AS Level course outline
There are three modules:
- Foundation Production (worth 40%)
- Textual Analysis (worth 30%)
- Audiences and Institutions - New Media Technologies (worth 30%)
Unit 2730 - Foundation Production
This module assesses your practical media skills. You are not just being tested on your production skills but also your ability to plan, research and evaluate. The production should consist of three elements:
- Planning (25%)
- Construction (50%)
- Production Report (25%)
Planning - In this section you should show evidence (where appropriate) of drafting, storyboarding, notes on props, actors, details of materials to be used and so on. Initial research into the target audience is expected, as is investigation of existing media practice.
Construction - You must produce a piece to professional standards with attention to detail. There should be clear evidence that the product is targeted at a particular audience. Appropriate technologies should also be used competently.
Production Report - The log records all stages of the production, including an account of the decisions made and any revisions. It should also evaluate the success of the finished product. It should be up to 2000 words and divided into four parts, each up to a maximum of 500 words.
- Part One - The brief and research into similar media texts/target audiences.
- Part Two - Planning the production.
- Part Three - Construction - technical decisions and revisions.
- Part Four - Evaluation of the finished product.
Unit 2731: Textual Analysis
This module is assessed by a 2 hour examination, divided into two sections of equal value.
Section A: Technical Aspects of Moving Image Language - You will be shown a 3 - 5 minute clip and asked to describe it using the appropriate technical language and analyse the techniques used. There are five areas to consider:
- Camera angle, shot, movement and position
- Editing
- Sound
- Special effects/graphics
- Mise-en-Scene
The clip will be from an action film. The term ‘action film’ will be interpreted as broadly as possible by the board when setting the clip. You should look at opening sequences and set pieces in particular.
Section B: Comparative Textual Study (Gender and Television Situation Comedy) - With detailed reference to two sitcoms you must demonstrate your understanding of the concept of representation. You should be prepared to analyse the representation of gender groups and the methods used to achieve this.
Unit 2732: Audience and Institutions - New Media Technologies
For this module you need to:
- become familiar with new technologies introduced since 1990 at the level of production;
- become familiar with the nature of audience consumption and uses of media technologies and their significance to audiences;
- develop a sense of the significance of these new technologies to institutions.
The technologies include:
- the internet
- social networking
- mobile ‘phones
- games consoles
- digital television
- digital versatile/video disks (DVD)
- computer generated images (CGI)
You don’t have to know complex technical data, although you will need a fair grasp of how the technology works and why it is better/important. There is a particular emphasis on the concept of convergence.
This unit requires you to develop detailed case studies showing your knowledge of the technology, how it affects the audience and how it affects the media industry.
The examination - This is 1 hour long. You will be asked questions related to an extract and then later asked to use the case study/studies you have researched to write about particular aspects. Common questions include those relating to audience use of the technology and the importance to media institutions.
