PLAN OFPLAN OF ATTACK:ATTACK:

BLOG CHECKLISTBLOG CHECKLISTThis is a complement to the asmediafilmopening.blogspot.com blog. I’ll set out here a range of key steps & suggested factors to research & blog on

THE BRIEF:Preliminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source.

BASIC MARKS BREAKDOWN:RESEARCH & PLANNING 20%PRODUCTION 60%EVALUATION 20%

More detail on this is provided shortly, though you each already have handouts detailing this.

MARKSCHEME:All three aspects are assessed as one of:

Mark out of: 60 20

MINIMAL 0-23 0-7

BASIC 24-35 8-11

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(yes, that is the Czech Republic and composer Franz Liszt…)

Can you plot a course to scintillating cinema; movie magnificence?

Below, I’ve summed up what type of topics to blog on to get marks for each R+P criteria. There then follows a long list of specific possible posts + blog gadgets. Use this as a tool for planning and delegating blogging work, updating as you go.Remember to look out for my comments on posts: always publish these once you’ve taken action on the points raised.

The R+P and Eval are very closely linked; if your blogging has been thorough, the Eval is a relatively easy review of

PROFICIENT 36-47 12-15

EXCELLENT 48-60 16-20

RESEARCH & PLANNING

To hit ‘excellent’ (16-20 marks) requires meeting the following:There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience.

There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.

There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.

There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and planning

Time management is excellent.

N

AS: INDIVIDUAL/GROUP COURSEWORK 2-DO LISTGROUP:

I’ve summed up the issues that always recur at asmediafilmopening.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/blog-gadgetslayoutpositioning-pics.html

Make use of my blog to help you maximise your marks – remember, 40% of marks are for R+P/Eval. Plan ahead for the Eval: build up notes/links/folders of screenshots (etc) for each of the 7 Qs as you go.

Try to use semiotic terms, precise media language, and any terms or examples from either exam section as you blog; this will help with your exam learning, and make much of this less abstract!

When sharing posts, put the student’s initials at the start of the post title (or ALL if it is a joint effort) – unless YOU created the post. Make sure post titles are clear and descriptive. Never post a video/audio without some explanation of what it is, and

what it contains. Create/update links lists as you go.Research into similar products

TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHENDONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

IN A NUTSHELL: Research/summarize the codes/conventions of the format (feature film opening) then, separately, the genre you’re working in. It’s vital you explicitly show how you’re applying this research: eg, when posting on an idea update, or costume design, mention a detail that has influenced you and provide a screenshot/clip. Adding hyperlinks to past post/s where you raised this example is a good idea too. Much of this work will be re-usable in Eval Q1; it’s very significant marks wise!

The list below contains both essential and suggested posts.

INITIAL EXPECTATIONS OF FILM OPENINGS [before researching, what do you THINK these include?]

ANALYSIS OF PAST COURSEWORK FILMS [always useful to understand the task, marking + expectations]

I’ve set out layout expectations, see Opening analyses post, which also lists many of the themes or elements you should blog on. Basically, you are compiling a dossier of evidence of what film-makers do within film openings; to argue that something is a convention you need examples. Don’t just ignore counter-examples which go against the norm – these might help you justify your own unconventional choices. That’s key to this whole process: you are expected to thoroughly examine how existing films work their openings, what techniques and media language are used, and then to justify your own choices (Evaluation) with clear,

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specific reference to existing examples.

OPENING EG1: TITLE, YEAR

OPENING EG2: TITLE, YEAR

OPENING EG3: TITLE, YEAR

OPENING EG4: TITLE, YEAR

OPENING EG5: TITLE, YEAR

OPENING EG6: TITLE, YEAR

OPENING EG7: TITLE, YEAR

OPENING EG8: TITLE, YEAR

If you’ve picked out just one or two aspects of an opening which you think might be significant or helpful, you might want to combine a few into a single post. But still try to include basic contextual detail: director, year; hyperlinks; budget, box office, distributor – this helps too with Eval Q3.

The following are listed as vodcasts, and would be best in this form – you’ll find these will help when putting together videos for your Evaluations. You might well combine these, but think carefully: make it easy to find information for your own sake and make it easy to see what work has been done (for the examiner/me!) so you get credit for it. Links lists are incredibly important for this!

