Monday, 19 March 2012

Y11, Y9/10 BTEC students: achieving your target grades

Ladies and gentlemen, we have two weeks left.I have target grades for all of you and targets for what you all have to do in order to achieve, or in some cases even raise, your grades.

Below is the list of evidence required for each section of your film module


Evidence for achievement of learning outcome 1: pre production:
Written notes, drafts, sketches, research notes, other pre-production documentation and a proposal. Learners could also do a pitch based on the proposal (pitches must be recorded for verification purposes).

Evidence for achievement of learning outcome 2: production:
Rushes, production notes, production paperwork, production logs and tutor observation records. Logs can be either written or recorded.

Evidence for achievement of learning outcome 3: post production:
The learner’s edit of the final product and relevant post-production paperwork such as edit decision lists, screen dumps, editor’s notes and a post-production log.

Evidence for achievement of learning outcome 4: evaluation:
Written notes, a report, a presentation, notes in a studio log, annotations to a script, editor’s notes and video diaries.

I have also included the criteria for each section of the production process from the exam syllabus. This will tell you what you need to do in order to achieve each grade.

Pass:
To achieve a pass grade, learners must achieve all the criteria at pass level. For each of the criteria learners must present evidence that addresses each italicised sub-heading of the content for the learning outcome.

P1: learners will apply pre-production techniques at a basic level. Ideas will be stated briefly and will tend towards the obvious or the impracticable. Scripts, storyboards and other such documentation will be roughly sketched out, and the proposal will be a brief outline.

P2: learners will carry out a technical role in production to a basic standard, and will be hampered in
expressing their intentions fully by their limited grasp of technology and skills. For example, camera work may be badly framed, sound levels and lighting continuity will be inconsistent, or the shoot will lack clear organisation. Production paperwork or notes will be brief and the production log will focus mainly on a historical account of what the learner has done.

P3: again, learners will be hampered in expressing their intentions fully by their limited grasp of technology and skills. Shots will not match up when edited together and the final product will generally lack pace. Sound levels will vary quite widely from one shot to another. Transitions will be used, but without consideration to how they affect the reading of content. Edit decision lists, screen dumps and editor’s notes will be brief. The post-production log will focus mainly on a historical account of what the learner has done.

P4: learners will provide an overall outline review of their own production work (‘work’ meaning both the process and the product resulting from following that process), identifying strengths and weaknesses in their work but without further elaboration or comment. Any description of activity will mainly be confined to a historical account (for example, ‘We had a script meeting and wrote the script, then we did the storyboard which Ashe drew. We spent five days on the shooting and another three on the editing …’ etc). Accounts which are mostly taken up with irrelevant detail should not be considered as meeting the pass grade. Description of the product will be an unelaborated outline and assessments of its quality will be relevant but very generalised and at the level of assertion (for example, ‘The shoot went quite well and the final edit was good’).
  
Merit:
To achieve a merit grade, learners must achieve all the pass and all the merit grade criteria. For each of the criteria learners must present evidence that addresses each italicized sub-heading of the content for the
learning outcome.

M1: learners will demonstrate competent pre-production techniques and some sense of direction in the way they work through the process. Ideas will show some development and will be presented in an organised way, as will scripts, storyboards and other documentation. The proposal will go beyond merely outlining an idea, having some detail about, for example, the content of the proposed video and the intended audience.

M2: learners will carry out production techniques competently. The evidence presented will show care
in relation to the work produced and there will be clear ability in the way equipment is handled and in the exercise of skills which will be sufficient to enable learners to express their intentions and achieve what they aim to achieve to some degree. For example, camera work will show some understanding of framing, sound levels and lighting continuity will be generally consistent, or the shoot will be organised with some efficiency. The production log will have some detail and will demonstrate some understanding of the individual’s impact on this stage of the production.
M3: learners will demonstrate competent application of post-production techniques and again will be
sufficiently competent in technical skills to be able to express their intentions or achieve what they aim to achieve to some degree. Edits will clearly be used for a reason and there will be a more developed sense of pace. Transitions will be used with purpose. Accompanying documentation will be more detailed in its approach. The post-production log will demonstrate some understanding of the individual’s impact on this stage of the production.

M4: in reflecting upon their production work merit grade learners will describe the strengths and weaknesses of their work with some detail, supporting these comments with appropriate illustrative examples taken from the work. Evaluative commentary, however, will still be at the level of statement or assertion rather than being supported by explanation or argument. A learner might note, for example: ‘The editing was pretty slick, like the one where Eve was walking through the garden and was surprised by Sinh hiding in a tree.’

