Useful Article with NZ Context and Issues

Natural History NZ
Article in today's herald about the Bug documentaries and an overview of the film production company in Dunedin that created it. Useful for those doing schol.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/print.cfm?objectid=10342831

Website

http://www.famouslocations.com/index.php
This is a fun website for film buffs

Notes from Tom

Here is a back up copy of Tom the Trainer's notes from 'the day'.

Scholarship: Media Specific Issues

Here are some issues that may be worthwhile considering with teachers

1) Identifying potential candidates – what skills/knowledge do they need to bring to the table? How do you encourage candidates to step up to the plate?
2) What strategy(s) will teachers use to support/teach candidates?
3) Break down what the standard requires students to meet. Demystify the language – use exemplars to see what words like ‘synthesise’ and ‘analyse’ means in a Media schol. context.
4) Assessment specifications 2005: requirements for this year
5) 2004 paper – different approaches to questions?
6) Student responses: Essay writing skills – structure, linking, expanding, supporting, justifying, concluding…can they speculate, argue and justify?
Planning each answer prior to answering – creating a thesis and cogent argument – allowing students to refer to shape of their essay as they go. They can also create a pool of references/resources to use to support argument.
Has candidate displayed depth of knowledge and understanding of topic?
7) What teaching strategies can be shared by teachers to achieve scholarship: sharing ‘best practice’ between teachers
Create a performance descriptor matrix to delineate the differences between levels 1 – 4

Essay writing handout

Site for teachers and students on writing an academic essay with argument:

Quote

I thought we might like this from Robert J Flaherty (Nanook of the North)
"A film maker must often distort a thing to catch its true spirit"
or "some things need to be altered in order for the message to be seen".

Back at the 'Chalkface'

Meanwhile..back at the chalkface... I'm looking at my students thinking maybe some should be doing Scholarship now. Has anyone else had the same epiphany???

Activities for Brainstorm (Large sheet of paper with separate headings)

Style
- hybridisation, use of other art forms (art, photography, avatars, synthespians, animation, anime, marionettes, claymation, CGI); the death of the hero/cowboy; montage, auteur, dialogue - reduction over time? ; black & white, mise-en-scene, impressionistic, representation of women

Context
- marketing, industry, growth of cinema - changing venues/studio ownership to video to dvd to laptop; Bollywood, independents, internet, changes in audience (e.g. family 30s/40s), 16 - 24 (niche/crossover etc)

Genre (Development & Divergence)
- follow a 'path' e.g. dystopian sci fi - 'Metropolis' to 'The Island'; star system; globalisation - web based/digitalisation (DVD); hybridisation (parody); remakes - cross media e.g. Bewitched, Sin City

Technical Developments
- Home theatre/death of cinema; camera; digitalisation/democratisation (home P.C., Handicam); high definition; sound; colour

After brainstorm - divide into 'essay-size' selections
Come up with potential resources/sources

Shape of Essay:
Hypothesis drawm from historical texts
Speculation on future trends/direction (acknowledgement that not all 'new' developments are better.

http://www.pressdaily.com - recommended by Ruth.

Hi

To add interest and pictorial value - shots of restaurant designed and built by my cousin Michael:

Just incase you didn't get the email with addresses, please email me for details; - further info to follow.
Great quotes (mostly) thanks to Terry -
The future of local (tv/print/radio) in NZ is (at risk/a dead end)
Television is not a public service
There's nothing new in media
Documentary is less truthful than reality television. Discuss.
Media manipulates politics.
Media fictions are more real than media facts.
Still to come - print of sheets with headings and brainstorms.