Copy Right Emails (4 emails)

Dear Epic Records
I am writing to ask for your permission to use two of your records in our A Level Media Coursework. The songs we would like to use are called Last Christmas by Wham! and Wonderful Dream by Melanie Thornton.
We are creating a documentary about the commercialisation of Christmas and we require these records to produce it.

Yours sincerely, Liander McMinn, Sarah Harte and Becky Jarvis
Weatherhead High School, Media Arts College


Dear Decca Records
I am writing to ask for your permission to use one of your records in our A Level Media Coursework. The song we would like to use is Money Money Money off the Mamma Mia sound track.
We are creating a documentary about the commercialisation of Christmas and we require this record to produce it.

Yours sincerely, Liander McMinn, Sarah Harte and Becky Jarvis from Weatherhead High School, Media Arts College



Dear Mercury Nashville Records

I am writing to ask for your permission to use one of your records in our A Level Media Coursework. The song we would like to use is the instrumental track from Julianne Hough’s Sounds of the Season Holiday Collection.
We are creating a documentary about the commercialisation of Christmas and we require this record to produce it.

Yours sincerely, Liander McMinn, Sarah Harte and Becky Jarvis
Weatherhead High School, Media Arts College




Dear Big Machine Records

I am writing to ask for your permission to use one of your records in our A Level Media Coursework. The song we would like to use is called Christmas Must Be Something More by Taylor Swift.
We are creating a documentary about the commercialisation of Christmas and we require this record to produce it.

Yours sincerely, Liander McMinn, Sarah Harte and Becky Jarvis
Weatherhead High School, Media Arts College

Edit Desicion List

Interview story boards

Opening Sequence Story Boards

Codes of conventions of adverts

Print Advert
There is usually one main image to catch the attention of the audience.
The title of the programme and the channel that it is on in bold and the name of the programme is in a bigger front size.
There is only two or three colours used because of the cost.
The name of the programme has a hook line

Radio Advert
Extracts from the programme are usually used
They are produced so that it can be used in different forms of media
There is a music bed under speech and other parts of the advert
The title of the programme is mentioned along with the scheduling of the programme
Well known presenters are used or presenter in the documentary
Voice over asks questions that could be answered in the documentary and uses an enigma code
The outline of the documentary is established in the voice over

Tape Log Sheet

Editing

We started by uploading the footage that we had filmed onto the computer and capturing it into the software we were going to use to make the documentary.
This happened over a couple of weeks as we were filming different things on different days.
My individual role in editing was mostly giving ideas ad I didn't know how to use Premier to its full extent so i edited the elderly interviews but I mostly put in ideas and giving ideas about to tweak certain bits.
I spent some free lessons with the rest of the my group in the media room editing but I do admit I didn't do as much as I could have done.
I could have contributed more to the editing process but i felt that because I didn't know how to use Premier I would slow them down as they both knew ho to use it and what they were doing on it but I do regret that now.

