Production – Research

You will by now have decided what you will do for the production aspects of your coursework. Groups will be allocated for audio visual productions. Research can begin.

Production – Research

You will by now have decided what you will do for the production aspects of your coursework. Groups will be allocated for audio visual productions. Research can begin.

Production – Approaching Evaluation.

• You will be introduced to the requirements of the production evaluation.
• Key words: Aims, purposes, Codes, Representations, Narrative, Audience, User, Organisational issues.

Production – Approaching Production

• You will be introduced to the options you have to choose from for your production.

Key words: Ambition, Roles, Audio, Audio-Visual, Print based, Interactive.

Production – Approaching Planning

• You will be introduced to examples of planning for production.

Key words: Recce. Mood boards. Shot lists. Font syles. Mark allocation.

Production- Approaching Research

• You will need to show evidence of research for your production

Key words: Annotation. Focus group, Questionnaire, distribution, budgets. Mark allocation.

Textual Investigation 1G

Learning objective: You will continue to write your Textual Investigation and receive feedback as you go. You will write about audiences.

Key terms: 
Gender of the main audience. Uses and Gratification theory. Stuart Hall's Response Theory.

You should by now have written an introductory paragraph and also begun a paragraph on audience for your first textual investigation which is based on genre.
(Your second TI will be on representation or narrative).

You should also research and discuss how the industry that your text is promoting shows how successful it has been.
Television programmes use ratings, websites use the amount of hits, films have box office numbers.

Task 1: 
Research and indicate in your textual investigation, how successful the text you are dealing with has been. You could include a bar chart or pie chart to illustrate this success.

Task 2:
You should research then discuss the gender of the main audience for that platform and genre.
For example, although there are a large group of female gamers, it is still the case that boys and men play games more than girls and women.

Task 3:
You should now apply some theory to your essay.
Think about how the text you are discussing is used by audiences.
Is it for reasons of escapism, information, personal identity or would people consume the text for social relationships?
This is Uses and Gratification theory as set out by Blulmer and Katz.

Task 4:
You should briefly discuss Stuart Hall's Response Theory.
An audience is active (rather than passive) and will respond to a text in a particular way.
Stuart Hall said that there are three responses an audience might have.
Preferred, negotiated or oppositional.
An audience might have an oppositional reading for example, if they have had a personal experience of something and they don't like the way that thing has been represented.
Maybe the characters on a print based text don't look believable, perhaps experience tells that certain characters wouldn't look or behave that way from experience.

The main thing for you to remember about Stuart Hall's theory is that the audience must understand say, the ideology within the text, if they are to agree or disagree with it.
Negotiated readers may not understand the text so cannot have a point of view or they could agree with some messages the text sends and disagree with other messages.

Task 5: Homework.
Write a paragraph in your orange books about how audiences could be preferred, negotiated or oppositional to the above text.
Consider, gender, age, visual/technical codes and other reasons for the audience response.

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GCSE Coursework Folders:

Your coursework needs to be kept organised.
Label the folders provided with the following sections using the dividers/labels provided.
WRITE NEATLY!

• Textual Investigation 1 [20 marks]
• Textual Investigation 2 [20 marks]
• Research  [10 marks]
• Planning  [10 marks]
• Production  [50 marks]
• Evaluation  [10 marks]

Put your name and GCSE 2016 on the side and the front.

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Learning objective: To continue with textual investigation 1 by writing a paragraph on the iconography in the text that you are dealing with. Also discuss other texts that challenge the conventions for the genre by using alternative iconography.

Key words: Deconstruction, significant meaning, denotation, connotation, semiology, 

Moving on from the paragraph about audiences, you need to discuss genre conventions and iconography of the text you are dealing with. You must show that you can recognise another text that conforms and a text that challenges conventions for the genre you are dealing with.

Year 10 GCSE Media Studies. June 15th 2015

Name______________________________________________ .

Title of textual investigation 1:

Year the text was created and who was it created by?

