Author: Mr G

Teacher
Posted on in Film Macro Elements

Refresh your Brain

There are three key areas to any textual analysis essay:

  • Micro Features Analysis (within your chosen 5 minute sequence)
  • Macro Features Analysis (within the whole film)
  • Cultural Context Analysis (the wider significance surrounding the film / content)

We have two weeks to review what we already know and fill any gaps in your understanding and application.

Essential Macro Features
  • Genre
  • Narrative
  • Representation
The Feynman Technique

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

Resources

The class will be working in two halves and each of those halves will have one of the terms to define and apply. Follow this link to the slideshows that you will be working on.

Task 1
  • Using the Feynman Technique to define what is meant by one of these terms and how they can be used to analyse a film.
  • Define and explain the concept simply in one slide of your shared slideshow.
    • You should use the blog to help you.
Task 2
  • In pairs or threes discuss one of these ideas to, 28 Days Later (2002) Boyle.
  • Evaluate and analyse 28 Days Later using that macro feature.
Task 3

Embed the slideshow into: reflective journal>exploring film>28 Days Later

Posted on in Assessment & Feedback, Film Micro Elements

Textual Analysis Essay

Key Information

Here is the guidance from IB about the Textual Analysis Essay:

IB Film Specification Pages on Textual Analysis

Here is the assessment criteria explained:

Assessment Criteria

Unit Schedule & Deadlines
  • Week 1 & 2: Revise and recap textual analysis using a whole class film
    • 28 Days Later (2002) Boyle

Friday 21st Sept: Screen 3 Selected Films at Fermain Valley Hotel Cinema

  • Week 3: Research into context and reception of chosen film.

Friday 28th Sept: Submit textual analysis essay proposal

  • Week 4: Close Analysis of selected scene. Plan & draft essay
  • Week 5: Self Assess draft 1 and redraft.

Friday 12th Oct: Submit for teacher assessment

  • Week 6: Redraft essay

Deadline for final submission: Monday 22nd October at 17:00 

Sequence Analysis

Textual analysis essay structure & content.

Posted on in Assessment & Feedback, Information

IB Film Studies Year 2

Welcome back to year 2 of IB Film.

Over the second year we have to work towards submitting assessed work, which will build on what you have learnt in year 1.

All the work you submit will contribute to your final grade!

    • Your Film Portfolio (25%) (Done)
    • A textual analysis essay (20%). Sept – Oct
    • A comparative video essay (20%) Nov – Dec
    • A collaborative film project (35%) Jan – Apr

Here is a document which details what you need to submit for each assessed component:

Posted on in Production Roles

Lessons this Week

Lesson 1 & 2
Complete horror sequence!

The first thing you need to get is some feedback on your most recent draft…

…and then set yourself some targets for the final draft.

You should show your draft horror sequence (either on YouTube or Premiere) to at least two other groups in the class.

They will answering the following questions?

  1. Does your sequence make sense in terms of continuity?
    1. Does it make sense in time, space and action?
    2. Does it make sense in terms of relationships and interactions?
  2. What is the overall tone or mood in the sequence?
    1. How is this achieved in the edit and sound mix?
  3. Does the sound help create a sense of environment?
    1. Does Foley sound draw your attention to object / actions?
    2. Is there a sense of pace and energy in the edit and music?
  4. Is there a sense of narrative?
    1. A protagonist and antagonist identified?
    2. Is there a sense of motive?
    3. How is the narrative likely to continue?

You should record this feedback (use the voicememo on your phones) and include it in your reflective journal. This would look great in the reflection section of your pages. As well as being a piece of analysis in terms of how the meaning / impact is enhanced in post production (sound and editing)… This helps you define the film production role your are submitting in the reel and pages.

Once you’ve done the feedback for two other groups you should continue with your own edit.  In the light of what you have seen in other people’s work and the feedback you received on your edit, what changes in this final edit / mix will have the most impact on the sequence?

These are your targets (no more than 3-5 specific and achievable. Complete these targets in time for…

Deadline – Friday 15th @ 17.00
Posted on in Production Roles

Developing Your Portfolio

This term offers you the opportunity to follow your own film making passions and develop your Film Reel and Portfolio Pages ready for submission at the end of this term.

After having submitted the first draft of the reel and pages you may well find gaps and want to use lessons this term to fill those gaps with your own self initiated projects.

