Student post: Mannequin Challenge

Karan (10Q)

The Mannequin Challenge was edited using Adobe Primer Pro and was very hard to film as people were moving and I had to start all over again. I have slowed down some of the footage and created a slow motion effect. I have made the beginning of the video out of focus so the title is easily readable.

Christmas Adverts

As year 10 will be starting the advertising unit after the Christmas break, a part of their homework is to write about their favourite Christmas advert. Here's mine:

My personal favourite is the H&M ‘Come Together’ advert. I am largely being biased as the advert was directed by Wes Anderson who is my favourite director. Anderson is an auteur director who has a very distinctive cinematic style, clearly visible in this advert. It also has some links to his film The Darjeeling Limited, also set on a train. The story in ‘Come Together’ is about passengers being stuck on a train during Christmas (rather apt considering what’s happening with the trains in England!) and the conductor, played by Adrian Brody, attempting to bring the festivities to them instead.

The overall message is heart-warming: come together with all types of people whether you know them or not and make the best of any situation. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about after all? However this advert doesn’t, to me, come across as cheesy and over the top as I feel other Christmas adverts do.

The camera cleverly tracks outside of the train carriage to take a look into the windows of each passenger on board, returning full circle back to Brody once he has finished delivering his message. Props are cunningly placed. Framed pictures of each passengers loved one highlight who they are missing out on spending time with. Costumes are stylish and simple to match the current H&M lines. Anderson is famous for his use of colour palettes. Here he uses tones of greyish blue and green to connote winter and the evergreen of Christmas trees. The advert ends with a classic Christmas song, ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ by John Lennon. What more could you possibly want from an advert! 

🎄 Merry Christmas 🎅

Why study media?

Media Studies gets you places! Here's what university students have to say about media courses they are on.

Interview with David Dein

Interviewers: AS students Sneha and Kanaiya

Interview: David Dein from MissPatelMedia

Up coming events

There are three events coming up which would be suited to Y13 students as they are based around music videos. Y12, the first one could be a good one for you to go to as well.

Monday 21st November
A friend of mine, Reece Proctor, will be one of the speakers. He's made music videos for Nadia Rose and recently won a MOBO award. FREE, but book your tickets in advance. 
http://thelinkup.com/link-up-tv-presents-directors-cut-at-the-bfi-southbank/

Thursday 24th November
Free, but you must book. I recommend you go with a parent/guardian due to the location and time of the event.
http://girlsinfilm.net/events/gif-social-7-beyond-music-video

Thursday 1st December
You need to pay for this one, but it's after you've done your Media exam, so treat yourself!
http://www.bugvideos.co.uk/home/bug-53.go

Film Review: Sanjay's Super Team (2014)

Update: Rushi's review made it to review of the week on the Into Film website. Well done!

Reviewed by Rushi (8T)

An action short animated film created by an amazing company named Pixar. This story starts off with a young boy, named Sanjay, stuck between his love of superhero characters and his father’s religious traditions. One day he disturbs his father’s prayers by putting the TV on too loud so his dad switches the TV off and makes Sanjay sit with him. Magically Sanjay is transported to a cosmic temple in another world where he must bond with three Hindi gods to beat the evil Ravana.

Sanjay's Super Team feels like a true story that many Asian people might go through because it is based on some of the things that the director, Sanjay Patel, went through as a child. It was really different to see Asian culture and its religion in a Pixar film as this is not something that has been done before. It was great to see Hinduism and its Gods shown in a positive fun way and might help young western children understand their parents traditions and their own culture better.

I would recommend this film to my friends just for its title! Will Sanjay ever make a connection with his dad’s traditions and his own culture?

Film Review: The Present (2014)

Reviewed by Ethan (8T)

The present is a short animated film and it is 7 minutes. This film is based on a boy who is addicted to gaming and his mum is worried about him because he is not active and does go outdoors enough. Due to this, one day his mum buys him a dog. At the beginning the boy doesn’t like the dog because that was not the dog that he wanted because the dog had one of his legs missing. Will the dog and the boy ever become good mates?

Overall I think this film has a good message as it teaches you to never judge people by how they look. All of us should be happy how god made us. This story explains a lot about our lives and tell us to give people/things a chance even if you don’t think you will like it because they can surprise you.

Film Review: Piper (2016)

Reviewed by Vansh (8T)

Piper is an animated short film. It was directed by Alan Barillaro and it is made by Pixar and Walt Disney films. It was shown in cinemas before Finding Dory.

In the beginning Piper is facing problems to get food as it is a small sandpiper. Piper is scared of the waves coming from the sea as she had a bad experience once before. Someday Piper will have to go sea to collect food or she will not survive. If Piper gives up she will starve to death. Will she be able to get over her fears?

