Semester 1 Exam

Your Semester Exam is simply a review of the film and movie terminology you have studied during the first two quarters of this school year. You will retake each of the quizzes listed below and write down your answers on the provided answer sheet. The quizzes are now enabled to allow you to view your score and resubmit until you have all the answers correct.  Feel free to look back at any of the articles but it is not necessary.

Links to 1st Semester Quizzes

Q1 - Quiz 1

Q1 - Quiz 2

Q1 - Quiz 3

Q1 – Quiz 4

Q1 - Quiz 5

Q1 - Quiz 6

Q1 - Quiz 7


Q2 - Quiz 1

Q2 - Quiz 2

Q2 - Quiz 3

Q2 - Quiz 4


Once you have completed filling out your entire answer sheet, you will then submit all 120 answers into the Semester Exam Link Below.

Semester Exam

After submitting you final answers, you can see me to find out your score.

Q2 - Weeks 7 and 8 Assignments

Due 12/20

During these last two weeks of the quarter, you view movie openings from different genres, see the observations and comments made by others, take quizzes on these and your own observations, create two movie opening observations of your own, then finally make a decision about your own movie opener genre and partners.

1) Quizzes - View these four movie openings along with the comments and observations made by an unknown observer on the first two. During these viewings you should open the corresponding quizzes which will help guide you through the information.


Forrest Gump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMEzKl6tFu4
Q2 Quiz 5 Forrest Gump

Psycho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLOGM_NyCkk
Q2 Quiz 8 Psycho


Saving Private Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr8q0WwQ9yU&t=160s
Q2 Quiz 6 Saving Private Ryan

Scream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdKi-FxYscU
Q2 Quiz 7 Scream

2) Blog Posts - Film Opening Research (2) - Now you will choose two movies to observe and write about the opening elements. Each movie should be chosen from two of your favorite genres.
You do not need to write these observations in essay form. You can copy and paste the questions below into your blog and answer them as you observe the opening scene of each movie.

Title each blog entry as “Film Opening Research #1 - Movie Title” and
                                       "Film Opening Research #2 - Movie Title"

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
What connotations do the images carry?
How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.

3) Blog Post - Finally, you will make a decision about the genre you wish to represent in your own movie opening project. This project will encompass a great deal, but not all, of the work you will complete during the 3rd quarter. You can choose to create this movie opening as an individual, with one partner, or as a group. (limit 4 members) Keep in mind that during the creation of this film, every group member will blog on a weekly basis about the progress of the film, and your individual part in making the film.

Now make your final post for this semester and title it: "My Film Opening Project - Genre & Group Members". In this post list the genre of your future project and all the members of this class that will be working on the film with you. Please spend your Winter Break thinking about your film project.

Q2 - Week 6 Assignments

Due 12/06

1)  This week you will create your 2nd Genre PowerPoint.  This is an individual assignment and each of you will create your own PowerPoint on a genre which is different from your 1st genre PowerPoint assignment.  This PowerPoint should cover the genre thoroughly and should include but not be limited to: An Explanation of the genre on several slides, Examples (classic, modern, award winning) with an explanation of why this example fits the genre, A few of your Favorite movies in this genre and Images from the movies you chose to talk about.  This PowerPoint will not be presented so include any information about the genre on the slides since there will be no script.  The website with the genre information is below:

 Film Genres Origins and Types http://www.filmsite.org/filmgenres.html

4)  Blog - Export your powerpoint to JPEGS and imbed the slides into your blog.  Label this blog post "Genre Research #2 - PowerPoint".  

Q2 - Weeks 4 & 5 Assignments

Media Codes and Conventions

Quizzes and PowerPoint uploaded to Blog due 11/15

Videos completed  and uploaded to Blog due 11/22

Since the beginning of the school year we have been learning about media codes, and in your last assignment you created a graphic organizer and wrote an essay on how media codes create meaning in a film clip.  After a quick review and categorization of media codes you will begin research into media conventions.  Read the articles below and complete the corresponding quizzes to better understand what I mean by media conventions.

1)  Media Codes and Conventions - https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

     Q2 - Quiz 3 Media Codes and Conventions

2)  Film Genres Origins and Types http://www.filmsite.org/filmgenres.html

     Q2 - Quiz 4 Film Genres Origins and Types

3)  Now you will choose your favorite genre and three of your favorites friends in this class (maybe), to create a PowerPoint from the information on one of the genres in the link above.  This PowerPoint should cover the genre thoroughly and should include but not be limited to: An Explanation of the genre on several slides, Examples (classic, modern, award winning) with an explanation of why the example fits this genre, A few of your Favorite movies in this genre, Images from movies, and in the Notes portion of the PowerPoint a script explaining each slide.  Do not fill the slides with the script.  Slides should be limited to a few main topics with the script containing the detailed information.

