The final aspect of our planning is to write a comprehensive shot list for every single possible shot we plan to film.
A shot list is a full list of all the shots that are part of your film, with detailed information for each of them. Creative shot choices aside, it’s easy to forget that a shot list is a strategic document. Creating a shot list is essentially like creating a shooting gameplan for the day.
Here's our friend Darius with a reminder of the different shot types and angles:
Here are some top tips for writing a shot list:
Task: Write your shot list
Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for your extract AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar.
We advise using a simple table on Microsoft Word to set out your shot list - you can find an example here. It makes sense to write your shot list by scene or location rather than a huge list of every shot in the extract in chronological order. You can then copy this into your blog to show that it is complete.
Due: Thursday 27 September
Thursday 20 September 2018
Monday 17 September 2018
Coursework: Mise-en-scene planning
Now that we have developed a script for our Science Fiction TV drama, we need to plan the mise-en-scene.
Blog task: Mise-en-scene planning
Create a blogpost planning everything that will appear in front of the camera in your two-minute Science Fiction TV drama extract. Remember CLAMPS: Costume, Lighting, Actors (cast, placement and movement), Make-up, Props, Setting.
The following suggestions should help you:
Costume
What will your characters wear? What is the costume supposed to communicate to the audience? (E.g. a school uniform quickly and easily tells the audience that the character is high-school age etc.)
Lighting
How will you light your scene? Is it day or night? Interior or exterior? If outside, can you use streetlights, shadows, reflected sunlight or other creative techniques to achieve the lighting style you want? If inside, experiment with blinds up and down, room lights on and off etc.
Actors
The first thing you need to plan is your cast - who will be in your production and which character will they play? Try and cast people who are reasonably similar to the character they are playing (both in age and personality). Next, plan their placement and movement in key scenes from your script. Do you want them to appear trapped in a claustrophobic close-up? Or isolated as a tiny person in a wide shot?
Make-up
Plan any make-up you require - for example, coloured contact lenses can immediately create a Science Fiction feel.
Props
What props will you require? Remember, you can't use anything that might resemble a weapon in a public or school location (this is VERY important) so instead be creative with phones, messages and anything else that communicates the Science Fiction genre. Technology or science lab chemicals will effectively communicate the genre without getting you arrested.
Setting
This should already be largely planned using your script. However, now is the time to specify exact locations - if a science lab, which one? How will you arrange it with the teacher? When will you film there? Try and take pictures of locations or use Google Maps and Google Earth if you're using locations outside of school.
Here's an example of planning locations for a music video using images and notes:
Your mise-en-scene planning should all be on ONE blogpost and is due next week.
Complete for homework: due Thursday 27 September
Remember, mise-en-scene is a French term meaning, ‘what is in the scene’ or, literally, 'putting on stage'. It refers to everything you see within the frame in film and television.
The mise-en-scene sets the mood of the scene and offers clues to character and theme. Audiences have certain expectations of mise-en-scene depending on genre - which means we need to plan it carefully to show our extract is Science Fiction.
We use the mnemonic CLAMPS to remember mise-en-scene:
This video goes into A Level or Film School depth but is well worth 10 minutes to understand the power of mise-en-scene:
- Costume
- Lighting
- Actor placement and movement
- Make-up
- Props
- Setting
This video goes into A Level or Film School depth but is well worth 10 minutes to understand the power of mise-en-scene:
Blog task: Mise-en-scene planning
Create a blogpost planning everything that will appear in front of the camera in your two-minute Science Fiction TV drama extract. Remember CLAMPS: Costume, Lighting, Actors (cast, placement and movement), Make-up, Props, Setting.
The following suggestions should help you:
Costume
What will your characters wear? What is the costume supposed to communicate to the audience? (E.g. a school uniform quickly and easily tells the audience that the character is high-school age etc.)
Lighting
How will you light your scene? Is it day or night? Interior or exterior? If outside, can you use streetlights, shadows, reflected sunlight or other creative techniques to achieve the lighting style you want? If inside, experiment with blinds up and down, room lights on and off etc.
Actors
The first thing you need to plan is your cast - who will be in your production and which character will they play? Try and cast people who are reasonably similar to the character they are playing (both in age and personality). Next, plan their placement and movement in key scenes from your script. Do you want them to appear trapped in a claustrophobic close-up? Or isolated as a tiny person in a wide shot?
Make-up
Plan any make-up you require - for example, coloured contact lenses can immediately create a Science Fiction feel.
Props
What props will you require? Remember, you can't use anything that might resemble a weapon in a public or school location (this is VERY important) so instead be creative with phones, messages and anything else that communicates the Science Fiction genre. Technology or science lab chemicals will effectively communicate the genre without getting you arrested.
Setting
This should already be largely planned using your script. However, now is the time to specify exact locations - if a science lab, which one? How will you arrange it with the teacher? When will you film there? Try and take pictures of locations or use Google Maps and Google Earth if you're using locations outside of school.
Here's an example of planning locations for a music video using images and notes:
Your mise-en-scene planning should all be on ONE blogpost and is due next week.
