Make sure the FULL question appears at the top of each Eval post!!! Its not a bad idea to do as I do below + include all 4, to help you remember the range of Qs you'll need to address.
Creative critical reflection On completion of the product, candidates must creatively reflect upon their work. Candidates may use any digital format, such as director commentaries, a presentation with voiceover, podcasts or screencasts. Candidates may use a different digital format to explore each of the compulsory questions. The creative critical reflection should be produced and presented individually. Candidates must explore the following compulsory questions:
How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?
How did your production skills develop throughout this project?
How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?
I've also provided an Eval overview, including an extensive list of creative suggestions. Whatever format/s you use, provide link/embed to whatever source/s inspired your presentation style so examiners can see its not random (assume they won't be familiar with whatever show etc you're reflecting).
This is one of the most important posts on your blog!!!
Its close to being a draft of Eval Q1!
Its basically your chance to very unsubtly scream at the examiner - oi, mate - look over here at all this APPLYING of research!!!
Overall, its a summary of your key findings - you needn't repeat all the detail (but highlight the specific bits that you might mimic/simulacra/be influenced by with direct/specific illustration). Key word here is MIGHT - you're not stating you WILL be influenced by aspects you include here.
Its definitely helpful to include egs you've seen that you consciously reject/want to avoid - explain why. You could do that as a separate vodcast or section, or just as you go along theme by theme.
Try to be as specific as you can about how you might apply these aspects of media language (included titles, idents etc) BUT remember that this is FUTURE TENSE ... this is how I might/will use this influence. It doesn't need to be a true reflection of what you eventually did.
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Your hub for demonstrating how your knowledge + understanding of media language develops, starting with the basic shot type exercises. In most cases you are applying this to analysis of film opening (sometimes past coursework) examples.
Note that this broad field includes material crucial for at least 2 of your Evaluation/CCR Qs (Q1 + Q2). Its important to consistently provide specific illustration (eg screenshot/clip/audio) and clearly identify the film being referenced. We'll frequently use WT/Warp examples to help you with your exam preparation - any and all such textual analysis is also designed to help you with the TV Drama exam Q.
You need to provide analysis of a mix of general (any genre) examples to begin with, but focusing on the genre you've chosen as you get further in.
Use the Largest for each sub-heading (practice film) in turn. This post is closely linked to Eval Q3.
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Check: you've used LARGEST for main sub-heads like PRELIM.
Use distinctive (eg colouring, highlight) options to make those stand out
Add a clear IN THIS POST intro, LISTING whats in the post with a short sentence or 2 on what this shows
Use this as a clearer guide for the Eval Q3; for each practice prod add a sub-heading of COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS PRACTICE + just bullet list key points. You've then get a nice easy list for that eval Q.
SUMMARY Again, this is as much to help with the eval Q3. Reflect on how you've developed; a short overview.
WHAT TO INCLUDE WITH EACH PRACTICE FILM
With clear sub-headings:
PLANNING
Any + all evidence of planning: this helps showed how you DEVELOPED your skills from start to completing the final coursework. So, any shotlists, storyboards, organising/scheduling shoots/cast, equipment used, degree of shot variety, props/costume/make-up/set-dressing, soundtracking/titles + research on these (clearly indicate what conventions you have reflected - refer to specific film/s that influenced your work).
THE SHOOT: WHAT I DID
You can combine to create a single post to copy/edit. Make sure its CLEAR what YOU, INDIVIDUALLY did: camera work, acting, producing (ie organising! call sheets, set dressing, cast + travel, sorting equipment etc), directing. The only way to evidence that is some simple (probably phone) video footage! Basically, a brief look behind-the-scenes showing each of you carrying out the various roles.
THE EDITED FILM
Embed the final result. BRIEFLY outline what each INDIVIDUAL contributed to POST-PRODUCTION: sound, titles (fonts), FX, organising clips/Library
REFLECTION: WHAT WE'VE LEARNED
It would be smart (and quick) to do this as a group vodcast - a simple 3-shot where you sum up what you've learned from this process (planning, the shoot, editing, media language/theory) AND how SPECIFICALLY you think you might take a more sophisticated approach next time, and what you might experiment with (eg dolly, gimbal, drone, downloading fonts, specific FX, plug-in FX).
THE PRELIM TECHNICAL TERMS
That's covered nice + briefly here. The idea of this is to carry out some continuity editing techniques, made possible by observing the 180 degree rule for example...
PAST PRACTICE FILMS
Here's an example with added on-screen commentary from here from Simon etc - as we've discussed, its intentionally very silly and exaggerated!
NARRATIVE THEORY PRACTICE FILM
Using the above as a reference point for how intentionally silly it can be, create a film opening that incorporates the concepts of Todorov + Campbell; Propp; Barthes; Levi-Strauss. Use costume/props to distinguish the archetypes even if its the same actors repeatedly - using a tripod would help you to fake two-shots: film person A as character A; change costume, with camera not moved person A plays character B, being careful not to step into the same space on the frame. Stack the two layers in FCPX + use the crop tool to remove half of the top layer! ... or use a greenscreen!
Include titles that you think reflect the specific number and wording expected from your research, and some use of music. As you're aiming for full Todorov, you won't really be replicating a film opening, but do think about how you might start it still.
Length: likely to be somewhere over 2mins.
Shot variety: aim for 2+ takes of important (especially action) scenes - the rule is for shot variety where you can cut between shots of the same thing: at least 2 steps up or down the shot scale eg ELS to MLS.
