Weekly plan for the Advanced Portfolio (A2) - Term 1

Week 1

• Decide on groups and brief for the Advanced Portfolio http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/A2%20Advanced%20Portfolio?updated-max=2012-02-06T06:40:00-08:00&max-results=20&start=20&by-date=false
• Brainstorm 'initial ideas' and upload to the blog.
• Write a pitch for your idea  http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/how-to-write-pitch.html
• Get feedback on your pitch and upload to the blog.

Week 2

• Choose similar or influential short films for textual analysis:  http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/advanced-portfolio-short-film-sites.html   You can also use sequences from feature films.
• Each member of the group should analyse a sequence of nine frames from an influential film in an 'artofthetitle' style arrangement (evaluation Q1).  Each frame should be used to analyse aspects of a different technical feature, e.g. 1. title(s), 2. genre, 3. setting/location, 4. characterisation, 5. costume and props, 6. narrative, 7. camerawork, 8. sound/music/dialogue, 9. editing.  (There is more information on artofthetitle style analysis here http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/evaluating-your-as-coursework-to-be.html )If you are working on your own, you should analyse at least two films. Upload your analysis to the blog together with a link to the film if it can be viewed on the Internet.

Weeks 3 & 4

• Use your similar/ influential films to test ideas on the class, like a 'focus group'.  It might be that you have several different ideas for films, scenes or characters and you want to know which the class prefer.  We can video this discussion and add it to the blog as audience feedback (evaluation Q3).
• Create a shot list (a written shot-by-shot plan of your short film or trailer) and a shot schedule (a similar plan but in the order you intend to shoot the material): http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/shot-list-example.html  http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/shooting-schedule-example.html  Typically these will include information such as: date, shot, scene, int./ext., location, characters, props and description.
• Use your shot list as a plan and take photographs for a photographic 'animatic' storyboard.  Edit the images together with sound and music: http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/animatics.html  You could do a second edit of the animatic with a voiceover describing your ideas (camerawork, editing, mise-en-scene and sound).
• Get feedback on your animatic and upload it to the blog (evaluation Q3).
• Write a script in the correct format  http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Script  http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/how-to-write-film-script.html  You can use a free program 'Celtx' to do it all for you:  http://download.cnet.com/Celtx/3000-13631_4-10850080.html  Here is a guide to using it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX06J2cG9eo
• Take location shots of your planned filming locations; upload to the blog with information about why they have been chosen and which scenes they will be used in.
• Create a call sheet showing which actors are required for each shooting scene and on what day and time http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/example-of-call-sheet.html  You should also state what costumes, props and make-up are required.
• Create a budget for your film listing all likely costs including travel, food, props, equipment etc.
• Create a risk assessment if you have any potential hazards  http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/example-of-risk-assessment.html
• Find copyright free music (if required) http://howardschoolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/copyright-free-music-as-a2.html
• Find (or make) sound effects (if required).

Week 5

• Filming/ editing

Week 6

• Filming/ editing

Week 7

• Show 1st cuts of films and get feedback (evaluation Q3).