Media Studies
Thursday 17th June 2010
Crime At Claremont!
Posted by Jenny Mann
Ellie Dowson and Ciara Thomas chose the film brief for their major practical project and produced an excellent film opening in the crime genre, which they intriguingly called 'The Joyce Grenfell Murders'. It involved various techniques including a news broadcast, voiceovers and a trio of suspects. Until they make the end, however, we will not know who killed Charlie in the JGC!
Sunday 9th May 2010
Gcse Media Dvd Cover Design
Posted by Jenny Mann
Ciara Thomas was inspired to produce her DVD cover design after class screenings of youth movies in which young people face challenges and are tested. In her movie treatment for 'The Runaway'. a very young boy finds himself far from home.
Sunday 9th May 2010
Gcse Media Film Poster Design
Posted by Jenny Mann
Richard Holt'spowerful film poster for a movie about a the experiences of a young Jewish boy's Blitz childhood evokes war-torn London with its muted colours and atmospheric original artwork. Well done, Richard!
Sunday 9th May 2010
Gcse Media Film Poster Design
Posted by Jenny Mann
Connor Everitt created this excellent poster for a new film for his Media portfolio as part of an assignment on analysing inter-generational family conflict in movies such as 'Bend It Like Beckham' and 'East Is East'.
Sunday 9th May 2010
Gcse Media Film Poster Design
Posted by Jenny Mann
Finbar Murray designed an excellent poster for a new youth movie as part of his Media portfolio, inspired by screening of the film 'Bend It Like Beckham'.
Sunday 9th May 2010
Gcse Music Magazine
Posted by Jenny Mann
George Leyshon and Emma Farrar are to be congratulated for their excellent design work for their GCSE Media assignment 3. Here are some of the pages of their vibrant and convincing music magazine.
Monday 26th April 2010
Stop Motion In Music Video
Posted by Abi Hughes
For the music promo pack that I have made as part of my A2 Media coursework, I decided to use stop motion as part of the music video. The track that I have been working on is 'Toothpaste Kisses' by the Maccabees and I felt that using stop motion during the 'lipstick kisses' sequence would illustrate the playful quality of the track.
In the photograph, you can see on the bottom left some of the dozens of shots that went into making the kisses appear one by one, with the line drawings growing frame by frame. It has to be said that there is a huge amount of work involved!
Thursday 22nd April 2010
Film Poster Year 11 Coursework
Posted by Emma Farrar
My film poster is inspired by movies about young people who are uprooted during war or conflict and have to be evacuated or face losing their homes. War and conflict is very much on our minds every day in the news, with millions of children's lives being disrupted. I called my film 'The Long Road'.
Thursday 22nd April 2010
Dvd Design For New Youth Movie
Posted by Ben Farmer
In all of the films that we have studied this year, whether they are set in Japan. Hounslow, Teheran or Salford, there have been young people struggling to face challenges and to follow their own paths in life. Our task for our second assignment, apart from a 1.500 word essay comparing the messages and values in two films, was to show our understanding of the need to embrace cultural change and to understand the causes of cultural conflict. In my film, a teenager has to face the unsettling experience of moving from Finland to Britain.
Thursday 22nd April 2010
Billboard Design For New Youth Movie
Posted by Alex Atkinson
This is part of my second GCSE assignment. We had to study two youth movies in which young people faced challenges and went through rites of passage, showing courage in achieving their aims, like 'Bend It Like Beckham'. My film would feature a boy who was determined to follow his dream of becoming a musician, even though his parents tried to prevent him.The title is an intertextual reference to the famous music magazine.
I also had to write an essay comparing the messages and values in 'East Is East' and 'Bend It Like Beckham'.
Thursday 22nd April 2010
Gcse Comic Design
Posted by Jack Northall and Finbar Murray
Jack writes: "We have taken very different approaches to the same task. Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel style in 'Persepolis' appealed more to me as it offered the chance to work in black and white, which gives it a serious quality."Fin writes: " My comic design is bold and colourful, which make it seem more playful."
Thursday 22nd April 2010
Hiro The Hero
Posted by Ellie Dowson
We have studied Japanese manga and anime this year (all because Mrs Mann went to Japan, I expect!) We watched Myazaki's 'Spirited Away' then I designed the DVD cover for a new film called 'Hiro the Hero' as well as writing a 1,500 word essay on the animation style of 'Spirited Away' compared to Marjane Satrapi's 'Persepolis'.
Thursday 22nd April 2010
Gcse Comic Design And Dvd Cover
Posted by Alex Atkinson and Richard Holt
Alex writes: "We studied different graphic formats including manga, comics, graphic novels and children's book illustrations then designed our own comics. Mine features a superhero and I called mine 'The Adventures of Midas'."Richard writes: " Comics and films often feature superheroes, so I had a lot of fun setting up the shots for a rather tongue-in-cheek DVD design for a superhero called Viceman. Wearing a hat like that, I don't think anyone would be too alarmed by him!"