4)  Blog - Export your powerpoint to JPEG and imbed the slides into your blog.  Label this blog post "My Favorite Genre - PowerPoint".  Make the slides small and place them side by side as best you can, so that they don't stretch the blog post too long.

5)  Next your group of four will create two videos of your powerpoint.  You will do this using the school news tricaster system, teleprompter, and news set.  Two of your group members will act as presenters while the 3rd runs the teleprompter.  Then the student running the teleprompter will take the place of one of the presenters for a second version of the video.  You will copy your PowerPoint script into the teleprompter and your slides will appear in the video along with the presenters.  After this video is complete upload it to youtube.

6)  Blog - Create a post in your blog with a link to the youtube video you created in assignment 5.  Title this post "My Favorite Genre - Video".

Q2 - Weeks 2 & 3 - Assignments

Due 11/01

This week and next you will tie all that you have learned about the codes of film together into one paper which you will post to your blog.  You will actually complete the first part of the AICE Media Studies Exam which was administered in May of 2018.  The only difference is you do not have to write this exam in one classroom sitting, instead you will have all next week to complete it.  The exam is based on viewing the first 5 minutes of the movie "Agent Carter, Marvel One-Shots, 2013, dir. Louis D’Esposito".  Before viewing this film, each of you will create a graphic organizer of your own, which will help you recall all the different elements of film we have studied so far.  I am placing a partial sample below of one type of graphic organizer you might like to make.  You may have another graphic organizer you feel fits your study habits better.  Once you have decided what your graphic organizer will look like, you must make it by hand.  That is, it must be hand written and hand drawn.  Feel free to discuss ideas about this graphic organizer with classmates but you must create one of your own.  Post your graphic organizer to your blog this week and the essay to your blog next week.

1) Blog:  Create a new post and upload a picture of your graphic organizer.   Title this post "Film Elements Graphic Organizer".

Partial Sample:

2)  Blog:  View the film extract and write a complete essay (at least 500 words) following the directions below.  Title this blog:  Film Viewing Practice Essay "Agent Carter"

You can view the film on the school network drive.  "S" Drive, AICE Media Studies Folder,
or you can bring a flash drive and copy it,
or you can watch it online at this link:https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x27z5eg
You should stop stop the video at 5:09

Agent Carter (Marvel One-Shots, 2013, dir. Louis D’Esposito)
Clip duration: 5:09
Start point: 00:00
End Point: 05:09

In essay format, discuss the ways in which the extract constructs meaning through the following:

• camera shots, angles, movement and composition
• editing
• sound
• mise-en-scène.

Q2 Week 1 - Assignments

Due 10/19

Mise-en-scene

What is mise-en-scene?  Well, once you read the article below and take the corresponding quizzes, you will have a better understanding of this film term.

1)  Article - Mise en scene

     Q2 Week 1 Quiz 1 - MISE-EN-SCENE (Part 1)
     Q2 Week 1 Quiz 2 - MISE-EN-SCENE (Part 2)

2)  Blog - Watch one movie or TV episode of your choice and describe the four general mise-en-scene areas: setting, lighting, costume and staging.  Explain in your post how these recognizable attributes helped to tell the story, aided the success of the movie, or contributed to why you like the movie. (300 words)

     I decided to comment on the mise-en-scene of the M. Night Shyamalan movie, “Unbreakable”.  I made this decision primarily because I wanted to show that you can easily write about the sets, costumes, lighting and blocking in a film where these elements appear to be less prevalent, rather than in a show with sets and costumes are obvious period elements with elaborate costumes and sets.  I also chose this film because it was unknowingly the prequel to the movies "Split" and "Glass", two movies which are much more recognized by this director, who is one of my favorites.

     The movie opens to a shallow space setting on a train with the Bruce Willis character quietly sitting and soon to be having a conservation with a woman to which he appears to be attracted.  The shallow blocking gives the viewer a sense of being a passenger in the seat just in front of the conservation.    Soon after this conversation the setting changes to a hospital room with a deep space set, showing Bruce Willis in the background and a dying passenger being worked on by medical staff in the foreground.  This deep space blocking helps the viewer focus on the total scene rather than just the conversation between the main character and the doctor.

     As you move through the first few scenes of the movie you will notice that the lighting is low-key, helping to portray a sense of gloom and depression for all the characters involved.  This darkness aides in the viewers interpretation that this is a low time in the lives of these characters.  The family’s meager home is gloomy, dim and lacking of life, further adding to the sadness of the film.  Inversely, just after the main character and his wife have a conversation about working on their marriage, the lighting changes to a high-key format, giving the feel that things will be looking up for this family.