Filming

We first interviewed Mr. Swindel and asked him how he celebrated Christmas as he is a vicar and celebrates Christmas for God. This went well but we didn't use a microphone as we filmed this really early on and didn't know we had to and also our Mise On Scene was rubbish as it was rushed but we did use this interview in our coursework.
Other people we interviewed were the Manager of B&M and asked him about the sales around Christmas time and how much their profits went up. We also asked him how he celebrates Christmas. This interview didn't go as planned as we originally wanted to film it in front of all of the Christmas lights and everything but the manager wouldn't have it as he said that it would interfere with the customers so he then said that he wouldn't do it at all. He then said that he would do it in his office out of the way. Due to this, the Mise En Scene is non existent.We still used this interview but only a few seconds of the film then we just used the voice while we used cut aways instead or using the image of the interview.
We filmed some cut aways of the Christmas decorations and food etc in B&M using panning shots. The first time e did it, we didn't use a tripod so it was all wobbly so we went to re film using a tripod and it was a lot better. We didn't use the first attempt but we used the second attempt.
We then interviewed the woman working in the card shop in the Cherry Tree center and asked her the same questions.
We also interviewed one of the staff members in the Card Factory and we filmed one of the other workers serving a customer but she was chewing gum so it didn't look very good so we only used a few seconds were she wasn't chewing.
We went into Wilkinson's and got some more cut aways. We used a tripod for these so they were nice and steady. We filmed the sweets isle.
We interviewed someone who didn't believe in God but celebrates Christmas which we had to do numerous takes of as she kept on laughing. The Mise En Scene we used was tinsel, lights and a Father Christmas. We also interviewed two people from a different religion and and asked how they celebrate Christmas. We interviewed them in Sarah's living room as there was a neutral background so it didn't take away from the two girls talking. We interviewed two of the residents of Primrose Courts, a residential home. We asked them about how they celebrate Christmas now and how Christmas has changed over their years their lives. There wasn't any Mise En Scene as we thought that they would put some up or there would have already been Christmas decorations up but the lighting wasn't very good and the phone in the reception went off half way through so we couldn't use that section of the film but we used the answers to the same questions from both of the women.

Secondary Research

T'was the Night Before Christmas - 1974

Nightmare Before Christmas - 1993

The Grinch - 2000

White Christmas - 1976

Holiday Inn - 1942

Elf - 2003

Miracle on 34th Street - 1947

A Christmas Carol - 2009

I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus - 2002

The Polar Express - 2004

Scrooge - 1988

We used quite a lot of achieve footage in our documentary for example, White Christmas, The Snowman Irn Bru advert and Wham-Last Christmas.

Who is Father Christmas/St. Nicholas?

Father Christmas is based on a real person, St. Nicholas, which explains his other name 'Santa Claus' which comes from the Dutch 'Sinterklaas'. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD. He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.

How did Christmas Start?

Since about 400 AD, Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus. 'Christ' means 'Messiah' or 'Anointed One' - the title given to Jesus - and 'Mass' was a religious festival.
In the West today, the real meaning of Christmas is often forgotten. It has become a non-religious holiday! More children believe in Father Christmas than in Jesus. Christmas Day is a time for eating and drinking too much and watching television.
But the real Christmas story is found in the Christian Bible. It is told in two different books: Matthew and Luke chapters 1 and 2. If you have no Bible, you can read these chapters online. You may think that the story of the birth of Jesus, and the way that the West celebrates Christmas today, do not seem to have many connections.

Primary Research

Interview with Liscard B & M Store Manager

Interview with card shop worker

Filming in various shops in Liscard such as B &M, Wilkinson’s, Card Factory

Interviews with someone who does not believe in God but celebrates Christmas, people who don’t celebrate Christmas, someone who celebrates Christmas for God, elderly people and how Christmas has changed over the years they have been alive.

Final Brainstorm and ideas for the programme

Christmas:God Vs Gifts

• Clips of TV shows that represent Christmas (The Snowman, Its a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Holiday Inn.)
• Coke adverts and others
• Children's and parents opinions on Christmas
• Recycling presents
• Catalogues
• Books
• Old people-how has Christmas changed?
• Christmas dinner
• Nativity play
• Christmas abroad
• People who work over Christmas- service station, chefs, fire brigade, police etc.
• People from Shelter
• Christmas TV - national events, Morecambe and Wise
• Filming a family at Christmas
• Interview with the Pope, Cardinal, Chief Rabbi
• Queens speech. What significance does it hold?

Interview Questions

VoxPops Questions

• Do you celebrate Christmas?


• Do you believe in God?


• Do you think that the commercialisation of Christmas is an important issue?


• If yes, why?


• How do you celebrate Christmas?


• What does Christmas mean to you?


• Which songs do you associate with Christmas?


• Do you get stressed out by Christmas?

Questions for Mr. Swindel

• Do you think that the commercialisation of Christmas is an important issue?


