In VCE Media, the study of narrative involves an examination of how narratives are organised, structured and engage audiences. Most teachers of VCE Media choose to study two films. Popular narrative texts include Psycho, Run Lola Run, American Beauty, Rear Window and Memento. Narrative is one of the most fascinating and fun areas of study in VCE Media. Every time you’ve parked yourself in front of the television to watch a film, every time you’ve forked over a handful of cash for a movie ticket and popcorn combo, you’ve been immersing yourself in the world of cinema and preparing for this moment. Read more →
Camera techniques are one of the most fundamental parts of cinematic narratives. Before you start writing about the films you are studying for VCE Media, you will need to have a handle on the terminology of basic camera techniques. In the VCE Media exam, students put themselves at a disadvantage if they attempt to describe scenes from the narratives they have studied using inaccurate terminology. In films, the way the camera is moved, makes a big contribution to the story. Filmmakers put considerable thought into how camera movement contributes to the narrative. Read more →
Acting makes a significant contribution to the storytelling in narrative film. While we often remember performances like Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight or Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, most of the time actors contribute to narratives with a subtle gesture or a nuanced mannerism. Through a simple glance or gesture actors can convey a great deal about the inner lives of their characters. Read more →
Mise-en-scene is a cinema studies term that refers to what’s put in the scene. It refers to the overall effect of lighting, make up, costume, props and colour within the frame. Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz (2007) includes a fun example of how visual composition can be used to establish character. As Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is being introduced to his new colleagues, Sergeant Tony Fisher is shown sitting in front of a whiteboard scrawled with a mind-map. The bubbles that point towards his head are labeled with words like ‘DISLOYAL’, ‘RUDE’, ‘INEFFICIENT’ and ‘UNFIT’.
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Every school will have a different test on narrative – what you do will depend on your teacher and the narrative texts you have studied. Nevertheless, many teachers will have a test which incorporates short and/or extended responses. This will contribute 40/40 marks to your overall score for Unit 3 Media. It is work 8 per cent of your total Study Score for Media. Read more →
Congratulations. VCE Media is an outstanding choice. You’re going to be challenged both intellectually and creatively. Although Media is a fascinating area of study, it’s also going to be very demanding. Here are some hints and tips to help you survive Unit 3 Media. The Study Design is the document that VCE Media is based on. Throughout the year, your teacher will no doubt be photocopying or modifying parts of this document to explain the key knowledge and skills you need to acquire to achieve the learning outcomes. Read more →