The Learning Process

Just to remind you of the process we have been using and which is central to The IB Leaner Profile. Each project / task should be made up of three stages:

  1. Inquiry
  2. Action
  3. Reflection

So, this means you can’t just grab an idea out of the air, you should…

  1. Research and explore a particular technique, film element, film maker, film movement…(this should be recorded and referenced as you go)
  2. Practical tasks in film making (writing, directing, sound, editing & cinematography) which comes from your research.
    1. The practical task should have a clearly defined creative intention that is linked to your research in stage 1.
  3. Reflection on the degree to which you fulfilled your creative intention and developed your film making techniques
Some Ideas for Your Personal Projects:
Sound / Music
  • Explore the work Gary Rydstrom  or other sound designers
  • Create Soundscapes / Music for genre of your choice
  • Create a conversation with no words – WallE
  • Conduct an interview and record sounds with Lavaliere Mics
Cinematography
  • Explore and attempt to imitate the cinematography of Roger Deakins, Akira Kurosawa or Wes Anderson
  • Use different lens types to explore impact on cinematography
  • Create a chiaroscuro lighting set and explore effect on representation
Screenwriting
  • Explore the screenwriting of The Cohen Brothers and introduce a central protagonist / antagonist for a new screenplay.
  • Write a screenplay for a short film/sequence from a given genre.
  • Write and record a monologue or duologue from a set of given circumstances.
Directing
Editing
In School Commissions…

There are a few opportunities to work within the school and across departments to develop your portfolio:

  • Magical Days in the Park
  • Films for CAS / PEP Service
  • DofE promotional Video
  • Drama students for performance pieces
  • Sixth Form Centre promotional video
  • Sciences for documentaries / recording experiments
  • The Future Generations Conference (editing)
Posted on in Production Roles, Sound

Using Adobe Audition

Important note on using copyrighted sound or video.

Simply taking a sound from our library or downloading music or sound and adding it directly to your footage is not enough! Below is a a hierarchy of different levels of creativity can be shown, which directly corresponds to your assessment. We are aiming for  levels 4 & 5!

  1. simple addition of existing non-copyright audio-visual material
  2. basic manipulation of existing non-copyright audio-visual material
  3. substantial manipulation of existing non-copyright audio-visual material
  4. innovative interpretation of non-copyright existing audio-visual material or creation of basic original audio/visual material
  5. creation of sophisticated original audio/visual material.
  • 4)  will be evident in your multi-track mix of loops and effects, which you will get from our library and mix in Audition.
  • 5) will be evident in your recorded foley sounds, application of effects in Audition and in how you mix these with your multi-track of loops and effects in the final edit.
Sound Designers will use Adobe Audition to…
  • Use loops of sound effects / music in order to create:
    • Ambient sound
    • Sound hits, stabs, crescendos
  • Apply effects to own recorded foley sounds or music

You will need to refresh your memory on the basics of Adobe Audition:

Creating Loops in a Multi-track Session:

This enables you to take a sound and repeat it seamlessly, whilst building up other layers of music or sound.

Choose 6-10 sounds or loops of music from our sound effects library and using a multi-track session create a layer of ambient sound, one for each of your different locations (outside / inside).

Posted on in Editor, Production Roles, Sound

Horror Sequence Post Production

The deadline for the final draft of your video is: Friday 25th May

The post production will be organised as follows:

One of your group will now take on the role of editor, the other member(s) will take on the role of sound designer.

The Editors Role

Work towards your group’s collective vision and creative intentions for the sequence.

  • Will be responsible for organising the footage so that the edit is well structured and the edit flows well.
    • This means sorting the footage using folders and renaming files appropriately.
  • Creating a rough cut of the footage which tells the basic story.
    • No effects, colour correction or transitions should be used at this stage.
    • The focus is on making sense of the events in your story in a continuity edit.
      • You will work with your partner to assess the sense in your story and get notes for draft 2
  • Using the rough edit you will work with the sound designer to create a foley sound spotting list.
  • You will also work with the sound designer as this point to lay down a simple track of music and ambient sound.
    • They will be making this whilst you do the rough edit.
  • Following this, you will re-cut and polish the edit in draft 2, cutting to make clearer sense of the footage and also applying colour correction, transitions and visual effects.
Sound Designer’s Role

Work towards your group’s collective vision and creative intentions for the sequence.

  • You will work alongside and in collaboration to plan and evaluate the sounds / music you are going to use.
  • You will create a layer of ambient sound / effects which create a sense of atmosphere.
  • Using sound loops (or musicians), you will create some music for the sequence.
  • You will work with the editor in order to sync these sound in the rough cut.
  • Using the rough edit you will work with the sound designer to create a foley sound spotting list and record 3-5 important foley sounds, which you will edit, applying effects in Adobe Audition.
  • You will polish the sound track and foley sounds alongside the editor ready for the final draft.