Thursday 4 May 2017

Independent case study: peer assessment

Name of student whose blog you are assessing: Jasmit

Name of film they have researched: Paddington

Have they covered all three platforms? They have covered all three platforms; broadcast, print and e-media.

Examples they provide from print: 4 examples of print promotion with an explanation of how they promote the film.

Examples from broadcast: a close-textual analysis of the trailer using the MIGRAIN key concepts of Media Studies and examples of television promotion on YouTube

Examples from e-media: Research on the film’s presence on social media,examples of the two-step flow theory online and analysis of the official website for the film.

Any additional, relevant information that could be used in an exam essay: 

What similarities can you find between this case study and Ill Manors? The similarities between Paddington and Ill Manors, is that they both use London's landmarks to highlight specific elements of their production, with ill manors used London's landmarks to promote their film via the tag London campaign.

What differences can you find between this case study and Ill Manors? Paddington was a family film, that was made to make their audience laugh, and be proud to be British, it's target audience was mostly aimed at young children and their parents. However Ill Manors was the complete opposite of that, majority of the film consisted of rather domestic for a a film, it explored hard core of telling the story of London. It was mostly targeted at an older target audience, it didn't want to make people laugh but probably open their eyes. 

Does this film have any similarities or differences with A Field In England? The actors in both films are British and both films were set in England. 

Is there anything you can learn from this case study?  Focus more on analysis, to write in detail and always refer back to the case study.  

What could you add to your own case study after today’s work? Add more things about representation. 

Write ONE thing you will do as part of your MEST1 Section B revision as a result of looking at this case study:   Most definitely include media terminology 

Tuesday 2 May 2017

PPE Learner Response

1) Type up any feedback or comments from your paper in full (you do not need to write mark/grade if you do not wish to)

  • You must give specific examples from the clip
  • D is working class
  • Section B introduction needs more
  • Link back to the question
  • Discuss different audience e.g
  • ''This has potential but doesn't flow with the rest of the essay
  • For top level, you need to explore other side argument..that Ben Drew didn't succeed in shaping values + attitudes  




2) Did you succeed in meeting or exceeding your target grade in AS Media? If not, how many additional marks do you need across Section A and Section B to achieve your target grade?


In order to achieve my target grade I needed 14 additional marks across Section A and Section B to achieve my target grade.



3) Read through the mark scheme. Pay particular attention to pages 6-9 that have anticipated content for each of the questions in Section A. How many of these potential points did you make? Did you successfully answer the questions? The original question paper is here if that is useful.

I didn't make many of the potential points in Section A, I did not successfully answer the questions.


4) Which was your strongest question in Section A? Why did you do better in that particular question?

Question 3 was my strongest question as it was the only question in section a that got the highest mark.


5) Which was your weakest question in Section A? Again, try and identify why this happened. Did you misinterpret the question? Did you run out of time?

Question 1 was my weakest question in Section A.                                   


6) Rewrite your answer for your weakest question in Section A. This should now be a detailed, three-paragraph, level-4 response.


The representation of the Metro Salavge workers as a family unit is constructed by traditional gender stereotypes for example the men work hard in order to pay for their wives expensive tastes. Another gender stereotype is that while the men work, the women look at them, this reinforces 'the female gaze'. Another representation is that Lyndsey and Terry are the parents of the workers and the workers are the naughty children and the women in the cafe as 'aunts' this to demonstrate a big family. 
There is a contained setting where the women are stationed at the cafe whereas the men are stationed at a masculine work place.The family is portrayed as a family of strength and community; them against the world. 

7) Now look at the mark scheme for Section B. Did you cover all three media platforms? Did you write about three different films in your essay? (If you missed out your independent case study this is clearly an area to revise for the real thing).


In section B i successfully covered all three media platforms and wrote about three different films. 

8) Question focus in the most important factor for a top-level response. Did you use the key words in the question in every paragraph? Did each paragraph contain a topic sentence that used the key words from the question?


I tried my best in linking the back to the topic sentences in each paragraph and including key words from the questions. 

9) Choose one paragraph from your Section B essay and re-write it to improve question focus, examples and written English if applicable. Make sure it is answering the question! 


