T1 | wk 4 | Wed - Storyboard and planning

Planning for PT 1 - phase 1

- backstory and basic evidence of planning 

 - storyboard

Use the guidelines below to create a blog post that shows the planning for your task on Monday.

1. Write a short blurb which explains in a few sentences, what is happening in your short thriller sequence

Include the following;

- what iconography you'll be including 

- what codes and conventions of a thriller you'll include

- what the basic storyline is (who is your character/s and what are they doing - what happens to them?)

- work out your group roles (who will act in it, who will direct, who will be on camera - take turns if you'd like but everyone needs a role).

- ** list of props/ costumes or anything needed for Monday 

2.  Then you're going to nominate someone to do your storyboard.

Watch this video explaining some of the storyboard basics and have a go. Stick figures and basic drawing is totally fine! 

Preliminary Task 1 - Thriller sequence

 Hi guys,

We are heading offsite to to gets some awesome footage for your first Thriller sequence next Monday!

This is going to be completely spontaneous as we won't be able to do a reccie before the date. You will have 30 minutes once there to work out how you will use the space to create a 1 minute sequence of SUSPENSE.

You will need to do the following;

1. Plan a sequence that creates suspense in the audience 

- the sequence of events can be the opening, the middle or the ending of a Thriller movie

- the sequence doesn't need to have dialogue

- you will need at least 2 people to act in it - so plan who will act and who will film

2. Get a series of shots that can be used in editing your sequence back at school

3. Bring any extra props, costumes or extra things that you feel could add value to your filming

4. You will need to take notes during the process (or behind the scenes footage of commentary) and either write or create a second short film clip explaining your learning from your planning, production and execution of the filming

5. You will have 3 lessons at school to edit - adding in music, sound FX and any other FX you'd like to, to make your short sequence maximum suspense-impact.

6. Your film sequence will be marked out of 20

10 marks - production value (how well was the project executed - how excellent and/ or realistic is it)

10 marks - how well you utilised Thriller codes and conventions 

T1 | Wk 4 | Monday - thriller techniques

 

Here are some videos I want you to watch and make notes on techniques you're going to use in your Preliminary task

T1 | Wk 3 - Opening Sequences classwork / Homework

 Hi everyone,

Here's the video from class explaining this homework task...

This homework is due Thursday 19th Feb 

Let's take a look at James Bond, Skyfall's opening credits;

Notice what techniques are used in this opening to the film. 

So here's the task for this week's classwork:

•On your blog create a post titled 'Opening Sequences' and explain the following: 

–What is the purpose of Opening Sequences?

–What is the difference between Opening Credits and a Title Sequence?

–What techniques can be employed in an opening sequence?

Here's some examples of what we mean when we say TECHNIQUES

https://www.creativebloq.com/audiovisual/top-techniques-title-sequences-10135013

–Research a modern Thriller and a Hitchcock film of your choice to use as examples, as well s the James Bond, Skyfall clip, above. 

–Demonstrate how both films achieve the purpose of the Opening Sequence, and contrast their techniques.

Here is an updated version of the powerpoint explaining some of the differences between opening sequences and title sequences.  It has a few more leading questions to assist you in the assignment.

https://www.artofthetitle.com

Let me know if you have any further questions!

- T. Bianca

T1 | Wk 3 - Tues / Wed classwork

  

 Take a look at this movie opening, 'A Quiet Place' - the 1st 6 minutes only.

Write an essay explaining how the 4 technical elements create meaning in terms of TENSION and SUSPENSE which are the main goal of a thriller movie. 

Try and use as many terminology words as possible and make sure you work through all 4 technical elements. 

This essay will be out of 15 and marked in the following way;

Terminology - 5 (using correct media terminology in the correct context)

Analysis - 5 - (interpreting the question and providing relevent insights, ability to deconstruct the text and derive intended meaning, dependant on how accurately you demonstrate that you understand the codes and conventions of the thriller genre and how the conventions have either been challenged or conformed to)

Explanation - 5 (this is the level of detail included, the depth of analysis and the skill you use to commuinicate your points as well as how well you use actual examples from the text, to back up your points)

e.g. 'the  sad-sounding music in the background makes the audience sad' 

as opposed to

'the non-diegetic score is effective in evoking feelings of sympathy for the family. The violins and stringed instruments provide an eery tone that highlights both the danger that the family are in as well as the twinge of sadness at the careful life they have to live, just to survive. This is paired with shots of everyday life activities, now changed to be silent, for example the mother cooks the family food in the floor boards and serves it on leaf plates."

