Vivian's Group Feedback 29/04/12

Planning and Research

Mid Level 2  10 marks

Planning and research evidence may be partially incomplete;

There is basic research into similar products however no reference made to the potential target audience (nor to the Ring movies which are an obvious inspiration); M2

There is basic organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props; choices not always clearly accounted for, though a very detailed costume analysis increases this mark L3

There is no evidence of work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding; L1

There is a basic level of care in the presentation of the research and planning; some posts cover too much information and would be better broken down into smaller posts. Blog is difficult to navigate with some posts having more that one post and no archive visible to indicate how many posts and when they were made. M2

Time management is basic. M2

Construction (Production currently incomplete)

Low Level 3 – 36 marks

There is evidence of proficiency in the creative use of many of the following technical skills:

Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;

Proficiency in producing material appropriate to task, though no apparent acknowledgement of target audience. The opening scene, shot with a fish-eye lens to create an extreme looking POV perspective, works very effectively to create the unsettling dream imagery. M3

using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;

Use of titles appropriately - minimal. There should be no end credits as the “film” is not technically over. M1

using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;

No sound available. Unmarked.

shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;

An excellent use of the camera for the first scene; the nature of employing a fish-eye lens determines that certain framings and shot distances will be altered/distorted. Eg. The shot of the feet. The students have used this to their advantage, creating a quite disturbing sequence, which, though having obvious antecedents, is nonetheless still effectively rendered. Limited shot types in the following scene limits the mark though. It might’ve been more appropriate to come out of the dream sequence on to a close up of the main character, simply so we get a clearer look at him, Overall the mise-en-scene, in terms of framing and composition, to include and exclude appropriate elements do however show a reasonable level of proficiency. Opening establishing shot feels somewhat out of place, since we do not cut immediately to action inside the school, but more precisely, inside a character’s head. M3

using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.

Proficient use of editing creates clear meaning for the audience. Proficient use of transitions - white-out transition from dream to reality works well. Very cold, muted colour grade on dream sequence clearly establishes that audience is seeing something out of the ordinary helping to establish the unsettling, horror movie feel from the outset.

However, since the clip is currently unfinished the overall meaning isn’t entirely apparent. M3 (finish it effectively and it will be higher).

Jahura Group Feedback 29/04/12

Planning and Research

Low Level 2  - 8 marks

Planning and research evidence may be partially incomplete;

There is some basic research into similar products but no evidence of research into potential target audience M2

There is basic organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props; M2

There is basic work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.L2

There is a minimal level of care in the presentation of the research and planning; little on the blog to illustrate choices made in any area of the production.  M1

Time management is basic. M2

Construction

None available to view.

Rene's Group Feedback 29/04/12

Planning and Research

Mid Level 2  - 9 marks

Planning and research evidence may be partially incomplete;

There is some basic research into similar products but no evidence of research into potential target audience M2

There is basic organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props. Scant detail in any of the assessed areas L2

There is minimal work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding. They did use teacher feedback. L2

There is a minimal level of care in the presentation of the research and planning; M2

Time management is basic. M2

Construction

Mid Level 3 – 42 marks

There is evidence of proficiency in the creative use of many of the following technical skills:

Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task;

Proficiency in producing material appropriate to task, though no apparent acknowledgement of target audience. M2

using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions;

Proficient use of titles, with the adoption of the freeze frame to introduce cast credits having many antecedents in real media products, though it could be held for slightly longer in order for the audience to clearly read them. The production company name should carry the text “Duality productions presents”. M3

using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set;

Heavy use of classical music is made for much of the clip in an ironic contrast to the violent imagery. This has the desired effect. In the following scene the sound is less well combined with pictures and this obvious camera mic audio lends the clip an amateurishness which was absent from the initial scene. M3

shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene;

An excellent use of the camera for the first scene with an appropriate variety of shot types and distances employed (with especially good use of POV shots. Second scene, somewhat rougher in execution, felt less well considered with the camera being a little too shaky on a couple of shots. Overall the mise-en-scene, in terms of framing and composition, to include and exclude appropriate elements showed a good level of proficiency. H3

using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects.

Proficient use of editing creates clear meaning for the audience. Proficient use of transitions - white-out on contents of bag nicely masks the shot change. Heavy colour grade in the first scene works well to convey the murky world of the story. However in the first scene there is a very brief cut which is somewhat jarring. H3

Jahura group feedback

JAHURA, FARJANA & IBTISSAM feedback

Nothing for me to look at film-wise so I can only comment on the blog:

Currently the blog is insubstantial to say the least. I have reiterated many times the importance of keeping up to date with the blog and you all have a lesson set aside with Ms Shillingford every Monday, so there is no excuse for not posting something relevant, at least once a week.

