Working to final deadline

Both groups,

In order to meet the deadline on 3rd December, you should aim to do the following:
1. finish print work by Friday
2. Test to target audience - post feedback on blog
3. Fill timeline with rough cut by Monday - watch on big screen and make detailed notes on edit changes
4. Record audience feedback on rough cut on blog
5. You will then have 4 days to re-edit and finalise video

Don't forget to post daily production log entries on your blog with technical detail of what you have done. This is vital evidence for your own contribution.

Excellent example of digipak mock-up #2

Rob Brown's mock-up for group 6's digipak is excellent. He has also designed a booklet and poster to accompany the digipak, as well as worked out how the design will work logistically when constructed. The images used are Jake's digital photos and stills from the video shoot.

Click on the image to see the full post.

This is A* planning.

Excellent example of digipak mock-up

Casey's digipak mock-up is excellent; she is obviously using her art skills here - but that isn't why this is an exemplary post. She completed the task as expected - a physical mock-up and has really thought about how the visuals will work within overall layout. She has also used semiotics to deconstruct this.

An example of A* planning.

Thinking about your evaluation

It might seem early - but it is important to consider the questions for the evaluation now - so you can be sure to have a lot to talk about:

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products ?
2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?
3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?
4. How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Click here for Pete Fraser - Chief Examiner's blog entry on the eval. You might recognise one of the examples he uses from last year...!

W/E 5th Nov

I understand that Mr Fiveash was unexpectedly absent on Friday - we will extend the animatic deadline to the end of Monday as a result of this as some of you needed access to the cameras.

I see all of you on Monday; I'm looking forward to seeing digipak mock-ups, advert analysis (13B) and to talk through your animatics with you.

Reminder - research deadline tomorrow

This is a reminder that you have until tomorrow to go back and improve primary/secondary research posts as we will be marking this weekend.

Look back on this blog at advice and tasks set. Make sure that ALL your posts are clearly linked to concept development, that there is a dialogue with group members about your ideas, that posts are clearly labelled, laid out, key terms, images. LAST CHANCE.

Half Term

You have now signed off your pitches and are well into the storyboarding process. You need to have achieved the following over Half Term ready for first lesson back:

1. Complete video storyboard IN DETAIL - remember this is not about just mapping out what is going to happen as many of you did at AS, but planning visual detail such as framing, camera movement. You will need to finish off animatic in first couple of days back.

2. Last chance to make improvements to research posts by FRIDAY 29th October in half term. Remember, you need to show how your research, informed by critical ideas and A2 level thinking is directly feeding into your concept development. Also tidy up posts, add images etc.

3. Many of you will actually shoot some footage. Top tips:

• shoot everything at least twice, all lipsynched parts particularly
• Shoot the same action from a number of angles
• Make sure you have close-ups
• Be interesting in your camera movement and angle
• Don't be static
• Think about rule of thirds, leading lines
• Pay attention to mise-en-scene, particularly things like road signs, annoying people walking past, litter. It can ruin a shot.
• Shoot everying on your storyboard AND THEN SOME MORE.
• Take stills photographs just in case you want them for Digipak.

4. continue to record concept development on blog. Reflect on any shoots / reccies on blog. We will be checking them during the week.

5. Go into a record shop and look at digipaks. Really look at them. Get some layout ideas. Post on it.

6. Buy a music magazine in the same genre as your track. Look at all the advertising in it - think about layout and design of album and single ads. Cut out some examples - ready for researching next term

Excellent example of focused research

At A2 to achieve a Level 4 you need to ensure that your research is clearly focused and directly informs your concept development. Here is an example of a post from Rosie C in group 6 that does just this. She wanted to come up with ideas to ensure that a sequence shot in a car looks effective. She carried out some technical research on similar sequences in other videos and could draw some direct inspiration for the group's concept.

Remember, at A2 be reflective, link your research to your concept, even if it only served to discount an idea.

Theory and Print Analysis

Please could you ensure that the following is completed by Wednesday.

1. Considering your music video analysis, how could you apply Dyer's theory on Stars. Write an extra paragraph, using examples from the video you chose to explain the theory.
   
2. Research: What is a digi-pak and what are the conventions of this form? Write a paragraph on your blog, use pictures to illustrate.
   
3. Deconstruct a digipak and advert of the same genre as you are choosing for your own products. Ideally the two promotional items should be for the same track so that you can appreciate the brand that is being created and comment on consistency of representations.
   

More interesting videos

Whomadewho - interesting concept, engaging

One of a few more interesting videos linked from the home page of www.bugvideos.co.uk

13A - Deadline - Monday 27th September

Please complete the following posts on your blog - one per group:

1. Consider what decisions still need to be made with regard to planning - write a to-do list. Include a date for your next reccie
   
2. Evaluate the Brighton reccie. How will you be using the skills and experience of this shoot to inform the next stage of production?
   
