Well Done to Mac 1!

Well done to Millie, Mollie, Heather and Yasemin (and Yasemin's dad) - you finally got your last day's filming shot.

And congrats to you for being my first ever group for having "Can you stop filming please, this is is a private residence" being shouted at you... Infamy indeed.

Lots of pics on Millie's blog, also some great archive footage on Heather's - can't wait to see it edited and slotted into your final film.

42 days to go, people!

Well Done to Mac 4!

Excellent stuff from Alice and Vali - they've got an (almost) completed first draft done - have a look on Alice's blog.. loads of transitions and obviously the titles to do but am so pleased they've got the foundations/bulk of it captured.

How's everyone else getting on?

Mac 1 - you still on for filming tomorrow??

Individual Blogs - Half Term Work

Just realised not going to see you before we break up for half term - stupidly assumed we had Friday's lesson...

SO, at some point tomorrow, do all try and pop in to see me to discuss your blogs and group filming/editing plans for the holiday. I'm only busy 3&4 - all other time I'll be in there working away so any distraction will be a welcome relief.

You don't need to come alone, you can come as a group if you like.. that'd probably be better actually so everyone knows and understands what they need to be doing.

Just so you know, you've got 49 days left to finalize your films.

Here's my favourite advert of the moment - love the choice of shots and the use of panning:

Great Post on Pete's Blog

I know you all read Pete's blog religiously, (like I do), but just in case you haven't seen it in a while, here's a really good post from him recently, about WHY you should study Media Studies at A level (click here for the direct link):

Also, there're a couple of posts above this one, on the more controversial topics of the recent sexism Andy Gray/Richard Keys fiasco on Sky Sports and the Top Gear racism Mexico episode - it does make very good reading, so make sure you're caught up with his blog.

"WHAT'S THE POINT OF MEDIA EDUCATION?

Every now and again, usually at 'A' level results time, you get media coverage attacking the subject of Media Studies. David Buckingham's excellent presentation from the Media Magazine conference gives an overview of these attacks and offers some strong rebuttals of them. It happens at all levels, though, with people arguing that students shouldn't be 'wasting their time' with the media but should be learning to read and write and add up, whether it be children in primary schools, English in KS3 (last year's story about a school teaching about The Simpsons), at GCSE and A level ('dumbing down' when you supposedly should be doing Science and Languages) and even at university (where supposedly graduates in Media are heading for jobs in fast food outlets and nothing better).

Often Media teachers are put on the back foot trying to defend the subject from these attacks. A new project, which I am jointly co-ordinating with Jon Wardle from Bournemouth University, seeks to offer the opportunity to set out an agenda for studying the media, by asking a range of academics, teachers and others to write their own 'manifesto for media education'. We already have contributions, among others, from Henry Jenkins, David Buckingham and David Gauntlett and are adding more every week. We are keen to add the views of students, either as comments on the articles already there, or as full pieces, if you want to write one. We already have one video contribution from students which we will be adding to the site shortly, so if you'd rather make a video about your reasons for studying the media, that would be fine too!

Anyway, check it out, read the articles and see if you are inspired to respond- all welcome!"

http://www.manifestoformediaeducation.co.uk/

Aaaand, it's back!

A lesson in why you really shouldn't leave your mac logged on... I didn't even need to log myself in as you!

Mac 4 - Apologies

Alice and Vali, am so sorry didn't make it up there this lunchtime - got talking with the Head about exams.

Let me know when you're next there - comment on my blog and then I'll be straight up - or leave it till Fri? Is up to you.. Am filming with Mac 2 group tomorrow after school so could spare 5mins then??

Congrats to Mac 4 (Alice and Vali)

Excellent day's filming from you two - Alice's blog has some good archive pics (although Marge looks really cold!)

I hope you got some great footage and the wind wasn't too loud - was thinking of you both today, am so glad it finally came off for you and Marge needs a thank-you present of some kind!

Keep me posted about your editing and make sure you do try and focus on a particular theme that may have sprung to light as Marge was talking.

Monday's Lesson

Alas, again, won't be in tomorrow's lesson - will be in my office building next year's whole school timetable (has to be tomorrow morning as that's when the consultant's in).

Sorry about this, totally forgot to tell you all on Friday (too much sugar).

However, the save is, you've all got PLENTY to be getting on with, even if you haven't got any editing to do as such:

Blogging - lots of your blogs are still pretty basic - your labels need to be clearly signposted down the side and assigned to EVERY post. Have a look at our A2 blogs when they were in Y12 last year - use my last year's blog (link is on this one) to see theirs..

