Welcome to AS Media at Ravens Wood!

This blog will be your central hub for information on the course. Use it to check deadlines and tasks for homework and coursework throughout the course of your studies.

Your homework task for this week: (Due Wednesday 11th September)

Write a summary of why you think British Cinema is important. (1000 words) Include research on the British Independent Film Company 'Warp Films' to use as evidence for your argument.

Think back on the debate we had during your lesson this week, and include how difficult it must be for independents to compete against some of Hollywood's major players. If you get stuck, come and find me by the end of the week so we can talk through some ideas.

25 Word Pitch

You are required to write a pitching sentence in 25 words. 

THATS ONLY 25 WORDS

Here is an example for Wonka.

"Everyone wants the secrets of the reclusive Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, but only one courageous boy will get them during a wild and hilarious adventure."

Now its your turn!

BE CREATIVE

Treatment

For your film opening we will need a treatment for the story, which sells the story and explains the context of the opening sequence.

What Is a Treatment?

A treatment is a two to five page document that tells the whole story focusing on the highlights. 

How To Write a Treatment

This two to five page document should read like a short story and be written in the present tense. It should present the entire story including the ending, and use some key scenes and dialogue from the screenplay it is based on.

What Should Be in the Treatment?

1. A Working title
2. The writer's name and contact information
3. A short logline
4. Introduction to key characters
5. Who, what, when, why and where.
6. Act 1 in one to three paragraphs. Set the scene, dramatize the main conflicts.
7. Act 2 in two to six paragraphs. Should dramatize how the conflicts introduced in Act 1 lead to a crisis.
8. Act 3 in one to three paragraphs. Dramatize the final conflict and resolution.

The Three Act Structure

Act 1, called the Set-up, The situation and characters and conflict are introduced. This classically is 30 minutes long. 

Act 2, called The Conflict, often an hour long, is where the conflict begins and expands until it reaches a crisis. 

Act 3, called The Resolution, the conflict rises to one more crisis and then is resolved.

Logline example

And Then Came Love is a character-driven romantic comedy about a high-powered Manhattan single mom who opens Pandora's box when she seeks out the anonymous sperm donor father of her young son.

TREATMENT EXAMPLE HERE

BE CREATIVE

Production Context

You will need to think about what production company your film is 'made' by...

Do you create your own logo and make it a back to basics 'Indie' film?

Do you go with an existing independent studio? 

Do you try to make a blockbuster hollywood style opening? Like Warner? 

For all these questions you will need to research and find what fits your idea best. You will need to say how the choice of production company will effect the style and feel of your opening sequence.

BE CREATIVE

What is an Opening Sequence?

Using your research to date, define what an opening sequence of a film is and looks like. 

You should look at...

Structure
Presentation of titles 
Order and importance of titles
Narrative structure
Genre codes
Conventions (& also unconventional)
Purpose

The ultimate question here is...

What does a typical opening sequence look like?

BE CREATIVE

12C - Performance Analysis

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

Analyse the PERFORMANCE in a 2-3 min clip from a TV DRAMA of your choice!

1 Page

DUE DATE: Monday 8th Oct

12B - Cinematography Task

Choose a 2-3 minute clip from a TV Drama of your choice.

Analyse (and i mean analyse and not describe) the CINEMATOGRAPHY in the sequence.


TASK DUE: MONDAY 8th OCTOBER