This document provides information about the Advanced Portfolio in Media Studies unit, including: - The purpose of the unit is to assess technical, creative, and research skills as well as the application of knowledge and understanding. - Candidates will produce a media portfolio and presentation evaluating their research, planning, and work. - Two brief options are provided: a music video or film trailer. - Guidance is given on research, planning, constructing the media product, and a production blog and evaluation. - Deadlines and marking criteria are also outlined.

1. A2 Media Studies
Unit G321: Advanced Portfolio in
Media Studies
Name…………………………………………..

2. The purpose of this unit is firstly to assess candidates’ ability to plan
and construct media products using appropriate technical and
creative skills (AO3); secondly to assess candidates application of
knowledge and understanding in evaluating their own work, showing
how meanings and responses are created (AO2); and finally to
assess candidates ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate
research (AO4). The unit requires candidates to engage with
contemporary media technologies.
This is a coursework unit. From the brief candidates will produce:
• A media portfolio, comprising main and ancillary texts.
• A presentation of their research, planning and evaluation in
electronic formats.
The media portfolio will be produced through a combination of two
or more of the following media:
• Video
• Print
• Web-based
• Audio
Each candidate will evaluate and reflect upon the creative process
and their experience of it. Candidates will evaluate their work
electronically; this evaluation may be done collectively for a group
production or individually.
Examples of suitable formats for the evaluation are:
• A podcast
• DVD Extras
• A blog
• A power point
In all cases candidates should be discouraged from seeing the
evaluation as simple a written essay and the potential of the
format chosen should be exploited through the use of images,
audio, video and links to online resources.

3. The Choice of Briefs
Option 1: Music Video
A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music
promo video with two of the following three options:
• A website homepage for the band
• A cover for its release as part of a digipak (CD/DVD package)
• A magazine advert for the digipak (CD/DVD package)
Option 2: Film Trailer
A promotional package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer,
together with two of the following three options:
• A website homepage for a film
• A film magazine front cover, featuring the film.
• A poster for the film
All work must be the candidates own original images and footage.
Video work must be in DVD format and must be playable on
standard DVD players for moderation.
Web pages and blogs must be accessible on line during the
moderation period.
Research, planning and evaluation MUST be presented in electronic
formats.

4. What is meant by original images?
These are defined as: photographs taken by the candidate themselves, with
proof in the Production Report appendix, in terms of the original pre-cropped
or pre-manipulated photographs.
Original images must be wholly originally produced. Any manipulation of
existing images cannot count as an original image.
Please note that found images (i.e. from existing sources) that have been
significantly edited/digitally manipulated, with evidence provided in the
production report appendix of the initial ‘found’ image, do not constitute
original images.
You should: Plan and research
• Decide on and research into target audience, with evidence in your
blog. You should find and display this evidence in questionnaires and
graphs.
• Research existing media practice and examples of comparable products
(i.e. your competitors) and discuss your findings in the production
blog.
• Action plan your organisation of time, equipment and people.
• Draw drafts of your production and include all evidence of planning
and drafting in the appendix of the Production Report.
• Design a flat plan or storyboard/script to show you understand the
conventions of your chosen medium.
• Take photographs to evidence paper planning. For example initial
ideas, scripting and storyboarding.
• Provide a sample of original images/footage that you took and
annotate around the images/footage why you did/did not use them.
• Take photographic evidence of locations/ shooting process / castings
to upload to the blog.
Construct a media product
• Use established forms and conventions to produce a recognisable and
meaningful piece of media.
• Pay close attention to detail and finish in a way which shows
understanding of the type of media product.
• Produce a product that is appropriate to the target audience.
• Show skill and ability in the use of the technology and equipment
needed to produce the product.

5. Produce a production blog – no more than 2000 words in total, (each
section should be a maximum of 500 words) Show evidence in a
variety of formats (photographs/ graphs / diagrams / presentations /
DVD extras) Do NOT just rely on the written word.
o Part 1:the brief and research into similar media texts/target
audience
o Part 2: planning the production
o Part 3: constructing the production – technical decisions and
revisions
o Part 4: evaluation of the finished product
The Deadlines
Part one: the brief and research into similar media texts/target
audiences and preliminary tasks:
To be completed by:
Part two: planning the production:
To be completed by:
Part three: constructing the production
To be completed by:
Part four: evaluation of the finished product
To be completed by:
The final deadline overall for the project is:

