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Year 9 Media Production:

Course Outline 2014
SEMESTER II
Film & Print Media The Great Gatsby

And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves
growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had
that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again
with the summer.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby


Welcome budding filmmakers! For the next ten weeks of semester two, we will embark on a
unit that will develop your skills in film appreciation and production with a particular focus
on Baz Luhrmanns film, The Great Gatsby (2013). You will be asked to flex your analytical
and creative film-making muscles by writing a 500 word film review, and creating a short 1-2
minute film trailer advertising a filmic retelling of the Gatsby story from a different
Contact Details


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characters point of view. Throughout the term you will also have the opportunity to revisit
and build on your skills in film interpretation, analysis and production.
Resources
Throughout term II we will be using Baz Luhrmanns 2013 film adaptation of F.Scott
Fitzgeralds novel, The Great Gatsby, as a springboard for ideas. Copies of the film will be
available through the library. I have also developed a website to help guide you through the
unit week by week with relevant links, clips, images and information. This website also
has a discussion board that will act both as a space for you to ask any general questions, or
voice any concerns you have about the unit. You will also find a place for focussed
discussions on class material in weeks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 9 here. All equipment required for
filming and editing will be provided by the school but if you own your own camera or have
different editing software at home, you are more than welcome to utilise resources at your
own disposal as well.
o The Great Gatsby (Luhrmann, 2013)
o Weebly website: http://mymediamash.weebly.com
Assessment Requirements
There are two formal pieces of assessment this semester, and one informal group
presentation that will function as a workshop of ideas. In addition, tutorial discussion
topics based on material covered in class will be uploaded to the weebly site in weeks 1, 3,
5, 6 and 9 for students who would like the opportunity to further develop or consolidate
their understanding.
Assessment task 1 will be a film review due in week five of term; this will be assessed
individually. Assessment task 2 will be assessed in groups, and requires you to plan, film and
edit a film trailer due. This trailer must be submitted by the end of week eight. In addition,
there will be formative (informal) assessments throughout the term in the form of weekly
discussion board questions, and a progress update workshop on film trailers scheduled for
week seven.
Formal assessment:
# Assessment Task 1 (Individual Film Review): Week 5, Term 2.
# Assessment Task 2 (Group Film Trailer): Week 8, Term 2.

Informal assessment:
> Discussion board focus questions: Weeks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 9.
> Film trailer group presentation/workshop: Week 6, Term 2.

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Assessment Schedule:

Assessment Task

Date due Intended Learning Outcomes
Assessment Task 1:
Film Review

Week 5, Term 2 Understanding Media:

Media Responses:
Students are able to consider audience
response in the planning and creation stages of
media production.
Students recognise the highly subjective nature
of film review and how elements of personal
experience will influence interpretation and
response to media works.
Students understand how to apply appropriate
evaluation strategies when reviewing media
work (e.g. the 5 star rating system).
Students develop appropriate frameworks for
recording, describing and analysing their own
work, and the works of others.

Media Practice:

Media Conventions: Print and photography:
Students apply appropriate layout conventions.
Creating Media:
Students apply relevant genre conventions.
Developing Media:
Students use the conventions of film review to
target specific audiences and purposes (ref).
Presenting Media Works:
Students present finished products in which
the media elements work together.

Assessment Task 2:
Film Trailer

Week 8, Term 2 Understanding Media:

Media Responses:
Students respond to media works by making
their own media work.
Students use frameworks and conventions to
focus their creative response.
Students consider the audience response to
their film when designing media products.
Students understand that people engage in
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making media works for a range of purposes
(to promote/entertain/persuade).
Students experiment with the different ways
that media can be used to express emotion.
Contexts of Media:
Students recognise how media reflects and
challenges worldviews.
Media in Society:
Students experience how the content of media
production is affected by economic
constraints.
Students adapt marketing strategies according
to different products and target audiences.

Media Practice:

Media Codes:
Students use setting, props and colour to
enhance meaning.
Students employ clothing and objects to create
meaning.
Students recognise the value of body language
in developing character.
Students use lighting appropriately to affect
mood and meaning.
Students adopt symbols and conventions to
enhance meaning.
Students use music, sound effects and/or
dialogue for emotional impact.
Appropriate camera framing, angles and
movement are utilised.
Narrative Conventions:
Students come to recognise and adopt the
conventions of the film trailer genre.
Students incorporate elements that stimulate
narrative progression (i.e. time manipulation).
Media Forms and Technologies:
Students develop their skills in the operation of
video production equipment (ICT).
Students build on a repertoire of skills in digital
editing techniques (ICT).
Safe Media Practices:
Students understand and implement guidelines
for the safe use and maintenance of media
equipment.
Occupational, Health and Safety guidelines are
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recognised and adhered to.
Students are aware of issues of authorship and
copyright.
Students will take the interests of a target
audience into account when creating media
products.
Developing Media:
Students will prepare storyboards, scripts,
layouts and design proposals.
Students work in teams with defined roles and
responsibilities.
Students develop their time and resource
management skills.
Presenting Media Works:
Students present finished media products in
which the media elements work together.


Assessment Details:
Assessment Task 1: Film Review
Task description: Students are to write one 500 word film review based on Baz Luhrmanns
The Great Gatsby (2013).
Students are to use the standard conventions of the film review genre (brief summary of
plot, characters and other publication information, comparison to adaptations that have
come before, objective analysis, subjective/personal response to film and rating out of 5).
NB: You may complete this activity on another film of your choice by consultation with the
teacher.
Task Length 500 words (minimum)
Assessment Criteria/Rubric *will be made available online
Submission details Assignments to be submitted by 5pm either
in person OR via course website.

Assessment Task 2: Film Trailer
Task description: In groups of 5-6, students are to script, plan and produce one 1-2 minute
film trailer advertising a new film release based on Baz Luhrmanns The Great Gatsby (2013),
but detailing a film that will explore the events from a different characters perspective (i.e.
Daisy or Tom Buchanan, Myrtle, Woflsheim, Jordan Baker or even Gatsby himself!).

To complete this task, you will be required to allocate various members of the group with
roles - for example:

Cameraman/men (operates the camera),
Cinematographer (set and lighting),
Director (organises shooting and ensures that it runs smoothly),
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Sound engineer,
Script-writer & editor,
Chief liaison officer.

These titles should be negotiated amongst the group and allocation of one will not
completely restrict each individual as you will be expected to help one another, however,
members allocated certain responsibilities should provide the majority of input/expertise in
that area.

Helpful Hints: Do not spend too much time choosing a different character perspective it
will take you some time to script, storyboard, shoot and edit your film trailer, and you only
have 3 weeks of class time to complete this assessment! What I am most interested in is
evidence of your ability to think outside the box and your application of the practical film-
making skills you have learnt to consider how the story may evolve through another
characters eyes. The final product will be assessed taking originality, planning, editing,
production and ability to work as members of a team into consideration as well as the
quality of the final product.

You may need to organise time outside of class (lunch, recess, after school, weekends) to
film your scenes for the trailer, please organise these a.s.a.p!

Students are to use the standard conventions of the film trailer genre (credits, introduction
of plot, theme, and characters; development of a hook; awareness of target audience;
release dates etc.).

NB: There is no flexibility in selection of film text for this assessment. You MUST focus on
Luhrmanns The Great Gatsby (2013) as a central text.

Task Length Approximately 1-2 minutes
Assessment Criteria/Rubric *will be made available online
Submission details Finished trailers to be submitted by 5pm
either in person OR via course website.

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