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.