This document outlines the course requirements and expectations for a media studies course. It includes the following: - Two coursework assessments worth 50% each, including a foundation portfolio and exam on TV drama, institutions, and audiences. - An expectation of 100% attendance, 5 hours of outside study per week, and a positive attitude towards all coursework. - The exam will consist of two 2-hour sections, one focusing on representation in TV drama and the other on audiences and institutions. Regular practice exams will be provided. - The coursework project will involve filming and editing a short thriller film in groups, with individual grading for the research, construction, and evaluation phases. Strict requirements must be met

1. Course Outline
Coursework requirements
Expectations

3. Star Wars Planet of the Apes
Usual Suspects
The Wicker Man The Crying Game
Dallas Harry Potter 6 Sixth Sense
Fight Club 300 Matrix
Citizen Kane The Others Psycho
Soylent Green The Village
Beautiful Mind Donnie Darko

4.  Examination Body –OCR
 AS Code is H140
◦ G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media (Coursework
50%)
◦ G322: Key Media Concepts -TV Drama and
Institutions and Audiences (2 hour Exam 50%)

5.  100% Attendance is the goal (You are
expected to catch up and this includes
homework)
 5 hours of study outside of class time
◦ Research topics (go beyond what has been set),
filming and editing, extension reading (borrowing
library at the back of the room, MediaMagazine,
internet and ask your teachers)
◦ Practice questions (go beyond what has been set in
class)
◦ Watching ‘stuff’
 Positive Attitude to everything

6.  2 hours
 2 questions each worth 50 marks
 Q1: TV Drama- Focus on representation
through:
 Mise en scene
 Sound
 Camera
 Editing

7.  Q2: Audience and Institution
 We will look at how audiences and technology
affect independent and mainstream
institutions.
 Don’t worry there will be lots of practice!!

8. EXAM Coursework

9.  Three key assessment stages
◦ Research and Planning 20 marks
◦ Construction 60 marks
◦ Evaluation 20 marks
• At each stage you are marked as an individual even
though you work in groups so you need to
participate in every stage
• Everything must be recorded on your
blog (blogger – works best with your school
Email which is gmail)

10.  Involves everything from finding out about
the Thriller genre through to creating the
storyboard and shot lists.
 Involves some class work but a lot of group
and individual work
 Will start by looking at the genre and then
brainstorm your initial ideas
 Preliminary exercise – chance to learn and
practice key skills (match on action, shot
reverse shot and 180 degree rule)

11.  Marks given for the following:
◦ Research in to similar products (other films and
student work)
◦ Research into the potential target audience (both at
the start and throughout the project)
◦ Organisation of Actors, Locations, Costumes and
Props
◦ Shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting and/or
storyboarding
◦ Level of care in presentation – including use of
technology!!!!
◦ Time management

12.  Everything from the initial filming through to
editing and adding sound and/or special
effects.
 You will need to get approval for your
footage.
 Produce a draft edit for marking.
 Keep your blog updated with progress
reports
 Gather audience feedback
 Solely group work but there will be regular
meetings with your teacher to discuss
progress

13.  Marks are awarded for:
◦ holding a shot steady, where appropriate;
◦ framing a shot, including and excluding elements
as appropriate;
◦ using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;
◦ shooting material appropriate to the task set;
◦ selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure,
lighting, objects and setting;
◦ editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer;
◦ using varied shot transitions and other effects
selectively and appropriately for the task set;
◦ using sound with images and editing appropriately
for the task set;
◦ using titles appropriately.

14. 1. In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?
2. How does your media product represent
particular social groups?
3. What kind of media institution might distribute
your media product and why?
4. Who would be the audience for your media
product?
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
6. What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing this product?
7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do
you feel you have learnt in the progression from
it to the full product?

15.  While you will work in groups you will get an
individual mark for all three stages.
 ‘Tagging’ on the blog will be important
(research, planning, audience
research/feedback, filming, editing,
evaluation)
 ‘Teacher evidence’ is a big factor in the
construction and evaluation phases. You
need to be fully involved at all stages of your
mark will reflect a lack of involvement

16.  What films did you watch?
◦ Get into small groups. Discuss what thriller films
you have seen recently. Look at the list provided to
remind yourself of other films
◦ What things do thriller have in common? Think
about narrative (events) and characters, the mood,
effects on the audience, use of technical elements
like camera, sound, mise en scene, editing etc)

17.  Genre Recipe
◦ Make a list of ten key ‘ingredient’ that would make
up a film (include measurements!).
◦ Write baking style instructions as to how you would
combine the ingredients to make the perfect film
◦ Illustrate with pictures….

18.  If we could only watch one film this year what
should it be?
◦ Pick any film that you love and explain why it is a
film that everyone should watch
◦ Try to give strong reasons (think about the
narrative, characters, actors performance, impact it
had on you, the way it used film techniques –
sound, camera, mise en scene, editing etc)
◦ 300 – 500 words
◦ Due in 15th Sept