Complete for homework: due Thursday 27 September
Wednesday 12 September 2018
Coursework: Scriptwriting
A good script is an absolutely vital element of your TV drama coursework.
We now need to turn our TV pitches and statements of intent into outstanding, professionally-written TV scripts. There are some great resources below to help you.
Writing drama
Film vlogger Darius has a good video on writing a short film:
BBC Writers' Room
You'll find fantastic guidance for writing a script in the BBC Writers' Room. Click on the Script Library to read real examples of professional BBC scripts.
Task: write your script
Write the script for your Science Fiction TV drama extract. Use Microsoft Word and make sure you lay out the page as a professional TV script. Use this real Doctor Who script as a guide if you're not sure what a real TV script should look like.
Once you're happy with your script, copy and paste it into your Media blog.
Deadline: Thursday 20 September
We now need to turn our TV pitches and statements of intent into outstanding, professionally-written TV scripts. There are some great resources below to help you.
Writing drama
Film vlogger Darius has a good video on writing a short film:
BBC Writers' Room
You'll find fantastic guidance for writing a script in the BBC Writers' Room. Click on the Script Library to read real examples of professional BBC scripts.
Task: write your script
Write the script for your Science Fiction TV drama extract. Use Microsoft Word and make sure you lay out the page as a professional TV script. Use this real Doctor Who script as a guide if you're not sure what a real TV script should look like.
Once you're happy with your script, copy and paste it into your Media blog.
Deadline: Thursday 20 September
Tuesday 11 September 2018
Reminder: Summer Project tasks
See below for a reminder of the Summer Project tasks for 2018.
Your summer project contained compulsory and optional elements; everybody will be researching Science Fiction TV, creating a new TV drama idea and then writing a detailed Statement of Intent. You could also plan and film your production over the summer if you wanted to - but this was entirely optional.
Summer project tasks
Complete the following tasks on a blogpost on your Media blog called 'Summer Project: coursework planning':
1) Research: Science Fiction TV drama
Watch the following Science Fiction TV drama clips and write an NCIS analysis of each one.
Doctor Who: Amy Pond meets Amelia Pond
Narrative: How is the story communicated to the audience? What do you think will happen next? Can you apply Todorov's theory of equilibrium to this clip?
Character: How do the characters appeal to the audience? Can you apply Propp's character theory to any of the characters in this extract? Do the characters reinforce or subvert stereotypes?
Iconography: Study the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS). How does the mise-en-scene communicate the narrative and Science Fiction genre?
Setting: How does the setting fit the Science Fiction genre? What audience pleasures might the setting provide for the audience? Think about Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory.
Humans: Series 1 trailer
Narrative: How is the story communicated to the audience? What do you think will happen next? Can you apply Todorov's theory of equilibrium to this clip?
Character: How do the characters appeal to the audience? Can you apply Propp's character theory to any of the characters in this extract? Do the characters reinforce or subvert stereotypes?
Iconography: Study the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS). How does the mise-en-scene communicate the narrative and Science Fiction genre?
Setting: How does the setting fit the Science Fiction genre? What audience pleasures might the setting provide for the audience? Think about Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory.
Stranger Things: Goodbye Mike
Narrative: How is the story communicated to the audience? What do you think will happen next? Can you apply Todorov's theory of equilibrium to this clip?
Character: How do the characters appeal to the audience? Can you apply Propp's character theory to any of the characters in this extract? Do the characters reinforce or subvert stereotypes?
Iconography: Study the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS). How does the mise-en-scene communicate the narrative and Science Fiction genre?
Setting: How does the setting fit the Science Fiction genre? What audience pleasures might the setting provide for the audience? Think about Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory.
Additional research: optional extension
Depending on your coursework plan and the sub-genre of Science Fiction you are working with, you may wish to research additional Science Fiction TV dramas. You can make optional additional notes on other TV dramas here:
2) TV drama planning and Statement of Intent
Plan out the title and narrative for your new, original Science Fiction TV drama and write your genuine 300-word Statement of Intent. This will be submitted to the exam board alongside your Science Fiction TV drama extract and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.
Guidance is provided by AQA in their NEA Student Booklet but we strongly recommend you also look at our Statement of Intent suggested content document too.
Summer project deadline: all tasks above due in first lesson back in September
Summer project: optional extensions
Pre-production tasks
Some students have already expressed an interest in filming their Science Fiction TV drama extracts over the summer break. This makes a huge amount of sense - far more availability of actors, much more time to schedule filming etc. However, if you want to do this, you need to complete the following aspects of pre-production:
Script
Write a script for your Science Fiction TV drama extract. You'll find guidance for writing a script in the BBC Writers' Room (click on the Script Library to read real examples of professional scripts).
Shot list
Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for your extract AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar. I advise using a simple table on Microsoft Word to set out your shot list - you can find an example here. It makes sense to write your shot list by scene or location rather than a huge list of every shot in the extract in chronological order.
Mise-en-scene
What iconography are you including to ensure your audience understands this is part of the Science Fiction TV drama genre? Plan your cast, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. This can be simply completed using your blog or Microsoft Word - the key aspect is to have planned all the critical details.