Thursday 22nd April 2010
Master Class And Vip Screening
Posted by Jenny Mann
Year 13 Media students were very lucky to be invited to a VIP preview screening of Gurinder Chadha's latest film 'It's A Wonderful Afterlife' at the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square. The students, who are studying the representation of collective identity in multicultural Britain, were delighted to have the opportunity to have a genuinely contemporary text to analyse for their exams next month. They relished the chance to question the famous director herself!
It's A Wonderful AfterlifeThursday 11th March 2010
A Level Study Day
Posted by Jenny Mann
Our second visit to Rich Mix Education on Thursday 4 March was mercifully royalty-free so we swiftly found our way to the now familiar venue and were once again welcomed with the offer of as many free film posters as we could carry home. On to the serious business of the day, with our exam board's Chief Examiner giving us the nuts and bolts of how to succeed in June. This time, the focus was on our Critical Perspectives paper: we explored a variety of case studies that illustrated how collective identities are represented in film, television and. in particular, the internet. The afternoon focus was the screening of an amazing documentary filmed in the favelas of Brazil by Tigerlily Films'Only When I Dance', followed by an open mike session with the film producer and director themselves. Only When I Dance
Thursday 11th March 2010
At Rich Mix Education
Posted by Jenny Mann
On Thursday 24 February, Her Majesty the Queen chose to visit the East End of London, as did we, and for understandable reasons, we got rather held up in the kerfuffle. However, we made it just in time to the new Media Studies venue that our Chief Examiner had picked to deliver a really 'rich mix' of clips, industry speakers and intellectual nuggets on the topic of 'Media in the Online Age'. For fun, we show you a 'word cloud' that we know know how to create!
Rich Mix EducationThursday 11th March 2010
Al Music Video
Posted by Jenny Mann
Michael Vipond has created the promo pack for a music video featuring The White Lies 'From The Stars'. He has given this haunting song a melancholy narrative treatment using exclusively black and white. Its retro appeal lies in its striking imagery, such as dripping blood, water droplets and decks of cards. The inventive use of reverse action creates moments of intrigue.
Thursday 4th February 2010
Film Poster Year 11 Coursework
Posted by Jenny Mann
Year 11 have been studying 'Bend It Like Beckham' and 'East Is East' in order to write a comparative assignment. Here, Charlie Lindsay shows understanding of the culture clashes involved in these films in his conception for a new film.
Saturday 19th December 2009
As Media Coursework: Music Magazine
Posted by Jenny Mann
AS Media Studies students may select the Music Magazine brief and create an original product, comprising a cover, contents page and double page spread.Here, George Smart has worked on a design for a new magazine 'Charged' targeted at electronic music consumers. It is a crisp, polished and professional design. His whole product is documented in an electronic Evaluation for the examination board. This work received an A grade.
Wednesday 25th November 2009
A2 Music Promo Package
Posted by Jenny Mann
Michael Vipond is currently filming a cover of The White Lies 'From The Stars', a story of lost love, betrayal and death. Here is the design work for the CD digipack.
Wednesday 4th November 2009
Gcse Dvd Covers
Posted by Jenny Mann
One of the essential parts of the brief in designing their own DVD covers was to feature young people who faced danger and difficulty, as had the heroines of both our key texts, Marjane Satrapi's 'Persepolis' and Hayo Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away'. Here,Emma Farrar evokes a spine -chilling tale of stolen identity and her monochrome design has echoes of Satrapi's graphic novel.
Wednesday 4th November 2009
Gcse Comic Strips
Posted by Jenny Mann
An inventive take on the super hero genre features a multi-tasking, computer-savvy hero destined to target a young reader: PJ Boy comes to the rescue in the work of Ciara Thomas.
Wednesday 4th November 2009
Gcse Comic Strips
Posted by Jenny Mann
After studying a variety of graphic formats including manga, comics, graphic novels and children's book illustrations, students had free choice in designing their own work. Here, Jonny Bohane has created a five-page teenage comic, of which we offer you just the first and final page! Let it just be said that the school girl's adventures are all very entertaining!
Wednesday 4th November 2009
Gcse Dvd Covers
Posted by Jenny Mann
Shocking revelations that Claremont, 'an elite Hertfordshire boarding school', harbours a dark secret in the form of a sinister school girl killer! To create this DVD cover, Georgie Cripps scoured the school grounds for suitable locations and persuaded her friends to take up blood-thirsty poses!
Wednesday 4th November 2009
Gcse Comic Strips
Posted by Jenny Mann
Year 10 GCSE students are working on creating their own comic books based on super heroes. Here is an example of work in progress: 'The Adventures of Fin and Northal' by Henry McPherson.
Wednesday 4th November 2009
Gcse Dvd Covers
Posted by Jenny Mann
GCSE student Ben Farmer studied the black and white film 'Persepolis' directed by the Iranian Marjane Satrapi, as well as the autobiographical graphic novel on which she based her film, before creating this stylish monochrome design.
Wednesday 4th November 2009
A2 Music Promo Package
Posted by Jenny Mann
A2 students create a promo package of a music video, CD design and publicity materials such as flyers for their coursework module.
