For this task, we had to craft what we thought would be an appropriate mise-en-scene from an extract of a screenplay that we read in class:


My initial aim for my logo design was to make it as personal as possible. Before proceeding with my logo creation, I did some research on what makes a good logo and I came across this simple Venn diagram:
This week we have learnt about beat sheets; it is a method where you analyse and develop three-act story structure in screenplays. I have also read an article with augmented explanations of the fifteen “beats”.
As a class, we created a short horror story with the help of story cubes. These are small cubes with images on them, and we were all given one and had to create a scene using the given cube.
Napoleon Dynamite is a film of the comedy genre. It represents reality and the life of an unpopular teenager.
Here is the original Napoleon Dynamite opening credits (dir. Hess, 2004)

FILMING: DAY 1
Our group is currently in the process of filming, so in today's lesson we decided to try and shoot certain parts of our sequence using this wooden stand Mr. Fairbrother made to help us capture our point of view shots (which are seen throughout the Napoleon Dynamite opening credits).
Over the last two lessons, we watched the opening credits of Napoleon Dynamite (US, HESS, 2004), and analysed the extract closely. Our first task was to think about the meaning created and how it was encoded through camera shots/angles/movements, sound, editing and mise-en-scene and then write an analysis on it.
In our previous lessons, we have been watching and analysing some short clips and looked at the different micro elements of each one. Our small task was to create a 'cheat sheet' of camera angles, camera shots and/or camera movement. We had to decide on how we were going to create the images; it can either be photographs of people/toys or drawings. After having a discussion with my partner, Maytha, we decided to focus on camera angles and shots:
"The media do not just offer us a transparent 'window on the world'  but a mediated version of the world. They don't just present reality, they represent it." — Buckingham (2003)
METAPHORS:
In our lesson today, we viewed a slideshow showing different images and discussed the different symbolism in it. The question we got asked was:

What single image would you use to symbolise you and your status as a media student?

After analysing and deconstructing 'Empire State of Mind' by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, we were given a task to create our own parody. To get some inspiration and guidance, we watched a parody called Newport State of Mind. What made this a successful parody was the fact that the director managed to mimic the conventions they are mocking in the original music video, but adapted it to their location; which is Newport - a small, industrial town situated in Wales.
During our lesson today, we were given a task to deconstruct the music video of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys': 'Empire State of Mind'.
Click here to watch the music video
I have recently re-watched Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s: Romeo and Juliet as it . And throughout my multiple viewings of the film, my overall opinion on it has not changed at all.

 Film: Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Genre: Drama, Romance
Writer: William Shakespeare (play), Craig Pearce and Baz Luhrmann (screenplay)
Premise (taken from IMDB): Shakespeare’s famous play is updated to the hip modern suburb of Verona still retaining its original dialogue.

*Image from Google Images*
EDITING
For this project, I decided to opt for the vlog instead of the poster because I wanted to do something which would challenge me.
To create my vlog, I used iMovie and edited the video on my iPad - this is because my laptop did not support any video-editing softwares I downloaded, therefore I had to find another way to edit my video. In iMovie, there are two options before creating a project; a movie, or a trailer. I initially planned to choose the trailer as it caught my eye first, however, a downside to it was that there are already pre-made trailers and it does not allow you to change the background music, which I did not like.
PLANNING
To begin my project, I decided to look further into the two options we were given, by creating a mind map:
Here is a scanned page of my mindmap from my notebook (I used an application called CamScanner).

For our second task (Snapshot Project), we have been asked to create a 'snapshot', which introduced ourselves; either by creating a vlog, or a poster.

Since we had two options; one being a vlog, we had to include:

  1. Our self, images, or an animation
  2. Text or speech introducing ourselves (we were not allowed to include personal information; for safety reasons).
  3. Be two minutes maximum
  4. Be edited in a way which would engage the audience
The second option was to create a poster like the 'What (people think) I do' meme.

"The medium is the message" - Marshall McLuhan

1. Representation
Our first project, which enabled us to showcase our creativity, was to create a presentation using 10 images of our choice to describe ourselves. What had full control of what we wanted to include and how we were going to present them to our peers. For example, some chose to simply go with a slideshow, while others were more adventurous and opted for a platform which they were unfamiliar with e.g. an online magazine.

Hello, welcome to my blog!

As part of my AS Media coursework, I am required to create one of the following media products:

- Print: the front page, contents and double-page spread of a new magazine

- Film: a two-minute opening, with credits, to an original film

ABOUT

A visual journal of an AS Media Studies student living in Qatar

est. 17 September 2015

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