• Do you think it has changed over the years?


• What does Christmas mean to you?


• How do you celebrate Christmas?


• What does Christmas mean to your congregation?


• Do you think that religion is left out at Christmas?


• If you think that this is true, why do you think people celebrate Christmas?


• Do you think that more people should help the less fortunate at Christmas?


• Do you buy presents?

Questions for interviews

• Do you believe in God?


• Do you celebrate Christmas?


• If yes, how do you celebrate it?


• What is the most important thing to you about Christmas?


• Do you think that Christmas is a time to spend with your family?


• Do you buy presents?


• Where do you buy your presents from?


• Do you prefer buying online or not?


• Why?

Summary of Codes and Conventions of Documentaries

Mise-En-Scene

• Location
• Pictures in the background
• Talking heads
• Original Footage
• Staged events
• Reconstructions
• Props related to subject
• Simple background
• Code of attire- reveals the position of the interviewee

Editing

• Cutaways
• Fade in-Fade out
• Juxtaposition
• Non continuity
• Dissolves

Lighting

• Natural Lighting
• Studio lighting
• Reconstruction
• Related to genre

Sound

• Voice over
• Music
• Talking
• Diagetic/Non Diagetic
• Voice of interviews
• Clip Sounds

Camera shots

• Point of view
• Close up
• Establishing shot- Location
• Hand held for authenticity
• Slow motion
• Pans
• Zooms
• Tracking shots
• Long shots
• Reaction shots

Formal Proposal

• Formal Proposal
  
• Topic: Christmas: Why people who don’t believe in God believe in Christmas.
  
• Type of Documentary: Expository
  
• Style of Documentary:
  
• Channel and Scheduling: BBC1- 8 pm Monday
  
• Target Audience: 16 -24 years old
  
• Primary Research needed: Interviews with a vicar, retail person, jahovers witness, Muslims and children
  
• Secondary Research needed: Clips of films with Christmas extracts in them. E.g. Love Actually, It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Friends, The OC,
  
• Narrative Structure: The shops then into the interviews with a retail person, showing the non-believer putting up decoration and then into interview. Show clips of films then into the interview with the vicar.
  
• Outline Content: Look into the reasons why people who don’t believe in god believe in Christmas and asking people their opinions on the commercialisation of Christmas.
  
• Resource Requirements:

Running Order: Christmas-God Vs Gifts

• Montage of different shops showing Christmas trees, presents and card etc with Coca Cola advert music playing in the background throughout all of it. (20 Seconds)
• Opening title with music in the background. (20 seconds)
• Vox Pops of people of different ages with their opinion of Christmas. (1 minute)
• Someone putting up decorations and the voice over of the interview. Then cut to her interview about how she celebrates Christmas but doesn't believe in God. (40 seconds)
• Interview with Rahima and Ema about how they celebrate Christmas(Muslims). (40 seconds)
• Interview with Shelter (30 seconds)
• Interview with elderly people about Christmas has changed over the years. (30 Seconds)
• Interview with Mr. Swindell: He celebrates Christmas because of God. (40 Seconds)
• Interview with Manager of B&M and Card Factory about how Christmas effects their sales. (40 Seconds)
• How homeless or poor people cope with Christmas. (30 Seconds)
• Interview with Shelter representative. (40 Seconds)
• Clips of White Christmas, The Snowman, Its a Wonderful Life, Holiday Inn. (Cut aways in interviews)
• Queens speech- what significance does it connote? (30 Seconds)
• Recycling Presents. (20 seconds)
• Film of a school nativity play with voice over. (1 minute)
• People who work over Christmas; Service Stations, Police, Fire Brigades, Hospitals, Chefs etc. Do they mind? (30 Seconds)
• Filming of a traditional family at Christmas. (1 minute)
• Interview with the Pope, Cardinal, Chief Rabbi. (40 Seconds)
• Traditional Christmas Dinner. (20 Seconds)
• TV Schedule-40's Top of the Pops. (40 Seconds)
• How people abroad celebrate Christmas. (40 Seconds)
• Children's and Parents opinion on Christmas. (50 Seconds)
• Why do people get stressed by Christmas? (1 Minute)
• How shop sales sore over Christmas. (30 Seconds)
• How people living on their own deal with Christmas. (40 Seconds)
• The Show Box Appeal. (50 Seconds)
• The History of Christmas. (1 minute)
• Christmas Catalogues that help people with money troubles over Christmas e.g Park. (40 Seconds)
• Last minute shopper Vs careful planner. (1 Minute)

