Year 12 Media exam revision- General points- Narrative: production elements

General points• Don’t cross things out! The examiner is looking to award

marks, not deduct them. So, even if you think what you’ve written isn’t relevant, just leave it.

• If you write big, you can get more writing booklets.• There will be one extended answer question – for this

question you can do a plan in the notes section.

Timing• Allow 2 mins per mark allocated• Eg: 6 marks – 12 mins, 15 marks – 30 mins• The number of lines under each question should also indicate

to you how much you should be writing• During your revision, try to do a full exam to time conditions,

and practice 2 mins per mark.

Question prompts• Analyse: break into parts and provide detailed explanation• Compare: describe similarities• Contrast: describe differences• Describe: give details of (examples)• Evaluate: state the value or the degree of something• Explain: make clear, show meaning of• Illustrate: use examples to clarify meaning• Outline: highlight main features, not too much depth• Summarise: present main ideas • Identify: show, reveal, point out

• Hint: highlight/underline these words in a question so you know what it’s asking you to do.

Narrative – response structure• Name the element (eg. Camera techniques, editing, cause and

effect etc)• Describe how it’s been used (use key terminology, eg

expressive lighting, non-diegetic sound, close-up shot)• Explain why its been used (eg. Used to stimulate, frighten,

build suspense)• Describe the effect on the audience (what does it make the

audience think, what does it lead us to believe?)

Narrative – how to revise• Go back and watch the texts several times over• Revise your key terms for all of the production & story

elements• Don’t forget the ‘other elements’ when revising, ie. Themes,

issues & motifs; reception context; genre• Revise what key scenes apply to each of these – not enough to

just identify the scene though, you’ll need to discuss what techniques are in the scene.

Narrative – production elements• This is the time to use key terminology. It has been a gripe of

examiners in the past that students have not used enough key terminology

• You will earn more marks in these areas when you DO use key terminology

• What does CAMELS stand for again?

Camera techniques• What are some of these?• In 2 mins write down as many as you can remember/find in

your notes.

Key Camera TermsShot selection Angles Other techniques

Extreme long shot to Extreme close up

• High• Low• Eye-level

• Lines and diagonals• Rule of thirds

Movement Focus Qualities

• Pan• Zoom• Tilt• Dolly• Hand held

• Depth of field• Fore-ground• Mid ground• Back-ground• Deep focus

• 35mm film• 90mm film• 3D• Animation• Video

Key scenes• What was the key scene we looked at for camera techniques in

Psycho?• What was the key scene we looked at for camera techniques in

Edward Scissorhands?

• Go back to the screen shots in the PPs from term 1 to revise key scenes and details from them.

Practice question – 6 mins• With reference to one of the texts you have studied this year,

give an example of how camera techniques contribute to the audience’s engagement with that text. (3 marks)

Lighting • Who can name the 4 types of lighting?• If you can use these terms, and then describe how the

relevant ones are demonstrated in your key scene, you’ll show the examiner you’re brilliant, as too many students don’t use these terms well.

• Don’t call it “light lighting” or “dark lighting”!!!

4 types of lighting• Naturalistic lighting: makes the scene look natural/realistic.

Eg: sunlight, normal indoor lighting.• Expressive lighting: non- naturalistic, lighting that is

emphasised, adds to the colour, tone, shadow and light in the frame. Film noirs use this a lot (Sin City is considered a neo-noir).

• High Key: Few shadows and little contrast. • Low Key: Use of shadows and light.

Key scenes• What was the key scene we looked at for lighting in Psycho?• What was the key scene we looked at for lighting in Edward

Scissorhands?

• Go back to the screen shots in the PPs from term 1 to revise key scenes and details from them.

Lighting- to know• For each sequence from Psycho and Edward Scissorhands,

what kind of lighting was used? • Was there only one style, or a mix of styles?• Use key terminology• Explain why its been used (eg. Used to stimulate, frighten,

build suspense)• Describe the effect on the audience (what does it make the

audience think, what does it lead us to believe?) • Use evidence from each sequence to support your statements.

In summary• The theme of deceptive appearances (where people aren’t

what they always seems to be) is expressed in the lighting. Burton turns horror conventions right around here.

• Whilst convention says that normally what lurks in the shadows is what is meant to be scary, in Edward Scissorhands it is that which is clearly visible that you actually need to be careful of.

Sound • In 2 mins, write down the answers to these questions:• What 2 categories does sound fall under?• What are examples of the kinds of sounds for each of these 2

categories?

• Diegetic sound: The sound that happens within the world of the film, tv show etc. If an actor can see, touch or hear it, it is diegetic. Eg, actors speaking, music coming from a radio, sound within the film, such as cars driving past.

• Non-diegetic sound: The sound that happens outside the world of the film, tv show etc. Eg, voice overs, music playing over the titles, sound effects.

• Don’t forget the absence of sound as well, and why this may be included.

Sound key scenes• What was the key scene we looked at for sound in Psycho?• What was the key scene we looked at for sound in Edward

Scissorhands?

Sound key scenes• As we watch each of these scenes, write down all the sounds

you hear. Classify them as either Diegetic or Non-Diegetic.

• Psycho: Marion driving towards Bates Motel (23min 41 secs – 26min 54secs)

• Edward Scissorhands: Edward storms out of the Boggs’ house (1:16:08 – 1:17:11)

Acting • Remember: It’s really important that when you discuss acting,

you use the actor’s name, not the character’s name. Eg. Janet Leigh, not Marion Crane.

• What things do we need to be talking about when discussing acting techniques?

Acting• Gestures • Actions• Posture• Expressions• Delivery of lines• Tone of voice• Casting (is actor playing to type or against)

Acting key scenes• Go back through your notes. You were required to identify

your own key scenes for acting.• What key scenes did you have for Janet Leigh (Marion) and

Anthony Perkins (Norman) in Psycho?• What key scenes did you have for Johnny Depp (Edward),

Winona Ryder (Kim) and Diane Weist (Peg) in Edward Scissorhands?

Mise-en-Scene & Visual Composition

• What is the difference between the two?• What things do we need to be looking for in M-E-S?

• When revising, don’t forget you were given a lot of EXTRA notes on this area, as well as print outs from the original PP with screen shots to help you see how M-E-S & V.C were constructed in each film. Make sure you’re looking back over these.

The difference is…• Mise-en-scene: Everything within the frame of the shot:

acting, lighting position of props, colours, setting, costumes.• Visual composition: How objects are placed in the frame; how

they’ve been arranged for particular effect.

Key scenes• What key scene did we look at in Psycho for M-E-S and V.C?• What key scene did we look at in Edward Scissorhands for M-

E-S and V.C?

• Go back to the screen shots in the PPs from term 1 to revise key scenes and details from them.

Psycho key scene: M-E-S & Vis Comp

Key scene: The Parlour scene• As we watch the Parlour Scene, write down all the things you

see within the frame of the shot: acting, lighting, position of props, colours, setting, costumes.

Edward Scissorhands key scene: M-E-S & Vis Comp• Key scene: Peg’s ‘Avon Calling’ (4:57 – 8:15)

• As we watch this scene, write down all the things you see within the frame of the shot: acting, lighting, position of props, colours, setting, costumes.

Practice questions – 14 mins total1. Define two production elements. (2 marks)2. Using one of the texts studied for narrative, explain how the

production elements you identified in Question 1 work together to enhance the audience’s engagement with a character and/or relationships between characters in the narrative. (5 marks)

Editing• What is editing?• What is sound editing?• What is montage?• What is a transition?• What is a cut?• What is pace in editing?

• This is another area where you should be using LOTS of key terminology, such as in the questions above.

Key scenes• What was the key scene for editing in Psycho?• What was the key scene for editing in Edward Scissorhands?

• Psycho key scene: The shower scene• Edwards Scissorhands key scene: Edward sees Jim and Kim for

the last time (1:28:14 – 1:31:48)

Revising on Editing• You developed a lot of class notes on editing.• I made you do this for a reason.• Editing is a big area – there’s lots of key terminology, and the

editing techniques can change several times even within one scene.

• If you lost your notes, go back to the PPs on the Assignments Drive.