As I have said before the blog should contain about 40 short-ish posts covering the PLANNING, RESEARCH and PRODUCTION, and to be finished off with the EVALUATION based on 7 specific questions, which we will be addressing in the next few weeks.

You need to look at another blog to see how it’s done; though you should’ve already done this weeks ago. Check this one out;

 a2coalition.blogspot.com

In its current state (unwritten though admittedly unfinished) the blog would be marked with the following criteria.

Level 1 0–7 marks

Planning and research evidence will be incomplete;

There is minimal research into similar products and a potential target audience;

There is minimal organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props;

There is minimal work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding;

There is minimal care in the presentation of the research and planning;

Time management may be very poor.

I would probably give it approximately 5 or 6 marks out of a possible 20.

You need to include picture references for things like costume and props, location stills to show that you put some thought into planning. References to other films to show that you have done some research into the kind of film you’re trying to make.

The blog is supposed to show you have gone to considerable effort to make the film as good as you, in order that, if it is not creatively on the level of Citizen Kane, then at least you will have some record of your intentions and be able to still get a reasonable mark.

If you complete the blog along the lines that it currently stands it will get no more than a basic mark (8-11 marks).

NB: You need to create a menu down the side of the blog page so that your posts can be organised into the months they were posted and be collected under headings such as RESEARCH, PLANNING, PRODUCTION and EVALUATION. 

RENE group blog

RENE GROUP FEEDBACK

First a note on the blog:

The blog is worth 20/100 marks.

You need to organise your posts with headings that relate to PLANNING and RESEARCH so that they can be easily accessed.

At the moment there is little to suggest much thought or analysis has gone into this.

Check:    a2coalition.blogspot.com   to see what it should look like.

Check:    mrmmediastudies.blogspot.com   for a reminder of what the blog should include.

You are leaving yourselves a lot to do, at the moment the blog is very weak and also contains no information about what the film is either about, or what it is called. No treatment, no outline, no storyboards, no shot list. No visual references, no movies you were inspired by. It’s as bare as a pauper’s cupboards at Christmas. It looks like you just got some masks and went and did – shooting from the hip as they say. If your blog does not clearly show that some planning and research went into it, the blog will receive a very low mark and it will also reflect badly on the mark of the overall finished piece. Currently I have very little to help me gauge whether you are succeeding in your aims, because I do not know what your aims are, or how you planned to go about them. Anyway, I’ve told you this enough times, you ought to have done something about it by now.

Here’s the marking criteria for a level 1 blog:

Level 1 0–7 marks

Planning and research evidence will be incomplete;

There is minimal research into similar products and a potential target audience;

There is minimal organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props;

There is minimal work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding;

There is minimal care in the presentation of the research and planning;

Time management may be very poor.

A blog in the current state would get you maybe 5 or 6 marks out of 20.

Production

Overall note on the production:

In simple terms I like it. Though I’m still not sure who or what it is about.

The what isn’t massively important because I can tell that it is a violent, sinister thriller, which has been influenced by A Clockwork Orange, amongst other things and therefore has a darkly humorous element.

The who is a bit of problem because it means that there is no one for the audience to connect with.

If you are going to start off with a POV (which is very intriguing for the audience) it is a convention of cinema that when the hood is removed, the character who is the source of the POV is revealed in the next cut, in some reasonably close shot. The audience must at least have the opportunity to at identify him, if not identify with him. 

The music is good – but you must show in your blog that you have at least tried to clear it – a letter asking for permission from the record company is required here to be posted on the blog.

I’m not sure if works to have the music for the whole sequence, but I don’t know what else you’ve got – any usable dialogue from Femi? I think you’re going to find yourselves undone a little here by the lack of planning.

Editing:

As a general rule you could trim a bit off most shots to tighten things up. The bit over black/hood seems especially long.

Stephen takes too long to get the gun out of his pocket. Tighten that. Just get him to pull it straight out, that shut cut up easily enough.

If you do that with a few shots it’ll add a lot more pace to it.

It’s currently also 40 seconds too short but I think you’re shooting something else anyway.

The bit with the teacher in the background; do you not have a shot you can cutaway to? A close-up of Femi maybe? And then just cut back to the fella in the hat.

Caption:

The caption is confusing. The font is too thin and I’m expecting to see the name of the distribution then production company first, then the film title, cast names, crew names etc (if you choose to include all of these, it is not strictly necessary but remember, you are being marked on the use of titles). Remember there are conventions that apply to all these things, to get these things right shows planning and research has been done.

The time caption gets lost at the side, centre it.


Music:
Despite what I said about the use of music, I have re-consulted the spec and have reached the conclusion that such a track would not be permissible. It is too well known and even if you did apply for the right to use it from the record company, you'd never get it. I suggest you use some copyright free music or perhaps something you've made yourself Rene.


Type copyright free music into google for a list of sites. 

