Loaning Media Equipment: Guidelines

Each of you will be issued with a copy of the document below to sign, show to (and discuss with) your parents, and return to me (once they're all in I'll photocopy and return them to you - please don't fold the sheet).
We have a lot of you seeking cameras at any one time, so need to make sure they're kept in constant circulation so everyone has fair and equal access and can plan shoots without having to worry about getting cameras.

As noted on the bottom of this, the 10 sets of earphones I bought just last year have all disappeared, so there will not be any to borrow - you really do need to bring your own set with you each day. You can buy basic earphones from £1.99 on Amazon.

Loaning Media Equipment - Guidelines (2)

Look at other schools' blogs+videos

I've got links with several centres across the UK whose students are following the same briefs as yourselves. You'll recall how vital audience feedback is for coursework; this is your chance to give some considered, constructive feedback on these students' productions, with the knowledge that this will enhance your own prospects of getting reciprocal feedback.
Give some due thought to this, and phrase any critique you may have in a manner you'd be happy for someone to comment on your own work. Discussing aspects you think could be improved/developed is fine, tho' don't forget to note anything you like too!!!
Some students include specific questions on their blogs; have a read before viewing or commenting.

There's a lot you can pick up from others' blogs. This is a good example, a bit of ingenious innovation from some students at a school in Kent (watch the YouTube vid): http://twgsbmedia10a2group5.blogspot.com/2010/11/rb-digipak-so-far.html (Feel free to add comments to posts other than the final cuts)

CENTRE 1: KENT

You can access a range (8) of group blogs at http://twgsbmusicvideo.blogspot.com/ - each group has included specific questions they'd like addressed in their posts.


CENTRE 2: CHADWELL ACADEMY, ESSEX
6 more music video productions:

http://divyayear13.blogspot.com/
http://amanveeryear13.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-12-08T04%3A19%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7
http://a2shaninaikmedia.blogspot.com/
http://a2sashglucksmedia.blogspot.com/
http://jmfsmikle.blogspot.com/
http://shiimasharifyear13a2.blogspot.com/

CENTRE 3: CASTLE SCHOOL, SOMERSET 
http://a2joetully.edublogs.org/
http://a2davidwaldron.edublogs.org/
http://a2harryedmondson.edublogs.org/

Some very interesting work amongst these - should give you a clear sense of the standards you've got to meet ... and beat!!!

YOUR production co's...

The idents you created for the AS productions were a real strength of that work; the reel of these that John has compiled and which has been playing on the school screens is a great representation of your achievements as Media students, and was noted too by the exam board - one reason why they've picked us to be used for the training of examiners, and setting of national grade standards, this January.
So, its time to get thinking about new company names and new logos. I'll leave it up to you whether these are animated/film idents or an image - either would be appropriate (though you do need to be able to use a still image as a logo, so if you're doing a moving image ident, bear this in mind). You can re-use last year's if you wish and it seems appropriate.

WHAT COMPANY/IES?
There are several types of company you are effectively acting as:

• record label: only really appropriate if you're working on older material, so can argue this would be a subsidiary or offshoot set up to handle the re-release (but still also reference the actual label/rights holder, eg Blah Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music)
• music video production company: some of these will deal with the full promotional package, but its just as likely that the print and video sides would be handled by different companies; do some research into music video production companies to reference here
• digipak design + ad design:again, these could be separate companies or combined within house - what you do with this will be down to a combination of research (finding examples of real-life companies who do this and seeing how specialist or broad their offering is) and group size (do you each want to create your own company?)

Given the crisis the digitisation of music has caused for the music industry, budgets for every aspect of marketing and promotion have been slashed; companies offering complete packages (along the lines of what you will be creating in due course) should be able to undercut the prices charged by separate companies dealing with each aspect (video, packaging, ads).

TARGETS: By Thursday of next week have...

1. thought up name/s for any company/ies
2. have still images for each
3. have filmed moving image where appropriate (this might be in draft/rough cut for now)
4. have researched real companies who tackle each stage of the process you're now engaged in
5. have reflected this in your blogs

In your last pre-Xmas lesson we will give each production group team some lesson time to re-pitch their idea, using any visual aids felt useful; be thinking about what specific feedback you're after, and have a good go at gathering in some shots to help illustrate planned locations/props/cast/mise-en-scene etc. You could incorporate a moodboard on your band/act, and some detail on your research so far (the band; their vids; existing aud; your target aud; their record label; their online presence + contact with fanzines/label etc...)

Barbra Streisand: 13B vid

Now on YouTube...

Nicely done!

the retro boom

This post from last year would be useful to reference when considering why a vid for an older track makes sense...
http://a2mediablogs.blogspot.com/2010/05/80s-boom-go-old-school.html

Oddball Beatles lip sync

Noticed this from browsing the Media Guardian site just now (article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/dec/05/youtube-norway); it speaks for itself...


Nearly as odd: