24 December 2013

22 November 2013

Consolidating your audience research

Some of you need more information on your target audience. Here is a link to the media pack published by a magazine:
http://www.mhpromo.co.uk/MP_11.pdf

Look through the pack to see how the target audience is described in detail.

18 November 2013

DEADLINES - ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Timing is really tight. We are expecting ALL of you to meet the deadlines and talk to us if any issues should arise PRIOR to the deadlines.

FRIDAY 22ND NOVEMBER: FIRST DRAFT DIGIPAK (you will have both the double and triple to work on that) - Work on your advert should also be under way.

FRIDAY 29TH NOVEMBER: FINAL DRAFT DIGIPAK + MAGAZINE ADVERT (preferably final but first draft if not)

Start work on Evaluation Question 2

THURSDAY 5TH DECEMBER: EVALUATION QUESTION 2 DUE IN (WILL BE CHECKED IN THE LESSON)

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER: MUSIC VIDEO ROUGH CUT + MAGAZINE ADVERT FINAL DRAFT (if not completed the week before) 
Monday's lesson [9th Dec] will include a showcasing of the videos and feedback for further improvement.

Start work on Evaluation Questions 3 and 4

THURSDAY 12TH DECEMBER: EVALUATION QUESTIONS 3 AND 4 DUE IN (WILL BE CHECKED IN THE LESSON)

FRIDAY 13TH DECEMBER: MUSIC VIDEO FINAL CUT DEADLINE

Work on Evaluation question 1

THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER: EVALUATION QUESTION 1 DUE IN. 
IMPROVED EVALUATION QUESTIONS 2-4 DUE IN.
FINAL DEADLINE.



Exemplar material from the OCR weebly

This A2 brief was the film trailer rather than the music video but you can learn a lot from their evaluation:
http://emilytolgamedia.blogspot.co.uk

In fact, here is the examiner's comments on this blog (note the 20/20 for Research and Planning and the 19/20 for the Evaluation though we were warned to be careful about over-using prezi for presentations as they are often poor and fail to properly exploit the format):


E.T. Total 93
Research and Planning 20
There are over 80 posts here, really detailing the journey of the project. There is a real sense throughout of the journey of the project, with the research on each element very clearly articulated and drafts of every stage in evidence.
Construction 36+9+9 (All three pieces are clearly level 4, and though we might quibble about the precise balance of marks, overall about right)
Trailer: excellent use of a range of sound, well-layered. A good variety of shot types, well paced editing. A sense of the narrative is established without giving too much away. Text is used well to set up a sense of ‘tease’. A really good sense of institutional understanding.
Magazine cover: in the style of Little White Lies, very appropriate
Poster: works well with the trailer and uses institutional features appropriately
Evaluation 19

Technology question makes good use of prezi and explains points well. The lengthy video on audience feedback is very thorough on what they did and how they did it. The prezi on the combination of texts is also very thorough, with a lot of close attention to detail and relates the choices made to real examples. The prezi on forms and conventions is well-constructed, detailed and appropriate. 

EVALUATION

Seems like a good time to remind you that you need to start thinking of the Evaluation of your work. (20 marks)

Can I remind you once again that the 4 evaluation questions are:
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 media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?


Assessment: to achieve Level 4 in Evaluation, you are expected to demontrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:
- understanding of the forms and conventions used in the productions.
- understanding of the role and use of new media in various stages of the production.
- understanding of the combination of main product and ancillary texts.
- understanding of the significance of audience feedback.
- choice of form in which to present the evaluation.
- ability to communicate.
- use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.

Here is a example of a level 4 blog (a bit weaker on the Evaluation, particularly question 4, where the focus should really be on Creativity):
http://musicvideocm3christina.blogspot.com/

The following booklet is for guidance. You might have better ideas and be keen to do vlogs instead. That would be fine. AVOID PREZI IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO STICK TEXT IN IT. THE MODERATORS GOT FED UP WITH THAT LAST YEAR.
OR in this format: UPDATED Music Video Evaluation Tasks

ANCILLARY TASKS - MORE IDEAS OF WHAT YOU COULD DO TO SHOW YOUR RESEARCH



Analysis of Magazine Posters and Digipaks from jkfernandes17

More examples…




13 November 2013

Lighting Techniques

For those of you wishing to incorporate some interesting lighting in your video shoot!


Three point studio lighting





Basic Three point lighting




Basic technique for patterns





Lighting pattern demonstration





Lighting composition design: Using 'Flags' to block portions of light































24 October 2013

Music Video Analysis - Assessment Week

Rockstar 101 - Rihanna

TASK: Analyse the following video referencing Goodwin and Vernallis. Particularly focus on gender representation and star image. Offer different readings.

http://www.vevo.com/watch/rihanna/rockstar-101/USUV71001042#

14 October 2013

Ancillary Tasks - selection of old posts to help you

Click to see a good example of the research and planning that should go into your ancilliary tasks: the digipak and magazine advert

Last album digipak: FINALLY, HERE IS A PAGE WITH EXAMPLES OF CD COVERS AND MAGAZINE ADVERTS.

And here is the template for your digipak. You can find it on the Media drive in the Digipak folder. You'll need to import it into Photoshop.

Obviously this only has four panels; you should be aiming for six:


Have a look at this group's work on ancillary tasks. They achieved level 4.

The magazine advert:

Here is their 6-frame digipack:
Do check out these obscure and brilliant album covers: 
http://a2musicvid.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/great-album-covers-have-look.html

Audience Research - Initial questions + Theory

Uses and Gratifications

25 September 2013

Watch videos you might not usually watch - Use the playlists:

Watch a range of videos, starting with our playlist:

Also learn from the masters:
1. Mark Romanek

2. Hype Williams
3. Stephane Sednaoui
4. Anton Corbijn

5. Spike Jonze

6. David Fincher

7. Chris Cunningham
8. Michel Gondry
9. Alternative forms of music video

INTERTEXTUALITY IN MUSIC VIDEOS

Look at this film made by another media teacher:

23 September 2013

OK, LET'S ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE FROM THE OTHER CENTRE...

















