Mon 21 Apr

12App
EVERYTHING must in by Friday. If you want me to check it out I need it by tomorrow - I'm on strike on Thursday.

12FS
FS2 revision.

Fri 18 Apr

13App

Time is running out for me to check your work. EVERYTHING has to be in by next Friday. If you want me to check it out I need it by Tuesday - I'm on strike on Thursday.

Thurs 17 Apr

13FS
Discussed article on auteurism and genre theory. This is both a very useful summary and an interesting suggestion of ways in which the two can be fruitfully combined: a key text for the exam.

Brief discussion on structural auteurism.

Watched extracts from Fahrenheit 911 and DC/911 and compared the representations of Bush.

12FS
Exam prac: How do filmmakers portray political confrontation in the films you have studied?

Tues 15 Apr

13FS
Watched first 25 mins of Sunrise and discussed it as a melodrama. Emphasised how our main case studies are all examples of arthouse melodrama.

Q for Friday (or you get detention on Mon.): What have you found useful in your film studies in the application of EITHER a genre OR an auteur critical approach?

12App
finishing off work; making sure electronic portfolio is complete.

13App
Emphasising the 5.1 requirement to show 'monitoring production activity with close reference to objectives and schedules'. This can be evidenced by the log; also annotating gantt chart for schedule.

12Ms
Product lesson.

Mon 14 Apr

12App
Reminder to get work in so it can be checked.

12FS
In groups 25 mins to present the messages & values of Love + Hate. Then presented these to class. They demonstrated a good knowledge of the film unlike the essays which were terrible.

A call for a greater effort at revision with exam only 4 weeks away.

Exam prac on Thurs for FS3.

13App
Need to get units 4 & 5 to me so I can check them.

12MS
Went through Sky Unseen which was largely done well.

Fri 11 Apr

12MS
Discussed "Films and television fiction texts ar always based on contemporary issues and attitudes." How far do you agree with this statement.

A tricky one but do it for Monday.

The Unseens handed in today were promising.

13FS
Watched 'The Country Doctor' (1909) as an example of early melodrama complete with 'over-acting'.

12FS
Discussed a planned FS3 Q and set:

What have you found interesting in different characters' reactions to social and/or political conflict in the films you have studied? Due 14th.

Thurs 10 Apr

12App
Went through evaluation again. Be sure to comment on your decision-making. Follow the spec guidance.

13MS
The pastiche of the spaghetti western (which itself is a pastiche): Once Upon a Time in the West compared to Tears of the Black Tiger.

Q: Discuss thh ways in which texts can treat the conventions of their genre and the generic expectations of their audiecces in a playful or ironic way. for 16th.

12MS
Unseen practice: Sky Sport promostion

Weds 9 Apr

13FS
Cancelled.

13FS
Red Dwarf. Some parody (the ship's computer); pastiche of SF in the sense of using very recognisable iconography, settings and characters. Mostly sitcom. References to prison and war movies.

Is also hard SF as does consider what it means to be human.

Tues 8 Apr

12App
Please make sure you number the assignments you hand in which should be with me asap.

12FS
Finished Yasmin. Plan 'How do characters' values influence their behaviour in the films you have studied? For Friday.

13FS
Cancelled.

13MS
Discussion on parody and pastiche. Whilst both have a text/genre behind the prime text, parody exaggerates to mainly poke fun but pastiche, in the style of, is more likely to celebrate.

Extracts from Blazing Saddles and Star Wars - a pastiche of Sat. matinee (like Flash Gordon)

Mon 7 Apr

Great to be back!

12App
Very few actually handed in their evaluations; this was a mistake. Deadline Friday.

All paperwork for units 2 & 3 should be with me so I can start going through it.

12Film
So starts revision...

Screening of Yasmin 1.

Thurs 20 Mar

13FS
went through what was required in the evaluation. Suggested fleshing out definition of audience in aims & rationale by charactersing your film as similar to... and finding out how popular that was using the Lumiere database. Remember, the production is only worth 60%.

