Lesson 20 - 22 (Ancillary Task 2 : Film Poster)

You should place all Ancillary Task 2 work on a separate blog page (not on the main page following your final film and not on the same page as Ancillary Task 1).

You will need to demonstrate the following workflow for Ancillary Task 2;

• Ancillary Task 2 brief (introduction).
• Ancillary Task 2 R&P : Reviews & deconstructions of existing products.
• Software training (PhotoShop : Movie Poster Tutorial)
• Own product construction
• Draft product.
• Feedback.
• Evaluation of feedback & improvements.
• Final Print Product 2

You must exhibit your completed film review page on 17th March. This will be your only opportunity to receive the feedback evidence you require to access level 4. Don't forget to take screenshots at the various stages of construction to demonstrate progress.

Main images should be original and we have set up a photography studio in Drama, consisting of a white vinyl background, reflectors and a 3-point lighting system. The white vinyl background (providing an easy opportunity to isolate your images from the background) is large enough for group long shots to be taken. You can also use some stock images for background elements, etc. We have taken out a one-month subscription to a popular stock photo website (mainly for use in GCSE Media) but you must ask before downloading any images (there is a daily/weekly limit).

When completing the R&P, don't forget to deconstruct existing film posters. Using films that are linked to your own in some way is far more useful than just deconstructing your personal favourite film. Use the Print Product Revision Page to investigate medium specific terminology and use the Poster Analysis Sheet to make sure you consider all elements of representation within the poster. Remember to consider both technical codes/conventions AND representation (including setting, props, non-verbal communication, costume, make-up, colour, image, language, typography & layout).

Use the following R&P resources;

Print Product Terminology

Film Poster Analysis Sheet

Analysing Film Poster (email for password)

Film Poster Design Theory

Effective Poster Design

Film Poster Elements

Movie Posters Archive

Even More Movie Posters

Greatest Movie Taglines

Even More Movie Taglines

Use the following 3 film poster construction tutorials;

Blend Photos Like A Hollywood Movie Poster

Happy Couple Image

Beach at Sunset Image


War Movie Poster Workflow Summary

War Movie Poster Tutorial (also on Production Tutorials page)

Bazooka Joe Image

Birds Image


Steel Tongs Character Map

Adding Text Elements to a Film Poster (look out for comedy moment!)


Use the following additional resources to help you;

20 Easy to Follow Poster Tutorials

Free Stock Images

PhotoShop Special Effects Tutorials (pdf)

PhotoShop Special Effects Tutorials (YouTube)

Lessons 20 - 22 (Ancillary Task 1 : Magazine Film Review Page)

You should place all Ancillary Task 1 work on a separate blog page (not on the main page following your final film).

You will need to demonstrate the following workflow for Ancillary Task 1;

• Ancillary Task 1 brief (introduction).
• Ancillary Task 1 R&P : Reviews & deconstructions of existing products.
• Software training (QuarkXpress 10 - Magazine Film Review Page Tutorial)
• Product construction
• Draft product.
• Feedback.
• Evaluation of feedback & improvements.
• Final Print Product 1

You must exhibit your completed film review page on 17th March. This will be your only opportunity to receive the feedback evidence you require to access level 4. Don't forget to take screenshots at the various stages of construction to demonstrate progress.

You must use QuarkXpress to construct your magazine page. Please do not use Photoshop, even if you consider yourself an expert. We will use Photoshop to construct the film posters and you  must demonstrate the use of a variety of software. 

Remember that all images in your final product must be original and choosing a frame from your film is not always the best choice. If you need to photograph new images or actor poses, the digital SLR cameras are available for booking. It is perfectly acceptable to edit images in Photoshop and then import them into QuarkXpress for use in your film review.

When constructing a film review page, don't forget to consider: 

• A house style (colours and fonts).
• Consideration of fine spacing.
• Runaround spacings.
• Appropriate use of pull quotes.
• Page furniture (blocks of graphics, use of lines to separate elements, etc).
• The inclusion of page number (folio) and web address.
• The need to eliminate blank areas.
• The inclusion of a film rating system.

YOUR MAGAZINE PAGE MUST INCLUDE A GENUINE REVIEW OF YOUR SHORT FILM. DO NOT FILL WITH LOREM IPSUM OR REVIEW SOMEONE ELSE'S FILM. YOU WILL BE ASSESSED ON YOUR ABILITY TO USE AN APPROPRIATE REGISTER FOR YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE, SO WHAT YOU WRITE IS VERY IMPORTANT. I SUGGEST YOU USE LOREM IPSUM DURING THE EARLY PART OF CONSTRUCTION AND REPLACE IT WITH REAL CONTENT AT THE END WHEN YOUR LAYOUT IS ESTABLISHED. 

Use the following resources;

Anatomy of a Magazine Layout

Magazine Design (Byline & Credits are reversed in error though)

Elements of a Magazine Page

Magazine Page Elements

Example Deconstruction 1

Example Deconstruction 2

Example Deconstruction 3

Constructing a Magazine Film Review Page Tutorial

Lorem Ipsum Generator

Volcanic Feedback & Lucy Run!

Good luck tomorrow Lucy!

Lesson 19 - 10th Feb

In today's lesson you will:

• Exhibit your completed short (Final Cut).
• Peer-assess a final mark for the construction of the Main Product

When assessing your peers' products, use the following criteria to select an appropriate final level and a mark within that level;

Out of Hours Learning (to be completed by end of school on Friday 13th Feb)

• Update the Individual Target Setting Document.
• Complete all personal blog posts to date (up to, and including Final Cut post) by Friday 13th Feb.
• Update the Monitoring Blog Progress Document.