I highly commend the web page 'Nine top tips for Media students'. From the people behind theory.org.uk, its worth a read!

Monday 7 December 2015

A2 Mock Exam Dec 14th

YOUR QUESTION:
Discuss the media language used in any two or more of these music videos and how this signifies specific audiences being targeted. You can include comment on how successful or otherwise you feel the media language choices are.

ASSESSMENT:
You will be marked on three criteria, requiring you to back up points (EAA) with examples (EX) and use specific media terminology (T).
[EAA] EXPLANATION, ANALYSIS, ARGUMENT:    40/100
[EX] USE OF EXAMPLES:                                   40/100*
[T] USE OF TERMINOLOGY:                               20/100
You cannot take notes into the exam, but have one week to research and prepare your analysis.


You can find the playlist of 20 videos in http://musividz.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/conventions-links-points-playlist.html You can focus on as few as two of these or as many as you like. You should think in terms of issues or theories (EAA) and prepare clear examples (EX) from these videos that you can use to illustrate your points. Terminology (T) used should include not just semiotics (shot types, angles, editing, sound etc) but also theories and theorists – use your MANGeR pack.

AREAS TO CONSIDER:
Most of the MANGeR concepts can ultimately be linked to Audience. Postmodern elements are always useful to concept. The web 2.0 arguments around ‘the former audience’ are extremely useful for your coursework and exam, including this mock. You can also draw on the conflicting feminist and post-feminist views, which again do partially come back to audience considerations. The elliptical nature (according to some theorists) of video narrative is also linked to audience, while even genre codes are often linked to mise-en-scene choices and possibly representations of audience in video (sub-cultural codes).

It will be useful to you to focus on areas where you see some similarity with your own work.

Tuesday 1 December 2015

Class Xmas LipSynch Vid Production 2015

Your challenge is to plan, shoot and edit a complete green screen video in time to be shared and screened in the final week of term.
After some ... discussion, you chose:


We'll use this for our timings, and for the audio track we'll edit to - make sure you all use this particular upload (there are many more!) to work out timings. It seems to be the most widely viewed version (4.5m views).

To succeed in this task you need to break the production down to steps:

STEP 1: Complete a full timing sheet, including some denotation (description) of instrumental sections. Note the start time of each element. As you're doing a green screen shoot, you don't need to storyboard or work on a call sheet, but you do need to agree on...
You don't need detailed denotation, just lyrics and clear information on any instrumental sections - leave room to note which people you've filmed for each portion (filming more than one at some points gives you the option of experimenting with layering).

STEP 2: ...Decide on key props/costume. You'll have seen in the Britney Spears, Alice Cooper, Lady Gaga and 1D videos that some combination of wig/s, hat, clothes (typically a coat/jacket, but also bandanas, wedding dress ... even an actual snake skin!) are donned (worn) by each performer filmed to clearly denote them as the specific pop star. 
Discuss and agree on which props/costume you will use. Bear in mind that we will probably be limited to shots which crop off feet, unless we source a bigger, very robust green screen. Take loose inspiration from the video/band, but think generally: glam rock (outrageous costume), 70s (stick-on sideburns?! long hair: wig), Xmas (tinsel... but also take inspiration from the lyrics, which mention Santa, reindeer...). 
Don't make it too intricate - you want to be able to swap these between performers quickly.
consider whether you might be able to include a real/fake guitar (so, not just the singer?), maybe even drums?! Doing this gives you options of greater variety, not just always focusing on the singer, plus you can have different people lined up to shoot while costumes are swapped around.





The Slade look ... groovy!


STEP 2.5 Are there simple dance sequences that you can choreograph, or other physical mannerisms of the Slade performers that you could coach performers to mimic? If you want a Top of the Pops feel, could you have 'crowd' scenes - and might KS3 students be ideal for this?
You will need to check in advance on any issues with use of student or staff identity.

Friday 19 June 2015

Macbook buying guide

At some stage when doing Media Studies you may be tempted to get yourself a Mac, which would be a great idea to boost your ability to edit not just main productions, but also vodcasts and Evaluation question videos too (and other non-school work/projects!).

As the school has asked me to put together a briefing on possibly purchasing two Macbooks, I'll gather some of the main resources I've used to research this here; if you are looking at doing this these might help.

a few quick general points, then the resources/notes will be below the 'read more' line...

  1. Final Cut Pro X - still only £230 (you may not think so, but that really is a bargain), seems to be a pay-once deal with free upgrades for 'life'. The upgrades since its launch have almost made it into a new programme by now. You can read Apple's guide here.
  2. Its recommended by Apple that you also purchase Motion 5 (for customised titles and FX) and Compressor 4 (for advanced encoding options) too; both also linked here (scroll to the bottom).
  3. Students (and educators) can get a significant discount on Apple computers, and some software but only at the time you purchase the computer. Visit their UK education page.
  4. Macs are extremely expensive to upgrade after purchase; you should give serious consideration to the hard drive and RAM in particular. Look carefully at the minimum system requirements for using FCPX; few things push a computer as hard as video editing.
  5. You have options: the Mac-Mini (provide your own monitor); Mac Pro; iMac (with varying screen sizes); Macbook Pro and Air. You can use Apple's comparison table to review your options.
  6. Apple have been phasing out DVD drives, so you may need to consider buying a USB DVD drive.
  7. You will definitely need a large-capacity external hard drive for back up. You have multiple format options (USB3, Thunderbolt etc). I'd suggest a minimum of 1TB (= 1000GB); you can get portable 1TB USB drives from around £40.
  8. Unless you're going second-hand, which can be a smart move - there are many bargain older but very capable Macs on eBay etc - then you really should ...
  9. Visit an Apple shop/retailer, get hands on, and speak to experts. I bought mine from KCRS in Leeds, who have been great as regards service; there is also a new Apple store in the new Trinity Centre.
FCPX will be very slow with anything less than this!!!

