Thursday, 28 January 2016
Call that an idea!?!
When a student comes to you and says "I want to make a film about a stuffed bear in a park in Bicester!", it doesn't automatically fill your heart or mind with enthusiasm. Then they go and create something like this which reminds you that sometimes it's great being wrong.
Writing an exam answer
This post is general advice for any exam paper and follows on from the previous post about preparing for exams.
1. After dividing up your time for the paper, so you know how long you will spend on each question (related to the marks available), your next step is to see, where there is a choice of question, which one you will choose. You may be lucky and spot a question straight away that absolutely suits your material. But if not, the key is to read the question carefully and look for key words or triggers which will help you. Are there media terms in it that point you to what it is looking for, like 'distribution' or 'regulation'? Even if it doesn't make absolute sense to you at first glance, those key words are likely to be designed to help you rather than catch you out.
2. A little planning goes a long way. Spend the first couple of minutes of the time you have allocated mapping out how you are going to answer the question- bullet points for each paragraph with examples you intend to use. This is useful should your mind go blank and in simply structuring the next 45 minutes or however long you are spending on it, but also in flagging up to the examiner where you would have gone if you do by chance run out of time.
3. Get on with it. You need an introduction, but you need it to be short and to the point. Don't ramble. Even if you have a formula that you practice beforehand, that usually won't do any harm. You need something to guarantee getting you started and fast! So how about 'In this essay I shall show how (whatever is being asked about) applies to (text 1) and (text 2).' This gets you moving and tells the examiner what you will be using as your main example. Same thing with endings. You need to conclude, so that the essay doesn't appear to have stopped in mid-air, but it can be quite brief: 'So as we have seen, (whatever is being asked about) can be applied to (text 1) and (text 2)'. Of course it's not precisely these words that you'll use, but keeping it simple means you've got time to get on with the main body of it!
4. Paragraphs. Use them. And leave a gap between each one so the marker can read them. Ideally, each paragraph will deal with one main idea and support that idea or point with examples. But even if your paragraph doesn't do what it should, just physically breaking up the page makes a huge difference for the reader. Most students don't have beautiful handwriting, especially these days when we use keyboards so much, so make it easy for the examiner to read what you have written! Leave spaces between paragraphs and keep paragraphs relatively short. a rule of thumb is that if you have less than two paragraphs on a page, you probably aren't breaking it up enough. Aim for three.
5. Examples. Use them. they are the thing that most frequently go AWOL in a student exam answer. Students tend to trot out arguments and then not back them up. that is true in lots of subjects. So make sure each point you make has something solid to back it up- a sequence from the TV programme that shows what you are arguing about representation, some figures from that film marketing campaign that support your point.
6. Structure. Have one. If you plan your answer as an argument, this will ensure you follow it through. Point, Example, Explanation is all very well, but if the points are all disjointed, that's not much use!
So there you go- good luck!
1. After dividing up your time for the paper, so you know how long you will spend on each question (related to the marks available), your next step is to see, where there is a choice of question, which one you will choose. You may be lucky and spot a question straight away that absolutely suits your material. But if not, the key is to read the question carefully and look for key words or triggers which will help you. Are there media terms in it that point you to what it is looking for, like 'distribution' or 'regulation'? Even if it doesn't make absolute sense to you at first glance, those key words are likely to be designed to help you rather than catch you out.
2. A little planning goes a long way. Spend the first couple of minutes of the time you have allocated mapping out how you are going to answer the question- bullet points for each paragraph with examples you intend to use. This is useful should your mind go blank and in simply structuring the next 45 minutes or however long you are spending on it, but also in flagging up to the examiner where you would have gone if you do by chance run out of time.
3. Get on with it. You need an introduction, but you need it to be short and to the point. Don't ramble. Even if you have a formula that you practice beforehand, that usually won't do any harm. You need something to guarantee getting you started and fast! So how about 'In this essay I shall show how (whatever is being asked about) applies to (text 1) and (text 2).' This gets you moving and tells the examiner what you will be using as your main example. Same thing with endings. You need to conclude, so that the essay doesn't appear to have stopped in mid-air, but it can be quite brief: 'So as we have seen, (whatever is being asked about) can be applied to (text 1) and (text 2)'. Of course it's not precisely these words that you'll use, but keeping it simple means you've got time to get on with the main body of it!
4. Paragraphs. Use them. And leave a gap between each one so the marker can read them. Ideally, each paragraph will deal with one main idea and support that idea or point with examples. But even if your paragraph doesn't do what it should, just physically breaking up the page makes a huge difference for the reader. Most students don't have beautiful handwriting, especially these days when we use keyboards so much, so make it easy for the examiner to read what you have written! Leave spaces between paragraphs and keep paragraphs relatively short. a rule of thumb is that if you have less than two paragraphs on a page, you probably aren't breaking it up enough. Aim for three.
5. Examples. Use them. they are the thing that most frequently go AWOL in a student exam answer. Students tend to trot out arguments and then not back them up. that is true in lots of subjects. So make sure each point you make has something solid to back it up- a sequence from the TV programme that shows what you are arguing about representation, some figures from that film marketing campaign that support your point.
