PAPER 2 EXAM: KEY MEDIA CONCEPTS

Section A is the analysis of TV drama.

The key terminology is HERE

 

The question is always the same but the TV drama extract is always different and you are unlikely to have seen it before, but you may have. 

Discuss the ways in which the extract from XXXXX constructs meaning through the following: 

• camera shots, angles, movement and composition 

• editing 

• sound 

• mise-en-scène. 

 

TOP TIPS:

• First screening - just watch; don't look down; don't miss anything!  
• Can you compose a very brief introductory sentence that sums up the extract? this will often calm you down and order your thoughts. "This extract..."
  
• Next screenings - whether you are typing or handwriting, start to write in the space where your full answer will be. Personally, I don't think that time spent making loads of notes (which don't count) is time well spent, so write leaving gaps. 
• DO NOT divide your response into  camerawork, editing etc. Instead, deal with each scene as a whole, as where a person is, how they act, what they say, how they react - it is all bound up together. 
• For every scene. it is easiest to start with mise-en-scène, as the place, period, setting, room, scenery and so on often shape the representations.
• You can group analysis together. You don't have to pretend that you don't know whet is about to happen in the next minute. Treat representations as a whole. This should avoid you re-telling the story (rather than analysing representations and how the media language makes meanings) and the "and then he did this" approach.
• Stick to the three-pronged approach where you can: Terminology + example + what meaning is made
• Check back - have you covered sound, editing?
  

Section B is about industry and audiences.

 

The key areas are HERE.

You will be given credit for your knowledge and understanding, illustrated through case study material, relevant to the question. Assessment will take place across three criteria:

• explanation / argument / analysis [20 marks]This means answering the question relevantly
• use of supporting examples [20 marks] This means your case studies
• use of terminology [10 marks] This means using relevant vocabulary

 

Read the question's key instructions:

 

Use your case studies to answer. 

 

Hollywood ‘Big Six’ / majors:

·      Black Panther (dir. Ryan Coogler 2018) Marvel Studios, Walt Disney

·      Captain Marvell

·      Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

British films:

·      Sorry We Missed You (dir. Ken Loach 2019) and BBC Films & Sweet Sixteen, supported by BFI Film Fund, distributed by eOne, Canal + (amongst others in different territories)

·      I, Daniel Blake (dir. Ken Loach 2015) a UK/French co-production, received funding from BFI and BBC Films, distributed by BFI (UK) Le Pacte (France)

·      Emma (2020) Working Title https://www.workingtitlefilms.com/film/emma/

Low-budget British film

·      Bait (dir. Mark Jenkin 2019), Early Day Films, distributed by BFI

Netflix film:

·      Roma (dir. Alfonso Cuarón 2019), released on Netflix

Guerrilla film-making:

·       This Is Not a Film is an Iranian documentary film by Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb. It was released on 28 September 2011 in France, distributed by Kanibal Films Distribution.

·       The film was smuggled from Iran to Cannes on a flash drive hidden inside a birthday cake. It was specially screened at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and later at the New York Film Festival, and others. It also took part in the International Competition of the 27th Warsaw International Film Festival.