MS2 - how to write your report
You will write your report in two halves. The first half will be completed after your pre-production storyboard and will detail how you used your research to inform your pre-production. The second half will be written after you complete your production work, and will be an evaluation of its success.
First Draft: Pre-Production Report
Word count: 500-750 words.
AO4 Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research
1. Introduction: what did you want to achieve? “I decided to…” Use your brief to outline your purpose, chosen form and genre etc. Include a detailed analysis of your audience – who are they and how did you decide who they are? Mention certificate, content of your film etc.
e.g. you decided to create an opening scene from a horror film. You aimed it at teenage boys because… The certificate will be a 15 to allow for the type of content which appeals to them (which is…).
2. Research:
a) what did you find out from your research?
b) how did you use it in your storyboard and what effect/meanings did you aim to achieve?
e.g. a) you found that your audience wanted a scary atmosphere
b) you created this in the storyboard by using dimmed lighting in scenes 2 and 3; this creates tension because the audience cannot see who is in the shadows
Do this for approximately 2-3 research points. Remember you have 500 words only, so you should focus on your best points and make sure that you explain clearly the effect of your choices.
Use the checklist and mark scheme below to double-check you're including everything you need to.
e.g. you decided to create an opening scene from a horror film. You aimed it at teenage boys because… The certificate will be a 15 to allow for the type of content which appeals to them (which is…).
2. Research:
a) what did you find out from your research?
b) how did you use it in your storyboard and what effect/meanings did you aim to achieve?
e.g. a) you found that your audience wanted a scary atmosphere
b) you created this in the storyboard by using dimmed lighting in scenes 2 and 3; this creates tension because the audience cannot see who is in the shadows
Do this for approximately 2-3 research points. Remember you have 500 words only, so you should focus on your best points and make sure that you explain clearly the effect of your choices.
Use the checklist and mark scheme below to double-check you're including everything you need to.
Second Draft: Pre-Production Report and Production Evaluation
Word count: 1200-1600 words in total (including your pre-production first draft).
AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding when analysing media products and processes, and when evaluating their own practical work, to show how meanings and responses are created
1. Introduction: what did you want to achieve? “I decided to…” Use your brief to outline your purpose, chosen form and genre etc. Include a detailed analysis of your audience – who are they and how did you decide who they are? Mention certificate, content of your film etc.
E.g. you decided to create a horror film, with a poster and a DVD cover to promote it. You aimed it at teenage boys because… The certificate will be a 15 to allow for the type of content which appeals to them (which is…).
2. Research:
a) What did you find out from your research?
b) How did you use it in your storyboard and what effect/meanings did you aim to achieve?
e.g. a) you found that your audience wanted a scary atmosphere
b) You created this in the storyboard by using dimmed lighting in scenes 2 and 3; this creates tension because the audience cannot see who is in the shadows
Do this for approximately 2-3 research points.
3. Evaluation: how successfully have you achieved the aims you mentioned in your introduction? How successfully have you created the tone/atmosphere etc. you discuss in section 2? Is there anything you could improve on? How?
N.B. you are evaluating your production piece only.
A) Include some audience feedback on these points, e.g. your target audience said that the poster made them think of a horror film (because…) and the main figure was mysterious and scary (because…)
b) Compare your final piece to existing products and evaluate how successfully you create the tone/atmosphere/representations present in them, linked to your aims. Use the pieces you analysed at the start of your work, e.g. the poster for ‘x’ film creates a scary atmosphere by… you have effectively done the same by…
Try not to focus on technical details to the exclusion of effect and meaning!
E.g. you decided to create a horror film, with a poster and a DVD cover to promote it. You aimed it at teenage boys because… The certificate will be a 15 to allow for the type of content which appeals to them (which is…).
2. Research:
a) What did you find out from your research?
b) How did you use it in your storyboard and what effect/meanings did you aim to achieve?
e.g. a) you found that your audience wanted a scary atmosphere
b) You created this in the storyboard by using dimmed lighting in scenes 2 and 3; this creates tension because the audience cannot see who is in the shadows
Do this for approximately 2-3 research points.
3. Evaluation: how successfully have you achieved the aims you mentioned in your introduction? How successfully have you created the tone/atmosphere etc. you discuss in section 2? Is there anything you could improve on? How?
N.B. you are evaluating your production piece only.
A) Include some audience feedback on these points, e.g. your target audience said that the poster made them think of a horror film (because…) and the main figure was mysterious and scary (because…)
b) Compare your final piece to existing products and evaluate how successfully you create the tone/atmosphere/representations present in them, linked to your aims. Use the pieces you analysed at the start of your work, e.g. the poster for ‘x’ film creates a scary atmosphere by… you have effectively done the same by…
Try not to focus on technical details to the exclusion of effect and meaning!
Your report should:
1. outline the aims and purposes of the production (i.e. what were you trying to do? Use your brief)
2. explain who your target audience are; why did you pick that group? (you should already have written about this in your first draft) How does your piece target them?
3. link your final production piece with your research and storyboard (you’ve already done some of this in your first draft; just extend it to show how you used these ideas in your production piece)
4. briefly discuss audience feedback (i.e. what have members of this group told you about how successfully your piece communicates with them?)
5. compare your own production piece with existing media products (research this: how successful is your piece compared to existing products?) **this is vital**
6. provide an overall evaluation of your production with suggestions for revision or further work (how could you make it more successful?)
1. outline the aims and purposes of the production (i.e. what were you trying to do? Use your brief)
2. explain who your target audience are; why did you pick that group? (you should already have written about this in your first draft) How does your piece target them?
3. link your final production piece with your research and storyboard (you’ve already done some of this in your first draft; just extend it to show how you used these ideas in your production piece)
4. briefly discuss audience feedback (i.e. what have members of this group told you about how successfully your piece communicates with them?)
5. compare your own production piece with existing media products (research this: how successful is your piece compared to existing products?) **this is vital**
6. provide an overall evaluation of your production with suggestions for revision or further work (how could you make it more successful?)
Use the checklist and mark scheme below to double-check you're including everything you need to.
Links and resources