This document provides an overview of the BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Media Studies course for Year 12 students. It outlines the units to be covered, including video production, research for creative media, audio production, and communication techniques. It discusses assessment criteria, required qualities for success on the course, and homework expectations. Students are asked to research openings to four Western films in preparation for an analysis of mise-en-scene conventions.

1. Year 12 Welcome to BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Media Studies Miss Eccleston S111

3. GENRE

4. MISE – EN - SCENETo be able to understand and apply western film conventions to chosen films. During this lesson you will be working at pass grade.

5. What is Media Studies? We live in a world where the media is very powerful – many people spend a lot of time watching television, reading newspapers/ magazines, and listening to the radio. The media has a huge impact on our lives. The companies that produce Media Products are seen as ‘consciousness‘ industries, they shape our ideas of ourselves and the world around us. Turning on the television can seem like turning on a tap. However it is not just ‘there’, a complex variety of processes goes into making media products with many different choices made to put them together

6. What is the course worth? The BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate is equivalent to: 4 units, 1 year = 2 GCSEs Distinction = A; Merit = B; Pass = C

7. What are the four Year 12 units? Unit 5 Video Production Unit 1 Research for Creative Media Production Unit 6 Audio Production Unit 2 Communication Techniques for Creative Media Production

8. Timetables Lessons Every Monday and Thursday period 1 - 3. Room: S111

9. What do I need..... Buy a notebook – preferably with dividers. A supply of pens – you will not be borrowing ours!! Always bring the unit assignment with you.

10. What will I learn? Learn how the media industry works Analyse media texts created by others Produce your own media products Experience real life situations in the Media industry by working to professional briefs Develop your production skills

11. How will the course be assessed? All work is coursework – produced either in lessons or for homework The work for each unit is submitted as an individual portfolio – even if it was a group brief All units are assessed by the teacher who taught the unit who will give you an initial grade which you can amend by re-drafting All portfolios will then be moderated by the Head of Department and an External Moderator

12. Which qualities do I need to be successful in this subject? An ability to think and work independently Prepared to participate fully in lessons and contribute to discussions Prepared to put time and effort into written work & developing your skills in this subject Willingness to read widely to broaden your knowledge of the subject To be reliable in meeting deadlines To be responsible and reliable in a work place environment

13. What can I do at home to help my understanding of the subject? Join your local library & read independently about the subject Buy The Independent or The Guardian on Mondays and read their Media Section Cut out any newspaper/ magazine articles that relate to what is happening in the Media e.g. censorship, violence on television, changing nature of reality shows Join a video shop (preferably an independent one and not Blockbusters!) Think critically about the media that you consume – the front cover of your music magazine, the design of the CD cover you are listening to, the adverts you see on the way to school

14. 9/13/10 12 Why Media Studies? Discuss with another student why you chose to take BTEC Media Studies, what sort of things you expect to do during the course and what you hope to gain from it.

15. 9/13/10 13 What is the Media? So what is this subject all about? 'The media' refers to the different channels we use to communicate information in the everyday world. 'Media' is the plural of medium (of communication), and the main media are Television Magazines Film Radio Advertising Pop Music Newspapers Internet

16. Genre Genre is simply another term for Category/type.

17. Name the film genres

18. CONVENTION Conventions are habits or long accepted ways of doing things. For example how do we know a Western film is a Western? What do we expect to see in a Western film?

19. Western Film Conventions

20. Conventions of film openings What do you expect to see during the opening sequence of a film?

21. Conventions of film openings

22. A Western Film Opening Watch the opening sequence of Rawhide Write down the conventions that you can see/hear with relevant examples. Focus on: Narrative (storyline) Characters Icons Setting

23. Monday 13th September 2010BTEC Level 2 Media Studies Learning Objectives: To be able to understand and explore the concept of mise – scene. To be able to understand the terminology and identify sound and camerawork in films.

25. DIAGETIC SOUND

26. NON DIAGETIC SOUND

27. PARALLEL SOUND

28. CONTRAPUNTAL SOUND

29. CAMERA SHOTS/ANGLESTo be able to understand and explore the concept of mise – scene. To be able to understand the terminology and identify sound and camerawork in films. You will be working at a pass grade During this lesson you will be working at pass grade.

30. Definition: Mise En Scene A French term meaning what is put into a scene or frame Visual information in front of the camera Communicates essential information to the audience Made up of 5 elements: Can you guess what they are?

31. How is Mise-en-Scene used? A good media text is carefully planned and “staged” Mise-en-scene includes the people, location, props, costumes, facial expressions, body language, position in the frame… in fact everything you can see! It can be used to help us understand something more easily or even to sway our opinions…

32. The 5 Elements of Mise en Scene Each aspect of mise-en-scene has hidden meanings within a film and sends signals to the audience about how we are supposed to feel at a certain point Settings & Props Costume, Hair & Make Up Facial Expressions & Body Language Lighting & Colour Positioning of characters/objects within the frame

33. 1. Settings & Props Settings & Locations play an important part in film-making and are not just ‘backgrounds’ Sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time is spent to find a setting which already exists TASK: What settings and props you would find in: A Science Fiction Film A Romantic Comedy A Horror Film

34. 2. Costume, Hair & Make Up Costume, Hair & Make Up act as an instant indicator to us of a character’s personality, status & job It tells us immediately whether the film is set in the present and what society/or culture it will centre around Certain costumes can signify certain individuals (i.e. black cloak of a vampire)

