An excellent commentary on Key Films, Culture & Politics by Nick Lacey. His new site also includes information on the books he has written. Click on the image above to visit ‘Nick Lacey on Films’.

Half-Day Revision Course for AQA GCSE Media Studies External Assessment on Action Adventure Films - 2011

Our first session will be a half-day revision course on Action Adventure Films for this summer’s AQA GCSE Media Studies External Assessment. See ‘Programme Details’ below for more info.

Programme Details

• We come to you.

• We would suggest a Saturday if you would like the course delivered in term time.

• Each revision course is 3 hours in...

A Level Storyboarding

Pre-production Item | Storyboard

Example Brief: Create a storyboard (and video trailer) for a TV Crime Drama

The pre-production brief is to create a storyboard. Students should create a storyboard that shows as much detail as possible including camera instructions with details of camera movement, shot duration, content, details of audio tracks and details of transitions between frames.

This guide opens with a...

Television and film crime/cop drama is very popular with a wide audience. Crime dramas seek to anchor the representations of all types of police officers, criminals and victims as ‘believable’ characters, with ‘realistic’ plot lines, set in urban locations.The genre has been taken up in the US under the heading of American Quality Televsion (AQT) - see under heading AQT.

Codes and conventions

Crime dramas:

• are constructed realities
...

The Digital Era

The 90’s Disney Boom

While the British features stumbled in and out of the cinemas Disney stormed ahead with their animation revival which had began with Roger Rabbit. In the two decades since Walt Disney’s death their feature output had become decidedly patchy. Some high points had been ‘The Aristocats’ (1967) and ‘The Rescuers’ (1977) and by the time of ‘The Fox and the Hound’ (1979) the ‘Nine Old Men of...

The Fading Lightbox

Terry Gilliam and Monty Python

Gilliam was born in Minneapolis and studied political science before finding his way into being a writer and cartoonist. When work dried up in the USA he came to London, worked, or tried to work, at various animation studios (Bob Godfrey’s Movie Emporium turned him away for being ‘too good’!), then through John Cleese got some sketches on the children’s comedy ‘Do Not Adjust your Set...[ read full article ] »

Post War Animation - The TV Age

‘Animaland’: David Hand and Gaumont British Animation Studios

In 1945, David Hand, the director of Disney’s ‘Snow White’ was hired by the great British film producer J. Arthur Rank (more rhyming slang?) to come to Britain to set up a Disney type animation studio here. They chose not to locate in London or another of Britain’s bombed out cities, but in the picturesque Moor Hall in the village of...

The Rise Of Disney and The First Sound Cartoons

In 1927 the first ‘talking’ motion picture was released, The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolsen, which helped to popularize sound in films. Many cinemas now fitted the sound technology to show the new films.

Walt Disney

In 1928 Walt Disney rushed out ‘Steamboat Wille’ the first widely distributed synchronised sound cartoon, ‘Steamboat Wille’ (synchronised or sync, means when the sound...

The beginnings of animation can perhaps be traced back to a paper published by Peter Roget in 1824 for The British Royal Society called ‘The persistence of vision with regard to moving objects’. Following this came the invention of such devices as the phenakitstoscope (1831), the zoetrope (1834) and the praxinoscope (1892), all variations of the idea of sequence of images viewed on a rotating drum, although these were all somewhat preceded...

Windsor McCay and The Silent Animation Boom

Windsor McCay

In New York Windsor McCay was a successful newspaper cartoonist of the time, his most popular strip being ‘Little Nemo in Slumberland’, a brilliantly designed and illustrated full page colour comic strip. He spent four years turning this into a cartoon ‘Little Nemo’ (1911) which was met with much success and followed this with ‘Gertie the Dinosaur’ (1913) which became a...

When you are teaching students how to edit, there a few things that you need to consider. Firstly what you will want them to edit - usually, moving image and audio. You will therefore need the things which go with this. In this guide, you will be able to find out about the best editing software for your budget, top tips and more.

