Here you will find all of the help and resources needed to help you make it through A2 with a good grade. Please post any questions you have and don't ask in class on here.
You need to make sure that you cover the following things in your production in order to meet the needs of the brief. Think about these very carefully.
Assessment: To achieve Level 4 in production (50 - 60 marks*) you are expected to demontrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:
holding a shot steady, where appropriate
framing a shot, including and excluding elements where appropriate
using a variety of shot distances, where appropriate
shooting material appropriate to the task set
selecting mise-en-scene including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting
editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer
using varied shot transitions, captions and other effects selectively and appropriately for the task
using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task
Where a candidate has worked in a group, an excellent contribution to construction is evident. Differences in the contributions made by individual candidates must be clearly indicated on the teacher marksheets. When marking the production, teachers must focus on the quality of the brand identity across the promotion package as a whole, as well as on the indidvidual productions.
1. Regular postings and updates, with no long gaps between them (unless these are explained) 2. Ongoing evidence of group work as specified in the coursework tasks, relating to research, planning, production and follow up tasks including inspirational links, actor and location photos, inspirational videos and tracks, video clips of test shots, plans, schedules, shot lists, storyboards, shot logs, feedback etc 3. Ongoing evidence of development, change and progress including diary style summaries of your ongoing progress as a group 4. Proper headings to posts, and named posts, including group posts 5. Lots of communication between the various group members, with regular posts from all group members, including reactions/suggestions/new ideas/arrangements and so on 6. Links to the main blog, and the group members blogs 7. A link to the final music video, album cover, and second artefact 8. Thorough labelling of posts, using a labels list. Use labels to identify who posted what. All posts should also be labelled as either research, planning, or production. 9. Availability of the correct tools for editing posts, browsing etc 10 Your own blog style/ blog name (your group number must still be obvious) to represent you as a group, including a happy group photo!
1. Regular postings and updates, with no long gaps between them (unless these are explained)
2. Ongoing evidence of individual research, analysis, theory and ideas as specified in the coursework tasks
3. Ongoing evidence of development, change and progress including diary style summaries of your individual contribution to the project as a whole 4. Ongoing reflections/ thoughts/comments on the progress of the group project
5. Communication between you, the teachers and the group
6. Links to the main blog, the group members blogs, group blog
7. labelling of posts, using a labels list; labels should be individual research, individual planning, evaluation
8. list of links to external websites you have found useful/inspirational
9. Availability of the correct tools for editing posts, browsing etc
10 Your own unique blog style to represent you as a media student/music consumer
On this blog I will be posting help and exemplar posts for you to be able to reflect on what you should be doing and seek help for the work you are doing at A2. First of all let me break down for you the topics that you will be doing over the next year.
Coursework:
Another blog which should already be set up and have at least two posts on. One being the introduction to your blog and the second being your application of Audience theory to your magazine.
The coursework this year will be much more detailed and thorough and at the side of the blog you will be able to access the breakdown of the posts you will need to complete.
The unit requires you to engage with contemporary media technologies, giving you the opportunity to develop in these technologies. It also enables you to develop the skills of presentation that are required for further study at higher levels and in the workplace.
Candidates will produce:
1) a media portfolio, comprising a main and ancillary texts 2) a presentation of their research, planning and evaluation in electronic format
Your production brief is as follows:
Brief 1: A promotion package of the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with 2 of the following 3 options:
1. a website homepage for the band 2. a digipak cover for its release on cd 3. a magazine advert for the album
Note: Original imagery, (including publicity stills for the ancillary products) must be included on all products. You are expected to shoot stills specifically for use on your print materials rather than merely relying on extracts from your MV footage. Found imagery is possible but there is a limit on what can be used and how – this can be discussed with the teachers on an individual basis.
You may work in a group of no more than 4 but you need to remember that you need to produce two blogs this year. One for you as an individual and one as a group. I have found excellent examples, as recommended by the exam board for you to look at both an individual and group blog.
This is the Video that accompanies the blogs:
Examination:
There will be no clips for the exam next year it is purely a written exam with 3 essay questions.
Section A: Evaluation Question 1: Here you will focus on how your skills have developed from AS to A2 in your coursework production. This will be an unknown question taken from one of the following: Digital Technology; Research and Planning; Post Production and Use of Real Media Texts. You will evaluate how you have developed in one of these areas and how it has affected your creativity. These are essays that we can prepare for prior to the examination.
Question 2: Here you will choose one of your pieces of coursework, either your A2 or AS work and you will apply a media theory or concept to it. This will be taken from any of the following and as above we will not be able to guess what it is until the exam but each question can be written and prepared for. The theories include, Audience, Narrative, Media Language, Representation and Genre.
Section B: Contemporary Media Issues This will be chosen by your teacher next year and could be any of the following:
