2. THE RANGE
This question covers
You preliminary task for G321
You main task for G321
Also
Any preliminary work for G324 – any of the video work, titling, still pictures
Your main task for G324
Your ancillary task for G324
And covers
•Software
•Hardware
•Online tools

3. THE QUESTION
Question 1(a) requires candidates to describe and evaluate their skills
development over the course of their production work, from Foundation
Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio. The focus of this evaluation must be on
skills development, and the question will require them to adapt this to
one or two specific production practices. The list of practices to which
questions will relate is as follows:
1. Digital Technology
2.
Creativity
3. Research and planning
4. Post-production
5. Using conventions from real media texts

4. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
To answer this question you will need to cover
SOFTWARE - the programmes that you have used
HARDWARE - the equipment that you have used
ONLINE TOOLS – any internet based sites that has helped.

5. SOFTWARE
The software you have used has included
Adobe PHOTOSHOP
Adobe PREMIER PRO
FINAL CUT
LIVE TYPE
iMOVIE
GARAGEBAND
To help you prepare, list what each of these programmes allowed you to do and what
difference it made.

6. HARDWARE
The hardware you have used has included
Fuji Digital Still Cameras
Sony Digital Video Cameras
Zoom H1 Digital Sound Recorder
Smart Phone
Computers – including hard drives or other memory devices
while these may not be strictly digital, cameras need supporting equipment such
as tripods, lights, exposure meters ( digital), microphones, dollies
To help you prepare, list what you used these for, the way you used them and what
each allowed you to do and difference it made.

7. ONLINE TOOLS
The online you may have used has included, obviously INTERNET in general, including
IMDB
YOUTUBE
SLIDESHARE
BLOGGER
PREZI
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
SURVEY MONKEY
WIX
To help you prepare, list what each of these tools has allowed you to do and what
difference it made.

8. CREATIVITY
This can raise its ugly head when you
Research into genre, mood boards, music, test shots, actors, location,
scripting, mise-en-scene, camerawork, editing, lighting, costume,
inspiration from other texts.
You might say that creativity is when you take the codes and conventions
and then put your own spin on it and make it your own. Its sort of how
you do something different, not to ignore all codes and conventions but
put your own style on them.
Also it can be where you exploit possibilities, eg with camerawork using a
variety of different camera angles to improve visual impact. Use of
digital technology allows you to instantly review your work .

9. RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Can include
Audience research, BBFC, textual analysis of other texts, focus groups +
questionnaires, UK Tribes, genre research, storyboarding, scripting,
props lists, locations, test shots, filming schedule, actors.
With research the progress of your skills it is as you find different ways to
do it, and better ways to analyse, planning can get better as you realise
more that you have to prepare for from the first year.
You need to be specific and say what you have researched and specifically
what you have planned for, and how that helped you with your
construction.

10. Research and planning cont
What primary and secondary research was undertaken? How did it inform
the production?• What quantitative and qualitative analysis methods
were employed? How did the results from these inform the production?
• How effectively were storyboards and magazine flat plans followed?
How did the effective planning of your trailer shoot mean that you got
all the shots that you wanted, even though you shot out of
chronological sequence, and ensured all the right people in the right
place.

11. POST-PRODUCTION
Can include
Post production for magazine is after shooting, How did you select which
picture to use? How was they edited, what particular editing tools were
used and to what effect? Size, levels and curves? Retouching of faces?
Post production for trailer is What editing decisions were made? How did
they inform the production?• What particular editing tools were used
and to what effect?• How did the post production process enhance the
overall production?
Uploading, editing, sizing, effects including slowing down or quickening
up, music, titles, transitions, sound effects, dialogue, narrative,
rendering, still frames.
You need to be SPECIFIC eg how you used the razor tool in Premier Pro to
edit the length of the clips.

12. CONVENTIONS FROM REAL MEDIA TEXTS
Magazines
Reference to specific magazines, genres, performers, history of music video,
camerawork, editing, narrative, mise-en-scene, lighting, music etc subversion
or adherence to conventions
Trailers
Reference to specific films, directors, actors, film noir, jeopardy and suspense,
camerawork, editing, narrative, mise-en-scene, lighting, music etc subversion
or adherence to conventions
In what ways were media conventions adhered to? For example did a music
video have fast paced editing? Did the performers act to the camera?•
What media theories were utilized? Were the representations involved
appropriate to the product?

13. PUTTING IT TOGETHER
The idea of this question is to show the progression over the two years.
Look at what you were introduced to in your preliminary task and how
that made it easier to do your main task. And it might be that it made
you aware of the possibilities of what you were working with. How you
presented you research and planning and what effect that had.
With your second year, although there was no formal preliminary task, you
did some practical prep - action match (door) discussion ( shot reverse
shot), locked down shot, dolly work and panning?
You also used iMovie as your introduction to timelines and video
editing, and that meant it was easier to learn the more advanced
Premier Pro for example.

14. PUTTING IT TOGETHER
You need to be specific and to say exactly what you used and how it helped
your creativity.
If might help you to break it down into three stages
research and planning – online tools, computer
shooting/making – cameras and ancillary equipment
post-production – software and online tools

15. ESSAY PLAN
Paragraph one ‘Introduction, address and define key terms
Paragraph two ‘Technology has taken all the creativity out of media
production’
Would seem to be a good starting point, then state what projects you
actually did for each of the two units.
Paragraph three Starting with the foundation portfolio, do not hesitate to
highlight anything you could have done better.
Paragraph four go on to advanced portfolio making sure you highlight the
progression you have made and being more aware you are of the
possibilities and potential.
Paragraph five – conclusion summary