     During the 1974 scene where the younger version of Samuel L. Jackson’s character is having a conversation with his mom, the set designers chose to represent the 1974, Philadelphia West Side apartment through a reflection of their conversation in a vintage television.  The reflection not only succeeds in showing the 1974 décor of the apartment, but also contributes to the feeling of doom and gloom with the low-key lighting it provides.  The mood changes for this character as well when he chooses to venture outside, despite his frailness, and goes for the present his mother has placed on the park bench.  The color purple is introduced during this scene by the purple present sitting on the park bench. Then as the character moves out into the bright sunny day the camera pivots around to his front revealing his iconic purple shirt which will become prevalent part of his future wardrobe.

     My observations were limited to the first 23 minutes of the film due to the fact that on your AICE media studies exam you will also view just a clip from a film.  You will then write about all the elements in the clip we have studied so far this year; cinematography, editing, sound and mise-en-scene.  As you can see, after completing this assignment you should be ready for the first part of the exam.

Q1 - Weeks 8 & 9 Assignments

Due 10/11

You will now move on to observing and working with sound in film.  Begin by reading the following articles and then taking the corresponding quizzes below each.

1)  Film Sound and Music​
      Week 8 - Quiz 1 - Film Sound & Music

2) The Emotional Realism of Sound
    Week 8 - Quiz 2 - Movies and Film: Sound Effects and Their Functions

2)  Edit - Reopen your "Five Master Edits", in premier pro and add sound to the 5 different scenes.  You should have at least 4 different examples of sound when finished.  This means you can't just add music to all, keep them all direct sound, or voice over all of them.  You can have a combination of sounds on one clip.  You may not have to edit the sound in a clip which you wish to maintain it's current direct sound or if you have already added music to create a leitmotif edit.  If this is the case, these 2 sounds will be part of the four you discuss in your blog.  (Diegetic Direct sound and Non-Diegetic Music)  Choose from these types of sound edits, although you will learn that some items in this list are subcategories of others.

  Diegetic sound, Non-Diegetic sound, Nonsimultaneous sound, Direct sound,  Synchronous
 sound, Postsynchronization dubbing, Offscreen Sound, Sound Bridge, Voice Over, Sonic flashback, or Music,

     After you finish editing the sound, export your new video with a different name, such as "Five Master Edits with Sound" in H.264 format and upload it to Youtube.  Do not take down the previous version of the film since it is linked in your post from two weeks ago and needs to remain there in the original version.  You need to keep both versions in order to show your journey through editing this film.

3)  Post -  Place a link to your new edited version of  "Five Master Edits with Sound Effects" in your blog for this week.  Comment on which types of sound you added and how each affected your film.  Do not limit your comments to just stating and defining the type of sound you used.  State how the sound changed the emotion of your film.

4)  Comment on one other students blog about a sound effect you liked in their video and why you liked it.  You do not need to add this part of the assignment to your blog.

5) Comment on the bottom of this blog post that you are finished along with the name of the student who's blog you commented on.

Here is the link to my sample "Five Master Edits with Sound Effects"

Sound Effects Added Comments:

1) Music:  I added music throughout most of the film to give it an overall theme of a "Circus" environment.  My clips which were already on my phone when I started this project, are mainly taken at school and sometimes I think of school as a circus.  Adding background music is also a form of non-diegetic sound.

2)  Music:  I added Mozart music to the first half of my contrast section to portray the intelligence of the young man as he's scanning through his textbooks studying.  The music helps you fell that this student is very intelligent.

3) Direct Sound: I left the direct sound in the second half of my contrast video because it contained the music that the same student was dancing to at the volleyball game.   The ambient sound of the volleyball game helps to add to the contrast of the video.  Direct sound is also a form of diegetic sound.

4)  Post Synchronization Dubbing:  In my parallelism clip, I added two different sounds of post synchronization dubbing which were not a part of the original videos.  I recorded myself calling my dogs name and added it to the clip of me walking with the empty leash, and then downloaded a file of a doberman whining to add to my dog walking.  This addition of sound helps the viewer see that a person is walking looking for their dog while at the same time a dog is walking, looking for it's person.  This dubbing is also a form of diegetic sound even though it was not a part of the original film.  The sound appears to be coming directly from the characters on the film.

5)  Voice-over:  I lowered the volume of the background music on my symbolism clip and added a voice-over to better explain the transition.  By adding the voice-over the viewer better understands why the camera goes from one set of stars to another.  (This is just a symbolism reference that could appear in a film, I don't really worry that some of the students will end up in a patrol car.)  Voice-over is a form of non-diegetic sound.

6)  Direct Sound:  In my example of simultaneity, I chose to leave all the natural (direct) sound that was in the film clips.  The sounds show what was happening inside the building and outside the building during the hurricane.  The contrast of the two sounds was enough to help the viewer feel the danger that was just outside.

7)  Sound Bridge:  I allowed the circus music to play throughout my Leitmotif film clip because it represents the emotions I wanted to express during the entire film.  This clip shows the craziness that sometimes goes on in the classroom and how a teacher might feel as though they are a hamster running on a wheel.  The circus music helps to impress these feelings onto the viewer.  The same music running throughout the entire edit also serves as a sound bridge for the various clips linking them together as one video.