Wednesday 4th November 2009
As Media Coursework
Posted by Jenny Mann
At AS level, students start their coursework with a preliminary exercise which is compulsory but which does not get awarded marks. This task forms part of their preparation for the main coursework project, which in this case will be an original music magazine. George Smart has created this Claremont Media magazine for his preliminary task.
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
Team Work In A2 Media
Posted by Jenny Mann
Here two students collaborate in creating the rostrum shots for the design work involved in the promo package for the track 'Toothpaste Kisses' by The Maccabees.
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
Claremont's Music Recording Studio
Posted by Jenny Mann
Claremont's music department's recording studio comes in very useful when students need to work on filming for their A2 music videos. Here, a pair of students film the drummer doing her stuff.
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
A2 Music Video In Progress
Posted by Jenny Mann
Creating the music video for Miley Cyrus is 50% team work and 50% pure energy! Here, students are working as part of a team to record and enact a music video, complete with screaming fans!
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
A2 Media Student Gets To Grips With Game Programming
Posted by Jenny Mann
At Advanced Level, students may choose to undertake a practical brief that leads to devising the first level of a new computer game, complete with the art work that accompanies the games package. Here, a student is working from the plans for the Mansion in order to create a game that uses the actual building as part of his 'quest' game.
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
Year 10 Gcse Film Making
Posted by Jenny Mann
Part of the Year 10 sitcom opening sequence featured a scientific boffin pupil's successful escape from the classroom through an ingenious electronic teleport. Here you can see the pupil involved in both the shooting of the scene and editing her footage.
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
Year 10 Gcse Film Making
Posted by Jenny Mann
Year 10 have devised and shot the opening to a new sitcom, set in school, featuring a group of lively pupils. Here a pair of pupils are editing their rushes using iMovie. Their footage shows them making a dramatic escape from the classroom using climbing rope to scale down a wall, James Bond style! The rest of the class are also hard at work editing their own version of the filming.
Sunday 5th July 2009
Annual Review
Posted by Jenny MannThis year has seen a number of firsts for the Media Department, which is going from strength to strength. In September, we launched the inaugural GCSE course with a full complement of pupils, who have embraced all the course has to offer, from understanding films by Japanese and Iranian award-winners to analysing British television genres and global advertising campaigns. We enjoyed studying at the British Film Institute and hearing from industry professionals. We are currently deep into coursework, having devised advertising campaigns , and now are working on manga, anime DVD covers and graphic novel design . As you would imagine, we keep up with current affairs through the internet, for example, by paying a virtual visit to Washington’s Newseum during the inauguration of the President of the United States.
At Advanced Level , Media Studies has continued to be as popular and successful as ever, with year 12 students embarking on the new specifications to study television drama, British film and new technologies , with two days of enrichment at the British Film Institute as well as two visits from Mark Piper, the education officer of the British Board of Film Classification. Mark also presented the awards at our annual Awards Ceremony , where A2 students showcased screenings of their music videos: both AS and A2 students have gained a swathe of A grades for their practical briefs again, with stunning thrillers and music videos, which included complex claymation. This year’s A2 students deserve to do very well indeed, based on the marks already awarded for their practical work and the ease with which they sailed through their examinations.
The Media Department has been in the forefront using the school’s Extranet and now students can log in and access all their resources wherever they are, truly a benefit to independent learning.
Another first was June’s Technology Showcase evening where we presented final work to parents, friends and invited guests, a marvellous opportunity to admire the high standard of the AS glossy magazines and to watch the wide variety of videos.
Finally, throughout the year, other year groups have been attending Film Club, which launched this year. Screenings have ranged from Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and Hayo Miyazaki’s Spirited Away to old favourites such as Andrew Stanton’s Wall-E and Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz. All are welcome! Pupils have also experimented with filming and using GarageBand. We are truly grateful for the gift of new equipment to continue the good work and we look forward to sharing all Media students’ creativity with you today in the Technology Studio.
Sunday 5th July 2009
Filmsteps
Posted by Jenny Mann
Do you fancy extending your experience of making and editing video? A local venue, Filmsteps of Teddington, offers both regular weekend and holiday courses at Waldegrave School, Twickenham TW2 5LH.
If you are between the ages of 7 - 16, want to make new friends, have loads of fun and learn how to make your own films and TV programmes, then Filmsteps could be for you.
Film Steps Teddington
Friday 19th June 2009
New Kit
Posted by Jenny Mann
The Media Department is very grateful to Claremont's Giving Fund for two new Sony video cameras and two new Olympus stills cameras. The students at both GCSE and AL look forward to producing some wonderful creative work using them!
Thursday 18th June 2009
Multi Media Graduate Visits Claremont
Posted by Jenny Mann
The Media department was pleased to have the opportunity to learn from recent graduate Philip Chapman about his creative work. Year 10s saw his complex animations and photography work at close range and were able to ask questions about how it was all achieved! Here, Phil is demonstrating to Year 10 two projects, one based on The Matrix and one on a Star Wars rocket chase.
