Christmas Presents

As I sit here the sky looks full of snow so fingers crossed for a white Christmas. I wanted to update both Year 12 and Year 13 as to what is expected from you, over Christmas, with regards to Film Studies.

You need to be very aware that after Christmas we only have five months until your AS and A2 exams; with that in mind it is imperative that deadlines are adhered to and focused study is carried out especially during the holidays.

Year 13

1. Complete your Reflective Analysis (1000 Words). Use the Mark scheme, pages 65-67 to help you and the check list I have created. Remember, you must reflect on your Screenplay and evaluate your practical application of learning.
2. Re- watch News from a Private War and make detailed notes in your book; you must focus on the different viewpoints of the dealers, the police and the slum dwellers. This will help you place the film in context and understand the social background.
3. Re-watch both films and select four scenes from each film which can be compared and contrasted. Select scenes that show similar or opposing messages and values and those that deal with the issues of power, poverty and conflict. You could even explore characters from both films. Please ensure that your notes are supported with the relevant screenshots.
4. Ensure all of your folders and class notes are up-to-date.

Year 12

1. Complete your reflective analysis for your storyboard (750 words). Use the mark scheme, the relevant text book pages and the check list. These will be handed out tomorrow.
2. Ensure that the storyboard is completed with the accompanying information
3. Ensure all of your folders and class notes are up-to-date as they will be checked during the first week back.

Merry Christmas,

Mrs Q

Picking Your Brains

Hello all,

I have many questions... How are you finding using this blog? How often do you check for new content? How useful have the posts been in helping with your work? What has been the most useful blog post so far? Is the blog written in language that you understand and can access easily? What suggestions can you make about how you can you use your individual blogs? Have you used the gadgets on the side of the page?

Please post a comment below so that I can use your feedback to help the blog evolve.

Miss R x

Finding Your Way Around... A Book!

This is the FRONT COVER of a book. As the age old adage states, one must never judge a book by its cover. Still, there is often a lot to be learnt. Such as... the title of the book, the author, the publisher...

The CONTENTS page of a book will list, in the order that they appear in the book, the different chapters or sections of the book with, often, a short synopsis of what is included in the section. There will be page references so that you know where to turn in the book.

The INDEX of a book is found at the back and can make it easy to find information that might otherwise be difficult to locate. The index is organised alphabetically.

Think of the key word (such as, for example, a film genre, a film director etc) and search for it in the index. When you find the key word, it will have a list of numbers after it - these are the pages on which the topic is mentioned.

Remember, an index is not an exhaustive source and will not have every word you can think of. If you cannot locate your topic or key word in the index check, firstly, that you have spelt it correctly; if this doesn't get you any more success, try to think of another word associated with the topic and search for that.

The GLOSSARY is also usually found at the back of a book. It will contain terminology specific to the content of the book it is in. If, when you are reading the book, you don't understand some of the words used, search for them in the glossary and you will find their definition there.

Using the Library

Oh my, Year 13, we do seem to be making quite a palaver out of using the library!

In Birmingham Central Library the Film Studies area is on the third floor. You can click here to find out what's on the other floors.

Chances are that, as I have explained before, many of the books will be Reference Only. This means that you cannot remove the books from the building but you can take them to the desks, look through them, make notes on them and photocopy any pages that you think are important. It also means that if you need these books they will always be in the library for you.

Remember to use the Birmingham Libraries Online Catalogue to check whether the books you want are in the library before you leave home.

Information on Birmingham Central Library

Opening Hours: Monday 9am-8pm, Tuesday 9am-8pm, Wednesday 9am-8pm, Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 9am-5pm

Computers: There are computers throughout the building, providing free access to a wealth of information on the internet. Sessions last for one hour. You can drop in or make a free booking for one hour per day. There is a small charge for printing: A4 - 10p per copy

Photocopying: There are photocopiers for public use in each department. The charges for photocopying are as follows: A4 - 10p per copy, A3 - 20p per copy.

Keeping Up to Date With Film - 2

Further down this page, on the right hand side, is a Film Reviews gadget.

If you scroll to the right using the arrows on the top of the gadget you will come to 'Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo Film Reviews'. If you don't know, both men are BBC radio broadcasters and are well-renowned for their knowledge of and opinions on film.

Click the link on the bottom of the synopsis and a podcast will open in your media player. I think you'll all quite enjoy listening to these two!

FM1 - Micro Analysis Model

Below is a mini-sample of a micro analysis based on a scene from the film 'Twilight'. Please note the length of the mini clip I have analysed and the micro-features I am focusing on to create meaning. This is a model that you can use to inform your own analyses but remember not to copy this as that would be plagiarism.

I have highlighted where each of the micro-features are mentioned as well as the spectator and the director.

The key is:

• Director
• Spectator
• Sound
• Performance
• Cinematography

Explore how sound, performance and cinematography create meaning for the spectator in the chosen sequence (0.19.53 - 0.20.02) from Catherine Hardwicke's 'Twilight'.

The scene opens with a two shot of Bella and Edward. They are walking down a hallway crowded with students and lined with lockers. As they walk towards the camera the spectator realises that the diegetic sounds of the students in the hallway have been kept to a minimum. By doing this, the director ensures that the dialogue between Bella and Edward is undisturbed and marks the two out as the most important part of this scene.

Edward is looking intently at Bella and he askes her, 'Why didn't you move with your mother and Phil?' The spectator can see that Bella is taken aback by the bluntness of the question as she blinks, looks away and opens her mouth several times before speaking. When she does reply, she pulls her arms closer around herself, making her seem unhappy to the spectator. Edward's expression, meanwhile, is intense and the spectator can tell that, although he does not look directly at Bella, his body and face are angled towards her and he is listening to every word.

This is an activity it is worth you doing with your own analyses. Make sure that you have mentioned each of the micro-features, the director and the spectator.

Remember - avoid waffling and be succinct!

Year 13 Screenplays

Can all Year 13 please email their screenplays (Mrs Quoroll's work) to Miss Ryan's email address by the end of the day on Friday.

Thank you.

Annotated Catalogues

Year 13, your annotated catalogues are now well overdue.

Several weeks ago I gave you each a copy of an example Annotated Catalogue that I had created. The idea behind me giving you this was for you to see a model that you can replicate in your own work.

As you can see, the films come first, with the focus film being the very first item in the catalogue. The films are followed by the books, internet and, finally, the material not selected.

Each of the items in the catalogue must be Harvard referenced and followed by an annotation (up to 50 words) that explains how this item will support your presentation.

Do not just waffle about it being 'a good film' or it being 'a book that got good reviews'. Be specific. These items are in your catalogue because you are using them in your presentation so explain why (not how) you are using them.


FM3 Catalogue

Year 13 Mock - City of God and La Haine

Urban Stories – Power, Poverty and Conflict

It is important to remember that when watching these films you bring your own awareness of the world to the ‘filmic’ experience. You ultimately use your way of seeing the world (your ideology) and your understanding of the world to help you ‘read’ these films.

Complications of studying these films:

1. They are set within different cultures and social contexts
2. We are attempting to understand the film from a different positioning. For example, in La Haine, a different ethnic background, City of God, a male perspective
3. They are in different languages and are sub- titled

How can you be successful?
In order to understand the film from a different viewpoint; we are able to identify similarities between our own direct experience of the world and the character’s experience e.g. the idea of pain, anger, jealously, infatuation. Secondly, we reflect on the experience of others we know and thirdly, we draw on our ‘mediated’ view of the world. Key to understanding these films are an understanding of their accurate historical, cultural, social and political background.
Culture

It is important to consider the cultures we are presented with. ‘Youth Culture of the suburbs of Paris in the 1980s’ in relation to La Haine and ‘Gang Culture in the slums of Rio de Janeiro’ in relation to City of God. It may be worth exploring the words ‘subcultures’ and ‘countercultures’ and considering whether either could be attached to the films? The text provides helpful explanations of these terms.

Power in both Films

Key questions that you must feel confident with in relation to both films:
Who has power?
Who is weakened because of that power?
Is it economic power (wealth/business)?
Political power (the ability to make laws/ govern)?
Ideological power (control over education and the mass media)?
Social power?
Remember that relationships of power can and do exist within all social organisations and social groups: the family, street gangs, the police and between friends.

What we have covered so far in order to develop confidence with the exam:

1. Consideration as to power, poverty and conflict in the city
2. Definitions of urban, stories, power, poverty and conflict
3. Background information into the ‘Les Banlieues’ or ‘projects’
4. Discussing and watching News from a Private War (this is definitely worth watching several times)
5. A focus on the characters in both films (mind maps and individual ppts/blog entries)
6. Stylistic features and micro features (camera work, use of colour/clock, music and mise- en-scene – La Haine)
7. Messages and values – particularly violence, style over substance? (C of G), racism and the police’s role, La Haine
8. Detailed exploration of scenes from both films
9. Exploration of chapters from film guides

What can you do to prepare for the mock?

1. Re-watch both films and News from a Private War - essential!!
2. Read over the chapters shared in class and your class notes
3. Use the text book chapter to help you; especially the blue box case studies on the ‘Social, Historical and Political Contexts’
4. Consider the similarities and difference between the films

Topics to revise:

· Social, historical and political context of both films
· Key scenes in both films – how are they similar and dissimilar
· Messages and values of both films
· Characters and how they reveal youth culture to the audience – consider the micro and macro ways of doing this

We will have Monday and Tuesday next week – so we can go through any problems then.

Good Luck!
Don't forget Screenplay deadline is this Thursday - I need 1800 words from you all. Well done with the progress you have made so far.

Small Scale Research Project - An Update

Hello Year 13,

Unfortunately, we have fallen behind schedule with our Small-Scale Projects.

I am aware that you have the screenplay coursework to complete in addition to this but, if you remember, we did start this work before the summer.

Owing to this, I have put together a revised Key Dates sheet and a checklist (which I will hand out on Monday) that you must make sure you are aware of. There are now no excuses for late work or missed deadlines.

If you are stuck, see me.

Miss Ryan


Fm3 - Revised Key Dates

This is England - Background Reading

I will add to this post as I find information to help you to better understand the Britian represented in Shane Meadows' This is England.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6741127.stm

FM4: Taxi Driver

Year 13 can find the PowerPoint Presentation they are to use for the Taxi Driver research work here:

Taxi Driver PPT

British Film Institutions

Year 12 research homework into British Film Institutions.

This links to both Section A (Producers and Audiences) and Section B (British Film Topics) from the exam topics and will be relevant to work done with both Miss Ryan and Mrs Quoroll.

Due Monday 23rd November.

British Cinema Institution Research

BFI 16+ Source Guides - Auteur

Follow the link below to the BFI 16+ Source Guide on Auteur Theory / Auteurs.

http://www.bfi.org.uk/filmtvinfo/publications/16+/pdf/auteur.pdf

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Dear Year 12,

I got a horrible shock when pretty much all of you said you hadn't ever seen 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. I have been reliably informed that it is on Channel Four this weekend (Saturday 14th November) at 9.30pm.

So, no excuses after this weekend - I want you all to be able to discuss the representation of British culture in 'Four Weddings' on Monday morning. If possible, compared and contrasted with a more contemporary film ('This is England' will be the film we'll all have seen).

Enjoy Hugh Grant at his bumbling best!

Harvard Referencing

If you click on the link above it will take you to the Newman University College page on referencing. This page shows you how to reference using the Harvard Referencing System which is what we will be using in class for your FM3 annotated catalogues.

Select, from the A-Z list, what it is you are trying to reference and use the table to help you to structure your reference.

Use this web page to start you off and, if you are having difficulty (and if you are don't worry - it's a tricky one to get your head round!) then ask me!

Is British Cinema in Crisis?

In this article from Time Out (2007), a range of UK film industry experts were interviewed about what they considered the state of British film to be:

http://www.timeout.com/film/features/show-feature/3224/the-state-of-uk-cinema.html

Please complete the reading of the article for discussion in our next lesson.

Alfred Hitchcock

I saw, on BBC the other night, a television programme on Alfred Hitchcock by Paul Merton who is a huge Hitchcock fan. I thought it would be useful for Liam but have been unable to find it on iPlayer.

Instead, Liam, here are some links that might prove useful for you:

1. The BBC Four site for the documentary: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j09r4

2. The Paul Merton website: http://paulmerton.com/hitchcock.html

3. 'The Master of Suspense': http://hitchcock.tv/

4. Hitchcock Online: http://www.hitchcock.nl/

Libraries Website

Several of you are yet to use the library to do any research for your project.

Before you go to a library please use the Birmingham Libraries online catalogue search to decide where to go:

http://libcat.bham.org.uk/cgi-bin/vps2.6_viewpoint.sh

Click on the 'Full Catalogue Search', type in a key word to do with your research project and, as we did in the libraries research lesson, view details on the book and find out what library it's in. Do an additional search on the book's ISBN if there isn't enough information on the library website. You can use the http://www.waterstones.co.uk/ website to help with this.

If you can, reserve the book and go and get it. If you can't reserve it it may be reference only so go in, ask for help from a librarian (they won't bite or behave like the old one from Ghostbusters!) and photocopy the pages you need.

Tips:
1. Bring your library card
2. Check location and opening hours of the library you are going to
3. Make a list of key words you can look up in the index of larger books

Creating and Posting

Hello cherubs,

Here's a reminder of how to set up a blog and how to make and publish posts. If you click on the link above the lovely picture you should be able to view and download the file to keep.

Creating a Blog

Screenwriting

Screenwriting Year 13

I was delighted with this morning’s lesson; I know that you are going to be fantastic screen writers. Hollywood watch out!

Just a few summary points from this morning:

1. The Master Scene Script is a layout that is recognised as professional across the industry. The common feature of the script is the absence of camera direction.
2. Camera direction in terms of framing CU, MS, LS, camera movement CRAB, TRACK, and CRANE is strictly the province of the director and cinematographer, and so should be avoided.
3. The purpose of the Master Scene Scrip is to give a ‘clear’ feel for the diegetic world of the story. It should provide a clear and detailed description of each scene, clear identification of the characters, and their speech and intonation at particular points.
4. Remember, when read it should ‘play’ in the readers mind. It is as if the movie should run in the readers head like a film.
5. The Master Scene Script is a plan, a blueprint of how the story should appear on the screen.

The finer details
Your screenplay (approximately 1800 words) should be for a selection of a feature-length film or a completed screenplay for a short film. The standard conventions of screenplay must be observed.

Tuesdays will be our screenplay writing day and we will continue to explore City of God and La Haine on a Thursday. Get started and do not leave this to the last minute, begin thinking about the action, characters and dialogue.

An extremely useful website and definitely worth investing time looking at is:

http://www.screenwriting.info

FM3 - Coursework Meetings

The meetings are as follows:

1.10pm - Luke

1.20pm - Jenny

1.30pm - Ryan

1.40pm - Rachel

1.50pm - Liam

Meetings will be in Rm 112 - our usual Thursday lesson room. Please bring with you the sources you have collated, your films (including the focus film) and a general overview of what you hope to cover in your presentation.

FM4 - Popular Film and Emotional Response

Some of the film clips Year 13 have been using in lessons:

Un Chien Andalou


Reservoir Dogs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84qJfbi4U7M

The Big Shave

Key Dates - Autumn Term

You have each been given a hard copy of the Key Dates sheets but, just in case, here are the sheets in downloadable format on Scribd.


FM3 - Key Dates for Students

and for Year 12:

FM1 - Key Dates for Students

If you have any difficulties with completing tasks or meeting deadlines then you must see Miss Ryan or Mrs Quoroll well in advance of the due date. Do not leave your work to the last minute!

