Friday 21 January 2011

Unit 1.3 Research on developing a personal critical response to the film “THE HOLE”

IMAX cinema shows movies in High Definition including if you watch it in 3D, giving you a great IMAX experience with 500 seats available. The IMAX is a big attracting especially to tourists, when in opened in 1999 it was a unique building and become one of London’s famous Landmarks. The building is a circular shape surrounded with glass. The cinema screen is 20 metres high which is nearly the height of a double Decker bus and 26 metres wide. The IMAX shows the latest films in High definition and great surround sound, which will make you feel like you’re in the movie. IMAX 3D gives you a great reality experience which is why the IMAX is highly recommended.

I have visited the IMAX and they were showing the movie 'Dispicable me' so I decided to do some research and this is what I came across:

Dispicable me was released in the 15/10/2010. The movie is made in the USA lasting for 95 minutes and Universal pictures distribute the movie, which are one out of six successful major movie studios. Universal Pictures (Universal Studios) also distributing other famous films such as Shrek 2, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, How to Train your Dragon and many more.


The casts such as Steve Carell as Gru, Jason Segel as Vector, Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario, Julie Andrews as Gru’s mother, Will Arnett as Mr.Perkins, Miranda Vosgrove as Margo, Dana Gaier as Edith, Elsie Fidher as Agnes, Kristen Wiig as Miss Hattie and many more; they all play a lead part in the movie.



The links provided have helped me know more about the film 'Dispicable me'.



They have useful information on: the plot, characters, film reviews, casts and other useful information.



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despicable_Me



http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1214097-despicable_me/


However I decided to do a film review on the Hole.

Thursday 20 January 2011

Unit 1.3 A personal critical response to the film 'The Hole 3D'

The Hole 3D Review - Frightful SHOCK!



The mystery of a never-ending hole questions everyone’s mind to what is inside that deep hole. An ordinary family turns out to have an unordinary adventure.


You may think it’s possibly just a dark black hole, but once you’ve seen this movie a hole will never look the same to you again, Bold Films studio did it again!


The movie casts are Chris Massoglia whom you might be familiar with if you’ve watched Cirque Du Freak, he plays Dane whom is a moody teenager. Haley Bennet stars as Julie the next-door, Nathan Gamble as Lucas the annoying little brother, Bruce Dern as the person who previously lived in the home of Dane and his family. Finally old Teri Polo as Susan the mother of Dane and Lucas. I guess Joe Dante who Directed Gremlins chose the right actors. Despite the age to watch the movie being 12+, it sure does give you a scare, fright and a jump! An ordinary family of 3 are constantly moving homes and towns. The 2 boys are afraid of one thing and that fear will haunt them until it has been conquered.


After moving in their new and mysterious home they begin to experience new things for example the town, people and “The HOLE”. When both boys find a wooden trapdoor secured with padlocks under their basement, they immediately start to try and open the padlocks recklessly and once they open the trapdoor there is nothing but pure darkness so they start to investigate it. The boys decided to throw something down to see if there is a end to this ‘hole’ but they figure out there is no ending, this made the boys superstitious and they start to question themselves about the hole. When they’re examining the ‘hole’ Julie steps in and asks what they are doing so Lucas tells her before Dane tries to stop him. All three of them look into the hole and that’s when their lives started to turn around.


The music and sound effects build suspense, which makes you jump in the movie. The music was very dramatic, scary and built tension, this made it feel more real. I think the sound effects were brilliant because they worked like a charm towards the audience. There was only music at the beginning and end of the movie as during the film it was mostly only sound effects.


The characters did a good job as it made the cinema feel more realistic. The actors were professional; I was especially impressed with Bruce Dern because it’s difficult to play his role. However Teri Polo and himself had only a short part in the movie, this was disappointing. Chris Massoglia, Hayley Bennet and Nathan Gamble were also impressive. Nathan Gamble played his part well for such a young person like himself, Chris Massoglia gave the impression to the audience that he really is a moody teenager in real life but I doubt it. Lastly Hayley Bennet role was also outstanding even though her role was difficult.


