Charlotte, Jane and Finn's Excellent Adventure

Western Springs Media Department 2006
An excerpt from the 2006 Year Book

The Media Department has had an exciting and eventful 2006. We have started a film society, travelled to LA and had our inaugural senior film premiere. This year we were also very pleased to welcome Nicola Green to the teaching team. She comes to us as an experienced and knowledgeable teacher and we are extremely fortunate to have her.

In July Charlotte Drayton and Finn McGowan travelled to LA with me to be part of the Irmas International Teen Media Summit. The summit brought together students from 26 countries around the world to work together for ten days. Charlotte and Finn shone as they represented the school and the country. Charlotte presented her report on Women’s Issues in NZ to the summit and Finn’s prepared PSA (Public Service Announcement) on Poverty was presented at a theatre night screening. Both worked with their groups during the week to produce another PSA. It was an extremely rewarding experience that made me proud to be associated with such creative and mature young people.

This year saw the inaugural senior film premiere evening. Students walked down the paparazzi lined red carpet with family and friends into the Tapac theatre to view the Year 12 and 13 films that achieved Merit and Excellence. Meg Freeman started a Film Society that was well attended by students from all levels. Students watched and discussed a variety of films and took part in the school film competition.

13 Media continued to work on topics such as film noir, censorship and the work of director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The students documentaries have continued to impress with an excellent mockumentary on ‘wokking’ by Finn McGowan, Stanley Woodhouse and Sam Macleod, an informative guide to Seymour by Charlotte Drayton, Susie Hunt and Hannah Fischer and an eerie yet tranquil exploration of sleep by Simone Bilgram, Eloise Gorham and Crystal Gorham.

With three Year12 classes we had a number to films created that made the grade for the film premiere evening. In alphabetical order, films worth mentioning were Crumpet and Mr. Moustachio, Cubicle, JC and Me, The Last Straw, Mr. B’s Beautiful Blues, My Beloved Monster, Pappy and Wine Cellar Scandal. Students also explored the representation of teens in Hollywood films, the narrative of Moulin Rouge and Heavenly Creatures and the thought provoking genre of documentary.

Year 11 continued to grow also with three classes. Students have received a good grounding in Media issues and concepts and will be well armed to take on senior achievement standards next year. They have explored the world of Tim Burton, television industry, audience and their own consumption and created their music videos.

Junior Media has continued to grow from strength to strength the Year 9 programme included studies of sitcoms, reality TV and making our own ads. Year 10 has continued to develop genre and animation studies and presented their practical work at the Junior Arts Festival.

Jane Hall
HOD Media