URGENT: Year 13 Research Projects

I have sent an email to each member of the Year 13 class regarding their Small Scale Research Project.

I need a response to the email AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Ten Word Film Reviews

Guys and girls, I'm looking for some help.

I am trying to gather as many film reviews as possible. I don't mind whether the films are old or new, which genre they're in or whether you liked them or not. The catch is that they can only be ten words long. That's right, TEN!

Here are some examples - if you can, please add your own reviews in the comments section below this post...

The Final Destination 3D: Poor acting, poor storyline, poor 3D... Last one? Thank God!

Dorian Gray: Beautiful man barters soul for hedonistic lifestyle. Still beautiful now?

Year 12 Reminder

Homework for Miss Ryan:

1. Watch 'Trip to the Moon' - Part one and Part two.
2. Read the remaining notes from class (pop quiz on Monday!)
3. Email me your blog URL so that I can follow you
4. Read the Empire magazine mailing which should have been sent you your email address - pop quiz on Tuesday!

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

Miss Ryan x

Year 13 - Small Scale Research Project Appointments

Your individual appointments to see me are on Monday during period 5.

Do not even dream of coming to the appointment without some research and a better idea of your focus for the project.

The times and ideas we had are as follows:

2.15pm - RYAN

Denzel Washington - Ethnicity / social, political, cultural studies / role and attraction as star

2.25pm - RACHEL

Will Smith - Research directors and co-stars he has had / genres / roles in true life stories / portrayal of his ethnic group

2.35pm - JENNY

Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean / Difference in roles in films for children / work with or influence of Tim Burton in forming his career

2.45pm - LUKE

Quentin Tarantino - as an auteur: what makes his works 'his'? / use of dialogue in films / violence / role of women in his films / use of actors e.g. Uma Thurman

2.55pm - LIAM (please stay awake long enough to do this research, Liam!)

Horror/Alfred Hitchcock - development of the genre up to contemporary horror films / influence of Hitchcock on horror through the years / gender roles in horror films

If I find anything that might be useful to you over the next few days I will email and/or post links or information on this blog.

See you on Monday - I hope you all enjoy the films you're going to see!

Miss Ryan x

Keeping up to date with film

This week's Film 2009 with Jonathan Ross

Definitely worth watching weekly in order to stay up to date with current film news. BBC i-Player is a great tool if you don't want to stay up very late to watch the show on a Tuesday night although, I'm sure you know that.

Here, also is a link to the BBC Film section of the BBC website.

The Summer Part Two . . .

Case Study 2

City of God/Cidade De Deus (Meirelles, 2002)

You have now completed your brief character Mind Maps on Rocket, Carrot, Little Dice/Little Ze, The Tender Trio (Shaggy, Clipper, Goose), Bene, Knockout Ned and Thiago. The next stage is to consider their role in narrative and explore the key scenes that they appear in.

Firstly, for each character I would like you to explore at least two key scenes and explain their role and function within those scenes. You really need to focus on the micro features of these scenes (make-up, costume, performance, cinematography, sound and mise-en-scene as these reveal a great deal about the characters.) In order to access the higher marks you must analyse these films and their micro and macro features closely.

Then carry out your own detailed and 'A2 standard' research on the social conditions in the slums and aspects of Brazil’s history and politics. You have already made a start of this.
(Starting points, your notes from the Documentary News from a Personal War, will help you)

Consider:

1. Contrast between the private apartments in Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon and the favelas in Rio de Janeiro.
2. The high inflation and country’s foreign debt in the 1980’s – how would this impact on the poor?
3. The migration of people from the city from rural areas during the 1980s/1990s – consider the impact?
4. What was the significance of the political prisoners in the 1960s and the rise of the Comando Vermelho. Who did they see as their enemy?
5. The role of the Roman Catholic priests and their condemnation of the Government’s treatment of the poor?

Over the summer think carefully about the issues of conflict, power and poverty in these two films – start creating a list of different and detailed examples.

Looking forward to seeing you all in September!