• Documentary-Christmas:God Vs Gift
• BBC 1
• Scheduling - Thursday 24th December 8.00pm-8.30pm
• Duration- 30 Minutes

Final Brainstorm

Final Idea

• Christmas: Why do people who don't believe in God believe in Christmas?

Look into people why people who don't believe in God still celebrate Christmas.

Why if they don't believe in God they still celebrate a Christian celebration.

Is it just for the presents and the food?

First Brainstorm

Ideas for Documentary

• EMA:Is it fair or not?
• Fashion
• Mobile phones:Do they damage our health
• Christmas
• Retail Therapy

Questionnaire Results- images added

From this graph I have learnt that most people watch the TV in the evening and late evening so it would be sensible to broadcast our documentary in that time.


From this graph I can tell that the majority of people do not get stressed by Christmas.


Most of the people that filled in my questionnaire were female which doesn't really make the results fair but i couldn't get many males to fill it in.

Questionnaire

Questionnaire

Age:….. Occupation:……….......................... Gender:  Male  Female

Do you believe in god?
 Yes  No

Do you celebrate Christmas?
 Yes  No

Is there any mention of god during your Christmas celebration? E.g. a prayer.
 Yes  No

If yes please state.
………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………..

What colours do you associate with Christmas?
………………………………………………………………………………

Do you get stressed by Christmas?
 Yes  No

If yes what is it about Christmas that gets you stressed?
………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………..


Do you think the commercialisation of Christmas is an important issue?
……………………………………………………………………………......
………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………..

What song reminds you of Christmas? (Please State)
……………………………………………………………………………......
………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………..


What words do you associate with Christmas?
………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………...

What makes documentaries authentic?
 Montage  Archive  Reliable voice  Talking heads

 Other Please State ……………………………………………………….


Would you watch a documentary about the commercialisation of Christmas?
 Yes  No

If yes, do you think this is an important issue?
………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………...

Where do you buy your Christmas cards? (Please state)
………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………...


When do you watch TV?
 Morning  Day-time  early evening  late evening

How much do you spend at Christmas?
 Less than £100  £100-£300  £300-£500  Over £500


Thank you for your cooperation.

Research into the Codes and Conventions of Documentaries

Expository

• Voice of God narration which talks at the viewer as if they were there.
• Voice over anchors what the images on the screen show so that they viewers can follow the documentary.
• The narrator's speech is backed up with images to show what he means.
• These documentaries are normally about an issue or a recent affair that needs covering in detail.
• They are usually an hour long.
• An example of this type of documentary is "The Devil Made Me Do It."

Observational

• Often known as a "Fly on the Wall" documentary.
• Avoids voice overs or commentary and the camera is as out-the-way as possible but not always hidden from sight.
• It normally means that the viewers are seeing it as its happening without it being edited or changed in any way. This is shown by having some really long shots.
• The people in the documentary do not speak directly to the camera. Its like they don't know that the camera is there.
• The main event that the documentary usually unfolds in front of the camera.
• This style dominates TV documentaries.

Docusoaps

• Prioritisation of entertainment over social commentary sets these documentaries apart from any others.
• Examples of Docusoaps are "Airport", "Driving School" and " A Life of Grime".
• Docusoaps were able to be made due to lightweight camera equipment which meant they could be carried round easily and catch any action with ease.
• Docusoaps almost have a soap like structure. Meaning they have several story lines going at once.
• The genre does not tell us anything that is going on in the world, just about the people are being filmed.
• This is also known as "Tongue and Cheek" entertainment.

