Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Production Stages (Filming)
As soon as everyone in your group has their blog up to date with the research and planning stages, you can move into filming the footage you have planned. In order to do this you need to come and see me - I will look at your blogs and then give you the green light to start filming. I will give your group an SD card to use in the video cameras at this point.
It is vitally important that you keep your blog updated with everything that you do whilst working independently.
All footage needs to be filmed and uploaded to the Mac allocated to your group by the start of term 4 - end of February.
It is vitally important that you keep your blog updated with everything that you do whilst working independently.
All footage needs to be filmed and uploaded to the Mac allocated to your group by the start of term 4 - end of February.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Film Classification
In order to show the examiner you know what this means you need to do some research.
Visit the British Board of Film Classification's website at www.bbfc.co.uk
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom. It has a statutory requirement to classify videos, DVDs and some video games under the Video Recordings Act 2010
You need to post evidence to your blog that you have researched film classification. Again, this needs to be available on your blog by Monday 29th November.
Visit the British Board of Film Classification's website at www.bbfc.co.uk
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom. It has a statutory requirement to classify videos, DVDs and some video games under the Video Recordings Act 2010
You need to post evidence to your blog that you have researched film classification. Again, this needs to be available on your blog by Monday 29th November.
The Opening Titles of Your Film
You need to show the examiner that you have researched and given consideration to the opening titles of your film. The starting point for this is to visit www.artofthetitle.com and watch the openings of 3 different films.
For each of these, make a list of the information that is presented to you on screen.
Once you have done this make a blog entry explaining what you have learnt about how titles are used in these openings - you can add images from the openings to help if you wish.
This needs to be evidenced on your blog by Monday 29th November.
For each of these, make a list of the information that is presented to you on screen.
Once you have done this make a blog entry explaining what you have learnt about how titles are used in these openings - you can add images from the openings to help if you wish.
This needs to be evidenced on your blog by Monday 29th November.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Now you have pitched your film...
Once the pitch for your film has been accepted you need to do the following things:
Decide upon two possible openings for your film. Think carefully about what you can do to engage your target audience and clearly identify the film as being a teen horror. Once you have blogged your two possible openings you can choose the one you want to move forwards with.
As soon as you have chosen your opening you need to storyboard your ideas. Think carefully about the range of shots you use - you need to show creativity. Try not to use too much dialogue as this will present difficuylties in both the production and post-production stages.
When you have your storyboard you can clearly identify the LOCATION and CASTING requirements for your film's opening. This then means you can look for suitable locations and actors. You need to 'scout' these and provide photographic evidence for your blog.
All of the above needs to be planed and evidenced on your blog by Monday 23rd November
Decide upon two possible openings for your film. Think carefully about what you can do to engage your target audience and clearly identify the film as being a teen horror. Once you have blogged your two possible openings you can choose the one you want to move forwards with.
As soon as you have chosen your opening you need to storyboard your ideas. Think carefully about the range of shots you use - you need to show creativity. Try not to use too much dialogue as this will present difficuylties in both the production and post-production stages.
When you have your storyboard you can clearly identify the LOCATION and CASTING requirements for your film's opening. This then means you can look for suitable locations and actors. You need to 'scout' these and provide photographic evidence for your blog.
All of the above needs to be planed and evidenced on your blog by Monday 23rd November
Monday, October 18, 2010
Making Your Pitch
Your first task before beginning the pre-production stage of your film is to pitch an idea.
Working in your groups you need to come up with the pitch for a teen horror film. This should include a working title and brief details about the storyline of the film.
You will need to pitch your idea to the Chief Executive Officer of Henton Horror Films - that's me - on Monday 1st November. I will then either give you the go-ahead to enter into pre-production or I will send you back to the drawing board.
Working in your groups you need to come up with the pitch for a teen horror film. This should include a working title and brief details about the storyline of the film.
You will need to pitch your idea to the Chief Executive Officer of Henton Horror Films - that's me - on Monday 1st November. I will then either give you the go-ahead to enter into pre-production or I will send you back to the drawing board.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Work for Wednesday 13th October
I am sorry that I am absent today. Could you please complete the following tasks ready for our next lesson:
See you all next lesson.
- Your preliminary task must be edited together completely.
- Once your preliminary task is edited you need to add an opening title and insert the names of your 2 actors. I explained how to do this on Monday. If you were filming or absent for this explanation you will need to ask another member of the group to show you how to do this. People who completed this successfully are the groups including Roxy, Matt Earl and Chloe.