Happy Holidays

Well, the summer has arrived and you have six long, and hopefully sunny, weeks to research, reflect and analyse La Haine and Cidade De Deus. We have watched both films once, but in order to prepare fully for the start of the A2 course you will need to rewatch the films several times focusing on: micro & macro features, characterisation, social/historical and political context. I have set a range of tasks on both films:

Case Study 1 – La Haine (Kassovitz, 1995)

Thinking about the characters is a good way to start to understand any film. In La Haine we are introduced to the characters of:

1. Said - Arab African-French
2. Vinz - Jewish
3. Hubert - black African-French

They are united by a shared youth culture, their differences do not impact on their friendship but each is extremely aware of the ways in which their ethnicity is viewed by others in France. Consider why it is Vinz who has to try and gain entry into Asterix flat? Consider, Said’s role in the opening of the film and the ending.

Create a detailed character profile for Said, Vinz and Hubert you need to include the following:

Pictures and Screen Shots
Key Scenes in which they appear, you will need to provide detailed explanations of how they appear in key scenes, below are some key scenes but there are lots more that you can explore.

1. The TV crew attempting to interview the three
2. Hubert in his bedroom – consider Mise en Scene (look at the posters)
3. The Authorities trying to remove them off the roof
4. The three of them sitting in the children’s play area
5. The story telling experience in the toilet
6. Interview with the plain clothes police men
7. The art gallery scene
8. Confrontation with the skin head gang
9. The final scene

Explain how the use of Micro Features is used to reveal information about each character (Consider how mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, sound and structure of the narrative create meaning for the audience and reveal information about the characters).

Begin to carry out research on the social, historical and political contexts of the film: key areas of research include Les Banlieues, the French empire and imperialism, racism in France and the French police force. You may be interested to research the more recent riots in France.

Lesson Planning Task

Using the opening sequence of either 'Cidade de Deus' or 'La Haine' design a three part lesson (starter, main part, review) in which you introduce a new Year 12 class to some of the micro features of film and the ways in which they create meaning for the spectator.

You should try to:

• Use a one hour 3 part lesson structure (starter - 10mins, main part - 35mins, review - 15mins)
• Introduce some key vocabulary (word bank?)
• Choose an appropriate section of the opening to demonstrate the chosen micro feature(s)
• Model the way meaning is created
• Create any necessary resources
• Assess what the class have learnt

Please map your progress on your blogs. It would be worth your brainstorming the activities that helped you to learn best over the last year including learning tools, thinking tools, progress check ideas, activities using images/sound/clips etc

Miss Ryan

Short Films

As you are all aware, there will be no lesson this Friday. You are expected to use the time to finish the filming for your short film projects and begin to put together the screenplay for your short film.



Your Tasks

1. Please update your blogs before Monday so that I can get an idea of who has been playing what role in small groups.


2. Complete all filming.


3. Bring in cameras to Monday's lesson.

It is VITAL that you bring in the cameras as it can take up to an hour to upload the film to the Mac.

Mr Mitchell will be setting up the Macs in the Learning Resource Centre so we will be able to begin the editing of the films on Wednesday afternoon, following your morning watching La Haine.


I have spent the past week playing with the software and creating a DVD so I will be able to help with the editing. Please come to Wednesday's session with some patience - the program takes a little getting used to, especially if you're only used to using the PC.


Enjoy the sunshine!


Miss Ryan

Screenplay Homework Tasks

Two pieces of homework for Miss Ryan this week.

1. Firstly, after looking at how screenplays are structured and laid out, I would like you to write a sample screenplay for 'The Hunted' (see film clip below). Please remember where capitalisation of words, sluglines, clear descriptions of action, layout of dialogue etc are supposed to be used and use them!
2. Secondly, using the 'Ferris Bueller' screenplay and some cameras I would like you to have a go at turning a screenplay into a piece of film. You have until Friday to film the screenplay. On Friday we will have a go at uploading the film to the computers and trying out some of the editing software that we have available.

All work is due on Friday 26th June.