The Genre of text being investigated:

Iconography associated with the genre of the text; costumes, colours, stars, graphics, font styles.

Name of a text that you will compare your main subject with and that challenges the conventions for that genre;

Indicate how the text that you are investigating challenges the genre conventions through its iconography, consider;  costumes, colours, stars, graphics, font styles.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of another text that you will compare your main subject with that conforms to the conventions for that genre:

Indicate how the text that you are investigating conforms to the genre conventions through its iconography, consider;  costumes, colours, stars, graphics, font styles.

Write this up on your textual investigation using well constructed sentences (P.E.E.) and e-mai to Mr Ealey at the end of the lesson.

Controlled Assessment - Approaching Production

Learning Objective: 
To learn about the controlled assessment and to consider some examples of other students work.

Key words: 
Research, Planning, Production, Evaluation

Your GCSE coursework is made up of four elements:

• Research - 10 marks
• Planning - 10 marks
• Production - 50 marks
• Evaluation - 10 marks

Add to this the two textual investigations you will produce at 20 marks each and the coursework makes up a substantial 60% of your grade.

This is from WJEC the awarding body:

Audio and Audio-visual productions may be completed collaboratively by groups of up to four. Each individual must take a significant and definable role. Individuals must be primarily responsible for one of the following: camerawork or editing.

Look at the marking criteria for the production aspects of your coursework.

You should be aiming for level 3 or level 4.

Task 1: 

Using the handouts provided, grade the short films below and write and explanation as to why you have awarded the grade. The things you need to consider are:

• Genre conventions like iconography
• Technical codes
• Visual codes
• Representation
• Narrative

Prod 1

Prod 2

Prod 3

Prod 4

Prod 5

Submit your grades and comments to Mr Ealey at the end of the lesson.

Textual Investigation 1 F

Learning objective: To continue to write your Textual Investigation and receive feedback as you go.

Key words: NRS. Uses and Gratifications. Maslow.


You should by the end of this lesson, have made a start on your first textual investigation which is based on genre.


In the header of your TI you need to have:


Candidate name: (your name) GCSE Media Studies
Candidate number: (your number-leave blank if you don't know)
Centre name: De La Salle Academy.
Centre number: 34251


At the top of the first page you should have the title of your TI which you take from the list of three titles and includes the text you are investigating.
This should be in bold and underlined.


Insert page numbers at the bottom right of each page.


The first paragraph should introduce the text you are going to analyse, say when it was released, who is the production company, you could mention the main characters if it is a film.

**********************************************************

Audience for Textual Investigation 1

The exemplar work we looked at discussed audience.
You need to show that you know who the target audience are for the product your text is promoting.
Define the audience through
NRS categories
say why they are interested through Uses and gratifications theory
Say why they would consume that product using Maslow's hierarchy.
Use media language; is this a mass or niche audience?

The tasks you completed yesterday should help you to do the task below which can be included in your Textual Investigation.
Be specific, discuss the text you are dealing with in relation to the answers you put down on the handouts.


Task 1:
Write a paragraph on the audience for your TI (100 - 200 words)

Consider:
Who is the target audience for the text? Say why. NRS-U&GT.
Where would the promotional material be seen by the target audience?
What are the audience expectations of the text?
Do they expect it to be successful based on other productions distributed or including the actors involved.
How have the audience been targeted? Maslow.

This is also a homework task and needs to be submitted by email BEFORE Thursday's lesson.

Textual Investigation 1E

Learning Objective: 
   Consider the use of the rule of thirds by taking a portrait photograph

Create a plan for my textual investigation.       Begin work on my textual investigation and receive feedback.

Key Terms:  Layout and design, Rule of thirds, 

Layout and design: The decisions made by the producers of a print text about how the text will be constructed are very important in attracting an audience. The selection and the placing of images, the choice of typography and the use of colour are part of the layout and design, these contribute to the overall appeal of the text.

