Production stage: How can we progress forward?

We're mid-way through the production process, dealines are looming and I'm very aware that Final Cut Pro will not be fully installed on all machines in the Media Room until Friday. We have no access to A5 today. So, we're going to have think very carefully about how we can use our hour today to progress, to get things done. I would like to review the mark scheme with you  and of our progress so far at the start of the lesson. These are some of the tasks you can set yourself for today.

 

Tasks you could complete today to help you progress:

·         Capture footage appropriate for your genre. Footage you can work with. Get filming!

·         There are two machines with Final Cut Pro installed (in Media Room) – upload your work and practise with transitions and effects. Consider what would really work for your genre.

·         Use iMovie. Upload any footage you have and practise sequencing your work. You can always save your work and then upload to Final Cut Pro once it is installed.

·         Read through Final Cut Pro X chapter 7 'Applying Transitions' - identify transitions and instructions which may help you - blog these. Alternatively there are several tutorials on You Tube - listen carefully and blog instructins which may help you. This is a new programme -we're all learning together!

·         If your talent is unable to film , practise filming different shots and frames. Upload to IMovie or Final Cut Pro – practise and ‘play around’ with effects. What would work for your footage? Make a note of this, blog this.

·         Evaluate your storyboard? Do you need to amend or change? Blog why.

·         Ancillary tasks.  Begin drafting and creating – if you can.

·         Consider evaluation questions. Consider what you have done so far and make notes. Think of ideas to present your evaluation – you will have to be creative in your evaluation to achieve a level 4.

This is just a blog to 'hurry you along' ! Come on, get cracking! This Friday (in your double) I would like you to have completed a detailed storyboard/script and a focus group (if you can) ready to present your ideas to. We really should planning right now!

Some of you still have blogs missing on audience pleasures/uses and gratifications. Look at the Audience booklet I have given you today - read specifically through Hyperdermic Needle effect; Cultivation/Culmination and the Two Step Theory - which theory could apply to your genre?  Think very carefully about the Uses and Gratifications an audience would have for your genre or idea - which uses/gratification would apply to them - information? Personal identity? Social Interation? Personal Identitiy?

Just to clarify read though and consider:

• Hyperdermic Needle effect
• Cultivation/Culmination Theory
• Two Step Theory
• Which uses/gratifications would apply to your target audience?

Keep using your booklet as a guide! Remember Christmas is the deadline...

Miss C

To Do List

You should be nearing the end of the research stage! Plesse make you complete the following:

• consider key directors of your genre and their influence.
• define your audience - age, gender, lifestyle interests and social-economic group.
• consider digital technology you may use for production.
• mood board for your idea.
• the ideaology of your specific genre - this means the overall 'feel' and 'attitiude' of your genre. Will you include specific icons, tropes?
• you do need to think carefully about audience pleasure. What will your audience enjoy? Refresh yourself on the different theories listed in your booklet - could this apply to your specific genre? Did it ever?
• Plan the storyboard (please see booklet for details.)
• Set up a focus group and consider all of the above when you question them. Blog your findings.

Please don't ever just blog a defintion of a theory or a term - be analytical; apply theory/term to your own work.
Ideally all of the above needs to be done by Monday 15th October and you should be organising a recce , a cast and taking loacation shots next week. Please aim to stick tot his deadline.

Planning Plans....

OKaaaaaaaaay....


You need to make sure that you're thinking about how Laura Mulvey's theory applies to your genre and your idea. Make sure you add this to your Laura Mulvey blog.  Are there any other theorists you will need to consider? (See previous post)
Plan! Today you should now be thinking about your idea, storyboarding your idea and creating a moodboard. Consider a focus group consisting of your target audience- what will they think about your idea? Use their feedback as part of your research and planning. Perhaps you could also pose questions on their own opinions about the Male Gaze in this genre or any other theorists.
Go! Go forth and plan!
Miss C

Laura Mulvey and the Male Gaze (Sounds like a band from the 80s...)

“the gaze is male whenever it directs itself at, and takes pleasure in, women, where women function as erotic objects” Laura Mulvey.

Mr Hawkins has already mentioned her – so have you researched her? Do you agree with what she says? Find out what she says about the viewer and the ‘viewed’ in any narrative media text.  You might also want to think about a chap called Richard Dyer (another key theorist) or Stuart Hall. You need to consider if their ideas are apparent in your genre and if this will have implications in the planning of your own idea? Perhaps you need to think about this when speaking to a focus group.

Research this. Think about this. Blog about this. Laura Mulvey and the Male Gaze or any other theorist you think is interesting.

Next up - this should be the focus for the following week. Please try to complete by Wednesday 3^rd Oct:

• Narrative of an idea for your trailer/music video.
• What representations (gender, age , social groups etc)you intend to create in the narrative and how. Think about the theorists above.
• Audience. Define your audience. Talk to your audience, how do you know they would like this idea?
• Be specific when defining your audience:
• gender
• lifestyle
• interests
• socio-economic group
• explain why you have chosen this audience group: are they conventional? Is there a gap in the market? Are you appealing to a mass or niche audience?

P.s.I can not see any of your video deconstructions yet! Please make sure you deconstruct a text from the genre you are focusing on. If music videos – it needs to be the music genre i.e. pop, rock etc.

Peace out
Miss C

For Paige and Jade...

http://whatculture.com/film/10-reasons-why-hitchcock-would-turn-in-his-grave-at-modern-horror.php

To do list - complete by Monday end of period 1

Ok by the end of Monday first lesson (24/9) you need to do have researched and blogged the following:

• history, conventions which should detail memes and tropes of your sub genre.
• If you are creating a music video - is there an artist which has a particular niche for this genre? Do they have a specific brand or image?
• research influential directors and key films.
• a deconstruction of a key text from your sub genre - please use media terminology (shots, editing, sound, mise en scene and iconography).
• stop and reflect on research methods. What different research methods could you use?What will you have to research to inform your planning now? Which is the best method for you? Re-visit your AS blogs - what would you do differently.

Miss Cassidy

Today's task Weds 4th July

Ok people , would like you to think about narrative structures and how at least 1 narrative theory could be applied to a short film/music video of your choice. Please answer the following questions:

•Task:

Select a short film or (music video) you have watched. Answer the following questions:

 

1.1.What kind of narrative structure is used? Give examples.

2.2.How is time structured?

3.

 

Remember you will be asked in your A2 exam to reflect on how narrative is structured in your own work - you will have to reference key theorists. Get a head start now! Know your theories inside out , upside down!

 

Peace out

 

Miss Cassidy

3.Could you apply a theory to the film? Please provide detailed examples.

BRING A MUSIC MAG!!! (yes you)

...For tomorrow's lesson (Monday). Just a subtle reminder. If you've forgot - buy one on the way to school.

Thanks all and everyone!

Miss. Cassidy