Media Language Lesson 1 - intro and camera shots

Write a list or draw a mind map

How many can you think of in 3 mins?

Types of media

The Media is a channel of communication from producer to audience.Producers create MEDIA TEXTS which we consume everyday e.g:• advertisements• DVD covers• CD covers• newspaper front pages• magazines /comics• radio sequences• Films• television programmes• music videos• websites• computer games

What is Media?

AS Media Studies – WJEC

To understand the outline of the courseTo begin to understand key terminology

Learning Objectives

AS Media StudiesWhat will I study?• Textual Analysis• Audience• Representation

How will I be assessed?

• MS1 - Examination - 2 ½ hours (50%)• MS2 - Coursework – 1 Pre Production

task and a linked Production and a written reflective report (50%)

AS Media Examination topics• 1 Question – Textual analysis of an

unseen text (print or moving image) 40 marks

• 2 Questions on media representations and audience responses (30 marks each)

AS Media Coursework• Pre-production task (20 marks); • Production which develops from the pre-production (40

marks) • 1200 – 1600 word Reflective report on the production

process (40 marks)• Group work for the production is only allowed for

audio-visual productions (group size no more than 3)

Pre-Productions:

Productions = linked music videos

For the mock exam we will concentrate on two elements that will come up in the exam:• Textual analysis• Audience

• Once the exam is over, we will begin the coursework element of the course.

Mock exam – November 2015

• 1. Textual Analysis• 2. Audience Response• 3. Representations

What is the Media Studies Exam about?

• All media texts are constructed and made up of codes

• It is your job as media students to recognise, analyse and then discuss the range of codes used in a text

• Use the following as a guide and you cant go wrong!

Media codes

CPE• Codes – signs in the text that give us

clues to the meaning• Purpose – Why have these codes

been used, to develop the narrative, involve the audience create tension?

• Effect – what is the effect on the audience? Does a POV shot in a horror make them feel uncomfortable?

The 3 Codes1. Technical Codes • Camera shots, movement and angles• Editing – pace and type• Use of lighting2. Audio Codes• Diegetic and non diegetic sound• Dialogue• Sound effects• Music • Voice over

3. Visual Codes• Mise en scene e.g:

– Clothing– Props/Setting– Expression/Gesture

• Use of colour• Iconography – objects, setting and backgrounds

which have become symbolic of a genre• Graphics

• Camera shots, movement and angles

1. Technical Codes

Establishing Shot (EST)• This ESTABLISHES where the action takes place - sets

the scene• Often an exterior shot • Usually a Wide Shot (WS)

Wide Shot (WS) or Extreme Long shot• Often (but not always) used as an

establishing shot• The point of this shot is to show the

subject's surroundings

Long Shot (LS)• A shot which shows all or most of a fairly large subject

(for example, a person) and usually much of the surroundings

Medium Long Shot (MLS)• Knees to head with some background

Medium Shot (MS)

• Waist to head

Medium Two Shot (M2S)• Similar to a MS, but with two people

Medium Close Up (MCU)• Head and shoulders

Close Up (CU)• Shows a character's face• Used to show emotion

Big Close Up (BCU)• Forehead to chin• Used to show extreme emotion

Extreme Close Up (ECU)• A very tight shot, for example someone’s eye or a

door handle

Over The Shoulder (OTS)• Used during a conversation• MCU + the other person’s shoulder/head/back etc

Deep Shot (DS)• When something is in the foreground and something else is in

the background

Camera Angles• Camera Angle: position of the camera• High Angle: looking down• Low Angle: looking up• Canted Framing: frame is not levelled, appearing

tipped

Overhead Shot (OH) or Bird’s eye View

• Camera will be directly over the objects/actors

High Angle (H/A)• Could be used to make the object/person look

powerless

Low Angle (L/A)• Could be used to make the object/person powerful

Canted angle• Used for dramatic effect and helps portray unease,

disorientation, frantic or desperate action, intoxication, madness, etc.

• Use your checklist to recreate all of the shot types and angles.

• If you don’t have a camera or a smart phone then you may borrow one.

H/W – due Tues 15th Sept

Camera Movement• Pan: movement of the

camera from left to right vice versa on a tripod, produces space horizontally

• Track: camera follows the object

• Crane Shot: moving through the air in any direction on a crane

• Steadicam: smooth shot, when camera is moved very fast

• Tilt: camera movement by swivelling upward or downward, Producing space vertically

• Zoom lens: lens that change during a shot

Camera movement• Tracking – the camera follows the action by moving along

with the characters along a small track

The Tilt Shot• The camera moves up and down from a fixed point

(on a tripod).

See the opening sequence of Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts is dressing

The Panning Shot• The camera moves left and right from a fixed tripod.

Good for showing the vast landscape

Zooming• The camera stays fixed but the focus moves in or out• Simultaneous track and zoom – the camera

moves forward but zooms out at the same time – the object stays in the same position but the background which looks quite disorientating

Hand held/ steadicam• Steadicam - a camera is fixed to cameraman

so that it can move around and mimic the actors movement