Saturday, 10 September 2011

Summer 2012: AS Coursework Blogs (G321)

The brief is again for the opening two minutes of a new feature, with a choice between the slasher and rom-com genres, except where students have successfully pitched and shown extensive knowledge of the codes and conventions of another genre.

All the film openings were of the slasher genre. Student names link to that student's individual blog; company names link to the company blog; film names will link to the final cut on YouTube.

Exam board (OCR) moderator comments

Students blogs were once more impressively multimedia! (click to enlarge)
The research and planning work showed that a wide range of research was carried out that often had exceptional depth and variety. Candidates at the very top clearly enjoyed the research and planning process and produced some exemplary work which was always relevant to the task. It was clear that the final artefacts were the products of detailed research and planning. ... there was plenty of evidence of volume, depth and understanding alongside the creative process.
The video work was clearly readable as openings to films from a chosen genre. It was obvious that candidates had understood the form and conventions. All candidates had considered how to integrate titles and the best work showed that candidates had spent time designing and creating a variety of idents which worked well. The camerawork was impressive, there was a variety of shots and movements were carefully considered to elicit emotional responses from the audience. Editing was generally well considered in creating meaning for the viewer.
In the evaluation element, all candidates responded to the seven questions showing understanding of key concepts and the process of construction. There was a range of technologies employed to respond to the questions, the vodcasts and podcasts were particularly effective in explaining key points. The quality of the blogs at the top end were very pleasing for both evaluation and research and planning elements, it was clear that the candidates embraced the brief and enjoyed all of the challenges.



GEORGIA BARNINGHAM - Georgia and Tom form Barcasarn Productions, the creative team behind slasher film opening Tiny Terror.


SEAN BURKE - Sean, Andy and Will form Conspiracy Productions, the creative team behind slasher film opening Underground.


TOM CASSANI - Georgia and Tom form Barncasarn Productions, the creative team behind slasher film opening Tiny Terror.


SAM DAFFERN - Sam and Dillon form LS29 Productions, the creative team behind slasher film opening Red Run.


ANDY KING - Sean, Andy and Will form Conspiracy Productions, the creative team behind slasher film opening Underground.


WILL LENNARD - Sean, Andy and Will form Conspiracy Productions, the creative team behind slasher film opening Underground.


DILLON O'CONNOR - Sam and Dillon form LS29 Productions, the creative team behind slasher film opening Red Run.

Here's Tiny Terror...


...and here's Red Run...


Screenshot of Georgia's blog; students made good use of links lists and other gadgets

Tuesday, 5 July 2011

Summer 2012: A2 Coursework Blogs (G324)

The students had a brief of creating a package centring on a music video but also including ancillary texts of a digipak album cover and a magazine ad for this - with the extensive Research + Planning, plus an Evaluation, all evidenced on the individual blogs hyperlinked below.

At the time of writing (September 2011), we're just starting this year's coursework, but you can view the rather superb productions from 2010-11 on our YouTube channel playlist, and see the various digipacks/ads in those students' multimedia-rich blogs. As with last year, a playlist will shortly appear featuring behind-the-scenes mini-docs, vodcasts, rough cuts etc of our 2011-12 A2 students' work.

2012 PLAYLIST:

UPDATE: Another hugely successful year, with the average coursework beating last year's 79% ... now exceeding 80% (the starting point for an A-grade!), and 74% of these students emerging with a final grade of A*-B. Our proud record of national recognition continues with two of the videos successfully entered into the Co-Op's National Young Filmmakers Festival, and screened before a large audience in November 2012. A feature-length documentary DVD, including all of the final videos, tracking these students through their two years of Media Studies is available!


MELODIE ABRAHAM - Mel and Ellie form Mellie Productions, working on a new music video for N'Sync's Gone.

SAM BOYES - SamB, Rich and Conor form Sublime Transcendence Productions, working on a new music video for Sunburnt in December's (metalcore band featuring Sam and Conor) Like a Match to an Arsonist.
Screened at the Co-Op's National Young Filmmakers Festival, November 2012

SOPHIE DIXON - Sophie, Katie and Asa form Blazing Grace Productions, working on a new music video package for Destiny's Child Emotion.

ELLIE FRY - Mel and Ellie form Mellie Productions, working on a new music video package for N'Sync's Gone.

GEORGE GAMBLE - George and Tom form Two Twigs Productions, working on a new music video package for The Swing Movement's Jigsaw.

HARRIET HARDING - Hattie and Faye form Haye Fattie Productions, working on a new music video package for Girls Aloud's Jump.
Screened at the Co-Op's National Young Filmmakers Festival, November 2012

FAYE HIGGINS - Hattie and Faye form Haye Fattie Productions, working on a new music video package for Girls Aloud's Jump.
Screened at the Co-Op's National Young Filmmakers Festival, November 2012

BEN HUDSON - Ben, Harry and Kyle form HBK Productions, working on a new music video production package for Nine Inch Nails' Metal.

