Year 9 Media

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Shot Types, Angles and Semiotics

POWERPOINT FROM THE LESSON:

Yr9 shot types compressed from DB3igs

In this post I will run through the main shot types and angles, and introduce you to two terms from the technique of semiotics, a way of analysing any media text...

You will encounter shots like this [CLICK ON THIS LINK - NOT THE EMBEDDED VIDEO - TO PLAY + REPEAT!]...

...
PLAYLIST WITH ALL VIDEOS USED
ALL the videos featured can be accessed through the playlist below, though I have also separately embedded each one:

JUST THE STAKING VIDEO
There will be a lot at stake in this lesson...

MEDIA COURSEWORK FILM EXAMPLE 1
We'll look at how shots were selected in this example of AS Media Studies coursework, Candelabra, a film opening...

MEDIA COURSEWORK FILM EXAMPLE 2
There will be some Playtime...

...

ADVERTISING LAW Junk food ads: more restrictions?

Mark Sweney looks at possible strict new regulations

Does your age group need protecting from companies marketing junk food and sugary drinks? There are already restrictions on what can be advertised - and where (there are limits on how close to a school billboards featuring such ads can be!), not to mention when (to avoid targeting children's TV there are also regulations about the times when some ads can be broadcast on TV).

Rather than summarise this article (though I've highlighted some quotes), I've copied in the text below; you might find this useful when thinking about your own ad and when you come to evaluate your work.

Junk food advertising faces ruling on marketing to children
(Mark Sweney in The Guardian, 2015)

The body responsible for setting UK advertising rules is to launch a public consultation that will evaluate whether a ban on advertising junk food to children online, in the press, on billboards and poster sites should be introduced.

The Committee of Advertising Practice – the code-setting body for all advertising in the UK that appears in any media except on TV and radio – is looking at the introduction of tighter rules on how food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar are marketed to children.

Presentations on how advertisers target groups or demographics

Young children may not have lots of money themselves, but through pester power they can persuade and pressurise parents into buying products for them ...
There are increasing restrictions on what can be advertised to children, where and when...

DISCUSS...
Have you successfully used pester power?

(note: useful terminology is often highlighted in bold + pink!)

Do ads for junk food (fast food: burgers, pizza etc) and sugary drinks work on 13 year-olds?

You will be creating a TV ad for your 2nd of 3 Media projects!

In this series of lessons we will...

build on our initial learning of some persuasive techniques advertisers use
focus on specific 'demographics' (categories of people) and ads aimed at them
develop our research, presentation and teamworking skills
produce a presentation that will be used to brief the rest of the class ...
and eventually uploaded to this post!

Media cycle 2 worksheet from DB3igs

KEY DEMOGRAPHICS
Companies spend a lot of money to place their ads in certain magazines that they think the type of people likely to be interested in their product/brand read. If you are targeting a youth market, you wouldn't waste money buying space in this magazine ...

WHO is this magazine aimed at (what demographic) and HOW have the designers done this? Pick out details that help your argument.

Monday, 7 September 2015

Magazine Advert Gallery

To get us started, we will begin thinking about magazine ads.

At this stage, you have not yet been equipped with 'media language'...

However, as we discuss these examples, you can start thinking about what design features you would want to use in your own ad (as well as things to avoid!)...

Yr9 L1 mag ad gallery from DB3igs

You need to click 'read more'below to access the full post...

Become a Green Screen King/Queen...

Your task, in a very short space of time, is to master the basics of Final Cut Pro X ... and use one of the more advanced tools it offers in making your very first very short film...

Here's the video we played you, which you can always refer back to:

We will make you green screen kings/queens in some simple steps. Please ask for help at ANY time if you get a bit stuck!

You need to be quite quick to get through all 7 steps in just 4 hours...

STEP 1: PLAY AROUND WITH SOME PRE-LOADED CLIPS. TRY OUT TOOLS

I'd prefer you all do this individually, but you can pair up so long as you each give it a try.

In Final Cut, you will find an 'Event' called 'GreenScreen Celeb'. Click on it, then click FILE, and then on NEW PROJECT. Replace the date with your own name as the project file and press OK. Your blank project file should now appear on the timeline (along the bottom) ready for you to drag and drop clips into and around.

The 'Libraries' window on the top left lists 'Libraries' (the four squares icon), within which there are 'Events' (square with a star). You should be clicked on the Event called GreenScreen Celeb.

You can rename the 'project' file just by clicking on its name.

Here's a couple of examples of intentionally silly videos Media students have created using the green screen...

GlobalGaga...

Storm Queen...

Ozzy Osbourne...
This was what we term a 'mini-vid', not a full video ... a mini one!

This one didn't use the green screen, but takes a similar approach of recording different people lip-synching lines...
Faithless...

Click on below to read the full post

Past GCSE Exam B322 Film Clips

From the OCR FAQ:

What have the exam extracts been so far?

June 2014

Spy Kids (Director: R Rodriguez)

In point: 1 minute 48 seconds – 'Once upon a time there was a man and a woman'

Out point: 6 minutes 24 seconds – The couple land on a boat with a 'just married' sign.

June 2013

Hot Fuzz (Director: Edgar Wright, 2007)

In point: 1 hour 27 minutes 55 seconds – Man rides down the high street on a horse.

Out point: 1 hour 32 minutes 2 seconds – After man says “Hag!”

Jan 2013

Hancock (Director: Peter Berg, 2008)

In point: 37 minutes 48 seconds – Man says “I’m Hancock and I drank and stuff”.

Out point: 41 minutes and 52 seconds – After “Get me the hell out of here!”

June 2012

The Hurt Locker (Director: Kathryn Bigelow, 2009, Lions Gate)

In point: 27 minutes 52 seconds - Two men in the bathroom: 'I need to talk to you about something'

Out point: 32 minutes 37 seconds - Ends with the track across the row of bombs in the car boot.

January 2011

Grosse Point Blank (Director: George Armitage, 1997, Hollywood Pictures)

In point: 1 hour 34 mins 7 secs - Woman and man enter kitchen and look shocked

Out point: 1 hour 38 mins 25 secs - Father pats daughter's back in the bath – fade out music
June 2011 exam extract:
Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (Widescreen Collectors Version) Paramount Home Entertainment UK
In point: 8 mins 40 seconds - Lara's Greek accomplish is standing in the underwater cave by a statue of a horse
Out point: 12 mins 42 seconds - The antagonist is running from the collapsing cave as a pillar crashes on top/next to him.

Analysing AUDIENCE from CD covers

THE WORKSHEET:

YOUR TASK:
(1) Discuss who you think your chosen CD cover is designed to appeal to. Refer to gender, age and the primary target audience (GAPS) in your answer, and any other elements of audience you choose. Clearly identify which part/s of the cover make you think this way: use either the table or write annotations (notes) around the print-off pointing to the relevant detail/s. Include a brief statement describing the most likely primary target audience (for example: male hip-hop fans aged 13-18).

FORMING PAIRS: The examples are numbered so that 1 and 2 will be compared by a pair, also 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8!

(2) Once you've done this, discuss and compare your findings with someone else - feel free to make changes or additional points after you discuss and compare your views.

Do you both agree that the audience is the same for your texts?
Are there any differences? Think carefully about age for example: what age range do you think each text has primary appeal to (for example, 8-14, 45+)

(3) Each pair will present their findings to the class, including noting how similar or different they thought the audience might be for their CD covers. All of you can share your views as we do this.

Note: you can find the PowerPoint from today's lesson at the end of this post.

EXAMPLE: TAYLOR SWIFT v STORM QUEEN

YOUR CD COVER CHOICES: