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!