Hardware

You will obviously need access to computers. When students are editing, it can take more than a few...

Editsense & Filmsense

What is Editsense?

‘Editsense is a new approach to learning about film language and film-making’.

This is an interactive DVD with excellent, practical examples of film - perfect for teachers of moving image, be it English, Creative and Digital Media or Film Studies.

It has over fifty video examples and includes materials for the introduction and revision of film. 

What does it include?

It includes video examples of...

What is it?

This is the post-production process of making a moving image text, by the selection and ordering of a range of shots (the footage) into a continuous sequence. Editing can bring in audio (dialogue, score and sound effects), titles (credits) and still images.

Editing can help to enforce a theme, narrative or atmosphere, due to the pace and combination of elements selected. This could be through the use of a montage, the use of...

H140

• G321 Foundation Portfolio in Media (50%) and G322 Key Media Concepts (50%)
• G322 Section A: TV Drama (52%) and Section B: Film Industry (50%) - 32 Week Scheme of Work

Overview

• OCR A Level Media Studies Overview

Scheme

• OCR AS Media Studies SOW 2011-2014.doc

Concepts

• Media Language, Forms and Conventions (Media Language, Representation, Genre, Narrative)
• Film Industry Institution
• TV Drama and Representation
• Research, Planning and...

Synopsis

The Winchester, a typical London pub. Shaun (Simon Pegg), his girlfriend Liz (kate Ashfield), her two friends David (Dylan Moran) and Diane (Lucy David) are in the pub. Shaun’s best friend, the foul mouthed (and minded) overweight layabout, Ed (Nick Frost) plays the slot machines. Shaun is getting a hard time from this girlfriend; she wants to spend more time with him, be more exciting and do more than sit in The Winchester with Ed....

Denotation and Connotation

These are two important words concerned with the way an audience understands the meaning of a media text. These can also be called the signs and signified meaning, or the micro and macro features.

Denotation / sign / micro feature is the basic, literal meaning of what is in the picture or scene.

Connotation / signified meaning / macro feature means different interpretations suggested by the text, often associated...

Associated Resources

• Moving Image Terminology and Semiotics.doc

Semiotics/Semiology

The study of signs that help us to deconstruct Media Texts

Signifier/Denotation

The physical form of the sign, without deeper meaning

Signified/Connotation

Meaning associated with the relationship between signifier and signified. Connotation is open to interpretation

Mythical Connotation

Meaning which is subjective interpretation, yet untrue

Anchored...

Associated Resources

• Narrative AS Terminology Revision Sheet.doc

Overview

• Narrative
• Narrative Enigmas
• Narrative Themes
• Narrative Structure
• Narrative Theory

Narrative

• The structure and organisation of media texts e.g. story
• Narrative chain of cause and effect – the plotlines in a story that are triggered by action and enigma codes (something happens that causes something else to happen)
• Narrative is correlated...

Associated Resources

• Genre Revision Test.doc
• Genre Test Answers.doc

1. What does the word genre literally mean?  1 mark

2. How does the concept of genre help audiences understand media texts?  2 marks

3. Give three ways audiences can identify genre.  3 marks

4. Using two examples, identify how can genre be understood in terms of narrative themes and structure.  4 marks

5. What are generic codes and conventions?  1 mark

6. Explain the...

Contemporary Examples

• The Rite Mikael Håfström, 2011
• Paranormal Activity 2 Tod Williams, 2010
• Saw (6 films in franchise) James Wan, 2002-2009
• Blair Witch Project Daniel Myrick + Eduardo Sánchez, 1999
• Dog Soldiers Neil Marshall, 2002
• Urban Legend Jamie Blanks, 1998
• I Know What You Did Last Summer Jim Gillespie, 1997
• Hostel Eli Roth, 2005

Codes and Conventions

• Split into sub genres (see below), often hybridised
• Primary target audience –...