Within the print platform, Plan B was on the cover of both NME magazine and Men's Health magazine. This is entertaining of these print magazines are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. NME is a rock magazine, appealing to an alternative young adult target audience for Ill Manors. Cohens idea of moral panics is important in this. Plan B being a political rapper his ideologies of the youth being demonstrated in society is clearly reflected within the music magazine. 

10) Read the Examiner's Report in full. For each question in Section A, look at whether you included the things the Chief Examiner refers to in the stronger responses. Did any of the problems identified with some answers apply to you? Be specific. 



Q1: ''The final group shot of the sequence was identified by many as referencing a family portrait.''

Q2: '' Answers referred to the visually appealing use of shots of the scrapyard counterpointed by the music''

Q3: '' answers directly linked this to the props and setting, picking upon the signifiers of working class culture''

Q4: ''the familiarity of narrative, characters and conventions as well as the appeal of the humour, also pointing to the use of the construction of the family unity to appeal to a family viewing.''


11) Now look at the Examiner's Report for your chosen question in Section B. Did your response fit the stronger or weaker examples highlighted by the Chief Examiner? What could you have done differently to improve your mark for Section B?


It fit with the part that stated 'lacked question focus' and there was 'limited reference to ‘why’'.

12) Finally, identify three things you will do differently in the real exam in two weeks. These can refer to preparation, notetaking, Section A or Section B - it is up to you. 


Most definately include media terminology 
Practise more exam questions for prep
use more theories!

Thursday 23 March 2017

MEST1 Section B: index


1) The British film industry: Media Factsheet questions
2) Institutional context of the British film industry: Factsheet questions
3) Ill Manors: film review
4) Ill Manors: trailer analysis
5) Ill Manors: music video
6) Ill Manors: TEDx lecture
7) Ill Manors: broadcast platform concluded
8) Ill Manors: print platform (newspaper interviews)
9) Ill Manors: print branding
10) Ill Manors: e-media Tag London campaign
11) Ill Manors: e-media social networking research
12) Ill Manors: official website analysis
13) MEST1 Section B: essay plan
14) A Field In England: reading, research and questions
15) A Field In England: the appeal of arthouse cinema
16) Ill Manors, A Field In England, Warp & Vertigo: institution research

A Field in England: the appeal of Art house film

Audience pleasures?

The article talks about different audience being able to view art house films. Elitism plays a big factor in deciding the different pleasures audiences get, for example middle class people pay to see it as entertainment compared to viewing mainstream Hollywood movies and maybe lower class people who view art house films may see them for narrative and its art.


Why do some audiences struggle with art house films?, refer to media theories 

Some audiences are use to the Hollywood blockbusters and their typical, generic film structures including equilibrium-dis equilibrium and new equilibrium. Art house films tend not to have no narrative closure and therefore make audiences feel at a disadvantage to the film genre.


To what extent is art house film only available for the middle classes and older pages?

Art house films have always been directed at a certain age group, even the location of the cinemas helps differentiate it from that of those from larger chain cinemas, for example; art house cinemas tend to be in cities and blend in with the surroundings. They are also a lot more expensive then regular cinema tickets because they feel as though they are supplying to a more wealthy audience. Maybe in the past art house cinemas were more exclusive but typically anyone could go and view a film in their, there is no specific people it wants to let though its door but does operate in quite a niche market to a certain extent. 


What type of audience would a field in England appeal to?

A field in England fits very well for being an art house production. From the start you can tell that it is an art house production and that it was made for being art and not for the money. I think this would suit a typical art house audience being middle class/middle age people. Although, as it was release on a simultaneous release strategy a lot more of different types of audiences would be able to watch it such as a film 4 audience which amounted to most of the views for a field in England.

MEST1 Section B: A Field In England


100 word summary

The article goes on to talk about the original distribution schedule and how it become to be the success of the film. It compares itself to much larger distribution methods and whether that would be an effective way to make money in the future as the digital age is on the rise as more and more different media texts are being streamed illegally online.  Paramount and Warner Bros will need to change their ways in the future and do something like A field in England does with its release.


How was a field in England release different to others?

