Topic outline

  • General

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    • Creative Media

    • In this Creative Media taster course you will complete the following.

      Introduction
      Video #1
      Learning Object
      Video #2
      Summary

      Extended Reading


    • Introduction

    • Welcome to Creative Media and we look forward to seeing you in September.   

      There’s never been a better time to study media. Statistics for 2016-17, show the sector was growing at twice the rate of the wider economy. What does this mean? More job opportunities!   If you have an interest in photography, film, visual effects, social media, games development, graphic design, motion graphics, sound engineering, to name but a few, then this subject will provide you with the opportunity to explore and test your creativity, giving you the skills and understanding to progress to higher qualifications at university or employment within the creative sector. 


    • Video #1

    • Have a look at this YouTube video about Animation...

      Lisa talks about her role as an animation director for TED-Ed and as a freelance animator, including key responsibilities and compensation. This video is part of a new series on Khan Academy covering the responsibilities, requirements, and financial aspects of careers.

    • Have a look at this YouTube video about working in the Visual Effects industry...

    • Have a look at this YouTube video about working in the Video Games industry...

      Want to get into the video game industry but don’t know where to start? Well with a little help from Smite Developer Hi-Rez Studio, we’re here to give you some tips for getting your dream job.

    • Learning Object

    • Producing a piece of Work 

      There are many elements in the production of a piece of media work: Research, planning, development, working with others etc. However, the ability to think creatively and to not be afraid of taking risks is a key part of the subject. Ideas should be informed by the ‘rules’ we will teach you.  

      Look at the interactive learning materials below, they will teach you about the formal elements of composition, colour, line, shape and tone. Once you understand these rules, you can then break them! Most importantly, you will all have unique ideas for the assignments you will be given.


      Click the image to launch the interactive activity on Composition...

    • Click the image to launch the interactive activity on Colour...

    • Click the image to launch the interactive activity on Line, Shape, Colour and Tone...

    • Video #2

    • Have a look at this YouTube video about Photo Composition...

      COOPH presents a photography tutorial with 9 tips and tricks on photo composition, using the help of Steve McCurry's incredible photographs. Special thanks go to Steve McCurry for his time and permission to use his photographs in this video!

      Summary: 

      1. Rule of thirds – place points of interest on the intersections and position important elements along lines  
      2. Leading lines – use natural lines to lead the eye into the picture 
      3. Diagonals – diagonal lines create great movement 
      4. Framing – use natural frames like window and doors 
      5. Figure to ground – find a contrast between subject and background 
      6. Fill the frame – get close to your subjects 
      7. Centre the dominant eye – Place the dominant eye in the centre of the photo 
      8. Patterns and repetition – patterns are aesthetically pleasing and work best when the pattern is interrupted. 
      9. Symmetry is pleasing to the eye   


      If you have time and the opportunity during your daily exercise, try to produce visually interesting images using any available basic camera – for example one on your phone.   If you do not have a camera, then you may find another way to get creative, such as drawings, computer generated images etc. However, have some fun.    

      For some inspiration, look at the choice of themes below: 

          • Myself  
          • Freedom 
          • Space 
          • Light 
          • Seeing Red 
          • Future 
          • Green 
          • Finish 
          • Peace 
          • Fun 
          • New 
          • Symmetry  

      Have some fun with the words. Most words have more than one meaning      , so it up to you how you choose to interpret the words. Composition is quite important in helping get your message across, so I have included a link to composition for you to view. Try and include some of these composition techniques in your work. I can’t wait to see how you all get on! 

    • Summary

    • Hopefully these tasks will help introduce you to the subject. The course is designed to help support and develop your skills to be successful within the media industry and maybe one day in the future you will have your name up in lights! 


    • Extended Reading

      Use the link to screenskills to see the abundance of different jobs within the industry. Briefly look through the pages and identify three roles that appeal to you and think about why these roles appeal to you. 


    • Here are some videos that might interest you from GCS TV.