Saturday 6th June 2009
Warning: Brain Overload!
Posted by Jenny Mann
John Naish reports recent research that Scientists fear that a digital flood of 24-hour rolling news and infotainment is putting our primitive grey matter under such stress that we can no longer think wisely or empathise with others.
Now research suggests that we may have reached an historic point in human evolution, where the digital world we have created has begun to outpace our neurons’ processing abilities.
The result is that our brains increasingly become numb to the world’s troubles. The trauma we witness on our screens — and the indignation that it should spark — goes unprocessed as our minds seek refuge in simpler things. The concerns have been raised by two newly published studies which indicate that streaming digital news may now run faster than our ability to make moral judgments. Rapid info-bursts of stabbings, suffering, eco-threat and war are consumed on a “yes-blah” level but don’t make us indignant, compassionate or inspired. It seems that the quicker we know, the less we may care — and the less humane we become.
One fear is that habitual rapid media-browsing can, ironically, block our ability to develop wisdom. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, announced recently that they had compiled compelling evidence that even the universal traits of human wisdom ¬ó empathy, compassion, altruism, tolerance and emotional stability ¬ó are hard-wired into our brains. In Archives of General Psychiatry, Professor Dilip Jeste says that neurons associated with those attributes seem to be sited primarily in areas of the prefrontal cortex ¬ó the slower-acting, recently evolved regions of our brain that are bypassed when the world feels stressful and our primitive survival instincts grab the controls.
This concern is reflected in research by scientists at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute. Their brain-scan studies show that, while we pick up signs of other people’s pain and fear in a flash, it can take significantly longer for our minds to develop socially evolved responses such as compassion. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition, used real-life stories to induce admiration for virtue or skill, or compassion for physical or social pain, in 13 volunteers. Brain imaging showed that the volunteers needed six to eight seconds to respond fully to stories of virtue or social pain — far longer than their brains needed to react at an unemotive level. The mounting challenge for our brains is to keep adequately informed without overload. As the Brain and Creativity Institute research suggests, building “firebreaks” into our consumption may help.
“Our poor brains are definitely suffering information overload,” says Felix Economakis, a London-based chartered psychologist who specialises in stress. “Either you control your technology or it will control you,” he says. “If you don’t say that your communications devices are for work or for family emergencies only, they can easily take over your life.
“I suggest that you switch on the e-mail only twice a day and don’t watch news constantly for sensation-seeking rather than for gaining information. These things can become addictive.
“You should make certain days, and times such as family meals, sacred. You have to plan these things for now."
The Times article 2/06/09
10 Amazing Facts About Your Brain
Wednesday 3rd June 2009
Media & Communications Degrees
Posted by Jenny Mann
Today 'The Times Good Universities Guide' lists the top 15 degree courses for Media and Communications degrees, which follow below, in order of excellence: Warwick, Sheffield, Cardiff, Loughborough, Queen Mary London, Leeds, Leicester, Goldsmiths College, Bournemouth, East Anglia, Strathclyde, Southampton, Lancaster, Brunel, Nottingham Trent.
It also lists Lancashire as offering incentives of up to £2,000 to students who show creative and constructive use of new media.
The Times article 3/06/09
Sunday 31st May 2009
Screening The Brits
Posted by Jenny Mann
This term all the A level Media students attended a study day at the British Film Institute on the British film industry.
Led by Mathew Hall, author of the BFI Teaching Men and Film resource and Head of Film and Media Studies, the day covered the slippery definition of British Film and how successful British films have been marketed. The history of British film was explored using the BFI’s National Archive. The day included a presentation from industry speakers who described the process of creating a successful film and finished with a panel discussion when students asked questions about the current state of UK cinema.
This was be a hugely valuable trip, with access to information that it is difficult to gather elsewhere.
Sunday 31st May 2009
School Extranet
Posted by Jenny Mann
The Media department is pleased to announce that our extranet site on the school network is up and running with dozens of essentials, using internet hyperlinks, including video.
Set to expand as the courses develop, there are currently key folders for GCSE and A level, as well as useful links like 'Your Future at University', World Cinema, online journals, 'Making Your own' and a Gallery showcase.
We have long used our spot on the school website in this way, but with hundreds of items on our links page, it was time to move!
Access it on https://claremont.schoolextranet.com/login.aspx
School Extranet
Sunday 29th March 2009
Comic Books
Posted by Jenny Mann
Several GCSE students are currently creating comic books as part of their practical assignments. We plan to show you their work in progress. This example is part of the planning for a humorous comic for younger viewers called 'Pyjama Boy', based on comic book heroes.
Sunday 29th March 2009
Animation And Comic Books
Posted by Jenny Mann
GCSE students are pictured here working on their practical portfolios. As a class, we have studied forms of Japanese anime, looking closely at Miyazake's 'Spirited Away' then progressing to the codes and conventions of manga. .
We have also gone into Marjane Satrapi's 'Persepolis' in depth, which was originally a graphic novel, then widened our study of graphic novel styles. Students show their understanding of different codes and conventions by creating their own media products: here, one group is setting up shots which will later become the raw material for DVD cover designs and comic books.