6. Structure. Have one. If you plan your answer as an argument, this will ensure you follow it through. Point, Example, Explanation is all very well, but if the points are all disjointed, that's not much use!
So there you go- good luck!
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
BFI Player - Best Films of 2015
If you seek lazy reboots and prequels, go
elsewhere. These films dabble in the distinctive, be it real-life stories, potent dramas or history with
a twist. They show the wild diversity of films and their creators, and they
indicate a medium in rude health.
The most popular features on BFI Player in 2015
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Pre, Pro & Post
Episode 1
In this episode, the team begins pre-production; including location scouting, the writing process and setting the timeline of work ahead of them to create The Outer Darkness.
Episode 2
As the team prepares for principal photography, meticulous planning becomes an essential part of coordinating all of the moving parts and 3rd parties contributing to the short film. Also, The Outer Darkness characters are starting to move from concept to reality as the team gets its first look at some of the evil creations from Special FX designer, James Greenwood.
Episode 3
The Outer Darkness team finally realizes the results of their meticulous planning and principal shooting begins. We also get our first look at the cast and learn how the team motivates them to give the best performances possible.
Episode 4
In episode 4 of Script to Scream the team discovers that unique locations prove to be challenging but worth the effort as the team finishes principal photography and the cast and crew work extremely hard to ensure that before editing begins everything that will be needed for the film is accomplished.
The Outer Darkness
The Outer Darkness is Part 1 of a terrifying new web series from the creators of popular horror show Bloody Cuts.
“On Friday evenings in Lynnsmouth Community Centre, meets a group led by Father Jonathan Crowe. Together they share their stories – tales of strange occurrences, horrific events and bizarre encounters that have scarred their lives. Tonight, a young tormented woman called Jenny will share a story of her experience with a game of chance that sealed the fate of her family…”
“On Friday evenings in Lynnsmouth Community Centre, meets a group led by Father Jonathan Crowe. Together they share their stories – tales of strange occurrences, horrific events and bizarre encounters that have scarred their lives. Tonight, a young tormented woman called Jenny will share a story of her experience with a game of chance that sealed the fate of her family…”
Also from Bloody Cuts
Set on one fateful night, six friends gather for their monthly 'games night'... and accidentally unleash a demonic force that might tear them - and their friendships - to pieces.
'Don't Move' is the 8th slice in Bloody Cuts' anthology of short horror films, made by a young team of UK film-makers on low budgets. Directed by Anthony Melton and written by David Scullion it stars Rachel Bright and Jake Hendriks alongside Kate Braithwaite, Beth Cooper, Ian Whyte, Calvin Dean and Martin Skipper.
'Don't Move' is the 8th slice in Bloody Cuts' anthology of short horror films, made by a young team of UK film-makers on low budgets. Directed by Anthony Melton and written by David Scullion it stars Rachel Bright and Jake Hendriks alongside Kate Braithwaite, Beth Cooper, Ian Whyte, Calvin Dean and Martin Skipper.
To learn more about The Outer Darkness visit http://www.theouterdarkness.co.uk/
To view previous work from the team visit http://www.bloodycuts.co.uk/
To view previous work from the team visit http://www.bloodycuts.co.uk/
Monday, 23 November 2015
Making Film Opening Sequences - BFI Media Studies Trip Nov 2015
Below is a link to the blog created by Tim Woodcock, presenter of the 'Making Film Opening Sequences' workshop Yr 12 & 13 students attended on Thursday 19th November.
On the blog are the presentations and resources used on the day. I have also included links to Corin Hardy Director of The Hallow who came to talk to the assembled students in the afternoon about his latest realease and his route in to film.
On the blog are the presentations and resources used on the day. I have also included links to Corin Hardy Director of The Hallow who came to talk to the assembled students in the afternoon about his latest realease and his route in to film.
The Hallow 2015 - Corin Hardy
Wednesday, 11 November 2015
Powerful Scenes - Capturing Emotion
Every film; sorry let me correct myself, every good film has a memorable scene or is filled with memorable scenes. The power of the scene and the narrative it gives almost becomes a story in itself. These are the scenes we return too again and again, or will watch the entire film just to capture that moment and be reminded of something within, something that stirs a powerful emotion.
To list all of the scenes I feel capture this would take more than the capacity this blog allows. Below I have included just two I feel evoke the strongest emotional reaction. If they stir emotion in you then I highly recommend you watch the entire film, it will be well worth it.
Later also think about what the director has done and how they have managed to draw out the emotion in the scene and from the actors.
Mystic River 2003
http://www.imdb.com/mysticriver
In America 2002
http://www.imdb.com/inamerica
To list all of the scenes I feel capture this would take more than the capacity this blog allows. Below I have included just two I feel evoke the strongest emotional reaction. If they stir emotion in you then I highly recommend you watch the entire film, it will be well worth it.
Later also think about what the director has done and how they have managed to draw out the emotion in the scene and from the actors.
Mystic River 2003
http://www.imdb.com/mysticriver
In America 2002
http://www.imdb.com/inamerica
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