Print Pre-Production

Sketch of magazine cover

Sketch of tour poster

1) Research music magazine cover key conventions. Look over the magazine cover key conventions notes sheet and write which of these you will use for your magazine cover. (This is a film magazine example but the conventions still apply).

• Masthead (title)
• Selling lines
• Coverlines
• Strapline / slogans
• Price/barcode
• Cover image/model/celebrity

2) Find at least five music magazine front covers (either current or former magazines as many have stopped their print editions) aimed at a similar target audience to your project (mainstream music audience). For each one, pick out one design idea or convention that you could use in your own print work. A few examples to start you off:

The font of the Masthead, Colour of background, pose of artist

Music Video: Shot List

 

Keren starting record player / title card	Long shot, medium shot, medium close-up.
Keren putting heart on door	Medium close-up, close-up .
Performance (“lets grab a gold switch blade”)	Medium close-up, close-up.
Keren walking through graveyard leaves roses and note on ground.  Single Tracking shot.	Long-shot, medium shot, medium close-up, close-up.
Performance (“Your hotel heart won’t be so vacant and I can tell that you ain’t fakin”)	Medium close-up, close-up.
Me walking through graveyard, picking up roses, reading note, then scrunch note in pocket, single tracking shot.	Long-shot, medium-shot, medium-close up, close-up.
Performance (‘would you kill, kill, kill for me”)	Medium close-up, close-up.
Keren putting knife into sheath, backlit.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Performance (“Would you kill, kill, kill for me?”)	Medium close-up, close-up.
Keren puts bloody hand over my mouth, down my neck. White background.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Performance (“Kill, kill, kill for me”)	Medium close-up, close-up.
I light roses on fire and note on fire.	Medium-shot, medium close-up, close-up.
I walk away  (Tree area by canal)	Long shot, medium shot, medium close-up.
I take heart of door and start to walk in.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Performance (“this is a sacrifice”) wiggly lights	Medium, Medium close up, close-up.
Performance (“Your hotel heart won’t be so vacant and I can tell that you ain’t fakin”)	Medium close-up, close-up.
Keren throws knife into bag, zips it up, picks up bag.	Medium close-up, close-up, extreme close-up.
Keren walking downstairs, lower body/knee shot.	Medium, medium close-up.
Me throwing my bag down.	Medium, medium close-up.
Performance (“Would you kill, kill, kill for me? I love you enough to ask you again.”)	Medium close-up, close-up.
Keren strangling me	Medium close-up, close-up.
Keren washing her hands.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Remains of burnt roses and note.	Medium close-up, close-up, extreme close-up.
Keren kicking dirt over roses.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Keren draws cross into dirt with foot.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Performance (“who are you going to cross?”)	Medium close-up, close-up.
Keren drawing cross on my neck.	Medium close-up, close-up, extreme close-up.
Performance (“Would you kill, kill, kill for me?”)	Medium close-up, close-up.
Shower scene, turning on shower whilst holding roses.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Back to heart on door.	Close-up.
Close up cross on chest.	Close-up, extreme close-up.
Keren strangling me.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Me rubbing neck.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Blood down drain.	Medium close-up, close-up.
Cut to record player like in psycho.	Long shot, medium shot, medium close-up.

‘Statement of Intent: Feedback and Learner Response.

Hannah

Mark: 6

Grade: C

Comments for AQA:

 ·         This is a clear statement of intent with some excellent, creative ideas. Issues of representation are discussed in a thoughtful way using some media theory.

·         The statement shows some understanding of the brief but perhaps needs to more clearly articulate how it will reach a mainstream audience.

·         Media language element addressed impressively with reference to mise-en-scene in particular. Perhaps lacking in terms of narrative clarity and additional media theory.

·         Digital convergence also lacking to keep this from the very top levels.

Feedback:

 ·         Title and key details at the beginning will help! In fact, think about organisation and layout in general – can you use subheadings or bullet points to add clarity to your statement?

·         There is a lot of impressive content here – you’ve clearly thought about your concept in detail. There is an excellent understanding of genre but I’m worried this doesn’t explicitly meet the brief – look at the brief again and think about how you can address the ‘mainstream audience’ element.

·         You need more specific reference in terms of narrative and/or performance. It’s brilliant for mise-en-scene but I don’t have a clear idea of the narrative or structure of the video as a whole.

·         Representation is great but could you offer a little more theory?

·         Add a little more specific detail on the print product – title, design, image etc.

·         You are missing one element in the statement of intent mark scheme – digital convergence. Think about where you could make reference to this in your final draft. 

Learner Response EBI:

Add a narrative.                                                                                                                                     Make a link to mainstream audiences.                                                                                                    Add more theory.

music video theory

Movement is vital to a video because it compliments the music. In "this is america" movement was achieved by dancing in beat to the music and the movement of the camera, showing the rest scene. 


the video references “Jim Crow,” a caricature of a clumsy, dimwitted black slave. “Jim Crow” came to be a derogatory term for African Americans, and in the late 19th century it became the identifier for the laws that reinstated white supremacy in the American South after Reconstruction. The demeaning character symbolically rationalized segregation.


'Minstrel show face' is also referenced, The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American form of entertainment developed in the early 19th century. Each show consisted of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music performances that depicted people specifically of African descent.


Another Intertextual reference is death getting a police escort which is a biblical reference to the 'end of time' with death riding a pale horse but in this case, we see a cloaked figure and alongside him is the police.

other references include the chase scene like in the film gets out. the 17 seconds of silence to denounce gun violence and tribute to the 17 people who lost there lives in Florida.  As well as the church shootings another is the dancing kids who reflect appropriation of black culture. 


2) What comment is the video making on American culture, racism and gun violence?
American culture and history is violent. the video also touches on gun violence and its implications as well as its ties to the African Americans experience. it parallels the impact of violence and racism.

3) Write an analysis of the video applying the theories we have learned: Gilroy, Hall, Rose and Dyson. Write a short paragraph for each theory.

Gilroy states that black culture doesn't t have any solidity. instead, black people experience liquidity of cultures.  Gilborn believes that the black diasporic identity links to the slave trade and the huge cultural influence on modern America. this is America highlights this by showing racism and white supremacy. this is showcased in the injustice of African Americans and never truly belonging. 

Hall states that there is a blur between race and class which leads to people associating particular races with certain social classes.. hall believes that western cultures are still white-dominated.

Rose believes that commercial hip-hop has appropriated black culture and this is a reference with the dancing children who are seen as a reflection of appropriation. however, rose also believes that hip-hip gives a voice to express themselves.

Dyson defends hip-hop and black culture and suggests“Hip hop music is important precisely because it sheds light on contemporary politics, history and race. At its best, hip hop gives voice to marginal black youth we are not used to hearing from on such critics. Sadly, the enlightened aspects of hip hop are overlooked by critics who are out to satisfy a grudge against black youth culture…” 

Now read this Guardian feature on This Is America - including the comments below.

4) What are the three interpretations suggested in the article?

One interpretation is that he is playing jim crow.
he's dancing to distract us from the violent riot behind him.
he's taking on the police.

5) What alternative interpretations of the video are offered in the comments 'below the line'? Choose two and explain what the comments are suggesting.

''Childish Gambino shows his sanity and humanism by showing and condemning random violence and madness. '' Gambino is exposing humanities biggest flaw as they condemn violence and allow others to suffer or do the suffering themselves.

 '' Shines a beacon on American cultural absurdity. Guns, patriotism, the police state, racism, hate speech, disinformation and violence.'' explains how lost America is and what the effects of the acceptance of bad things have done to the area.

Media Magazine - This Is America: Music, Politics and Protest


1) The article offers an excellent textual analysis of the opening of the video. What are some of the suggested meanings and references the writer discusses? Can you link this analysis to any of the theorists we have studied?
we hear an African choir chant what sounds like a joyous refrain as a barefoot man plays a finger-picking melody on an acoustic guitar. As the camera pans, we see a topless figure – Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino – standing in the middle of the warehouse. He jerks his body in time to the beat. As he turns and starts to dance towards us, his movements become more exaggerated: his body rolls, he grimaces, pops one eye wide open, and stops behind the seated man, who is now hooded and without his guitar. The topless dancer pulls a gun from thin air, aims for the head, and shoots. As the dead body falls, a rumbling hip-hop rhythm kicks in and Glover turns to the camera, casually saying: ‘This is America’. 
Rose who believes that commercial hip-hop has appropriated black culture and this is a reference with the dancing children who are seen as a reflection of appropriation. however, rose also believes that hip-hip gives black men and women a voice to express themselves.


2) What does the writer suggest are the main political themes in the video - and why is the message unclear?

it interrogates and criticises American gun culture and racism past and present. however, the message is also unclear as the video itself is seen as deliberately problematic: the video’s entirely black cast means that its ‘crimes’ are all perpetrated by black people.


3) What meanings and suggestions does the writer highlight in Beyonce's video for Formation?
Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’ made headlines for its ‘unapologetic blackness’,
recalling Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’, which juxtaposes imagery referencing the NewOrleans floods, the antebellum South, and modern police brutality. It even has its own Easter eggs: for example, a fleeting shot of graffiti reading ‘Stop shooting us’, a message associated with Black Lives Matter. Beyoncé and her director Melina Matsoukas leave it to the viewer to connect the dots, though the video’s


4) What is notable about Glover's comedy-drama TV show Atlanta? 
He wanted to have a black writing team. The show was notable for its refusal to ‘translate’ the black experience for a white audience.

5) What examples does the writer provide of hip hop as a political genre? What theorist can we link this to?
Both ‘This is America’ and ‘Formation’ were praised for their undiluted blackness, which is a culture of white hegemony is seen as a powerful political statement in itself.  hip-hop has been an inherently political form since its inception as far back as 1971, This links to Dyson who defends hip-hop and black culture and suggests“Hip hop music is important precisely because it sheds light on contemporary politics, history and race. At its best, hip hop gives voice to marginal black youth we are not used to hearing from on such critics.

TV: Deutschland 83 case study

1) Find one positive aspect and one criticism of Deutschland 83 in reviews.

 Criticism: It back tracks into stereotypes about Stasi officers
positive: fitting soundtrack

2) Why does the second Guardian article suggest the Germans didn't like the show?

It doesn't let the audience sympathise with a Stasi officer on a human level.

1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany? 

2) The Channel 4 News interview is conducted in German with English subtitles. How does this reflect Channel 4's remit as a public service broadcaster and their target audience? (Clue: revise your work on Channel 4 and Public Service Broadcasting here!)

3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the Channel 4 News audience?

Behind the scenes clips

The All4 website has a range of clips from behind the scenes of Deutschland 83. Watch the following:

Making Of: Why Should You Watch Deutschland 83
Watch this short promotional clip for Deutschland 83.

1) According to the clip, why should audiences watch Deutschland 83?

2) Why is history an important aspect of the appeal of the show?

3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?


Making Of: Set Design
Watch this interview with Production designer Lars Lange.

1) Why were the set design, costume and props so important for Deutschland 83?

2) How historically accurate was the setting, costume and props?

3) Why were the props, costumes and music such a key audience pleasure for Deutschland 83?


Production and industry contexts

Deutschland 83 was produced by German production company UFA Fiction and distributed internationally by FremantleMedia International. It was broadcast on RTL (Germany), SundanceTV (US) and Channel 4 (UK) as well as many other broadcasters around teh world.

1) What kind of company is UFA Fiction and what shows have they produced? 

2) What kind of company is Freemantle Media International and what do they produce?

3) How does Deutschland 83 reflect the international nature of television production?


Walter Presents

Watch this Channel 4 trailer for their Walter Presents international drama.

1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?

2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?

3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?

1) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).

2) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?

3) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?



Press pack

Read the Channel 4 press pack interview with writer Anna Winger. (If the link doesn't work, you can find the text from the interview here). 

1) How did she use the historical context and real-life events to create a successful drama?

2) Anna Winger discusses the use of music. Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?



Press release

Read this Channel 4 press release on the success of Deutschland 83. (If the link doesn't work you can find find the text from the article here).

1) List the key statistics concerning audience figures. Why is considered the most successful foreign language drama?

2) How does the news release describe the drama?


International marketing

Look at these two different marketing campaigns - the UK DVD release (left) and the American Sundance TV advert (right).




1) How does the UK DVD cover communicate the sub-genre of the drama?

2) How do these use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?

3) Why might the distributors Freemantle Media International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries? 

BBFC

1) Research the BBFC in more detail: what is the institution responsible for? How is it funded? What link does it have to government?

The British Board of Film Classification ,is a non-governmental organisation, founded by the film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited at cinemas and video works, Films pay a fee to be classified by the BBFC

2) Read this BBFC guide to how films are rated. Summarise the process in 50 words.

Classifying decisions are reached by consensus. Films are classified by teams. Controversial content is seen by larger teams. Most recommendations are based on the BBFC Classification Guidelines. Distributors can ask for an age rating. Cuts are suggested to meet the age rating. Controversial/uncertain discussed during meetings. If content is illegal or unacceptable, Compliance Officers will make a list of cuts. If the content as a whole is unacceptable, it is rejected. Senior members are consulted on difficult content, especially if it is refused an age rating or raises serious policy issues.

3) Read this BBFC outline of the issues faced when classifying a film. Summarise the debate in 50 words.



4) Read this BBFC section on controversial decisions. Why did The Dark Knight generate a large amount of media coverage regarding its certificate? Do you agree with the 12A certificate The Dark Knight was awarded?

5) What are the guidelines for a 15 certificate?

6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Look at the rating for Chicken and explain why it was given a 15 certificate.