Want the 21 Grams essay (see 4 March post) 8 April; leave The Return, we'll pick up on it after Broken Blossoms.

13MS
Deadline today. Well done to everyone who's finished their video; take a bow... Hmm. That's no one then.

Still many are nearly finished and the quality is heartening. Amazing moment when Mr Otway admitted he was feeling under pressure for the first time... ever!

12FS
Returned 'not bad' micros but a number of students sensibly to decided to have another bash over Easter. Drafts in first day back.

HAVE A GOOD BREAK; THAT'S 'BREAK' NOT 'HOLIDAY'!

Weds 19 Mar

12MS
Run through of News 24 unseen expressing bemusement about those who hadn't including news values DESPITE BEING TIPPED OFF THAT THEY WOULD BE NECESSARY. The 'horse to water' cliche was spent and speculation surrounded whether some students would die of thirst.

Further recommendations for revision focusing on understanding what the key concepts consisted of.

13MS
Finished off OU programme on Gangsters but it appeared to have confused more than enlightened. We'll return to parody after Easter.

Revision recommended: focus on how notes fit in with spec's bullet points.

Tues 18 Mar

13FS
Revision: what films have we seen for which topics and what they are exemplifying.

As no one handed in the due essay; everyone will get a detention.

12App
Be clear on what bits of unit 2 need improving over Easter.

13App
Videos taking shape nicely. Don't let the paperwork ruin them!

12MS
Production.

Mon 17 Mar

12App
Unit 2 should've been in today but I'd actually dated it the 18th which let a lot of you off the hook. Mr Aminzadeh was honest/dumb enough to admit he didn't know it was due; deadlines! deadlines! Know them!

12FS
Practiced an FS2 Q about supporting the British Film Industry. Some excellent contributions. Bring all your notes in on Thursday.

13App
Run through what's required for unit 5; check your paperwork and look at the assessment criteria: ask yourself, 'is there evidence so that Lacey can credit me?' If there isn't; find it!

12MS
Production lesson. Don't assume you'll be able to get a school camcorder over Easter!

Fri 14 Mar

12MS
Revision preparation:

• be active; make notes on your notes
• work is short bursts
• don't mix up subjects
• A3 summary sheets; colour coded - 'off the peg' case studies
• revision timetable

Next week: 2 lessons given over to production work.

13FS

Only one person handed in essay; new one set: How far is EITHER genre OR auteur study about identifying a structure of template? Anyone who doesn't get this in for 18th will get a detention.

Discussed The Return as a melodrama. Does it celebrate of condemn the (fascistic) machismo shown by the father? How does the composition of the image add to the film's meaning? Symbols: the towers as phallic.

12FS
Cancellend.

Thurs 13 Mar

12App
At last! Edit suites full; camcorders at a premium. Students seem to be worried by next week's deadline and the quality? Excellent. Well done Laura - the first to finish. Thumbs down to Rachel and Kerry who are also using Chris' tape which he's now lost (don't worry; I know where it is). Sarah: do you know where yours is?

13MS
Brief discussion of why Gangsters is so difficult to read especially as it was popular in the '70s. Presumably it was read as comedy? Watch OU Pop Cult doc.

Summer MED6: mix of AV & print.

12MS
MED1 Unseen practice: TV news. Due in Friday.

Weds 12 Mar

13FS
Finished The Return.
Consider the film as a melodrama for discussion on Friday (when the 21 Grams essay WILL be collected). Think of the symbolism of the tower; lake; photographs. What about the father's past? What sort of rites of passage is this for the boys?

13MS
Cancelled.

Tues 11 Mar

12App
Deadline of finishing product by Thurs 20th looming.

Delighted to see James editing a music video without... music! Good looking footage though.


12FS
Concluding our consideration of FilmFour. Brief run through of Working Title and role of film festivals; both of which - Cannes - should be researched.

Friday: final deadline for micro and bring in all your FS2 notes to sort out.


13FS
Start of The Return.

13MS
Watched episode of Gangsters.