Spirited Away
Persepolis
Anime News Network
Sunday 15th March 2009
Not A Soft Option
Posted by Jenny MannAs our students ponder their options for further education, maybe it is time to offer the following information, in which Alexandra Frean, Education Editor of The Times, reports on the Research Assessment Exercise for 2008:
'For Sally Feldman, Dean of the School of Media Arts and Design at the University of Westminster, the Research Assessment Exercise for 2008 will mark the point at which media studies lost its status as a “Mickey Mouse” subject. Hers is one of only five university departments in Britain where at least 60 per cent of the research submitted to a panel of experts was rated as “world-leading”.
“There has always been a massive amount of snobbery towards media studies. It is partly because the old universities do not like the new ones encroaching on their territory and partly because the media don't like being scrutinised,” she said.
“Media studies is far more demanding than some traditional subjects. In addition to lectures, seminars and essays, students have to work in teams to make films and other productions,” Ms Feldman said.
Her department's research covers a wide range of issues from how children use the internet, the politics and economics of media ownership, audience reactions to reality television and the role of the media in the emerging global economic giants. The department has a China Media Centre and an Arab Media Centre and is developing similar centres for India and Africa.
Ms Feldman, a former journalist and for many years editor of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, said: “The media form one of the most influential vehicles we have for communication and understanding in the world.” Her department's research covers issues including how children use the internet and the role of the media in the emerging global economic giants.
Fellow teachers would endorse the following comment generated by this article: 'We have found on our practical media modules that we better prepare students for working out in the 'real' world as they learn many skills such as negotiation, team work, presentations etc as well as traditional research, analysis and writing skills.'
The Times article 18/12/08
Sunday 15th March 2009
Working Title Study Day
Posted by Jenny Mann
On Tuesday 10 March, all AL Media students attended a
Working Title Study Day at the British Film Institute.
Working Title is a successful British film production company which has made a significant contribution to British film culture. Using clips, Wendy Helsby helped students discover how a production company works and their relationship with the audience, as well as the importance of distribution and marketing.
Sally Caplan of the UK Film Council gave a fascinating insider's view of her job in charge of the £8 million annual Premier Fund for British film-makers, as well as offering welcome words of advice and encouragement to the young would-be directors in the audience. The audience wanted to know about Working Title’s position in relation to the industry and organisations such as The Film Council in the UK and Universal Studios in the U.S.A.
In Q & A sessions, we examined how Working Title’s films reflect contemporary Britain, the influence of stars on production and their relationship with the audience. The day included an inspirational session with Working Title's Eric Fellner himself followed by a thought-provoking film screening of 'My Beautiful Launderette'. Eric Fellner's account of his career in the industry was both informational and encouraging: from humble beginnings as a runner, though to making music videos and finally co-heading a company that has produced 95 films and generated billions of pounds within the British film industry.
It is safe to say that Mrs Mann and the students went home with stars in their eyes!
The UK Film Council
Working Title Films
Saturday 7th March 2009
Al Taster Day For Year 10
Posted by Jenny Mann
The Media Studio welcomed over 50 students from Year 10 this week to trial AL lessons in Media Studies. Activities included the textual analysis of moving image, including learning about camera angles, movement and shot type, as well as sound and mise-en-scene.
Other interesting activities included an introduction to British film with some groups watching Shane Meadows discuss 'This is England' on The Culture Show.
The most lively atmosphere by far was generated by the making of two short movies: students were invited to pick either 'Pizza Guy' or 'Harry Potter's Potions Lesson' and make a two-minute movie, complete with props, costumes and script.
A thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all!
Monday 26th January 2009
Creative Claremont Media Awards
Posted by Jenny Mann
On the red carpet today for the annual awards for creativity in Media Studies were three students who have been working on promotional packages for music releases. We were proud to screen their music videos in the presence of our special guest, Mr Mark Piper from the British Board of Film Classification, who presented the awards.We welcomed his expertise and his words of praise and encouragement.
First up was Olivia Karsenbarg, with her version of ‘Mourning Morning’ by Just Jack. This stylish and beautifully crafted work revealed Liv's eye for striking framing, winning her the Rising Star Award for best photography. Set in London, using black and white and combining dreamy ghost trails with crisp editing, this treatment brought out the melancholy of someone who is going round in circles.
Second, we had Alex Kay, with an old favourite, Eric Clapton’s ‘Wonderful Tonight’, given a new treatment through the use of claymation. Using a doll's house and Playdoh figures, Alex created the animated fantasy of a young girl's dreams of love, as she projects her desires onto her toys. He took the Red Carpet Award for overall excellence for the complexity of his work.
Finally, Sam Hennig gave us ‘Forty Feet’ by Franz Ferdinand, winning the Breakthrough Award for Innovation, with a promo package that combined excellent CD design work and post-modern film technique. Sam's treatment for this enigmatic song drew on the introspective world of video diaries, exploring (in the words of T.S.Eliot's Prufrock) how 'to prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet'. Sam plunged into the dark dreamworld of the teenage psyche with humour and inventiveness.
Congratulations to all!
Tuesday 20th January 2009
Visiting The Newseum In Washington
Posted by Jenny Mann
YES WE CAN!
To mark the occasion of the inauguration in Washington of President Barack Obama as the forty-fourth President of the United States of America, Media students this week will be paying virtual visits to the world's most interactive media museum, the Newseum in Washington. We will be looking at what the museum has to offer, such as the stories behind some of the world's most remarkable photographs in the The Pulitzer Prize Photograph exhibition, video advice on how to be a TV reporter and historic footage of top stories of the century. The Newseum, Washington
Tuesday 20th January 2009
Television Advertising At The Bfi
Posted by Jenny Mann
Why did Cadbury's use a gorilla for its television campaign? How did Coca-Cola make its iconic 1971 'hill top' advert, sending the song 'I'd like to teach the world to sing' to the charts? Why did Sony use real bouncing balls rather than CGI? On December 12th 2008, the GCSE Media Studies group spent an intensive day at the British Film Institute learning about the language of advertising and how the industry conveys its messages and values to different target audiences. We were taught by industry professionals including the dynamic young producer Karrelle Dixon of Wieden+Kennedy, who offered us plenty of opportunity to question him about methods and careers, after his main presentation on the way he handled the Nike campaign which launched the Mercurial boot. The veteran film-maker Laurence Green of Fallon London, the man behind the Cadbury's gorilla and the Sony bouncing balls campaign amongst many others, explained the process of putting together a television advertisement.
Our group, who have chosen Coca-Cola as a case study for their exam, were fortunate to find that the BFI's own researcher Jezz Stewart was presenting his findings on the history of advertising of this particular product! He was immensely well-informed and gave us many insights.
This wonderful day included a peek at the National Theatre's photography exhibition where we lunched, as well as a quick check of how to access the BFI's Mediatheque. Next time....! Many thanks to Mr Gladstone who accompanied Mrs Mann and the students. The British Film institute, London
Sunday 7th December 2008
Al Print Work
Posted by Jenny Mann
Rebecca Bissix has designed a teenage magazine for her AL Media coursework and her feature article is a thought-provoking spread on arranged marriages which she has made eye-catching as well as informative, with interviews, case studies, news articles, book recommendations and beautiful ethnic artefacts to anchor the meaning.
Tuesday 25th November 2008
Music Video Promo Pack
Posted by Jenny Mann
Holly Ellis is producing a promotional package for the release of a new album for Alphabeat, including a music video, CD design and poster (seen here). She has story-boarded the video, conducted audience research and research into the genre, filmed her video, designed the print work and is currently editing.
Sunday 23rd November 2008
Music Video Promo Pack
Posted by Jenny Mann
Olivia Karsenbarg is producing a promotional package for the release of a new album for Just Jack, including a music video, CD design and magazine advertisement. She story-boarded the video, conducted audience research and research into the genre, filmed in London, designed the print work and is currently about to start editing.
Tuesday 18th November 2008
Al Print Work
Posted by Jenny Mann
For A Level coursework, students who select the print brief may design a new teenage magazine complete with cover, double-page spread, contents page and so on. Here, Holly Ellis and Alice Espedal present their excellent work: their creation, 'The NoteMag', is lively, sassy and vibrantly youthful.
Tuesday 18th November 2008
Everyone's A Fruit And Nut Case!
Posted by Georgina Cripps
GCSE Media Studies students turned their hand to filming this week and the Media Studio reverberated to the happy buzz of busy people scripting, directing and filming 'A Day in the Life of Year 10' using fruit and vegetables, plus assorted miniature props. As an exercise in creativity, it yielded many fruitful ideas and no-one had time to vegetate. There was not a couch potato to be seen as we powered our way through seven scenes. Next stop: editing!
Sunday 5th October 2008
Mark Piper Bbfc
Posted by Jenny Mann
Mark Piper of The British Board of Film Classification led the sixth form behind the scenes of film classification, allowing us to follow decisions about film regulation and censorship, such as this summer's smash hit 'The Dark Knight'. The first challenge that Mark set us was to consider the difference between censorship and regulation. He explained the BBFC's important role in giving the public information, enabling us to make informed decisions, and in providing the film and video industry with trustworthy regulation. An experienced teacher with a vast knowledge of film, Mark led a fast-paced and very interactive session which was packed with thought-provoking questions. Why was the same film awarded different classifications in different local areas? Who regulated the BBC and television in general? Which decisions had he found hard? With the Byron report in mind, what did we think about violence in video games?
As students have followed the recent public debates on how far media platforms, from video games to YouTube clips, have affected audiences, Mark's authoritative knowledge and experience were invaluable for AL Media students who have to answer exam questions in this area.
Mark used clips in his discussion to set us thinking for ourselves about how we would classify films and the complexities involved. He used practical topical examples to illustrate debates on contested areas such as audience theory. It was a brilliant session and we are very grateful to Mark for coming. Just for students: the BBFC site
The British Board of Film Classification
Sunday 5th October 2008
Because They're Worth It
Posted by Jenny Mann
GCSE Media Students have each created an advertisement for a men's or women's fragrance, with the brief to devise the concept, develop the brand and target the audience.
Ciara has created the concept of an exotic, sultry fragrance using a mask with its connotations of the Venetian Carnival and with bold contrasting colours that speak of romantic evenings: she anchors her brand identity with an Italian name 'Ciao Bella'. Richard's advert for a men's fragrance called 'Mystery' also deliberately masks the model's face, creating a powerful impression of mystery and passion with his dramatic pose and theatrical colours.
Sunday 5th October 2008
Because They're Worth It
Posted by Jenny Mann
GCSE Media Students have each created an advertisement for a men's or women's fragrance, with the brief to devise the concept, develop the brand and target the audience.
Here, with 'Blue', Charlie has aimed for an outdoors look
with connotations of relaxed leisure and effortless sportsmanship: his target is the young man week-ending at The Hamptons. To market 'Rave', Ellie has developed a hot, urban style for the sophisticated clubber who parties all night, using funky, flourescent colours and a canted angle to suggest movement.
Sunday 5th October 2008
Virtual Visit To Atlanta!
Posted by Jenny Mann
The GCSE Media Studies group made a virtual tour of the museum The World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, home of the famous brand, before starting to study Coke’s history and how it has been marketed.
We started with the beautiful 1930’s publicity that the students here are displaying, then viewed television campaigns such as the hugely popular 'I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing'. This week, students are making their own Coke advertisements.
Did you know that the iconic Coke bottle is in the shape of a cola bean?
The World of Coca-ColaFriday 19th September 2008
Film Club 2008 Launches!
Posted by Jenny Mann
Claremont is delighted to launch the new Film Club in which students from any part of the senior school are welcome to watch screenings of films as well as to make their own films during Thursday and Friday lunch breaks in the Media Studio JG4.
This week, students have brought some of their own work to share, such as the movie made by Justin Tambini and Peter Speer, with the promise of more to come from other students: enthusiasm is infectious!
Today three groups of students also worked on various stages of current projects, such as a year 8 music video and a stop-frame animation project, and a year 9 movie mysteriously entitled 'The Vortex'.
We belong to FILM CLUB, which offers its member schools free access to a huge range of fantastic movies from every era and corner of the world, made for every age group. When you watch movies, you get inspired to make your own.
Learn about Film ClubWhy watch films?
Monday 18th August 2008
End Of Year Review
Posted by Jenny Mann
The Lower 6 were very pleased to study comedy and gender representation in television sitcom with our Senior Examiner at the BFI, whose vast archive collection treated us to the most recent productions as well as many ‘golden oldies’.
We also attended a BFI study day about one of the music industry’s most exciting products, promotional music videos. It was designed to develop students’ analytical and practical production skills. We studied some of the decade’s most innovative music promos, as well as clips tracing the history of the genre. There was advice and practical tips for production work, with screenings of both student and industry work. We came away with enhanced analytical and production skills and resulted in a flood of creative output in the following days.
All our students learn to plan, shoot and edit moving image, with the Lower 6 cutting their teeth on a group thriller film before launching into individual projects with some outstandingly good results. Students also learnt print production work through creating film posters and teenage magazines.
In class, we have explored the internet and other new technologies, for example, the findings of the Byron Report on young people’s use of gaming. We have investigated the British film industry, the press, audience theory, advertising, issues of representation and the television industry; we have conducted audience research and learned how to undertake academic research.
The Media Department opens its doors to many other people during the year, with small groups making films and presentations. Extra-curricular activities have included a year 8 and 9 visit to the BFI Mediatheque to explore digitized film, then on to the Science Museum to gasp at the wonders of immersive IMAX technology.
This year the department has gone from strength to strength, with full marks for Jack Ross’s promotional package for the release of a new album, and a string of A grades for excellent creative work from the other students. We are delighted to be launching GCSE Media Studies in September 2008!
Friday 6th June 2008
Bfi Mediatheque
Posted by Jenny Mann
At the British Film Institute's Mediatheque, we checked in at the desk and then logged on to a viewing station each, guided by the staff. Soon we were watching an amazing short film that turned the London streets that we had just crossed into surrealist dream, with roads flying over the Thames and escalators upside-down in an Escher landscape that was a series of special effects.
We then had an hour's free choice, learning how to access the BFI's vast collection and following our own interests. For lovers of film and new technology, this was a fascinating introduction to what is on offer and it is hoped that the students will return to explore this facility further under their own steam. Whether your taste is for 'Black Narcissus' or 'Bullet Boy', there is something there to interest everyone.
During the week at school, students researched material for their own film-making and learned how to script, shoot, capture and edit.
Friday 4th April 2008
The Byron Report: Summary Of Recommendations On Children's Internet Safety
Posted by Jenny Mann
Dr Tanya Byron's long-awaited report on young people's use of the internet and video games has been published this week. Here is a summary of the key points:
· The internet and video games are very popular with children and young people and offer a range of opportunities for fun, learning and development.