That's where they're up to...

http://jessphoebemega2media.blogspot.co.uk

Keep an eye on them!!!!!

Here's her 25 word pitch - It could be a bit more specific about the amount of performance v. narrative.
http://jessphoebemega2media.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/25%20Word%20Pitch


Example of full marks coursework:
http://martynhollinsheadlcmedia1213.blogspot.co.uk

ONE TO WATCH WITHOUT FAIL

Watch and make a few notes on what you have picked up from it. This video was recommended by the person who's in charge of A2 at OCR......




The Videographers Guide Ep. 1 - The Music Video from Hypebeast on Vimeo.

10 September 2013

Music Video Analysis Theory - Andrew Goodwin


To be used when analysing music videos as part of your research.

Andrew Goodwin identified a number of key features which distinguish the music video as a form, before you understand his theory you need to understand some key terminology. If you click on the key terms you will be taken to videos which best illustrate these terms

Illustrate: Images used to represent the meanings of the lyrics and genre (this is the most common feature of a music video) this is very often literal.

Disjuncture: When the meaning of the song is completely ignored

Amplify: Meanings and effects are manipulated and constantly shown throughout the video and shown to the audience (basically repetition).

- There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals
illustrating, amplifying or contrasting the lyrics.

- There is a relationship between the music and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contrasting the music.

- Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography

- Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of the main artist or vocalist

- Voyeurism is present in many music videos, especially in the treatment of females, but also in terms of systems of looking. Some examples are screens within screens, cameras, mirrors, etc.

- there are likely to be intertextual references, either to other music videos or to films and TV texts, these provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewers/fans.


TASK
Using your favourite music videos,
TubeChop scenes where ANY of the above features are present. Screengrab and comment.

(With thanks to Lutterworth Media)

WELCOME BACK! YOU ARE NOW A2 STUDENTS

Welcome to the A2 Advanced Portfolio in Media Studies. Ready for the challenges ahead? Of course you are!

The Advanced Portfolio 's chosen brief is Music Video.

This will be managed in a similar way as the Foundation Portfolio through a blog which the moderator will then have access to.
Individual blog for:individual (and group-based) research and ideas, reflections and evaluation, planning and production work.
You will get the relevant guidance.

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES for the coursework:
1. Apply knowledge and understanding when analysing media products and processes and evaluating your own practical work, to show how meanings and responses are created (20 marks)
2. Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills (60 marks)
3. Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research (20 marks)

PROJECT BRIEF
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:
a media portfolio, comprising a main and two ancillary texts
• a presentation of their research, planning and evaluation in electronic format

Brief: A promotion package of the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with 2 of the following 3 options:
• a website homepage for the band
• a cover for its release on cd
• a magazine advert for the cd


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.

MARKING CRITERIA
Assessment: to achieve Level 4 in Research and Planning, you must demonstrate
• excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience
• excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes and props
• excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding
• excellent time management
• excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and plannning
• excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation
• excellent communication skills

Assessment: To achieve Level 4 in Production 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

Assessment: to achieve Level 4 in Evaluation, you are expected to demontrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:
- understanding of the forms and conventions used in the productions.
- understanding of the role and use of new media in various stages of the production.
- understanding of the combination of main product and ancillary texts.
- understanding of the significance of audience feedback.
- choice of form in which to present the evaluation.
- ability to communicate.
- use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.

In the evaluation the following questions must be answered:
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 media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?


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.

In other words, a lot to think about and lessons to be learnt from last year and along the way.

Enjoy it!

FOR INSPIRATION - STUDENTS' BLOGS AS EARLY EXEMPLARS:
This is not perfect but demonstrates well how to embed technologies and really document your journey over the whole production process.
See Emma's music video blog.

This blog got a top level 4 for research/planning and for evaluation. Do have a look.
Alex's music video blog.

KEY FEATURES OF MUSIC VIDEOS - GETTING TO KNOW CONVENTIONS...


The points below should help you to analyse your chosen videos in a more focused way. Use them to get started. Start building up marks.


  • Music videos work around 3 codes - music, lyrics and iconography. The relationship between these codes is key to understanding how music video work. Take some time looking at whether the video illustrates the lyrics or not, and in which ways, as well as whether the video helps you to understand the lyrics better or not, and in which way. Does the song belong to a particular music genre and does it come across in the video?

  • Music videos are designed to provide pleasure in order to keep the viewer (particularly the intended audience) watching and to encourage repeat viewings. How is it achieved? How are the performers shown? What do YOU LIKE about the video? Can you screengrabs favourite shots and comment?

  • Explain whether the video is primarily performance-based, narrative-based or concept-based, or is it a hybrid? Explore how it is done and presented. Look at Lauryn Hill's Everything is Everything for example.

  • Does the video refer to / draw upon other texts (book, film, other video, advert...)? Is it a parody or tongue-in-cheek video?

Finally, this is an example of evaluation video tackling all 4 questions to give you a feel for the work ahead...

7 May 2013

June 2013 Session - Dear moderator,

[Here are the links to our students' blogs (RESIT). They have completed the brief that asks them to create a promotional music video, a digipak and a magazine advert for that album. The students have worked in pairs to plan and shoot but have produced their own edit of the music video. They have collaborated to create their ancillary tasks.

Rahul Horeesorun - 7307: Rahul's blog
Samir Sarwari - 7325: Samir's blog