Recommended Reading

• ‘Spectacular Bodies’ - Yvonne Tasker (Routledge) 1998
• ‘Action’ – Richard Dyer, 2000
• ‘Action Women: Muscles, Mothers and Others’ – Yvonne Tasker, 1998

Contemporary Action Films

• Your Highness (Adventure/Comedy Hybrid) David Gordon Green, 2011
• Inception (Action/Sci Fi Hybrid) Christopher Nolan, 2010
• Quantum of Solace Marc Forster, 2008
• Die Hard 4.0 Len Wiseman, 2007
• Tomb Raider Simon West, 2000
• Mission...

Examples

• Lord of the Rings (Peter Jackson, 2001-2003)
• Harry Potter (Chris Columbus, 2001-11)
• Chronicles of Narnia (Andrew Adamson, 2005)
• Tron (Kenneth Branagh, 2011)
• Pan’s Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro, 2006)

Codes and Conventions

• High production values
• Younger target audience although significant older appeal
• Wide/saturated distribution (normally by an American Studio e.g. Warners or Disney). Mainstreamers and Aspirers
• Dedicated, sometimes...

Overview

• Directed by Stephen Frears
• Shot on location in Dorset and at Pinewood Studios
• Adapted screenplay by Moira Buffini (Jane Eyre, 2011) from a Graphic Novel by Posy Simmonds (The Guardian). Ready made Storyboard.

• Produced by BBC Films (Exec Production), Ruby Films (Production Company) and West End Films (Sales Agents/Casting)
• Ruby Films (Fish Tank 2009, Jane Eyre 2011) are an independent production company that specialise in literary...

Shifty is an independent social realist film that borrows (in terms of genre conventions) from the Crime Thriller/Gangster film, although arguably is not a hybrid genre. The film was produced with key funding from fledgling organisation Microwave who offer grants to film makers if they can keep the production budget under £100,000 and can execute filming in less than 18 days. Additional funding for distribution came from the UK Film...

Overview

• Independent Film – CULTURALLY and INSTITUTIONALLY
• Writer / Director – Andrea Arnold (b.1961, Dartford)

• Part funded / Executive Production by BBC Films
• Produced by Kasander Films (Arnold’s Production Company)
• Additional funding: UK Film Council (Prints and Advertising Fund - £70,000, New Cinema Fund - £644,000 and Development Fund - £20,000)

• Nominated for the Palm D’Or at Cannes 2009
• Winner of Jury Prize at Cannes
• 2010...

Associated Resources

• British Film and Hollywood Essay.doc

British Film has been dominated by Hollywood since WW1. Any essay that discusses UK Film has to reference the cultural and ideological dominance of the Hollywood Film Industry to such as point that many cinema goers often will never see a film in any other environment than a multiplex cinema. They may also fail to recognise that many other countries have very successful film industries...

Associated Resources

• Atonement Case Study.doc

Overview

• Director – Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice): experience of big budgets, high production values and of the genre Costume Melodrama. Novel written by Ian McKewan (critically successful author)
• Genre Costume Melodrama – critically and commercially successful (‘safe’ genre). Arguably Atonement is a hybrid genre – Romance/War Film (built sets, contextual background). Gosford Park,...

Action Adventure / Crime Thriller (Heist) / Comedy Hybrid

The Italian Job is a ‘British’ film starring Michael Caine that was made in 1969. It is about a carefully planned heist involving gold bullion being stolen by an ‘English Mob’ from underneath the nose of the Mafia.

The film achieved critical and commercial success and traded on the recent success of the England football team winning the football World Cup in 1966.

It remains an...

Edusites are currently working on a new site for Film Studies which will be called FilmEdu. It will provide detailed schemes of works, case studies and additional supporting resources for GCSE and A Level Film Studies.

FilmEdu (http://film.edusites.co.uk) will launch in September 2011.

If you would like further information about FilmEdu please get in touch.

[e] .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) //= 0; i=i-1){ if...

