A2 MEDIA STUDIESSURVIVAL PACKKeep Me Safe.This is an important document. It contains all the basic

information you need to get you started in Year 13 AND

some helpful tips to make sure you get the best out of A2

Media Studies. Good luck!

Contents:

A2 Media Studies Units

CourseworkDeadlines

Wider Reading

University

“Working hard is

very important.

You’re not going

to get anywhere

without working

extremely hard.” George Lucas

A2 UNITSG324 – Advanced Production PortfolioYour coursework production piece takes a different approach from AS Media Studies.

This year you will be responsible for producing a media campaign for an original

product from a choice of briefs. The coursework is worth 50% of the year.

The portfolio will include:

Research and planning (20 marks)

Main task – video (40 marks)

Two ancillary tasks – a choice of print, web or radio (10 marks each)

Evaluation (20 marks).

You may work as an individual for the project – however due to the size of the project, I

advise you work in a group (of no more than four).

We will spend some time looking at all the potential briefs so you can make an informed

choice. Once we have done so…

You will choose ONE of the following options to complete:

1. A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo

video, together with two of the following three options:

• a website homepage for the band;

• a digipak for the album’s release;

• a magazine advertisement for the digipak.

2. A promotion package for a new film, to include a trailer, together with two of

the following three options:

• a website homepage for the film;

• a film magazine front cover, featuring the film;

• a poster for the film.

7. An extract from an original documentary TV programme, lasting

approximately five minutes, together with two of the following three options:

• a radio trailer for the documentary;

• a double-page spread from a listings magazine focused on the documentary;

• a newspaper advertisement for the documentary.

Evaluation

You will be expected to complete the evaluation as a group. There are four focus

questions:

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and

conventions of real media products?

2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

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?

G325 - Critical Perspectives in Media

You have one exam for A2 Media Studies, which you will complete in June. The exam is

2 hours and worth 50% of the overall grade. It is broken down into two sections:

Section A – Critical Evaluation

This section of the exam is broken down into two questions. Both questions ask you to

focus on your media production work and evaluate it in relation to a variety of topics. It

is important that you ensure you know both your coursework pieces inside-out! There

will only be one option for each question.

Question 1a – Evaluation of Progress

This question will expect you to evaluate your progress in your coursework from AS to

A2 surrounding one of the five topics:

Research and planning

Post-production

Digital technology

Using real media conventions

Creativity

The question is worth 25 marks.

You will have to reflect on a range of examples from both AS and A2 and think about

how you have developed as a media producer over this time. This may be either the

improvement of skills from AS to A2 or the development of new skills.

You will only be asked about one of the areas with the exception of creativity which will

never come up on its own. Instead, it will be paired with another topic and you will be

asked how you developed your creativity skills in that area. For example:

“Describe a range of creative decisions that you made in post-production and how these

decisions made a difference to the final outcomes. Refer to a range of examples in your

answer to show how your skills developed over time.” – Past paper question June 2012.

Question 1b – Theoretical Evaluation

This question will expect you to discuss one of your coursework pieces (I always

suggest A2) and evaluate its theoretical relevance in relation to one of the five topics:

Genre

Narrative

Audience

Representation

Media language

The question is worth 25 marks.

You will be expected to know a range of relevant media theory and theorists and

discuss them in relation to your work. It can be tricky as you are being asked to analyze

your work as if it is not your own work. Instead you must look at it from a critical and

objective point of view (imagine it’s like another media text you haven’t made that we

would study).

You will need to link these theoretical concepts to relevant and specific examples from

your own work.

You will only be expected to address one theory area in your answer. An example

question would be:

“Apply theories of narrative to one of your coursework productions.” – Past paper

January 2011.

Section B – Collective Identity (Youth Culture)

This section of the exam requires you to have an understanding of contemporary media

texts, industries, audiences and debates.

What is contemporary?

A media text which has been published or released within five years of your exam.

You will be sitting your exam in June 2015 so for you contemporary will be any media

text published or released from 2010.

What is collective identity?

Collective identity is the shared sense of belonging to a group. It is thought of as

individuals’ identifications of, identifications with, or attachment to certain groups. For

example: youth and youth culture.

You will be expected to develop a range of specific case studies to help you prepare to

demonstrate your understanding of collective identity.

This understanding must combine knowledge of:

At least two media (e.g. television and film)

a range of texts – you should be prepared with at least six case studies

the role institutions play in the construction of representation and how this

impacts the audience

an in depth awareness of relevant media theory which you can apply to your

argument.

