Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Last minute guidance on 'research'
What different forms of research did you do?
Remember that research you've conducted during your production work goes wider than just watching clips from thrillers or music videos on youtube: Institutional research (such as on how titles work in film openings, record labels that artists are signed to), audience research (before you made your products and after you finished for feedback), research into conventions of media texts (layout, fonts, camera shots, soundtracks, everything!) and finally logistical research- recce shots of your locations, research into costume, actors, etc You've done tons!
Remember that research you've conducted during your production work goes wider than just watching clips from thrillers or music videos on youtube: Institutional research (such as on how titles work in film openings, record labels that artists are signed to), audience research (before you made your products and after you finished for feedback), research into conventions of media texts (layout, fonts, camera shots, soundtracks, everything!) and finally logistical research- recce shots of your locations, research into costume, actors, etc You've done tons!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Previous exam questions
January 2011:
1a: Describe how you developed your skills in the use of digital technology for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to your creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.
1b: Apply theories of narrative to one of your coursework productions.
June 2010:
1a: Describe the ways in which your production work was informed by research into real media texts and how your ability to use such research for production developed over time.
1b: Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to genre.
January 2010:
1a: Describe how you developed research and planning skills for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.
1b: Analyse media representation in one of your coursework productions.
1a: Describe how you developed your skills in the use of digital technology for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to your creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.
1b: Apply theories of narrative to one of your coursework productions.
June 2010:
1a: Describe the ways in which your production work was informed by research into real media texts and how your ability to use such research for production developed over time.
1b: Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to genre.
January 2010:
1a: Describe how you developed research and planning skills for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.
1b: Analyse media representation in one of your coursework productions.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Chief Examiner's definition of 'Post Production'
"Post-production as an industry term sits most easily with moving image work, and for video-work purposes we would say everything done after the shoot, so from downloading the footage all the way to finishing the video. To give some parity, it makes sense to treat print work in the same way, so everything done after gathering the stories, planning the content and taking the photos counts as stuff you can write about as post-production in the exam. I hope this makes it clear."
Monday, May 23, 2011
Kolb's reflective cycle - adapted to suit our needs!
The examiner's report in January commented on the lack of reflection in student answers to section 1a. It was suggested that students follow Kolb's cycle of reflective learning - where you discuss something that you did, reflect on how well it worked, think about how you could do it differently next time and then do it differently, starting the cycle again. It's important that you are doing this when you are writing about your skills, rather than just listing what you did. Have a look at the diagram below:
Friday, May 20, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Revision Session
10.00am Tuesday 14th June in room 333 - revision session on section 1A and 1B of the exam.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
How do you evaluate your skills?
Evaluating your own skills can be tricky - it's hard to be objective about yourself and your own work sometimes. Use the following 5 point guide to help you develop these skills:
For every 'activity' that you write about, be it using split screen in editing (post production), using youtube (research and planning); examining real products (conventions from real media texts); or framing your shots (digital technology), you should bear in mind the following 5 points:
For every 'activity' that you write about, be it using split screen in editing (post production), using youtube (research and planning); examining real products (conventions from real media texts); or framing your shots (digital technology), you should bear in mind the following 5 points:
- What did you do (exactly)?
- How useful/effective was it?
- How does what you did link to your production work?
- How did it help you progress?
- What did you learn from it?
Monday, April 18, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Suggested Essay Structure (from OCR getahead blog)
A simple suggestion for a good approach to answering questions 1a and 1b, posted by the Chief Examiner.
Paragraph 1 should be an introduction which explains which projects you did. It can be quite short.
Paragraph 2 should pick up the skill area and perhaps suggest something about your starting point with it- what skills did you have already and how were these illustrated. use an example.
Paragraph 3 should talk through your use of that skill in early projects and what you learned and developed through these. Again there should be examples to support all that you say.
Paragraph 4 should go on to demonstrate how the skill developed in later projects, again backed by examples, and reflecting back on how this represents moves forward for you from your early position.
Paragraph 5 short conclusion
Remember it's only half an hour and you need to range across all your work!
Paragraph 2 should pick up the skill area and perhaps suggest something about your starting point with it- what skills did you have already and how were these illustrated. use an example.
Paragraph 3 should talk through your use of that skill in early projects and what you learned and developed through these. Again there should be examples to support all that you say.
Paragraph 4 should go on to demonstrate how the skill developed in later projects, again backed by examples, and reflecting back on how this represents moves forward for you from your early position.
Paragraph 5 short conclusion
Remember it's only half an hour and you need to range across all your work!
And a minimalist summary of what to cover...
Paragraph 1 Intro: which of your projects are you going to write about? briefly describe it
Paragraph 2: what are some of the key features of the concept you are being asked to apply? maybe outline two of the theories/ideas of particular writers briefly
Paragraph 3; start to apply the concept, making close reference to your production to show how the concept is evident in it
Paragraph 4: try to show ways in which ideas work in relation to your production and also ways in which those ideas might not apply/could be challenged
Paragraph 5; conclusion
Again remember you only have 30 minutes and that you really need to analyse the finished production, rather than tell the marker how you made it
Paragraph 1 Intro: which of your projects are you going to write about? briefly describe it
Paragraph 2: what are some of the key features of the concept you are being asked to apply? maybe outline two of the theories/ideas of particular writers briefly
Paragraph 3; start to apply the concept, making close reference to your production to show how the concept is evident in it
Paragraph 4: try to show ways in which ideas work in relation to your production and also ways in which those ideas might not apply/could be challenged
Paragraph 5; conclusion
Again remember you only have 30 minutes and that you really need to analyse the finished production, rather than tell the marker how you made it
Previous Exam Questions
January 2010:
1A: Research and Planning
1B: Representation
June 2010:
1A: Conventions from Real Media Texts
1B: Genre
January 2011:
1A: Digital Technology
1B: Narrative
1A: Research and Planning
1B: Representation
June 2010:
1A: Conventions from Real Media Texts
1B: Genre
January 2011:
1A: Digital Technology
1B: Narrative
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