A2 MEDIA - G325 Critical PerspectivesIntroduction to the exam and Q1a

The Critical Perspectives Exam – 2 hrs

Section A:Theoretical Evaluation of

Production

Q1(a)25 marks

Q1(b)25 marks

Section B: Contemporary Media Issues

Media in the Online Age

50 marks

Brief overview

Media in the Online Age - Discuss contemporary issues and debates surrounding different forms of media in the online age.

Q1a – Evaluate your skills development in a specific area.

Q1b – Evaluate one of your own media products in relation to a key media concept.

Question 1(a) Requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development over the course of your production work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio.

It will require you to adapt this to one or two specific areas from the following:

• Digital Technology• Research and planning• Post-production• Using conventions from real media texts• Creativity

Q1(a) Past questions

Just to check you’ve been paying attention...

• Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your ______ ___________.

• Question 1 (b) requires you to evaluate ___ of your media products in relation to a key media _______.

• Section B requires you to discuss issues and debates surrounding different forms of _____ __ ___ ______ ___.

Just to check you’ve been paying attention...

• Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development.

• Question 1 (b) requires you to evaluate ___ of your media products in relation to a media _______.

• Section B requires you to discuss issues and debates surrounding different forms of _____ __ ___ ______ ___.

Just to check you’ve been paying attention...

• Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development.

• Question 1 (b) requires you to evaluate one of your media products in relation to a media concept.

• Section B requires you to discuss issues and debates surrounding different forms of _____ __ ___ ______ ___.

Just to check you’ve been paying attention...

• Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development.

• Question 1 (b) requires you to evaluate one of your media products in relation to a media concept.

• Section B requires you to discuss issues and debates surrounding different forms of media in the online age.

The following slides go through each of the areas you may be

asked about in the exam...

Digital TechnologyResearch and planning

Post-productionUsing conventions from real media texts

Creativity

Digital TechnologyDigital technology refers to hardware, software and online technology, so the digital cameras, the computers, the packages you used and the programs online that you have worked with.

e.g.HD Flip CamsCanon 550 D SLR (A2)iMacsiPads (A2)MacbooksiMovieFinal Cut ExpressSoundtrack / GaragebandLiveTypeAdobe Photoshop (A2)Adobe Illustrator (A2)Loads of online applications!

Tip: Your AS and A2 coursework evaluations

required you to consider how you used digital technology /

new media so look back at these evaluation tasks

Research and PlanningResearch refers to looking at real media and also audiences to inform your thinking about a media production. This can be broken down into the following areas:

1. Research into conventions of real media texts

• Institutional conventions, e.g. what you would expect a media product from a certain type of organisation to be like/include.• Format conventions, e.g. duration, and what you would expect a film

opening, teaser trailer, poster or magazine cover to be like/include• Genre conventions, e.g. what kind of narrative, characters, setting and

location, iconography and style (camerawork, mise-en-scene, editing and sound) you would expect from a product in that genre.

Research and Planning2. Audience research• Secondary research (Pearl & Dean data, IMDB info, etc.)• Primary research (feedback questionnaires, vox pops, etc.)

3. Technical research, e.g.:• How to achieve a particular camera shot• How to use features in the software to achieve a particular effect (many

of you found YouTube video tutorials to find out how to do something in Final Cut ProX or Adobe Photoshop)

4. Logistical research, e.g.:• recce shots of your locations• sourcing suitable costumes, props and actors

Research and PlanningPlanning refers to all the creative and logistical thinking and all the organisation and record keeping that goes on in putting the production together so that everything works. For example,

• writing a synopsis• creating shot lists• drafting shots/storyboards• creating animatics• compiling filming schedules (includes organisation of

equipment, costumes, props, actors, crew)• carrying out risk assessments

Also, don't forget everything you planned as part of the above to achieve continuity!

Post-productionPost-production is about everything you do after filming to complete your media product, for example:

- Image manipulation- Video editing (from cutting the shots and placing them on the

timeline to special effects)- Creating and editing titles and graphics- Sound production- Sound & Video mixing

Post-productionSo, post-production skills could include things like:

• isolating an image from the background in Photoshop using the magic eraser tool

• organising clips on the timeline in FCProX• using quick keys• adding transitions• using particular effects, or animating effects with key frames• adjusting sound levels, looping/layering sound clips, etc.

(Be as specific as possible to describe the tools you used during post-production)

Using Conventions of Real Media TextsUse of real media conventions involves consideration of other texts that you looked at and how skilfully you were able to weave their conventions into your work or ways in which you might have challenged them. You could consider:

• Institutional conventions, e.g. what you would expect a media product from a certain type of organisation to be like/include.

• Format conventions, e.g. what elements you would expect a film opening, teaser trailer, poster or magazine cover to include

• Genre conventions, e.g. what kind of narrative, characters, setting and location, iconography, style (camerawork, mise-en-scene, editing and sound) you would expect from a product in that genre.

Using Conventions of Real Media Texts

Advice on this section from the Chief Examiner:

Tip: Your AS and A2

coursework evaluations

required you to consider if

you reinforced or challenged

conventions of real media, so

look back at these to help

you.

‘You need to do more than just say ‘I looked on YouTube’ for conventions of real media,

but actually name specific videos you looked at, what you gained from them and how they influenced your

work.’

CreativityCreativity includes:

• The process of coming up with ideas for your product.

• The creative/ inventive use of technical elements such as camerawork, editing, sound, and mise-en-scene.

• How you used creativity to solve problems.

• The effectiveness of your creative choices.

    

Q1(a) - What does the Chief Examiner say this question is about?

How to structure your answerParagraph 1 should be an introduction which explains which projects you did. It can be quite short.

Paragraph 2 should pick up the skill area and perhaps suggest something about your starting point with it- what skills did you have already and how were these illustrated. Use an example.

Paragraph 3 should talk through your use of that skill in early projects and what you learned and developed through these. Again there should be examples to support all that you say.

Paragraph 4 should go on to demonstrate how the skill developed in later projects, again backed by examples, and reflecting back on how this represents moves forward for you from your early position and how the development of these skills enabled you to be more creative.

Paragraph 5 short conclusion