Exam Topic - Question 1a: Research and Planning

If the question you are given in the exam is focussed on the area of RESEARCH AND PLANNING, you need to be able to give a full and detailed answer in the time allowed (30 minutes).   In order to do this you must have carried out the necessary preparation and practice activities.

What is Research and Planning?

This area of focus gives you a wide choice of examples to base your work on.  This includes the following:

Storyboards/Animatic Storyboards
Shot lists/ Scene Breakdowns
Props/ costume/ make up

Research into conventions of opening sequences
Research into conventions of genre
Research into conventions of music videos
Research into your chosen band/ artist
Research into platforms for distribution and markets
Creating a narrative/ writing a script
Brainstorming ideas
Location scouting/ location selecting
Research into the history of music videos
Looking at past students' work
Technical planning and research - lighting, cameras etc

Essential Preparation

1.  Select 3 examples of research and planning activities you carried out whilst making your AS production.
2.  Select 3 examples of research and planning activities you carried out whilst making your A2 production.
3.  Make sure that you remember all examples well and are able to write about them in detail.  Think about and make notes on WHAT you did, HOW you did it, WHY you did it and WHETHER it helped you create a more effective production.
4.  Think about and take notes on how your CREATIVITY developed in this area in reference to these examples.  Remember - every decision you made was a creative one - the whole process was a creative one.  Everything you did was creative to some degree - the question is, how effective was it?

Sample Exam Question

How has your creativity developed through your use of research and planning activities in the completion of your coursework productions?