Media Studies Islay

Just a few pointers regarding your Media Production Unit. It’s great to see so many of you engaging with this aspect of the course and use your creativity and research skills to their potential. Am also pleased to see groups discussing the obstacles that they have encountered so far and that you are making tracks to overcome these - remember that everyone has a voice and you must listen to them!

Keep up the great work!

Your Brief:

Create an opening sequence to a film in the genre of thriller between 3 and 5 minutes.

• medium (film)
• purpose (entertainment)
• form (opening sequence)
• genre (thriller)
• target audience (teenagers 15 -19. ALSO remember that these videos will be put on my Vimeo page where parents, teachers, and general members of the public will be able to view them)
• length (no less than 3 minutes, no more than 5)
• deadline (end of March 2010)
• internal controls (eg group size, available resources, weather, locations, access to information)
• external controls (eg legal, regulatory and/or market controls). This is not really applicable for this production, but do think about organisations like the BBFC.

What I am looking for:

An effective opening which establishes the central narrative.

Continuity editing

Mise-en-scene that relates to the whole film (eg a character’s clothing, props, makeup)

Lighting

Effective and appropriate use of music

Use of thriller conventions (eg an enigma), especially film noir.

Good communication and negotiation skills

Use of technical terms

This blog will be used to keep pupils updated on task developments throughout their Media Studies course at Intermediate One and Intermediate Two levels.

There will also be links to blogs created by pupils in relation to the Media Production Unit of the course.