VODCAST: TITLES (be very specific with examples: the number seen, exact language etc. Use artofthetitle.com)

VODCAST: NARRATIVE CONVENTIONS [include analysis of the length of openings, as well as Todorov, Propp etc]

VODCAST: USE OF MUSIC

VODCAST: THE OPENING SHOT

VODCAST: EDITING, SHOT VARIETY

VODCAST: MISE-EN-SCENE + LOCATIONS [perhaps not for general research, but key for genre examples]

SUMMARY: GENERAL CONVENTIONS OF FILM OPENINGS [it’s vital to keep adding summaries of your findings on each topic or theme as you go; as vodcast or list post]

PITCH RESEARCH [you can split this up into several posts, probably focussing on a small number of films which yours is comparable to]

Moving from general to genre research: Once you’ve established what some of the key conventions for film openings are across a range of genres, now it’s time to look at openings specifically from your genre. Some of your earlier examples will probably be relevant here; you could re-post these but adding at least one new sub-heading if so: ‘GENRE SIGNIFIERS’, but also

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‘POSSIBLE INFLUENCES/INTERTEXTUAL REFERENCES’

GENRE EG1: TITLE, YEAR [keep using layout conventions as before, with clear sub-headings + terminology in bold, pink; hyperlinks in bold etc. Be selective with what you note, but do build up multiple egs of any convention – and counter-examples which go against convention. All of this will help you justify your choices (Evaluation)]

GENRE EG2: TITLE, YEAR

GENRE EG3: TITLE, YEAR

GENRE EG4: TITLE, YEAR

GENRE EG5: TITLE, YEAR

GENRE EG6: TITLE, YEAR

GENRE EG7: TITLE, YEAR

As with general (format) examples, if you’ve picked out just one or two aspects of an opening which you think might be significant or helpful, you might want to combine a few into a single post. But still try to include basic contextual detail: director, year; hyperlinks; budget, box office, distributor – this helps too with Eval Q3.

Rather than copy/paste others’ posts on this, you could do your own summary of their posts, picking out what you consider the most pertinent/useful details/screenshots – groups tend to make minimal use of each others’ research, missing out on good ideas or useful influences/reference points as a result. The wider your frame of reference for the Evaluation, which is individual not group work, the better.SUMMARY VODCASTS: As before, if you spend the time now on vodcasts, these are ready-made sections for your Eval videos. With every major topic, take time to summarise. Keep looking for what, if anything, makes this genre distinctive in its approach – are the conventions just the same as you observed when looking at general examples? This also impacts Product marks (‘shooting material appropriate for the task set’)

VODCAST: GENRE HISTORY, AUDIENCE + CONVENTIONS [a lot there so you could split this up; you could cover locations, shot types, mise-en-scene + more in this]

VODCAST: SOUND + EDITING STYLE GUIDE [if you haven’t already covered these points, reflect on use of sound but also editing approaches: SFX, transitions? Long and/or short takes? Ellipsis? Audio bridge? Try to speculate on your early intentions for YOUR editing style]

VODCAST: TITLES [very important that this is specifically analysed: be very specific!!!]

VODCAST: INFLUENCES, INTERTEXTUALITY + RELATIONSHIP TO GENRE [extremely important] [this is also listed under ORGANISATION further down; make it very clear how your research is influencing your ideas and thinking]

DIRECTOR CASE STUDY: [NAME] [ie, look at sev egs of 1 dir’s work, sum up their style – a useful option if there is a clear influence]

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VODCAST: [NAME]’S STYLE

No matter how late on, and no matter how brief the post, keep adding clear posts on any fresh examples you’ve looked at which will influence your work (this can also be examples which horrified you and you want to do precisely the opposite!)

Research into target audience incl. aud feedback

TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHENDONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

Use the Audience post. http://asmediafilmopening.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/blogging-on-audience.html

IN A NUTSHELL: Two Eval Qs are specifically on audience, and you should be referring to your target audience just as much as you do to existing examples/influences as you blog on ideas, shoots, rough cuts etc. You must have a clear, detailed outline of who might be your primary and secondary target audiences, with specific justifications for these. Research will include going through some books and looking for quotes/points on film audiences; those weekly Film Guardian columns on box office; box office figures for your genre/s; BBFC ratings; and test screenings to check if your preferred reading is being followed!