Magazine + Action Film Analysis.ppt

Additional Resources

OCR Nationals Level 3 Overview

Source: http://marvel.com/images/gallery/movie/127/untitled_gallery/image/740638

This guide explains what you have to do for the pre-production phase of WJEC GCSE Film Studies.

It shows you:

• how to write a script
• how to create a storyboard
• how to produce a front page and contents page for a new film magazine
• how to produce a marketing campaign for your film

It then explains how you will do / what grade you will get.

GCSE Film Studies...

Associated Resources

• http://media.edusites.co.uk/index.php/article/as-ocr-media-studies-audience-and-institutions-film-production-film-industr/
• http://media.edusites.co.uk/index.php/article/as-ocr-media-studies-audience-and-institutions-film-industry-revision-ppt/

Key Principles

1. Have you got contrasting films you can use as case studies e.g. big budget Hollywood v low budget British indie which allow full range of issues to be discussed?

2....

Associated Resources

• http://media.edusites.co.uk/index.php/article/as-ocr-media-studies-audience-and-institutions-film-production-film-industr/
• http://media.edusites.co.uk/index.php/article/as-ocr-media-studies-audience-and-institutions-film-industry-revision-advic/

AS OCR A&I - Film Industry Revision.ppt

Associated Resources

• http://media.edusites.co.uk/index.php/article/as-ocr-media-studies-audience-and-institutions-film-industry-revision-advic/
• http://media.edusites.co.uk/index.php/article/as-ocr-media-studies-audience-and-institutions-film-industry-revision-ppt/

TOP TIP: Consider the issues for the studios and audiences at every stage.

When writing the exam essay - you should look for modern examples in the industry and be able to write a...

Film Marketing Analysis Worksheet.doc

AA Films Analysing Evil Characters Worksheet.doc

AA Films Analysing Good Characters Worksheet.doc

AA Films Camera Angles & Shot Worksheet.doc

AA Films Editing Worksheet.doc

AA Films Editing Worksheet Exemplar.doc

AA Films Hollywood Worksheet.doc

Film Marketing Analysis Worksheet.doc

Storyboard Blank 8 Frames.doc

Trailer

At World’s End was the most successful film of 2007, grossing approximately $960 million worldwide, and making it the second most successful in the series, behind Dead Man’s Chest.

It was nominated for the Academy Award for Makeup and the Academy Award for Visual Effects.

It remains one of the most expensive film ever made, with a budget of $300 million.

Definition

For an introduction to Action Adventure films for GCSE see:

http://www.leavemethewhite.com/

This site is great for letting students loose on a whole film as they have to choose what they think are the parts of the film they should be drawing on (dependent on what they are writing about).

This genre of films appeals to a family audience. The stories often pick up on the characters and type of stories that children have come across in children’s books – pirates, swashbuckling heroes, a quest for lost treasure and lots of adventures with monsters and exotic locations such as ancient Egypt.

The most successful action adventure films include Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark franchise, and Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.

...

Associated Resources

CA 2011 Action Adventure Mock Preliminary Letter v2.doc
CA 2011 Action Adventure Mock Exam Paper v2.doc

Understanding Storyboarding

Storyboarding is often required as a key production skill in the exam. Make sure you practise your storyboarding skills just in case it crops up again.

External Assessment Mock Exam Preliminary Letter

Action...

This guide is designed to cover the main points of the genre of Disaster Movies, which is the designated topic until summer 2012 for the WJEC GCSE in Film Studies for Paper 1 Exploring Film and to explain what you are likely to be asked in the examination

Defining the genre, what is a disaster movie?

Like all film genres, disaster movies are recognisable because of the presence of certain key elements which we would expect to see in a film...

Introduction

All three A Level Media Studies exam specifications emphasise the study of the representation of difference.

AQA suggests:

A case study of refugees in British newspapers for example, would involve research into, and documentation of, the treatment of refugees in a variety of British newspapers (or possibly just one) to pinpoint the political and social reasons for the construction of such media representations and the possible...

