This document provides advice for students on how to get the most out of practical projects. It outlines 9 key areas of focus: research, planning, evidence, ideas, feedback, logistics, equipment, production, and reflection. For each area, it provides bulleted tips, such as conducting thorough research from multiple angles, planning for all possible issues, gathering evidence of creative processes, keeping ideas simple, soliciting feedback at all stages of a project from peers and teachers, and reflecting on work ongoing and at completion. The overall message is to be diligent in preparation, documentation of creative work, and self-evaluation.

1. the good, the bad and the
ugly
how to get the most out of your practical projects

2. 9 key words
• research
• planning
• evidence
• ideas
• feedback
• logistics
• equipment
• production
• reflection

3. 1. research
• really look at real
examples
• keep evidence of all your
research
• research every angle
• conventions, audiences,
institutions
• KEEP RESEARCHING

5. what would
improve it?

7. 2. planning
• plan for all eventualities-
what could possibly go
wrong?
• record all your planning-
visuals
• show the process of
your ‘journey’

8. 3. evidence
• storyboards, animatics,
recce photos
• flatplans, all your original
images
• screengrabs of your
manipulation of material-
digital editing,
photoshop, etc

9. 4. ideas
• keep ideas simple
• have a workable concept
with realistic plans
• try the ‘25 word pitch’
or the ‘lift pitch’

10. 5. get feedback
• at all stages from peers,
teachers and others
• keep records of the
feedback
• take notice of it and
respond to it

11. 6. logistics
• people, places, props,
costumes
• get it done early- you
may need to do it all
again
• rehearse and prepare
• share contact details for
all involved

12. 7. equipment
• practice on it
• prepare it, get to know it
• make the most of it
• are all the parts there
before you use it?

13. 8. production
• always shoot extra for
coverage
• organise your material
before editing
• start with the big picture
• fine tune the detail later

14. 9. reflection
• ongoing as well as at the
end
• stand back from what
you have made
• get teacher advice on
the format of ‘evaluation’