Evaluation Deadline
The final deadline for your evaluation (final final final version - no editing allowed after you've posted it) will be in your second Media Studies lesson this week (week commencing 25th January). After this date, your teachers will look at the work and make a note of who met the deadline. Students who post their work after this deadline will have marks deducted.
If you are having technical difficulties posting blogs it is your responsibility to inform your teachers before this deadline.
If you are having technical difficulties posting blogs it is your responsibility to inform your teachers before this deadline.
Video Deadlines
ROUGH CUT DEADLINE: midway through week of 30th November.
FINAL DEADLINE FOR VIDEO: Friday 11th December@4.30pm
FINAL DEADLINE FOR VIDEO: Friday 11th December@4.30pm
How to make a pitch
Making a Pitch
Once an artist has recorded a song, it is handed out to a variety of different pop video directors who will work in consultation with the artist on ideas for a video. This is called a ‘pitch’ and is presented to a creative team who will be responsible for marketing and promoting the video upon release.
Each director will talk through his or her ideas with the creative team, and will aim to make their video concept so incredibly exciting that the artist and creative team would be fools to listen to anyone else’s ideas!
Task
Before you can film your video, your group must first pitch your ideas to your teachers and class (creative team). This 10-15 minute pitch will be marked by your teacher, and these marks will be used as part of the planning allocation for your coursework.
There are several key areas that must be covered in the pitch. They are:
1. Start with a ‘concept’ for the video in one sentence (“a yacht cutting through the Ionian sea with the Greek islands as a back drop”; “A group of rebellious teenage girls taking over the gym at high school”).
2. Who would your artist be signed to? Would it be a big label or an Independent? Internet only download?
3. A brief outline of the video’s narrative (or content if not narrative based).
4. Setting and locations to be used. This should be relevant to the concept, but needs to be specific citing exact locations: e.g. setting might be a beach house – locations within which might be pine-clad attic study.
5. Costume. Clearly must be related to the concept. E.g. lead singer and supporting dancers will be wearing school uniform – navy skirts, white shirts, etc.
6. Some discussion around specific shots and other technical codes. It is essential that the director talks through how they would film an artist, describing the mise-en-scene, how the shots will be lit, how the camera will move, etc. Are you using any special effects or equipment?
7. Audience – who is the video aimed at? This must be specific – it’s not just about age and gender – think back to the task you completed on audience a few weeks ago.
8. Where do you envisage it being shown and when? Internet, music channels?
9. Describe the visual style and graphics of your digipak and advertisement. Will you produce a 4, 6 or 8 panel digipak? What will it contain? How will it meet the needs of your target audience? Have some initial sketched ideas to show. Explain the link between the video and the artwork.
10. Storyboard – you must show a completed storyboard for your video.
11. Production schedule – you must have a completed production schedule.
12. You must conduct a risk assessment for filming off site – listing the potential hazards you might encounter and what you can do to avoid these risks.
Section 1A of the exam
Please write a paragraph on each of the following 3 questions and be prepared to answer questions during your pitch on them:
13. How do you plan to use digital technology in the production of your 3 products? Be specific about this – think about the packages and equipment you will use, as well as how you intend to use the internet (blog and vimeo!).
14. How have you used conventions from real media text in your planning? Think about all 3 products for this question – reference real media texts and draw comparisons and ideas.
15. What have you learned about research and planning a production, compared to AS?
What do you do next?
Allocate tasks to each group member. Each group member must prepare a short presentation on their designated tasks.
You may use music, visual aids, demonstration or even audience participation if you wish!
Remember to put your contribution to the pitch on the blog.
Once an artist has recorded a song, it is handed out to a variety of different pop video directors who will work in consultation with the artist on ideas for a video. This is called a ‘pitch’ and is presented to a creative team who will be responsible for marketing and promoting the video upon release.
Each director will talk through his or her ideas with the creative team, and will aim to make their video concept so incredibly exciting that the artist and creative team would be fools to listen to anyone else’s ideas!
Task
Before you can film your video, your group must first pitch your ideas to your teachers and class (creative team). This 10-15 minute pitch will be marked by your teacher, and these marks will be used as part of the planning allocation for your coursework.
There are several key areas that must be covered in the pitch. They are:
1. Start with a ‘concept’ for the video in one sentence (“a yacht cutting through the Ionian sea with the Greek islands as a back drop”; “A group of rebellious teenage girls taking over the gym at high school”).