Please make sure you have collected a camera from me. You will find that a camera is very important in the execution of task two...

Miss Ryan

Film Making Project

Hello all,

Below is the link to the horror film opening sequence we watched in class today. If you need a copy of the task sheet then come and see me as soon as is humanly possible.



A huge thank you to the students from St Thomas Aquinas who created the film and were kind enough to let us watch it and bask in their film making genius.

Make sure that you have selected a genre or filmmaker and have a fully considered idea and outline for your opening sequence ready to post on your blog by Friday.

Ensure that you think through the micro aspects (cinematography, editing, mise-en-scene, performance, sound) fully as well as considering the macro aspects of your chosen genre. Use the task sheet handout to help you. If any of you can start to piece together a storyboard or screenplay then you could, potentially, begin filming next week. Exciting times!

Any problems or questions then please let me know as soon as possible.

Miss Ryan

Cidade de Deus

Research and answer the following:

1. What is the capital of Brazil?
2. What type of country is Brazil?
3. What is its demographic?
4. What is it famous for?
5. What do you know about its past?
6. What is a favela?
7. What is the 'Cidade de Deus'?
8. Look at the photos taken by children. What do the pictures tell you about real life in the Brazillian favelas?
9. Watch the interview with Fernando Meirelles. Write down what you consider to be the most important parts of the interview.
10. Read the BFI Sight and Sound review of the film. What are the key points and comments made about the film?
11. Read the sites with information on the history of the favelas in Brazil. Create a factsheet to share with the class.
12. Read the Guardian article about the actors from the film. Write down what you think is interesting from what you have read.

Information Points:

• A BBC interview with a young man named 'Ricardo' talking about the real City of God
• The City of God through the eyes of children: Children given disposable cameras to document their homes. First site; second site; third site.
• Interview with the director, Fernando Meirelles.
• BFI Sight and Sound review of Cidade de Deus.
• History of favelas: Site One; Site Two.
• Guardian article.

Looking Ahead

As you begin to make your A2 choices we think it is important that we begin to think ahead in Film Studies and look forward to what can be done with a Film Studies qualification.

1. This website has an up to date list of Universities, courses and entry requirements.

2. For those of you that have been trying to work out what your point score may be:

3. Finally, if you are thinking even further ahead to what you could do with a Film Studies qualification, perhaps this list of suggested careers might help. If you think of anything else then let me know!

• Runner
• Film director
• Production designer
• Sound technician
• Mutimedia specialist
• Film editor
• Production manager
• Audience development manager
• Arts administrator
• Cinema manager
• Film/video producer
• Information assistant
• Journalist
• Librarian, special/academic
• Media planner
• Picture researcher
• Presenter TV/radio
• Television researcher
• Advertising/marketing organisations
• Film/television production companies
• University/college/school teacher

Miss Ryan (",)

We are on the A2 journey . . .

Welcome to the start of what really is a very exciting year. We will be studying several fantastic films. This week we are exploring the aims of the course, a brief overview and an introduction to Fernando Meirelles' City of God (the best film I have seen for a long time!).

You will be given a range of research activities and you will be submitting your first pieces of Blog homework!!!

The Preparations Have Begun...

Work is underway on preparing the A2 curriculum at Campion for you lucky young things. It's all looking very exciting so far! You can look forward to more independent study, focus on films and areas of film you are interested in and even a foray into themes in world cinema.



You'll need to get your best study heads on though because everything's about to step up a gear.



Coming soon: A list of films you'll need to familiarise yourselves with.



Miss Ryan :)

Here Goes Nothing!

Well, our very first year of Film Studies at St Edmund Campion is done.

Well done to our intrepid class who bravely trod where none had gone before. An extra special well done to Franzi and Erika who bravely trod where none had gone before in a language other than their own - we are very proud of you girls and wish you every success when you return home. Now all we need to do is count down to results day!

This blog is to help us to communicate with our classes and to make sure that class notes and links to resources are available for you when you need them. Here's hoping it a) works and b) is useful.

Miss Ryan and Mrs Quoroll