Reality TV

• This is sometimes also known as "infotainment" as it combines entertainment and useful information.
• Examples of reality TV are "Castaway" and "Big Brother".

Interactive

• The genre acknowledges the presence pf both the camera crew and the audience.
• The audience is given constant reminders that there are various different view points in the programme.

Drama Documentary

• There are quite a lot of re-enactments in these documentaries to show that they have already happened and they haven't got archive footage of what happened.
• Examples of this are "Who Bombed Birmingham?"

Docudrama

• Example "The Office".
• A fictional story that uses the techniques of documentary to reinforce its claim for realism.

Dramadoc

• A documentary reconstruction of actual events using techniques taken from fiction cinema.

Current Affairs

• These are documentaries led by journalists looking to discover an answer to a problem in the world E.g war, politics etc.
• An example is "News Night".
• The topics of discussion have usually happened in that week and are fresh in the news.
• The presenters are normally narrating it but do sometimes come into view in the programme to interview someone or something.

Documentary Dilemmas

• Footage from these documentaries are not normally broadcast without being edited.
• The subject being filmed is in the film makers hands.

Analysis of TV Documentaries

Class Research





The Devil Made Me Do It





Type of Documentary


Expository

• Voice of God
• Observatory
• Voice over

Themes

• Religion
• Media
• Satan vs God
• Influence of Marilyn Manson (Brain washing)
• Technology (information age)
• Establishment vs Culture (alternative)
• Children and Parents

Narrative Structure

• Use of reconstruction
• Puppet Master (Pulling someone elses strings)
• Levi Strauss, Vladir Propp, Toderov (Equilibrium)
• Binary Oppositions (opposites)
• Hero-Nun
• Villain- the three girls and Marylin Manson

Camerawork

• Tracking shots-put in a position to follow someone
• Cut aways
• Reaction Shots
• Establishing Shots
• Close ups of Marylin Manson hands when he is being interviewed
• Low angle show of Marylin Manson, connoting he has power
• Indirect address
• Parallelism

Mise-en-scene

• It comes across as a very religious town(icons and Satan)
• Light at the end of the tunnel (one of the three girls starts to crack under the pressure

Sound

• Voice of God
• Violin solo to create a sombre atmosphere

Editing

• Italian man speaking but has in English Over lay
• Cut aways are in time with the heart beat (music)
• Long takes of graffiti on the church wall

Archive Material

• Footage of the nuns funeral
• Press conference
• Marylin Manson gig and videos

Graphics

• Dark and Evil
• Lyrics at the bottom of the screen when Marylin Manson is singing so we can tell what he is saying.

The Music Biz-The Marketing of Meatloaf



Type of Documentary

• Expository

Themes

• Voice of God
• Music Industry
• Meatloaf
• Informative (audience would use it for information)

Narrative Structure

• Starts off by setting the scene of the music industry
• Then focuses solely on Meatloaf and how his career has unfolded and developed.
• Smaller case study of The Village People (YMCA)

Camera Work

• Pans down The Radio City Music Hall NY
• External shot of music hall
• Point of view shot
• Talking head interviews don't face the camera. They are sitting side on.
• Establishing shot of head quarters. (new location)

Mise-En-Scene

• Sound engineer has been filmed in his studio in front of the sound desk which anchors his authority.
• He is shown as a rock start with him wearing sun glasses.

Sound

• Diagetic noise from the crowd
• Non-Diagetic heartbeat in one of the interviews to create a dramatic effect.

Editing

• Cut away while they are interviewing different people.

Archive Material

• Footage from an awards ceremony(Grammies)
• Footage from Meatloafs music videos
• Making of the videos (anything for love)
• Top of the Pops

Graphics

• The magazines with loads of different people saying different things on them at the beginning.
• Photographs.
• Album covers as the background in the interviews.