2. Who would your artist be signed to? Would it be a big label or an Independent? Internet only download?
3. A brief outline of the video’s narrative (or content if not narrative based).
4. Setting and locations to be used. This should be relevant to the concept, but needs to be specific citing exact locations: e.g. setting might be a beach house – locations within which might be pine-clad attic study.
5. Costume. Clearly must be related to the concept. E.g. lead singer and supporting dancers will be wearing school uniform – navy skirts, white shirts, etc.
6. Some discussion around specific shots and other technical codes. It is essential that the director talks through how they would film an artist, describing the mise-en-scene, how the shots will be lit, how the camera will move, etc. Are you using any special effects or equipment?
7. Audience – who is the video aimed at? This must be specific – it’s not just about age and gender – think back to the task you completed on audience a few weeks ago.
8. Where do you envisage it being shown and when? Internet, music channels?
9. Describe the visual style and graphics of your digipak and advertisement. Will you produce a 4, 6 or 8 panel digipak? What will it contain? How will it meet the needs of your target audience? Have some initial sketched ideas to show. Explain the link between the video and the artwork.
10. Storyboard – you must show a completed storyboard for your video.
11. Production schedule – you must have a completed production schedule.
12. You must conduct a risk assessment for filming off site – listing the potential hazards you might encounter and what you can do to avoid these risks.
Section 1A of the exam
Please write a paragraph on each of the following 3 questions and be prepared to answer questions during your pitch on them:
13. How do you plan to use digital technology in the production of your 3 products? Be specific about this – think about the packages and equipment you will use, as well as how you intend to use the internet (blog and vimeo!).
14. How have you used conventions from real media text in your planning? Think about all 3 products for this question – reference real media texts and draw comparisons and ideas.
15. What have you learned about research and planning a production, compared to AS?
What do you do next?
Allocate tasks to each group member. Each group member must prepare a short presentation on their designated tasks.
You may use music, visual aids, demonstration or even audience participation if you wish!
Remember to put your contribution to the pitch on the blog.
How to produce a digipak
Ancillary Product Planning
Individually you will make the following:
~ A digipak for the release of the album that your music video is taken from.
~ A magazine advertisement for the album, which may include an image of the digipak
What is a digipak?
It’s a modern approach to CD/DVD packaging, usually made of thick cardboard, and allowing the possibility of including a lot more information on the band/artist in the form of a small stapled booklet that is inserted into a small pocket in the digipak.. They are visually pleasing, allowing sophisticated graphics that can run across all of the panels establishing a graphic theme. They can come with 4, 6 or 8 panels that fold outwards. They allow the possibility of including more than one disc, perhaps in the form of DVD extras or additional recordings, that accompanies the release of a song, album or DVD.
What should your Digipak contain and look like?
You will need to plan a minimum of 4 panels (sometimes referred to as ‘panes’) for your digipak that will need to include the necessary information about the album release that it is for. Depending on how many panels you decide to produce (remembering that it is minimum of 4) will depend on how you layout your design and information. You should research digipaks on your blog.
Planning your digipak
Digipaks often include some or all of the following information (this will definitely depend on how many panels you choose to produce). Through your research into digipaks you should decide what should be included on yours. You should start your research by focusing on your target audience and their expectations of what should be inside a digipak – what would they like to see? It could include:
¸ Name of band
¸ Name of album
¸ Track listings for the album
¸ Production information, including copyright and company details
¸ A few thank yous
¸ Collage of photographs of the band during the filming of a video or rehearsal for a tour
¸ Snippets of lyrics from the songs
¸ Behind the scenes information on the making of the album
You could also choose to produce the small stapled booklet containing other information about the band that many artists/groups choose to produce now, and that fits inside a neat pocket on the inside cover, but we certainly don’t expect you to do this!!
Colour scheme and graphic layout for digipak and advertisement
You will need to carefully plan the style and look of your print ancillary products, choosing a colour scheme, font and graphics to feature on the digipak and the advertisement so that a clear visual link is made between these two products. You could choose to use some images from your music video; you could choose to use the same or similar images across the digipak and the advertisement.
To help you with planning your digipak have a look at some that are on the wall in 323 to give you an idea of what they can look like. You can be as creative as you like but remember that it must link visually in some way to your artist/band image.