Mon 10 Mar

12App
Reminding that the product should be finished before Easter so you can write your evaluation but that it's only worth 20% of the overall AS so don't neglect anything else!

12FS
Extremely disappointing efforts in last FS2 exam question. Most didn't hand it in and those who did didn't deal directly with the Q.

Continued our discussion about British film industry watching the demise of FilmFour doc.

Fri 7 Mar

13App
Checklist given out of things STILL no done for unit 4.

Thurs 6 Mar

13FS
A PAL lesson. Still haven't had finished aims & rationale from anybody!

13App
Handing in of Unit 4 by everybody except Claudia... Re-emphasised that the actual product is worth only 22% of the overall A2 so don't neglect the rest.

12FS
British cinema: recapped the history characterised by success in American; an attempt to take on Hollywood; failure.

Watched 2002 doc around the demise of FilmFour.

Weds 5 Mar

12MS
Intro to news values (read Image & Rep) in prep for unseen 13/3: print or TV.

13MS
Considered how the Hays Office influenced Scarface and the demise of the Production Code led to Bonnie & Clyde.
Watched crop dusting sequence from N. by NW in prep for Gangsters next week.

Tues 4 Mar

13FS
If Inarritu is an auteur what about Arriaga who scripted his 3 movies: comparison with Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.
Essay: Is 21 Grams better considered as an Inarritu film or a melodrama? for 11/3.

12App
getting on with production - some excellent footage from Sarah.

13App
Marvellous montage from Darren but as the product's only worth 22% of the A2 the paperwork must be done otherwise the effort will be wasted.

Fri 29 Feb

12MS
What defines Hollywood? A consideration of Hollywood films and marketing through comparison of film posters.

13FS
Finished 21 Grams and began discussion into its meaning and how it's melodrama and an Inarritu film.

12FS
The class became the UK Film Council and decided the fate of five projects. For their efforts (which were excellent) they got an exam Q to do for Thurs. 6.

Have a good weekend.

Thurs 28 Feb

12App
The return of unit 2 which will need returning, with vast improvements, to me by 18 Mar. Be sure you know what you need to do.

13MS
Discussed Scarface as a gangster and compared it to a 13 min. section of 1983 version. Assignment: To what extent did Scarface follow the gangster genre? 5/3 - doesn't have to be essay

12MS
Related Bourne Ulitmatum to MED2 spec. Considered the innovative aspects of the film: overlapping narrative with Bourne Supremacy & editing style.

Q: Choose 2 film and/or broadcast fiction texts (including Bourne 5/3Ultimatum) which appeal to different audiences. Compare their content and style.

Weds 27 Feb

13FS watched another 30 mins of 21 Grams

13MS
finished Scarface and brief discussion about the film.

Tues 26 Feb

12App
Continuing working on unit 3 - unit 2 will be returned Thurs.

12FS
Yesterday's exam practice was promising - but should've been as you knew what you were being tested on. There still needs to be a greater awareness of using the stimulus material as a springboard for your answers.

Filled in some gaps on history of exhibiton in UK: how the multiplex saved cinema. Brief discussion about architectural abominations. UK Film Council on Friday - be prepared!

13FS
Screened first 55 mins of 21 Grams.

13MS
Feedback on essays; screened first part of Scarface (1932)

Mon 25 Feb

12App
The handing in of unit 2 for a formative assessment.

12FS
FS2 exam prac focusing on on cross-media ownership.

Fri 22 Feb

13App
Getting on with it. Agreed that Chris and Darren can have until 6 Mar to finish unit 4.

Thurs 21 Feb

13FS
Introduction to authorship. Discussed origins of auteur theory - see PowerPoint in Common > Film & Media > Film Studies > Authorship. Be prepared, when watching 21 Grams next week, with a list of what you expect from melodrama and what you expect from Inarritu.

13App
Review of Unit 4 so far - deadline 2 week's today. You must be absolutely clear on what you need to do and do show me drafts before the deadline.

