Unit Overview: ATAR Year 12

Over the course of the next six weeks, students will view, produce and respond to superhero
films. With your previous understanding of media codes and conventions as well as the
representation of certain genders, cultures and social classes you will be tasked with taking a
superhero of your choice and applying them to a new genre or media form. This is to create a
new interpretation and audience for a particular iconic figure. You will view independent
films and establish what separates them from more mainstream studio films. Do they
challenge the traditional codes and conventions of film making? Is there a greater or smaller
sense of censorship? What is the target audience of an indie film compared to a studio film?
Below is a timetable that breaks down exactly what is to be covered and achieved in this
fourteen week period. You will have 5 pieces of assessed work to complete covering viewing,
producing and evaluating.
Week Topics Class Work Homework Assessment Due
Week 1-
Discuss different
audiences
Introduce the topics for
the year. Focus on
audience and what
attracts them. Compare
blockbusters to Indie
films.
View one independent
film, establish a target
audience as well as
codes and conventions.
This film can be one of
your references for the
report.

Week 2-
Viewing Indie Films
What is an indie film?
Give examples and show
scenes, what makes them
different to blockbusters.
Time will be allocated
for Audiences Report.
Continue working on
your Audiences Report.

Week 3-
Auteurs
Discuss filmmakers and
how they make their
films in terms of style
and themes. Time will be
allocated to choose and
research a filmmaker.
Audiences Report-
End of First Class of the
week.
Week 4-
Film Style
Separate the genre from
style, what makes them
different?
Continue working on
your filmmaker
presentation.

Week 5-
Superhero Films
Recap codes and
conventions of superhero
films and their audiences
Continue working on
your filmmaker
presentation.

Week 6-
Presentations &
Intro to Project
Class time will be
assigned for filmmaker
presentations.
Hand out the task sheet
for the upcoming film
project and allow time to
prepare and pitch a
concept to the teacher.
Filmmaker Presentation-
Ready to be presented in
the first class
Week 7-
Treatment and Script
Create a treatment and
script for a 5 min film of
a pre-existing superhero
with a specific target
audience.
Everyone should be
using this time to begin
deciding what superhero
to base their film on.

Week 8-
Storyboarding
Storyboard your film
with captions of action
and shot selection.
Film Pre-Production-
End of second class of
the week
Week 9-
Filming Week 1
Time in class will be
allocated for filming

Week 10-
Filming Week 2
Last week of filming in
class.

Week 11-
Editing Week 1
Begin editing your film
putting shots into
sequence and applying
credits.

Week 12-
Editing Week 2
Final week of editing,
apply transitions, music
and effects
I will make the editing
bays available under my
supervision on 2 recesses
and 1 after school 2 hour
session.

Week 13-
Promotion & Reflect
Creating a promotional
poster and begin
planning your self-
evaluation report
Begin writing your self-
evaluation report.
Film and Post-
Production
End of second class of
the week
Week 14-
Reflect & Viewing
Complete your self-
evaluation report, to be
handed in in the 2
nd

lesson of the week.
Exam Preparation will
be conducted in the final
two weeks.
Self-Evaluation Report-
End of second class of
the week

Assessments
1. Media Audiences Report: A compare and contrast report between studio
blockbusters and independently made and financed films. Take one film from each
category that have the same genre or a similar subject matter and identify the target
audience. How expansive are these audiences? How does the budget and distribution
impact on audience? 1000-1500 words include a bibliography of at least 5 references
that does not add to the word count. (20%) DUE WEEK 3
2. Filmmaker Presentation: Choose a film director that has a distinctive style in their
films. Create an oral presentation about their style of film making, the themes that
they incorporate into their stories and the progression over the years they have been
making films. Use visual examples of their work and make references to the audience
they attract, whether they make independent films, blockbusters or both. The
presentation should be at least 10 minutes long and include a short scene from one of
your filmmakers films. No referencing required. (10%) DUE WEEK 6
3. Short Film Pre-Production: Your task is to pitch a superhero film that targets a
specific audience as an indie film would. You are encouraged to break down the
codes and conventions of superhero films to create a niche film. Your superhero can
not be original, you must take a pre-existing hero and apply him/her to this new film
style. You will be expected to create a film treatment, a script that should be timed to
no less than 5 minutes and a storyboard that accurately demonstrates the shots,
scenery and timing that will be incorporated into the film. You will be required to
make a reflective journal entry of no more than a page after each lesson. (10%) DUE
WEEK 8
4. Short Film Production and Post-Production: You will now need to take your script
and storyboards and film your superhero remembering to adapt it to a niche audience
changing the conventions of the genre. The film should be at least 5 minutes long, it is
a group assignment, as such each group member should have a crew role such as
director, cinematographer, production designer, etc. Each group member should also
have a role in front of the camera. You will then need to edit the film on the
computers in class, be sure to include opening and closing credits as well as
appropriate transitions, music and sound effects. I would also a promotional poster for
your film remembering to use images and visuals that will attract your audience. An
image, the name of the film and a tagline are a must. You will be required to continue
your reflective journal entries from the pre-production stage of the film. (30%) DUE
WEEK 13
5. Self-Evaluation and Justification Report: Your report should be broken down into
two parts. The first part is an evaluation of your film, what did you like and dislike
about the film? Given more time what would you have changed? What role did you
contribute to the film (director, screenwriter, etc.)? How did your group work as a
team? The second part is a justification of your work in regards to what makes your
film independent and niche. Justify breaking codes and conventions of the superhero
genre with comparisons to conventional superhero film. I will also require you to
hand in your reflective journal entries with this report. (10%) DUE WEEK 14
6. WACE Exam: To be completed in the allocated Exam time within the school. (20%)