13MED

Year 13 Media Studies (Level 3)

Subject Description

Head of Faculty: Mrs N. Eichstaedt McComb.

This course will build on the foundations laid out in Level 1 and Level 2 Media Studies. The work offered in Level 3 Media Studies is guided by four internals and one external that covers analysing, writing, and creating. A total of 15 internal credits and 4 external credits can be attained in this course.

In Year 13, we complete a genre study that has a relationship with society. Through the study of the genre’s conventions and a specific time period, we draw links to uncover how genre and society interrelate.

Students have the chance to apply their understanding of film genres through the making of a media production. This process teaches students how the industry works from working in small groups to complete pre-production materials, the production, and post-production refining.

The rest of the year is filled with written assessment work where students have the chance to research a development in an industry, write a short film script, and analysing a film to reveal a deeper meaning behind the text.

 

Subject Overview

Term 1
In term 1, we look at two achievement standards that connect in topic. We begin the term with our genre study which focuses on recognising a connection between a genre and society. Genres and audiences are interrelated, and what we discover is that genre and society begin to influence one another. Previously we have looked at how film noir’s conventions connect to Pre and Post World War II in America. Students have the chance to watch various films from the genre to help support their arguments. Please note that this is prep for the external and will be revisited at the end of the year.

This directly connects to our scriptwriting standard where students have the chance to utilise their genre knowledge to create their own film noir script. We teach students how to write a traditional screenplay using industry-level scriptwriting practices and tools. This is a great opportunity for students to be creative and move beyond typical essay writing.

Term 2
The focus in term 2 is the production assessment. This is a challenging, yet incredibly rewarding process where students have the opportunity to create a short film from scratch. In pairs or small groups, students are given two options of developing their scripts, written previously for an internal, or using the ‘Build Your Own Movie’ template. Each year there is a requirement of a prop and a line of dialogue that must be included. This assessment really pushes our students to work collaboratively and practise industry-level processes to create a product that they can be proud of. Previously our films range in genre from horror, noir, mockumentary, thriller, drama, and crime.

Term 3
During term 3, we explore two assessment standards that are in an essay style format. The first assessment focuses on a development in an industry where students are given the autonomy to choose a topic. Some potential topics include podcasts, social media, artificial intelligence, video games, music industry, and streaming services. The assessment allows for generating an individual thesis to then research and evaluate the impact this development has on a media industry and/or society.

The second assessment looks at students analysing a film through different ‘lenses’ to reveal a deeper meaning behind the text. Students must produce two different readings, some of these could be a feminist, auteur, genre, sociological, psychological, and/or semiotic reading. Previous films we have analysed are ‘Vertigo’ (dir. Alfred Hitchcock) and ‘No Country For Old Men’ (dir. The Coen Brothers). In 2024, the potential films to be explored are ‘Barbie’ (dir. Greta Gerwig) or ‘Get Out’ (dir. Jordan Peele).

Term 4
In the last term, before study leave, students begin preparing for the external exam. With the content covered in term 1’s genre unit, students revisit this information and practise their writing skills ahead of the exam. Using their mock exam, students will explore how to develop their knowledge, arguments, and writing through various revision activities. Please note that this is a written examination.

Prerequisites

Year 12 Media is an advantage, but not a prerequisite. If choosing this subject without having completed Year 12 Media please have a discussion with the Teacher in Charge.

 

Contributions and Equipment/Stationery

• 1x SD Card

Pathway

Where can Media Studies take you?
• Communications i.e., Writing, Problem Solving, Planning, and Creativity
• Media Industries i.e., Radio, Television, and Journalism
• Advertising i.e., Writers and designers who develop and execute advertisements or entire ad campaigns.
• Public Sector i.e., Advertising Standards Authority, Broadcasting Standards Authority, New Zealand Film Commission, and NZ on Air.
• Government Policy i.e., Policy Adviser roles across government ministries, departments, and agencies.
• Social Justice and Community Sector i.e. ethical orientation and critical skills that serve a wide array of constituencies and communities.
• Education i.e., Secondary School Teacher specialising in Media Studies

https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/arts-and-media/

Career Pathways

Credit Information

You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.

Total Credits Available: 19
Internal Assessed Credits: 15
External Assessed Credits: 4
Assessment
Description
Level
Internal or
External
Credits
L1 Literacy Credits
UE Literacy Credits
Numeracy Credits
A.S. 91491 v2
NZQA Info

Media Studies 3.2 - Demonstrate understanding of the meaning of a media text through different readings


Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91493 v3
NZQA Info

Media Studies 3.4 - Demonstrate understanding of a relationship between a media genre and society


Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4r,4w *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91495 v2
NZQA Info

Media Studies 3.6 - Produce a media product to meet the requirements of a brief


Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 6
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91496 v2
NZQA Info

Media Studies 3.7 - Demonstrate understanding of a significant development in the media


Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91497 v2
NZQA Info

Media Studies 3.8 - Write a media text to meet the requirements of a brief


Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 3w *
Numeracy Credits: 0
Credit Summary
Total Credits: 19
Total Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
Total University Entrance Literacy Credits: 7
Total Numeracy Credits: 0

Approved subject for University Entrance

Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 19

Only students engaged in learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are eligible to be awarded these subjects as part of the requirement for 14 credits in each of three subjects.