Q1 - Week 7 Assignments

Due 09/27

This week you will continue to show your knowledge of the "Five Master Edits," you have been studying, and filmed yourself over the past two weeks.

1)  Film:  Your assignment is to observe each of these five edits in a film of your choosing.  You can observe them in the same film or five different films if you wish.  You can locate these edits in either a movie, or a series episode.  Record each of the edits as a video clip on your phone.  You are not allowed to use the same scene as two different edit examples, although you might mention in your explanation that a clip could have been used as another example.  You are also not allowed to use any of the examples given in the video "Pudovkin's 5 Editing Techniques".

2)  Post:  When you have found and recorded on your phone each of the five edits, post them in your blog as embedded clips with an explanation of how the clip fulfills the definition of the edit.

Here is my example:

Parallelism

In this film clip from the Cinemax series "Outcast, Season 2, Episode 10", Amber who is hiding for her life with her mother in a rundown hotel room, hears a knock at the door while her mother has momentarily left her to take a shower.  In the background you can clearly hear the water from the shower.  The scene quickly jump cuts to a running water faucet where the serial killer and alien possessed, Blake Morrow, is washing his face while contemplating his revenge on Amber's father, Kyle Barns, who is chained in a nearby room.  The parallelism comes from the sound of the water, which doesn't change as the scene jumps.  This particular clip could have also been used as an example of simultaneity, since the two scenes are happening at the same time in two different locations.

Q1 - Weeks 5 & 6 Assignments

Due 09/20

After spending some time learning about camera angles, different shots, and the emotions they invoke, it's now time for us to move on to editing and transitions.

1)  First you will view the two following online articles and one video which will introduce you to the effects and importance of editing and transitions in the films you view as well as future films you will make.  After viewing each please take the corresponding quiz.

Types of Video Transitions
Week 5 Quiz 1

A Beginners Guide to Film Editing Vocabulary
Week 5 Quiz 2

Watch: 5 Master Editing Techniques That Appear in Everything From ‘Psycho’ to ‘Hugo’
Week 5 Quiz 3

2)  Now you will create your own version of each of the five master edits mentioned in the video above

 Contrast - Parallelism - Symbolism - Simultaneity - Leitmotiff

a.  You can shoot the videos needed for this assignment on a school camera or on your phone.
b.  Keep in mind that each edit requires more than one shot.
b.  You can create these shots with a partner, but each partner must upload the final product to their individual blogs and have an individual interpretation of the shots.
c.  You will edit these videos into one film using Adobe Premiere Pro, to include an opening title (Our/My Five Master Edits by Your Name) and a title for each of the five shots.
d.  Do not focus on the sounds in these clips because sound will be addressed in a later lesson.
e.  The type of transitions you choose to demonstrate each of the five edits is up to you.

Watch this video once you have all your shots ready to edit.  It will help you get started in Premiere Pro.

"How To" Video for Premier Pro
"How To" Render & Export Your Video

3)  Post to Your Blog:   Upload your finished film containing your five edited shots to youtube and post a link into your blog,  then discuss each of your shots.

Sample "Five Master Edits" made by me

4) Comment that you are finished at the bottom of this blog post once your film is posted to your blog.

Q1 - Week 3 & Week 4

Due 09/06

This week you will continue to explore different camera angles and shots; however now you will learn more about how these different angles and shots make the viewer feel or add emotion to the film.

1)  Begin by reading these 2 online articles and taking the quizzes that correspond with each.

Article 1:  Different Camera Angles Create Different Emotions

Quiz:  Week 3 - Quiz 1

Article 2:  Use of Long Shots in Film

Quiz: Week 3 - Quiz 2

2)  Now you will spend time looking at your classmates camera shots from last week.  Do this by going to the link on the top of this blog "Student Blogs".  Choose two classmates and leave them a comment about their storyboard camera shots from week two.  Explain which of their shots you enjoyed and what type of emotions could be felt from them. Comment on at least 4 shots for each person.

3)  Make a post on your blog stating which two of your classmates camera shots you commented on, and describe again what the shots were and what emotions they were able to evoke.  Use the information you read in the articles to support how the different angles created various feelings.

4)  Watch a movie of your choice, note the camera angles used and how they help tell the story or add affect to the scene or story.  Note how they make you feel about the characters.

5)  Make another post on your blog first giving the name of the movie you chose to watch, then giving a few specific scenes that you noticed how camera angles added to the feelings that were meant to be expressed by the scene.  Once again, use the information you read in the articles to support how the different angles created various feelings. (min 500 words)

6)  Make a comment to this post when you have finished stating "Finished".

Here is my example of examining some camera shots in a favorite movie.