The film has a lot of moral values like: never give up and try and try until you succeed. It is about resilience! I think the film was inspiring and I would recommend it to my friends.

Sneak peak: 

BFI Trip: An Introduction to the Film Industry

On November 2nd 2016, our AS Media Studies class went on a trip to the very renown BFI in Southbank, Central London. The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television. From the minute we entered, we were blown away by how modern and civilised the building looked on the outside and the inside. We had the opportunity to go inside to be welcomed by their very large screens and comfortable seats. We were first introduced to Rob Miller who talked us through what would happen in the day and with about 300 other students from different schools, we went through very interesting sessions:

• Independent vs. Mainstream Film
• Production Industry Overview
• Distribution and Marketing
• Exhibition

Alongside, we also participated in interactive Q&As with people who were very respected in their field. These were Camille Gatin (Film Producer), Gareth Lowrie (Director of Marketing for Universal Pictures), and Rob Kenny (Director of Operations at Curzon). As well as learning interesting case studies which would help us for our AS exams, we were also able to learn more about some of the wide range of career choices linked with Media and Communications.

Kanaiya

Student talent spotted

This is why I am always telling you to create and upload your practical work. You never know who will come across it. Read this article about a media student who ended up being contacted by people offering him media jobs whilst he is still an A Level student. Good luck to him!

Viewers fooled by student's John Lewis Christmas ad

PPAP and two step flow

Surely you've seen this already? I know it's silly but I found it very amusing and incredibly catchy. So have over 70 million other people...well that's how many times it has been viewed. A lot of people think it's stupid. Each to their own, but it has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the shortest song to get into the American Billboard Chart. Not bad for a video that cost £78.50. Can you make something for no money that is just as funny/silly? You could become a sensation! 

The power of social media. Justin Bieber's (I know some of you are fans!) tweet boosted the amount of views of this video. Just look at the number of likes and retweets! Two-step flow in action right there. This audience theory was first coined by Paul Lazarsfeld et at. (1944) which suggests that texts within the mass media are picked up on by 'opinion leaders,' in this case Bieber, which is then filtered through to those of who follow them. Look at the date this theory was coined! Twitter, or even the Internet, had not been invented yet, but this is something that has been happening for a long time. The Internet has just made it a lot more common place.

Things to think about:
Are there people you admire or look up to that influence you? 
Are you aware that it is happening? 
How much do you question what they have said? 

How a 'Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen' earworm took over the internet

Happy Diwali

Happy Diwali to you all and Sal Mubarak

So what does it all mean?

This captivating video will give you lots to think about...

 
Did You Know Shift Happens, 2014 remix - YouTube from Purdue Polytechnic Lafayette on Vimeo.

Student post: banner

Omar (10N)

This is a gaming banner made by me. I made this banner to improve my Photoshop skills in ICT. I was never good at Photoshop but one thing you need to remember is "if you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

Well done to Omar for learning how to blend images in Photoshop. This will definitely help you in Media Studies. Thank you for your contribution and the inspiring well chosen quote. Keep up the good work!

Miss. Patel

BFI Film Academy

Amazing opportunities are currently available with the BFI Film Academy. They run a variety of courses and residential for different specialisms. I am lucky enough to work on one of the residential every Easter holiday, and even as a teacher I learn so much and pick up new skills. Competition is tough, but as an ACS student you have RESILIENCE and determination to achieve your goals.

The courses are only available for 16-19 year olds, but if you are younger than that it is still worth having a look at the courses to see how you can up-skill yourself so that when you do turn 16 you will be able to write a great application and have an amazing show reel.

Student post: Dark Knight film poster analysis

Sachin (10N)

The image of the city has been included on the film poster to show that this is Batman’s city, he owns it. This adds his sense of power and this may appeal to the target audience.

The tagline for the poster is very catchy and appealing for the audience as it gives them a sense of danger. As it is a world without rules it connotes that bad things could happen and you can do anything. This helps the poster relate with the action genre.

The logo for Batman on the building is on fire. The orange colour signifies passion and danger as well excitement. The logo is placed on the building above Batman to show that wherever he goes he leaves his mark behind that everyone will remember, that he is powerful and will show audience a sense of power to be considered as a hero.

The image of Batman has been placed in middle of the poster so it is eye catching and attracts the audience, and the shot is a low angle to make him look powerful and serious.

The colours for the background are black connoting mystery and darkness and this adds curiosity and will hook the target audience to this poster. There is also blue, grey and white clouds that show there is a storm coming which represents evil and he must fight back to it.

