YEAR 12: LAST MINUTE EXAM TIPS

Don't Panic, you exam is two days away but you have this in the bag don't worry.. just follow my simple advice below:

So judgement day is nearly upon you. Will it be age, gender, sexuality or any of the other topics ? Will they ask you about digital technology? Will they ask you about ownership or globalisation? The answer is it doesn't matter what they ask ... you are well prepared !!
Just remember...


Q1 : TV DRAMA :

1. Keep you points succinct.
2. Always make sure they are focussed on the representation at hand
3. Must use a technical term (not general terms like "the sound" or "the editing") 
4. You must discuss the common stereotypes but also the counter types on show. Mention 4 characters 
5. Dont do 'waffly' intorductions (or any introductions really) 
6. Must focus on all 4 areas equally. mise en scene - sound - editing - camera (shots and movement).
7. Dont rely on one thing in and don't repeat the technical terms (i.e don't keep mentioning camera shots.. for camera you could talk about shots length / angle / movement / focus)
8. Talk about at least 4 different characters that all represent a different type of rep. (i.e strong man,  affeminate/weak man, blonde bimbo girl, strong masculine girl.) 
9. DONT TELL THE EXAMINER WHAT HAPPENED (they have seen that clip thousands of times they know it better than you!) BUT DO TELL THEM HOW IT HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED USING TECHNICAL TERMS. 

DO NOT FORGET SOUND AND EDITING - The terms you can definitely use: 

Editing: 

Screen time: if they are on screen longer they are important / more status. if little screen time they have low status.

Shot reveres shot: used to show equality between two characters

Eyeline match: where we see what the person who is important to the audience sees, shows status of that chracter

Pace: more cuts = fast more frenetic (coudl symbolise busy  hectic low class stressful life) vs the opposite of slow cuts = calm peacful in control life. 

Long take vs short take = (see above) 

Now obviosuly there are more editiing techniques than this, but these 4 will almost definitley come up. so memorise them and apply them to whichever clip and representation comes up

Sound: 

Score: (the music) how dose it represent the character not the storyline (i.e dont say "the score was scary to increase the tension" in fact dont ever mention 'tension' no  one cares about how scared or not the audience may be. 

Sound motif:  when a particular sound is used to represent a character (e.g jaws) usually this comes up in some way in the clips

Dialogue / tone of voice: 

Diegetic sound: Are there any key sounds in the scene that give an impression of the characters

Ambient sound: how has the background sound been used to create teh feeling that a person is in control or high status or low class and busy / stressed etc

Ok you will be fine on that question trust me, just remember the terms, concentrate on the representation they ask you to think about and apply them to the characters . 

Q2. FILM INDUSTRY

1. Underline the key focus of the question.

Write a fairly short introduction that generally answers the question and uses a quote and a film example.

The types of question that could come up will focus on of these areas:

- Media convergence (how technology has come together to mean that audiences and industry can work quicker/faster etc) - so you need have some info on this for your case study films
- Distribution and marketing (what are the differences in how your films were sold and sent around the world and how they were advertised and marketed
- Media ownership (what is teh difference between being owned by a huge multinational conglomerate like warner bros vs being owned by a tiny Uk film company independent)
- Globalisation / targeting local or national audiences: (how do hollywood films try to dominate in other countries and how to British films fight back against this and be successful in spite of this?)
- Proliferation of hardware / technology: (how has the fact that technology and the internet is everywhere changed the way film makers make films and audiences watch films in both hollywood and the uk

make sure you have something planned to talk about from each of your case study films for each of these questions.. if you dont then ask me or ask your friends on the course.. do not go into this exam without preparing for all of these options!

1. Present your case studies but only in relation to the question.
2. Dont go off track. If the question doesn't ask about production don't talk about it, unless its related to your larger point
3. Use lots of terminology. (use the lists you have been given)
4. Use lots of examples of films (try and name 6 films+ in your exam)
5. Make sure you are presenting an argument to the question at hand and that is taking an approach that generally argues that hollywood dominates over and makes it difficult for independent british film (Holly. vs Indie) etc 
6. Conclude with an answer to the question and say how it might change in the future. Talk about some of the success british film has had recently (we make good arty films, we make established franchises like harry potter and james bond etc) 

Voila! Success is yours. Walk out of the exam hall like a boss because you have just owned Media ! Go straight to Mr Sloan's classroom and hand him the £50 note you have been wanting to give him out of sheer thanks and gratitude for getting you this far.


REVISION GUIDES ARE HERE:
http://haggerstonmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/year-12-incredible-film-revision-things.html


EXTRA HELP: (if you really have nothing else then talk about gravity and field in england)



CASE STUDY MATERIALS:

http://mrsblacksmedia2.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/year-12-case-study-gravity/

https://mrsblacksmedia2.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/year-12-wired-article-on-gravity/

https://mrsblacksmedia2.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/year-12-a-field-in-england-distribution/