 

Watch this breakdown of the same clip, too...

T1 | Wk 3 | Thursday - How to create suspense - examples

Take note of how suspense and tension is built!

This is Alfred Hitchcock - the so called 'Master of suspense' 

https://indiefilmhustle.com/hitchcock-create-suspense/

 

And this one!

https://youtu.be/fiNxbnBLVVY

T1 | Wk 2 | Sherlock Clip | Wed - Thurs

  

 Hi,

Watch the extract several times and assess how the sequence manages the bridge between 'heavy' and 'light' moods.  (Focus particularly on finding the main / initial shift in tone)

If we haven't already done so, finish your written notes on how the mood is set up in each case by the following micro elements:

• Camera: shots, angles, movement, composition.
• Editing: within each section and crucially, between them, to make the 'bridge'.
• Sound: dialogue, music, effects, atmospheric establishing sound, diegetic v non-diegetic contrasts.
• Mise-en-Scene: how is this different for the two contrasting storylines; how is mood and atmosphere created in each case through lighting, colour, performance and other aspects?

Remember that your notes need not be exhaustive; for example, you would only record types of camera shots and their resulting effects, rather than the number of times each shot type is used and their corresponding timecodes in the extract.

Finally, use your notes to write a short response about how the technical elements combine to construct mood and tone.  Responses should be one full side in length, so you will very likely not be able to cram in everything you've observed.  Select your best material for the task.

Let me know if you have any questions and have fun :)

- T Bianca

T 1 | Mon + Tues - Classwork - thriller genre

 Hi,

Today we aregoing to learn about the CONVENTIONS and CODES of the thriller genre.

Then we are going to look at how those are used together to create thriller movie openings. 

Let's have a look at these videos together then answer these questions on your blog;

What sorts of technical elements are being used here and what effect are they creating? 

What do you like and think is effective?

What wasn't done so well?

1,

2. 

3. The Paper Boy 

4. Exemption 

T1 | Wk 2| Monday - Thriller Genre

 Hi guys,

Today we will continue with the handout of deconstructing meaning in the still images.

Half way through the lesson we will start looking at thriller genre conventions with this PPT

https://jordelle.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/codes-and-conventions-of-a-thriller-genre2.pdf

T1 | Wk 1 | Friday - Intro to Media Studies concepts (Video)

 

T1 / Wk 1 - Homework due on Wk 2 Friday

 1. File the technical elements, the glossary and common shot types handouts 

2. watch these 2 videos below

3. Copy the YouTube video URL into your own blog and write a short blurb about what you learnt

4. Make a Canva document of your own with examples of the following shot-types

(you can take photos on your phone, upload to your computer and then embed them into your blog post)

5. Include a sentence or 2 explaining why this shot may be useful in creating meaning or evoking a certain response from the audience. 

a. close-up

b. extreme close-up

c. establishing shot 

d. mid-shot

e. low angle shot

f. high angle shot

g. canted angle 

h. point of view shot 

i. over-the-shouler shot

Welcome to AS Media 2026!

  Hi,

Well done in making it to AS level Media Studies this year! It's going to be a fun ride :)

By now we would have had a chat where you would have been spoken through the year plan and given an overview of what lies ahead.

Here's your checklist of what to do today;

1. Create a Gmail accout to use for school (this should be sensible and include your name somehow)

2. Create a blog with your Gmail account and full name using Blogger.com 

3. Email me at bianca.dewit@cityimpactchurch.com with your log in details for your Gmail as well as your blogger link (username and password)

4. Create a Youtube account using your Gmail you've just created

Once you've done that, have a look through solme of the blogs of previous students and star to get an idea of what you're required to do this year.

Looking forward to chatting about this course, more! 

T-Bianca