Representations in Media

There's an EXCELLENT post on Pete's blog about representations of GENDER in media..

http://petesmediablog.blogspot.com/

It's all about the Ronnie/Kat saga in Eastenders and how both female characters have been portrayed. Also, there's a brilliant critique of Come Fly With Me, obviously discussing the issue of ETHNICITY in the media.

Have a read, post some of it onto your blog, but remember to acknowledge it - treat it like a quotation.

Sent from my iPad

New iMacs Update

SO, now we have the all-singing all-dancing new iMacs, and all our Y12 projects and events have been shifted over from the white ones (which will all be completely wiped by Friday and therefore a lot quicker and freed up to use to blog, go online with etc).

All of your filming FROM NOW ON must therefore be uploaded STRAIGHT to your iMac - there's a black firewire adaptor at the back of them all and they must STAY CONNECTED AT ALL TIMES - you simply plug in your beige firewire cable into the black adaptor and you can upload from the Sony cameras to the iMacs without having to go through the white macs.

Leave the adaptor plugged into the back.

The Y13 work is moving over this week - is taking longer as they've got more.

However, thanks to Andrea and Charlotte's odd problem of some of their events going missing, Ms Poulten and I have decided to give EVERY group their own password - it is totally independent to your group so DO NOT DIVULGE IT TO ANYONE. They are all available from me - put them into your phones and keep them safe - there's one for your white mac and a different one for your new iMac.

And remember to always log off.

So now, if any of your stuff DOES go missing, the only possible reason for this is that you hadn't logged off and someone's come on and messed about with your iMovie stuff or that you've shared your passwords and you're an idiot.

However, having said all that, the iMacs can't be used at the moment as am installing Final Cut Pro onto them all - something that takes ONE day PER mac.. completed iMac 6 today, will get another one done tomorrow.

SO, be patient, we'll be there soon - in the meantime, there are hundreds of tutorials on YouTube for using FCP - as I said on Monday, you need to be self-teaching, asap!

Post re/ Certificate of your films and researching independent film companies to follow...

Sent from my iPad

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

I know it's probably going to detract you from your AS construction, but have you seen this music vid?

The concept of the glasses of water when the bass starts, the slow panning up and over and the blended shots of the plates being smashed.. even the random ninja person dancing in flour!!!

Something to think about for next year, but also, the really slow pace of the opening shots, I think, are perfect illustrations of what you're after for your films you're doing now.

Today's lesson - Exchanged with Ss

Because you all sold your souls to the devil on Friday and had 7&8 to do editing/group decision/chatting etc AS WELL as my lesson, the deal was that Mr Saunders could have my Monday lesson, 1&2.
So here it is: someone scroll down to the ppt, click to full screen and be in charge of 'mouse' - then with with each screen,conduct a polite, calm and insightful discussion. I'll be up as soon as I've started the Maths exam...

Representations of Disability

View more presentations from jfoster10.

No money in the Buy-Joely-a-laptop-fund, am afraid...

Erm, no, Joely, I won't buy you a mac..

Although they are such a thing of beauty! Am typing this on my iPad that now has it's own keyboard!! Is fab!

And before you all start shrieking, 'A keyboard and an iPad?? What's the point, why don't you just get a macbook??' - it's the synergy of both touchscreen and typing for a length of time.. and it looks good.

So, net book and charger'll be ready for you on Monday.

Happy New Year!!

New year, new start - need you all fresh and motivated!!

Not much blogging going on from you lot over xmas - bit disappointing but hey ho, you all need to get stuck back into your RESEARCH (blogs) and CONSTRUCTION (filming).

Really no excuses any more - you've got the ideas, all got flips, phones etc - no reason at all any more as to why you're being lazy and not moving forward. As it stands, quite a few of you are barely a Level 2 for your blogs...

And don't forget, the Sony cameras and big tripods will all be available as of Monday 17th Jan.

In the meantime, here's a latest vid from our A2 lot - don't focus on the song or actual music vid (save that for your summer hols/transition into A2) - it's at about 1:19 that they've managed to crack a brilliant 'dolly' shot.. am guessing with a shopping trolley?? Need one of you to ask them if you see them...

Possible Trip to the Cinema??

Is this the movie we've been waiting for??

Final Week of Work Before Xmas..

Whilst perusing the OCR website, found Pete's official OCR blog for the exam board:

http://getaheadocrmedia.blogspot.com/

Have added it as a useful link on the right hand side (as should you all, along with the Title Sequence site and Pete's own personal blog).

That poor ChrisAdamsChrisAdams, if you look at what's considered to be a Level 1 Video blog, is his!! Feel tad sorry for him now...

If you read the actual blog though, it's a fantastic working log of all the questions you/I ask so please make sure you've all had a thorough read of it by the time we get back after xmas.

Mac 3 - Have emailed Pete to ask about using the copyrighted track you wanted.. we await his reply!!

Great Idea for Mac 2!!

Here's the link for my latest idea for you lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w9QYDmV3MU

I think it ties in with the original typewriting/letter writing idea we had when we had that brainstorming thingy in my office..

All you need is some fantastic writing (for a voiceover) and a bit of confidence..

We'll discuss on Friday and see what the rest of the class say.

Joely's group - am still working on yours... bear with me.

Hurtwood House Media Films..

Have a look at this school's website - especially the fees for being educated there: £11,000 PER TERM!!! That's £33,000 a year!! No WONDER they've got all the latest gear and gadgets..

Told you it was a public school... and they weren't adults - they were paid actors...

Updates from Course..

Like 'Pete' said, steal from everywhere...

and here're the links: Pete's blog and The Art of the Title Sequence

'Catch Me If You Can

I really liked watching this opening sequence, and I can see how it would benefit you lot seeing how graphics were put together - however, not sure if you can glean anything else from it as we've got nothing LIKE the software to produce something like this. Oh, well - nice to look at.

'Dawn of the Dead'

As discussed in class, I thought this was best for the layers of sounds (as most of your agreed with) - and the

Johnny Cash soundtrack coming in somewhat inappropriately (until you hear the lyrics talking about death riding in on a white horse) - again, not really useful as we can't use a song like that but in terms of a story being set up, brilliant and scary.

'Napolean Dynamite'

Thought this was VERY much up all of your streets, even though the genre's only really suited to Mac 3 & 4 groups.. easily doable, easily shootable and very creative. Love it.

Remember what I said on Friday - eventually, I want to see this kind of formatted set of printscreen shots for all of your films.. guess it'll be one of the last things you'll do, but it'd be great to see if you could pull one off for one of your other practice films you've made??

Nice bit of filming/editing from Heather.. now the official archivist of the class!!

Course is still on..

As far as I'm aware at 6:22am, school's still open so we're still going on the course in town..

As soon as I hear anything, will update but if not, see you all at 8:50am.

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!