MARKING CRITERIA FOR UNIT G321: FOUNDATION PORTFOLIOA mark should be awarded for the individual’s contribution to the main taskonly. The aim of the prelim task is to allow a sense of progression and toprepare candidates for more full-scale production work.

• RESEARCH & PLANNING - /20• CONSTRUCTION - /60• EVALUATION - /20

1) Research & Planning will be presented as your blog.Level 1: 0-7 marks MINIMALLevel 2: 8-11 marks BASICLevel 3: 12-15 marks PROFICIENTLevel 4: 16-20 marks EXCELLENT

• There is ________ research into similar products and a potential target audience.• There is ________ organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.• There is ________ work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.• There is ________ care in the presentation of the research & planning.• Time management is ___________ .

1. Generic Codes and Convention –Research and produce a visual presentation detailing known codes and conventions of your chosen genre and/or sub genre. Where possible remember to identify from whom and where your information comes from.

2. Synopsis Research -Select and analyze the synopsis of 3 popular/highly acclaimed thrillers/horrors. How does the synopsis match what you know about the codes and convention of your chosen genre/sub genre?

3. Titling Research

If and how does the titling begin to set for audiences, the mood, tone and atmosphere, and possible storyline of the film of the film?

If and how does the titling used match the codes and conventions of your chosen genre/sub genre?

What is the duration of the titling and what do you understand to be the significance of titling colour, font style, speed, size, over black and/or image, connotations and/or the absences of titles within the first 2 minutes

4. Technical Analysis of The Opening 2 minutes:

Examine films in terms of:

Codes/forms & Conventions of the thriller genre: What conventions does the film use? Analyse the effects of cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing and sound. Examine the narrative, the genre, and intertextuality. Ensure you comment on the connotations and effects. . Higher marks are awarded to students who explain the purpose and effect of used film techniques. Students should make every attempt to go beyond giving a description of what is seen and/or heard onscreen but make a real attempt to think of the impact of production choices.

You will need to complete the following tasks

An embedded image of 9 frames TWO-horror/thriller film title sequence of your choice and accompanying analysis answering the following questions:

How does the title sequence establish genre, character and narrative?

How does the title sequence attract an audience’s interest?

What do you consider to be the target audience of the film and why?

An embedded video of THREE-horror/thriller title sequence of your choice and accompanying analysis answering the following questions:

How does the opening sequence establish generic codes and conventions

How does the opening title sequence attract an audience’s interest?

Who do you consider to be the target audience of the film and why?

Who has produced the film and how is that evident in the title sequence?

Which narrative theories can be applied to each opening and how? Who is the villain and who is the hero? How can you tell? Where is the story set? What does this tell you about the film genre? How many principle characters are there? How is the story told? Chronologically or does it switch between present and past? What questions are you left with?

In the opening 2 minutes if and what social group(s) is most dominant and, to what extent do they conform or challenge known representations and stereotypes?

 

5. BBFC Research & Target Audience

Looking at the films you have analysed and other known popular thrillers/horrors of the same sub genre, what appears to be the most popular film certification.

What are the main differences between certification guidelines and which laws and specific film content, must your group keep in mind when planning your film’s treatment and script?

6. Production, Distribution and Institutional Research-Details and activities to be set by Mr Roberts-

Language and Terminology to Use-

To obtain level 4, the examiner demands that you use relevant and accurate media terminology

Mise-en-scene – Quality of lighting, costume, location and settings, use of props, colour, character gesture and movement, character type etc.SoundDiegetic and non diegetic including the use of dialogue, sound bridge, soundtrack, voice-overs, narration, speech, tone and/or volume of voice sound effects, mood music and sonic exaggeration for dramatic effect etc. EditingCutting rate and rhythm, motivated and reaction shots, matched cuts, cutaways, jump cuts, fades, dissolves and defocus.Camera WorkFraming, angles and camera movement Special EffectsThe use of animation, sonic exaggeration and CGI etc

Narrative: linear, non-linear, parallel, interweaving, circular, flashback, flash forward, equilibrium, disequilibrium, binary opposition, enigma. Explain how the narrative structure strengthens or weakens the appeal of the film.

Inter-textual references to other thriller films and if appropriate references to aspects of mise-en-scene from appropriate crime/cop/spy thriller television programmes. Students need to explain the purpose of these references

Representation: Identify any issues regarding representation of particular social groups (women, ethnic minorities, social class, disability, age); cultures ideology (what messages and values are being communicated by the film), use of stereotypes or subversion of stereotypes. Again discussion of purpose and effect very important.

What should your research blog entries look like?Here are some successful screenshots of research by past students. Notice how they’ve embedded video, images and annotations. Multi Media Tools of PresentationHigher marks will be awarded to students who demonstrate the ability to make good use of a range of multi media tools of presentation and sharing of work.

Examples of Multi Media Tools of Presentation & Sharing