Deadline: First Edit of Film Trailer

Year 13,

Just an update on the coursework deadline:

The deadline for the first edit of your coursework is due by Friday 15th January. This has been extended from the provisional deadline, which means it is non-negotiable. If your work isn't submitted before this date then you will receive no feedback from teachers and peers.

It is important that you stay on track with the deadlines as we have to begin the ancillary tasks soon after this deadline - but you will have an opportunity to make amendments to your film based on the feedback received.

If you have any questions or concerns about this then raise it with me ASAP.

-VXF

Blog Feedback: November

Please take a look at the following feedback - slightly different format as we move towards the practical.

Etty

Script	Missing from blog.
Storyboard	Draft posted but needs finalised version.
Shot List	Make sure you publish one separately from the storyboard.
Film Schedule	Missing from blog.
Casting	Completed and clearly evidenced

Posts are incredibly detailed and lots of research and planning is evident, but remember that the tasks listed above are essential – without proper planning a practical rarely goes as it should (also, it will reduce your stress J)

Millie

Script	Completed and clearly evidenced
Storyboard	Completed and clearly evidenced
Shot List	Completed and clearly evidenced.
Film Schedule	Completed and clearly evidenced.
Casting	TBC – we have spoken about this.

Research is detailed with plenty of varied posts – good work J Storyboard is missing a few details – it should be annotated with timings and shots. Also, remember to introduce posts/PowerPoints.

Scarlett

Script	Part of a draft but full script missing from blog.
Storyboard	Completed and clearly evidenced
Shot List	Missing from blog.
Film Schedule	Missing from blog.
Casting	Missing from blog.

Similar feedback to Etty. Detailed and varied posts with excellent presentation – good job. However, you are missing some of the essential elements you need to ensure a successful, organised production; it’s very important that you and Etty iron out these issues soon.

Adyn

Script	Missing from blog. The draft you’ve posted is more like a plot summary.
Storyboard	Completed and evidenced on blog.
Shot List	Completed and evidenced on blog.
Film Schedule	Try to present this in a table/calendar format.
Casting	Completed and evidenced on blog. Perhaps add some images?

Well done for completing most of the tasks above J I am slightly concerned about the missing script though… It’s very important that this is completed before you start filming as you don’t want to be in a position where you’re missing footage and need to go back and film.


Mollie

Script	Completed and evidenced on blog.
Storyboard	Completed and evidenced on blog.
Shot List	Completed and evidenced on blog.
Film Schedule	Completed and evidenced on blog.
Casting	Show some more evidence of casting.

As always, your blog is superb – posts are varied and detailed. Just make sure you include some more evidence of your casting/cast list.

Jake


Feedback received verbally due to some missed deadlines. Remember to approach me if you need help or extensions J

Half-Term ELT

It is really pleasing to see that so many of you are on-track with the R&P so far. Over half term, we need to step up a gear and begin planning towards the production of your coursework. This means making some big final decisions and ensuring you’re organised before you head into the filming process. Your new checklist:

• Finalised script (remember to also post your drafts and changes as you go along though)
• Finalised storyboard (drafts - as above)
• Shot list
• Filming schedule
• Casting (actors)

The deadline I’m setting for this is Wednesday 11^th November (the week after we come back.) You should also have all filming finished by 30^th November to allow time for editing.

Blog Feedback: October

Year 13,


Well, I am certainly impressed by the effort that you have put into your blogs - you are the most conscientious group of Year 13s we've had!


The blogs look excellent, overall, with just a few bits and pieces missing for some of you. Make sure you fill in any gaps over half-term and ensure you move onto the next planning stages (which I'm about to set for ELT.)


Huge pat on the back - well done :)


- Miss F

Student	Comments	Targets	Key Pieces Missing
Scarlett	An excellent, well-presented and detailed blog. Keep up the good work!	Just ensure your posts stay as thorough and regular as they have been.	None J
Etty	Considering the technical problems you’ve had, I am really pleased with yours Etty. Posts are detailed and well-presented.	Well done for catching up on things. Just continue working as hard as you have been and your blog will flourish.	- More analysis of existing films/trailers needed (You’re nearly on green!)
Jake	Your posts are incredibly detailed, Jake; you’ve clearly put a lot of thought and effort into each one.	Try to upload posts more frequently; choose some of the quicker/easier tasks from the checklist to add to your post count.	- Survey results - Film pitch/initial ideas - Analysis of existing trailers
Millie	This is a great blog, Millie! You have lots of detailed posts covering most aspects of the research and planning checklist. Good work!	As I’ve said before, remember that it is unlikely you will hear back from artists such as Sam Smith – try using Creative Commerce (and similar) to find a soundtrack.	- Codes and conventions of trailers
Adyn	I’m really pleased with this, Adyn; this is a massive improvement on last year’s blog. You’ve covered a good range of R&P tasks. Well done!	Some extra detail in posts and thought into the presentation of information would help you aim for a higher level.	- Codes and conventions of trailers - Survey results
Mollie	As always, Mollie, you blog is amazing. You always put so much thought and detail into your posts. Excellent work!	Just ensure your posts stay as thorough and regular as they have been.	None J

Planning: Mind-map and checklist

Once you have completed your research, you should move onto your planning posts.

Some of the first posts you could work on are below... However, there is an extensive list on the mind-map included on this post.

