Audience, Producers, &

Other Stakeholders
 The first principle of Media Literacy stresses that
all media messages are constructed. Additionally,
the first step in fully appreciating the
“constructedness” of media and information
messages is to deconstruct. It means closely
examining and taking apart the media message so
that its parts are exposed.
Media codes and conventions are like the building
blocks of all the media around us. Codes are
systems of signs that, when put together, create
meaning. There are three types of media codes:
symbolic codes, technical codes, and written
codes. Conventions, on the other hand, are the
rules, habits, or generally accepted ways of doing
things.
 This lesson connects the concept of media
languages to the notions of audiences, producers,
and other stakeholders. The audience is the
consumer of the media message, while the
producers are the creators of such media messages.
On the other hand, other stakeholders can be the
libraries, archives, museums, the internet, and other
relevant information providers.
Based on the titles and the advertising of the
following films, what do you expect to see in
each film? Who do you think the target
audience is for each of these films?

TARGET
FILM TITLE GENRE
AUDIENCE

HELLO, LOVE, TEENS, YOUNG

ROMANCE
AGAIN LOVERS
Based on the titles and the advertising of the
following films, what do you expect to see in
each film? Who do you think the target
audience is for each of these films?

TARGET
FILM TITLE GENRE
AUDIENCE
Based on the titles and the advertising of the
following films, what do you expect to see in
each film? Who do you think the target
audience is for each of these films?

TARGET
FILM TITLE GENRE
AUDIENCE
Based on the titles and the advertising of the
following films, what do you expect to see in
each film? Who do you think the target
audience is for each of these films?

TARGET
FILM TITLE GENRE
AUDIENCE
Based on the titles and the advertising of the
following films, what do you expect to see in
each film? Who do you think the target
audience is for each of these films?

TARGET
FILM TITLE GENRE
AUDIENCE
What genre/s can be watched by the
following groups of audience? What ALLOWED
RESTRICTED GENRE
GENRE
are restricted for them? Write your
answer in the box and state your
reasons.
The audience refers to the group of consumers for whom a media
message was constructed as well as anyone else who is exposed to
the message.

Are the mainstream consumers

A small group of influential

audience with a unique taste
 The producers are the
people engaged in the
process of creating and
putting together media
content to make a finished
media product.
Other stakeholders are the
libraries, archives,
museums, internet and
other relevant information
providers.
Your task is to create a short film (between 5-8 minutes long) inspired by a topic or stimuli set by your
teacher.
The task will involve working in a group of 5-7 students to brainstorm ideas, write a screenplay, create a
storyboard then film and edit your final piece.
It will be shown to all SHS teachers and chosen students at the set schedule by the teacher.
Topics to choose from:
⚬ High School/Teenage Experience
⚬ Science Fiction/Fantasy
⚬ Exploring the anxieties of social media
⚬ The challenges of transitioning to adulthood
⚬ The impact of peer pressure.
⚬ social issues (bullying, mental health, or environmental concerns)
• It is up to you what kind of genre to use (Romance, Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Suspense, BL, etc. ).
• Consider that your audience is SHS teachers and students, so be careful of the language and scene.
• Please prepare your screenplay, storyboard and script outputs by next week's meeting for Video Project
pitching.
• Don’t forget your Short Film Poster/Teaser
 The starting point for all filmmaking is the screenplay. (It is very similar to a play
script!) A screenplay script will identify the location of scenes, give details about
what characters say and specify important actions that take place.

It is not important to go into too much detail as the actors and director will fill in the
gaps. The most important thing is that the script makes sense and follows an
engaging storyline that holds our attention.

Screenwriting, like every profession, has its own specialised collection

of terminology. So let’s take a look at the main parts of a
screenplay: sluglines, action lines and dialogue!
Every scene in a script begins with a slugline
For example, a scene that takes
(also known as a scene heading). Sluglines
place at school might begin with:
are used to introduce each new scene and
provide information about whether the EXT – SCHOOL PLAYGROUND – DAY
scene is interior or exterior, where it is A scene inside a student’s home
exactly (the location), the time of day, and later that night might read:
any other relevant details needed to set the
INT – BEDROOM – NIGHT
scene.
 Action lines give readers an idea of the
Fade in on a desolate and
physical setting and character movements
empty school playground. A girl
or actions. They provide a visual
sits on a swing set, her head
description of what is happening on the
lowered and eyes gazing at the
screen.
ground. She is gently rocking
They are simple, declarative and written in herself with her feet.
the present tense. Melancholy music plays.
 Dialogue is a crucial element that usually NEIL:
takes up the largest part of a film script. Hey, Amy! Wanna join us on the
monkey bars? We're having a race!
It’s formatted with the character's name
above followed by the spoken lines Sometimes dialogue contains special
instructions or notes in brackets, like
(without quotation marks). It’s also usually character actions e.g.
written with large margins or is centered ANNA:
to set it apart from action lines and (looking up, hesitant)
Um, I'm not really too good at that...
sluglines.
EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY

A group of children, aged 8-10, are playing on the swings and climbing
structures. ANNA, a thoughtful and shy girl, sits on a bench, drawing in
her sketchbook. NEIL, an outgoing boy with a big grin, approaches her.
NEIL:
(excitedly)
Hey, Amy! Wanna join us on the monkey bars? We're having a race!

ANNA:
(looking up, hesitant)
Um, I'm not really good at that...
 NEIL:
(grinning)
Nah, come on! It's easy, I'll show you. You just have to grab on and
swing like this!

NEIL demonstrates, swinging effortlessly from bar to bar across to the other
platform, his feet barely touching the ground.

ANNA:
(watching, impressed)
Wow, you make it look so easy...

NEIL: (offering his hand)

Here, I'll help you. Trust me, you'll get the hang of it in no time!