The rule of thirds is one compositional device that is used by designers.
It dictates the placement of the main focus of layout.
The guideline proposes that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections.
Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject.
This is often used in layouts by designers who will want to hold an audience's attention.

Task 1: 

Work in pairs and take two portrait photographs of your partner each. 

One which centralises an image, one which uses the rule of thirds.

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Camera shots and angles: These aspects are equally important in a print text as in an audio visual text.

Magazines may choose to present their cover model in a close up or long shot according to the message they want to convey to the reader. For example, a low angle shot of a character on the front cover of a film magazine may make them seem more intimidating or dominant.

Task 2: 

Work in pairs to take a high and a low angle photography portrait of your partner.

_______________________________________________________________________

Visual codes: Colour, expression, body language and costume all work together in the construction of an image. Be sure to write about these in your textual investigation.

Task 3:

Create a plan for your own textual investigation. A mind map or a structured list is fine.

Use the exemplar essay you were given last week as a guideline.

Work on this if you are waiting for a camera to complete the above tasks.

Textual Investigation 1D

Learning outcome: You will begin to plan and write your Textual Investigation.

Key terms: 

• Visual codes
• Language
• Technical codes
• Layout and design

You have now chosen a text to write about in your first textual investigation which is to do with genre.

The exam board provide you with titles from which you must choose and include the name of the text you will be investigating.

Here are the titles to choose from:

• Investigate how genre conventions are used in (your chosen texts)
• Investigate how far genre conventions are challenged in (your chosen texts)
• Investigate how far (your chosen texts) conform to genre conventions

Task 1: 

Create a word document named (your name) textual investigation 1.

Save this to a folder in your home area called GCSE media coursework.

Task 2: 

Choose a title from the above list and put it at the top of the document.

These are the texts you have chosen to investigate:

Charlie Kirk: The Walking Dead promotional poster

Albert Moyo: Public Enemies promotional poster

Jayson White: Metro 2033 promotional poster

Kieran Wright: The 100 Club promotional poster

Jordan Daniels: Battlefield 4 promotional poster

Joseph Lewin: Metro Last Light promotional poster

Conor Stirup: Grand Theft Auto V promotional poster

Joseph Groves: COD; Black Ops 3 promotional poster

______________________________________________________________

Approaching a textual investigation. Analysing a text.

Before you can decide if a text has conformed or challenged conventions you need to analyse it.

This why we have spend quite a bit of time choosing an appropriate text with plenty to write about.

Task 3: 

Discuss and take notes about the music magazine cover below; Kerrang.

There is a handout for this so don't copy everything here.

Visual codes:

The colour black and the style of leather clothing suggest glam metal music genre.

Black leather jackets also have connotations of rebellion.

The iconography of tattoos, piercings and make up also reinforces this.

The paper held by the lead singer has the reader's questions on it and links to the sub heading of ' the most controversial band in the universe answer your questions.

This also suggests that readers of the magazine have exclusive access to the band.

The facial expressions of the band are challenging and suggest an attitude. The raised chins convey arrogance.

The mode of address is direct and engages the audience.

the images on the free posters also use a direct mode of address.

Language

Hyperbole is used; the most controversial band in the universe and reinforces the band's representation.

The use of direct quotation encourages the reader to buy the magazine.

There is also subject specific lexis in that the names of the band will only be know to those familiar with the genre.

Technical codes

The eye level camera angle used for the main image of the band involves the audience.

Layout and design

There is a strong central image which also establishes a hierarchy within the band.

The layout of the text is unconventional - the head line is placed at an angle and there is a range of different fonts including a hand written style.

The font style of Kerrang is bold and assertive, this connotes a rebellious, non conformist magazine aimed at young people.

Task 4:

Read the example of a textual investigation that you have been given.

Task 5: 

Plan the structure for your own textual investigation.

Textual Investigation 1C

Learning outcomes: 
You will look at tips for completing your Textual Investigation.
Carry out a textual analysis in bullet points.

