work so that I and the moderator know when it was completed (and amended). Use the list of prompts to help with your research and planning. DUE FRIDAYYou will present a first draft approach to your music video and brief draft designs for ancillaries.
This can be in any suitable form - each member of the group should aim to do an element of the presentation. Consider how you might use Pinterest, Prezi and other online tolls to support. You can also use video elements - good for showing brief examples of genre and style of music videos, images of comparable CD covers and adverts etc. |
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A2 MEDIA STUDIES
A grade music video from this year which uses a range of techniques including narrative, concept and performance to create a complex and compelling video which fits well with the genre of music. And it's original too.
Below are the digipak and advert ancillary products which the group produced. recommendation
MAKING A GREAT RETURNIndividually you must be prepared for this term. So ensure that you have completed the summer work and if you have areas to develop or improve you are clear about what they are and what you need to do.
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G324 ADVANCED PORTFOLIO
This year all students will be engaged in making music videos for unsigned artists or bands. To prepare for this all individual students will research music videos styles and forms, develop an understanding of music video theory and secure the rights to make a music video for an artiste or band which they have found. They will then submit all their work via their own Weebly site. This will include all research and planning, pre-production, production, post-production and evaluations. Work must be completed regularly and improved where necessary. All deadlines will be published in advance. G325 EXAM
The exam involves 3 essay questions. Section A which involves the theoretical evaluation of coursework. And Section B, a case study into Media and the Collective Identity with regard to a specific case study. Preparation for this exam will involve reviewing all AS work in particular the evaluations, exploring the theoretical approaches to Media and understanding the practical work in the context of real media production and will take place through the autumn term. Section B's case studies will begin the the Spring term. All support for both units is on FROG. |