Cover Work Tues 24.03.09

Both Year 13 classes MUST...

• Stay in DF07 throughout the duration of their lessons, signing in on a sheet of A4.
  
• Email me - at my school account - their second draft of coursework today (Tue 24.03) and post it up on their blog. (Anyone failing to do this will be reported to PSWs)
  
• Go to Film Club today (24.03...'Texas Chainsaw, 2003') and Thursday (26.03...'Switchblade Romance').
  
• Finish reading the slasher pack highlighting key points (by Tue 31.03).
  
• Fill in 'repertoire of elements sheets' for this week's two films (by Tue 31.03). (These will all be checked when I return - EVERY sheet MUST be filled in completely!!)
  
• Decide which two students are responsible for leading the discussions about this week's films (say who's doing what as a comment on this posting).

13D1 (p2)

• Class discussion of 'Scream'. Whole class takes notes and fills in 'repertoire of elements' sheets with as much detail as possible. Also, make a list of as many references to other horror films that are made in the film.  Write this list on your Med 5 blogs.
  
• Research project (pairs).  Go online (imdb.com again, and Wikipedia is good for this) to find out about the 'Scream' horror franchise. Look at how the three films were received, in particular looking for references to how they are considered post-modern.  Also, look for references to pastiche, irony and intertextuality. Find definitions for each of these key terms, post them up on your Med 5 blogs, and say how they are releveant when discussing 'Scream'. 
  

13C2 (p3)

• Class discussion of 'Halloween' led by Avneet and Maninder.  Rest of class take notes and fill in 'repertoire of elements' sheets with as much detail as possible.
  
• Small group project (threes).  You have to update the Halloween franchise for a 2010 remake with the working title 'Halloween:UK'.  Decide which elements you'll repeat and which you'll vary, being clear about your reasons why and linking them, particularly, to the wider contexts.  How can your film better reflect the current zeitgeist and match audience expectations?  Write a summary of your ideas on your Med 5 blogs.

13C2 (p4)

• Class discussion of 'Friday 13th' led by Ajitpal and one other.  Rest of class take notes and fill in 'repertoire of elements' sheets with as much detail as possible.
  
• Research project (pairs).  Go online (imdb.com is a good place to start) to find out about the 'Friday 13th' horror franchise.  Look at how it has developed since 1980, paying particular attention to the contemporary, post-2000 examples, and especially the hybrid cases (when Jason is matched with Freddy; when the genre combines with sc-fi, etc.).  Write a summary of your research on your Med 5 blogs. 

MED 6 comparative texts 13D1

Cover Work Thurs 19.03.09

A reminder that you must MUST...

• Stay in DF07 throughout the duration of your lesson, signing in on a sheet of A4.
  
• Complete all of Tuesday's and Wednesday's tasks if you haven't already done them (see postings below).  A lot of you haven't got your homework (Med 5 targets); or Tuesday's work (Halloween: UK ideas); or yesterday's work (Friday 13th research and pitch) on your blogs yet. Ms Holliday will be reporting any of you who haven't completed this at Parents' Evening tonight! You know how vital it is to take responsibility for your learning when I'm away...anyone who has still failed to get everything done by next Tuesday will autmatically get a 'cause for concern'.
• Complete second draft of coursework by next week...Tue 24.03.
  
• Go to Film Club today (19.03...'Scary Movie').
  
• Read the slasher pack about this week's two films, highlighting key points (by Tue 24.03).
  
• Fill in 'repertoire of elements sheets' for this week's two films (by Tue 24.03).
  
• Make sure you've decided which two students are responsible for leading the discussions about this week's films (say who's doing what as a comment on this posting).

13D1 (p6)

• Class discussion of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' led by Madenah and Natasha.  Rest of class take notes and fill in 'repertoire of elements' sheets with as much detail as possible.
  
• Research project (pairs).  Go online (imdb.com again, and Wikipedia is good for this) to find out about the 'Elm Street' horror franchise. Look at how it has developed since the 1980s, in particular looking in detail at the Freddie Krueger spin-off film...'Wes Craven's New Nightmare' (1994).  Paste a Youtube clip from this text on your Med 5 blog and explain how this film could be considered a forerunner to Craven's more successful 'Scream' films a few years later.  Write a full summary of all your research on your Med 5 blogs.  

Cover Work Weds 18.03.09

A reminder that you must MUST...

• Stay in DF07 throughout the duration of your lesson, signing in on a sheet of A4.
  
• Complete all of yesterday's tasks if you haven't already done them (see posting below).  A lot of you haven't got your homework (Med 5 targets) or yesterday's work (Halloween: UK ideas) on your blogs yet.
• Complete second draft of coursework by next week...Tue 24.03.
  