The part I didn’t approve is the ending because throughout the movie it was frightening but the ending turned out to be happy which ruined the atmosphere and feeling you already had – being shocked. The Part I did like was the whole movie especially the humour. The emotion was terrifying and horrifying.


The movie will give you a great thrill and spook. The 92 minutes you spend watching the movie is worth it, I guarantee it! It’s not only horrifying but also quite humorous.


I would rate this movie 4/5 because the ending wasn’t as great as I expected it to be.



List of sources:



http://www.wikio.co.uk/article/hole-movie-trailers-cast-review-212777224



http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/the-hole-1



http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/sep/23/the-hole-review

Sunday 16 January 2011

Unit 1.2: Primary Research of Roles in Creative and Media Jobs

Case study

Paul Mardles – Journalist
Marcel Pusey - Bassistry + producer
Akala - Rap Artist + Newman Sony Hip Hop Shakespeare
Kevin Leo - Songwriter
Victoria Warwick – Radio advertising
Marcina Arnold – Voice coach

Akala is a rapper and is now going on tour. He mentioned a lot like who/what you need/meet on the way, song artists and his life. He gave out plenty of information on how to become an artist but not much information about himself but surprisingly he is the brother of Miss Dynamite who is a famous artist.

Marcina Arnold is a Voice coach and she teached us how to use our voice better by teaching us different voice techniques for example how to high pitch and low pitch your voice. Firstly she teached us a technique called the tonic sol-fa this consisted of saying doh, re, mi, fa, sol, lah, ti, doh. This technique is mostly used in Spain, Portugal, Romania and many more.

Kevin Leo is a Songwriter and he previously worked for JLS. He said songs have deep meaning and once you put your mind to it then you will start getting the hang of writing song lyrics. Afterwards he set some activities for the class practising using our voice and writing lyrics.

Victoria Warwick whom is a Radio advertiser. She told the class that when she was in college she had a part time job in a Radio advertisement company. She firstly started making tea and made her way up into the company and that’s how she got her job.

Marcel Pacey created software called the O-generator and he has a band called the Bassistry. The most things he talked about were money, profit and budgets. Afterwards he finished talking, he set us a group activity. The task was to write about what you need to create a band/artist and we had a 10 grand budget.

Paul Mardles whom is a journalist talked about what life is like in a company and what journalists do.

Unit 1.2 Research on the creative and media employment roles and requirements in the Southbank.

Graphic design:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_design



http://www.myjobsearch.com/careers/graphic-designer.html


Architecture:


http://www.architecture.com/EducationAndCareers/BecomingAnArchitect2/QualificationsAndSkills.asp


http://www.architecture.com/EducationAndCareers/BecomingAnArchitect/Becominganarchitect.aspx




Dancer:


http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos094.htm


http://www.ludusdance.org/training/careers-in-dance/getting-started/dance-qualifications


Session Musician:


http://www.myjobsearch.com/careers/session-musician.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_musician


Journalist:


http://www.journalism4schools.com/qualifications.html

Actor:


http://www.ehow.com/about_6588677_qualifications-training-become-actor.html


http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/studentlife/careersandchoices/dreamjobs/mediaandentertainment/actor_actress.shtml

Other useful links:


http://www.cwjobs.co.uk/JobSearch/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=49156402


http://www.cv-library.co.uk/cgi-bin/jdb_view_vacancy.cgi?jobref=113470844&s=100076

Saturday 15 January 2011

Unit 1.2 Written report on the creative and media employment roles and requirements in a chosen region

There are varieties of jobs available in London that people might not have known of such as:

- Graphic designer
- Architecture
- Dancer
- Session music
- Journalist
- Actor

In London there are a variety of universities to offer for students who want to study further. This summary is about qualifications needed for the job listed above and the salary.

