Pre-production tasks are vital - this is where you plan all the key details that make your video coursework successful. Over the next two weeks we will be finalising our pre-production and starting our filming. Here's a great video on low-budget filmmaking from our friend D4Darius on YouTube:
Pre-production: blog tasks
Create a blogpost called 'Pre-production' and work through the following tasks.
1) Script
You need to write a complete script for your two-minute extract and format it like a real TV script (see picture on the right).
There is lots of help out there for top-quality screenwriting. A good place to start is the BBC Writers' Room which has top tips, a whole script library of real examples (like the Doctor Who script pictured) and more ideas for turning your concept into a real TV script.
Make sure you include both stage directions and dialogue - and as you can see from the example, often the stage directions are much more detailed than the dialogue. Try and make your script look like a professional example in terms of layout - either in your blogpost or on a linked Google Doc.
2) Shot list
Once you have a full script you are happy with, you can turn it into a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for your TV drama AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. You'll know from your preliminary exercise that missing a shot, continuity errors or not having enough material makes editing much more difficult. A good shot list will help you avoid this. In particular, make sure you plan lots of extra shots that you may not need but can help you with editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar. I advise using a simple table on Google Docs to set out your shot list - you can find an example here for a student film shot list. It makes sense to write your shot list by scene or location (like in the example linked) rather than a huge list of every shot in the extract in chronological order. 3) Mise-en-scene
What iconography or mise-en-scene are you including to ensure your audience understands your drama as fantasy? Plan your cast, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. This can be simply completed using your blog or on a Google Doc - the key aspect is to have planned all the critical details. Remember the mise-en-scene mnemonic: CLAMPS.
Costume:
Lighting / time of day:
Actors - casting, placement, movement:
Make-up and hair:
Props:
Setting:
Important note: You CANNOT film anything involving anything that could be mistaken for a weapon in any public place. Media students from a school in North London were arrested by armed police after filming a scene with a replica gun in a public place. Remember this when planning your coursework! 4) Shooting schedule
Plan a shooting schedule for your filming over the next two weeks. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location. Again, this can be on Google Docs or Sheets or you could simply use your blog. The most important thing is that you've planned it!
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 chase Your preliminary exercise involves filming and editing a chase scene between two characters that ends in a short conversation that reveals a disruption in the narrative. This simply means a problem, conflict or development that will need to be fixed later in the episode. The chase scene, narrative and conversation needs to be appropriate to the fantasy genre and a family audience - so similar to a show like His Dark Materials.
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 chase scene some American film school students produced:
And here's a compilation of classic foot-chase sequences from films:
Finally, here's a great masterclass from a professional director on how to shoot a chase scene:
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 a basic match on action example:
Fantasy genre examples
The fantasy genre can be a difficult genre to work with but it also gives you brilliant creative possibilities. Have a look at these example scenes if you need some inspiration:
Class: Trapped in a Confession Prison
This is a fantastic example of a narrative disruption - the characters are trapped in a type of prison with a mysterious object that makes them tell the truth.
Doctor Who: Love and Monsters
This is a good example of a chase-style opening scene to engage the audience.
Doctor Who: Crane chase
This is another classic chase scene although it's more in the science-fiction genre. There are some great angles and close-ups in this scene.
Preliminary exercise tasks: The chase
Task: Create a chase scene between two characters that ends in a short conversation that reveals a disruption in the narrative. The narrative and conversation needs to be appropriate to the fantasy genre and a family audience. Length: approximately 30-60 seconds. Equipment: Smart phone or a school camcorder (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 / iCloud. 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 as explained in the clip above. It must also include a narrative disruption - a problem, conflict or development that will need to be fixed later in the episode. Camerawork: You must include at least three different shot types but you will hopefully include much more (e.g. 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 edit to clearly show the progress of the chase. 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.
Specific deadlines: see Google Classroom. 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:
Create a blogpost called 'Coursework preliminary exercise' and produce the following.
1) Write a 100 word statement of intent explaining what you are going to make for your preliminary exercise. Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.
Example statement of intent [133 words]:
I plan to make a 45-second TV drama scene for a show called Connection. This is a fantasy drama about a young school student, Alex, who has mysterious powers. This scene will be the moment the student is chased by the show's other main character, Ryan, before Alex admits she has these powers and the dangers that they are facing.
Both characters will be dressed casually as London students and the chase will take place in Fresh Mill Lane alongside school. I will film the whole chase several times and use a variety of camera shots and movements - particularly wide shots and low-angle medium shots - so I can create a fast-paced, dramatic chase when editing. There will be a low, tense non-diegetic soundtrack playing behind the conversation to add atmosphere to the scene. [133 words]
2) Write a script for your preliminary exercise on your blog. This needs to include 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.
3) Casting: Who will be in your preliminary exercise scene? 4) Plan your locations: Where you will film your preliminary exercise? (You can film off-site if you wish to do this for homework - this is what we would strongly recommend). Important note: You CANNOT take any students out of any other lessons OR disturb any other lessons in the school. If you wish to film in-school then you will need to film with Mr Harrison supervising or after school with a Media teacher present. 5) Write your shot list: every shot you plan to film. This needs to be far MORE shots than you will actually use in the final edited version - plan extra angles, close-ups, long shots and more. You can find an example shot list here. Extension task - Storyboard: Draw a 5-frame storyboard mapping out your key shots. Storyboard sheets are available in DF07. Your planning needs to be completed this week. Good luck!
The summer project is a fantastic opportunity to start planning your TV drama coursework. Your summer project contains compulsory and optional elements; everybody will be researching TV drama extracts, coming up with a new fantasy TV drama concept and then writing a Statement of Intent first draft. However, if you wish to plan and film your production over the summer while you have time available we would fully support you in this approach.
Summer project tasks Complete the following tasks on a blogpost on your Media blog called 'Summer Project: coursework planning': 1) Research: Fantasy TV drama extracts Watch the following fantasy TV drama clips and write an NCIS analysis of each one.
Clip 1: His Dark Materials
Narrative and genre:What is the story here? How is the narrative communicated to the audience? How does this fit the fantasy genre?
Technical codes:What camera shots do you notice and what do they communicate to the audience? How is sound used to create atmosphere? What aspects of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) help to communicate meaning to the audience?
Representations: What representations can you find in this clip - does it reinforce or subvert stereotypes? How?
Clip 2: Charmed
Narrative and genre:What is the story here? How is the narrative communicated to the audience? How does this fit the fantasy genre?
Technical codes: What camera shots do you notice and what do they communicate to the audience? How is sound used to create atmosphere? What aspects of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) help to communicate meaning to the audience?
Representations: What representations can you find in this clip - does it reinforce or subvert stereotypes? How?
Clip 3: Shadow and Bone
Narrative and genre:What is the story here? How is the narrative communicated to the audience? How does this fit the fantasy genre?
Technical codes: What camera shots do you notice and what do they communicate to the audience? How is sound used to create atmosphere? What aspects of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) help to communicate meaning to the audience?
Representations: What representations can you find in this clip - does it reinforce or subvert stereotypes? How?
Additional research: optional extension Depending on your coursework plan and the type of TV drama sequence you wish to create, you may want to research additional TV drama extracts. Focus on the fantasy genre of TV drama - this article on the best 10 fantasy TV shows may be useful.
Whatever you watch, make sure you write some additional notes or bullet points about these fantasy TV dramas on your blog so you are documenting your research. 2) TV drama planning
Plan out the title and narrative for your new, original fantasy TV drama so you know how your extract will fit into the overall series.
Complete this TV drama pitch document with your NEW original idea for a fantasy TV drama aimed at a family audience. Copy and paste the questions from the Google doc into your blog.
3) Statement of Intent
On the same Summer Project blogpost, write the rough first draft of your genuine 300-word Statement of Intent for the two-minute sequence you plan to create. The final draft of this document will be submitted to the exam board alongside your fantasy 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 the second lesson back in September.
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!