TARGET AUDIENCE OUTLINE [cover both primary and secondary; it always helps to find an image of a person who you think embodies each of these]

AUDIENCE RESEARCH VODCAST

FAN/GENRE FORUMS [to boost your audience feedback, you could try posting on fan/genre forums; this would also help with the Eval Qs 5 how you address audience + 6 use of technologies, + Q4 who would be your audience]

SOCIAL MEDIA + FURTHER AUDIENCE RESEARCH [basically: evidence use of Twitter, Vine, FB etc that you’ve used for feedback +/or publicising the production Eval Q4/5/6]

ROUGH CUTS AUDIENCE FEEDBACK + YOUR RESPONSES: Separate these into 2 posts if you wish. Where possible, film feedback – doesn’t matter how rough/shaky this is, phone vid is fine; such footage is v v useful for Eval Qs 4/5/6. Use big, clear sub-headings. Summarise in a bulleted list the main points, ditto for your response – you can copy the feedback list and add responses in a different colour. Have a look at Sarah’s February 2014 post http://sarahstudios.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/film-opening-feedback.html and compare with Tilly’s 2014 posts on feedback http://tillyfilms.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/feedback

You should see how important it is to record your own responses. You can disagree with feedback! Just clearly explain why. You should clearly summarise any and all feedback you get from me too.

EVAL – yes, again this material links well to Qs 4/5/6, but you’ll find this is also key for the final Q7. Its worth having a look at examples to see why: http://tillyfilms.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/eval-7-tbc.html http://pianforiniamber.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/evaluation-question-7-part-1.html http://poppyproductions.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/evaluation-q7-learnt-since-prelim.html http://curtistiplady.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/evaluation-question-7-tbc.html

These are quite distinct approaches, but the point is you will need to account for how, step by step, you developed your skills and understanding from September through to your final cut.

If you want to see just how extensive audience feedback can be, have a look at this 2014 A2 blog: http://curtistipladya2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/evaluation-question-3-audience-feedback.html

ROUGH CUT 1 AUD FEEDBACK/OUR RESPONSE

ROUGH CUT 2 AUD FEEDBACK/OUR RESPONSE

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ROUGH CUT 3 AUD FEEDBACK/OUR RESPONSE

ROUGH CUT 4 AUD FEEDBACK/OUR RESPONSE

ROUGH CUT 5 AUD FEEDBACK/OUR RESPONSE

ROUGH CUT 6 AUD FEEDBACK/OUR RESPONSE

VID: SUMMARY OF FEEDBACK + OUR RESPONSES

INFLUENCE OF AUDIENCE ON OUR PRODUCTION [effectively mini-draft of Eval Q]

OUR USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR AUD RESEARCH [again, Eval draft really!]

***TARGET AUDIENCE REVIEWED*** [can be done at any stage; very important you do reflect on any evidence that your initial target audience needs adjusting, perhaps because of further research or test screenings]

Organisation of actors, costumes, locations, props

TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHENDONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

IN A NUTSHELL: evidencing how you’ve controlled your resources: directed/coached the cast + casting process/reasoning; carefully considered (and tested out: aud fdbk) costumes, hair, make-up); scouted locations then set-dressed (what have you added to/changed in any location you’ve filmed in?), including props. Blog on any purchases; take before/after pics/footage (film yourselves setting up, makes for a neat super-sped-up clip, or short normal speed vodcast with VO or talking to camera); blog on the practicalities involved of organising a shoot. Weekly podcasts help evidencing all this; you need to show every shoot is organised in detail in advance and what concrete steps you take to control cast, ‘set’ etc on the day (short behind-the-scenes vodcasts can be used as FB, Instagram, Vine etc material too). Remember to make comparisons to existing texts, showing you’re applying your research.

VODCAST: CHARACTERS, COSTUME + COSTUME/MAKE-UP

VODCAST: NARRATIVE + PERFORMANCE

VODCAST: LOCATIONS + MISE-EN-SCENE

SHOOT1 DIARY [tweak title to reflect focus of shoot]

SHOOT2 DIARY [any behind-the-scenes footage is useful: evidence of directing, rehearsing cast etc]

SHOOT3 DIARY [taken any photos that might be useful for d’pak/ad?]

