Tuesday 27 September 2011

Continuity - The Birds and other home study work - due in 4 or 5.10.11


TASK 1:
Watch this sequence from Hitchcock's The Birds. It's an excellent example of continuity and uses the techniques we've seen in class this week.


After watching it, try and work out:
- How many shots are there?
- Where was the camera positioned for each shot?
- Which principles of continuity editing have been followed?

Then you're ready to write an analysis of shots and techniques used in this sequence to demonstate your understanding of them. You can use the following questions for guidance:
1. What principles of continuity are used here? How successfully? Refer to specific shots / screengrabs.
2. What is the effect of the editing on the viewer? What are we meant to feel at different stages? (ie before she enters the house, in the kitchen, in the corridor, in the bedroom, running away)?
3. What is the 'best bit' for you in this sequence in terms of learning new techniques and why?
Continuity editing is all about making your film work in a logical way (ordering the shots logically) so the audience can follow it easily and enjoy the story y without being confused; they are properly 'positioned'.
Can you remember all the techniques/ principles discussed in class? Can you find some examples of these techniques in other films (embed)?

Task 2:
Find and embed a film extract that makes good use of continuity. Grab a few shots and comment on techniques used (bullet points)

Task 3:
Next triple, you will be shooting your preliminary task. Ahead of the lesson, you need to have written a post (title: Preliminary Task Pre-Production) explaining who you will be shooting with (teams of 3), where, and include the script. You can start your storyboard and insert some of your shots. In the lesson, you will only have limited time to for pre-production, so the more you do ahead of time, the better.
PRELIM BRIEF:

... and look again at the example below:

ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED MUST BE COMPLETED BY NEXT TRIPLE WITHOUT FAIL. Go back to earlier posts for details.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Home Learning for next Tuesday / Wednesday (27/28.9.11)

After all your hard work learning the basics of camerawork and editing, now is the time to show what you've learnt and how well you can reflect on the process so far. But first...

- Make sure you use the pod in some of your private study sessions - except Thursday periods 1-3. Finish some of your work, export and embed your films. If I'm not around, ask Ms Stobbs for the key and make sure that you lock the room if you are the last person there. Reminder that you can find me there from 3.10pm and that we also have James there on Tuesday lunchtimes.

- Read the handbook you've been given to find out what else you can do and what resources to seek - there is a list at the back.

- Snehal, I haven't received your mail. I am also missing 3 other blogs. Send me the URL at h.o'shea@parkhighstanmore.org.uk


- Complete the following tasks:
1. No one has included a post about the short films posted below. DO IT - they are there to support and extend your learning. Sum up what you have found out (new things or top tips or ideas) with a few bullet points.

2. Some of you have not completed a proper evaluation of the tasks so far. For each one, the film / task should be embedded and you should aim to address the following:
- What was the purpose of the task?
- What skills did you learn or develop?
- What mistakes did you make or what would you like to improve?
- Do mention specific techniques and use appropriate terminology.

3. Complete the task on Composition - all the pictures you took in class to demonstrate nose room, head room, lead room, eye line, rule of thirds are on the media drive (AS then red folders)- embed them in your post and demonstrate your understanding.
Then watch the following clip to consolidate understanding (the one I was meant to show in class... had I had a working computer). Other rules of composition are mentioned - can you spot them?


4. At home, work on taking photos or short clips to practise composition. This will show engagement and a willingness to make the extra effort.

5. Start researching what we mean by "continuity". We will discuss this next week and you will start planning your coursework Preliminary task then.

All the above should feature on your blog.

NEXT WEEK (Tuesday / WEdnesday):
Meet me in the Media Pod at the start of period 1. You have some editing to finish and we will look at some fresh editing tricks.
Then we'll start on the Prelim!

Aim high; work hard!

Being organised on a shoot!

Group 2 girls showing how effective planning can make you more effective on a shoot! It doesn't stop you from experimenting with different angles whilst on location!




Tuesday 13 September 2011

Home learning - set 13 or 14 September

1. Reminder: Anyone who is behind / has 'lost' USBs etc. needs to have caught up by Friday 16th September. See previous posts for detail. This should include taking a picture and writing the comments as well as watching the recommended videos.
Make a few bullet points to show what you've learnt from them.

2. Evaluation of your practical tasks so far (with both teachers) - skills learnt and specific examples. Screengrabs to illustrate.

3. Storyboard 10 shots for 'The Accident' which will film next week.

For those who haven't sent their URLs yet, do it now! h.o'shea@parkhighstanmore.org.uk

Monday 5 September 2011

Welcome to AS Media Studies!

This is your INDUCTION BLOG and first port of call for the first few weeks to keep track of what needs doing. Start by reading and watching what follows... There is a lot to learn from it!

Looking forward to the year ahead! :)

NOTE: Once you've launched your induction blog, send me the URL straight away to allow me to link it from here.
Use labels straight away to tag your posts.

My email is h.o'shea@parkhighstanmore.org.uk


NOW START HERE --> A fantastic film made by a film student to teach you all you need to know. Flawless editing. Watch and learn!

LEARNING FROM ROBERT RODRIGUEZ (director)
You can learn an awful lot about making a film on a tight budget from Robert Rodriguez, director of El Mariachi. You can also find more of his videos on YouTube as well as extracts from his films.



And here is the trailer for El Mariachi (1992).


Back to Basics: CAMERAWORK
Easy to follow guide to learn the basics of the trade! Click here.

These videos from OCR are also useful.


Ocrmediaas_basics of Video Editing
Ocrmediaas_making Your Video


Course Guide AS 11 12

Home Learning - Set 6 or 7.9.11 due in next triple

1. Personalise your blog – choose a background before the gadgets, including links back to INDUCTION and THRILLER BLOGS; insert a photo for your profile; send your URL to HO.
2. Evaluate the practical tasks so far, using the following prompts for each one (two filming/editing tasks):
- What did you have to do and what was the purpose of the task?
- What have you learnt in terms of skills, key concepts and ideas etc...
- What would you do differently if you had the chance? What lessons have you learnt in terms of pre-production / production; in other words, how will you be more efficient next time?


You also need to embed your CameraWork tasks - Group 2: find your animatics HERE then embed the HTML code into your post.
Group 1: You need to export your films (from the 1st lesson) first.

3. Take an interesting photo of one or two characters and explain your mise-en-scene choices, including camera shot and angle (see the example below which is a student's work from a different centre). Upload your picture to your blog.

EXEMPLAR:
*This is a high angle MS of a white teenage male.
* He is wearing a grey hoody-the hood nearly covering his eyes so it casts shadows across his face, signifying that he may have things to hide.
*He sits against a brick wall in the dark with a spotlight shining on him which creates an interrogation-style effect.
*As one eye is covered a sense of mystery is connoted, as well as darkness which could represent that the character is evil.
*The actor is giving direct address to the camera, which seems chilling and gives a sense of horror.
* The photo is in colour, but the actor is wearing dark clothing which makes him seem evil, as he is central in the photo and we are drawn to the darkness.
*We had to turn off the lights in the hallway so that there was darkness surrounding the actor and the only light came from the police, as if to signify that the character is bad and the police interrogating are good, which plays upon opposites which are a common feature in horror films.
*Furthermore, the actor looks like a 'deer in the headlights', which is great we achieved a feeling that he was not expecting to be caught.

*The shot was achieved using a teenage male sitting against a wall, with someone holding a pag light (without filters) in front of the male.
*I also put dark makeup underneath the teenager's eyes so that he looked more devious.