Preparation for submission:
For submission purposes you will produce your digipak to CD size pages (12cm x 12 cm) using Photoshop and will upload them to your blog, clearly labelling which panel is which. We will also ask you to print out a colour hard copy for us to send off to the moderator, along with your advertisement and promo video. You can, if you wish, attach your colour hard copy to some cardboard to produce an actual mock-up of a real digipak.
Your advertisement must be produced to A4 size and printed out in hard copy. It can then be reduced in size for uploading to the blog.
Individually you will make the following:
~ A digipak for the release of the album that your music video is taken from.
~ A magazine advertisement for the album, which may include an image of the digipak
What is a digipak?
It’s a modern approach to CD/DVD packaging, usually made of thick cardboard, and allowing the possibility of including a lot more information on the band/artist in the form of a small stapled booklet that is inserted into a small pocket in the digipak.. They are visually pleasing, allowing sophisticated graphics that can run across all of the panels establishing a graphic theme. They can come with 4, 6 or 8 panels that fold outwards. They allow the possibility of including more than one disc, perhaps in the form of DVD extras or additional recordings, that accompanies the release of a song, album or DVD.
What should your Digipak contain and look like?
You will need to plan a minimum of 4 panels (sometimes referred to as ‘panes’) for your digipak that will need to include the necessary information about the album release that it is for. Depending on how many panels you decide to produce (remembering that it is minimum of 4) will depend on how you layout your design and information. You should research digipaks on your blog.
Planning your digipak
Digipaks often include some or all of the following information (this will definitely depend on how many panels you choose to produce). Through your research into digipaks you should decide what should be included on yours. You should start your research by focusing on your target audience and their expectations of what should be inside a digipak – what would they like to see? It could include:
¸ Name of band
¸ Name of album
¸ Track listings for the album
¸ Production information, including copyright and company details
¸ A few thank yous
¸ Collage of photographs of the band during the filming of a video or rehearsal for a tour
¸ Snippets of lyrics from the songs
¸ Behind the scenes information on the making of the album
You could also choose to produce the small stapled booklet containing other information about the band that many artists/groups choose to produce now, and that fits inside a neat pocket on the inside cover, but we certainly don’t expect you to do this!!
Colour scheme and graphic layout for digipak and advertisement
You will need to carefully plan the style and look of your print ancillary products, choosing a colour scheme, font and graphics to feature on the digipak and the advertisement so that a clear visual link is made between these two products. You could choose to use some images from your music video; you could choose to use the same or similar images across the digipak and the advertisement.
To help you with planning your digipak have a look at some that are on the wall in 323 to give you an idea of what they can look like. You can be as creative as you like but remember that it must link visually in some way to your artist/band image.
Preparation for submission:
For submission purposes you will produce your digipak to CD size pages (12cm x 12 cm) using Photoshop and will upload them to your blog, clearly labelling which panel is which. We will also ask you to print out a colour hard copy for us to send off to the moderator, along with your advertisement and promo video. You can, if you wish, attach your colour hard copy to some cardboard to produce an actual mock-up of a real digipak.
Your advertisement must be produced to A4 size and printed out in hard copy. It can then be reduced in size for uploading to the blog.
Have you paid your fiver??
Don't forget to pay your £5 course fee. This covers your memory cards, all your colour copying, your trip to the cinema and the DVD of all the work from the A2 year. Take your £5 to Micky or Marisa in room 340 by Friday 9th October.
Keep up the blogging!
Remember to date and tick the blogs off your check list as you post them. If you've lost the check list that was given out to you in the first media class in September then you will find spare copies in the cardboard filing unit in the A2 Media Studies classroom (room 333) - help yourself.
Your teachers will be reading and commenting on your blogs each week, so it's important that you keep up to date.
We will be selecting a blog of the fortnight, nominated by teachers - watch this space to see who will be first.
Your teachers will be reading and commenting on your blogs each week, so it's important that you keep up to date.
We will be selecting a blog of the fortnight, nominated by teachers - watch this space to see who will be first.
Proforma for obtaining copyright
Your full address and postcode
Date
Record company/band
Full address and postcode
Dear (insert name of copyright holder – record company/individual or ‘Sir/Madam’ if you do not know the name)
Request for Copyright Permission to use part or whole of: (name of song by name of artist)
I am a student of A Level Media Studies and for my Advanced Portfolio I will be working in a group to produce a promotional package for the release of a new album track. I would like to request permission to use the above track for this project.