The film logo has a black bat behind the title which represents him as a bat and recognises what the film will be about. The title is in white to stand out against the black background and may seem dangerous. “Knight” shows he is heroic.

The film credits have placed underneath the film title to inform the audience who has participated and helped in making this film.

The poster is interesting because it gives off two sides to Batman; that he doesn’t care about rules, hence why the building has his logo on fire, but at the same time he is the hero and the shield of the city. This attracts audiences because it shows him off as a heroic character and brave knight who is going to protect it from evil.

Student post: game trailer

Kaushal has demonstrated skill in creating this game trailer by cutting different shots together and adding titles. Well done for completing media related work outside of class. 10 achievement points. 

Kaushal (10Q)

Calling all ACS students

I (Miss. Patel) always have lots to say about all things media related - see previous media posts for proof. However, this year I want to hear what you have to say! I want this blog to be for students and "written" by students. As well as impressive work you do in class, I would also like to see/hear what you do outside of class. This can include:

• Current film/games/music reviews (written or video)
• Media issues that you care about (representation of young people, men, ethnic minorities...etc.)
• New media crazes, how they are reported and your opinion on them, e.g. Pokemon Go

Every Media Studies student will be expected to contribute to at least one blog post this academic year. For your efforts you will receive 10 achievement points. I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

BFI Film Academy

Applications for the BFI Film Academy are open once again. I strongly recommend all A Level students to apply for this fantastic opportunity. There are various locations in London - look up details of venues and travel directions before applying to see if it is appropriate for you. You must be able to attend all of the sessions. If you need help filling out the application, I will be more than happy to help. 

"Courses provide at least 40 hours of industry standard training through regular evenings and/or weekend classes. Each one offers combination of workshops, practical skills lessons and lectures. You will also get masterclasses by key industry figures, receive bespoke careers advice and work towards making a final film on a team. As a graduate of the BFI Film Academy you will become part of the growing alumni network and have access to year round events such as BAFTA career surgeries." 

Taking part in one of the academies will really help to build your practical skills and knowledge of the film industry. This will have a big impact on your coursework which is worth 50% of your overall grade.

An Introduction to Screenwriting

FutureLearn has a great FREE course about screenwriting starting today! If you have amazing new ideas for films but are unsure of how to get started, take part in this course. AS students, this could come in handy for when you need to write your script for your coursework. 

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/screenwriting

Completing courses and activities out of school will boost your CV, UCAS applications and helps you to start building up a portfolio if you are interesting in pursuing a career in the Media. 

AS Media Studies Induction 2016

Well done on your GCSE Media Studies results. They clearly reflect the work you put into the course.

For those of you who wish to do A level Media Studies, you must complete the induction activities prior to starting the course. Click on the link to download the pack: AS Media Studies Induction 2016

Art, DT & Media Exhibition

I hope that those of you who attended the Art, DT & Media Exhibition were as impressed as I was with the work on display. At ACS it is clear we have some extremely talented students who will go onto doing great things in the creative sectors. 

The exhibition is still up if you haven't had the chance to visit. Below are the Media Studies showreels for A Level video work and GCSE/BTEC print work. I felt very proud to see all your work come together.

A Level Showreel 2016

GCSE & BTEC Showreel 2016

Media Magazine Awards

The Media department’s A Level students attended the Media Magazine Awards, at the BFI Southbank, on Wednesday 6^th July. It was a great opportunity for AS students to see exemplary work during a screening of student made music videos and film openings in preparation for their next piece of coursework.

This is the second year in a row that Alperton students have been shortlisted. This year, Vinay, Daoud and Chirag's A grade film opening was up against some stiff competition. We were immensely proud to see their work on the big screen at the NFT1. Although they did not win, they received excellent feedback from director/writer Eva Riley who was very impressed with their ability to direct, film and edit.

ACS students and parents are invited to see Vinay’s entry at the ACS Media Exhibition on Thursday 14^th July, which will also showcase the brilliant print and video work produced by GCSE and A Level students.

Work Experience Opportunity

Year 11 and A Level students

Looking for summer holiday work experience? Apply to Kerrang Magazine who are offering one week placements throughout August. You need to be 16 to apply. 

https://gothinkbig.co.uk/opportunities/kerrang-editorial-work-experience-august

BFI Film Academy delivered by NFTS - Promo 2016

During the Easter break I had the pleasure of working with 66 talented young people from all over the UK, watching them enthusiastically create 6 short films. Click the image below to view a video to see what goes on behind the scenes. Could you be there next year?

Updated Revision Packs

You will receive your hard copies of this years revision packs during your Easter intervention. Click the links below for a digital copy of the action adventure and TV comedy revision packs. 