Below is a break down of the mark structure and how you would be graded:

Level 3 36–47 marks

There is evidence of proficiency in the creative use of many of the following technical skills:

Producing material appropriate for the target audience and task; H3

The nature of the images suggests a darkly comic, violent thriller. This has been achieved with proficiency. Material has been shot in an inventive way to create tension and play with audience expectations.

No indication of what target audience might from blog however (I’m suspecting young men).

using titles appropriately according to institutional conventions; L2

Titles under-used and currently a little confusing.

using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set; M3

Editing is proficient (with some trimming could be excellent). The use of the music track sets up a darkly ironic tone quite proficiently though it is perhaps overused.

shooting material appropriate to the task set;, including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene; M3

material generally proficiently shot, with some interesting visual images created. Eg. the whip pan shot to give a visceral sense of a violent punch. Various shot sizes used to quite proficiently. Framing occasionally inconsistent – cut from unmasked handheld POV to side angle tripod mid-shot, somewhat jarring (this is where you need the close-up of Femi as a reaction shot – he’s surrounded by men in masks, who are going to hurt him – you need this close-up, the audience needs to see and feel his terror). This is an issue of mise-en-scene also.

using editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions and other effects. H3

The editing is proficient but a lack of coverage has left only limited options. This does slightly affect the meaning of the piece because we are never really fully connected to the protagonist. See all the earlier comments. The time caption currently feels surplus to requirements. Unless you are intent on using another one in the last little bit. A colour grade has been used to make the image very contrasty and dark and moody which feels entirely appropriate given the subject matter. No transitions used, none were appropriate.

This comes out as a just about a Low level 3 with 36 out of a possible 60 marks.

That’s 60%, which scrapes a C. However there is no reason why this should not be a B.

Not bad but if you don’t get your blog in order and do a decent evaluation (20 mks)  the mark will be badly dragged down.

With the blog as it is you’d be left with 42 out of a possible 80. That’s 52.5%; a D.

You have much to do. Get to it.

IMVK – FEEDBACK

IMVK – FEEDBACK

Blog is woefully underwritten and currently has no evidence of Planning or research for main media product, apart from copy and pasted material that I myself have posted.

No evidence of media product posting.

Wholly unacceptable given the time you have had to do this – including a Monday session with Ms Shillingforth.

You have a huge amount of work to do on this, which I felt sure you would’ve been on top of given the good work you had done for the preliminary piece. Currently it looks like you may have put all you eggs in that basket.

You have much to do.

Notes for AS students on continuity piece.

It is essential that you get into the habit of writing up any practical coursework that you do on the blogs.

This will save you a great deal of time and heartache later. What you don't want is to have to write up about 40 blog posts in the last week before the work has to be submitted. At whihc time you will also have to answer 7 specific questions evaluating the success (or otherwise) of your finished foundation piece.

Below are some pointers for how to approach your practical work and writing it up on the blog.

There are 4 different areas to consider:

Research

Planning

Execution (creating your media product)

Evaluation.

Evaluation comes when everything else is finished and will be dealt with then.

The preliminary task is a good opportunity to start forming good habits in your approach to the work.

The coninuity piece is a straightforward demonstration of whether or not you grasp the basics of filming and editing.

Research for this may have included identifying which shots, in combination, typically make up the creation of a simple scene. You could have researched this by literally watching any film, tv drama or soap opera. The idea is that you quickly realise that you have already internalised the fundamentals of fimmaking because you have been watching (critically) since before you could speak.

You could also (as one group did) take snap shots of the typical shots used for a scene.

Planning would involve, amongst other things, creating a shot list, storyboard, choosing an appropriate location, choosing an appropriate subject. All these areas should be covered in your blog write up. If you have not done so you are already forming bad habits. If you do not take all these aspects (and more) into account, you will definitely come unstuck when creating you main project.

When writing your evaluation of the successful execution or otherwise of the continuity piece, I suggest you also link to the edit where you break the 180 degree rule, identify this as a problem, and explain that you learned how important this rule was by the act of creating for yourselves. Also note the nature of the audio track. There are obviously jarring continuity errors there. YOU should note this and state how you might do it differently again. eg. not film in a location where there will be a constant and changing level of noise - outside the 6th form study area.

Execution: undoubtedly many problems will have come to light in both the filming and editing and you must be able to identify these and explain what you have learned and how your approach will change. consider issues of sound continuity (even if the pictures work well), the subject is wearing different clothes, so you were unable to shot - who was in charge of that aspect of planning? There are so many variables when shooting a film that if your organistaional skills are not finely tuned, you will create myriad small problems which will ultimately prevent you successfully achieving your film.

TAKE THE SMALL STUFF SERIOUSLY AND THE BIG STUFF WILL LOOK AFTER ITSELF