ANNA takes NEIL’s hand, and they walk towards the monkey bars together,
ANNA’s apprehension slowly giving way to a growing sense of excitement.
Because this is a short film, it is important that you are very clear about
the message you want to communicate.

State the storyline, purpose or the theme in one clear sentence before
you begin. You can come back to this plan to help keep yourselves on
track if you start to stray off topic.

A standard rule of thumb is that one page of script equals one minute of
screen time. If in doubt, read the finished script out loud and time it to
make sure it fits within the parameters of the task!
 A storyboard is a visual depiction of all the shots you
want to film to best tell your story. It gives you the
opportunity to think about where to place the camera in
relation to the subjects, what characters you should be
focusing on, as well as little things like filming a close-up
of an important object, or filming a shot of the setting
so the viewer knows that characters have changed
locations.
 Standard shots include establishing shots (a shot of the
location where the story takes place so the viewer has
context for the story), close ups (when people are saying
something important), long or mid shots (when you have
more than one person in the scene or you want to see
action). Also consider including notes about camera
movement, editing techniques (how the shots will join
together), shot length or timing, sound effects and music.
 1 2

Long shot of empty classroom. Eerie music Cut to close-up shot of girl. She is visibly
plays. Sound of school bell rings. distressed. Voiceover off camera: “Don’t
worry about the exam, it’s going to be fine!”
 The artistic quality of the drawings isn’t really important (it doesn’t
matter if you draw stick figures!). The importance of this process is to
visualise what the finished film will look like and then commit it to paper so you
know exactly what you need to film on the day.

When planning your storyboard, think carefully about the elements that will
best communicate your message to the audience. This includes things
like camera shots, camera angles, camera movement, editing
techniques and sound devices.

Remember to be realistic about how much filming can be achieved in the

allotted time frame and what resources (props, objects, costumes,
locations) you will have access to.
 An object or an This shows the
An actor is seen
actor’s head An actor’s entire This is a very landscape of the
from the waist
takes up most of body is seen as close shot and film with a
up (this is the
the screen. It is well as some of may be only a barely visible
most common
used to reveal the setting. It small part of an character in the
type of shot). It
emotion through shows a object or person. distance. It
shows emotion
facial expression character's It is used to draw shows setting or
through facial
and is the best emotion through our focus to makes a person
expression as
choice for posture and show a specific look small or
well as body
shooting gesture. detail. vulnerable in the
language.
dialogue. surroundings.
The camera is positioned above
The camera is positioned below The audience sees the subject
the subject, looking down. This
the subject, looking up. It straight on (this is the most
makes the subject looks small,
makes the subject appear common type of shot). The
weak, powerless or
large, imposing and powerful. subject is observed with no
insignificant.
bias.

The camera is placed overhead The camera is positioned The camera is tilted on it’s axis
or directly above the subject. directly beneath the subject. It so it produces an image that is
Characters and objects are is often coupled with point-of- similar to tilting one’s head on
made to look small compared view shots when the character the side. It’s often used to
to their surroundings. is looking up at something. convey tension or chaos.
 The camera is
stationary and The camera is The camera is
The camera is The camera
the head moves stationary and deliberately
stationary and moves on tracks
up or down on a the focus shaky to make
the head moves or wheels, from
vertical axis. It is changes to zoom the footage
from left to right a helicopter or
used to show the in or out on an appear home-
or right to left crane or from
height of object, made. This can
on a horizontal the body of a
something or to character or be to create
axis. It is usually person. They
mirror someone setting. It is used realism or to
used to show a often follow a
raising or to draw focus to create a chaotic
setting or traveling or
lowering their a particular environment.
landscape. moving subject.
head. detail.
 The image appears or
Two shots are joined in a way disappears gradually by slowly An image on screen slowly
that looks like an fading to black, white or fades away while the next
instantaneous change between another colour as a division image slowly fades in.
shots. between scenes.

Also called cross-cutting, the A series of shots reveal what a A series of shots from different
film cuts back and forth character is seeing (as if settings or times shown in
between scenes that are through their gaze) and then sequence to create a
happening simultaneously but cuts to their reaction to it via continuous reality usually with
in different locations. facial expression. voiceover or music.
 Before you head out to shoot, it’s important to undertake the following activities:

Make a list of props,

Cast your actors. Decide It is important that you
costumes and settings
who is playing which part. familiarize yourself with
you’ll need to shoot.
Then, rehearse with the the camera and learn how
Think about the
actors so everyone knows to use its functions. Test
elements that are
their lines and actions. This out different frames, learn
necessary to convey
will ensure filming runs how to zoom and focus and
your story and the
smoothly. become comfortable with
items that you will
filming.
need to film.
Monitor sound levels as environmental sound will impact where
you choose to shoot. This is also the time to think ahead about
what sounds you might add in post-production (i.e. music and
sound effects).

Have a list of shots to film (based on the screenplay and

storyboard). Make sure everyone is clear on their roles. Be
aware of time constraints. Shoot multiple takes if you didn’t
quite get the shot you wanted.

Try to make time to upload the footage from the shoot while
everyone is still on set (during the lesson). That way if you
need to re-shoot something you can do it while in costume or
on location.
 The editing process is where it all comes together, using your screenplay and the
storyboard. Upload all your footage onto your device and use a specialized movie-
making program.

Watch the film

Add in Adjust the
Cut down your back as a Don’t forget
transitions to levels of sound
shots or scenes group and the last minute
join the shots and dialogue to
to the desired discuss the details like
together if you clean up the
length and join footage to adding a title
need any sound and add
them together make sure it slide and some
special ones sound effects
so they flow makes sense. credits at the
besides and music to
smoothly. Make required end.
general cuts. enhance mood.
adjustments.