· But there are concerns over potentially inappropriate material, which range from content (eg violence) through to contact and conduct of children in the digital world.
· Debates and research in this area can be highly polarised and charged with emotion.
· Having considered the evidence I believe we need to move from a discussion about the media "causing" harm to one which focuses on children and young people, what they bring to technology and how we can use our understanding of how they develop to empower them to manage risks and make the digital world safer.
· There is a generational digital divide which means that parents do not necessarily feel equipped to help their children in this space - which can lead to fear and a sense of helplessness. This can be compounded by a risk-averse culture where we are inclined to keep our children "indoors" despite their developmental needs to socialise and take risks.
· While children are confident with the technology, they are still developing critical evaluation skills and need our help to make wise decisions.
· In relation to the internet we need a shared culture of responsibility with families, industry, government and others in the public and third sectors all playing their part to reduce the availability of potentially harmful material, restrict access to it by children and to increase children's resilience.
· I propose that we seek to achieve gains in these three areas by having a national strategy for child internet safety which involves better self-regulation and better provision of information and education for children and families.
· In relation to video games, we need to improve on the systems already in place to help parents restrict children's access to games which are not suitable for their age.
· I propose that we seek to do that by reforming the classification system and pooling the efforts of the games industry, retailers, advertisers, console manufacturers and online gaming providers to raise awareness of what is in games and enable better enforcement.
· Children and young people need to be empowered to keep themselves safe - this isn't just about a top-down approach. Children will be children - pushing boundaries and taking risks. At a public swimming pool we have gates, put up signs, have lifeguards and shallow ends, but we also teach children how to swim.
Key points from Byron report
Listen to Dr Byron and Ed Balls, Schools Secretary
Read the full report here
Sunday 16th March 2008
A2 Results
Posted by Jenny Mann
Congratulations to Year 12 Media Studies students on their excellent results this week: they all achieved either A or B grades for their coursework productions. They created promotional packages for the release of a new album, comprising a music promo video, CD design work and the cover of a music magazine. In addition, they compiled a 3,000 word Production Record.
Jack Ross attained 100% for his work and we extend special congratulations to him and to all the students who worked extremely hard.
Thursday 6th March 2008
World Book Day 2008: Extreme Reading
Posted by Jenny Mann
A Level Media students supported Claremont's World Book Day with some 'extreme reading' of their own. Jack Ross is ducking and weaving through texts on martial arts, such as 'Chasing Dragons', shown here. Other research pathways include textual analysis of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Ong Bak films and audience research. Jack is investigating the genre's codes and conventions through its representation of gang culture by contrast with that of Hollywood.
Sam and Liv used 'extremely new' technology to format their contribution: their thriller is being created in iMovie on Sam's laptop; the top shot is a screenshot of work in progress, which was bluetoothed to my MacBookPro. The lower photo was taken using a ,b.mobile phone camera (three megapixels) which we also bluetoothed to my laptop.
Bluetooth is an industrial specification for wireless personal area networks (PANs). Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices such as mobile phones, laptops, personal computers, printers, digital cameras, and video game consoles over a secure, globally unlicensed short-range radio frequency.
Sam and Liv's work is inspired by Alex Garland's 'The Coma'. Shooting has involved an attack on a train which leaves the victim in a coma. Want to see more? You will...watch this space!
Wednesday 16th January 2008
The Maccabees 'x Ray' By Jack Ross
Posted by Jenny Mann
To create a playful and arresting promotional package for The Maccabees' 'X Ray', Jack Ross filmed and edited a sophisticated music video which has an unexpected twist, designed the CD artwork and invented a new magazine entitled 'Fast Track'.
Sunday 13th January 2008
The Fratellis 'chelsea Dagger' By Ricci Heasman
Posted by Jenny Mann
Ricci worked with her partner Tom to film and edit a music video for The Fratellis 'Chelsea Dagger' , then designed a stylish and artistic CD package together with the cover for an edition of NME to promote the album.
Saturday 12th January 2008
The Fratellis 'chelsea Dagger' By Tom Morgan
Posted by Jenny Mann
Tom Morgan and Ricci Heasman teamed up to produce a promotional music video for The Fratellis 'Chelsea Dagger' with humorous costumes and ventriloquist's puppets. Tom then designed a CD and the cover of an edition of NME to promote the track.
Saturday 12th January 2008
The Kooks 'seaside' By Alex Bray
Posted by Jenny Mann
For his cross-media A Level brief, Alex created a promotional package composed of a quietly compelling music video for The Kooks's song 'Seaside', designed a beautiful CD and created a cover for an edition of Q magazine.
Saturday 12th January 2008
Supertramp 'dreamer' By Amelia Allen
Posted by Jenny Mann
As part of a music promo brief for A Level coursework, Amelia filmed and edited a highly inventive music video of Supertramp's 'Dreamer' and undertook striking and bold design work for the CD. She then devised an edition of NME to showcase the product.