Review of a few Camera Angles in the Movie

Alien Covenant (2017)

From Producer Ridley Scott

                I chose to comment on a few of the camera angles in the 2017 movie “Alien Covenant” because I am a huge Science Fiction and Horror fan.  This movie fits into both of these genres and I have seen it along with all of its Alien predecessors many times.  Of course, as in most major motion pictures, probably every camera angle imaginable is used at some point during the film.  And although much of the action is CGI, the typical camera angles are still used in this aspect of the film as well. 

                 The movie opened with a close-up on the eye of the character David.  This close-up just as mentioned in the article we read this week, Different Camera Angles Create Different Emotions, gives you a sense of closeness to the character as well as displaying how human David appears although he is known from previous films to be an android.

Within this same first scene the camera moves from the extreme close-up to a wide angle shot which shows the massive expanse of the room in which the two characters are holding their conservation.  This widening of the scene lets you know that the setting is elaborate, expensive and set in the future.

The next camera angle I chose is an extreme wide shot of the city on the alien planet where our characters have landed.  In this view of the city, the very small specs you see on the ground are the dead bodies of the alien population.  The characters of the story are currently running through the open gate in this scene and are also among the specs on the ground.  The scene allows you to experience the enormity of the alien city and the huge loss of life that has taken place on this planet.  The Use of Long Shots in Film, article taught us that many motion pictures have gone down in history for their amazing and memorable extreme wide shots. 

Once in our alien city as with most alien movies, many of the characters meet their doom.  This is often accomplished through point-of-view camera shots which help you experience the terror that the character is also feeling.  I chose three different shots as examples; a view from a character just as she turns to see an alien, the alien’s view of her as he is looking down to eat her, and finally the captains view of the infamous egg pod which contains the facehugger that will soon jump out and attach to his head.  I hope these pictures don’t scare you too much!

As the movie neared its end, I chose to make a short video of the final action scene with our two remaining characters fighting to save the sleeping colonist on board the ship. In this brief scene you see many different angle shots; a wide shot of the alien falling from the ship on board an exiting vehicle, a head-on shot of the alien flying towards its intended victim, and a great flash shot of the alien trying to devour her.  Did he get her?  If you don’t know, you’ll have to watch the movie yourself to find out.  All these great shots help the viewer experience the excitement and terror that every Ridley Scott Alien movie is supposed to inflict on you.

Finally, I had to show the ending point-of-view shot from the main character Daniels' perspective, which shows the moment she realizes that David is on board the ship rather than Walter and there's nothing she can do about it from her hypersleep chamber.  The shot leaves the viewer with the realization and horror that this is definitely not the end.

Q1 - Week 2 Assignments

Due 08/23


1)  Read the Lely High School AICE Media Studies Syllabus located at the link below:
     https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GItqFrKIsEHNQl_PQRvjvjfTBl2PB1rv

2)  Take the Scavenger Hunt Quiz based on the AICE Media Studies Syllabus at the link below:
     https://goo.gl/forms/ctXdVSPOUIDO0XRv2

3)  Now you will begin working on your camera skills.  View and download into your google drive
     the storyboard document found at the link below:
     https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BRmGAG39AVMy0kpTf35BXFPVN1N1LzvM

4)  Choose at least 12 of the various shots described on the storyboard document and make 12
      sample films (videos not still shots) using the camera on your phone.  Make sure that you
      take all videos in landscape format!!!

5)  Create a post on your blog uploading each of  your 12 shots followed by a description of your
     experience trying to create these shots. Although the example shot below does
     include 2 different shots, you still must create 12 different videos.
                   (embed the videos using this tool.  See the sample below)

6)  Please post the word "Finished" as a comment to this blog post when you have finished with
     your Week 2 Assignment

EXAMPLE 

This is an example of a pan shot which I took while on spring break last year.  I noticed after viewing the film that is is pretty difficult to keep the camera level and stable when making one of these types of shots without a tripod.  The pan shot in this video is followed by a dolly shot.  Again, the dolly shot is a bit unstable without using an actual dolly.  If you plan to make a dolly shot you might want to use a stabilizer of possibly a rolling chair.

Q1 - Week 1 Assignments

Due 08/16

1)  Create your own blog on Blogger (Blogger is a part of google, so you need to have a google
      account and a google drive for this class.)
2)  Play around with the program and learn how to customize the blog so that it reflects your
      personality. (Don't worry, this can all be adjusted at any time)
3)  View the blog, copy the link, then paste it, along with your full name, below as a comment to
      this assignment.
4)  Make a first post on your blog which tells why you are taking this class and what you hope to
     get out of it.

