Day 5 - Planning for Friday 9th January

Hooray! I made it through the first week. I didn't get an opportunity to blog my lesson plans on Thursday evening, so here is a reflection on the days events: 

Period 1/2 : A'level Media Critical Research Mock

Students sitting mock exam x 2 Hours. No Grant or Aaron. I will need to chase these students next week as sitting this mock is crucial to my assessment of their potential performance in the real exam in two weeks. 

Period 3: GCSE Year 10 Media 

The usual suspects once again behaved in a manner that was wholly inappropriate and disrupted the learning of others. Mr Abiona is phoning home to negotiate meetings with parents next week. 

Students finished working on their mind-maps exploring music genres and the music industry and started the process of developing a set of questions that would form their audience research. 

Homework: To create and distribute a questionnaire to ten people about their music tastes and habits. Results from research to be drawn-up in their sketch books by next FRIDAY. 

LUNCH: Business Enterprise Meeting with Dave Mitchell. Only Callum and Sam attended and Dave was rather frustrated. He expressed his concerns and requested a meeting with all students on Tuesday at 3.00pm. I MUST GIVE A NOTICE IN ASSEMBLY ON MONDAY AND GET A NOTICE UP TO STUDENTS IN COMMON ROOM. 

Period 5: Support in Science with Mr Shode

I used this patrol time to visit Mr Shode in Science and to monitor his implementation of my ideas we explored at the outset of the week. The lesson was chaotic and would have been given an OFSTED Level 1 as no learning was evident. The issues that appear to be dominating Mr Shode's practise are: behaviour management; pace; voice and presence. I suggested to G Gill that one possible strategy could be to move the class to my room next Friday and for me to negotiate access to the ICT room. I will do my best to support here but the class is deeply disaffected and a great deal of intervention required to aid learning. 

 

Day 4 - Planning for Thursday 8th January 2009

Arghhhhh! It's Thursday - 5 Periods and two meetings after school! Yipee! Oh well here goes:

Period 1/2: Year 13 Media
Students have 2 weeks to finalise their preparations for the Critical Research paper. In this lesson I will:


1. Tell students about expectations for the term ahead and refer to key dates on The Noodle
2. Hand back mock papers and give constructive feedback and broad areas for improvement.
3. Go through 2 A Grade examples to support students in realising their potential.
4. Hand out 'Advanced Pop Music Evaluation' sheets and encourage those students who achieved A and B grades in mock to now focus on music promo completion and evaluation.
5. Give students lesson time to pursue independent work on music promos; critical research; evals or research and planning books.


Period 3/4: A'level Film Studies
Repeat of MONDAY'S FILM LESSON to other class. See Monday's blog for clips and lesson plan.


Period 5: Year 10 Media - ICT Room
Students working on new project 'Music promotion'. Today, the focus is on students creating their own 'My Music' profile to cover all aspects of their music consumption. Full objectives and exemplar resources on flipchart.


Cameron, Vicky and Jade very loud, boisterous and underming of the learning of other students. Will talk to Ms Flynn about this matter.


MEETING: 3.05pm in Meeting Room with Ms Khanna re: Yr 11 Results 2009
3.30pm Department Meeting in my room


MEETING: 3.30pm Department Meeting (NO GERRY)

Day 3 - Planning for Wednesday 7th January

Periods 1/2 : Year 11 Media Studies

Introduction to the evaluation on the Doodle and the aims of the next six weeks:

1. To complete Section B project and Evaluation

2. To finish any Section A projects and re-draft to maximise marks

3. To be the Best Media Student the World has ever seen!

No Emily Dann. Excellent work ethic from class today. Positive, engaged and mature approach. 

Period 3/4 : Year 12 Media

This lesson will form the same structure as that on  Monday with students finalising their plans for their film shoots next week. NO HARRY (Holiday) 

Period 5 : Free Period

Mark A'level Critical Research Essays; Check Action Adventure film clip for re-sit 2732 next week; check exam timetable to firm-up dates; post stuff on 'The Noodle' for Year 13's. 

Day 2 - Planning for Tuesday 6th January

1Jobs to do on Tuesday:
1. Talk to Paul and Femi in Science and arrange a lesson observation done
2. Get photocopying to Anita done
3. Phone Ana at Chocolate Factory re. Film Project done
4. Mark GCSE Mocks + Section A
5. Mark Critical Research Essays - Year 13
6. Get Gerry to sort computers at back of my classroom done
7. Post a timetable of presentations in next Thursdays Film Lesson
8. Plan Action Adventure Response resources
9. Talk to Leanne re.FM2 Hollywood Comparative Study done
10. Ask Jann Payne for Media Magazine User and Password done


NOTES ON FM2 DISCUSSION WITH LEANNE P.5
Section C: US Cinema Comparative Study (40 marks)
One question from a choice of two.
Candidates are required to compare and contrast two films either from the same genre or dealing with a specific theme. Both questions will have an emphasis on the relationship between aspects of the films' narrative in relation to generic characteristics. The first question will be based primarily on narrative study. The second will be based on contextual study. Issues of representation will be common to both questions. Since this is a comparative study, the two films selected should enable sufficient comparison and contrast to be made. One way of ensuring this is to select films made at different historical moments. There are no prescribed films for this section.
The following are indicative if a historical approach is adopted:
Double Indemnity and The Last Seduction
42nd Street and Chicago
My Darling Clementine and Unforgiven.
It is also possible to study remakes such as:
The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 and 1978)
King Kong (1933 and 2005)
A thematic approach is also possible. For example, two films dealing with personal
identity: Imitation of Life and Boys Don't Cry.

Leanne and I both liked the thematic approach and decided to explore this in relation to identity construction and possibly the American Dream (a firm favourite of mine):

Representations of Youth and the American Dream
American Beauty and Kids
Grease and High School Musical
The Wild One and Kids/AB/ Gilbert Grape

The American Dream Gone Wrong (consumeriasm/materialism)
Fight Club and American Psycho
Supersize Me / Farenheight 9/11

Women and The American Dream
Boys Don't Cry
American Beauty
Thelma and Louise

Satirical Representations of America
Zoolander
Team America

Race and The American Dream
To Kill a Mockingbird
Crash
American History X
Mississipi Burning
Spike Lee - Malcom X

Religious Conflict and The American Dream
Truman Show
Post 9/11 Film ?

Drugs Films
Requiem For A Dream
Blow / Basketball Diaries

Lesson Planning : Periods 3/4 A/S Film Studies
This lesson will focus on FM2 Hollywood Film Industry for 3 weeks before Leanne and I embark on a close study of 2 American films discussed above. I want to draw upon the case study work done prior to Christmas and get students to critically examine ownership of TNC's - The Big Six exploring vertical and horizontal integration and synergy.

The Guardian - Anatomy of a Blockbuster Spiderman Case Study
http://http//www.guardian.co.uk/film/2004/jun/11/3

A/S Film Studies Online Resources
www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415454339/study-skills.asp

Day 1 : Planning for Monday 5th January 2009

Periods 1 and 2
Year 12 Media Studies: Foundation Production Lesson


This double lesson is dedicated to final preparations for the Film Shoots that will take place next week. The expectation is that students will spend one-day on location filming the necessary rushes for their opening title sequences. The timetable will be announced on the blog after negotiations in the lesson later this week. I NEED TO TALK WITH ALAN AND GERRY BEFORE FIRMING THESE UP WITH STUDENTS. The students will spend today's lesson preparing a 'Shooting Schedule' that offers detailed information about their shoot and timings of the day. This will need to be submitted by Friday for final scrutiny.


Have locations been sought? Do you have location shots?
Do you have the necessary permissions?
Have you cast?
Do you have the necessary props?
Does your blog show all the necessary planning and preparation?


In the lesson I will model a 'Shooting Schedule' and share hints and tips for a smooth shoot. Here is an exemplar PDF to share with students:

http://plaza.ufl.edu/arturos/DPS/docs/Shooting_Schedule_Breakdown_Sheet_2002.pdf


Homework: To update blog to the required standard and to complete shooting schedule for submission on Friday.


Periods 3/4
Year 13 Film Studies - An introduction to Gendered Film Studies


Week 1: The State of Women in Film


STARTER:
List 5 female and male directors - what can we tell from the results?


ACTIVITY
Handout the 'Celluloid Ceiling Report 2007' and ask students to read/ highlight and annotate report to extrapolate interesting facts and stats.
http://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/files/Celluloid%20Ceiling%202007%20Full%20Report.pdf


1. In team ID 2 facts that you find particularly interesting/illuminating and share
2. In teams list 5-8 reasons why you think women continue to hit a celluloid ceiling
3. You are an executive producer in Hollywood - why would you want to give women key roles? present a case.

MAIN ACTIVITY
Exploration of Laura Mulvey's Visual Pleasures and Narrative Cinema and the notion of the Gaze.

Key words to be explored: Patriarchy/Scopophillia / Narcissistic/voyeurism/objectification















Look at YouTube clips above and compare with 'Casino Royale' Daniel Craig sequence. Is there a case for any other type of gaze?

Homework: To read Handout - Is there a female gaze? (Copy of Powerpoint Presentation)

NO LAWRENCE AGAIN - GET ALAN TO CHASE!