Blogs for St George's International School (2015-) and Ilkley Grammar School (2008-15) Media students' Foundation + Advanced coursework productions. At AS students are tasked with creating the opening two minutes of a new feature film, including some titles. At A2 a wider package is required, centred round a music video (from 2010-11 on).
Some of the material included in the blogs is not suitable for younger students - Dave Burrowes, Head of Media Studies
These are the blogs for AS Media coursework submitted in summer 2010. The brief given was to create the opening two minutes of a new feature film, including some titles. A choice of genres was given - slasher or rom-com - though the opportunity was also provided to present a pitch for any alternative genre, where the students had to show a strong existing knowledge of the codes and conventions involved.
Several did, leading to psychological thriller, vampire and neo-noir being included in the range of texts produced.
Many of these students are working on revised editions for January 2011.
For a second consecutive year (see 2009 newspaper report here), IGS Media students enjoyed great success in entering their work into the Co-Op's annual film festival for young filmmakers, an excellent event that gave the likes of Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs the World) their initial break, and highly recommended to any Media teachers reading this.
LAURA BIRTWISTLE - A Bat in the Belfry[psychological thriller] w/ Joel Colborne + Jonny Hughes *** Selected for screening at the 2010 Co-Op National Film Festival ***
JOEL COLBORNE - A Bat in the Belfry[see also revised 2011 cut] [psychological thriller] w/ Laura Birtwistle + Jonny Hughes *** Selected for screening at the 2010 Co-Op National Film Festival ***
GEORGE SCAIFE - Eternity[vampire neo-noir] with Robbie Miller + Alex Burke
(George later created a new blog for a new solo project: the slasher Sycamore Street) *** Selected for screening at the 2010 Co-Op National Film Festival ***
These are the blogs for A2 coursework submitted in 2010.
A choice of two briefs was given:
(1) a short film in its entirety of around 5 minutes
(2) a teaser trailer for a new feature film
In both cases additional print texts were also required, creating a package rather than the single text created at AS.
Many of these students successfully entered their AS productions (the opening 2 minutes of a new feature film) into the Co-Op's annual film festival for young filmmakers, an excellent event that gave the likes of Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs the World) their initial break, and highly recommended to any Media teachers reading this.
Our students achieved a fantastic average mark of 74%
(a B-grade falls between 70-79%) ... though the class of 2011 would beat this benchmark with an average mark of 79% for their coursework!
Here's what the exam board had to say about Ilkley Grammar Media students' work:
All elements of the unit were completed in an enthusiastic and confident manner. Candidates presented a range of evidence to support the Research and Planning marks submitted, with extensive use of embedded video, audio, images and links. Similarly, the Evaluations made strong use of the blog format and very clearly addressed the four set questions. Production work was characterised by significant confidence and dedication on the part of the candidates. The three elements tended to work well together and the main tasks demonstrated candidates' care and attention to detail. Many of the productions made humorous use of current trends in the media, reflective of the mature and insightful nature of the candidates. There were some impressive uses of narrative, camera, mise-en-scene and lighting, along with some stomach-churning special effects! The Centre's work was a pleasure to moderate.