- Once your prelim task is edited you need to export it as a Quicktime movie and save it to a memory stick. To export it you need to do the following:
- Have the project open in Final Cut Express
- Go to File - Export
- Choose Export as Quicktime Movie
- Name it Prelim Task Final Movie and save it to the desktop
- Copy and paste the movie from the desktop to a memory stick
See you all next lesson.
Editing Your Prelim Task
On Monday 11th October you were given the task of editing your preliminary task together using Final Cut Express. I was really please with the work that some of you completed in the lesson.
Those of you who had to finish filming during the lesson should have now done this and need to upload your footage as explained in earlier lessons.
You must update your blog explaining the editing process carried out in this lesson.
Those of you who had to finish filming during the lesson should have now done this and need to upload your footage as explained in earlier lessons.
You must update your blog explaining the editing process carried out in this lesson.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Horror Film Openings : Wrong Turn
We looked at an article from obsessedwithfilm.com today. This article discussed the opening of The Shining - a classic horror film starring Jack Nicholson.
We then watched the opening to the 2003 horror film Wrong Turn. Whilst watching the film's opening we made notes about the use of visual and audio elements to help create a feeling of tension, suspense and fear.
I was really impressed with the quality of observations made by people in the group. Special mention needs to be made of Matthews Earl and Tyler, Joe Bence and Liz Parry who all had lots to offer.
Your homework is to produce a brief analysis of this opening and post it to your blog.
We then watched the opening to the 2003 horror film Wrong Turn. Whilst watching the film's opening we made notes about the use of visual and audio elements to help create a feeling of tension, suspense and fear.
I was really impressed with the quality of observations made by people in the group. Special mention needs to be made of Matthews Earl and Tyler, Joe Bence and Liz Parry who all had lots to offer.
Your homework is to produce a brief analysis of this opening and post it to your blog.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Horror Film Openings
The following is taken from the website www.obsessedwithfilm.com
The most important thing that the opening of a film must accomplish is to establish a tone so that the audience fall into the same mood as the film they are watching. It doesn’t have to be a big budget explosive opening in order to grab the audience’s attention and sometimes an over the top opening like this risks upending the structure of the film with a sense of where do we go from here?
Usually the most successful film openings bring a well developed sense of intrigue that will leave you settled into your seat desperate to know more about the story and the characters that are going to occupy your time for the next one and a half to two hours. If it is particularly inventive there will be some dramatic foreshadowing that will enable to hint you at the problems that are going to occur throughout the story.
The Shining
The opening of The Shining is visually outstanding because mood and metaphor is established without us even needing to see a single character’s face. The shot begins by panning through a lake which immediately creates a feeling of disorientation. Then from a birds eye position above the trees we watch a small vehicle make its way along the cliff-top roads. There is a clear sense of the passengers being shown to be quite isolated and as if they are heading into the unknown. Dramatic foreshadowing is then used to good effect as we watch the car move along the edge of the clifftop, a perfect connotation of a family on the edge of a collapse.
The use of sound is also expertly handled and in regards to sound I’d like to make a comparison to a similar opening adopted in the film Shutter Island. Scorsese’s film (which by the way is absolutely fantastic and if you haven’t seen it already then head to your nearest cinema as soon as possible) begins however with a very overbearing soundtrack which distracts from the images on screen.
Basically Martin Scorsese handles everything perfectly apart from the sound. The detectives are on the boat heading to Shutter Island, straight to the point, no messing around. We quickly learn about the characters and their purpose. This is all fine. Then however as they approach the island itslelf which is a very impressive visual spectacle this blaring, gnawing sound suddenly shrieks over the action in a manner which completely takes you out of the moment.
Whereas in The Shining the sound blends in with the imagery and acts as an undercurrent to the horror on the surface, Shutter Island uses its over the top sound effects in order to basically shout at the audience ‘YOU ARE WATCHING A PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR FILM.’ It was a surprisingly amateurish moment that felt as if some indulgent film student had suddenly taken over from the master and injected his own misguided sense of pacing and atmosphere.
There are so many scenes praised in The Shining but I still think the opening overshadows them all. It’s just pure brilliance with a director who perhaps used space and location better than anybody before him or since. After the first three minutes we haven’t seen a single face but there are already several connotations connected towards the figures in the car.