Distinction
To achieve a distinction grade, learners must achieve all the pass, all the merit and all the distinction grade criteria. For each of the criteria learners must present evidence that addresses each italicized sub-heading of the content for the learning outcome.

D1: learners will demonstrate highly effective and skilful pre-production techniques. Imaginative ideas, careful research and high quality pre-production work will all be evident. Learners will have direction and demonstrate a clear sense of purpose. Ideas will be clearly defined and reveal good understanding of the conventions of the genre being worked in. Proposals will be of high quality.

D2: learners will carry out production techniques skilfully and there will be an overall sense that they are in control of the technology they are using and are able to use it to serve their creative objectives effectively and imaginatively. Footage will demonstrate good composition and shots will have a clear sense of purpose. The shoot will run to schedule and be well organised. Sound levels will be consistent and lighting will be appropriate and effective. Production paperwork will be detailed and relevant. The production log will be detailed and will demonstrate clear understanding of the individual’s impact on this stage of the production.

D3: again, there will be an overall sense that learners are in control of the technology they are using and are able to use it to serve their creative objectives effectively and imaginatively. Editing will be more succinct and have a clear sense of direction. Pace will be good and transitions will have a clearly defined purpose. Sound levels will be consistently accurate and lighting appropriate. Post-production documentation will be detailed and the post-production log will be detailed in its approach, demonstrating clear understanding of the individual’s impact on this stage of the production.

D4: in reflecting upon their work, distinction grade learners will evaluate – that is, they will demonstrate an awareness of why they did what they did, and will justify or support comments on these production decisions through precise and well-chosen illustrative examples. A learner might note, for example: ‘The first long shot of the café is followed by a medium close-up of Jean sitting at a table because that is the conventional way of establishing where someone is at the opening of a soap episode.’ Any use of technical and specialist language will be correct, being consistently appropriate and accurate.

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Y9/10 and Y11 media BTEC students - production log


Hello ladies and gentlemen, here is some essential information about your production log:

During production phase each learner must keep a production log which:
                                documents the production process
                                notes how individual role has contributed to that process.

In order to get a merit for production you must: competently carry out a technical role in the creation of a video product.
In order to get a distinction you must: skilfully carry out a technical role in the creation of a video product.

I cannot be there to constantly assess this so you must provide evidence in the detail of your logs.
Look back through your logs and amend them so that you can provide the following clear details for each entry:

·       What was your role in the session; director / cameraman / actor?
·       Which scenes did you film (think of explaining where in the script the scene comes, what physically happens in the scene, who else was involved and the names of the camera shots and angles you filmed.
·       How well did you shoot them? Did you change your initial ideas or try different angles as back-up / additional footage?
·      Will you need to re-shoot anything? Why?

It is these details which will provide evidence that you are competently or skillfully fulfilling your role.

Thursday, 23 February 2012

For Y9/10 and Y11 Media BTEC sets:

Hello ladies and gentlemen.

We have a very tight schedule over the next few weeks, as we have to finish filming, editing and evaluation of your films over the next six weeks.

You will have this week and next to finish your filming, followed by two weeks of editing where you will all produce your own edit of the film, with the best one being finally submitted.

Following this we will have two weeks to finish your evaluation of both the film and your role in its production.

Make sure you have all relevant props and costumes and make every effort to be on time and present for every session; you will not only be letting yourselves down but also everyone in your group!

This will be a lot of work but each and every one of you can achieve it, as long as you work to a disciplined schedule and follow instructions clearly.

Monday, 30 January 2012

Year 11 / Year 9 and 10 Media BTEC students

Hello everybody, most of you have finished your scripts and preproduction by now. Those of you who have not yet finished will have to attend the after-school sessions on a Thursday evening to catch up; the first session is this week.

You will be grouped into fours according to who has finished their scripts and will begin to work on the production of your scripts. First of all you will be pitching your proposals to each other. It will be up to you to decide amongst your group which film you will make; think about who has produced the best proposal, who has written the most exciting and inspiring script and who has produced the project which will be the most practical to film.

Next you will need to produce a list of the elements you will require to begin filming. You will need to think about:

Cast: how many people will you need to film. When will you need them? Try to work out who you will need for each scene.

Locations: where will you need to shoot scenes for your film? Will you need permissions? At what time of day or night will you need to shoot your film?

Costumes: what will your characters need to wear? Do you have the costumes yourself? If not, how will you acquire them? Will you need to borrow from family, friends etc?

Props: what props will you need for your film? Do you have the props yourself? If not, how will you acquire them? Will you need to borrow from family, friends etc?