6. How is your work assessed?
Your work in internally marked by your media teacher, a sample is
then selected for external moderation.
The foundation Production is assessed in three sections:
• Planning and research: maximum marks 20/20
• Construction: maximum marks 60/60
• Production Report: maximum marks 20/20
Overall your work is marked out of 100 and is 50% of your overall A2 mark.
Part 1-Interpreting the brief and carrying out research
• How do you interpret the brief?
• What style of practical work have you chosen to produce?
• Who is the audience you are targeting and why? (You must back up your
decisions with evidence from your research).
• What research have you carried out? For example to explain you have
carried out analysis into other products you need to explain why you
looked at rival products and explain how this analysis will help you with
the design of your own production.

7. • Explain what genre conventions you will apply to your own production?
Part 2-Planning the production
• Explain why your action plan and equipment list will be useful?
• What do you think people look for from your media product? Remember to
back up your points by referring to any research you have done.
• State the title of your band/ song / film and the connotations this has?
• Refer to the brief and explain you are required to use original
images/footage and explain where you are going to take the photographs
and offer reasons why?
• For example how does your location fit in with the style of your
production? Will you take the photographs/film at night time or day time?
Have you considered continuity and weather conditions?
• Explain that you have designed draft drawings of your product and
comment on how this has helped the creative process.
• How will your magazine/film be different/appealing/entice your audience?
• Your last paragraph should discuss your planning process such as flat plan,
drawn drafts, photo list, storyboards scripts and action plan.

8. Part 3- Constructing the production – technical decisions and
revisions
Please ensure you keep a log book of your progress. Use it to explain
the technical decisions and revisions you made and your reasons for
re-drafting/changing schedules/decisions to re-write and so forth. This
will be extremely useful in your production in terms of organisation but
will not be handed in.
o What equipment did you use? How did you use it to achieve your
aims? Did you need to re-do anything with different equipment or
techniques? Have you got earlier drafts as evidence?
o When setting up photographs/filming give yourself a range of
options for different types of shot and image so that you can decide
which is best. What types of image did you create? How did you
achieve which was most appropriate?
o How did you manipulate images or text to suit your aims? What did
you do and how did you do it? Please be detailed and specific.
o When working on sections, did you go back to check characteristics
and conventions used in the construction of comparable (and rival)
media products? You need to ensure that language is appropriate,
the images are comparable and the layout suits the genre.
o What has been your individual contribution to this stage? What
evidence have you got to demonstrate this?

9. Part 4- Evaluation of the finished product prompts
How well does the finished product match up to the aims you established for
it when you interpreted the brief? To answer this you need to consider:
• Response of the target audience. Use focus groups and individual
responses from test audiences. ( Do not just ask friends and family, you
need a more objective response)
• Evaluate the characteristics and genre conventions used in your piece and
similar (and rival pieces). Are the images and the language appropriate? Is
the style comparable? Does the form suit the genre?
• Did you succeed in attracting your target audience and creating a film
which will take its place in the market and yet differ from its competitors?
What characteristics give it a unique style?
• What aspects of your product do you think could be improved? Be very
precise, technical and specific in your answer.
• What aspects of your product are you particularly pleased with? Be very
precise, technical and specific in your answer.

10. IMPORTANT
In the evaluation the following questions must be answered
• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
• How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary
texts?
• What have you learned from your audience feedback?
• Who would be the audience for your media product?
• How did you attract/address your audience?
• How did you use media technologies in the construction and research,
planning and evaluation stages?
Mark Scheme
Appendix C: Sample Marking Criteria
for Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio in
Media
Research and Planning must be presented in electronic format. Where candidates
have worked as a group, the research may be presented collectively, but teachers
are asked to differentiate the contributions of individuals within the group in arriving at
a mark and justifying individual marks on the assessment sheet. As part of the
moderation sample, the moderator will request some research/planning material.
Level 1 0–7 marks
• There is minimal research into similar products and a potential target
audience.
• There is minimal organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.
• There is minimal work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or
storyboarding.
• Time management may be very poor.
• There is minimal care in the presentation of the research and planning.
• There is minimal skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the
presentation.
• There are minimal communication skills.