Watch the opening of The Shining (cannot be viewed in school)
The most important thing that the opening of a film must accomplish is to establish a tone so that the audience fall into the same mood as the film they are watching. It doesn’t have to be a big budget explosive opening in order to grab the audience’s attention and sometimes an over the top opening like this risks upending the structure of the film with a sense of where do we go from here?
Usually the most successful film openings bring a well developed sense of intrigue that will leave you settled into your seat desperate to know more about the story and the characters that are going to occupy your time for the next one and a half to two hours. If it is particularly inventive there will be some dramatic foreshadowing that will enable to hint you at the problems that are going to occur throughout the story.
The Shining
The opening of The Shining is visually outstanding because mood and metaphor is established without us even needing to see a single character’s face. The shot begins by panning through a lake which immediately creates a feeling of disorientation. Then from a birds eye position above the trees we watch a small vehicle make its way along the cliff-top roads. There is a clear sense of the passengers being shown to be quite isolated and as if they are heading into the unknown. Dramatic foreshadowing is then used to good effect as we watch the car move along the edge of the clifftop, a perfect connotation of a family on the edge of a collapse.
The use of sound is also expertly handled and in regards to sound I’d like to make a comparison to a similar opening adopted in the film Shutter Island. Scorsese’s film (which by the way is absolutely fantastic and if you haven’t seen it already then head to your nearest cinema as soon as possible) begins however with a very overbearing soundtrack which distracts from the images on screen.
Basically Martin Scorsese handles everything perfectly apart from the sound. The detectives are on the boat heading to Shutter Island, straight to the point, no messing around. We quickly learn about the characters and their purpose. This is all fine. Then however as they approach the island itslelf which is a very impressive visual spectacle this blaring, gnawing sound suddenly shrieks over the action in a manner which completely takes you out of the moment.
Whereas in The Shining the sound blends in with the imagery and acts as an undercurrent to the horror on the surface, Shutter Island uses its over the top sound effects in order to basically shout at the audience ‘YOU ARE WATCHING A PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR FILM.’ It was a surprisingly amateurish moment that felt as if some indulgent film student had suddenly taken over from the master and injected his own misguided sense of pacing and atmosphere.
There are so many scenes praised in The Shining but I still think the opening overshadows them all. It’s just pure brilliance with a director who perhaps used space and location better than anybody before him or since. After the first three minutes we haven’t seen a single face but there are already several connotations connected towards the figures in the car.
Watch the opening of The Shining (cannot be viewed in school)
TV ALERT! A History of Horror
BBC 4 has a new series starting on Monday 8th October at 9pm. It is called A History of Horror and is well worth watching. I have linked to the BBC page below where you cabn find more information.
BBC 4 A History of Horror
BBC 4 A History of Horror
Horror Film Openings
During our lesson on Monday 4th October we discussed conventions of horror films in relation to narratives, characters, locations and iconography.
We watched the opening 5 minutes of Jeepers Creepers, Jeepers Creepers 2 and Dead Wood. These are all 15 certificate films that appeal to a teen audience.
From watching these openings we were able to identify conventions such as isolated locations, teenage characters, false scares and threat.
We watched the opening 5 minutes of Jeepers Creepers, Jeepers Creepers 2 and Dead Wood. These are all 15 certificate films that appeal to a teen audience.
From watching these openings we were able to identify conventions such as isolated locations, teenage characters, false scares and threat.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Preliminary Task Filming
You need to film the footage require for your preliminary task and download it to the Mac allocated to your group in the Media Room.
Remember to use your storyboard to help you plan and organise your 'shoot'. You will need to take photographs of your storyboard and post them to your blog after you have filmed.
Cameras and tripods can be booked out from the LRC for periods of up to 24 hours.
Footage must be saved as a Quicktime movie on your desktop ready to be edited during our double lesson on Monday 11th October.
Remember to use your storyboard to help you plan and organise your 'shoot'. You will need to take photographs of your storyboard and post them to your blog after you have filmed.
Cameras and tripods can be booked out from the LRC for periods of up to 24 hours.
Footage must be saved as a Quicktime movie on your desktop ready to be edited during our double lesson on Monday 11th October.
Introduction to Horror Film Genre
In today's lesson I introduced the concept of film genre and we looked at the conventions that we would expect to find in a horror film.
You were all asked to do the following for next Monday's lesson (11th October):
You were all asked to do the following for next Monday's lesson (11th October):
- Produce a Powerpoint presentation which briefly shows the history of horror films. (The last few slides of your ppt should show some research you have carried out into one of 20 of the most famous horror films.)