A Field in England had what is called a simultaneous release  strategy which involved releasing the film across various platforms on the same day. For example, the film was released on TV, DVD, Cinema and on demand in mid July. This strategy is different to that of a Hollywood distribution schedule,  Paramount uses a method which involves releasing the film on different platforms over a different period of time, for example they could release a film at the start of a year but not release it on DVD till the other half of the year.

Advantages of releasing a film across all platforms on the same day?

In this case, as the film in question is an art house producation we can assume that the films intentions were not to make a large profit but to give a specific audience what they want or to provide a narrative something unique. As a result of this, using a simultaneous relase strategy could have been used to raise more awareness of the film so that it peaks media attention and makes for sales in the short terms than it ever would in the long term. Also, a simultaneous release means it would be aired on TV which means it can reach the widest audeince possible and possibly those who were not in its intended target market.

Disadvantages to this approach?

A Field in England cost approximately three hundred thousand pounds to make so by releasing it across all platforms all at once makes it less likely to recover all of the cots and maybe unable to generate a maximum revenue that they could have gained from using strategy. 


Tuesday 21 March 2017

MEST1 Section B: Independent case study

The basics

1) What is the name of the film, the director and notable stars? 

The name of the film is 'Suffragette' directed by Sarah Gavron, starring Helen Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep

2) When was it released?

The film 'Suffragette' was released on 12 October 2015

3) What genre is the film? What are the generic conventions that tell you the film belongs to this genre?

'Suffragette' is a historical period drama, this being so because the time period of the film as well as it focusing on an important part in British history.

4) What was the critical reception? What is the film rated on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes?

'Suffragette' has a mild rating on IMDb however a pretty good rating from rotten tomatoes; 73%
Broadcast

 Find examples of television promotion on YouTube (adverts, chat shows, ‘red carpet’ interviews etc.) and post them to your blog along with an explanation of how these promote the film.



This press conference help promote the film, by allowing the stars of the film to speak about their viewpoints and project all their thoughts to the public, this is good because majoirty of the star actors are well loved in the British acting community due to their successes else wheres, this brings in audiences that want to hear from them. 

3) Does the broadcast promotion use stars to create interest in the film?
The stars are well loved by the public and encouraging the stars to go out in public and speak about the film and their own viewpoints causes the public to be interested and probably influenced by them to go watch the film and in the end probably will have the same viewpoints as the stars. 

Print

1) Read at least THREE reviews of the film and provide a quote from each one.

''This movie paints an eye-opening picture of what life was like for women before the actions of those like Maud and her friends turned the tide toward equality.''   - Common Sense Media.

''The film makes a series of arguments about the workings of patriarchal power, the complexities of political resistance and the economic implications of the right to vote.''   - The NY Times.

''Suffragette is satisfyingly small in scope, a human-scale story of epic change.'' -  The Atlantic.

2) Find examples of print promotion (e.g. film poster, billboard adverts etc.) on Google images and post them to your blog along with an explanation of how these promote the film.
1.
Image result for suffragette film poster

This film poster promotes the film by placing the three main characters in the film but also three well known actors across the globe, this draws attention to the poster and then it bold writing there's the words ''Mothers; Daughters; Rebels. This makes people wonder how can people like mothers and daughters be rebels, and hey will watch the film to find out. 
2.
Image result for suffragette film poster

This poster highlights the police brutality people had to suffer back in the day and it encourages people to want to understand the issue more, therefore buying tickets to watch the film.
3.
Image result for suffragette film poster

Having the three main actors at the top of the film and a very important picture that describes the situation of the film and the review at the bottom of the poster ''Inspiring, unforgettable movie!'' many people want to be inspired so they might feel it is a must to go see the film.

4) How is the film’s brand constructed? What does the brand connote? Does it remind you of any other brands or similar films?

It is constructed to make people feel inspired and to feel emotional due to the fact the history was made because of the story within the film, the whole women population of the UK can vote because of the actions of the women in the film. It connotes freedom of speech. 



E-media

1) Research the film’s presence on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. How does the film’s social media presence help promote the film?


It doesn't have a lot of followers for a film however majority of the content on the site is re tweeted more than the amount of followers it has. 