Key words: Media terminology. Comparison. Word limit.

You will shortly begin your first textual investigation.
This must be on a print based text.
You must choose a text that will offer you plenty to write about and choose at least one other text to compare it to.
One text should conform to genre conventions and at least one should challenge the conventions.
The maximum word limit is 850 words.

In preparation for this you must look at exemplar investigations which have scored highly

Task 1:
Read the investigation below which deals with a movie poster for the 1982 film Poltergeist.

The Film Title: Poltergeist 
Year of Release: 1982
Director: Steven Spielberg 
Production/finance company: Metro-Goldwyn Mayer
Principle Cast: JoBeth Williams, Heather O’Rourke, Craig T. Nelson
Film Origin/Info: Franchise, digitally restored version

The image is presented to us in low-key lighting and the only source of light is coming from the glow of the television, suggesting that this is the center of the action for the film ‘Poltergeist’. 

The poster does not give away much about the fiIm as we see only a television and a girl. The room is dull with plain walls and this connotes that the setting is insignificant – we must focus only on the subject and the television. 

In the midst of the dim and dark setting, a young blonde girl kneels in front of the television set. This non-verbal communication and the posture in which she is sitting would be considered unnatural for a child of her age, or anyone for that matter. Her hands are pressed onto the screen as if there is a connection between her and the television in such a way that she can not detach herself. This is unusual behaviour for a child as little girls would normally be perceived to pay more attention to stuffed toys and dolls - much like the teddy bear that has been laid on the floor next to her.  This particular prop reinforces that the child is normal -  or was normal – at one point as girls are commonly associated with being inseparable with their toys. Rather than that, this child seems disinterested in the toy and more fascinated or drawn to the television which would usually be associated with an adult or teenager.  

We see little detail in the costume choice however it the slippers suggest that she is in her pajamas meaning most of the action will occur at night. Darkness and night time are gothic features that are significant in most – if not all – horror films.  The costume also reinforces the fact that the main subject is a young child connoting innocence which draws the audience further as no child deserves to be harmed.

By arranging the poster in such a way that the main subject in the long shot is not facing us, the poster itself holds ambiguity and prepares us for the uncertainty we will experience when watching the film. 

The image is presented in a neutral view rather than a high or low angle and this could suggest that what happens to the young girl could happen to anyone, despite age, class or gender etc. As well as that it can connote that the subject is not particularly vulnerable nor is she strong thus making it all the more interesting. We are not looking down at the girl or looking up to her which could suggest that during the film we will be experiencing it from her point of view or seeing things through her eyes.  

The poster uses different shades of blue for illustration, and no other colour is present. The blue light takes over the entire image much like the television does. With blue we usually associate sadness or the cold and perhaps both are present in the film. As well as this, the colour eliminates violence and death as themes and sets itself out to be more of a sci-fi or psychological horror rather than slasher or splatter, making this very clear to on-lookers and following conventions of their chosen genre. 

The sans serif font used connotes a more modern feel to the film and reinforces the idea of science-fiction that may be present. The tagline reads, “It knows what scares you” in small capital letters and the pronoun used is ‘it’ rather than ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’. This reinforces the idea of sci-fi or even the monster-horror genre as well as increasing obscurity. There are no quotations or cast names which suggests that the director – Steven Spielberg – is hoping for the potential audience to focus on the plot itself as anything else would make it seem less real. Together, the minimalistic poster keeps the film a mystery as well as sparks interest in those who see it. 

Task two:
Work in pairs to analyse a (given) poster shown below.
Consider the codes and conventions and the connotations as set out above.

Textual Investigation 1B

First, a nice little animation to start us off.

Learning objective:
You will look at examples of high scoring textual investigations and their structure

Key terms:
Conventional; this means that the representation in the text is what is expected by the audience. For example the representation of the woman in horror films is as a victim.
Challenging; this means that the representation goes against the the recognised stereotypes.
Enigmas; these are mysteries or puzzles in the narrative that keep the audience interested.



