To complete for next Thursday

- For those who haven't caught up, catch up. See previous posts (below) to see breakdown of tasks, including artist's website analysis. Failure to do so will result in a Cause for Concern letter, I'm afraid, and catch up on Friday.

- You need to complete your Goodwin analysis started in class. See your packs for the details but here are the headings you can use:
Conventions of music Video/Promo (Goodwin)

• There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals (with the visuals either illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics)
• There is a relationship between the music and the visuals (again with visuals either illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics)
• Particular music genres might have their own music video style and iconography (such as live performance in heavy rock, urban settings for rap)
• There is a demand on the part of the record company for lots of close ups of the main artist/vocalist, and to sustain the established or ‘required’ star-text (see below) – videos must sell the music
• The artist may develop their own star iconography, in an out of their videos which over time becomes their star image.
• There is likely to be reference to voyeurism, particularly in the treatment of women, but also in terms 'in looking' e.g. screens within screens.
• There are likely to be intertexual references, either to other music video, films or TV texts, either in the form of pastiche, parody or homage.

- You must write a post explaining the pros and cons of your top two or three potential tracks. Embed the tracks. Post lyrics or at least bring them to the lesson. See previous posts for links to exemplars or just flick through last year's students' blogs. We will finalise track choices and groups next week.

EXAMPLES: Hasina's post on possible tracks

Frankie's post

NB: You can use bullet points instead - pros / cons

Conclude with your winner.

To prepare for next lesson, you can read through your pack of reference materials, focusing on what Carole Vernallis says about music videos conventions.

Aim high; work hard.

Summer tasks- Advanced Portfolio

1. Complete the research task on an artist's website (MySpace or other) set last week - No one had time to complete it.

2. Select your tracks - please see your guidance booklet. Blog pros / cons, details of the artist, signed / unsigned, initial ideas etc...
Look here for ideas:
Example: Possible tracks post(s) (though it doesn't have to be in just one post - could be as you go...)
When you come back, you must have a short selection of possible tracks and will be sharing this with the class. MAKE SURE YOU PROVIDE THE TRACK: Embed the mp3 for example - you could use soundcloud.com or embed a player with your selection of 2-4 tracks.

3. Complete at least 2 analyses of music videos using Goodwin's points as sub-headings (some of you have already done one in the last lesson)
Example 1: Analysis of Rihanna - Disturbia (using Goodwin's Ideas)
Example 2: Analysis of Marina and the Diamonds- Oh No

4. Watch as many past students' videos as possible - select a few to embed and write a comment (or a few notes)on - this might be features you like or don't like and some screengrabs of interesting shots. GATHER AS MANY IDEAS AS POSSIBLE NOW.
PHM YouTube Playlist - other schools' videos

5. Watch as many varied videos as possible, embed some / screengrabs interesting ideas + few bullet points to comment.
Park High Media YouTube Playlist - Range of music videos plus playlists focusing on important directors (Jonze, Williams, Fincher, Gondry etc.): Playlists.

6. You could start your CD cover / digipak research now. Hit the shops and look at your own collection... Prepare a collage of interesting CD covers.

EXTRA - CHECK OUT: http://www.bbc.co.uk/introducing and also there on Twitter (bbc.co.uk/introducing We support unsigned, undiscovered & under the radar musicians No need to Tweet us links, just upload your tunes at bbc.in/Uploader)
AND HAVE A LOOK AT THE VIDEOS THERE:
[last year's] BBC Norfolk Music Video Festival

This year's BBC Music Video Festival Facebook page - some fantastic videos!

Finally, if you don't subscribe to COUP online magazine yet, you really should! Great article this month: "The Soap Girls - A Branding Exercise"

Have a great summer. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter - we mainly send relevant links for your Exam units: start reading about We Media, Online Age and Media Regulation (SO MUCH ON THAT AT THE MOMENT!!!)

Work to be completed in lieu of today's triple - to be completed by next Thursday

1. Evaluation of your prelim tasks so far (see below) - It's Reflective writing preparing you for the first section of the exam as well as counting towards the Research section of your coursework (you will add relevant screengrabs and upload the tasks that are not there yet next week)

2. You should analyse at least 2 more of your favourite videos with screengrabs (total of 3 by next Thursday - see guidance provided on worksheet - embedded below in a previous post; look also at some of Matthew's and Yasmin's analyses for some ideas). Aim for different types of videos (and possible music genres)

3. Explore / research / report and evaluate the MySpace page or website of a band you like, with appropriate links and grabs. What content do you find? What evidence of branding and positioning can you find? Is the music genre of the artist made obvious through the design?

4. Complete all the work that is missing from your blog so far - several of you have already fallen behind.

Evaluation Questions for prelim tasks:
- What skills have you developed through completing the preliminary tasks? (4 tasks for most, 3 for some - animal costumes, lip synch / your song, advanced effects with footage from either of the above, Radiohead mash-up)
BE SPECIFIC and refer to techniques used during filming AND POST-PRODUCTION, i.e. editing (you will illustrate with grabs from vids and FCE timelines)

- What are you most happy with in your lip synching task and why? Whay would you have done differently in hindsight?

- What are your "favourite bits" from some of the other groups' videos and why? Illustrate where possible (though not all have been embedded in blogs yet)

While you're at it, look at the Gateway blog to keep up with changes at MySpace and see below:

Independent study and work due in

Well done to those of you who have completed all prelim tasks! They look fabulous so far.

REMINDERS:
- Research and Factfile on album releases to be completed for Monday. I will collect your handout / factfile on Monday at the start of the lesson. The aim is to demonstrate your understanding of the industry and the varied marketing strategies used to promote a new album. Use examples to illustrate. (This is for assessment - will go in your book)

- Use worksheet to complete the second task properly - analysis of your favourite music video with grabs and comments. Do at least 1 for Thursday.

- One group is really behind and will need to find the time to use the pod BEFORE next Thursday to complete at least a minute of their Lip synch task. You will show some of your work in the first lesson.

Any question, let me know ASAP - NOT the night before.
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You should also start checking out the competition from other centres. I have saved some music videos from other schools on the YouTube channel. Click here and look through the playlist.

For example, take a look at this amazing one - Got full marks for the main task (ie. the video = 40 marks out of 100)