The finished project will not be made available publicly and will be used solely for coursework purposes. The holder of the original copyright will be fully acknowledge in the finished project.
If you do not hold the rights for this song I should be grateful if you could forward this request to the appropriate person, or return it to me with the contact details in order that I might approach the copyright holder directly.
Yours faithfully
Your signature
Your name printed
Summer work 2009
AS-A2 Summer Work
Researching a Promotional Package for the Release of a Single & Seeking Copyright Clearance for a British Song Release
Your summer work will prepare you for the first unit on the A2 course that starts in September – the Advanced Portfolio in Media. The brief that you will follow is: A promotional package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with a CD cover and magazine advertisement.
The FIRST part of your summer work is to research the promotional package for the release of a single. Select a single from a British artist of your choice and collect together information about the promotion of this single. You should aim to include, amongst other things:
¸ Magazine or Newspaper articles covering the release, including reviews;
¸ Magazine or other print advertisements;
¸ A press release;
¸ Information on the record label;
¸ A note of where and when you see any other promotional material (such as moving image advertisement, interviews with the singer on television, etc);
¸ Information on how the Internet is used in the promotion of new songs.
Your materials should be arranged on a piece of A3 paper that can be displayed in the A2 Media Room in September. You can collect A3 paper or sugar paper from your teacher before the end of term.
Production work on the A Level Media Studies course is subject to copyright laws, which means that you cannot use songs from well known artists without seeking the permission from their record company first*. The SECOND part of your summer work requires you to seek copyright permission for a song from a British Artist. Firstly, indentify an artist and song, then establish who owns the copyright. The easiest and old-fashioned way of doing this is to look on the back of the Album/CD case, or it is possible to source this information from the band/artist’s official website. Use the proforma on the reverse of this sheet as a guide and send your request off to the relevant person/people. You will need to bring a copy of your letter, plus the reply (if you receive it in time!) to the first lesson back in September.
Deadline
You will be required to informally talk through your campaign to your class during the first lesson back in September. Your A3 ‘collage’ will be taken in by your teacher and marked, and will form part of the planning mark for your A2 coursework. You should also bring your copyright letters with you to this lesson.
Failure to complete the summer task will result in marks being deducted from your coursework.
* You could decide to select an unsigned band from Myspace – in this case you would write to the band directly and ask their permission to use the track. This may be more likely to result in permission being granted and they may love your music video so much that they decide to use it!!
Researching a Promotional Package for the Release of a Single & Seeking Copyright Clearance for a British Song Release
Your summer work will prepare you for the first unit on the A2 course that starts in September – the Advanced Portfolio in Media. The brief that you will follow is: A promotional package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with a CD cover and magazine advertisement.
The FIRST part of your summer work is to research the promotional package for the release of a single. Select a single from a British artist of your choice and collect together information about the promotion of this single. You should aim to include, amongst other things:
¸ Magazine or Newspaper articles covering the release, including reviews;
¸ Magazine or other print advertisements;
¸ A press release;
¸ Information on the record label;
¸ A note of where and when you see any other promotional material (such as moving image advertisement, interviews with the singer on television, etc);
¸ Information on how the Internet is used in the promotion of new songs.
Your materials should be arranged on a piece of A3 paper that can be displayed in the A2 Media Room in September. You can collect A3 paper or sugar paper from your teacher before the end of term.
Production work on the A Level Media Studies course is subject to copyright laws, which means that you cannot use songs from well known artists without seeking the permission from their record company first*. The SECOND part of your summer work requires you to seek copyright permission for a song from a British Artist. Firstly, indentify an artist and song, then establish who owns the copyright. The easiest and old-fashioned way of doing this is to look on the back of the Album/CD case, or it is possible to source this information from the band/artist’s official website. Use the proforma on the reverse of this sheet as a guide and send your request off to the relevant person/people. You will need to bring a copy of your letter, plus the reply (if you receive it in time!) to the first lesson back in September.
Deadline
You will be required to informally talk through your campaign to your class during the first lesson back in September. Your A3 ‘collage’ will be taken in by your teacher and marked, and will form part of the planning mark for your A2 coursework. You should also bring your copyright letters with you to this lesson.
Failure to complete the summer task will result in marks being deducted from your coursework.
* You could decide to select an unsigned band from Myspace – in this case you would write to the band directly and ask their permission to use the track. This may be more likely to result in permission being granted and they may love your music video so much that they decide to use it!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment