AS MEDIA STUDIES: Foundation Portfolio (50% Coursework)
In this section you will work in groups to produce a opening sequence for a Thriller film. The section is marked in three sections outlined below;
Research and Planning: 20 Marks
Construction: 60 Marks
Evaluation: 20 Marks
You will also have the opportunity to use Garageband in order to create a soundtrack for your opening sequence.
The use of PhotoShop software will also be incooperated in this section. Your Final Evaluation will be a group decision on how to produce this. Groups in the past have produced commentaries, PowerPoint presentations, Prezzi presentations, animation presentations etc.
Example Student Production Logo produced using PhotoShop
AS MEDIA STUDIES: TV Drama/Institutions and Audiences (50% EXAM)
This is the examination section which is split into 2 questions. The sections are outlined below;
TV DRAMA: This is the first question area which will come up in your exam. Here you will have the opportunity to study and analyse TV Drama from various genres. You will learn how the four micro areas of SOUND, EDITING,MISE EN SCENE and CAMERAWORK
help construct the representational areas within TV DRAMA. You have the oppotunity to use software such as Garageband and Final Cut Pro in order to understand the various areas through practical study.
Example of AS Media students Soundscope practice (2011) Hannah and Nellie: "For our soundscape we used the narrative of an attacker meeting its victim, we used different sounds/soundtracks to produce this. We were trying to build up tension in the beginning/middle of the sound clip with fast, jittery sounds like static. This really helped to build up tension, we also overlaid some tracks to create different and more atomospheric sound. We then tried to relieve the tension but in a sinister and scary way, we did this by using a piano track with an eerie background noise. This helped us feel relieved but also kept us on the edge, like it would in a movie sequence".
INSTITUTIONS AND AUDIENCES: This is the second exam questions which will come up in your exam. Here you will look into a particular institution and establish the ways in which it works with its audiences through areas such as DISTRIBUTION< CONSUMPTION>EXHIBITION>MARKETING in the past we have looked into the VIDEO GAMES and FILM industries.
Following successful completion of AS Media Studies, students may take the 2nd year and complete A level Media Studies as well as progress into the media industry.
A2 MEDIA STUDIES: Advanced Portfolio (50% Coursework)
In this section you will work in groups to create a music video for a song of your choice. In addition you will also create a Magazine Advert and a Digipak for your production. The split is outlined below;
Research and Planning 20 Marks
Construction 40 Marks
Ancillary 20 Marks
Evaluation 20 Marks
You will have the opportunity to enhance your skills using PhotoShop through the production of a promotional package for the music video. Your Final Cut skills will also develop through the construction of the video and a video commentary for the evaluation.
Below is an example student video.
Below is an example student Magazine Advert
Below is an example student Digipak
A2 MEDIA STUDIES: Critical Perspectives (50% Examination)
Section A is part of your first exam question which is based on skills development and application of media concept to own work. In this section you will have to answer section 1a and section 1b, each worth 25 marks.
1A: consists of studying the following five areas.
Research and Planning
Digital Technology
Using Real Media Conventions
Creativity
Post Production
You will be involved in many activities to understand the areas above in terms of skills development. Below are some of them:
Essay writing
Mock Practice
Creating Timelines
Using Photoshop for in class activities
Debates
Creating short videos with xtranormal
Understanding creativity through mood board practice
1B: Consists of studying the following five areas
Narrative
Genre
Audience
Media Language
Representation
Within this section you will learn how to apply the theories to one of your production pieces (AS Opening Sequence or A2 music Video)
SECTION B: This exam question is worth 50 marks.Here you will study the topic of Collective Identity in relation to British Youth. We will be analysing a number of Films and TV programes in relation to the representation of young people. Some of the text we will look at will be The Inbetweeners Movie, Attack The Block, Misfits Series 2, Top Boy, Eastenders E20, Quadrophenia and The Young Ones.