- Embed this ppt into your blog using your Slideshare account.
Intro to horror films sept 2010
View more presentations from kbamediastudies.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Transitions and Effects
During today's lesson you were all shown how to use transitions and effects whilst editing. The best way to find out what these are and how to use them is to use the media room in your study periods and practise.
Downloading from camera to Mac
This explanation is for the Canon Legira cameras that we use in Media Studies. By following this step by step guide you can get your footage from your camera into FCE.
You will need:
A Mac (!)
A Canon Legira camera complete with charger and USB lead.
Method
You now need to get this footage onto the desktop of the Mac.
You will need:
A Mac (!)
A Canon Legira camera complete with charger and USB lead.
Method
- Plug the power lead into the camera (DC in) and a plug socket.
- Connect the camera to the Mac by using the USB lead.
- DO NOT TURN THE CAMERA ON YET!
- Load i-Movie - this will be in the dock and looks like a star with a video camera in the middle of it!
- Create a new project.
- Once i-Movie has loaded you can turn the camera on.
- Change the camera from movie mode to playback mode and select connect to PC / Printer.
- i-Movie will now detect the camera and look for images.
- Select the shots you want to import and click on import checked.
- Poster images will now be generated.
- Select all the poster images (select the first, press the shift key and click on the last to select them all).
- Drag these images into the top window - an editing tip will appear but ignore this.
- You will be told how much footage and how many clips you have downloaded.
You now need to get this footage onto the desktop of the Mac.
- Select SHARE from the toolbara t the top of the screen.
- Click on EXPORT USING QUICKTIME
- You will need to name the clip and select a location for this to save.
- Once you have done this you can export the footage you have taken as a QT Movie.
- This movie can then be copied and pasted into FCE.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Introducing Final Cut Express (FCE)
FCE is the video editing package we use in Media Studies at KBA.
In our lesson today you will be introduced to the basics of FCE. This will help you to learn how to edit footage for your preliminary task and foundation portfolio.
I would recommend that you all take some time to view the range of online tutorials provided by Apple for FCE. These will allow you to develop your skills.
FCE tutorials can be found at the link below.
Final Cut Express Tutorials
In our lesson today you will be introduced to the basics of FCE. This will help you to learn how to edit footage for your preliminary task and foundation portfolio.
I would recommend that you all take some time to view the range of online tutorials provided by Apple for FCE. These will allow you to develop your skills.
FCE tutorials can be found at the link below.
Final Cut Express Tutorials
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Using the video cameras
In our lesson on Monday 20th September we looked at the Canon Legira video cameras and tripods that we use in school. You will all be issued with ID cards soon so that you can book equipment out. The best way to get used to how the cameras work is to actually use them.
On Wednesday we will look at how to transfer footage from the cameras to the Macs and also how to do basic editing.
Make sure you update your blogs.
On Wednesday we will look at how to transfer footage from the cameras to the Macs and also how to do basic editing.
Make sure you update your blogs.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Using the Correct Terminology
In our lesson yesterday we discussed some of the terminology used to describe camera shots, angles and movements. Should you wish to take a closer look at this please use the link below.
Basic Camera Shots, Angles and Movements
Basic Camera Shots, Angles and Movements
Planning Your Preliminary Task
The temptation for everyone who is given the task of producing a piece of film is to want to grab a camera and go out and start filming. This is, however, a short-cut that normally leads to poor results. Planning what you are going to film is essential if you are to get all the footage you need in order to be able to edit successfully.
You were all given storyboarding sheets during the lesson on Wednesday 15th September. As a group you need to plan your preliminary task, including subject specific vocabulary relating to camera shots, movement and angles.
You will have the chance to complete these during the lesson next Monday. If you were absent, you need to talk to other members of your group.
You were all given storyboarding sheets during the lesson on Wednesday 15th September. As a group you need to plan your preliminary task, including subject specific vocabulary relating to camera shots, movement and angles.
You will have the chance to complete these during the lesson next Monday. If you were absent, you need to talk to other members of your group.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Making your first post
I would like you all to make your first post to your blog.
This should be titled My First Post and needs to include a description of the things you have been introduced to during your first lessons. This should include:
- Setting up your Blogger account
- Using your KBA email
- Seting up a Slideshare account
- Having the Prelim inary Task introduced to you
- Geting into groups - who is in yours?
