Best Christmas Ad of 2015?

An obvious choice, but this was my favourite. £7million to make, but did it raise enough awareness for the charity Age UK?



What's yours? Click here for the countdown of the most viewed ads.

Does it Offend You, Yeah?

What do you think of this advert? It was the plan of The Church of England to screen the advert before the latest Star Wars films, released a week before Christmas.




Digital Cinema Media agency believed that those of other faiths or of no faith could be offended by the advert. Does that mean that no religion should be promoted? Is the message not universal even if the prayer is a Christian prayer? In light of recent terrorists attacks and the upcoming festive period, is prayer not for everyone?

BBC Report

(Bonus points if you get the reference for the title of the post!)

Mock exams

GCSE Thursday 26th November (PM)

A2      Thursday 26th November (PM)

AS       Friday 4th December (AM)

What's your phone face?

After seeing the photographs in this article I actually felt quite sad. Surely we don't all look like that? I decided I should conduct some research. Although not entirely scientific or a big sample, on my way home from school I looked around on the tube carriage and the vast number of people on their phone. Expressionless people. Are the things we are looking at really that dull? If so, why are we looking at it? Maybe we should just look up and smile and see how that makes us feel for a change? Maybe then we will actually start looking like the selfies we post online?

Video games harmful to GCSE grades

Games 'More Harmful To Grades' Than Social Media

Do you play games for longer than you are are using social media? Read the article and decide how far you agree with it.

 vs.

Into Film filmmaking workshop

*Need to be 16-19*

In need of something to do this half term? Take part in a filmmaking workshop with Into Film and ICA. Deadlines for application is next Monday.

Open Doors @ Framestore

*you need to be 16*

If you have considered a career in visual effects then this is an opportunity well worth taking. There is a cost of £5 to secure a place. There is also an opportunity to enter for a one week work placement. Framestore has worked their VFX magic on films such as Gravity, Harry Potter, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar. Watch the videos below to see how much work goes into what you see in the cinema.

BFI Film Academy

*you need to be 16 by March to take part*

A truly unique and unforgettable experience. I am talking from personal experience. For the past two years I have had the pleasure of working with 66 young people from all over the U.K. during the Easter holidays and it is one of the highlights of my year! 

If you are lucky enough to be offered a place, not only do you get to meet like minded talented people who are passionate about making films, you also get to:

• make a short film which will have a special screening at the BFI
• meet and be trained by experts from the industry
• have masterclasses (past guests have included Noel Clarke and Steven Moffat) 
• take part in specialist skills sessions
• work with industry standard equipment
• add the BFI (British Film Institute) and NFTS (National Film and Television School) to your CV
• go on trips (past trips have included visits to BAFTA, Imaginarium Studios, Pinewood)

For further information about this amazing opportunity visit the NFTS website.

Want to work in the magazine industry?

*you need to be 16 to apply*

Exciting opportunity to attend a skills day at Kerrang! This would really enhance your year 11 coursework and can be included in your portfolio as evidence of research. Click here for the application.  The event takes place on the 21st October.

Do you want to be the world's most popular YouTuber?

Do you have what it takes to set you apart from other YouTubers? What makes you unique and watchable? Check out who are the current top 15 most popular YouTubers in the world today.

Film VFX Careers

Fancy working in VFX (visual effects)? Check out the presentation by Yen Yau from Into Film.

Film VFX Careers Sept 2015 version from Yen Yau

Become a film reporter with Into Film

Great opportunity for budding journalists and film enthusiasts. Deadline is fast approaching (Friday 2nd October), so download the application pack and apply today!

Into Film Young Reporter Programme

Future Learn Courses

Some excellent media studies related courses are due to begin on Future Learn. All of the courses are FREE, so sign up to take part. 

This is a great way to extend your learning outside of the classroom. I  have suggested which classes each course would be suitable for in relation to the exam specifications, but there are no restrictions and you are welcome to do whichever you choose. Please let me know how you get on.

Y10  Brand storytelling: how to use narrative to sell

Y12  An introduction to screenwriting

Y12  Film production: behind the scenes of feature films

Y12  The business of film

ALL Explore filmmaking: from script to screen

ALL Digital storytelling: filmmaking for the web

Spider-Man and aunt May are getting younger and younger

Why do you think that they have decided to cast younger actors in these roles?

Everything is a Remix

Copy. Transform. Combine.

An excellent video on how most creative work is a copy of some kind. Excellent examples used from the world of music, film and technology. 

Note: if your connection is slow, give a bit of time for the video to load before watching to avoid buffering. 


Everything is a Remix Remastered (2015 HD) from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.

McDonald's back to school campaign

Naughty, but clever advertising campaign by Moroch! Does this tempt you?

The Evolution of Magazine Covers

Click here for the article

The History of the Tube

Click here for some amazing imagery of the tube.

Age ratings for music videos

Do you think there is a need for age ratings to be applied to music videos? Why?

Guardian article

Do violent video games lead to aggression?

This study seems to think so.

Breaking Bad: Awesome Cinematography

A great drama series with amazing camerawork. Click on the image to see some of the still images.

