Introduction to Second Year: UNIT BRIEFING.

Today we started our first day as second years and was introduced to the new space and equipment in the studio.

As second years, we have been challenged this year to do two units at once. Helen explained that the two units she briefed to us are:

     1. Digital News Production;

When first being introduced to this unit I was quite worried as my strong point isn't journalism - however it will give me a chance to try challenge myself and become more confident working on different platforms and let out my creative side through making a title sequence and also allow me to practice interview skills and creating a ''live'' production which i'm excited for.

In groups of 3/4 we must design our own, original news channel through websites such as Youtube and Vimeo.

We must include;

• An original title sequence/GFX/branded strapline/stings that fits your own original channel identity
• Promotional Package - a presenter led teaser for your news items.
• Appropriate branding/banner at top.

-1 news package per group - 2'00 - 2'30 duration.

-1 ''live'' OB report with a reporter on location (recorded as live to the specified duration of 2'00'') which may include some pre-shot material.

-All video material from workshops on the unit should also be uploaded to your channel.

-Films should be accompanied by supporting written material about your news stories and published on your own news channel. 

As part of this unit we must also write a critical case study which should be 1,500 words.

We must contrast two main evening news programmed from the same day - this could be either Channel 5, ITV, BBC ect. 

We must discuss and consider how the stories are covered for example who was interviewed and where? 

How packages, OOV's (out of view shots) and intros are used.

The impact of new media on their coverage.

Comparing two evening programmes will allow us to see how different conventions and styles are used in news programmes, for example, are they formal? What sort of audience are they based at? Is it for a niche audience?

      2. Fictional Adaptation.

When first being introduced to this unit, I wasn't looking forward to it - however when discussing how texts can be adapted and experimented with and the different methods used such as contemporary, abstract, animation, modern and many other creative decisions, I became much more enthusiastic and wanted to make sure I chose my poem with deep thought and make sure I felt connected to the poem and know how to adapt it to my short film. 

Poems of the Great War.

In this unit we are challenged to adapt a poem from the Great War into a short film. It can take any form and style we want which can include anything from time lapse to dance. The words from the poem must be present somehow through the film whether this takes its form in dialogue or part of the short film on the screen.

We will be working on the project by ourselves but we will need to seek collaboration from other people to help with camerawork, sound and casting - however we will be the director and editor of our projects which i'm happy about. We must adapt the poem using our own ideas into a short film and try show what we think the poem is portraying using experimental and creative thinking.

The film must be 3-5 minutes, including opening titles and end credits.

If we use music it must be original or royalty free.

Quicktime file and uploaded to channel.

Whoever picks the same poem as us will be working in a group together to create a series title, we must all come together to design the title and it must be exactly the same for all our poems. 

As part of this unit we must also write an essay which should be 2,000 - 2,500 words and include Harvard referencing.

The essay questions we must pick from are found below:

1) Discuss the view that ''with a successful adaptation, the original work is transformed into something new and different, although retaining many traces of what it was formerly'' with reference to at least one text adapted for broadcast on television.

2) To what extent is it true that ''Adaptation of classic texts enable contemporary audience to re-visit the past; as such they can be situated within the broader context of postmodern appropriations of history''? Examine with reference to at least one text adapted for broadcast on television.

3) In adapting a novel the adapter inevitably infringes the integrity of the original text - discuss with reference to at least one text adapted for broadcast on television.

I'm quite excited about the projects and looking forward to the Fictional Adaptation unit as it seems very creative