• Go to Film Club on Thursday (19.03...'Scary Movie').
  
• Read the slasher pack about this week's two films, highlighting key points (by Tue 24.03).
  
• Fill in 'repertoire of elements sheets' for this week's two films (by Tue 24.03).
  
• Make sure you've decided which two students are responsible for leading the discussions about this week's films (say who's doing what as a comment on this posting).

13D1 (p1 & 2)

• Class discussion of 'Friday 13th' led by two students who haven't led a discussion before.  Rest of class take notes and fill in 'repertoire of elements' sheets with as much detail as possible.
  
• Research project (pairs).  Go online (imdb.com is a good place to start) to find out about the 'Friday 13th' horror franchise.  Look at how it has developed since 1980, paying particular attention to the contemporary, post-2000 examples, and especially the hybrid cases (when Jason is matched with Freddy; when the genre combines with sc-fi, etc.).  Write a summary of your research on your Med 5 blogs.  
• Then create a studio pitch for your own 'Friday 13th' hybrid movie. Decide which elements you'll repeat and which you'll vary, being clear about your reasons why and linking them, particularly, to the wider contexts.  How will your film reflect the current zeitgeist and match audience expectations and industry developments?  Write a summary of your ideas on your Med 5 blogs.

Remember - Parents' Evening on Thursday...make sure we can feed back positive comments!!

Cover Work Tues 17.03.09

Both Year 13 classes MUST...

• Stay in DF07 throughout the duration of their lessons, signing in on a sheet of A4.
  
• Complete second draft of coursework by this time next week (Tue 24.03).
  
• Go to Film Club today (17.03...'Scream') and Thursday (19.03...'Scary Movie').
  
• Read the slasher pack about this week's two films, highlighting key points (by Tue 24.03).
  
• Fill in 'repertoire of elements sheets' for this week's two films (by Tue 24.03).
  
• Decide which two students are responsible for leading the discussions about this week's films (say who's doing what as a comment on this posting).
  

13D1 (p2)

• Class discussion of 'Halloween' led by Lanzel and Hardeep.  Rest of class take notes and fill in 'repertoire of elements' sheets with as much detail as possible.
  
• Small group project (threes).  You have to update the Halloween franchise for a 2010 remake with the working title 'Halloween:UK'.  Decide which elements you'll repeat and which you'll vary, being clear about your reasons why and linking them, particularly, to the wider contexts.  How can your film better reflect the current zeitgeist and match audience expectations?  Write a summary of your ideas on your Med 5 blogs.
  

13C2 (p2&3)

• Finish peer marking activities from last lesson.  You will need to work in pairs.
  
• Firstly, download the presentation from last week's lesson, available here. Just click on the 'Med 5 Peer Marking' file.
  
• Then, do Pair Task 3 (p.15, WCs), Task 4 (p.16, research techniques), Task 5 (p.17, synoptic ability).
  
• Finally, get started on the Homework activities on p.19 (complete for Friday 20.03).
  

13D1 & 13C2 Cover Work: Wed 10.03

Read the Film Genre pack (Unit 1, Unit 2...and so on...ALL THE UNITS) and highlight key ideas as you go along.

Complete all of this reading before your next lesson (you should also read through each activity but you do not need to do them).

Summarise each unit on your Med 5 blog - just bullet points.  Three key things you've learnt from each unit is fine.

Job Opportunities - Media Mentors

• Do you want valuable and rewarding paid work?

• Are you responsible, mature and capable of being a positive role model?

• Have you got excellent video editing skills?

We invite Year 13 students to apply for the post(s) of Media Studies Student Mentors. The appointment(s) are intended to improve the provision of video editing support for Year 12s undertaking their production coursework.

The successful A2 students - to be selected at formal interview - will work different shifts in the video editing suite on Mondays to Fridays (exact times to be negotiated; a combination of 8am to 8.45am, lunchtimes, and 3.30pm to 5.30pm) starting on 09-03-09 for a total of 9 weeks at a rate of £7.50/hour for each student.

The students will only work (and be paid) when necessary as there are likely to be some occasions when they are not needed. They will report directly to Ms. Holliday, Mr Bush, Mr Shelley or Mr. Babu, one of whom will be on call every day to direct them, help out with any problems and lock up at the end of the sessions.

Tasks will include...

