Storyboarding

We're going to start the process of storyboarding your opening sequence this week. This is a key stage of the process that is unfortunately neglected in much A-Level work with some groups believing that the storyboards are best completed after the filming! This is nonsense. The storyboard is an essential document if you are going to create a professional opening sequence. It basically consists of sketches that show what will be in each of your shots. There is space for information about shot duration and sound/dialogue. Any camera movement should be indicated by an arrow drawn onto the sketch itself. You can also indicate transitions between each shot - most will be cuts of course.

The storyboard is an excellent way for you to think about your shots and framing before you get on location with actors/actresses and a declining amount of battery/light/patience! Getting the storyboards right should enable you to know exactly what is required when you arrive at your location - I can't emphasise enough how much time and aggravation this will save you.

The ones on the left are from Shallow Grave - there are loads of storyboards online for you to look at and they are also sometimes included as extra features on DVDs.

You own storyboard doesn't need to show that you are an amazing artist - this isn't a skill that you are being assessed on. You only need one storyboard per group though, so it would be sensible for the best artist in the group to draw the sketches - with input from the rest of the group of course.

Opening sequences

On Thursday, we looked at some opening sequences to films and agreed that the following features are typical:

1. Titles – stars and director –key creative personnel.
2. Title of the film.
3. Production and distribution company idents.
4. Introduction to the main characters.
5. Establishing shots to show you the settings / locations.
6. Some indication of the storyline that will follow.
7. Some indication of the genre of the film.
8. Sometimes, a short back story is used at the start of a film.
9. Theme tune – non-diegetic music that will usually indicate something abut the film’s genre and mood.

Don't forget tomorrow's deadline for your analysis of an opening sequence.

Mr T

Analysis of opening sequences

A crucial part of your research and planning is the research that you carry out into similar media products. Following on from Thursday's lesson you're going to be completing an analysis of an opening sequence from a film for homework. You need to begin by choosing a film in the same genre as the one that you have chosen to work in. Remember what we covered during the lesson on the conventions of opening sequences and consider the following questions when watching the opening sequence you have chosen to analyse:

Begin by outlining what the opening sequence tells us about the film, it's themes and the potential storyline that will follow.

1. What happens in the opening sequence?

2. What characters are the audience introduced to?

3. How are these characters constructed? How are the audience positioned in relation to them?

4. What does the opening sequence reveal about the setting(s) for the film?

5. What camera shots are used in the opening sequence?

6. What can you say about the editing in the opening sequence? Think about the pace and rhythm of the editing as well as the transitions used.

7. How is sound used in the opening sequence? Consider the instruments used, the tempo, volume, pitch and genre of any music used. Don't neglect diegetic sounds if there are any used.

8. How have the opening credits been presented? If you think it is significant, comment on their size, font, colour and positioning on screen.

There are some examples of analyses of opening sequences here:

http://longroadfilmopeningsequence.blogspot.com/

Be concise with this - there's no need to waffle. Max 600 words.

The deadline for this work is Monday 26th January.

Planning - Initial Ideas

We're working on some initial ideas during Wednesday's lesson. You'll be recording ideas onto a pro-forma that I'll give you. Make sure that you hang onto all of this sort of planning material - we'll submit anything useful in addition to the blog.

There are two strands to what we'll be doing over the next week or so - you'll be carrying out research (into similar media products and a potential target audience) and we'll be filming and editing your preliminary tasks. The quality of finish for the preliminary tasks is not hugely important and I don't actually give it a mark. However you will have 15 marks deducted from your construction mark (out of a possible 60) if you don't do it.

I'm going to discuss the research tasks further on Thursday - in the meantime you can check out the criteria that will be used to mark your planning and research on page 65 and 66 of the specification - it's very clear how marks are awarded. The spec can be found here:

http://www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/key_documents/AS_ALevel_GCE_Media_Studies_Specification.pdf

You can also look at the evaluation questions and the marking criteria for the evaluation and and construction too.

Coursework Introduction

Coursework Introduction

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

Right! Done! I'm getting very impressed with this blogging. Remarkable.

Exciting Times!

Welcome to the Windsor Boys' Media blog.

The purpose of this blog is to help guide you as we embark upon the Foundation Production Unit (Unit G321) for your Media AS. I'm toying with the options that we have for you to present your research and planning and a blog is certainly an option that the exam board seem to be keen on so we may well decide that you will present your work in this way.

Well done on sitting Unit G322 last week - let's hope that most of you get through without having to think about a re-sit! Don't forget that you'll be using a lot of what you learnt about the film industry to assist you in your own production - our experience will be closer to that of Cipher films than of Sony in terms of budget!

Please bear in mind what I said to you last week - the coursework should be exciting but it is also a hugely challenging project - stay on top of it from the beginning and manage your time sensibly.

Mr T