Coursework: Preliminary exercise

The first aspect of your GCSE Media Studies coursework is a preliminary exercise that introduces the basics of narrative filmmaking.

This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know the basics of planning, filming and editing. You may even film an advert that you can end up using as inspiration for your actual coursework production.

Preliminary exercise: TV advert - 'Late to lesson'

Your preliminary exercise involves filming and editing a character who is late to their lesson. This needs to include the character walking or running down a corridor, going through a door and reaching their classroom. It also needs to include a pack shot of a body spray product plus some text on screen with the brand name and logo.

This task should demonstrate match-on-action, a vital aspect of continuity editing, and a variety of camera shots and movement.

Time allowed: two weeks

Key skills

Watch this great introduction to filmmaking - it covers the basics of the creative process:



Match-on-action

Match on action (or cutting on action) is an editing technique for continuity editing in which one shot cuts to another shot showing the same action of the subject in the first shot.

This creates the impression of continuity - the action creates a 'visual bridge' which is easy for the audience to follow.

Look at this YouTube clip for match on action - the cuts you want to look at in particular are at 2 seconds, then again at 18 seconds:





Preliminary exercise: TV advert - 'Late to lesson

Task: Create a scene in which a character walks or runs down a corridor, goes through a door and reaches their classroom. It also needs to include a pack shot of a body spray product plus some text on screen with the brand name and logo. The advert should target a teenage audience.

Length: approximately 30 seconds

Equipment: Smart phone or a school Canon Legria (limited numbers available). Note: you may need to bring in the cable to capture the videos from your phone.

Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can act in the advert or operate equipment (e.g. camera, sound) as long as they are directed by the candidate submitting the work. You may want to get into groups of two or three to help each other complete this task.

What your TV advert needs to include

Content: Your scene must include match-on-action editing and a pack shot that clearly demonstrates to the audience that this is a TV advert for a body spray product.

Camerawork: You must include at least one long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot and either a high or low angle shot. You also must include both fixed camera shots and camera movement (e.g. handheld, tracking, pan etc.)

Editing: You must include match-on-action continuity editing.

Sound: You must include dialogue or voiceover plus music to help establish the brand and lifestyle of the audience you are targeting. 

Deadlines

Planning and filming: This week's lessons 

Editing and final deadline: Next week Thursday


Initial tasks: planning

Before creating anything in Media you need to plan out exactly what you are going to do. You need to complete the following planning tasks on your blog before you can film anything:

Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.

Example statement of intent [exactly 100 words]: 

I plan to make a 30-second advert for Lynx. I will fast-paced editing and non-diegetic music to give the advert impact and excitement. Creative low- and high-angle camera shots will make the advert visually interesting and emphasise the 'coolness' of the brand while also communicating the 'late to lesson' narrative. 

I will attempt to subvert the representation of young people in my TV advert. Usually, young people are shown to be anti-social, rude and likely to cause trouble. Instead, I will make my character a student desperate to get to lesson on time despite everything that gets in their way. 

Script: Stage directions and dialogue/voiceover if required. To see how a TV script is presented, and to look at professional examples, check out the BBC Writers' Room and click on Script Library.

Casting: Who will be in your advert.

Location: Where in school you will film (OR where you will film off-site if you wish to do this for homework). Important note: You CANNOT take any students out of any other lessons and your filming location must not disturb any other teachers in the school.

Shot list: Every shot you plan to film. This needs to be far more shots than you will actually use in the final version - plan extra close-ups, long shots, unusual angles and more. You can find an example shot list here. 

Extension - Storyboard: Draw a 5-frame storyboard mapping out your key shots.

Your planning needs to be completed by Thursday 12 September. Good luck!