• Providing induction and ongoing support to AS students with the use of Adobe Premiere Pro
  
• Offering feedback to students about the quality of their practical work (both verbally and in daily blog postings)

• Giving support and advice on the use of camera equipment
• Starting up and shutting down PCs
• Maintaining order in the edit suites & limiting access to Media students
• Troubleshooting minor software issues
• Reporting larger problems to Mr Babu
• Keeping the edit suites tidy & the equipment in good working order
• Helping students to source archived music & video clips
• Producing tip sheets and displays to help students use the equipment
• Making DVD copies of productions for the exam board

If you wish to apply for these posts you must write a letter outlining your reasons for wanting to take up the position and the qualities and experience that you think make you suitable for the role. You may also wish to comment on how this will help you in your future studies/career. This must be emailed to Macguffin before Monday 02-03-09.

You will be informed by email if you have been shortlisted and those selected will be called for interview (before a panel to include Ms Holliday, Mr Bush, Mr Babu and a Year 12 student) next week on Tuesday 03-03-09, lunch & period 5.

Good luck!

Slasher Genre Film Club

We will be running a compulsory Genre Film Club (for your Module 4 exam) over the next half term. It is vital that you attend the or twice weekly film showings (on  Tuesday and Thursday!) as without doing this you will not be able to follow what happens in the lessons each week or contribute to the discussions. Also, it's far less scary watching with friends!

Please don't say: "I've seen it already" because we've heard it already. Each performance will be in DF05 and will start at 3.30pm promptly. Registers will be taken and you will be expected to take notes so bring pen and paper. You'll be expected to fill in the 'repertoires of elements' sheets after each screening and a different pairing will be leading the discussion about the film in the next lesson.

Make sure you put all the following dates in your diaries and seek to cancel and re-arrange any prior appointments you may already have…your A Levels must be your priority!!

• Thur 26-02

Psycho (1960, Alfred Hitchcock, 109 mins.)

• Tue 03-03

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, Tobe Hooper, 83mins.)

• Thur 05-03

Halloween (1978, John Carpenter, 91 mins.)

• Tue 10-03

Friday the 13^th (Sean S. Cunningham, 1980, 95 mins.)

• Thur 12-03

A Nightmare on Elm Street (Wes Craven, 1984, 91 mins.)

• Tue 17-03

Scream (Wes Craven, 1996, 111 mins.)

• Thur 19-03

Scary Movie (Keenen Ivory Wayans, 2000, 88 mins.)

• Tue 24-03

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003, Marcus Nispel, 98 mins.)

• Thur 26-03

Switchblade Romance(aka Haute Tension) (Alexandre Aja, 2003, 91 mins)

Channel 4 Work Experience Opportunity for 14-19 year olds

Interested in working in the media? Then find out more with Channel 4's work experience programme. Check out the details from their 4 Talent website below or visit it yourself at http://c4talent.illumina.co.uk/index.shtml for more details.

This is the first step in the talent pipeline. This year Channel 4 are offering 80+ work experience placements in London to help students find out more about working in the media industry. The majority of our placements will be within Channel 4, though we are collaborating with independent production partners to increase the opportunities. Placements are usually for one or two weeks, within one or two departments and offer a variety of learning experiences across a wide range of areas from finance to website design.

Who's it aimed at and what are we looking for? This scheme is for 14 - 19 year olds who are motivated, enthusiastic, passionate and hungry to learn about what it's like to work in the media. Just as important though, we look for people who are keen to get stuck into whatever needs to be done. People who aren't afraid of a bit of hard work! And we'll want applicants to show these qualities right from the application stage.

How to apply? We are working with Education Business Partnerships (EBPs) who will provide full information to schools across London. It starts with two open days: one in January and one in April 2009. Each open day can take up to 150 students and will help them get a taste of what it's all about.
PDF download: April application form

Placements are limited and run on specific dates throughout the year so please check out our recruitment timelines before contacting us. Then what? To begin with, the experience and skills that you build with us will make a positive impact on your education. We also encourage you to keep a look out on the 4talent website to see what other schemes could be right for you - like Inspiration Week and the Generation Next Programme.

Camila - Work Experience placements in Creative Services and Marketing
"It was definitely busy, but I enjoyed the opportunities I was given and I was allowed to try different things. I would like to work in advertising even more now and this has definitely helped my career choices. Thank you very much for the opportunity, I loved it and learnt a lot about the industry and work environment."

13D1 MED 6 VW Protection & Fabia Car ads - homework

VW Protection TV ad for the Volkswagen Polo. 1 minute ad produced by ad agency BMP DDB (dir Jonathan Glazer) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEVvlyHQVjs

Skoda Fabia Print advertisment

A typed comparative critical analysis of the 2 ads using MIGRAIN & SHEP with relevant theories. Min 1,000 words due Thursday 12th February.