The BBC license fee

Do you think the BBC should be funded by the license fee?

New political battle over the BBC's future to begin this week

BBC impartiality under MP scrutiny as corp told ‘scrap The Voice and licence fee’

Stars tell David Cameron: don't diminish BBC

NME Magazine

How often do you read magazines? Your next piece of coursework will be to create your own!

The NME is due to start distributing its magazine for free. Would this encourage you to read it? Like the writer of the article below, I too read a lot of magazines as a teenager - there was limited internet at the time! However, I now too do not read magazines very often. Why have they lost their edge?

NME, Smash Hits … they made me what I am. But now even I’ve ditched magazines

How to read a fashion image

Well said, Eva Wiseman (Guardian). Read the full article here.

"More and more, I think one of the most important subjects for children at school is media studies. Yes, I hear pisses being taken. The words “media studies”, when I did my A-Levels, anyway, were always accompanied by a little sideways snort. But where else are you taught to read an image? Where else will we learn that adverts are built up from dust, created to make you feel feelings that will quietly lead you to their online shop?"

Never Mind the Buzzcocks - axed

Rather gutted that Never Mind the Buzzcocks has been axed after 20 years. Great show with good laughs. 

Year 10, any suggestions of which BBC panel show to study for TV comedy?

Guardian article - Buzzcocks axed

Action Adventure revision pack

Attention Year 11 and 10!

Download the latest version of the Action Adventure revision pack (click here). It contains:

• key terminology
• activities
• exemplar answer
• mark scheme
• sentence starters

Don't forget to visit the Action Adventure page too as it has plenty of other resources.

You're welcome :) 

The Power of Marketing...Ignorance

Why is the marketing of certain unethical products so effective? How does advertising make you want something? Only you have the answer.

E4 shutting down on election day

E4 is shutting down for the day - Thursday 7th May - to encourage young people to vote. 

Genuine concerted effort to get young people to vote or publicity stunt? Year 11, it means we'll miss Quite Big Thursday's and an opportunity to watch another new episode of The Big Bang Theory. They are spoiling your revision!

Are you beach body ready?

This advert by Protein World has created a lot of discussion and anger, with complaints being made to the ASA. Just another example of how women are objectified within advertising and how female representation within media does have an impact on real life. Read the articles below to find out more.

BBC

The Guardian

Time Out

Guardian Article: The Big Bang Theory

Read why this Guardian journalists enjoys watching The Big Bang Theory.

The Big Bang Theory's brilliant chemistry remains irresistible

Lip Sync Battle: Update

I rarely get time to watch TV these days, but I came across a channel 5 advert stating that they will be launching a new channel in the UK: Spike TV. They will be broadcasting Lip Sync Battle tomorrow! Happy days.

Spike TV UK 

Mime Through Time

Just a little bit of fun - how many songs do you know? 

Lip Sync Battle

Oh yes, this looks like a great show!



Check out some previous attempts on Jimmy Fallon's show:

Facebook advertising campaign

Have you seen the recent Facebook TV and billboard adverts? I say recent, but there haven't been any adverts for Facebook in the UK until now. So, why now? I actually don't get it. Personally, I do like the adverts. They use some well known songs in a clever way and it helps to evoke beautiful memories of friendship. Their logo doesn't appear but they rather cleverly incorporate "Facebook terminology." 

What I don't get is, who is their target audience for them? Is there a point of an advertising campaign if it doesn't reach the right people? Do they just want people to talk about it? 

Has it made me use Facebook more frequently? No. It has just left me confused. Have I talked about it with friends? In real life, yes. So to some extent perhaps it is working.

Marketing Magazine

The Drum

Mark Ronson: How Sampling Transformed Music

Where do you think the lines of copyright in music fall? Is any music original? Hasn't it all be done before? What if a sound or mood is embedded into your subconscious and then you're not sure if it is your idea or not? 

Copyright Victory

Website: Women in Advertisements and Body Image

Not directly related to your controlled assessment, but still an interesting website.

Women in Advertisements and Body Image

To help you prepare for your controlled assessment...

Oscars 2015 Opening

You've got to love moving pictures!

Post by ABC Television Network.

Diet Coke - Regret Nothing

What do you make of the latest Diet Coke advert? Is it empowering women or sending the same messages of yesteryear? I personally prefer the 2009 one. 

Ad Break

Which advertising appeals have been used by the adverts?

Ad Break

The Secret Power of Brands

There's yet another free media related course, linked to advertising, starting on Future Learn this month. I encourage you to join up. I have!

The Secret Power of Brands

This Girl Can

What do you think of Sport England's campaign to get more women active and into sport/exercise?

Click the links below to read articles from opposing views.



The This Girl campaign is all about sex, not sport

Behind the scenes of Sport England's 'This Girl Can' campaign and its celebration of women

Readers share how UK cities have changed from their pop culture image

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/feb/06/uk-cities-changed-pop-culture-images-sheffield-london-manchester-edinburgh

Free Filmmaking Course

There's a great course starting in February. It's free, so why not sign up?

Explore Filmmaking: from Script to Screen