That Thing: Lara Croft



Type of Documentary



Themes



Narrative Structure

• Introducing the computer game
• Ended with comment from the game creator.

Camerawork

• Talking heads are done in close up.
• Fish Eye Lens (bend at the edges)
• Speeded up shots inside a gaming cafe. Matches the theme of the computer game.

Mise-En-Scene

• Background shows that game being played.

Sound

• Music always in the background of the interviews
• Voice of God
• Guns shooting
• Video games
• Layers of sound.

Editing

• Interview with Toby Gard done in a computer screen to fit with the mise en scene.


• Short sharp interviews

Archive Material

• Footage of video games and film


• Footage of Barbie adverts.

Graphics

• Shows how Lara Croft is made

Target audience is clearly young people.

Wounded

Type of Documentary

• Expository

Themes

• Wounded soldiers

Narrative Structure

• Starts with the wounded soldiers being introduced.
• As the documentary goes on their stories are explain and it follows their road to recovery.
• It ends with the soldiers reaching their goals ie walking, being able to see again etc.

Camerawork

• Panning shots
• Long shots
• Talking heads-Andy's mum, doctor, girlfriend, sister, brother and best friend
• Establishing shot
• Zoom in
• Close up of Andy's burns and amputates legs.
• Tracking shots of Andy's mum walking across the field to the hospital
• Point of View shot of Andy's mum walking across the ward to see him.
• Reaction shots of Andy's family as they see him walk again for the first time.
• Extreme close up of nurse.

Mise-En-Scene

• War-Battle field, soldiers, black out, blood
• Hospitals-Very plain, clean
• Operations
• Everyone is really supportive of each other
• His friends come to visit and reassure him.
• Hospital rooms all white and bland
• Blood in the canals
• Trees, mud and grass.

Sound

• Bangs
• Sad music
• Voice of God
• Squeaky doors
• Power Amputation Saw
• Footsteps of Andy's mum and Commanding Officer
• Telephone in the hospital
• Tense music in the background

Editing

• Cuts to shots of Andy when his mum is speaking
• Photos of war and injuries.
• Mostly just cuts

Archive Material

• War material-footage of Andy's accident and photographs of his injuries.
• Andy's operation

Graphics

• information between archive footage at the beginning
• BBC Icon in the corner of the screen throughout the whole programme.

Merlin:Secrets and Magic

Type of Documentary

• Expository

Themes

• Magic
• Sorcery
• Fantasy
• Talking heads

Narrative Structure

• Hero-Merlin and Prince Arthur
• Villain- Mackenzie Crook
• Jealousy
• Humour on the Princes part
• Starts with clips of the episode that they are about to explain
• Explains how the episode was made and how it was put together
• Ends with a preview of the next episode

Camerawork

• Talking heads
• Panning
• Establishing shot of castle
• Extreme close up
• Looking up at Artur and his horse
• Tracking shots
• Extreme close up
• Medium close up
• Long shot

Mise-En-Scene

• Medieval
• Dull colours
• Forest-full of mythical creatures
• Flying monkeys
• Gargoyles comes alive at night(dark and evil)
• The soldiers red cloaks on the floor look like blood
• Mackenzie gets slicker and tidier throughout the episode as he gets more evil and powerful

Sound

• "Don't Upset the Rhythm"
• Screeching and roaring of gargoyles
• Blink 182
• Dramatic music when the evil scene is being filmed again and again and again
• Mackenzie's voice echoes when he says the spell

Editing

• Camera shots in time to the beats of the music
• Cut aways
• Close ups of Colin Morgan(Merlin) and Prince Arthur

Archive Material

• Filming of the new series
• Clips of the first episode and clips of other episodes

Graphics

• Names of the people talking
• Flying monkeys and gargoyles
• Flames around peoples names
• Dragon