Media Trip/Course at BFI, Southbank

Course is on Thur 2nd Dec - I want everyone to meet at 8:50am (Mollie, I'm holding you responsible for getting Millie there on time...) under the covered walkway outside the hall.

We're getting the 9:30ish train from Enfield Town.

The course finishes at 3:30pm so we should be back at Enfield Town station at around 4:15pm.

There'll be you lot, myself and Mrs Routledge going - I have to get back for Y9 Parents Eve so I'll be leaving at around 2:30 - Mrs R'll be bringing you back.

Lunch IS NOT provided, so make sure you bring some - also, you can't record anything once inside the BFI, so no flips, phones etc to be used for recording.

Here's the website for where we're going: http://www.bfi.org.uk/

And well done to Lana and Mollie who paid their £5 today - all paid now - yay.

Harry Potter Trailer - Media'd!

Am so sorry Millie - stole your trailer - but had to, was weeping with laughter at this..

Wasted trip to CLC?!?

Apologies to the whole class - I had no idea it'd be that basic...

It's such an amazing suite of resources, with all the fab macs and stuff, but to try and get any sort of serious training arranged with the staff that work there is virtually impossible.

So sorry about that - will arrange for some Y13s to do a Garageband lesson - will be FAR more valuable..

Here's a very short archive vid for you all - sorry Nada - but you shouldn't've been texting!!

THE SNORRICAM!!!

Have been tinkering with this idea for a while now - but it's only ever been just that.. an idea..

Now, however, I think that some of you could really utilise the SNORRICAM!

As you can see, it's basically a camera attached to the protagonist of your shot - and I must admit, ever since I saw The Hangover, (the wake-up scene 1:29 to 1:38 - see URL below - they disabled the embed code), I've been intrigued as to how you could create this shot...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlrqaAjBwS4

And I really think we can make one, here at ECS!!! What do you think?? I mean, I can see a use for it in ALL of the groups..

Sure, it looks a bit complicated to build, but with your practice techniques, am confident you could knock up some kind of harness and attach the flip, no problem!!

Here's a brilliant example of how it could be used:

I'm not for one second suggesting we all start chopping wood up and measuring 'elbows' - but I'll bring in some gaffer tape tomorrow and see what you all think..

I also want you all to start thinking of ingenious ways to create a panning shot - as no one's really bothered with that so far - but with the use of toy cars, skateboards, shopping trolleys - and now you've all got the ever so mobile flip cameras.. think you could all have a go at enhancing your films somewhat...

There are LOADS of test films for flips, other cameras on Youtube.. far too many for me to put on here - do have a look, will be well worth it.

Dr Who 'Rose' Mock Paper

Well done to you all for having a go at the exam practice paper this morning.. was v proud of you all scribbling away - did think that I may have had a mutiny on my hands at the start, but no, you all produced some sort of response.

Message to:

Valentina, Lana, Mollie and Millie

YOU HAVEN'T PAID YOUR £5 OR BROUGHT YOUR SLIP BACK YET FOR THE BFI COURSE!!!

Please do so asap.. give it either to me or the office.

Se7en

Thank you again, as a group, for watching that film together so attentively..

I feel a cinema trip coming on - just got to wait for the right/scary film!!

And Joely, I've watched Se7en loads of times, but I've never thought that Mills is arrested at the end - in my naivety, always thought they were just giving him a lift home.

Always learning, see?

ECS Media Studies AS - Example questionnaire

This is the next bit of research that you need to have completed for your coursework/production. Obviously, in an ideal world and if we had 3 years to complete this project, then some kind of market research is the first thing you needed to have done.

However, we've got 6 months and you've only got the cameras for that 4 week window (that's finishing on Monday 15 Nov don't forget).

So, what you've got to do, as an INDIVIDUAL, not as a group, is a questionnaire.

This is to get a grasp of current audience demand, demographics, contemporary topics of films, that kind of thing. Above is an example questionnaire that you can tinker with, edit and then produce in order to get your own feedback.

It's up to you how you distribute your questionnaire - some people have done this via plain old hard copy, email, facebook, twitter.. whatever, it doesn't matter. What matters are the responses and how you then format them ONTO YOUR BLOG in order to justify certain decisions you've made as a group in your filming.

The examiner will need to see these research results on your blog so make sure it's clearly presented and labelled.

Mac 3 - Prelim Ex

Lady Ga Ga would be proud.. love the dramatic opening!