Research and Planning

PLANNING

(A) The organisation of time and equipment

In the Foundation Portfolio I made a shooting schedule, this showed me when I needed to have camera and what other equipment and props that I may need. It was very effective as it made sure that I was organised and it also helped me plan ahead, for example I could start to think about how to edit. This was because I did not have to worry about when I needed equipment, as I had already planned when everything was needed. I encountered many problems, as I went to film I realised that it was far too dark to film. Therefore I had to reschedule to another day that would have better lighting, but then I had the issue of finding a day that my actors could do. I could have improved these issues by planning my filming time more, this could have of ruled out the issues of lighting. Again for my Advanced Portfolio I made a shooting schedule, this time I made sure that I factored in the time of day that I would be filming and whether it would suit the mood for my music video. Therefore my filming was successful this year.

(B) The Efficient choice and organisation of Actors, Settings and Props

In my Foundation Portfolio I organised my actors and actresses into their different roles by choosing what characteristics they already had and therefore choosing character they suited best. It was effective as I managed to get correct actors/actresses to match the character that I had already planned. I encountered some problems and this was due to the filming problems. It therefore meant that I had to find some different actors/actresses as they could do most of the suitable rescheduled days. It could have of obviously been improved my planning my filming process better. My setting was also carefully planned to suit the thriller genre. In my Advanced Portfolio Task I again planned my actresses to suit the character that I had already thought of to match the music video. She had the same characteristics as the character I had already thought of; therefore emotions throughout the video were shown extremely well. My setting was also planned thoroughly, to ensure that it fitted the genre and style of music. I didn’t encounter as many problems as I did last years, therefore my planning must have of progressed.   

(C) Scripting and/or Storyboarding

In my Foundation Portfolio I used both of the processes of Scripting and storyboarding. I used scripting to guide my actors and actresses in what to say, it also enabled me to use the conventions of a thriller as it built up tension. I also used storyboarding and I did many drafts, I found it quite effective as I managed to get all my ideas down. It also helped me to find the best ideas and therefore use them. In my Advanced Portfolio I used Storyboarding and I did many more drafts than what I had done for my Foundation Portfolio, this again helped me to find the best ideas and discard the worst ideas. This shows that I have progressed as I managed to create better scenes within my music video as I had planned it a lot better.

RESEARCH

(D) Initial target audience research

For my Foundation Portfolio I researched my target audience by carrying out many questionnaires. They highlighted what films they liked and therefore I found out that they liked films that were similar to my idea. It was effective as I managed to fit a specific target audience to my film. Therefore finding out what I needed to include in my film. I encountered some problems and this included many people having different opinions, but I overcame this by choosing the majority of the same views and opinions. In my Advanced Portfolio I also carried out audience questionnaires, but I did this differently this year. I organised and presented a pitch, this showcased my ideas and I got lots more feedback than what I did last year. Therefore I feel I have progressed over the two years, as my audience feedback this year has helped my video be specific to what my audience wanted.

(E) Existing media practice/products

In the Foundation Portfolio I researched many different thriller films, I analysed how they fitted the genre conventions and therefore studied the different conventions needed for a thriller film. I found this research extremely useful as it made me realise what I needed to include in my opening sequence. I encountered the problems of not knowing whether my thriller sequence would fit these conventions; I therefore had to change some of my ideas to fit the current conventions. In my Advanced Portfolio I also researched many different types of products related to my project, this ranged from music videos to CD and Magazine covers. This time I tried to relate them as much as I could to my original ideas to make sure that I had no problems over matching conventions. I researched conventions of all three products and this enabled me to come up with the common conventions of the products. I feel that I have progressed as I have been more practical and logical in linking my products with conventions.