There are four core areas of study which the exam question may reflect:

How do the contemporary media represent youth culture in different ways?

How does contemporary representation compare to previous time periods?

What are the social implications of different media representations of youths?

To what extent is human identity increasingly ‘mediated’?

In order to be fully prepared for the specific requirements of the question, you must

cover these three elements:

Historical – you must summarise the development of the media forms in relation to

youth culture and how this is similar/different to today.

Contemporary – examples from five years before the examination.

Future – you must demonstrate personal engagement with debates about the future of

the media and representation in relation to youth culture..

WARNING!!!

If you only refer to one media area in their answer, the mark scheme clearly indicates

that marks will be restricted to a maximum of top of level 1 (U grade).

If you fail to discuss historical references and or future projections, marks will be

restricted to a maximum of top of level 3 for use of examples only (C-B grade).

The question is worth 50 marks.

Example question:

“How do representations influence collective idenitity? You may refer to one group of

people or more in your answer.” – Past paper January 2012

COURSEWORK DEADLINESThe coursework is a large piece of work but you will be expected to manage your time and ensure everything is complete by the following dates:

Friday 19th September - Selection of brief and group

Friday 3rd October - Real media and initial audience research

Friday 17th October - Pre-production planning for main and ancillary tasks

Friday 7th November - Ancillary tasks rough drafts

Friday 5th December - Rough cut

w/b Monday 8th December collect rough cut audience feedback.

Friday 30th January - Final cut of main task

Friday 6th February - Final drafts of ancillary tasks

w/b Monday 9th February collect final audience feedback

Friday 27th February – Evaluation draft

Friday 13th March - Final evaluation & close of coursework.

WIDER READINGA list of books and media texts which you may find useful – either to support your learning on the course or to help you with wider Media journey…

Helpful Books:

Key Themes in Media Theory – Dan Laughey

Very helpful for questions 1b and Collective Identity in the exam.

If you get one book for Media it should be this one!

The Penguin Dictionary of Media Studies - Nicholas

Abercrombie and Brian Longhurst

Films:

Note: If you are planning on doing Media Studies or anything similar at

university a knowledge of these films will be beneficial. Some of them have been

selected as they are considered all-time classics and pioneers of film making; others

will help introduce you to types of film not watched by mainstream audiences.

Questions often asked at interviews are ‘What independent films do you like?’ or ‘Tell

us about a filmmaker whose work you admire.’ Michael Bay is NOT an appropriate

answer. Any * films are linked to the course.

It Happened One Night

(1934)

Citizen Kane (1941)

Casablanca (1942)

Bicycle Thieves (1948)

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Rear Window (1954)

Some Like it Hot (1959)

The Apartment (1960)

Blade Runner (1982)

The Usual Suspects (1995)

Memento (2000)

Spirited Away (2001)

Donnie Darko (2001)

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

Elephant (2003)

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Downfall (2004)

Brick (2005)

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

The Wave (2008)

*Fish Tank (2009)

*We Need to Talk about Kevin (2011)

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Mud (2012)

56 Up (part of the 7 Up series) (2013)

12 Years a Slave (2014)

This is just a sample of films you could

watch – feel free to find others (please

recommend any you find!).

UNIVERSITYYear 13 = time to think about the real world! Some of you might be thinking about

studying Media at university. Here are some things to think about…

Which One?Check out the top 20 universities for Media Studies below:

It is important to research each of these places and the courses they offer – some like

Bournemouth have LOTS of different media courses which focus on specific practical

skills (e.g. Film Production and Cinematography or Creative Multimedia Design). Other

universities, such as Warwick offer theoretical courses only – so if you want to do

practical work avoid!

Another university which isn’t featured on this list but is well respected within the

industry is Ravensbourne (www.rave.ac.uk) – it is based in Greenwich, London.

What should I prepare? If you are planning on doing a practical course the university will probably expect

you to show them a show reel of your work (to prove you are good!). This should

include your AS and A2 coursework pieces and any other relevant media. It is a

good idea to make your own short film to show you are SO passionate about film

making that you do it for fun!

Think about film and television you have watched which inspires you. How does

these films/programmes influence your own work or you?

Try to organise some work experience for yourself – there are plenty of post-

production companies in Soho. A lot of them are open to students ‘shadowing’

their staff for a day. Even this type of experience can make the difference in your

application as it will give you an insight into the industry that others applying may

not have.