Action Adventure 2016

TV Comedy 2016

FREE: Introduction to Journalism

Learn about the key principles and debates in journalism and enact the role of a journalist in the context of an escalating story. Starts 28th March.

Introduction to Journalism

#WomenNotObjects

Y10, this ties in perfectly with your current controlled assessment on the representation of women in advertising.



Click the link to see the website for the campaign: #womennotobjects

1. Do any of these filters apply to any of the adverts you have chosen to discuss in your essay? 
2. Does this apply more so to contemporary or historical advertising?
3. Were women objectified in the 1920s/50s adverts, or was it more about their role in society? What reasons could there be for the shift in the way women are now represented in advertising? 

I thought the video below was very revealing of society. If young children are shocked at these adverts and can articulate what they think is happening to the women in the adverts they have been shown, why do we not challenge advertising more? We, the audience, need to drive this forward until:

1. brands realise that their campaigns should not promote negativity of gender as audience do not find it attractive or persuasive and results in us not wanting to buy their product/service
2. advertising companies find more creative, positive ways to represent gender
3. institutions (magazines, TV channels, billboards) challenge brands and refuse to promote them for negative gender portrayal

10 week revision plan

Hot off the press! Media Studies Revision Plan  (← Click there to download)

Use this plan to help you space out your revision and develop you knowledge systematically. Remember, the hardest thing about the exam is time management. Knowing what you need to write makes you write faster. Don't be this kid...

The Big Bang Theory returns!

Y11 GCSE students

The brand new episodes from series 9 of The Big Bang Theory will be returning to E4 on Thursday 17th March. To celebrate its return, E4 will be broadcasting the first 10 episodes five hours prior to the 11th episode airing at its usual time of 8.30pm. 

Set your TV on record.

The Oscars (Honest Trailers says it like it is)

The countdown to The Oscars begins...oh, apparently it's on tonight. As a Media Studies teacher I probably should have known that, but as a teacher "ain't nobody got time for that!" (I'll catch up on the winners in The Metro tomorrow morning.) If you don't have time either as you're working hard on your coursework and revision, check out Honest Trailers take on the films up for Best Picture in 2016.

Ready to study TV comedy?

Y11, your second set of mocks are coming up. Whilst you will not be doing one for Media Studies you do need to start preparing for our second exam unit - TV Comedy. Here's an extract from one of our case studies, Mock the Week, to get you in the mood for both.

Q: Why is this show broadcast after the watershed?

 

Mandem on the Wall

Just stumbled on this YouTube channel - Wall of Comedy. Excellent example of British youth identity (A2 Media), with young people acting as prosumers and creating their own identity rather than allowing adults to do it for them through big corporations. Below are a few of their videos that made me laugh. 

Grease Live!

I read about this in the paper the day after it aired in America. I couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about. The article alluded to it being a stage production, so I figured there was a new Broadway version of it. It was on ITV2 in Britain the following day so I thought I'd watch the first few minutes to see why people kept saying it was so amazing.


After the opening number I was hooked and did not leave the sofa for 3 hours. Yes, it is a very cheesy musical, but that's the fun of it! Two days later, I watched it again and had made my students watch clips of it too. 

Grease Live! cost $16 million to make, it was broadcast live on American TV and watched by 12.2 million people.

As a Media teacher I was more interested in the way it was put together than the acting, but credit has to be given to the actors too - remembering lines, songs, dance routines, costume changes, getting to different sets...all performed live without a break for 3 hours. 

Amazing to see what goes on behind the scenes in the control room. Sheer magic!



Grease by numbers: 

Days of rehearsal: 52
Run time: 3 hours
Songs/dances: 23
Stages: 2 sound stages, plus the entire Warner Bros. backlot and built-out exterior locations throughout the lot (actors used golf buggies or ran to get to the next set, whilst changing costumes!)
Sets: 21
Cameras: 20
Cast: 24 principal cast members, 20 ensemble and dancers
Extras: 60
Live audience members: 650
Costumes: More than 600 - 407 for principal cast, Boyz II Men, DNCE and Jessie J; 226 for background ensemble and dancers
Breakdown of costumes: 60% vintage; 40% custom made
Quick changes during live show: 392 quick changes - just for principal cast alone!
Record quick changes during one song: Danny and Doody each have 5 costumes changes during the song "Magic Change"
Quickest quick change: 11 seconds for Rizzo, Frenchy and Jan
Crew in the control room: at least 40
Crew working the set on the night of the show: more than 200

• 13 camera operators
• 15 stage managers
• 11 audio mixers
• 25 audio assistants
• 7 communications directors
• 15 camera utilities
• 30 costumers
• 36 riggers and electricians

Watch the clip below from 53 seconds to see Jessie J sing the opening number. It gives you a sense of how it was filmed as she walks backstage and through various sets.