12FS
Continue discussion about multimedia companies owning the major studios and synergy. Looked at Sony as owner of both hard and software; compared format wars of '70s with BluRay and HD DVD. Exam practice on Monday on this subject.

20 Feb

12MS
Finish Bourne ID.

13MS
Mr Gates' intro to horror.

Tues 19 Feb

13FS Wrapped up melodrama (read textbook) with example from All That Heaven Allows. Consider Innarittu as an auteur for Thurs 21st.

Some time for PAL.

12App
Gave an example of a Treatment from last year. Emphasised need to get started on shooting.

13App
Started returning unit 4s

12MS
Screen Bourne ID 1

Mon 18 Feb

12App Hardly anyone hit the deadline for unit3 work; due in tomorrow! Don't forget those of you who haven't finished unit 2 need to do so.

12 Film

DO NOT ARRIVE LATE TO FILM LESSONS OR YOU WILL GET A DETENTION!

Discussed why the major studios are part of large media corporations and compared to the '70s media conglomerates. Synergy rules

13App

Chris and Darren's final version of unit 4: 3 March!

Film Alert for Yr 13 Film and Media

Sat 21.30 C2: The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada - important for genre & authorship

Mon. 13.15 C4 The Day the Earth Stood Still - for SF

Thurs 7 Feb

Yr12 Applied
Be clear in which parts of unit 2 you must complete over the 1/2 term. Don't be overwhelmed by the amount of detail; much of it is straightforward but evidence is required.

Yr13 Media
Continuing our discussion of ideology & SF using doc as stimulus.

Yr12 Media
MED Unseen practice: Blackpool
Life on Mars sequel, Ashes to Ashes, starts tonight: WATCH!

Weds 6 Feb

Yr13 Film

Continued our discussion of Babel as melodrama with extracts from In the Mood for Love and Crash plus the evacuation of Susan from the village.

Due in on 19th: drafts of scripts; filmmakers should show some footage or detailed planning.


Yr13 Media
Notes on SF as a genre plus discussion of ideology (again).

Started documentary on SF with discussion about er... you got it.

Tues 5 Feb

Yr12 Applied

Continuation of finishing stuff that should've been finished yesterday.



Yr12 Film

Discussed the 3D success of Hannah Montana: differentiated Hollywood product from Home Ent/Internet; premium pricing to increase revenue in a mature market; counter programming against SuperBowl.



Brief discussion on role of Film Council which should be researched to find out about how it supports, and what type of films it supports or 18 Feb.


Yr13 Film
Introduction to melodrama. Examples of its concerns and brief history; it is a bourgeois form that was once progressive (against the aristrocracy). Extract from Meet Me in St Louis - a subversive destruction of the family.

What makes Babel a melodrama?

Yr13 Media
Poorly done essay (mostly) so do it again for 20 Feb: 'Genres embody ideological values.' Discuss with reference with one genre. Those who did it should use different case studies.

Extracts from Day the Earth Stood Still and Silent Running.

Monday 4th Feb

12Applied

NO ONE handed in ALL the work! Why is that? Laziness? Lack of organisation? Mr McDermott has investigated Google Calendar in an effort to be more organised - check it out.

Unit 3 assignments were given out to be completed, except all of 4, by 18 Feb.

12 Film

Finished Indie case studies in Carolco.

Discussed role of DVD in generated $$$ from sales and back catalogue. This cash cow is ailing and the future may be downloads. Platforms of distribution and how they've changed in the last five years.

Research: find out about the holding companies of the major studies and what other companies they own; same deadline as micros: 18 Feb.

Friday 1 February

13 Applied

Watched Daybreak Express, and some other extracts, of non contemporary documentaries as students should look beyond the modern for ideas.

Ferment was a fabulous example of matching form and content.

This research needs to be included in unit 4 but don't simply rely upon what we've done in class!

Thurs 31 Jan

13 Film

Last PAL lesson. Final draft of aims and rationale due in Tues 5 Feb.

13 Applied

Two handouts were given to help with documentation for unit 5 and a warning that the paperwork must be treated as working documents and not retrospective add-ons.

