Session Aims• The aim of this session is to introduce you to the

requirements of the research and planning topic area of Question 1a), Section A – Theoretical Evaluation of Production, which is part of Unit G325: Critical Perspectives In Media.

Pete Fraser (2002)• Suggested that creativity is brilliant but that the key to

a strong media coursework project was “professionalism and organisation”.

• The two key areas of ‘research and planning’ therefore ask you to assess the rigour of your planning and organisational skills and your attitude towards your coursework.

Bennett, Jones, McDougall(2002)• All students should identify a “clear audience” and

“plan how the artefact will be tested” during the planning process.

What You Did: Pre-ProductionResearch

•Given brief.

•Research•Analysis of existing media texts.•Issues surrounding Regulation. (Press Complains Commission, ABC, NRS, OFCOM.)•Came up with draft ideas.

•Audience Profiling.

•Media Pitch – audience feedback, health and safety•Re-drafting – audience feedback.

What You Did: Pre-ProductionPlanning

•Treatment.

•Storyboards and final flat-plans.•Organisation of personnel in group.•Production schedules .•Call Sheets.

• In this essay you will be required to evaluate as part of the specified write up the outcomes of the research and planning process. PTEE

• E.g. (P) The planning of my storyboard enabled me to think about the order of my shots.( add theory) (E) For example there was a sequence in my music video which required cross cut of insert shots to gig and back again. (E) As this sequence did appear in my final product, although with some SPFX enhancement at post production, I clearly felt the benefit of storyboarding, more so than flat-planning at AS where I hadn’t drawn with colours so I feel my skills did indeed improve in this area across the two years.

Bennett, Slater & Wall (2006)• All media production “takes place

in the light of other media production”.

Types of Research• Secondary research – second

hand information – work on codes and conventions of texts, use of theory.

• Primary research – first hand – textual analysis, audience feedback: questionnaires, vox pops.

Secondary research sources– Subject blogs, – Google,– Wikipedia,– Class handouts, – Text books,– Newspapers,– Journals/magazines,– Industry websites – viewing figures, ABC figures for

magazines etc.

Primary research sources– Internet – covers, contents pages, double

pages spreads, shot types etc.– Magazines – what magazines did you

textually analyse?– Posters.– DigiPaks.– Websites.– Radio Trailers.– Listings Magazine DPSs.– Newspapers.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Sources

• Accuracy – were the facts and figures correct? Did your audience feedback results provide a fair sample of overall opinions?

• Bias – textual analysis can be biasd as it is subjective – did you complete enough research to overcome this? Were any secondary sources biased? Think about documentary and mediation?

• Validity – was there a link between the particular research and final product? Was there a strong indication that this research effected the outcome of your work?

• Usefulness – how relevant was this to your project (see validity). OR did any of your research methods prove to be completely useless and why? Could you have used BOOLEAN searches on the internet for example?

• This links to use of real media conventions option for Q1a):

• What did you find out about the conventions of AS music magazines and A2 main project and conventions of all ancillaries?

• What theories did you apply?• What organisations did you visit and why?

• Software research – or too lazy, relying on teachers and Steve.

• Where did you go to research all the above? – YOU MUST STATE EXPLICITLY.

Organisation Of Research• You used your (Posterous) blog to organise ALL of your research.• What skills did you learn about organising, presenting, and

referencing materials? • (Remember if your research isn’t referenced correctly then you will

not get full marks – e.g. every magazine or image from the internet has to be referenced).

Organisation Of Research• How did your skills of organisation develop from

AS to A2?

Planning – Pre-Production • Adequate research – link this to DIGITAL

TECHNOLOGY – where did you find the research? Link to use of real media conventions. Was it VALID? USEFUL? RELIABLE?

• Drafting – flat plans for magazines and storyboards/ancillary drafts for A2 - link to DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY and CREATIVITY – how did you construct these?

• Audience Feedback – Again link to DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY and USE OR REAL MEDIA CONVENTIONS if possible. How did you make sure you collated this. How did you ensure that you collated this? What was the development between AS and A2?

• Remember the key words: Qualitative, Quantitative, Validity.

Clark et al (2007)• State that in media industries it is important to carry out

“regular audience research” using methods such as ratings collection, questionnaires, surveys, screen tests etc.

Scheduling• Did your knowledge of call sheets/production schedules

grow across AS and A2?

• Working as a team and organising equipment? What did you learn about planning roles – who was designer, journalist, director? Was booking equipment smoothly done?

S. Sonderling (in P.J. Fourie (2004))

• suggests that “to make any media product equipment and people are needed”.

• For video – a clear location and organisation of correct personnel are vital.

Organisation of time/resources

• Did you meet deadlines?

• What are the pros and cons of organising personnel? • What have you learned about communication between

personnel?

• Did your knowledge of call sheets/production schedules grow?• What could you have done better?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses? • Did you utilise digital technology to aid your organisation (call

sheets and production schedules on blog)?

Working individually or in groups

• What did you learn about working individually or in groups?

• What are the pro and cons of individual/team work?

• What main things have you learned about group work at AS and A2 in terms of planning your product?

• Presentation of Research and Planning

• How did you present your primary and secondary research on your blogs? We are talking about enhancing CREATIVITY and USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

• Did your presentation of audience feedback for example become more creative through your increased use of digital technology available for embedding on the blogs (onlinecharttool, bubl.us, WMM etc.)?

• Again, did your knowledge of referencing grow? Did this allow you to become more knowledgeable of presentation skills? i.e did your present research findings in slideshow format?

• Organisation of Research and Planning Materials

• How did you organise your research and planning materials? (Link to digital technology).

• Did you utilise the blog more at A2 than at AS level?• How did you follow your flat plans/storyboards? What

did you understand about the changes that were made?

• Did all group members have copies of production schedules, call sheets, storyboards etc.

Homework Assignment due 2.3.15

• Please think of all the above questions as part of your 1000 write up.

• There is a choice of two questions:1. Detail how your understanding of the importance of good

research and planning skills developed throughout the pre-production of your AS and A2 coursework.

2. How did your knowledge of digital technology aid your research and planning skills throughout the pre-production of your AS and A2 coursework?

• Refer to specific and detailed examples from your coursework.• Use as much media theory and terminology as possible.