Graphic Designer
The qualification needed to be for a graphic designer are 5 A-C GCSEs including doing A-levels and going university for 3-4 years for a better status in the job and degree. You would have to be creative and imaginative, you should also set the brief and meet the deadlines. You would also need to be good at explaining your ideas; you would need to be able to use software’s such as Photoshop. The average salary is £35,000 in London.

Architect
The qualifications needed to be an architect are at least 3 GCSEs including Maths, English and Science. A-levels are also needed. Once you get into university the amount of time you would spend there is 7 years. 1 year in a degree program, another year working in a architect office, 2/4 years for a diploma or higher degree and lastly 1 more year of work experience followed by a professional practice exam. The annual salary is £65,000.

Dancer
There are no qualifications to be a Dancer required. You could take a BTEC course at post-16 they can be equivalent to 1 or 4 GCSE’s or an A-Level. If you want to take a dance course for example performing arts, it would be a good idea as it can increase your advantages in further opportunities because you will have more ideas and passion in dancing. Dancing is a physical expression of emotion for example dynamic can mean power. Dance can be beautiful and most people find it easier to express their emotion through dance.

Session Musician
Qualifications are not particularly important to be a session musician. You would need to find the correct people to hire for instance, an agent and manager. However the qualifications needed depends on the school you attend but you should gain at least 5 graded GCSEs A*-C. Afterwards you can either choose to study A-levels or BTEC. The salary for a session musician depends on how many hours worked.

Journalism
The annual salary can go up to £85,000 for Journalism depending on how many years you stays in the career. For most journalist courses you need 5 GCSE's grade C or above, and one of these needs to be English.
The subjects recommended for A-levels are English Language and Literature, History, Sociology, Media Studies. The career can be stressful as it involves competing with other publishers and it includes working long hours with late shifts.

Acting
Acting includes Learning lines, rehearsing, attending auditions, attending castings, performing, with an agent and studying acting techniques. A majority of actors earn less than £10,000 and only a tiny amount earn over £30,000. The relevant qualifications are: A levels, GCSEs and BTEC diplomas in subjects such as English, Drama and Performing Arts. The skills needed is to be good on stage and screen, the ability to create another character and engage with an audience, good understanding of dramatic techniques, having confidence, energy, dedication, motivation and a creative insight.

Thursday 13 January 2011

Unit 1.2 Careers in the Creative & Media industry (Mrs dowdie presentation)

Creative and Media



An overview of the creative and media industries sector

The creative and media industries combined make one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK economy.

It can be divided into four broad sub-sectors - content, design, performing arts, and heritage and tourism. The sectors in this industry include:



- advertising

- architecture

- art and antiques

- computer and video games

- crafts

- design

- fashion design

- film and video

- music

- performing arts

- publishing

- software

- television and radio





Key drivers in the creative and media industries sector



The government aims to make the UK a global hub for the creative and media industries. Efforts have been focused on improving seven areas which drive productivity in the sector:

education

competition and intellectual property (IP)

technology

business support (including access to finance)

diversity

infrastructure

evidence and analysis

The emergence of new technologies has changed the nature of market opportunities in the sector. For example, digital delivery has altered hugely the way content in the music, software, television and radio sub-sectors is supplied to consumers. New media is increasingly a key area of focus for growth.

Careers in Media

In the creative and media industries, every sector organises itself differently, but all individuals and teams share one common aim: to create successful products.