HARRY KNIGHT - Ben, Harry and Kyle form HBK Productions, working on a new music video production package for Nine Inch Nails' Metal.

KATIE MALLOWS - Sophie, Katie and Asa form Blazing Grace Productions, working on a new music video package for Destiny's Child Emotion.

GINA MAUNSELL - Gina and Jess form NuMusic Productions, working on a new music video package for Robbie Williams' She's the One.

RICHARD MCLACHLAN - SamB, Rich and Conor form Sublime Transcendence Productions, working on a new music video package for Sunburnt in December's (metalcore band featuring Sam and Conor) Like a Match to an Arsonist.
Screened at the Co-Op's National Young Filmmakers Festival, November 2012

KYLE MEESON - Ben, Harry and Kyle form HBK Productions, working on a new music video production package for Nine Inch Nails' Metal.

ASA NEWMARCH - Sophie, Katie and Asa form Blazing Grace Productions, working on a new music video package for Destiny's Child Emotion.

CONOR O’LOUGHLIN - SamB, Rich and Conor form Sublime Transcendence Productions, working on a new music video package for Sunburnt in December's (metalcore band featuring Sam and Conor) Like a Match to an Arsonist.
Screened at the Co-Op's National Young Filmmakers Festival, November 2012

SAM POLLOCK - SamP, Rob and Will form Swillob Productions, working on a new music video package for Muse's Bliss.

ROB SHAW - SamP, Rob and Will form Swillob Productions, working on a new music video package for Muse's Bliss.

WILL SPIVEY - SamP, Rob and Will form Swillob Productions, working on a new music video package for Muse's Bliss.

JESSICA THORNE - Gina and Jess form NuMusic Productions, working on a new music video package for Robbie Williams' She's the One.

TOM WARDMAN - George and Tom form Two Twigs Productions, working on a new music video package for The Swing Movement's Jigsaw.

Thursday, 5 May 2011

Summer 2011 A2 Coursework Blogs (G324)

These are the blogs submitted for G324, the coursework unit, with the central task being to construct a music video (creating a song was not required!) plus two additional print texts (a digipak CD cover and inserts + a magazine for this), creating an overall promotional package. Some of the music videos embedded or linked to in these blogs may not be suitable for younger students to view.

Two of our A2 students' production groups had their video selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op Film Festival, a national event that attracts entries from all over the UK (and beyond): "Disorder" and "Confessions". You can see the 2011 festival programme here (screenings on Thursday October 6th 2011 at Bradford's National Media Museum).

The success story does not stop there: the average mark achieved was 79% (that's 1 mark off an A!), with two students achieving 99%. Here's what our exam board said about the work of Ilkley Grammar's A2 Media students:
Candidates had clearly engaged very well with the task, with excellent evidence of research and planning. Research and Planning covered a range of areas, from looking at existing music videos through to the logistics of print design and layout. There was clear evidence that candidates were able to document the process of construction. Marking was accurate across the cohort sampled.
Candidates had clearly engaged very well with the task, with excellent understanding of the codes and conventions of music videos and the associated promotional vehicles.
The promos demonstrated excellent use of camera, sound and editing as well as careful choice of mise-en-scene. Print artefacts showed a solid appreciation of professional practice and were effectively realised. The register adopted evidenced their grasp of industry practice and there was a clear attempt to achieve synergy between the 3 artefacts. Some superb work was witnessed at the very top of the range.
In candidates’ Evaluations, coverage of the key questions in the specification was explicit. Candidates’ evaluations were detailed, honest and self critical, evidencing real insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the respective artefacts. The marking of the evaluations was considered to be accurate.
A well organised centre and a pleasure to moderate.

JONATHAN BAILEY - music video for The Doors' People Are Strange (produced with Alex Burke)

EMMIE BRYETT - music video for Backstreet Boys' As Long as You Love Me (produced with Megan Claydon)

ALEX BURKE - music video for The Doors' People Are Strange (produced with Jonny Bailey)

MEGAN CLAYDON - music video for Backstreet Boys' As Long as You Love Me (produced with Emmie Bryett)

JOEL COLBORNE - music video for Joy Division's Disorder - produced with Jonny Hughes + Callum Moreman 
*** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival *** 

BETH COOPER - music video for Gorillaz' 19/2000 [Soulchild remix] (produced with Emma Graveling)

EMMA GRAVELING - music video for Gorillaz' 19/2000 [Soulchild remix] (produced with Emma Graveling)

MELISSA HODGSON - teaser trailer for zombie film "Dead North"