All coursework inclyding textual investigations require you to include the following information on the front page:

• Your Name
• Your Candidate number
• Your Centre number: 34251
• Your Word count

Your title is in the form of a question and should be underlined.

Investigate how genre conventions are used in [your chosen texts]

Investigate how far genre conventions are challenged in [your chosen texts]

Investigate how far [your chosen texts] conform to genre conventions

You must write about one main text and compare it to at least one other.

Use media terminology throughout; 

For example; connotations, implies, visual codes, technical codes, audio, iconography, pace of editing, target audience (very important),

Your conclusion should discuss whether the main text conforms to or challenges the recognised genre conventions for the target audience.

Use illustrations to support your point.

If you are having trouble staying within the word limit you should annotate an image which will cut down the amount of words you will use.

Task 1: Create a mind map using colours that is similar to the one below.

The branches of your mind map should include the aspects of your textual investigation on genre that have been explained. the centre should contain the main text you are investigating.

•  
• Characters
• Setting and iconography
• Technical codes
• Narrative
• Text for comparison.
• Narrative theory
• Audience
• Conclusion

Textual Investigation 1A

Learning Objective: To work on key points for your textual investigation on genre.

Key words: 400-850 words. Genre. 

For your first textual investigation, you will choose one main (print based) text and refer to one or two others for comparison.

Use the following to help you plan your work.

Introduction

Explain what you expect to see (the conventions) in a text of the format and genre you have chosen.
This could be a CD cover, promotional poster, magazine cover etc.
Explain why these conventions are expected to appeal to a target audience.
Think about:
Characters
Setting and iconography
Narrative

Discuss which main text you will use and which other texts you will refer to (these should be contrasting).

You will need to answer the question from your title, for example;
Investigate how far (your chosen text) conform to genre conventions.

Now comment on
Characters - are they what we expect to see in the genre or are they different?
Compare how the character has been represented with another character from the same genre.

Setting and iconography - How do we know we are watching this genre?
What examples of settings, props, costume etc., are there to suggest the genre? Can you briefly compare your text with one from another genre?
Include an image and annotate it.

Technical codes - give examples of any shot types, angles, lighting techniques and say what the effect of them is on the audience in relation to genre.

Narrative - Explain what is happening in the text, is this conventional for the genre?
Try not to describe the story but explain how the conventions fit into the narrative.
Briefly compare to another text from the same genre.
Can you apply Todorov's theory of equilibrium?
Are there any Proppian characters to consider?

Audience - How do the genre conventions appeal to an audience? Is it a mainstream or a niche audience? What is the age group? Demographic, psychographic?

Conclusion

Answer your initial question. How far does the main text you are investigating conform to genre conventions? Is it similar to other texts of the same genre or does it use a different approach?
Support what you say by comparing it briefly with the other texts you mentioned.

Success criteria:

To gain a level 3 or 4 you need to show that you;
have explored the way in which your texts conform to or challenge genre conventions in detail.
Show awareness of how the audience can be attracted to the text because of its typical genre conventions.
Refer to more than one text.
Used media vocabulary in your investigation.
Written communication must be of excellent quality, spelling, grammar, punctuation.

Task 1:
In your orange books, list the following and write a sentence about how each has been used in your chosen text.
Consider if they conform to the usual conventions.

• Characters.
• Visual codes.
• Setting.
• Iconography.
• Technical codes.
• Narrative that is evident.
• Target audience and audience appeal.

Task 2: 

Read the example of a textual investigation shown below. (This is on representation not genre)

Approaching Textual Investigation 1

Learning objective: To work on choosing a title and a format for your Textual Investigation.

Key words: Controlled assessment. Illustrated essay. Challenged. Conventional points of view.

Controlled assessment
This is the work that you do in class that then counts towards your final GCSE grade. The assessments are controlled in that you must complete them in class under the supervision of your teacher. They are also controlled by the WJEC, the awarding body, as they set titles from which you must choose.