Jobs in Pre-Production

Art Director



Designer



Character Designer



Prop Designer



Background Designer



Colour Stylist



Clean Up Artist /Design Assistant



Casting Director



Casting Assistant



Jobs in Production



Assistant Director



Animation Director



Key or Lead Animator



Background Painter



Animator



Junior Animator



Key Clean Up Artist (Animation)



Assistant Animator



Lighting technician



Live mixer



Line Test Operator *



Runner *



Production Secretary



Jobs in Post-Production



Special Effects Animator



Digital Compositing Supervisor



Editor



Editing Assistant



Other Media





Broadcast Journalist



Presenter



Researcher



Editor



Editorial Assistant



Careers in Design



Graphic Designer



Designer



Web Designer



Web Developer



Interactive Media



Corporate Identity Designer



Editorial Designer



Multimedia Designer



Exhibition Designer



Packaging Designer



Print Designer



Product Designer






Careers in Music



Composer



Music Supervisor



Music Agent



Record producer



Artist’s Manager



Performer




Careers in Art



Drapesmaster



Art Department Coordinator



Story Board Assistant



Draughtsmen [ responsible for drawing up set design]



Graphic Artist



Set Decorator



Assistant Production Buyer



Prop Maker



Prop dresser



Prop storer



Photographer



Costume Design



Wardrobe supervisor






Defining the creative media industries



Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for Creative Media and works to raise skills levels in every sector of industry within its remit.



Skillset subdivides the creative media industries into ten sectors:



- animation;



- computer games;



- facilities (which includes post production, studio and equipment hire, special physical effects, outside broadcast, processing laboratories, transmission, manufacture of AV equipment and other services for film and TV);



- film;



- interactive media;



p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 43.5pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal">- other content creation (pop promos, corporate and commercials production);



- photo imaging;



- publishing (books, journals, magazines, newspapers, directories and databases, news agencies, and electronic information services);



- radio; and



- television.

Unit 1.2 Careers and Courses in the Creative & Media (Ms dowdie presentation)

Producer


Producers are highly self-motivated individuals, who have the final responsibility for all aspects of a film's production. He or she is frequently the first person to become involved in a project; they participate directly in all the main producing phases; and see the project through production, to post-production, marketing and distribution. The Producer's is role to turn story ideas into profitable cinematic entertainment, and to persuade others to share in his or her commercial and creative vision. Producers usually report to the production company, or to the Executive Producers appointed to supervise the production on behalf of the financiers and Distributors.


Responsibilities

Producers have overall control on every aspect of a film's production, bringing together the Screenwriters, Director, cast, finances and production team. Their primary responsibility is to foster an environment in which the creative talents of the cast and crew can flourish - Producers are therefore ultimately accountable for the success of t
he finished film. Producers many responsibilities span all four phases of production:

· Development - Producers are often responsible for coming up with the underlying premise of a production, or for selecting the screenplay. Producers secure the necessary rights, select the screenwriter and story editing team, raise the development financing, and supervise the development process.
· Pre-product
ion - Producers typically bring together the key members of the creative team, including the Director, Cinematographer and principal cast..
Post-production and marketing - Producers are expected to liaise personally with post-production personnel, including the Editor, Composer, and Visual Effects staff. They then con
sult with all creative and financial personnel on the production of the answer (or final) print, and they are usually involved with the financial and distribution entities in planning the marketing and distribution of the finished film.


University Courses


Ravensbourne College of Design and Technology


CONTENT DEVELOPMENT


AND PRODUCTION


BA (Hons)


Two Year Fast Track Degree Course


The BA (Hons) Content Development and Production is a practical,


vocational production course that focuses on generating and


developing ideas into professional and creative content for


traditional broadcast programmes and multiplatform content.


The course is a two year fast track degree course that has been


running successfully for over 10 years and with a solid record


in gaining meaningful employment for its graduates.


The course focuses on developing production skills in programme


making for television and other platforms – for the web and


IPTV, interactive TV and mobile.



Entry Requirements


5 GCSEs (A-C) or equivalent


(preferably including English,


Media/Technology), and at


least one of the following or equivalent UK


2 A Levels (A-C);


4 AS Levels (A-C);


2 vocational A Levels (A-C);


Level 3 Foundation Diploma


or National Diploma; Advanced


Diploma (A-C) or International


Baccalaureate (24 points or


above). Also, an interview and


a portfolio, showreel or other


indicator of creative or technical


practice where appropriate



Camera Operator


Camera Operators usually begin work at the end of pre–production and, if the budget allows, attend the technical recces with other Heads of Department..