11. Level 2 8–11 marks
• There is basic research into similar products and a potential target audience.
• There is basic organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.
• There is basic work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.
• Time management may not be good.
• There is a basic level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.
• There is basic skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation.
• There are basic communication skills.
Level 3 12–15 marks
• There is proficient research into similar products and a potential target
audience.
• There is proficient organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.
• There is proficient work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or
storyboarding.
• Time management is good.
• There is a good level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.
• There is proficient skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the
presentation.
• There are proficient communication skills.
Level 4 16–20 marks
• There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target
audience.
• There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.
• There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or
storyboarding.
• Time management is excellent.
• There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and
planning.
• There is excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the
presentation.
• There are excellent communication skills.
Marking Criteria for Evaluation
Each candidate will evaluate and reflect on the creative process and their experience
of it. Candidates will evaluate their work electronically. The format of the evaluation
has some flexibility and its form can be negotiated between teacher and student: it
may take place with individual candidates or with the production group as a whole, or
each individual candidate or production group may make a formal or informal
presentation to the whole class.
The questions that must be addressed in the evaluation are:
• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
• How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?
• What have you learned from your audience feedback?
• How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research,
planning and evaluation stages?
Ideas for the format for the presentation of the evaluation can be found in the
Guidance Notes.
Level 1 0–7 marks

12. • There is minimal understanding of the forms and conventions used in the
productions.
• There is minimal understanding of the role and use of new media in various
stages of the production.
• There is minimal understanding of the combination of main product and
ancillary texts.
• There is minimal understanding of the significance of audience feedback.
• There is minimal skill in choice of form in which to present the evaluation.
• There is minimal ability to communicate.
• There is minimal use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.
Level 2 8–11 marks
• There is basic understanding of the forms and conventions used in the
productions.
• There is basic understanding of the role and use of new media in various
stages of the production.
• There is basic understanding of the combination of main product and ancillary
texts.
• There is basic understanding of the significance of audience feedback.
• There is basic skill in choice of form in which to present the evaluation.
• There is basic ability to communicate.
• There is basic use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.
Level 3 12–15 marks
• There is proficient understanding of the forms and conventions used in the
productions.
• There is proficient understanding of the role and use of new media in various
stages of the production.
• There is proficient understanding of the combination of main product and
ancillary texts.
• There is proficient understanding of the significance of audience feedback.
• There is proficient skill in choice of form in which to present the evaluation.
• There is proficient ability to communicate.
• There is proficient use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.

13. Level 4 16–20 marks
• There is excellent understanding of the forms and conventions used in the
productions.
• There is excellent understanding of the role and use of new media in various
stages of the production.
• There is excellent understanding of the combination of main product and
ancillary texts.
• There is excellent understanding of the significance of audience feedback.
• There is excellent skill in choice of form in which to present the evaluation.
• There is excellent ability to communicate.
• There is excellent use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.
Film/Television/Video
Level 1
• Work likely to be unfinished.
• There is evidence of minimal ability in the creative use of any of the following
technical skills:
• the ability to hold a shot steady;
• framing a shot appropriately;
• using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;
• shooting material appropriate to the task set;
• selecting mise-en-scène;
• editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer;
• using varied shot transitions, captions and other effects selectively and
appropriately;
• using sound with images and editing appropriately.
• Where a candidate has worked in a group, there is only minimal evidence of a
contribution to construction.
Level 2
There is evidence of a basic level of ability in the creative use of some of the
following technical skills:
• holding a shot steady, where appropriate;
• framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate;
• using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;
• shooting material appropriate to the task set;
• selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting;
• editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer;
• using varied shot transitions, captions and other effects selectively and
appropriately for the task set;
• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set.

14. Where a candidate has worked in a group, a basic contribution to construction is
evident.
Level 3
• The candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in the creative use of
most of the following technical skills:
• holding a shot steady, where appropriate;
• framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate;
• using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;
• shooting material appropriate to the task set;
• selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting;
• editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer;
• using varied shot transitions, captions and other effects selectively and
appropriately for the task set;
• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set.
Where a candidate has worked in a group, a proficient contribution to construction is
evident.
Level 4
• The candidate is expected to demonstrate excellence in the creative use of
most of the following technical skills:
• holding a shot steady, where appropriate;
• framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate;
• using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;
• shooting material appropriate to the task set;
• selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting;
• editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer;
• using varied shot transitions, captions and other effects selectively and
appropriately;
• using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task.
Where a candidate has worked in a group, an excellent contribution to construction is
evident.