development diary

1. Development Diary
Harry

2. Writing cycle
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL:
You are required to keep a weekly
reflective journal. The aim of the
reflective journal is for you to discuss the
challenges, obstacles and difficulties you
are managing and solving during your
FMP project.
This can be in one of the following
formats:
 Written journal (min. 300 words)
 Video journal (min. 3 mins)
 Audio journal (min. 3 mins)

3. Research

4. Context Tuesday 4th February
What Happened?
For my pre-research, I have researched different music video directors, and watched some of the videos they
have made, and look at the similarities and differences between each video. This included camera angles,
lighting, costume and settings.
Feeling
I feel happy with the research because it gave me the chance to look at the directors work and other artists
that they have worked with.
Evaluation (What was good and bad about the experience)
The good parts were that I was able to identify the similarities and differences between each video I looked at.
Conclusion
I could have done more research into the directors to see what other projects they have worked on.
Action Plan
If this was to come up again, I would look into more of the directors work – looking at the other projects they
have worked on.

5. Pre-Proposal Tuesday 4th February
What Happened?
I’ve written up my FMP Pre-Proposal
which outlines what I’m planning to
make. I’ve written up what I plan to
make, some potential research targets,
influences and what impact I want it to
have on the audience.
Feeling
I feel happy with my pre-proposal, but I
feel that there needs to be more in it.
Action Plan
I will try to expand on my answers for
Production Techniques and
characteristics. I will add onto it when
the idea has developed.

6. Sunday 16th February: Pre-proposal update
What Happened?
I updated my Pre-proposal because now I have a
better idea of what I want my music video to be. I
updated my FMP idea, my influences, my
research targets, the tone and mood and the
styles I plan to use.
Feeling
I feel happier with my pre-proposal because I
expanded on my answers and it’s more detailed
and it makes more sense.
Action Plan
If it’s still not quite clear enough, I will try to
expand on my ideas even more so they are more
understandable and clear.

7. Proposal Tuesday 6th February
What Happened?
I wrote up parts of my proposal which I was certain of. This is the first draft of my
proposal. So far I have set up the production schedule, I have written up some
parts of the production schedule, and written up parts of the rationale and
project concept and I have fully written up how I will evaluate the project.
Feeling
So far I’m happy with the proposal because it outlines what I’m going to do. I
need to write up more in the project concept as the idea develops.
Action Plan
When I have some spare time, I will finish writing up the proposal. I hope to do
this before production because I will have a better idea of what will happen
when the idea has developed.

8. Introduction to audience survey
What Happened?
I wrote a small introduction to my Audience research. This outlines who my
intended audience is and what the video will involve, and what song I
potentially intend to use. It also explains that I will make a survey asking
people questions about music videos.
Feeling
I feel happy with the survey because it’s fairly basic and not too complex.
Action Plan
As the idea develops, I plan to make another one or two surveys which will
ask the audience what they think about the idea. This will give me an even
better idea of what the audience want to see.

9. Survey Thursday 6th February
I made a survey asking people what gender they are.

10. Friday 7th February
What Happened?
Today, I started researching existing music videos. I started researching the song ‘Shine’ by Years and Years.
First, I wrote about the storyline and what I thought it was about. I talked about the dark spooky feel it had. I also mentioned how the
music video ended on a cliff hanger.
I then started looking at the different shots – looking at the different camera angles, composition of the characters, camera angles
and what they mean. I also looked at the colours of the costume and colours of the set and talked about what they represent.
Feeling
So far I feel happy with my research because I feel that I have got further ahead that what I thought I would have done today.
Evaluation (What was good and bad about the experience?)
Things I found good about the research was I feel like I’ve gained more knowledge with colour theory because I’ve gained more
understanding about what the different colours means.
Conclusion (What could you have done?)
When I got stuck with part of the research, I should have asked my tutor to help me. This would have helped me to stay on track.
Action Plan
When I get stuck with something, I will ask my tutor to help me. This will help me to stay on track and continue with my work.

11. Thursday 13th February
Today I have been researching more existing music videos. I have
researched ’The Monster’ by Eminem and Rihanna, ’Doing It’ by Charli
XCX and Rita Ora, and ‘Of The Night’ by Bastille. From this research I
have learned… This will be an influence for my project because the
storyline of my project is going to be dark and the main character is
going to be a villian.
I need to look more at the different shots, styles, effects (cut to or
flashback), and I need to understand what they mean.