Camera Operators ensure that the camera and associated equipment are prepared for the required set–ups, always keeping alert for any last–minute changes. They must be able to multi–task, and to watch, listen and think on their feet while carrying out complex technical tasks. They liaise closely with the Director, fine–tuning the exact details of each shot, which often involves suggesting creative improvements or alternatives. They supervise the logistics of moving the camera, and oversee the Camera maintenance work carried out by the Focus Puller and the 2nd AC.

Camera Operators work closely with performers, guiding them on what can and cannot be seen by the camera. As it is now common for DoPs to also operate the camera on smaller films, many Camera Operators specialise in the operation of other precision equipment, such as Remote Heads or Steadicam, and most also work on commercials, promos and television drama. On bigger budget films, the role of the Camera Operator remains a crucial link between the creative ambitions of the Director, and other major departments, including Art, Hair and Make–Up and Costume.


University Courses


Brunel University


BA Film and Television


Entry requirements; 3 A levels BCC 240 points IB 24 points


The BA (Hons) in Film & Television Production is a practical production-based course which allows students to focus on developing the skills demanded of planning, managing, shooting and editing films of various genres and for different audiences. The theory that is embedded within the course is delivered within the context of production.



Broadcast Journalist.




Broadcast Journalism is the collection, verification and analysis of information about events which affect people, and the broadcast and publication of that information in a fair, accurate, impartial and balanced way to fulfil the public's right to know in a democratic society. This involves a variety of media including television, radio, the Internet and wireless devices. Broadcast Journalists working in television work in a variety of genres including news, current affairs, or documentaries. They may be employed by broadcasting companies, or work on a freelance basis.


Broadcast Journalists may be studio or office-based, or work in regional, national or international broadcasters' offices. They may also work from home, utilising broadband and other technology to interface with broadcasters and other employers. When working on news items, they must be prepared to travel, sometimes long distances, at any hour of the day or night, to gather the relevant information. They are responsible for generating ideas, and for assessing the value and accuracy of ideas and information from other sources, researching background data, and presenting items for consideration by Editors, Commissioners, or other decision makers



University Courses


University of Leeds


BA Broadcast Journalism


Entry requirements: 3 Alevels BBB. IB: 32 points overall.


A hands-on course for prospective journalists that features


intensive practical broadcast training alongside academic


scrutiny of the media business. You will learn how to research,


report and produce news in the fast-changing multimedia age,


developing stories for Radio,Television and Online output.


Documentary production skills are taught, and you can choose


to specialise in sports or science journalism during one final


year module.




Transmission Engineer



Transmission Engineers (sometimes known as Operations Managers) supervise the transmission of all genres of television programmes, working in the Master Control Room (MCR). They are responsible for the overall, day-to-day management of broadcasters' transmission facilities. This is a supervisory role, overseeing all incoming feeds from Outside Broadcasts and other sources, and all outgoing transmissions. They are usually employees of broadcasting companies.


Transmission Engineers work in MCRs, managing all staff in transmission areas, scheduling shifts and work patterns, and recruiting and selecting freelance personnel when required. They are responsible for effective communication between line management and transmission personnel. They liaise with other departments about scheduling workflow, and to negotiate the use of facilities and equipment. They ensure that safety plans and risk assessments have been prepared, and are adhered to, in the transmission areas. Transmission Engineers also work with other MCR personnel to train new operational staff.




University Courses



Queen Mary University of London


BEng Electronic Engineering


Entry Requirements;


A levels 260-280 for BEng programmes. IB 34 points BTEC DMM


Make Up Artist



Make-up and Hair Designers usually work on feature films and high budget television dramas and must be proficient in both make-up and hair techniques. Make-up and Hair are key elements in the overall design of films or television productions, creating a look for the characters in relation to social class, and time periods, and any other elements required to create the desired illusion. Make-up and Hair Designers are responsible for the overall design, application, continuity and care of make-up and hair throughout the pre-production an Increased multi-skilling in the UK film and television industries has meant that personnel are required to be proficient in both make-up and hair, and the departments are often merged. Make Up and Hair Designers' responsibilities vary depending on production needs.