FREE: Visual Effects for Guerrilla Filmmakers

Learn how to create no-budget visual effects (VFX) and take your filmmaking to a new level, with this free online course. Starts 8th February. 

Visual Effects for Guerrilla Filmmakers

You also get a free download of HitFilm 3 Express which combines editing and visual effects.

Barbie's had a make over!

What do you think of Barbie's make over? 

As a young child I had a few Barbie dolls, and lots of accessories! Did it have an impact on me at that time? Yes. I thought to be beautiful it meant you had to be white and have an unrealistic figure. Of course at the age of 5 you do not realise it is unrealistic. Luckily for me, I had lots of male cousins and also played with cars and action figures.

I will not blame Mattel (makers of Barbie) for girls growing up thinking they need to look a certain way. In my previous post I spoke about Jean Kilbourne's research on female representation in advertising, which she identifies has an impact on both men and women. Indeed, all media does. 

So whose fault is it that society ends up having unrealistic expectations of both men and women? We are all to blame. We create it and we consume it. Until we start questioning what is presented to us, nothing will change. 

Is it a progressive step that there is a new range of Barbie dolls? Somewhat. They come in different shapes, sizes and colours. Great. But they all still embody an ideal of what beauty is. 

One of the girls in this video said when she grows up she wants to become a teacher if she has time. Kid, you will have no time.

Jean Kilbourne: Killing Us Softly 4

I'm really looking forward to showing my Y10 class the full length video of Killing Us Softly 4 by Jean Kilbourne in tomorrow's lesson. She has been studying the way women have been represented in advertising for over 40 years. 

I remember the first time I watched it. It made me think 'this is why I teach Media Studies."

Due to copyright, I cannot post the full video, but here is her Tedx talk. Enjoy.

Do films need a F rating?

Hollywood, and the media industry in general, has always been male dominated. There has been a lot of talk in the media this week about institutional racism within the Oscars and the lack of diversity in terms of ethnicity. Whilst I agree that there should be more ethnic minorities on our screens, I think first we need to continue to address the issue of the gender gap, which the Academy have decided to tackle following criticism from the industry and  #OscarsSoWhite trending on Twitter. 

Last month I gave Y10 a task to research the Bechdel test so they could understand the importance of gender representation. The Bechdel test outlines only three rules a film must follow in order for it to pass:

1. It has to have at least two (named) women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man

Simple. That should be all films, right? If only. An easy and effective way to show the lack of gender equality in the film industry. 

Women have now had the right to vote in the UK for 98 years, (for the over 30s, 88 years for over 21s) so why is there still such a lack of diversity in film and other industries? 

Do films need a F rating? Clearly they do if it made the industry more transparent and address the issue of the lack of female representation. It would also make audiences more aware of it and hopefully question why this is the case. Would we then demand that the film industry make more films with substantial female roles or films made by women? Are the stories of men really more interesting or are they just more bankable? 

In a world where the amount of men and women is almost equal (ever so slightly more men), we need to think about our media consumption, how it affects our thinking and the way in which society conducts itself. 

Can F-rated films help overcome sexism in Hollywood?

Composition in Storytelling & Framing

A brilliantly made video explaining composition to create meaning in storytelling. Excellent and beautiful choices of clips used from film.




An interesting video essay on the importance of framing and how it can connote particular meanings.

Why Framing Matters in Movies from Fandor Keyframe on Vimeo.

Top 10 Title Sequences of 2015

Some clever openings in this list. There are some that I'd never heard of but their titles alone have intrigued me. Angry Indian Goddess, when are you out on DVD? AS students, can you now see how important the titles you are making actually are?

Top 10 Title Sequences of 2015: The very best in 2015 title design as chosen by Art of the Title's editors.

The outlook for the UK entertainment and media industry 2015-2019

Auditors Pricewaterhouse Coopers estimations for the entertainment and media industry. Not a bad time to be getting into it!

But does a women still NEED a hero in this modern age?

The advert is sending the message to drink responsibly, which is obviously a good thing, but why is it representing women as needing men? Why is it saying what men should be like to meet women's expectations? Meh.




The Guardian article

Video game sound designer

Do you have a keen ear for sound? Interested in gaming? Have a read of this interview with a game sound designer.

Sound designer John Broomhall describes his work

David Bowie: 1947-2016

FREE: Explore Animation

Need a new year resolution? Why not learn about something new...like animation?

Another great free course from Future Learn starting in a few days.

Explore Animation