Unit 4 deadline is still next Thurs.

12 Film Studies

Feedback on FS2 question done last week. Emphasis on looking beyond the question so your answer will display a breadth of knowledge.

MICROS: generally pathetic efforts to produce drafts. FINAL version due in on 16th Feb and that'll be it.

Considered last weekend's N.American box office - the Oscar nominations weekend.

Students fed back some excellent research on independent companies.

Has the opening weekend always been important to the success of Hollywood films? for Tuesday 5th. (do the research then plan and answer the question in 45 mins under exam conditions - if you can't see beyond the question come and talk to me).

Weds 30 Jan

12 Media
Discussed Life on Mars specifically focusing on character (and representation). Also considered how the programmed mixes series and serial.

Essay: Discuss the role of character in Life on Mars. Due 7 Feb; write your answer in 45 mins.

13 Media
Discussed Star Trek: And the Children Shall Lead as symptomatic of the '60s (its sexism and its progressive attitude toward race) and the ideological underpinnings of its utopian vision: harmonious nations; hierarchical; American. It's a western in space ('the final frontier') but narratives are invariably hard SF.

Tues 29 Jan

Yr13 Film
Watched a scene from The Wire as an example of 'showing rather than telling', with minimal dialogue. This principle should inform your PAL.

An A grade example of aims & rationale was given out; next draft Thurs 31.

Yr12 Film
Watched a doc on the marketing of The Mummy.

Yr12Applied
Fedback on close analysis. Next draft requires examples of close analysis to explain your points and should distinguish between form and content in how text is addressing its audience. Deadline: Feb 4.

Yr13 Applied
Emphasised that the deadline for unit 4 is 7 Feb and so, surprise!, this is a priority. Also, you can't expect to do well if you only ever work on the course in the classroom.

Yr12 Media
Screening of first episode of Life on Mars for Film & Broadcast Fiction case study.

Mon 28 Jan

Yr12 Applied
Deadline for assignment 3 (unit 2). Remember to redo Product Summary sheet if necessary. The Electronic Portfolio must be complete by 1st Feb.

Yr12 Film
Revision of Paramount decrees and post war decline in audiences; the demographic shift toward the suburbs and home entertainment.

Quick run through of Hollywood decline; Easy Rider's influence on New Hollywood to the arrival of the High Concept with Jaws.

Late '70s the arrival of videotapes facilitated the rise of independents, such as New Line, who could make profits from video after cinema distribution.

Indie research on history, including key films, and demise/ownership of:
New Line (JMc); Castle Rock (SW); Lion's Gate (AF); Artisan (LJ); Miramax (GO); Carolco (AA); Orion (TH). Plus Kristy will look at the pseudo-indies owned by the majors. ALL FOR THURSDAY.

13 Applied
Riot Act read regarding deadlines (no one handed in Unit 5 work on time). Final deadline for unit 4 Feb 7. FINAL deadline the Friday after Easter: 11 April. That gives you 7 school weeks afer this one which is Sod all time.

12Media
Revised PSB v Commercial broadcasting; series v serials and arcs. Not an impressive amount of knowledge on display.

Discussed how fiction makes meaning via genre, narrative & representation primarily.

Fri 25 Jan

12 Media
Last go at video practice with Lacey.

13 Film
Finished screening Babel - terrific film! - plus brief discussion. Ran through 'aims and rationale' AGAIN; next version in for Tuesday.

12 Film
Exam practice FS2 on stars.

Thurs 24 Jan

Yr 12 Applied

Deadlines set for 'unit 2 for unit 3' assignments:

28/1 No.3

1/2 No.6

4/2 Nos.1,2&4

7/2 No.5

Please make sure that the work you have already completed is of the highest standard and if there are any doubts see me.