The films which tend to be classed as new wave fall out of most film audience’s natural comfort zone and may not be their films of choice for watching. This helps to define the term cinematic new wave and to place a new wave movement into a context relative to other films.

A new wave film is by definition different to the other films which are normally produced, or to put it another way, new wave film movements are distinct from those films...

Strictly speaking, an independent film is one which is made away from the control of a large corporation, and by control we mean funding or creative input. So no film could really be called an independent film unless it is totally funded produced and distributed privately. It is therefore unlikely that any film can truly and totally be called an independent film.

It has been said that if 50% of the budget is raised away from a major studio it...

Functions of the Title Sequence

The functions of the title sequence in a film may seem to be fairly obvious. They are designed to tell the audience the names of the people and organisations involved with the making of the film and in this respect they do the job well.

Irrespective of the genre, there is a conventional way of presenting this information in the credit sequence. This information and the order in which it is presented follows a...

Action Adventure Films is the set topic for the exam on Monday 13 June 2011 (pm) 1 hour and 30 mins

The 2011 brief should be issued to students on or shortly after Monday 16 May 2011. The brief will provide students with a contextualised scenario. The examination will require students to respond to tasks in role.

AQA suggests there are different types of action adventure films and offers this list:

Action Adventure – Swashbuckler

The Mask...

By Tina Dixon & Jeremy Orlebar

Week 1 Overview

Video of various extracts of documentaries shown in class using a glossary of documentary definitions and a worksheet identifying codes and conventions of documentary.

OHP used on various hybrids of documentary that students copy.

World at War Episode 15 looked at and a worksheet filled in to highlight key codes and conventions. This series was made on film.

Homework

Students are to watch a...

An Introduction to Documentary

Documentary on MediaEdu

Ideas for Teaching Documentary

Documentary Quiz 1

Documentary Quiz 2

Click on the link below to download a PDF booklet you can print out.

Film Genre - Thrillers.pdf

Click on the link below to download a frame for analysing the opening of the film ‘Children of Men’.

Film-Opening-Children-Of-Men.doc

‘It’s just an idea for group work deconstructing an interesting text (especially because, unusually, this one starts in the middle of the disequilibrium, rather than establishing an equilibrium first of all, so is good for narrative theory.  Also, our “hero” is rather unheroic (he doesn’t return to the...

An excellent commentary on Key Films, Culture & Politics by Nick Lacey. His new site also includes information on the books he has written. Click on the image above to visit ‘Nick Lacey on Films’.

Half-Day Revision Course for AQA GCSE Media Studies External Assessment on Action Adventure Films - 2011

Our first session will be a half-day revision course on Action Adventure Films for this summer’s AQA GCSE Media Studies External Assessment. See ‘Programme Details’ below for more info.

Programme Details

• We come to you.

• We would suggest a Saturday if you would like the course delivered in term time.

...

Editsense & Filmsense

What is Editsense?

‘Editsense is a new approach to learning about film language and film-making’.

This is an interactive DVD with excellent, practical examples of film - perfect for teachers of moving image, be it English, Creative and Digital Media or Film Studies.

It has over fifty video examples and includes materials for the introduction and revision of film. 

What does it...

Edusites are currently working on a new site for Film Studies which will be called FilmEdu. It will provide detailed schemes of works, case studies and additional supporting resources for GCSE and A Level Film Studies.

FilmEdu (http://film.edusites.co.uk) will launch in September 2011.

If you would like further information about FilmEdu please get in touch.

[e] .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this...

http://www.leavemethewhite.com/

This site is great for letting students loose on a whole film as they have to choose what they think are the parts of the film they should be drawing on (dependent on what they are writing about).

Click on the link below to download a frame for analysing the opening of the film ‘Children of Men’.

Film-Opening-Children-Of-Men.doc

‘It’s just an idea for group work deconstructing an interesting text (especially because, unusually, this one starts in the middle of the disequilibrium, rather than establishing an equilibrium first of all, so is good for narrative theory.  Also, our “hero” is rather...