Other task to complete this week

5) Submit the student contact information if you haven't already
    https://goo.gl/forms/4w4cAYrcxiqx7Hro1

6) Read, fill out, and submit the student contract
    https://goo.gl/forms/xZKhWL7K6R192sP23

Welcome

AICE Media Students,

This is the beginning of our Lely High School AICE Media Studies Class.  You will use this blog to view assignments and examples of the work you will take on this year.  You will also use Blogger.com to create a blog of your own.  There you will record and share your journey through learning about the film industry, learning techniques of shooting great video footage, then finally producing and editing your own film opening.  More than anything, I hope that you will enjoy the task you complete, post and discuss in your own blog, and they will heighten your love of film.

Q4 Week 7 - Test Preparation (Sections A & B Sample Papers)

Due 05/03

This week you will spend time looking at the most recently released version of the exam along with candidate responses which are scored High/Medium/Low.  Below the assignments, I have pasted the questions from the test.  Spend time reading through all 6 sample papers (3 responses to Section A, 3 responses to Section B).  As you are reading the samples, be sure to consider the examiners notes about what is good and what is not.

Assignment 1:   Read the candidate responses.  The questions from the exam booklet which produced these responses are copied below.  You will then post a comment to this blog post, of at least 300 words, on what you learned from the candidate responses.  Keep in mind that you have to be logged into your google account for comments and replies to save.

Assignment 2:  Next you will read two of your classmates comments and post a reply about something you learned from their post or found interesting.

Here are the exam questions.

Q4 Week 6 - Test Preparation (Section B Continued)

Due 04/26

This week, just like last, you will read an article, post a 300 word summary and reply to two other classmates' summaries.  Your topic this week is "cross media convergence and synergy" but the information in the article will touch on most of the remaining bullet points in Section B of the exam.  After reading the article you should scroll down to last week's assignment and review the topics mentioned in the Section B explanation.  You should not wait too late in the week to begin reading this article since it is a little over 4800 words.

Here are two simplified definitions of media convergence and synergy to help you get started on the reading.

Convergence can be separated into at least two categories:
1. Technical convergence – in which technologies are used to pair media products: TVs with gaming consoles, PCs with CDs, Virtual reality kits with gaming consoles etc.
2. Corporate convergence – where companies converge to maintain control over ownership/rights and to maximize royalties.

Media Synergy is the way in which different elements of a media conglomerate work together to promote linked products across different media.

Assignment 1:  Read the following article "Media Convergence 101"   Please read the entire article.  Although it is quite long and much of what you need to know is at the end, the beginning gives vital background information.  You will then post a comment to this blog post, of at least 300 words, on what you learned about media convergence and how this information relates to the genre or genres you have focused on this year.  Keep in mind that you have to be logged into your google account for comments and replies to save.

Assignment 2:  Next you will read two of your classmates comments and post a reply about something you learned from their post or found interesting.

Just in case you wish to look ahead at a sample exam and candidate responses from the most recently released responses, here are the links to do so.

Exam 2017

Samples Candidate Responses (High, Medium, Low)

Q4 Week 5 - Test Preparation (Section B)

Due 04/19

Your exam will consists of two parts:

Section A:
We spent the entire 1st semester preparing for this part of the exam and we will revisit this information in a few weeks.

Section B: Institutions and audiences (50 marks) One question is to be answered from a choice of two. Candidates should be prepared to discuss the processes of production, distribution and marketing as they relate to contemporary media institutions, as well as the nature of audience consumption and the relationships between audiences and institutions. In addition, candidates should be familiar with:

• the issues raised by media ownership and funding in contemporary media practice
• the importance of cross-media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing
• the technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and at the point of consumption
• the significance of the spread of such technologies for institutions and audiences
• the importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences
• the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences by international or global institutions
• the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends in audience behavior. 

Assignment 1:  You will begin the process of preparing for this part of the exam by reading the following article "Audiences & Institutions".  This article on Big Media will help you see the current infrastructure of media companies.  You will also need to find additional information about the companies that produce the movies that you like or fit into your chosen genre.  You will then post a comment to this blog post, of at least 300 words, on what you learned about audiences and institutions and how this information relates to the genre or genres you have focused on this year.  Keep in mind that you have to be logged into your google account for comments and replies to save.

Assignment 2:  Next you will read two of your classmates comments and post a reply about something you learned from their post or found interesting.

Just in case you wish to look ahead at a sample exam and candidate responses from the most recently released responses, here are the links to do so.

Exam 2017

Samples Candidate Responses (High, Medium, Low)

Weeks 3 & 4 - Creative Critical Reflection

Due 04/12

Blog - This is your final blog post.  After this week we will work on test preparation. Your Creative Critical Reflection (CCR) should be at the top of your blog with the final cut of your movie opening just below it.

Here are the instructions for your CCR as they were written in the Cambridge AICE Media Studies Syllabus:

Creative critical reflection
This work can be presented in a number of formats such as: a director commentary, slideshows with voiceover, podcast, Prezi or screencast presentation and must answer the following questions:

1. How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
2. How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?
3. How did your production skills develop throughout this project?
4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?

