This document outlines the aims, planning activities, impact, and skills developed for research and planning over the course of an AS/A2 media course. The aims are to ensure a range of research beyond conventions, relate findings to production decisions and outcomes, and provide examples of skills developed. Planning activities include drafting ideas, storyboarding, locations, scripts, scheduling, and allocating tasks. The impact of planning on productions and lessons learned are discussed. Research and planning skills are evaluated for progression over the course, including quality, efficiency, depth, and use of technologies.

1. R&P Aims
• To ensure that a range of research findings are
collected that extend beyond codes &
conventions findings
• To make clear relation between specific
findings and planning activities and the impact
production decisions and outcomes
• To provide examples of those research &
planning skills developed over the course of
As/A2

4. Planning Activities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Initial drafting of ideas
Use of research findings
Storyboarding (shot list, editing and
sequences of shots etc.)
Location/ settings wreckie
Narrative structure
Scripting and script adjustments
Casting
Mise en scene (costume, props,
lighting etc.)
Time management and production
schedules
Risk assessments
Allocation of group tasks &
responsibilities
Page design, layout and typography
@ A2 production lead
Incorporating
Use of planning paper and online
resources
Impact
•How effective was your planning
and how did it help you in the
production phase?
•What did you learn from planning
your first production that helped you
to improve your planning for the
second
Planning Related Skills – What and
how did you progress over time/ the
production process
•Quality & Quantity of planning
•Efficiency and accuracy
•Range/ diversity
•Depth and usefulness
•Mastery of specific digital
technologies to document and share
planning
•Use of specific online/digital
resources
•Time management and execution

5. Forgotten Research- Important that discussions about research go beyond
conventions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Genre
Audience research and
feedback
Institutional and distribution
Film Certification
Page design and layout
Framing of shots and use of
editing techniques
Use of planning paper and
online resources
Titling analysis
Synopsis
•
How did your research into
institutions responsible for the
production and regulation of
the media influence your
production work?
•
How did you use audience
feedback to influence your
planning decisions and
construction work while it was
in progress?
Research Skills Developed over the course of AS and A2
•Quality & Quantity of research carried out
•Efficiency and accuracy of recording of findings
•Range/ diversity of findings
•Depth and usefulness
•Mastery of specific digital technologies to document and share planning
•Use of specific online/digital resources
•Time management and execution

6. Research & Planning Skills Developed over the course of AS and A2
•Quality & Quantity of research carried out
•Efficiency and accuracy of recording of findings
•Range/ diversity of findings
•Depth and usefulness
•Mastery of specific digital technologies to document and share planning
•Use of specific online/digital resources
•Time management and execution
•Presentation of work
•Collection of Audience research
Deterioration in
progression/
skill shown
Some
progression/
skill developed
Significant
improvement over
the course of AS/A2
Skills greatly
enhanced

10. Deterioration in
progression/
skill shown
Some
progression/
skill developed
Significant
improvement over
the course of AS/A2
Skills greatly
enhanced