12. Friday 14th February
Today I have been researching my final music video song choice – Chandelier by Sia.
Although the song is good because it sounds dramatic, the music video is revolting because
there was no meaning behind the dance moves and it doesn’t have a storyline. From this
I’ve learned that all music videos don’t have to have a story/storyline, but some have a
message behind it. This will have an influence on my project because it tells me what to
not do – not to have actions in that don’t mean something.
I need to find reviews for each song to see what people think and I will use relevant
reviews for quotes.
I had a moment of thinking ‘Have I picked the right subject for my Final Project?’ because I
worried that I had picked a subject that wouldn’t get me into university and into the job I
want. I went to talk to Brittany, Chelsea and Dave and they said I am doing the right subject
for my project, so I have decided to stick with it.

13. Tuesday 18th February
Today, I went back to looking at existing products because I felt that the research I did last
week didn’t make sense and I felt like I could add more to it. During my research, I was able
to talk about the storyline, the colour schemes and set design, costumes, whether the
videos were narrative or performance and what the meaning behind it is. I also looked at
different camera angles,
What went well?
I was able to explain each element in detail. Also, I feel that I have expanded my research
compared to research I’ve done in the past because I looked at lots of different elements
(e.g narrative/performance)
What could I improve?
I could try to expand on my answers a bit more by talking about what each element might
suggest. This will give me a better understanding.

14. Sunday 23rd February
Today, I went back to my context research. I researched five music video directors. I looked at which
artists they have worked with and I compared the similarities and differences between colours,
styles, setting). For each director, I watched three of there music videos and I compared the
similarities and differences between each video (e.g colours, styles, setting and storyline)
What went well?
I was able to research three different directors because I found sufficient information about them.
What didn’t go well
What didn’t go well is I wanted to research more than three directors which I did, but I couldn’t find
enough information about them that was relevant to what I want to do.
What could I improve?
Talk about what happens at the beginning, in the middle and the end of each video.

15. Thursday 27th February
Today I have been working on Problems
and solutions. I have been working on
problems and solutions for the Camera,
Boom Microphone, Power and software.
So far I’m really happy with my problems
and solutions work because I’ve found lots
of problems that I could encounter during
the project and I’ve worked out sensible
ways to deal with them.
I chose to do it as a table because it’s
easier for me to understand.

16. Friday 28th February
Today I have been working more on my problems
and solutions tables. I found more problems that I
could encounter with the camera.
After that I worked on Backing up, Storage,
Techniques, Ability, Finance, Location, Job Roles,
and anything else related to production.
So far I am happy with the problems and
solutions I have come up with so far.
Today I noticed that I should have added an extra
column in between the problem and the solution,
saying what the impact of the problem could be,
and the original column should say what the
impact of the solution should be. Before I began
working on, Location, Finance, Production time
and Job roles, I added the extra column in.
Over the weekend I’m going to try and complete
the tables so I can focus on experiments next
week. Also, I will add the extra column in to the
slides that don’t have them.

17. Tuesday 3rd March
What is the biggest problem you will face?
I think the biggest problem I will face is using the camera because in the last few projects, I’ve had problems with it meaning I couldn’t use it. I will avoid
this by practising with the camera during the week, doing experiments.
What further problem solving or testing are you expecting to do this week?
I’m expecting to start my experiments on Thursday and complete them on Friday. I’m going to experiment with lighting, scenery and stunts which I’m
thinking of including in my video.
Why do you think we’re doing problem solving?
Because problems can occur at any point during the project and I need to identify what they could be now, so when/if they come up, I know what to do
to solve them.
What are my strengths during the project?
My strengths are pre-production because I like planning things in advance. Another strength is problem solving because I always have
backup/contingency plans in my pre-production. Also editing is a strength because I feel confident with it.
What are my weaknesses?
My weakness is research and at the moment using the camera because in my last two projects, I’ve had problems setting the camera up, meaning I’ve
struggled to use it because things got on top
How is your project going so far? Have you got any concerns?
So far I think my project is going well. The things I’m struggling with at at the moment is the context research. Things I’m concerned is my context
research because it was quite difficult to find information about each director I looked at. Although I could find information on Wikipedia, I find that it’s
not the most reliable place to look. I need to find other reliable/credible sources of information.