T3 | Wk 1 | Monday / Tuesday - Technology Doco - Side by Side

Hi class,

Here is your next set of tasks:

1. Documentary 

Watch the documentary below by Keanuu Reeves (2012). He explores technological developments in the film world. Make lots of notes, answering the questions below. You will need to be able to write an entire essay on this, at exam time and for homework, soon.

2.   Case Study work

- add information to your existing case study documents in relation to technological advancements and also into your homework essay

- Think about the following questions;

-  did they include special effects / after effectcs? If so, what? (were they building  models like for original Star Wars or using CGI? 

What was their budget and in what ways did technology contribute to the budget? (compare big budget Hollywood blockbuster with the Indi film. 

What was each budget and how did technology help them in diffrerent ways?

 Did the lower-budget Indi film shoot on a digital camera?

 Did the blockbuster shoot on film? 

 

Use the following questions to gather the necessary information;

Questions should be filled out below: 

1) Note down specific changes in technology below and films that have utilized this change in technology...

 2) What has been the exclusive production, distribution and exhibition format for over 100 years?

 3) What is going to replace 35mm film?

 4) Note down key quotes from directors regarding digital and film production and exhibition:

 5) How is digital processed?

 6) How does the documentary discuss the production and post production process? 

7) How is digital helping or hindering film production, post production and exhibition?

 8) Note down key quotes from editors regarding digital post production: 

9) What is the impact of digital technology and what does the future hold? 

T3 | Wk 1 | Wed - Technology in The Odyssey

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE01rTiMDuM

T3 | Wk 1 | Monday - CGI fatigue

    Watch the first Barbie video, a few minutes of the second Barbie video, the Oppenheimer video and the Avatar video.

Answer these questions;

- Name of film and year it was released

- director of each film 

- did the directors choose digital or film to shoot these? 

- what SFX / CGI was used in these films? 

- what practical effects were used in the making of these films

- a quote or interesting fact about the making of these films 

- how well have each of these films done in Box Office earnings? 

- what have rotten tomatoes reviews been for these? 

Contrast these films successes with Antman vs. Wasp and make some notes on the contrast between them.

T3 | Wk 1 | Fri - Changes in technology - then and now

    Hi guys,

We are going to revisit CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY as a topic today.

Remember we watched Keanu Reeves, "Side by Side" and you made some good notes (everything you'll need for an essay) for writing about the move from film to digital.

Today we are going to explore technological changes and what impact that has on the film indutstry. You need to be able to comment on CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY AND HOW IT IMPACTS EVERY PART OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS (production / post-production / distribution / exhibition / consumption)

This article from last week has a lot in it in terms of technological advancements / changes in technology that impact the film industry;

This article here, "Then and Now has some great points in an easy to read format for each stage of production. 

Make notes in preparation for an exam question that could include technological changes.

July School Holidays Assignment - Representation Deep Dive - When they See Us

 

Key Terminology 

Term	Definition & Exam Application
Representation	The way media re-presents the world — people, places, events and ideas are constructed through choices. Never 'neutral' or 'natural'.
Stereotype	An oversimplified, widely-held image of a group. Stereotypes are ideological — they serve the interests of dominant groups by making constructions appear natural.
Counter-type	A representation that deliberately challenges or subverts a dominant stereotype.
Ideology	A system of values and beliefs presented as common sense. Media texts encode ideological positions through representational choices.
Preferred / Dominant Reading	The meaning a producer intends audiences to take from a text. The technical codes work to anchor this reading.
Signifier / Signified	From semiotics: the signifier is the image/sound; the signified is the concept or meaning it evokes. Useful for analysing mise-en-scène.
Connotation / Denotation	Denotation = what you literally see/hear. Connotation = the cultural meanings and associations it carries.

 OBSERVATION GRID 

Element	What I noticed (observation) → What it means (analysis)
Camera
Editing
Mise-en-Scène
Sound

✦ ACTIVITY:  — Three Statements 1.   Students write three statements, each using a different technical element and explaining how it contributes to the representation of a character or group in the extract. 2.   Each statement must follow the structure: [Technical choice] + [Specific detail] + [Effect on audience/meaning created] + [Representation constructed]. 3.   Example: 'The low-angle shot of the detective [camera] creates a sense of authority and dominance, positioning the audience to view him as powerful, constructing a stereotypically heroic masculine identity.'

 

 

T2 | Wk 11 | David Gauntlett's Identity Theory

  

“Identity is complicated; everyone's got one.” Gauntlett believes that while everyone is an individual, people tend to exist within larger groups who are similar to them. He thinks the media do not create identities, but just reflect them instead 

Let's look at this article and clip from David Gauntlett himself 

https://davidgauntlett.com/digital-media/new-video-on-identity-for-uk-a-and-as-level-students/?fbclid=IwAR3ej7DimvZ2DDzuxJ0i9I-lx9R0iQJVtDpka8A0xcL-0PUsAU4X2VhNFtQ

Consider the question 

Why is it hard for us to ask the question 'how does this media text construct identity'? 

What are some key notions of identity that we should take into consideration? 

Use one of the clips from this week's homework assignment and write a paragraph that uses both Stuart Hall, Blumler and Katz (Uses _+ Gratifications theory) and Gauntlett's theory correctly. 

T2 | Wk 11 | Monday | Period Drama - Representation Practise - Downton Abbey

  Task 1

Check out this clip from Downton Abbey.

I want you to watch it through from 1.36 mins to the end (please note, this will be longer than the average clip you'll get in an exam but for the purposes of practise, it's a great clip).

Task 2: 

Create a blog post with the title, "Downton Abbey Representation Practise" with your notes

Questions;

1. Who (out of the 7 core representation areas of society) are being represented in this clip? 

(you can choose more than 1 category if you feel it's relevant)

2. How are they represented to us? (what messages are we told about these groups? What are they like? What are their lives like? What are we encouraged / pursuaded to think about them?)

3. Split a planning page up into 4 squares and include your 4 technical elements. Go through the clip from 1.36 and collect EVIDENCE (or examples) of where each technical area created meaning. Use correct terminology AND details of the example you're referring to (you can't just say 'there's lots of close-up's") You will need to watch the clip through 3 - 4 times, like you would in an exam, to get the notes you need. 

Task 3:

Watch this video as it goes through each technical element and how you should be taking notes for your essay;

 Task 3:

Write an essay over the next 2 lessons in response to the exam question,

'How is meaning created using the four technical elements?"

This is due end of lesson on Tuesday .