35. What is suggested by the costume?

36. What is suggested by the costume?

37. What is suggested by the costume?

38. Can you work out what period this film is set in from the costumes/ make up?

39. 3. Facial Expressions & Body Language Facial Expressions provide a clear indicator of how someone is feeling If someone is smiling broadly, we assume they are happy but we may get a different feeling if this is accompanied by scary music Body Language may also indicate how a character feels towards another character or may reflect the state of their relationship TASK: What meanings/emotions do the following images convey:

40. IMAGE 1

41. IMAGE 2

42. 4. Positioning of Characters & Objects within a frame Positioning within a frame can draw our attention to an important character/object A film-maker can use positioning to indicate relationships between people TASK: What does the positioning in the following images reveal about the characters/film:

43. IMAGE 1

44. IMAGE 2

45. IMAGE 3

46. IMAGE 4

47. 5. Colour Colour carries certain connotations which may add meaning to a scene (i.e. Red = Danger/Passion) Can give a scene a particular look, feel or mood Can be used for dramatic effect

48. Types of Lighting LOW KEY LIGHTING: Created by using only the key & back lights Produces sharp contrasts of light and dark areas Deep, distinct shadows/silhouettes are formed Example: Horror Films

49. Types of Lighting HIGH KEY LIGHTING: More filler lights are used. Lighting is natural and realistic to our eyes Produces brightly lit sets or a sunny day (right) Example: Rom-Coms

50. NATURAL LIGHTING Natural light that comes from sunlight or moonlight and is not enhanced via technical equipment.

51. Sound Diegetic sound Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film: Voices of characters Sounds made by objects in the story Music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music) Bridget Jones

52. Sound Non-diegetic sound Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action: Narrator's commentary Sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect Mood music Non-diegeticsound is represented as coming from a source outside story space. Smallville

53. Sound Parallel (synchronous) sound. Sound 'caused' by some event on screen, and which matches the action. Psycho

54. Sound Contrapuntal sound. Contrapuntal means ‘at a counter point to.’ Sound which does not match the action we see on screen. The Shining

55. Shot Size There are eight main shot sizes. The definition of shot size depends on just what is the subject of the shot. Most definitions work on a human scale. They define they size of the shot according to how much of the human body can be fitted into the frame.

57. The subject is hardly visible.

60. The human figure is clearly visible and the complete person fits in the frame.

62. 3. Medium Long Shot (MLS) Information about the setting. Audience has a good view of characters, body language and how they are positioned in relation to each other.

63. 4. Medium Shot (MS) The shot starts at around the waist and includes a little space above the head. Gesture, expression and details of physical appearance are now more clearly visible.

64. 5. Medium Close Up (MCU) The head and shoulders fit comfortably in the frame. It is used for conversations between characters.

65. 6. Close Up (CU) Shows the detail of a subject. A typical close up shows just the face of a person. It also shows the personality or emotion of a character.

67. 7. Big Close Up (BCU) This is a head shot only. It draws attention to an important emotional response. They are used for extremes of emotion or prop details.

69. 8. Extreme Close Up (ECU) Shows only a portion of detail or magnifies something that is minute. Often used to create a sense of mystery of tension.

70. Know your film terms…. Take a look at the following screens. What are the names of the camera shots you can see?

71. This is a long shot

72. This is a juicy close up.

73. This is a medium shot.

74. This is an extreme long shot.

75. This is a medium close up shot.

76. Group Work Now watch the opening sequence of ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.’ A Fistful Of Dollars

77. Now watch the opening sequence of ‘Once upon A Time In Mexico.’ Setting and Props Costume, Hair and Make Up Facial Expressions and Body Language Positioning of characters and objects within frame Colour/Lighting/Sound Camerawork Remember – denotations and connotations!

79. When you analyse a film for Media Studies, you have to look at the techniques the director uses in order to ‘sew’ the audience into it

81. WHY IS THIS USEFUL? Because it puts the viewer in the position of the character – in their shoes – and when they experience strong emotions the viewer is more likely to feel it when taking that person’s point of view

82. TECHNIQUES #2 REACTION SHOTS The camera moves to an extreme close up of a character’s face to show their REACTION to something that has happened

83. The FIVE basic camera angles

84. The camera is positioned high (above head height usually). Shot is angled downwards on the subject. What effect does this create? 1. High Angle Shot

85. 1. High Angle Shot

86. The camera is positioned at a low angle. The shot is angled upwards on the subject. What effect does this create? 2. Low Angle Shot

87. The camera is positioned at a low angle. The shot is angled upwards on the subject. What effect does this create? 2. Low Angle Shot

88. 2. Low Angle Shot

89. 3. Bird’s Eye View A very unnatural and strange angle that is shot from above looking down. This angle puts the audience in a god-like position looking down at the action as if it were an ant pile.

90. 3. Bird’s Eye View

91. 4. Eye Level The most common and neutral of angles. The camera is positioned as though it is a human actually observing a scene.

92. 4. Eye Level

93. 5. Canted Angle Usually shows a characters point of view. The camera is tilted and off balance.

94. 5. Canted Angle

95. Homework due Thursday 16th September Choose 4 Western film openings that you will refer to and make notes for Task 1a. Keep a record of the names of the films and the web address of the opening sequences. Choose one of your films and write notes on mise – en- scene as completed in class.

97. In Paragraphs with the following headings Name of film Setting and Props Costume, Hair and Make Up Facial Expressions and Body Language Positioning of characters and objects within frame Colour/Lighting/Sound Camerawork Remember – denotations and connotations!

98. If time, quiz at the end? Or maybe starter for next lesson. Start homework - Research their own 4 western film openings