Week 33 (wb 1st June)

This is the 14th week of controlled hours for unit B321 (hours 25 & 26). At the end of this lesson you will have a maximum of 4 hours remaining.

• Complete your original film poster
• Gather audience feedback using the Survey Monkey link
• Complete the Evaluative Commentary

I hope you have already finished;

• Analytical Assignment (including improvements. See post above Week 28)
• Target Audience Research
• Target Audience Profile (TAP)

Students who have catch-up hours remaining must book catch-up time with their teacher during this week's lesson. You can catch-up over several lunchtimes or in a single sitting after school. Students not taking this opportunity will be 'booked in' after school next week (that's teacher talk for 'issued with an after-school detention' folks.)

Controlled Hours Catch-Up During Half Term

Mr Hood's Class

The Media Suite will be open during half term on Wednesday 27th May between 9.00am and 12.00pm to catch up on controlled hours you have missed due to absence. I'll bring the biscuits!

Week 32 (wb 18th May)

This is the 13th week of controlled hours for unit B321 (hours 23 & 24). At the end of this lesson you will have a maximum of 6 hours remaining.

• WB 18th May (hours 23 & 24) - Poster Construction
• Half Term (Evaluative Commentary planning & Poster Feedback)
• WB  1st June (hours 25 & 26) - Evaluative Commentary
• WB  8th June (hours 27 & 28) - Evaluative Commentary
• WB 15 June (hours 29 & 30) - Audience Feedback Questionnaires & Final Submission

Mr Hood's Lesson

I am not in your lesson this week, but I have arranged for you to be fully supported as you strive to complete your posters. Mrs Yates will supervise the class and Mr Clark will be available to download your iStockPhoto images and help you with any PhotoShop issues. Make the most of the time; I've told Mr Clark & Mrs Yates how well you normally work and I expect the same this week. Don't forget the following advice;

• Consider using a stroke to make your film title stand out.
• Don't forget a tagline.
• Base your credit block on a real example from an existing poster.
• Include original photography.
• Would a coloured overlay be appropriate? (like we did for the romantic practice poster). Think about the meanings of colours though. Dark blue could be used to suggest cold/isolation. Red could be used to suggest danger/love. This would probably be a final step and you would need to flatten your other layers first.

Mr Clark will also advise you on how to collect screenshots of your 'work in progress' that you can present in your portfolio as evidence of organised use of time and planning (both form part of the assessment criteria).

When Your Poster Is Finished

When your poster is finished you will need to collect some audience feedback. We have prepared a questionnaire that asks target audience members to assess your poster in terms of authenticity and creativity. You will need to collect between 7-10 responses each. The best responses will come from people who fit your target audience profile, so choose carefully. When you have finished your poster, ask us to print a copy for you to show people (or we'll take a screenshot and post on the blog). After showing friends/family/target audience members your poster, direct them to the following link;

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/gcsefilmposter

The Evaluative Commentary

You need to start considering the Evaluative Commentary. I have produced a document to help you plan your essay and to make sure that you address every aspect of the success criteria. Mr Clark will explain how the document works and provide you with an A3 copy to write on. Take it home and complete it over half term so that you are prepared to tackle the Evaluative Commentary when we return to school. You can bring the completed planning document into the lesson. A planned response will always achieve higher marks than an 'improvised' response, so please take some time to prepare. You can download a copy of the document here too. The length of the Evaluative Commentary is likely to be between 1 & 2 pages of size 12 font writing. You will have 2 weeks (4 hours) to complete it.

Hours Missed

I am aware that many of you have hours 'in hand' due to absence. We will not be able to give you these hours back at the end of the scheduled time; you have to use it BEFORE the end. I was considering allowing you to come in during half term to make the hours up, probably on the Wednesday morning (27th May). If enough of you want to take this opportunity, we'll go ahead. Email me at hoo@gw-hs.org to let me know. I'll post the outcome!

Out of Hours Learning

• Plan your Evaluative Commentary
• Collect film poster feedback from family, friends & target audience

Mr Hood's Top Tip

It's sometimes hard to find what you want using the Steel Tongs font for your credit block on the poster and the most common frustrations are;

"Present A" (Alt+1)

"Presents" (Alt +4)

Thank you Mr Hood. It's a pleasure students!

Week 31 (wb 11th May)

This is the 12th week of controlled hours for unit B321 (hour 22 - Science exam P1). At the end of this lesson you will have a maximum of 8 hours remaining.

Here is the recommended schedule for your remaining time;

WB 11th May (hour 22) - Poster Construction
WB 18th May (hours 23 & 24) - Poster Construction
Half Term (Evaluative Commentary planning)
WB  1st June (hours 25 & 26) - Evaluative Commentary
WB  8th June (hours 27 & 28) - Evaluative Commentary
WB 15 June (hours 29 & 30) - Audience Feedback Questionnaires & Final Submission

WB 22nd June - Work Experience Week

Hours Owing Due To Absence

If you have been absent and have controlled hours 'owing' you must arrange a catch-up time with your teacher BEFORE 15th June. B321 Portfolios must be submitted at the end of the lesson in that final week and any hours you haven't used will be lost forever! The specification clearly states that 30 hours is a maximum and not a requirement and the final deadline will be the same for everyone (regardless of how many hours you've completed).

Out of Hours Learning

Start to consider what you are going to write in your Evaluative Commentary. You should aim to complete the Evaluative Commentary in 4 hours and you should include the following information;

• An account (review & evaluation) of the research and planning carried out.
• How the film poster is targeted at a particular target audience. (Link to your target audience research).
• An explanation of the ways in which media language, codes and conventions have been used in your film poster to communication representation. (layout, typography, use of language, use of images, use of colour, camera angles, costume, NVC, props, location or setting, etc). Include a review of how your poster follows the conventions of real film posters and, particularly, other sci-fi posters. 
• An evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses within the finished film poster.

To help you evaluate the success of your film poster, we have a common poster feedback survey that you can ask people to complete (preferably members of your target audience). You can even present the answers as charts in your portfolio (as an Appendix) and refer to the them in your Evaluative Commentary. (That's a big hint folks).

Here is the link to the Film Poster Feedback Survey;

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/gcsefilmposter

Week 30 (wb 4th May)

This is the 11th week of controlled hours for unit B321 (hours 20 & 21). At the end of this lesson you will have a maximum of 9 hours remaining.

Here is the recommended schedule for your remaining time;

WB   4th May (hours 20 & 21) - Poster Construction
WB 11th May (hours 22 & 23) - Poster Construction
WB 18th May (hours 24 & 25) - Poster Construction & Evaluative Commentary Planning
Half Term
WB  1st June (hours 26 & 27) - Evaluative Commentary
WB  8th June (hours 28 & 29) - Evaluative Commentary
WB 15 June (hour 30) - Audience Feedback Questionnaires & Final Submission

WB 22nd June - Work Experience Week

Poster Construction

So, you have 5 hours to complete your film poster representing either women or Earth's response to alien visitors. Don't forget that you MUST include some original photography. See your teacher to book a camera if you plan on taking the photo at school. Photos can also be taken at home. You should NOT use controlled hours to take your photo.

Out of Hours Learning

• Plan the next stage of your film poster. Consider non-verbal communication, colours, framing, setting, font types & sizes, tagline & layout (representation). Is yours a teaser poster or a main poster? What are the conventions of this poster type? (release date, credit block, etc).