3. Post the lyrics of your song. Annotate exactly what you envisage happening during each line. Include notes for instrumental parts.
   
4. Complete your second mini technical analysis, try the Bug website for ideas. Again your shot by shot list should be 30 seconds to a minute depending on cutting rate.
   
5. Your group pitches will be in week commencing 11 October. All planning will be completed by then. Check the list in your booklet to see what you have still to do.

Need some inspiration?

Visit Bug and browse their past event pages - you can view the videos featured at each event - these are both established directors and low budget newcomers. There is some really interesting work, particularly animation - but all sorts.

Here is my top selection

Kap Bambino - simple, effective use of slowmo

Young Loves - shamanising in the woods - amazing transitions, effects

Colourmusic - ha ha!

Cinnamon Chasers - alternate endings, POV narrative - interesting technique, narrative style

Supergrass - all it takes sometimes is a simple visual idea

Post your research on the blog with an explanation of what Bug is.
CF

Welcome new Y13 students

This central blog is a useful resource while doing your coursework. We will post deadlines, week tasks and advice on elements of planning here.

13B - this week you need to complete the following on the blog;
1. video analysis (make sure to include Dyer)
2. Individual response to track on blog
3. Comment on each other's posts
4. Continue to record concept development on blog

Blog - final tidy up

Make sure that your blog represents your excellence in use of ICT as well as planning and organisation. Make sure you have done the following:

1. Used as many embedded video clips, stills, photographs, links as possible
2. Commented on each other's posts
3. Uploaded a jpg of your digipak and ad layouts
4. Uploaded a jpg sample of call sheet, risk assessment and calendar to show organisation
5. broken up long text posts with subheadings, key words highlighted
6. changed settings so all posts are viewed on one page
7. organised menu with your initials at beginning of all posts
8. recorded shoots/editing process on blog
9. Uploaded final print texts to blog
10. Included a post with evidence of original images for print (perhaps include in Q4?)
11. sort out design of blog - get rid of silly banners, amend title image with still image, rethink design (check font colours and bold if you change). BRAND your blog

Production log

You now need to use your blog to reflect on your shoots and any editing progress answering questions such as:

1. What worked / what did you change

2. Have you changed your idea from your storyboard?

3. Describe any innovative techniques used when shooting / editing

4. Issues with weather, props, locations, performers, lighting that you had

This will not only contribute to planning grade, but you will need this information to write evaluation and answer question in exam.

Planning marks - a few final tips

I'm just marking your blogs and the following 'housekeeping' changes need to be made. We want you to all achieve the highest mark possible and therefore to ensure a level 4, in addition to the quality of your individual analysis - you MUST show how your concept developed. You also need to show EXCELLENCE in use of ICT in presenting planning and evaluation so you must use the blog efficiently, creatively:

1. Don't post a link to youtube - always embed the clip in your blog. This is for your animatic, video analysis, auteur videos... anything that you are referring to
2. Keep titles of posts to one line in menu and ALWAYS start with your initials so we can easily see who has done what
3. Check punctuation / paragraphs
4. Where possible highlight key terminology, use bullet points, images - make it easy to read.
5. Audience research? This should have it's own post, with detail on methodology and results evaluation
6. Digipak designs - post entries documenting your ideas and with scan/image of your layouts (1 EACH)
7. Have you done some filming already? You will need to post an entry evaluating the shoot, what worked, what you changed, any technical issues, ideas, inspirations, issues with weather, general public etc. You will need this info for your evaluation AND exam. Include screenshot of risk assessment / call sheets to show organisation.

great video

Mike Snow - Black and Blue
Directed by Matthias Koenigswieser
Fantastic. enigmatic. Stands up to repeated viewings.

Half Term task

All groups,

Over half term, you should complete the following (all students to complete ALL tasks individually) and post up on blog by first lesson back:

1 x mock up layout done by hand or electronically of advert and digipak (this should be a paper construction to scale to show form as well as design).

The idea is that you bring this mock-up to the lesson so that you can discuss your final plans with your group. You should look at examples while you are designing.

Digipak for your track
This should be minimum 4 sides (front, back, inside covers including image under CD holder). You could however choose a more innovative layout that has more sides. This is up to you.

Magazine advertisement
This should also be drawn to scale. Decide an appropriate magazine that your advert would run in, like NME, and what style of advert you will design (full page, half page) and why.

RESEARCH DEADLINE - 23rd

All groups,

You should have completed all research tasks set up to now, including animatic and your primary/secondary research improved/completed by Friday 23rd. We will be reviewing and marking up to this stage over half term.

CF

Audience Research - analysis

Your post outlining the results of your audience research should include the following:

1. What were the results?
2. What results were useful and could feed into your production?
3. What were shortcomings of the research?