Yr13 Media
Completed screening of Body Snatchers and discussed the ways in which it articulates the ideological concerns of its time (post Gulf War 1 military; more active, if still passive, female etc).
For 30th to be written in exam conditions but prepared beforehand (45 mins): 'Genres embody ideological values' Discuss with ref. to one genre.


yr12 Media
Further opportunity to develop production work.
Ran through aspects of film and broadcast fiction that the trailer can cover.

Wed 23 Jan

Yr13 Film
Starting watching Babel as part of Genre & Authorship topic. Will be examining Alejandro González Iñárritu as an auteur and melodrama.

To be completed in Mrs Symons' lesson tomorrow and mine on Friday. If you missed today turn up anyway.

Yr13 Media
General feedback from yesterday's MED6 was good however all but two blobbed on their Independent Study. This should be started again immediately; I will not be on your case, if you want help you ask.

Feedback from mock which was generally poorly done but we were under-prepared. Not enough theory - always think Altman; can he be applied?

Finally discussed what would the pod people represent in a contemporary Invasion of the Body Snatchers (teens; viruses; religion - nice ideas). And why does Abel Ferrara's '93 use the military? To be screened tomorrow.

Tues 22 Jan

12 Applied
ran through unit 2 assignments emphasising that it's the students' responsibilities to set deadlines and progress between lessons.

Any student who states they are going to research in the library who then fails to do so will not be allowed to research in the library again.

12 Film
Discussed how to measure to what extent Cloverfield is a big hit based on its 2nd weekend.

Discussed to what extent stars can influence their films via their production companies.

With Rambo returning next weekend we discussed the revivication of franchises and compared numbers of films made with the Andy Hardy series of classical Hollywood.

The package was revised with the additional information about development hell.

FS2 exam practice on Friday.

Yr13 Film
Feedback was given on the mock exams and the aims and rationale for the PAL must be in tomorrow or the ignomy of 6th form detention will happen.

Mon 21 Jan

Yr12 Applied
We went through the production summaries whilst students continued their research.

Yr12 Film
Feedback on Oscar, exhibition and star research; many need a lot more detail!

Looked at Cloverfield as an example of High Concept (Blair Witch meets disaster movie) and considered its phenomenal Jan opening weekend.

Finally, research of star-producers.

Thurs 17 Jan

Yr12 Film
Own learning: choose a movie released this weekend and find out its: p + a; genre; stars; producer.
Today we talked about Jaws (remember when you read a textbook you MUST make notes) and how it altered the p + a and heralded High Concept cinema. We compared 10000BC's & Atonement's trailers as different types of film.
Don't forget your exhibition, Oscar & star research; plus a micro draft required.

Weds 16 Jan

Yr12 Applied
More practice with camcorders. If you want to continue this before next lesson come and book the camcorders. You can take the digital camcorder test at any time; you need your sheet and to arrange the test with Mr Mann or Lacey.

Tuesday 15 Jan.

Yr12 Applied
Ran through checklists 'unit 2 for unit 3' finding most are greatly wanting. So this needs addressing pronto. You will get a proforma about your proposed product in Mrs S's lessons on Thurs. This must be handed in on Mon's lesson.

Yr12 Media
Chose which brief to work from (all video) and practiced shooting a person walking out of a door in three shots. See Mrs S for deadlines.

Monday 14th Jan

Yr12 Applied
Review of mock; use 'unit 2 for unit 3' checklist as basis for tomorrow's tutorial. Anyone who didn't work as hard as they should last term can catch up if they work very hard.
Rough deadlines: all research should be finished by 1/2 term but if you can start production earlier then that would be good. All prod. should be complete by Easter allowing the evaluation to be written during the break.
Final deadline: 11 April.

Yr12 Film
Review of mock. Discussed 2008 preview (to be cont'd on Thurs). Read chap 3 - p.123 Intro to Film by Thurs.
GENERALLY WE NEED A MUCH MORE SERIOUS ATTITUDE THIS TERM; THE IRON FIST IS OUT. Sophie must stop chatting so much.

Yr12 Media
Review of mock. It's crucial you understand where you went wrong. Write some tips for yourself to help revision in the summer's exams.
Tomorrow: decide on a product brief.