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SHOOT4 DIARY

SHOOT5 DIARY

SHOOT6 DIARY

SHOOT7 DIARY

SHOOT8 DIARY

SHOOT9 DIARY

SHOOT10 DIARY

CASTING/AUDITIONS

CAST WORKSHOP [helps evidence directing skills]

PROPS/COSTUME UPDATE1

PROPS/COSTUME UPDATE2

PROPS/COSTUME UPDATE3

SET-DRESSING: AN OVERVIEW [even if repeating from other posts, details on what steps taken to set-dress]

OUR CAST SPEAK… [interview your cast! Useful feature for Company blog/FB etc; this type of exclusive behind-scenes material is common pre-release PR]

CHALLENGES OF ORGANISING SHOOTS

Shotlists, drafting, scripting, storyboarding

TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHENDONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

IN A NUTSHELL: You’re evidencing you’re organised! Shotlists + storyboarding need to be posted before shoots. You should have an initial outline storyboard (this will change massively!); + sbds for at least some of your shoots – shotlists (and call sheets) are vital for all. As you get into the editing process, keep generating short clips (take care with file naming so you’ll remember what they are – use a numbering system) so you can provide lots of before-and-after vodcasts discussing editing ideas/re-shoots. Keep updating the idea as you go. Use a numbering system, and try to update links lists as you go. For print texts, an initial mock-up, using sample images, that gives a basic sense of your idea (including layout; the elements to be included and fonts) is important.

INITIAL IDEA/S: ARTIST – TRACK (add etc if more than 1)

REVISED IDEA: ARTIST – TRACK [add more posts if you had more ideas]

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PITCH SUPPORTING VID + NOTES

PITCH FOOTAGE + REFLECTION

THE GROUP IDEA: ARTIST - TRACK

GROUP RE-PITCH + FEEDBACK

IDEA UPDATE1 [and ongoing; rem to be adding to specific links lists as you go]

IDEA UPDATE2: [sum up in post title]

IDEA UPDATE3:

IDEA UPDATE4:

IDEA UPDATE5:

SAMPLE SCENE1 + FEEDBACK

SAMPLE SCENE2 [couple of words to describe which element] + FEEDBACK

SAMPLE SCENE3 + FEEDBACK

SAMPLE SCENE4 + FEEDBACK

ROUGH CUT X [add aud feedback in sep post]

STORYBOARDS1

STORYBOARDS2

STORYBOARDS3

STORYBOARDS4

STORYBOARDS5

STORYBOARDS6

STORYBOARDS7 [rem: sep links list for this and in final such post add links for all previous]

CALL SHEETS1 [rem: sep links list for this and in final such post add links for all previous]

CALL SHEETS2

CALL SHEETS3

CALL SHEETS3

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CALL SHEETS4

CALL SHEETS5

CALL SHEETS6

CALL SHEETS7

DPAK IDEAS

DPAK IDEA UPDATE1

DPAK IDEA UPDATE2

DPAK IDEA UPDATE3

DPAK MOCK-UPS

DPAK RAW IMAGES USED

MAG AD IDEAS

MAG AD IDEA UPDATE1

MAG AD IDEA UPDATE2

MAG AD IDEA UPDATE3

MAG AD MOCK-UPS

MAG AD RAW IMAGES USED

DPAK DRAFT1 [blog separately on aud feedback/your response]

DPAK DRAFT2

DPAK DRAFT3

DPAK DRAFT4

DPAK DRAFT5

MAG AD DRAFTX

MAG AD DRAFTX

MAG AD DRAFTX

MAG AD DRAFTX

MAG AD DRAFTX

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Level of care in the presentation incl. links lists

TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHENDONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

IN A NUTSHELL: Your blog needs to be visibly multimedia, and attractively presented. Information needs to be easily located: links lists are utterly key to this, but a tag cloud is useful too (if you add tags/labels to posts). A horizontal top links list (for each other’s blogs; your company YT/FB etc); embedded, playable track (below the top links list, which is below the blog title/description); group/company photo/logo (above your blog archive) are all required. Proof-read each other’s blogs, don’t wait for me to point out basic/lazy errors. See http://musividz.blogspot.com/2012/04/blog-gadgetslayout.html + http://musividz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/your-posts-on-exemplar-vids.html. Caption images. Provide brief text description of any vids/audio embedded.