Illustrated essay
This is a written piece of work that includes images. For example, if the topic of your investigation is a film trailer, then you may include some screen shots to make your point clearer.

Challenged
In this question the expectation is that you will be investigating a media text that shows a different representation or set of genre conventions from the usual ones. For example a music video that shows a more realistic example of a young woman or a narrative that is not a simple linear structure.

Conventional points of view
This means that the representation in the text is what is expected by the audience. For example the representation of women in horror films is as a victim.

Textual investigations are a part of the controlled assessment element of your GCSE course.
You must include two Textual investigations in your final assessment file.
The textual investigations are worth 20 marks each. Usually you will complete these at the end of a topic.

These are the rules you must follow in completing Textual investigations.

• One must be print based.
• Neither textual investigation can be based on the topic you have chosen for your production piece.
• One textual investigation may be based on the examination topic, film posters or film trailers in your case.
• The two investigations must be on different topics and media forms.
• One textual investigation must be on genre.
• One must be based on narrative or representation.
• In your investigation you should refer to one main text but also refer to examples of other texts.
• Your investigation must be between 400 and 850 words.

Textual investigation titles:

(You must choose one of these titles with the name of your chosen text inserted)

• Investigate how genre conventions are used in [your chosen texts]
• Investigate how far genre conventions are challenged in [your chosen texts]
• Investigate how far [your chosen texts] conform to genre conventions

When you are writing about genre in a text, you should consider the following:

Visual codes - Costume, facial expression, colour, body language, graphics.

Technical codes - Framing, editing, lighting sound. (All these won't be applicable to print based texts. 

Iconography, settings, mode of address.

Tips for completing your textual investigation:

• Choose texts that give you enough to write about. The suggestion is that you have one main text and refer to others in your investigation.
• Show your media knowledge of the topic area.It should be clear to the moderator that you have sat in a media studies lesson!
• Use media terminology. This means including vocabulary linked to the texts you are investigating, magazine covers for example; masthead, cover lines, mode of address.
• If you are investigating longer texts, you cannot discuss the whole programme within the word allocation. You must select key scenes or you may want to concentrate your investigation on the opening sequence and another key scene.
• If you are having trouble staying within the word limit, you may annotate an image instead of writing a paragraph it. This will cut down your word count.
• Plan your work before you start writing. Complete a rough draft and act on feedback from the teacher.

Task 1: 

Read the textual investigation linked here on the film poster for Pirates of the Caribbean.

Before the end of the lesson, submit 1 paragraph on three print based suggestions for your own textual investigation.  This can be a film poster if you choose.
You need to consider if the text challenges or conforms to genre conventions and if there are visual and technical codes for you to write about.

Regulation and Control 3

• You will create a presentation on your findings around regulation of children’s film promotion.

Key words: Protection, regulation, digital age, censorship.

Regulation and Control 2

• You will create a presentation on your findings around regulation.

Key words: Protection, regulation, digital age.

Regulation and Control 1

• You will investigate debates around regulation of media texts.

Key words: Protection, regulation.

Media Organisations. Regulation.

• You will find out which regulatory body is responsible for controlling film posters. You will deliver a Ppt on your key findings.

Key Terms: Regulation. Ofcom, ASA, BBFC.

Media Organisations 2

• You will look at how certain Celebrities have been chosen to star in certain films and produce your own celebrity endorsed film.
• Key Terms: Convergance. Endorsement.

Media Organisations 1

• Learning Objective: To study competition for audiences and how organisations try to attract new audiences.

Key words: Organisations, Marketing. Media effects theory.

26 Film Posters and Audience 3

• You will study how certain audiences are attracted to films that have won awards.
• Key words: Awards, ratings, dates, extra info, blockbuster.

26 Film Posters and Audience 2

• You will study how the established publications’ reviews of films are used to attract certain audiences.
• Key words: Quotes, recommendations, ratings.