Homework Task

Our teacher set us a homework to look at a previous student media blog of our choice and to grade the blog based on our own thoughts on the blog, and without reading the examiner's marks and comments. The grading of the blog was broken down into four parts: Research, Planning, the Construction of the media product and the Evaluation. Looking at a past media blog will also give us an idea as to how much detail and effort we would need to put into our own media blogs. The media blog that I chose to analyse was http://steeldeathproductions.blogspot.co.uk/ , which was created by a student named Ashley. 

Research

• Good research into horror generate ideas 
• Good research into horror influences
• Thorough research into other films that belong or are similar to the horror genre 
• Detailed presentation on the codes and conventions of the supernatural sub genre
• Detailed presentation on the history of the horror genre 
• Clear, strong definition of the horror genre 
• Clear definition of what a trailer is and the purpose of the trailer
• Explains the differences between theatrical and teaser trailers 
• Compares each of the narrative's of the trailers analysed and looks at which target audience each film trailer is being aimed at.
• Clear analysis of film posters 
• Clear and very detailed presentation on studio influences and justified reasons for choosing these specific influences

Planning 

• Clear and detailed planning of character profiles (considers age, gender, the actors involved and the number of actors involved). 
• Film synopsis
• Consider using internal/external locations (shows creative decision making)
• Considers what will be shown in the time limited trailer (in terms of the plot) 
• Shot List 
• Considers editing/styling effects
• Considers several options for the film's title
• Includes a lighting test and full Flickr album of the lighting test
• Very detailed blog post on location scouting, reports photos of internal locations
• Very detailed and descriptive shot list 
• Detailed blog post on location scouting, reports and photos of external locations
• Clear storyboard
• Detailed costume decisions
• Make up sketches
• Detailed presentation on inspirations for various editing skills 
• Includes the 'Sinister' trailer and the opening title sequence for 'American Horror Story' to demonstrate her chosen inspiring editing skills
• Clear prop list 
• Clear production schedule 
• Risk assessment forms
• Very clear description of the film plot summary
• Studio Lighting 
• Framing ideas
• Very detailed scene ordering and time schedule 
• Video feedback
• Survey Feedback

Research & Planning:- 19/20

Construction

The Film Trailer

•  Clear film planning and video of discussions of meetings to begin the filming process
• Clear 'Photoshow' presentation of makeup and costume 'behind the scenes' footage
• Includes video of outtakes and  'bloopers' from each day of filming
• Production Filming Photographs (including a Flickr album)
• 'Behind the scenes' room tour of character's bedroom set 
• Very detailed shot list and timings sheets
• Description and clear screenshot images of the editing process
• Description and clear screenshot images of apply the sound to the chosen footage
• Clear description of the final decision for the music, with justified reasons (audio clip is also included in the blog post)
• Clear screenshots of  the footage ordering, footage cuts and music and footage adjustments
• Detailed presentation of 'Behind the scenes' editing effects
• Very detailed and informative descriptions of the deconstruction of 'first edits' and shot types with clear images included
• Explanation of applying the same effect on the poster to the trailer to establish the relation between the two 
• Editing examples
• Video of character costume choices (which then also featured in the film trailer) 
• Draft version of final film trailer
• Clear explanation of the trailer uses, challenges and developments (along with various images)

Magazine Front Cover 

• Clear draft layout of the magazine front cover
• Creative choices with magazine front cover (using 'TOTAL FILM' magazine as a template/draft) 
• Detailed presentation on magazine influences 
• A detailed and thorough description of how the creating the magazine front cover was completed with included images 

Film Trailer:- 40

Magazine Front Cover:- 9

Film Poster:- 8

Evaluation

Good use of different forms of ICT. Lots of creative use of ICT for question 1, using images to help demonstrate and support her response to the first evaluation question (although some of the text is difficult to read). Question 2 and 3 need to be explained more thoroughly and more in depth, to get a more substantiating answer. The Powtoon software was an excellent choice in terms of creativity. Question 4 was answered in depth, however the speed of the video for question 4 made it unable to fully focus on what was going on, in terms of looking at the how the various technologies were being used.

Total Mark- 86/100