Learners should be reassured that admissions of ineffective choices (as long as they have explained how these were rectified, or what was learnt from them) made in the production process are seen as highly reflective qualities and would not, in its own right, impact on the marks awarded.

Here are the links to the blogs of the movie openings you viewed in Q3 Week 2.   You can view the CCR's of these students as examples.

Levene, J. - https://jamielevene.blogspot.com/

​

Delgado, M. - https://mpdxmedia.blogspot.com/

Araiza, A. - https://anaaraizamedia.blogspot.com/

Garzon, D. - https://danigarzon2000.blogspot.com/

Miranda, I. - https://isabelmirandafilmopening.blogspot.com/

Ribnick, A. - http://amandamelissamedia.blogspot.com/

Sanchez-Gonzalez, M. - https://my-openmic.blogspot.com/

Cabrera, J. - https://jcabreramedia.blogspot.com/

Gosselin, K. - https://gosselinfilms.blogspot.com/

Aguilar, C. - https://celinamediastudiesblog.blogspot.com/

Rauch, J. - https://jackrauch1217.blogspot.com/

Rapp, C. - https://thatisarapp.blogspot.com/

Week 2 - Final Cut

Part 3 Due 03/29

I will sort the peer reviews and distribute them to the film team members by Tuesday.  At that time you will edit your film opening based on suggestions from the peer reviews and create a Final Cut.  Final Cuts will be uploaded to youtube and a link posted to your blogs along with an explanation of changes and why you made them by Friday, March 29.  Even if you decide to make no changes, you must discuss the peer review comments and why you decided against the suggestions.

Peer Review Assignments

Due 03/25

Now you must review 4 of your classmates movie openers.  Scroll down below the list of movie-opener links to find a list of your names with the numbers of the films you should review.  Your reviews are due at the end of the period Monday, March 25th.  Use the form link below to submit each of your film opener reviews.  You should submit this form 4 times.

Peer Review Form:  https://forms.gle/pNUEXNAXCHecvZBN6

1)  https://youtu.be/P1VDsUJIOSQ
2)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcj5ZHCSYAE
3)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZeV6mDvzpk
4)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IghNMcKDbyE&feature=youtu.be
5)  https://youtu.be/uIjmvlQLnSo
6)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Jp2yduqiA&feature=youtu.be
7)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQF-k1kYpQQ&feature=youtu.be 
8)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiKHOZffuh0
9)  https://youtu.be/8yaAVjjciz4 
10)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEeR9dQNjSQ
11)  https://youtu.be/7xf47DeiBnI
12)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXpfE0V1cVg
13)  https://youtu.be/-Mj4gxLmMAE

Submit the Peer Review Form for the number of each film-opener which follows your name.

Antunez, Francisco  1, 6, 13, 12 Anyaehie, Kenneth Ekene 1, 6, 13, 12 Charlestin, Christopher    1, 7, 13, 10 Clarke, Maya Elaine 1, 7, 13, 10 Contreras-Sagredo, Alicia    2, 7, 12, 11 Desvaristes, Sophonie Lide   1, 7, 12, 9 Fetzer, Trent Joseph   2, 7, 11, 10 Garciga, Jairo   8, 11, 12, 13 Gobiel, Whitney   2, 8, 11, 13 Hartman, Kiley Rose   2, 8, 10, 13  Holloway, Corazon Kelly   2, 8, 9, 10 Hopkins, Madison Katherine   3, 8, 9, 4 Kenton, Eric Alex  3, 9, 10, 11 Kimble, Christopher Mucha  3, 9, 8, 5 Martin, Scott Amer   3, 9, 8, 5 Okenkova, Lenka   3, 1, 7, 2 Okenkova, Lia   4, 9, 7, 2 Poelstra, Laura Suzanne   4, 10, 6, 3 Poling, Eileen   4, 11, 6, 3 Poling, Michael Robert   4, 11, 5, 6 Richardson, Thomas James   4, 11, 5, 6 Rosenblum, Lily Sophia   5, 11, 3, 4 Travis, Kaelyn Jean   5, 12, 3, 4 Ussery, James Cooper   5, 12, 4, 7 Vecchio, Donte Guido   5, 12, 2, 7 Watson, Erin Alexis   5, 12, 2, 8  Webb, Miranda Alexis   6, 12, 1, 8 Witthoff, Ryan Edward   6, 13, 1, 10 Young, Joshua Hunter   6, 2, 9, 10

Q4 Weeks 1 & 2 - Edit & Publish First Cut, Peer Review 5 Other Films, Edit & Publish Final Cut

Part 1 Due 03/22

This week you must finish editing the first cut of your movie opening, upload it to youtube, and post a link to it in your blog by Friday, March 22.   It is imperative that you have your film link posted on time.