Shooting schedule
Plan a shooting schedule for your filming over the summer. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location. Again, this can be on Word or Excel or you could simply use your blog. The most important thing is that you've planned it!
Non-assessed participants
You will need to provide a written record of all non-assessed participants in your production work. Keep a record of everyone involved - actors, camerawork, sound etc. You will also need a keep a record of any non-original sound you used and note it on the Candidate Record Form. Keep these on your blog for easy reference when submitting your work later this year.
Production: Filming
Once you have completed your pre-production tasks, you can film as planned. If you are unable to film over the summer, we will have time to film this production in the first weeks of September.
Good luck!
Your summer project contained compulsory and optional elements; everybody will be researching Science Fiction TV, creating a new TV drama idea and then writing a detailed Statement of Intent. You could also plan and film your production over the summer if you wanted to - but this was entirely optional.
Summer project tasks
Complete the following tasks on a blogpost on your Media blog called 'Summer Project: coursework planning':
1) Research: Science Fiction TV drama
Watch the following Science Fiction TV drama clips and write an NCIS analysis of each one.
Doctor Who: Amy Pond meets Amelia Pond
Narrative: How is the story communicated to the audience? What do you think will happen next? Can you apply Todorov's theory of equilibrium to this clip?
Character: How do the characters appeal to the audience? Can you apply Propp's character theory to any of the characters in this extract? Do the characters reinforce or subvert stereotypes?
Iconography: Study the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS). How does the mise-en-scene communicate the narrative and Science Fiction genre?
Setting: How does the setting fit the Science Fiction genre? What audience pleasures might the setting provide for the audience? Think about Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory.
Humans: Series 1 trailer
Narrative: How is the story communicated to the audience? What do you think will happen next? Can you apply Todorov's theory of equilibrium to this clip?
Character: How do the characters appeal to the audience? Can you apply Propp's character theory to any of the characters in this extract? Do the characters reinforce or subvert stereotypes?
Iconography: Study the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS). How does the mise-en-scene communicate the narrative and Science Fiction genre?
Setting: How does the setting fit the Science Fiction genre? What audience pleasures might the setting provide for the audience? Think about Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory.
Stranger Things: Goodbye Mike
Narrative: How is the story communicated to the audience? What do you think will happen next? Can you apply Todorov's theory of equilibrium to this clip?
Character: How do the characters appeal to the audience? Can you apply Propp's character theory to any of the characters in this extract? Do the characters reinforce or subvert stereotypes?
Iconography: Study the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS). How does the mise-en-scene communicate the narrative and Science Fiction genre?
Setting: How does the setting fit the Science Fiction genre? What audience pleasures might the setting provide for the audience? Think about Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory.
Additional research: optional extension
Depending on your coursework plan and the sub-genre of Science Fiction you are working with, you may wish to research additional Science Fiction TV dramas. You can make optional additional notes on other TV dramas here:
2) TV drama planning and Statement of Intent
Plan out the title and narrative for your new, original Science Fiction TV drama and write your genuine 300-word Statement of Intent. This will be submitted to the exam board alongside your Science Fiction TV drama extract and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.
Guidance is provided by AQA in their NEA Student Booklet but we strongly recommend you also look at our Statement of Intent suggested content document too.
Summer project deadline: all tasks above due in first lesson back in September
Summer project: optional extensions
Pre-production tasks
Some students have already expressed an interest in filming their Science Fiction TV drama extracts over the summer break. This makes a huge amount of sense - far more availability of actors, much more time to schedule filming etc. However, if you want to do this, you need to complete the following aspects of pre-production:
Script
Write a script for your Science Fiction TV drama extract. You'll find guidance for writing a script in the BBC Writers' Room (click on the Script Library to read real examples of professional scripts).
Shot list
Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for your extract AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar. I advise using a simple table on Microsoft Word to set out your shot list - you can find an example here. It makes sense to write your shot list by scene or location rather than a huge list of every shot in the extract in chronological order.
Mise-en-scene
What iconography are you including to ensure your audience understands this is part of the Science Fiction TV drama genre? Plan your cast, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. This can be simply completed using your blog or Microsoft Word - the key aspect is to have planned all the critical details.
Shooting schedule
Plan a shooting schedule for your filming over the summer. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location. Again, this can be on Word or Excel or you could simply use your blog. The most important thing is that you've planned it!
Non-assessed participants
You will need to provide a written record of all non-assessed participants in your production work. Keep a record of everyone involved - actors, camerawork, sound etc. You will also need a keep a record of any non-original sound you used and note it on the Candidate Record Form. Keep these on your blog for easy reference when submitting your work later this year.
Production: Filming
Once you have completed your pre-production tasks, you can film as planned. If you are unable to film over the summer, we will have time to film this production in the first weeks of September.
Good luck!
Wednesday 5 September 2018
Welcome to GCSE Media Year 2!
This is our brand-new blog for Year 2 of GCSE Media Studies - welcome!
This is where you'll find everything you need for coursework and exam preparation for this crucial second year of the GCSE Media course.
Good luck and let's earn those top grades!
This is where you'll find everything you need for coursework and exam preparation for this crucial second year of the GCSE Media course.
Good luck and let's earn those top grades!
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