University Courses


The Arts Institute at Bournemouth


Make Up for Media and Performance


2 year full-time Foundation Degree


Entry requirements 1 A Level


Tuesday 11 January 2011

Unit 1.1 Research on the range and types of creative and media activity in the Southbank.

Tate Modern website: http://www.tate.org.uk/ - The Tate Modern website gave me plenty of useful information about themselves and their work. I have successfully because i was writing about Tate Modern it was good that they had their own website however the website had more information on their projects/work than they did on themselves.



Hayward Gallery website: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/hayward-gallery-visual-arts - I found it more difficult finding information about them on their website. The website was mostly based on their project work however their were very useful information about themselves on the Hayward Touring.


http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/hayward-gallery-and-visual-arts/hayward-touring.


The Globe Theatre: http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/ & http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/ - There were several links to the Globe Theatre which helped me gain plenty of information however on the main Globe Theatre there wasn't much information based on the Globe so i had to search somewhere else. It took quite a long time to get some decent information however the http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/ was useful.


IMAX London (BFI) : http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_imax - The BFI website was useful towards me as it had simple and useful information that i needed. This made it easier for me to do less researching like the other places i researched. The website also had specific information based on which website you would wanted to watch.



The Royal Festival Hall: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/royal-festival-hall & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Festival_Hall - I had more information on Wikipedia than i did on the main website however i still gained plenty of good information which i can use later on; the main website had more information on what was happening in the Royal Festival Hall.



Extra Information: Primary research & http://www.wikipedia.org/

Monday 10 January 2011

Unit 1.1 Written report on the range and types of creative and media activity in the Southbank

The Southbank is in Central London consisting of many Attractions especially for entertainment or tourists. It is most known for it’s famous attractions such as The Big Ben, London eye, Museums and many more.

Here is a map image of the South bank:



It is also most known for Art, Theatre, Music, Film, dance, exhibitions, restaurants and performing arts. The most popular places for these events are, Tate Modern, Hayward Gallery, The Globe Theatre, IMAX (BFI) and the Royal Festival Hall.




Tate Modern.



Tate modern is filled with different photographs, paintings, sketches and sculptures created by different artists. Tate modern contain artwork of famous artists such as picasso, Tracy Emin, Van Gogh and many more. Tate modern is famous for this and the entry is free. Students who study art go to Tate modern because it provides vital and creative information about each artwork. There are different exhibitions to be looked at each month/year so people can experience new pieces of art.

The Hayward Gallery.




The Hayward Gallery presents an exhibition of history, a different variety of cultures, artistic disciplines and Media. Hayward have recently worked on a project called Move: Choreographing you, this involves different kinds of genre dances. The gallery has a variety of projects, events and exhibitions.


The Globe Theatre.


The globe theatre of Shakespeare who was German was first destroyed by a fire in 1613 but was rebuilt on 1614. Shakespeare who is famous for writing Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and hamlet died on 1616 at the age of 52. The Globe Theatre was built because of negotiations that failed to re-new the theatre of Lord chamberlain.

IMAX London (BFI).



London IMAX cinema presents Movies and there are currently over 60 IMAX cinemas. The IMAX in Waterloo is a big attraction to people especially tourists. When is opened in 1999 it was a unique building and became a London Landmark. The building is designed in a circle surrounded with glass.

Royal Festival Hall.



The Royal Festival Hall consists of wide ranges of Music e.g. Classical, Rock, Pop, Jazz, Dance, Literature and Visual Arts and other Venues. There are 2900 seats. The Royal Festival Hall is now one of the best used public spaces in London. In 1986 the hall was taken over by the Arts Council but in the late 1980s the hall operated a open foyers policy.