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
At A2 you produce a portfolio of productions: a promotion package for the release of an album, to includea music promo video, together with two of the following three options: a website homepage for the band; a digipak for the album’s release; a magazine advertisement for the digipak. So, that's a music video as your main text, plus two 'ancillary texts' linked to this.
This lot achieved a remarkable average coursework mark of 93%! You can see how they did this in my feature-length documentary DVD, IGS Media 2014: Storm Queens, QR Codes and Kittens
The final cuts, and other videos compiling the print texts, are embedded below (just click 'see more'); for a fuller rundown, including student vodcasts and rough cuts, have a look at the 2014 A2 playlist on the IGSMediaStudies YouTube channel.
Two of our AS students' production groups had their film openings selected for screening at the 2013
Co-Op Film Festival, a national event that attracts entries from all
over the UK (and beyond): The Asylum and Camp Ivy.
Following the brief of the opening 2 minutes of a new feature film with titles, all the film openings were of the slasher genre. Student names link to that student's
individual blog; any company names link to the company blog; film names will
link to the final cut on YouTube.
**RESUBMISSIONS FROM JUNE 2012**
Andy King + Will Lennard (who were in the same group with a 3rd student) have resubmitted their work; the product is unaltered, only the R+P/Eval have been changed.
Quotes from Exam board (OCR) moderator: Several of the candidates had clearly put a lot of effort into creating a sense of authenticity in their film openings and the influence of their research and planning was evident. The stages of development of the whole process were also clear and it was evident how the final products had been informed by the research and planning which had been completed. There was evidence in the sample of some creative flair and effective use of mise en scene and editing, particularly the use of cross cutting in order to create tension. Candidates had also worked hard in order to create their own original company idents which all aided the sense of authenticity; the use of mise en scene and variation in shots and uses of camera also tended to be used very effectively.
(There was also guidance to take care with the overall length; be wary of trying to squeeze too much narrative development in; and to use ICT/multimedia throughout the Evaluation)
At A2 you produce a portfolio of productions: a promotion package for the release of an album, to includea music promo video, together with two of the following three options: a website homepage for the band; a digipak for the album’s release; a magazine advertisement for the digipak. So, that's a music video as your main text, plus two 'ancillary texts' linked to this.
The three candidates this year worked together on a new music video for Daft Punk's Around the World, plus digipak and magazine ads. Some months into their work, rumours of Daft Punk's re-emergence surfaced, and by the week they handed in the final cut Daft Punk were at number one! It won't be immediately obvious to the uninitiated, but the dance routine in the video actually incorporates the sign language for 'around the world'!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
The new A-Level syllabus was launched in September 2008, just as these students entered the 6th form. This was the first time we used blogs as a format for presenting evidence of research and planning rather then the traditional ringbinder of printed off Word documents and annotated web page printoffs etc.
Given this, the work produced was very creditable. There was a high standard of research in particular. We would, however, see increasing amounts of multimedia content incorporated over time - not least by these students in 2009-10, as they produced a raft of podcasts and video features to expand on the writing, images and hyperlinks contained in their posts.
2009 PLAYLIST:
SASKIA ADAMS [revised for Jan 2010] Saskia's solo production successfully tackled a slasher opening. Deception. LAURA BECK - With SophieG, Emily and a German exchange student, Laura produced her first stab at a slasher! Dare To Dream.
SOPHIE GANNON - With Laura, Emily and a German exchange student, Sophie produced her first stab at a slasher! Dare To Dream.
BEN GARVEY - Alex, George and Ben's slasher cut. *** Selected for screening at the 2009 Co-Op National Film Festival *** In His Sights.
TOBY HAMPSON - Toby is swiftly felled by his production partner Tom in this slasher opening! Rough Cut. BETHAN HERBERT - Bethan, Lorna and Megan produce a WW2 romantic drama *** Selected for screening at the 2009 Co-Op National Film Festival *** Lost In Love And War.
LAUREN HUTCHINSON - Lucy, Lauren and Kristie bring their brand of shock to safe suburbia. *** Selected for screening at the 2009 Co-Op National Film Festival *** Dead End. LUCY JOHNSON - Lucy, Lauren and Kristie bring their brand of shock to safe suburbia. *** Selected for screening at the 2009 Co-Op National Film Festival *** Dead End.
GEORGE NEEDHAM - Alex, George and Ben's slasher cut. *** Selected for screening at the 2009 Co-Op National Film Festival *** In His Sights.
WILL NELSON - Joe, Will and SamT bring aspects of Japanese horror The Ring to IGS. Coma.
EMILY OUTTERSIDE - With Laura, SophieG and a German exchange student, Emily produced her first stab at a slasher! Dare To Dream. CONOR POTTS - Conor's solo effort brings a dash of panache to his slasher. The Lurker.
MEGAN RIDLEY - Bethan, Lorna and Megan produce a WW2 romantic drama *** Selected for screening at the 2009 Co-Op National Film Festival *** Lost In Love And War.
JOE SHRIMPTON - Joe, Will and SamT bring aspects of Japanese horror The Ring to IGS. Coma.
KRISTIE WOOLLEY - Lucy, Lauren and Kristie bring their brand of shock to safe suburbia. *** Selected for screening at the 2009 Co-Op National Film Festival *** Dead End.
lkley Grammar School students, from left, Lorna Kennedy, Megan Ridley,
Bethan Herbert, Alex Snowdon, Ben Garvey, Lucy Johnson and Kristie
Woolley, whose films are being shown at The National Media Museum.
See Ilkley Gazette report on the film festival here.