JONATHAN HUGHES - music video for Joy Division's Disorder (produced with Joel Colborne + Callum Moreman)
*** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival *** 

MARY JENNER - music video for We Are the Ocean's Confessions (produced with Lucy Mannall and Chris Lawrence)
*** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival *** 

CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE - music video for We Are the Ocean's Confessions (produced with Lucy Mannall and Mary Jenner)

LUCY MANNALL - music video for We Are the Ocean's Confessions (produced with mary Jenner and Chris Lawrence)
*** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival *** 

ELIZABETH McPHAIL - music video for Men At Work's Down Under (produced with George Scaife)

CALLUM MOREMAN - music video for Joy Division's Disorder (produced with Joel Colborne and Jonny Hughes
*** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival *** 

GEORGE SCAIFE - music video for Men At Work's Down Under (produced with Elizabeth McPhail)

Summer 2011 AS Coursework Blogs (G321)

The brief is again for the opening two minutes of a new feature, with a choice between the slasher and rom-com genres, except where students have successfully pitched and shown extensive knowledge of the codes and conventions of another genre.

Three of our AS students' production groups had their film openings selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op Film Festival, a national event that attracts entries from all over the UK (and beyond): "Waxed", "Wrenched" and "Sleep Tight". You can see the 2011 festival programme here (screenings on Thursday October 6th 2011 at Bradford's National Media Museum).

All the film openings were of the slasher genre unless otherwise stated. 
All film titles are hyperlinked to their YouTube page on the IGSMediaStudies YouTube site.


JOEL COLBORNE - [resub of June 2010 production] Bat in the Belfry w/ Jonny Hughes
MARY JENNER -     [resub of June 2010 production] Just Run


MELODIE ABRAHAM - Waxed w/ Emily Moore + Sophie Dixon *** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival ***

CHARLOTTE BARRACLOUGH - Spotlight Love [rom-com] w/ Faye Higgins

SAM BOYES - Suburban Zombie [zombie] w/ Kyle Meeson + Alex McCluskey

CONNOR COULTHURST - Torment Dreamscape [psychological thriller] w/ Ben Hudson + Conor O'Loughlin

SOPHIE DIXON - Waxed w/ Emily Moore + Melodie Abraham *** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival ***

HANNAH FERRIERA - Sleep Tight w/ Rebecca Wholley *** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival ***

ELLIE FRY - No Hiding Place w/ Katie Mallows


GEORGE GAMBLE - Full Moon w/ Roam Hamilton + Harry Knight

ROAM HAMILTON - Full Moon w/ George Gamble + Harry Knight

HARRIET HARDING - ClassMates [rom-com] w/ Maddy Smith

FAYE HIGGINS - Spotlight Love [rom-com] w/ Charlotte Barraclough

BEN HUDSON - Torment Dreamscape [psychological thriller] w/ Connor Coulthurst + Conor O'Loughlin

HARRY KNIGHT - Full Moon w/ Roam Hamilton + George Gamble

KATIE MALLOWS - No Hiding Place w/ Ellie Fry

GINA MAUNSELL - Last One Standing [found-footage horror - think Blair Witch meets Cloverfield] w/ Jessica Thorne

ALEX MCCLUSKEY - Suburban Zombie [zombie] w/ Kyle Meeson + Sam Boyes

RICH MCLACHLAN - Acts of Repulsion w/ Oli Preston

KYLE MEESON - Suburban Zombie [zombie] w/ Sam Boyes + Alex McCluskey

EMILY MOORE - Waxed w/ Melodie Abraham + Sophie Dixon *** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival ***

ASA NEWMARCH - Wrenched w/ Rob Shaw + Sam Pollock *** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival ***

CONOR O’LOUGHLIN - Torment Dreamscape [psychological thriller] w/ Ben Hudson + Connor Coulthurst

SAM POLLOCK - Wrenched w/ Rob Shaw + Asa Newmarch *** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival ***

OLIVER PRESTON - Acts of Repulsion w/Richard McLachlan

ROB SHAW - Wrenched w/ Asa Newmarch + Sam Pollock *** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival ***

MADDY SMITH - ClassMates [rom-com] w/ Harriet Harding

WILL SPIVEY - Oblivious w/ Jeremy Whitehead + Tom Wardman

JESS THORNE - Last One Standing [found-footage horror - think Blair Witch meets Cloverfield] w/Gina Maunsell

TOM WARDMAN - Oblivious w/ Jeremy Whitehead + Will Spivey

JEREMY WHITEHEAD - Oblivious w/ Will Spivey + Tom Wardman

REBECCA WHOLLEY - Sleep Tight w/ Hannah Ferreira *** Selected for screening at the 2011 Co-Op National Film Festival ***