Research - for your logos, production co's, BBFC certification of your film etc

Questionnaires - only one been done (that I've seen) - Nada's finished hers in prezi format..

Editing Archive

A short clip of you all working away in your groups.. no YouTube vids playing, no music blaring out..

If You're Going to Make a Vid..

Boo to Lucy, Mollie and Natasha - can't believe you've taken it down!

Oh well, will just upload it to our YouTube account on Monday morning when I get in to work..

Mac 2 - Are You Whole Again?

So, just got in to work early, to upload the little bit of flip archiving that I did for Mac 2 last night... and found this in their iMovie projects..

Am assuming you're practising for A2??

Little bit of advice: YOU WON'T BE ON THE A2 COURSE IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR BLOODY AS GRADE!!

I can't believe the efforts and time gone into this music vid.. when your AS group work isn't even SHOT yet!

SEE ME about this. Mollie, you're okay, your AS group's actually got a film opening.. it's Lucy and Natasha that are in trouble.

Mollie: - why do you look like Mary?

Natasha: - Really??

Such passion in those faces..!

Lucy: - CRAWLING SEDUCTIVELY across the desks in 08????

Here's the whole vid for everyone... and someone tell Jade and Azra they're crap as backing extras.

Logos For Your Production Co..

Because some of us have WAY too much time on their glandy hands, this website has been brought to light and stolen by me - for you:

The Stories Behind Hollywood Logos

It's brilliant for your research and for possible ideas behind your (future) creations.

iMac 6 on Big Screen

Ha har!

Now we can use Smartboard to show mac stuff.. Excellent, can't wait to see what your projects look like on there..

Mac 2 - Little idea..

I know I said I wouldn't interfere, but have just finished watching In Bruges and thought the opening was outstandingly simple - and great to use as inspiration!!

Click on the pic for the opening offof YouTube (they disabled the embed code):

The dark shots combined with the pithy voiceover - I think is really doable with the ideas you've got of using bits of upper school corridors at nighttime..

Not in today - v poorly *cough*

Am so sorry but won't be in the lesson today.

Been ill all weekend with bad throat and glands (am thinking Millie and Lana are to blame).

So please do carry on with your editing/filming/arguing/watching YouTube clips/playing music vids v loud...

Actually, it'll be good for you as groups to have some time in there together without me nagging you - realise have been doing that a lot lately and maybe need to just let you all get on with it.

Will spend the day teaching myself more about FCE - if my eyes'll stop burning.

Do comment if there's anything you need my ill help with - will reply immediately as am bored of being in bed for a 3rd consecutive day.

GOT to be this film for our Media trip...

Think have found THE one... is out on Feb 25th... what do you think - scary enough?

Is all in Hopkins' eyes.. they've always scared the crap out of me...

FCE - Good Starting Tutorial

Have been searching for the best ones - there are some real crappy ones! Here's a good one to start with:

Final Cut Pro - Now Final Cut Express!!

Right, so as you all probably know, we've only got the one licence for Final Cut Pro so that is now installed on Mac 6 and available for your group to use once you've done ALL you can in iMovie and still need more enhancing effects etc - in that case, we'll simply copy across your finalised project and then use FCP as the final FINAL editing process.

However, in the meantime, Final Cut Express has finally arrived in school and we'll be installing it onto ALL of the macs tonight. This icon'll appear next to your iMovie icon...

It's is a less pro version of FCP but still fantastic and can do more than in iMovie - enough for what you lot want it for anyway (split screening, blogging effects of Angel Dust etc).

There are loads of tutorials available on YouTube, Apple etc.. Here's the official page off Apple:

http://www.apple.com/uk/finalcutexpress/tutorials/

where there're 17 section by section vid tutorials - you ALL need to have watched them by the time you waste any efforts simply bumbling around it, trying to create stuff by chance.

FCP Update

Final Cut Pro is now installed on Mac 6 - it's my iMac so any group can use it when they're ready. You'll all have Final Cut Express (FCE) on your macs imminently.

Have put the icon in the dashboard for you. It looks like this:

Have fun! Whatever you learn about it, you have to teach me...

Only use it for stuff you can't do in Express or iMovie.

GREAT News for Mac 3!!

Joely, Beste, Lana - got a reply from Pete!!

Don't know if you can read this - give me your email address and I'll forward it on so you can all archive it onto your blogs - but basically, it's going on my cover sheet (as he advises) to let the moderator know it's been 'okayed'.

Yaay!