filmmakerIQ.com - the origins of film noir

in a nutshell - what is film noir????

Origins of Film Noir from FilmmakerIQ.com on Vimeo.

cover for 20th november

sorry guys I have  a horrid cold/flu thing and so no voice, disgusting cough, aches etc - you do not wanna be in a room with me

I have emailed the technician asking him to have all video cameras moved up to CM21 with Ms Moore so you can collect them from there - please continue as planned: filming the continuity task - capture a range of shot types but include the core/complulsory match on action & shot/reverse shot plus the set action

Sam/sam/chris/gerogia/max - i realise you may be prop building etc rather than filming BUT you need to be editing by next lesson so get it done in your own time please

Some blogs are looking excellent - others less os - please do not forget to add evidence of planning and capturing this activity - upload the homework, upload storyboards, upload photographs of you filming etc

Elliot - the link to your blog does not work - please add the url to a comment on this blog

expected A level approach

I have just assessed everyone's posts/blogs - some of you have less than 6 posts. And some of those are unfinished. If it is not made 'live' i cannot mark it - we have covered the following since the course started - (so you should have at least 16 posts):

Expected posts

1.    Summer task: Research into sweded films

2.    The definition of sweded films

3.    Examples of sweded films with comments/analysis/deconstructions

4.    Examples of animatics and or storyboards with analysis

5.    Management of your blog – permissions and settings – 25 posts please / no word verification  invite me

6.    Research and planning: codes and conventions of a film OTS: se7en activities 1-3 & tasks 1-3 – review others powerpoints / deconstruct & micro-essay on Se7en / ditto film of your choice

7.    R&P – codes and conventions:  - look at other students work – set 18^th sept

8.    Planning for a sweded film of your own / make a sweded film and upload it / analyse the result

9.    identifying the conventions of an OTS

10. identifying the conventions of film noir

11. analysing OTS : Double Indemnity / Sin City / Psycho / other of your own choice – after watching the films’ OTS identify & provide a detailed analysis showing understanding of how they meet/break:

a.    The conventions of a film noir

b.    The conventions of OTS

c.    Representations of character

d.    Editing techniques

12. Research: creating representations create moody, melodramatic portraits in a film noir style

13. Genre theory classwork:  mindmaps into genre / hybrid genre / examples of different genres especially linking to film noir – upload photos of sheets OR rewrite in an interactive way – upload examples of different genres – still/clips/films

14. Genre theory: defined the Film Noir Genre on your blog

15. Understanding audience – active / passive / traditionalist / hedonist / post-modern /preferred / oppositional linked to audience / industry . institution – extension ABC1C2DE criterion

16.  understanding narrative theory:  Todorov / propp / levi-strauss / branigan / Cameron… explore the narrative concepts and write what they are in your own words together with examples of films that best represent them, extend with those that break it.

17.  Defining audience: the Buckingham activities and essay.

18. Audience: planning your own – next step

The exam board states that: just writing is not enough - this is an interactive A level: every post should contain academic analysis, illustrations and visual links or examples. A greater variety gains a higher grade. Just text can only gain an E or D grade.

Challenge - you need to catch up - review your own blog and look at those of three others. You have until the end of the week to complete - Mondays lesson will be blogging and Q&A. Wednesday we will do the work in the post below... we are one third through the time allocated for the practical element of the course

research and planning: Audience

Challenge: you need to present a structured 'picture' of your target audience using recognised / valid ways of measuring and defining an audience.

The audience grouping that you choose must be a recognised media audience
The exhibition and distribution method you choose must be a real one and you must state your intended method / instrument for exhibition (DVD, cinema, streaming etc....)

choose one or more of the following methods as a start point: you will get more marks if you are creative and interactive in how you present your decision:

1. powerpoint
2. a video
3. voice thread  - see an example of a sprowston student work  here http://lukeandersona2media2012-13.blogspot.co.uk/ the site introduction is available here  https://voicethread.com/media/misc/IntroductionToVoiceThread.mov4. it is free to use log-in and choose a free account here is a good place to start https://voicethread.com/support/howto/Account_Types/Free/
4. a prezi
5. a web page - wix.com is easy to use and free - find it here: http://www.wix.com/

Try to have fun as this will come across to your audience

try to link it to your own genre / style and intended film

we will begin todays lesson in discussions about the task - this is homework - in the lesson on Wednesday we will begin filming the continuity task so prepare to dress up

research: audience theory

you need to be able to show both knowledge and understanding:

KNOWLEDGE
means knowing about  facts, terms and concepts
UNDERSTANDING
means being able to use them in discussion, essays or planning - owning the knowledge and being able to re-use it in your own words and  use it to influence your own production.

Build your understanding of the work in the last lessons by: initially Deconstructing the Pete Buckingham paper Audiences: Trends, Profiles and Patterns: What People Go to See, Why and How to Reach Them

then

complete tasks 1-3 on the sheet:

Task 1

Read the article and make notes on the following points

Q1- page 1 – read and consider – what does he suggest influences audience patterns – is he correct in your opinion?

Q2 page 2 – what kind of audience are you  - what are your own viewing habits – how do audiences behave in the cinema

Q2b: what instruments could you use to find out about viewing habits / successful genres and narratives?

Task 2

Read pages 3-4 and think about how he explains WHY people go to the cinema; what do they want from a cinema experience and a film; what blocks them from getting involved.  Then make notes to answer Q3 & 4 reflecting on yourself as a consumer:

Q3 – motivation & behaviour

a.       Why do you watch films?

b.      What qualities attract you ( you could consider  film / actor/company/innovation / reputation etc)

c.       How do you consume films (exhibition: how it is shown – cinema/dvd/streamed/downloaded/tv as well as who with or where)

Q4. Driver and barriers – annotate his list and then create your own. – what dissuades or persuades YOU.

Task 3

Produce a report exploring the following points:

·         The different ways in which film industries and institutions categorise audiences (companies that make films and those who distribute or exhibit them)

·         The reasons they do so

·         The ways in which producers and film writers can consider audiences

·         The reasons why they do so.

·         What affects you as an audience member

You can use any method to present it – essay / prezi / powerpoint etc But you must include more than just words – links / diagrams / photos etc.

Deadline – First lesson next week

Hy 3^rd Nov 2013