THE BRIEF

THE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

APPLYING ASSESSMENT CRITERIA TO A 2012 VID

APPLYING ASSESSMENT CRITERIA TO A 2012 BLOG

LESSONS I’LL APPLY FROM AS COURSEWORK

THE GROUP

Time management incl. weekly podcasts

TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHENDONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

IN A NUTSHELL: Showing that, just as any company has to (time is money when there are wages/bills involved!), you’ve planned and have followed a schedule. Even if you schedule a shoot and this is cancelled, so long as you post a schedule update that shows good time management. Its easy to overlook this, but this is a highly prized workplace skill.

PODCAST1: MEET THE GROUP/OUR IDEA

PODCAST2: [last week we did…; this week we will…]

PODCAST3: [rem: add brief title in post title AND brief written details in the post]

PODCAST4:

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PODCAST5:

PODCAST6:

PODCAST7:

PODCAST8:

PODCAST9:

PODCAST10:

PODCAST11:

PODCAST12:

PODCAST13:

PODCAST14:

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE (DRAFT)

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE UPDATE2

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE UPDATE3

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE UPDATE4

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE UPDATE5

DPAK RESEARCH + PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

MAG AD RESEARCH + PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Use of ICT TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHEN DON

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

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E

IN A NUTSHELL: Editing (print and video) is the obvious element: keep gathering up screenshots (+ before-and-after clips/pics) of tools you’re using – the clips/pics show the difference these have made (also useable/useful for aud fdbk). However, just as important are social/new media tools: YT, FB, fan forums etc. Each of you should do one blog poll (think about the closing date!!!). Each group should use PollDaddy once (linked to aud fdbk). Blog gadgets such as relevant RSS feeds, Twitter update feeds, are useful. 1 of your 4 Eval Qs is on this; DCRUP in exam too (use of Digital technologies). Specifically consider the potential for viral marketing. Explore (links to research on conventions) how digitisation is transforming the music industry and how vids are produced, distributed and exhibited/consumed.

OUR VIRAL VID CONCEPT

FINAL CUT PRO X TOOLS USED [tweak title to reflect focus of post]

FINAL CUT PRO X TOOLS USED2

FINAL CUT PRO X TOOLS USED3

FINAL CUT PRO X TOOLS USED4

FINAL CUT PRO X TOOLS USED5

FINAL CUT PRO X TOOLS USED6

TWITTER ACCOUNT LAUNCHED

[COMPANY] INSTAGRAM LAUNCHED

[COMPANY] BLOG LAUNCHED [use http://musividz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/company-blogs.html ]

[COMPANY] FACEBOOK LAUNCHED

QR CODES: HOW WE’VE USED THESE [so simple! But see http://musividz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/qr-codes-how-to-get-yours.html]

DPAK: ICT USED

MAG AD: ICT USED

ICT TOOLS WE’VE USED SO FAR [effectively early draft of Eval Q]

[COMPANY] TWITTER UPDATEX

(note each time you post an update: screenshot of your tweet is fine, no need for further text, BUT adding info later – s’shot fine – of replies/retweets is useful)

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[COMPANY] INSTAGRAM UPDATEX

[COMPANY] BLOG UPDATEX

(s’shot of post + hyperlink all you need)

[COMPANY] FACEBOOK UPDATEX

(should overlap with audience work; s’shot all feedback!!!)

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Communication Skills [note terminology used]

TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHENDONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

IN A NUTSHELL: Do as I generally do: highlight technical terms in bold, pink. Make an effort to use handouts for exam Q1a and especially 1b, eg read through and apply some of the theories on web 2.0; the audience theories are a gift to apply too (eg U+G – look it up; I’ve blogged on this many times, on prodeval blog too). Marketing is part of this – how have you sought views/hits? Have you created a viral-style campaign? Any teaser elements?

OUR PRODUCTION CO: NAME [eg MilTil Kapo, de Cuja, Geob]

REQUESTING PERMISSION FROM RIGHTS HOLDER [see http://musividz.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/contacting-labels-etc.html]

MAG AD/DPAK: MODE OF ADDRESS/LANGUAGE USED [home in style of language used]

Q2 Combination of texts

TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHENDONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

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Q3 Audience feedback TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHEN

DONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

Q3 New Technologies

TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHENDONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

Q1 Use of conventions TASKS/POSTS TO DO WHO? WHEN

DONE

NOTES, FOLLOW-UP

EDITING + SOUNDTRACKING TIMETABLE (each group should keep a notebook or jotter for notes during each editing session)

DATE DAY TIME WHO PROGRESS/CHANGES

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