2) Analyse the official website for the film. How does it use the film’s brand? What examples of synergy can you find with the other platforms? 

It uses the film brand by using the actors images throughout the film and it also explains parts of the film/history of the events that took place.

3) Did the film run any kind of e-media based campaign to generate interest in the film? 

No it didn't run any e-media based campaign to generate interest in the film.

4) Can you find any examples of the two-step flow theory online – did celebrities or journalists tweet or post about the film in order to promote it to their followers?

Unfortunately i could not find any.



Audience
1) Who is the target audience for this film? Demographics and psychographics.

Probably women but mostly for people who are interested in what happened, and those who respect this particular event in history. 

2) How does the cross-media promotional campaign target this audience? 

By using their star actors to draw in public attention, through posters, interviews and conferences.

3) What audience pleasures does the film provide? Think about the BFI lecture on audience pleasures in British film.

A trip back into history, living the history changes for themselves. 

4) What similar films would the target audience enjoy? Justify your suggestions.

Simalar films would consist of; The Kings Speech, The Iron Lady, Selma etc. 

Institution

1) Which film studio produced the film? What other films have they produced? Do they have a track record with this kind of film and this target audience?

The films studio that produced this film would be Olympic Studios.

2) Which company distributed the film in the UK? What other films have they distributed? 

Pathe distributed the film in the UK, they also distributed films such as: Slumdog Millionaire, Beauty and The Beast, Selma and A United Kingdom. 

3) Do they have a track record with this kind of film and this target audience?

Yes they do. 
4) What was the budget for the film?

The budget for the film is 14 Million USD

5) How successful was the film financially? Why do you think this was?

The box office for the movie was 32 Million USD thats more than double of the budget, it was successful but not was much as it could have been.

6) Was this film more successful in the UK or worldwide/USA? Why do you think this is?

I think it was more successful in the UK due to the fact that the film is mostly about the UK and the events the took place, however the US have a huge interest in British events too. 

7) What certificate was the film given (12A, 18 etc.)? What was the reason for this certificate? Is the certification important for this film in terms of targeting its audience? Why?

The rating for this film was PG-13 due to the fact it contained some intense violence,brief strong language and partial nudity.



Representation

1) What representations of people, places or groups can be found in this film? 

The representation of the people in this film is of working class and a little bit of upper class. Places found in this film would be classic British places, like kings cross station. 

2) What representation of ‘Britishness’ does the film contain? 

It contains elements of ''Britishness'' such as car carriages and famous London landmarks such as the Big Ben and clothing that can only be associated with the British people. 

3) How does the representation of Britain differ to Ill Manors? 

It differs to time and how the people behaved, in both films people speak in a different manner with one another, such as in suffragette people talk with a sense of respectable tone but in Ill Manors people spoke in a tone in slang. 

4) What values and ideologies can you find in your chosen film? (E.g. The King’s Speech is extremely patriotic, pro-monarchy etc.) 


Case study comparison
1) What similarities and differences can you find between Ill Manors, A Field In England and your chosen case study film? List all that apply.

Essay Plan

Intro-
 Introduce case study (iLL Manors), industry(British Film Industry) and texts (A Field in England, 71 and/or one other film).  

Para 1 -

E- Media (ILL Manors)
Tag London Campaign- promotional campaign linked to soundtrack- projecting tweets.
original, imaginative & attract audiences, controversial, engaging, political
Maintain - UGC (User Generated Content)

Para 2 -

 Broadcast
Music Video- Visuals &political content/ news footage, actors-synergy/identification, uses and gratifications (personal identity)   
Trailer- Narrative structure- main characters are not particularly important in the film- makes the audience think that its just an urban London film.Traditional/conventional (Todorov)- seems more accessible. 

Para 3-


 Broadcast/ E-media 
TEDx Lecture- imaginative- contextualises the film, characters and motivations
Plan B/ Revolver Ent going beyond his typical fan base (middle class) ''Guardian reader'' - social/politics, social class (how inequalities in society can be addressed).- this helps attract and maintain different types of audiences. 

Para 4- 


Print
Branding- how its constructed- mise en scene- costume/font/image/setting/ colour scheme
CD Packaging/DVD/ Film Posters/ Billboards (add website later)