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.
Sunday 28 February 2016
Wednesday 24 February 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?
Q: Why is this show broadcast after the watershed?
Thursday 18 February 2016
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.
Sunday 7 February 2016
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
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.
Wednesday 3 February 2016
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.
Visual Effects for Guerrilla Filmmakers
You also get a free download of HitFilm 3 Express which combines editing and visual effects.
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