Research & Planning Question

Describe how your understanding of the importance of good research and planning skills developed throughout the pre-production of your AS and A2 coursework

During the last two years of studying media I have been given the task of creating two briefs for my AS and A2 studies; a 2 minute opening sequence for a film noire, and and create a music promotional package including  a music video, digipak and advert. Research and planning plays a key role in the overall production value of my products, also enabling tools available to me to be utilised to full effect and be related to the task at hand. I will answer this question by first outlining research and planning in AS, followed by the development of these into A2.

The first thing I did during AS for research was the noting of the brief and outline my understanding of my task and what I had to base my product around. For example, from researching into texts such as LA Confidential I was able to understand that my product will have crime as a focal point. This in turn giving me a foundation of which my product will be based upon, meeting my aims and expectations. Following on from this I also researched the conventions linked to film noire and the typical stereotypical ideas that are tied to this film genre. This brought to light the ideas such as black and white, which highlighted how to achieve a film noire opening sequence I will need to adapt such ideas to mine for easy recognition. These research of conventions were also tied with analysis of existing medias for in-depth analysis of successful film noire's. For example, Seven, was reviewed to understand key concepts of the genre and take ideas that could be adapted into my sequence, including elements that could be twisted for creativity. Finally, opening sequences were reviewed as a whole, to understand the 'must-have's' for an opening sequence and the information that must be incorporated into mine. LA Confidential was reviewed again for this, present key ideas that could be adapted, edited or taken to be placed on my product for a closer relation to the genre of film noire.

Planning was also important during AS, providing a guideline to filming my opening sequence. A prime part of my planning was the use of writing draft ideas down on either paper or my blog. For example, I collaborated with my group on writing our individual ideas on a piece of paper which we later reviewed and selected key ideas. This allowed the best elements to be incorporated into the product, and the most popular ideas to exist during the opening sequence. Another key part of planning was the use of a risk assessment, which allowed me to understand that risks that would be undertaken when creating the opening sequence and any problems which may prevent progress. For example, we understood that lighting conditions may affect how our sequence is recorded, this now allowing us to prepare for such problems and discover alternatives. A storyboard was key to the sequencing of the clip, and created a structure that could be followed when preparing to film. Our storyboard allowed the whole group to understand how the opening sequence will be played out, also allowing any feedback and ideas to be inputted before committing to filming. Recce shot were also widely used during the planning of the sequence, allowing us to experiment with specific shots and determine what would work well with our genre, and what wouldn't. For example, these were vital when performing the low-angle tilt, allowing us to understand specifically how this shot should be taken and it's effectiveness. 

In A2, research for my products developed quite considerably and allowed a more effective use of research as a whole. As with AS, we started with a brief of what we aimed to achieve throughout the preparation of our products and what we were expected to achieve. However, this was developed primarily due to the reason that A2 required research and planning on more than one product, such as the video and digipak, therefore our brief was much more detailed and expanded upon. The conventions of music video's was also a key area of the research, following a similar structure to the reviewing of film noire clips, but now however being much more varied and in-depth due to the flexibility of the dance genre. This allowing understanding of key parts of dance music, such as the thought beats found in call on me, and created a wider selection of elements to consider than film noire. This can also tie closely with the creation of a 9-frame analysis, which went further than simple convention reviewing and allowed a detailed dissection of a typical dance clip for key elements. A2 also developed from AS through the incorporation of new research techniques, such as a lip sync to a video with lyrics. This allowed greater preparation for the task ahead and removed the need for having to learn from scratch when filming, which was slightly the case when filming in AS. Genre research was also more in-depth than that of AS, embracing many elements from a variety of media's rather than a few like film noire. This again establishing a greater understanding of what dance music actually is and the conventions normally tied to it. 

Planning in A2 also developed quite considerably from AS. Drafting ideas were also carried on from the opening sequence in AS, however this ideas went much further than just group consideration. During A2 we embraced the use of fellow peers and social media to gain opinion on ideas on a much larger scale; this is turn creating a much more direct and appealing array of products. Carrying on from this was the use of audience profiling, which went beyond the typical genre stereotype and tried to understand what a typical viewer f the product would be like, and what would appeal to them. Creating a much more focused and aimed product than before. A storyboard was also key during planning in A2 too, again acting as a framework for the sequence to be based upon and enable a rough idea of the finished product before committing to filming. Although similar to AS, during A2 we did develop the storyboard to include details such as shots and specific lengths; thus making filming a much easier process than previously. Shot listing was also vital in the pre-production of A2, giving a outline to what we aimed to use during filming to meet the genre guideline and implement the unique ideas we had ourselves. For example, the use of high-angle shots was noted as something unique we aimed to implement, and was continued into production due to it's listing in the shot list. Finally, schedules encased the planning of our products in A2. This went further than A2 as it gave a clear plan of action for pre-production, preventing losing track of time like that which occurred during AS.


In conclusion, it's clear that research and planning were key during AS and A2, providing structure and a framework for the rest of the project. Although research and planning went well throughout AS, its clear it did develop considerably during A2 to be much more efficient and effective.