Next you will need to think about blocking and scene selection. You will be going out with your group and copies of your chosen script to film some test shots for your film. This will require thinking about the shots you will use and also about blocking: working out where your characters will stand and their positions in relation to each other.

Once you have worked out these ideas, you will have until next week to sort out everything you need to begin filming: your homework this week is to arrange permissions, find appropriate locations, and assemble any costumes and props you will require.

Good luck and happy filming!

Monday, 2 January 2012

To Year 11 / Year 9 and 10 BTEC Media students

Welcome back everybody, I hope you have had a good break!

You should all now have finished your scripts and be ready to finish your pre-production. Any of you who have not will, unfortunately, have to come in to finish the scripts in detention.

The next step you need to do is to create some storyboard shots for your film. I have storyboard shots on file; ask me for them and I will put them onto your computer.

In the meantime, have a look at this link:

http://www.thestoryboardartist.com/Site/Hound.html

It provides an examples of a storyboard from the film Hellboy 2,  produced by Josh Sheppard, a professional storyboard artist who has worked on nearly 40 films.

You will not need to produce storyboards as detailed as these but you will need to produce at least 4 or 5 simple storyboard sketches, showing what happens in key scenes. Each will need a simple sketch or photograph accompanied by a written description of what happens in the scene.

Once this is finished, you will have to answer the following questions in a post on your blogger.com:


What is your target audience?
What locations will you need to make your film?
How many people will you need for cast / crew?
Will you need permission for filming in certain locations?
Are there any potential health and safety risks? If so, how will you make filming as safe as possible?
How can you group your filming into a schedule (so all scenes set in the same place are filmed together, to save time)?
How would you pitch your film to a producer?

For this last question, you will have to write a two minute pitch, describing why your film is exciting and interesting, and why it should be made. You will all pitch your films to the other people in your group and discuss which of your films should be made.

Monday, 14 November 2011

For Year 11 Media Studies BTEC Students

Hello everybody, I am away today, but there is plenty of work for you to get on with.

1.) Write a new post in Blogger.com describing the work you did last week and what you learned about character profiles.

2.)   Look on BBC Writers Room website http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/childrens_drama.shtml and read through the first few scenes of the shooting script for The Sarah Jane Adventures- The Vault of Secrets Part 1.


3.) Write new post on Blogger.com describing the  layout of the script and how this will help you with your own scripts.

4.)   Revisit Guillaume Sabourin’s video “Camera angles and shots” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwbsYgZ7d-8 and write notes in your own words describing each shot.

5.)   Carry on with breaking your treatment down into scenes.


Save work and log off.

AFTER LUNCH

1.) Watch original District 9 short film on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlgtbEdqVsk then write down all the different camera angles you saw and post on Blogger.com.

2.)   Continue with scene breakdown of treatment, including camera angles where possible.

3.) Log onto each other’s Blogger.com and review each other’s scene breakdowns so far, writing a comment giving two positives and one thing which would make the script even better.

Save work and log off.

This should keep you busy for the two lessons. I look forward to reading your results on Blogger.com.

Mr Pyle.

Monday, 7 November 2011

Y11 BTEC media 08/11/11; Y9/10 BTEC media 10/11/11

Character Profiles
Script writers will often create detailed profiles of all the characters in a film or television programme, asking many different questions about each character. There is an example of a set of questions a writer might answer to produce a character profile below.
Soap operas such as Eastenders and Coronation Street, where a number of different writers write for the same characters, all have what they call “bibles,” which are detailed guides featuring key information about every character in the show.
You will not need to know every single fact in order to write your scripts; in fact, you may think that some of the questions have nothing to do with your script at all, but there is a point behind them.
The more information you have about a character, the more you know what they are really like, so the better you will understand how they will react in certain circumstances.
Knowing how your characters will react makes it easier to write a script, because it helps you to understand what the characters will do at each point.
Answer all of the questions below for at least one of your main characters.
CHARACTER PROFILE QUESTIONS
  • What is your character's full name? What is their preferred nickname?
  • How old is your character throughout the majority of the story?
  • What is their date of birth?
  • What is their place of birth?
  • Are they male or female?
  • Where do they live now? Are they married, single, engaged, divorced, widowed?
  • Does your character have any brothers or sisters? If so, how many?
  • What is your character's overall health like?
  • What type of personality does your character have?
  • What is their Ethnic background and religion?
  • What is their current occupation?
  • What level of education does your character have?
  • What does your character like or love?
  • What does your character dislike or hate?