CD digipak design

Here are some pictures of a very good one from last year.

The group took all their own photographs for this.

They paid attention to little details, such as putting a bar code, logos and smallprint on the back.

Note, you can just design the four panels separately, you don't get extra marks for putting them together like this group have done (although it looks nice).

You can screengrab pictures from your video for this task, but the best ones last year actually took the extra time to do a photoshoot and get some really impressive new shots.

Before doing this task, you should put up research on your blog into CD digipak designs and include some images of real ones.

Evaluation

You can't really do this until your video is finished, but as some groups are reaching this stage already here are the 4 evaluation questions. They are set by the exam board, and you have to answer each one in detail on your blog. Be creative in how you answer the questions- last year groups used directors commentaries (particularly for question 4) and recorded interviews with people who had watched their videos for question 3. They also used photographs. However, it is important to include detailed analysis for each question.

The four questions are:

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

2. How effective is your combination of your main product and ancillary texts (the magazine advert and CD digipak)?

3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?

4. How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Ask your teacher for guidance and a new help sheet will be appearing on eloreto in the next couple of days.

Remember the blog makes up 40% of your marks for this project and this is a crucial part of the blog.

Another finished rough cut

It's great to see some high quality work coming in already. This Lady Gaga video is fast paced and contains some great shots- an example of another group that has worked hard from the outset and still has plenty of time to add the finishing touches over the next two weeks.

For those groups that are not at this stage yet, you have two weeks to try to get your piece up to this standard. With two weeks of hard work, anything is possible. It's great to see so many groups using the editing suites and studio outside of lesson time and after college. We're really impressed with the general standard of work this year- keep working hard!

How to get an A on the CD digipak and magazine advert

1. Look at real examples- see below for magazine advert, and CD cases are easy to find.
2. Make yours look as professional as the real examples.

Example of magazine adverts

These were taken from an online edition of a music magazine. There are two adverts here- note that you need to do one full page ad, but this gives you the gist of what you have to do. Look at the features of the bottom advert in particular- mini version of the CD cover, logo of brand (Ministry of Sound) and logos of stores where you can purchase it, date of release and web address for further info/ downloads. Simple but effective.

A2 Coursework Deadlines

The deadlines for the A2 coursework have been announced:

• Friday 26th November- deadline for completing the music video.

• Friday 10th December- deadline for completing the blog, CD digipak and magazine advert

That means 3 weeks to complete your music videos and a further 2 weeks to complete the rest of the coursework. Most groups are well into the editing process by now, but quite a few groups need additional footage you must work hard both inside and outside lesson times between now and the deadline dates. Remember the editing suites are available outside of lesson times and many groups are already coming back in their free time to use them. Don't leave it all to the last minute when your editing suite might not be available.

A finished rough cut! From this year!

A group has already finished a rough cut of their video. It is not the absolute finished version, but this group has given themselves plenty of time to get this up to a very high standard.

They have already recorded loads of footage and spent a lot of time both inside and outside lessons working on this. The editing suites are available outside of lesson time. Use them!

Look after your memory cards!

It's your responsibilty to look after your memory card. You must make sure it goes back in your envelope/ plastic wallet when you hand the camera back in. It is also a good idea, if possible to capture footage before handing your camera back.

In terms of filming, some groups are progressing well and I have seen one group with 45 minutes worth of footage captured already- a good start, but remember you need lots and lots of footage to make a 3- 4 minute video. Some groups are also making good use of the studio.

However, if your group hasn't started any significant filming yet, get going. This week up to half term is essential.

Editing Suites

After the technical problems of the last couple of weeks, the editing suites are now working. This means you can start capturing and editing your footage. It's a good idea to regularly capture the footage, so that it is safe on the computers and so we can give you feedback on your progress.

Filming

It's great to see lots of groups have begun filming and we've already seen some really good footage. A few things to bear in mind whilst filming:

• at each location, ensure you complete several takes of the same scene- you will usually need a take in a wide shot and then takes in in close up and extreme close up as well as perhaps a low angle or side profile (close up) take. For each take perform the whole scene, then you will have a lot of potential footage to cut between when you come to edit.
• Don't forget to take the song with you when you go out and film and if you are using the studio, have an mp3 version available. Make sure it's the same version of the song that you will be using in your video.
• Remember- lots of footage at a few different locations!
• Look after those camera memory cards.

Make the most of your time up to half term. It is really important to get lots of good quality footage before the holiday. Good luck!

Another good blog from last year

Its worth looking at this blog- strong all round and the final CD case and magazine advert were very good

http://loretomedia-c1-09-group2.blogspot.com/

Top blog from last year

To see why the blog is worth as many marks as the video, have a look at an A standard blog from last year- pages and pages of analysis, video, photos, planning and research:

http://loretomedia-c1-09-group4.blogspot.com/

A2 Advanced Production Marks

It's worth noting:

research and planning (blog) = 20 marks

video production = 40 marks

CD cover; magazine advert = 20 marks

evaluation (blog) = 20 marks

So the blog is worth as much as the video! Use the next week to make your research and planning part of the blog top standard. After that you should be out filming...

Welcome to A2 Media

Welcome back to Media Studies for your A2 year! After some excellent film work at the end of last year, you should be fired up for making music videos in A2. We were very impressed with your creativity in your film productions and we want you to take the skills you have learnt and the confidence you have gained in to this year's work.

Be aware, though, that music video making is quite different to constructing a film opening. The montage editing that you will be using requires lots more footage than a film opening, so planning and a good work ethic are essential. Additionally, you are required to create a four panel CD/ DVD case and a magazine advert for your music video- and all for a deadline before Christmas!

A2 students usually find this a busy but enjoyable term and some of the finished products over recent years have been absolutely outstanding. It's really worth putting in the effort to get the reward of a great project AND the assurance that 50% of your A2 course (and 75% of your whole Media A Level) is completed by Christmas.

Please subscribe to the blog by typing in your email address in the 'subscribe via email' box on this page- that way you can keep up with information about course deadlines etc. Good luck this year- work hard through out the term and you will reap the rewards by Christmas time.