Film pitch:
Create a post explaining your initial film idea - basically, the film pitch I asked you to prepare over the summer. Compare to existing films or films that have inspired your decision.

Audience Research:
Create a survey and interview your target audience. You could do a write up or create a Voxpop.

Audience Profile:
Create a profile of your 'typical' audience member - their interests, income/occupation, etc.

Development of Production Logo:
Create a production logo. Show the development of your designs and explain how you came up with the image and name.

Title of Film:
Explain your reasoning for the title of your production. Look at some similar films and explore the conventions of the titles, e.g. Social realism: Shameless, Skins, Glue (they’re all single words that link to that lifestyle/culture)


Music research:
Post the links to the tracks you’re considering using. Screenshot any emails you’ve sent to record labels for permission to use the music. Remember, you can always use Creative Commons or search on YouTube for copyright-/loyalty-free music.

Character Profiles:
Pick your two main characters to focus on. Create a profile of their age, interests, hobbies, personality. Compare them to characters from similar films.

Hi all,


Below is the most recent feedback for your A2 blogs.


Remember, your deadline is Friday for all research. If you have any concerns, please let me know before the lesson. My tutor base/teaching room is F218 (if I'm not there I'll be in F204 - MFL office - or S302)

Student	Comments	Targets
Jake	The posts you have completed are very detailed, Jake. They don’t all need to be so text-heavy, however, as you need to show you can display your work using different media forms.	- You still haven’t embedded your YouTube videos – make sure you do this. - There’s still a few main tasks missing which I’ve set during lessons as ELT (as well as extension tasks on my blog). Prioritise some of the more important tasks to ensure you catch up. - Vary your media.
Mollie	This is an example of how a blog should look! Each post is detailed and uses a range of different media outputs. Very impressive, Mollie!	Move onto your planning stages now. If your planning posts are as varied and detailed as your research posts then you’ll be on your way towards full marks for this section of the c/w J
Millie	You’ve done really well to catch up on the work you missed at the end of last term. The posts you’ve completed are detailed, which I’m very pleased with. There are a few gaps but we still have until the end of the week before we move on.	- Use a range of different media on posts (slideshare is good but don’t be over-reliant on it.) - Timeline of titles needed (it’s important that you show your understanding of the structure of trailers)
Adyn	Some good, detailed posts here, Adyn. You’ve covered a good range of areas in your research. Focus on your presentation of posts…	- Make sure you’re using a range of different media. The timeline, for example, is a block of text when it could have been some sort of graphic. - Ensure all videos are embedded – links look boring and clumsy.
Scarlet	This is looking great, Scarlet! Good range of posts, most of them presented well and very detailed. Nice work!	- Introduce links on some posts, e.g. ‘This is a mind-map of my initial ideas…’ - Move onto your planning stages now. Ensure your planning posts are as varied and detailed as your research posts and you’ll be on your way towards level 4 for this section of the c/w J
Etty	I know we’ve spoken and you’ve assured me that a lot of the posts are drafts, but make sure you don’t fall behind. I’ll review this on Wednesday – as it stands, this is minimal so we need to sort it out.	- Go back through old posts and ensure exterior links are embedded or hyperlinked (first post has an error). - Check my research task suggestions and prioritise some of the more important tasks in order to catch up.

Blog Feedback - July (in progress)

Hi everyone,

You'll be new to my method of feedback (as RAB delivers his slightly differently,) but I tend to give a mixture of verbal feedback and my blog 'traffic light' system. The reason for this is to give you written comments with an indication of the level your blog is currently at - without directly telling you the grade (as we're not allowed to!) It also helps you to see where you are in comparison to the rest of the class - and hopefully spur some of you on. You can also use the blogs in green as style models to follow - just make sure you don't plagiarise.

Student	Comments	Targets
Caroline	Some of your posts are detailed and have demonstrated good use of media examples.	- Ensure you're keeping on top of work - there's quite a few tasks that aren't up there at present. - Vary the output of your posts (try Prezi, SlideShare, etc.)
Taylor	Excellent detail in blog posts - very analytical as well. Good inclusion of images to accompany comments. Well done!	- Make sure you embed links and videos in your blog posts (it's much more presentable, which is something you're marked on.) - The detail in your posts is superb, but there are still a few tasks you need to complete - be careful not to fall behind.
Jake	Great detail in the completed posts - good analysis of existing examples, Jake.	- Ensure you're keeping on top of work - there's quite a few tasks that aren't up there at present. I realise yours are detailed and they may take time, but be careful not to fall behind! - Embed YouTube videos into your posts.
Mollie	An excellent example of a blog –detailed posts which are presented with care and demonstrates a range of different media. Superb, Mollie!	- Complete timeline of captions for trailers. - Storyboard/timeline of camera shots/angles/movement and editing/soundtrack. (Pace)
Millie
Dan	Good analysis of the film posters, Dan; the inclusion of Slideshare really helps to break up the blocks of texts in the other posts.	- Make sure you're including different media in your blog posts - posts should be complimented with screen caps, videos, etc. demonstrating the examples you're referencing. - Quite a lot of tasks missing at this point - make sure you don't fall behind!
Adyn
Scarlet	Very detailed posts, covering a lot of the research areas highlighted by VXF and RAB. Good inclusion of different media, Scarlet!	- Make sure you introduce your posts to explain what the links are and why you've included them. - Like Mollie, your next step is to complete the timeline tasks - see my blog for a guide of how to complete them.
Etty
Tom