January assessment: learner response

 1) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential).

WWW: A strong assessment that shows good knowledge of terminology and the CSPs. The challenge now is to add the depth and sophistication for grade 8/9

EBI: Revise media codes (terminology), question 3 needs a little more in terms of detailed analysis and alternate readings, question 6 shows great knowledge of the CSPs but needs to get into the media debate in the question a little more. Is Ken Loach trying to compete with Marvel.

2) Read the mark scheme for this assessment carefully (you'll need your Greenford Google login to access this). Write down the mark you achieved for each question:

Q1: 1/1 mark
Q2: 0/1 mark
Q3: 5/8 marks 
Q4: 2/2 marks
Q5: 2/2 marks 
Q6: 12/20 marks

Where you didn't achieve full marks, write WHY you think you missed out on the extra marks. Use the indicative content suggestions in the mark scheme to help with this. If you got any media terminology wrong in the assessment you can make a note of it here.

On question 3 I can do preferred and oppositional reading first and then the negotiated to conclude 

On question 6 I can link it back to the question 

3) Look specifically at question 3 - did you successfully write about both the preferred and oppositional readings? Did your answers match any in the mark scheme? Copy in one answer from the mark scheme that you could have used.

Women may be insulted by the lack of femininity in the advert or find the image derogatory. They may think that the woman does not promote working because to do so means looking like a man, wearing work clothes and covering your hair.

4) Now look at question 4. Write a definition of vertical integration plus the benefits of it to revise this key industry terminology. You may find the blogpost on ownership and control helpful here.

Its when a conglomerate owns different companies in the same chain of production, this is good because it allows the conglomerate to make money at each stage of production and have more creative control

5) Finally, look at your 20-mark essay - question 6. Read this exemplar answer to help give you an idea of what a top-level response looks like. Then, write a new essay plan for this question, using the suggested answers in the mark scheme and the exemplar to help you. Use a format like this:

Introduction - answer the question: Hollywood Blockbusters and Low budget independent films do not compete with each other because they appeal to completely different audiences, Hollywood Blockbusters target a mainstream audience and aim to make money whereas low budget independent films are targeted at small niche audiences and often aim to spread a message which is why I completely agree with the statement

I, Daniel Blake main points:

• The Premiere was held in Newcastle, rather than the usual London. There was a

focus on community screenings and regional marketing officers were employed.

• The marketing campaigns reflected the much lower budget (compared to Black

Widow) but deliberate choices were made because of the subject matter of the film.

• Partnerships are important in the marketing of all films and I, Daniel Blake was

promoted in partnership with Trinity Mirror (newspaper group). The Daily Mirror

newspaper supports the Labour Party and therefore would agree with the main

message of Ken Loach’s film.

Black Widow main points:

• The importance of franchises and star power in Hollywood blockbusters. Big names

are cast to draw audiences in e.g. Scarlett Johansson. Regardless of reviews a film

receives, star power ensures a degree of box office success and the Marvel

franchise has a huge existing audience ready to watch the next film.

• The importance of marketing a blockbuster film worldwide is clearly demonstrated by

the massive Black Widow marketing campaign across billboards, YouTube and

social media. There were also interviews with the big stars across Zoom and lots of

video content and teaser trailers produced by Disney and Marvel.

• Black Widow was released on IMAX and sold as the true experience for Marvel fans

with the widest screen in existence. Independent films in contrast will not be shot or

released on IMAX.

Optional additional paragraph if you wish:

Conclusion - sum up your argument in one sentence: Overall I think that Low budget independent films cant compete with Hollywood blockbusters because they don't want to for example Ken Loach said he felt that superhero movies like the ones Marvel make are "commodities" that are only there to make a profit whereas he wants to "reflect the world we know" and make movies about real life that hold strong messages