- Introduction to basic terminology for shots and camera movement
Friday, September 10, 2010
Embedding a Powerpoint presentation in your blog using Slideshare
Adding a Powerpoint presentation to your blog is called 'embedding'.
The powerpoint presentation below - which I have embedded from Slideshare - tells you how to embed a Powerpoint presentation from Slideshare.....
The powerpoint presentation below - which I have embedded from Slideshare - tells you how to embed a Powerpoint presentation from Slideshare.....
Setting up a Slideshare account
One of the things you need to be able to do in Media Studies is put Powerpoint presentations into your blog. This is a simple thing to do but you need to create an account with Slideshare in order to do it - don't worry, it doesn't cost anything!
(Before you do this you need to know your KBA email address.)
Here is how you do it:
1.
Go to http://www.slideshare.net/
2.
Click on Signup in the top right-hand corner.
3.
Enter a user name, email address and password. These should be:
user name = first and last name
email = KBA email address
password = something you will remember! It would be a good idea to use the same password that you have for your blog.
Leave the account type set as default!
4.
When you have done this an email will be sent to you asking you to verify your email address. Once you have done this you will be able to log in to your Slideshare account. You will then be able to publish Powerpoint presentations to the web and embed them in your blog. Simples!
(Before you do this you need to know your KBA email address.)
Here is how you do it:
1.
Go to http://www.slideshare.net/
2.
Click on Signup in the top right-hand corner.
3.
Enter a user name, email address and password. These should be:
user name = first and last name
email = KBA email address
password = something you will remember! It would be a good idea to use the same password that you have for your blog.
Leave the account type set as default!
4.
When you have done this an email will be sent to you asking you to verify your email address. Once you have done this you will be able to log in to your Slideshare account. You will then be able to publish Powerpoint presentations to the web and embed them in your blog. Simples!
How to use your KBA email
In Media Studies there will be times when I ask you to complete work and send it to me electronically. This could be a Word document, a Powerpoint presentation or something else. I will also need to send you things. Using email to do this reduces the need to print and waste paper as well as allowing us to communicate more effectively.
You may have an email address of your own but, for all school related work, you must use your KBA Microsoft Outlook email address.
Below, you will find an explanation of how to log in to your account.
1.
Go to KBA's home page at http://www.ketteringbuccleuch-academy.org/
2.
Hover the mouse over the link for STAFF at the top of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.
3.
From the drop-down menu select STAFF WEBMAIL.
4.
Click on the underlined link Click here to login. A new window will open.
5.
You need to input your user name and password. These are the same as you would use to log on to the PCs when at school.
e.g. : user name = 1966beckhamd (XXXX surname first initial)
6.
Click log on and Microsoft Outlook should open. Sometimes you have to go back and re-enter your user name and password - don't take this personally!
Once you have logged in to your account you will be able to send and pick up email communications. I will go through this process in class and explain how to do the basics.
You may have an email address of your own but, for all school related work, you must use your KBA Microsoft Outlook email address.
Below, you will find an explanation of how to log in to your account.
1.
Go to KBA's home page at http://www.ketteringbuccleuch-academy.org/
2.
Hover the mouse over the link for STAFF at the top of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.
3.
From the drop-down menu select STAFF WEBMAIL.
4.
Click on the underlined link Click here to login. A new window will open.
5.
You need to input your user name and password. These are the same as you would use to log on to the PCs when at school.
e.g. : user name = 1966beckhamd (XXXX surname first initial)
6.
Click log on and Microsoft Outlook should open. Sometimes you have to go back and re-enter your user name and password - don't take this personally!
Once you have logged in to your account you will be able to send and pick up email communications. I will go through this process in class and explain how to do the basics.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Welcome to Year 12
Your first task as a Media Studies student is to create your own blog. This is where you will produce the majority of your work for this subject - being a trendy 21st century subject we don't use exercise books!
It is vitally important that your blog is updated on a weekly basis and that you record all of the work you are completing in preparation for your Foundation Coursework Portfolio.
A blog (short for web log) is a way of being able to combine elements such as text, pictures, videos and powerpoint presentations for other people to see.
During your first lesson you will be shown how to start 'blogging'.
It is vitally important that your blog is updated on a weekly basis and that you record all of the work you are completing in preparation for your Foundation Coursework Portfolio.
A blog (short for web log) is a way of being able to combine elements such as text, pictures, videos and powerpoint presentations for other people to see.
During your first lesson you will be shown how to start 'blogging'.
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