Coursework: Statement of Intent

The first 10 marks of our coursework are for a written Statement of Intent.

This is simply a Word or Google Document in which we write what we are planning to make for our coursework. Your completed summer project will give you most of the information you need for this - particularly the TV drama pitch document - but you may have changed or developed your idea since the summer. 

Our coursework brief for 2022 can be found here - we are working on Brief 5 - TV drama.

The Statement of Intent word count is 300 words - you can go slightly above this if you want to but you need to keep it pretty close to 300.

This Statement of Intent guidance will help you if you're not sure what to write - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access it. The most important thing is that you cover media language, representations and the target audience in your Statement of Intent.

Another tip is that you can use subheadings and bullet points in your Statement of Intent - it doesn't need to all be in paragraphs. In fact, bullet points are very useful for keeping the word count down. 

Here's the Statement of Intent mark scheme: 

Statement of Intent: task

1) Write your Statement of Intent on a Word or Google Doc - word count 300 words. Use this Statement of Intent guidance document to help you.

Submit your Statement of Intent to your teacher by emailing them the Word or Google Document. 

Due date: on Google Classroom

Assessment: revision and preparation

You will have an assessment on Thursday 30 September in your lesson.

This will be a mini version of Paper 1 in the same way that you completed a mini version of Paper 2 in your assessment before the summer holiday.

You need to revise the following before your assessment:

• Media language (the first question will be an unseen media analysis)
• Magazines
• Advertising and Marketing

We recommend looking over this video lesson breaking down a magazine assessment to help your preparation. You should also look over your blog learner responses for your assessments last year.

Make sure you revise the key terminology and important information for the CSPs.

Good luck!

Coursework: Preliminary exercise 2021

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 a scene that you can end up using in your actual coursework production!

Preliminary exercise: The Big Reveal - Phone conversation

Your preliminary exercise involves filming and editing a phone conversation between two characters in two different locations which reveals a dramatic narrative resolution. The narrative and conversation needs to be appropriate to the science fiction or fantasy genre. 

The scene must include cross-cutting between the two characters, match-on-action editing and at least three different shot types (e.g. establishing shot, close-up, over-the-shoulder shot) and two types of camera movement (e.g. pan, handheld camera, zoom). 

Here's an example of a classic phone call scene from Hollywood history - 1994 action movie Speed:

Deadline: 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: The Big Reveal - Phone conversation

Task: Create a phone conversation between two characters in two different locations which reveals a dramatic narrative resolution. The narrative and conversation needs to be appropriate to the science fiction or fantasy genre and an audience of teenagers and young adults. 

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 or use data to upload to Google Drive.

Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can act in your scene 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 drama scene needs to include

Content: Your scene must include match-on-action editing and cross cutting between the two characters having the conversation. It must also include a narrative resolution - something that reveals key information for the audience.

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 and cross-cutting between your two locations.

Sound: You must include diegetic sound (from within the world of the TV show) which will be dialogue and any background sound. You can also include non-diegetic sound (e.g. music) to help establish the atmosphere and genre if you wish. 

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 TV drama scene for a show called Pupil. This is a science fiction show about a student who is from another world. This scene will be the moment the pupil reveals this information to their best friend in a phone conversation. 

Both characters will be dressed casually and in their homes. I will film the whole conversation several times in each location and use a variety of camera shots (including many close-ups). I will then cross cut this conversation together in Premiere Pro. There will be a low, tense non-diegetic soundtrack playing behind the conversation to add atmosphere to the scene. [107 words]

Script: Stage directions AND dialogue. To see how a TV drama 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 TV drama scene.

Location: Where you will film (you can film off-site if you wish to do this for homework). Important note: You CANNOT take any students out of any other lessons OR disturb any other lessons in the school. You MUST stay around DF07 and the nearest stairwell. 

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. Storyboard sheets are available in DF07.

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

Welcome to GCSE Media Year 2!

This is your new blog home 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!