Sunday 7 June 2015

Sample of Vids for Initial Cs and Cs Analysis

NB: Some highly controversial videos are listed, including 'explicit' versions; some descriptions also contain some strong language.

As I've discussed analysed a great many videos, the list below is partial. The initial order reflects the order from the video below, with the 1st 20 selected to highlight some of the very, very many themes when considering not just conventions of but also reception for music videos. Most can be found in a playlist too - a great way to expose yourself to a wider range of videos than you are likely to be familiar with!!!

More details after the list, but the 20 videos featured in the video (several times more in the playlist) are:

  1. Morbid Angel - Existo Vulgore (2012) 
  2. Sepultura - Ratamahatta (1996) 
  3. PIXIES - Velouria (1990) 
  4. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares to You (1990) 
  5. Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (Terry Richardson, 2013)
  6. Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (ChatRoulette, 2013)
  7. Baauer - Harlem Shake (2012) [this is a '10 best of' montage
  8. Depeche Mode - It's No Good (Anton Corbijn, 1997)
  9. Weezer - Buddy Holly (Spike Jonze, 1994)
  10. Guns n'Roses - November Rain (1992)
  11. Bjork - Crystalline (Anton Corbijn, 2013)
  12. Sepultura - Refuse, Resist (1994)
  13. Megadeth - Wake Up Dead (1986)
  14. Pixies - Bagboy (Lamar + Nik, 2013) 
  15. Daft Punk - Da Funk (Spike Jonze, 1995)
  16. Rihanna - Pour It Up (Vincent Haycock, 2013) (EXPLICIT tag)
  17. Fragma - You Are Alive (2001)
  18. Guns n'Roses - Welcome to the Jungle (1987)
  19. Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines (Diane Martel, 2013) [parody]
  20. Lily Allen - Hard Out Here (Christopher Sweeney, 2013) 



Morbid Angel - Existo Vulgore (2012) [post]
You do need to know the conventions ... but there is much more scope to challenge them than with, say, film, as videos like this, and the following Sepultura example, demonstrate. Rammstein and Rage Against the Machine have also produced examples I've blogged on, bringing Snow White and the Beach Boys into the extreme metal genre.


Sepultura - Ratamahatta (1996) [animated] [post]
A great example of turning conventions and expectations on their heads, this is an animated video by the Brazilian hardcore thrashers! You should also take from this that inspiration can come from anywhere, including music genres (and other media, as with Morbid Angel) you may not be a fan of! [Wiki]

PIXIES - Velouria (1990) (one-take video) See Wiki and my posts on this.

Wednesday 25 February 2015

BBC opportunity for West Yorkshire vloggers

Time is limited to act on this, but it sounds a great opportunity (thanks to Karen Mitchell, School Careers Co-ordinator for passing on details); there's a video which hasn't embedded below at the source site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/shortform:

Shortform

   

The Brief

We are looking for a new generation of talented people who can make great short-form videos. We want to find the vloggers and digital content creators of the future by giving people from West Yorkshire an opportunity to showcase their work on a BBC digital platform.
This is a fantastic opportunity for the BBC to work with you, creating bite-sized video content that is inventive, provocative, intelligent, attention-grabbing and funny!
You do need to stand out from the crowd, but you don’t need experience to get involved.  Mentoring and masterclasses will be awarded to the freshest personalities with the greatest ideas. We’ll give you industry support to develop and create a final piece of short form digital content to showcase to BBC decision makers on March 28th in Leeds.

How do I get involved?

Monday 23 February 2015

Peter Oborne task

This is an invaluable EX, furnishing multiple opportunities for extended EAA and incorporation of T...

AIMS:
Advance familiarity with style/nature of exam Qs
Update EX
Develop research skills, specifically skim reading and extracting key points with limited time
Make links between a single EX and wider EX/EAA whilst applying T
OBJECTIVES:
Read/make notes on Oborne case
Identify themes this touches on
Consider application to various exam Qs
Write up 2+ paragraphs applying learning

STEP1: FACT-FINDING + NOTING VIEWS/ARGUMENTS
Using the post Advertiser power and Daily Telegraph HSBC scandal, make a note of the key facts on this case. Include some initial notes on arguments/views you encounter. Keep notes brief; you can return to the source later for more detailed notes as need be.
STRATEGY: Prioritise skim reading several articles over detailed annotation of any one article to gain a wider perspective. Look for headlines that seem to indicate conflicting points of view.
TIME: 10 MINS

Wednesday 11 February 2015

IPSO task


TASK: In the 5:10 it takes this video to play, make brief notes on examples of a Chomskian concept that this video illustrates and the song lyrics specifically mention...

This is a case where the terminology essentially is the EAA, or at least a starting point for it. Use one of the following to find relevant EXamples (the egI give use the Daily Mail and Ed Miliband; you don't have to use these):
  1. You could try searches such as '2015 daily mail miliband' (the 2015 gets recent results: eg), 'daily mail miliband press regulationetc (what specifically did the Mail do to try to discredit 'Red Ed' Miliband when he was pushing for a tough press regulator?);
  2. You could gamble on a quick browse of the Daily Mail, the most likely source...
  3. You could try the appropriate MediaReg blog tag
Please don't click on 'read more' until asked to