Part 2 Due 03/25

On saturday I will compile all the links and make assignments for each of you to peer review 5 other student films. You will complete this peer review in a form which will be submitted to me.  I will post these peer review assignments along with the necessary form link into the class blog by Saturday, March 23, at 3:00 pm.  You will then need to complete the five peer reviews assigned to you by Monday, March 25 at the end of 1st period.

Part 3 Due 03/29

I will sort the peer reviews and distribute them to the film team members by Tuesday.  At that time you will edit your film opening based on suggestions from the peer reviews and create a Final Cut.  Final Cuts will be uploaded to youtube and a link posted to your blogs along with an explanation of changes and why you made them by Friday, March 29.  Even if you decide to make no changes, you must discuss the peer review comments and why you decided against the suggestions.

Q3 Weeks 7 & 8 - Editing

Due Dates 02/22 and 03/01

This week and next you will begin editing your movie opening.  You will once again make two post to your blog, one this week and one next week, during this process.  Each of these post should contain:

• photos of the computer screen during editing
• photos of the students involved in editing
• a discussion about titles and fonts you decided to put into your movie
• a discussion of the video effects used
• a discussion of the video transitions used
• a discussion of the audio effects used
• problems encountered during editing
• solutions to problems encountered during editing
• amount of time spent editing
• people involved in editing
• a discussion of additional filming you had to do if this was the case

Remember 2 Blogs (one this week and one next week) all about editing with photos.

Q3 Weeks 5 & 6 - Filming

Due Dates 02/08 & 02/15

It's finally time to film!!!  Over the next two weeks you will start shooting your film footage for your movie opening.  During shooting, you or someone in your group should take photos on your phone of all the action.  During each week of filming, you should post your progress in your blog along with some snapshots.  Explain what is happening. Describe your experience. Talk about the issues you may have faced and the changes you may have made.  GOOD LUCK!!!

Remember 2 Blogs (one this week and one next week) all about filming with photos.

Q3 Week 4 - Preparing to Film

Due 02/01

It is time to prepare for filming.  You need to think about everything that must be done to get ready.  Post in your blog what you did this week in preparation of starting to film.  You should discuss in detail the following elements: 

actors, 
costumes, 
props, 
locations, 
dates and times, 
scripts,
and film equipment. 

You will discuss actual filming in your next blog; so if you begin filming this week, take some notes and wait to discuss this next week.

Q3 Week 3 - Storyboard

Due 01/25

This week you will create your initial storyboard for your film opening.  This storyboard could change in the future as you begin working on your project.  Post a copy of the storyboard in your blog along with an explanation of how you created it and how it flows.   Those of you working in a group will post the same storyboard with different explanations, and should also explain who did each part of this activity.

Storyboards should include:
1. a sketch
2. a description
3. camera angles
4. audio notes
5. transitions
6. graphics/text

Here's a blank storyboard you can use or if you find another online you prefer, feel free to use it.  You may also need multiple pages.

Q3 Week 2 - Brainstorming

Due 01/18

This week you will watch several other film openings submitted by students during the 17-18 school year.  After watching these film openings you will brainstorm either alone or with your group members to come up with some ideas for you own film opening.  You should take notes during these brainstorming sessions and then post the information you gather in your blog for this week.  Your blog should include information from the notes (handwritten or typed) and then a summary of where these brainstorming sessions led you in making a decision about your film opening.

Here are some links to film openings submitted by several Florida students last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9AKdUT8nyg&feature=youtu.be
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12JR0FpGIpYlH4Mol6OUnwVFk7NnB4Tj_/view
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_bKQDg6fiI&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=nYpjHCwRO6Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-yrsmQS7bo&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvMH-1XdR9c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifemZeEVfe4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=dvAsmo32uo0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxIZJKdc-Sw&feature=youtu.be
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p8azlLRHyqaShaOJC6SBJwzGx7s9Cjpk/view
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuxjkFQa9Vw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ0Gs04-22c

You can also do a google search for AICE Media AS Film Openings to find other sample film openings to watch.  Film openings are limited to 2 minutes.

Q3 Week 1 - What Inspired You?

Due 01/11

You have declared a genre for your film opening.  This week you will create a blog post in which you write about what inspired you to choose this genre.  You should use samples from past favorite films which  exemplify the characteristics of the genre.  You should discuss the openings of these films as well, and describe how the opening drew you in and made you want to watch the rest of the film.  This blog should be at least 500 words.

Also, during this quarter, most of your work will be on producing your film opening and posting the process on your blog.  In addition to grades from blog post you are required to submit the form below each week on Friday, not before, to let me know what you have been working on during the week.  Please make sure you submit this form every Friday.  It is for a grade and cannot be made up nor turned in late.

https://goo.gl/forms/i1QEMKNyq5lZOz1v1