Backup Research & Planning AS

Component 1: AO4
The following elements will be taken into consideration when assessing your Foundation Portfolio:
• For the film opening task: evidence of research into other film openings, film locations, audience and institutional factors, such as conventions of titling.
• For the magazine task: evidence of research into other magazines, articles, audience and institutional factors, such as brand identity.
Level 5 16–20 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is excellent, as evidenced in detail on the blog with relevant examples of film or magazine production elements. The finished product also demonstrates the effectiveness of this research. Research informs the creative critical reflection to a high degree.
Level 4 12–15 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is competent, as  evidenced on the blog with relevant examples of film or magazine production elements. The finished product also demonstrates evidence of this research. Research informs the creative critical reflection to a good degree.
Level 3 8–11 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is apparent at a satisfactory level, as evidenced on the blog with some examples of film or magazine production elements. The finished product also demonstrates some evidence of this research. Research will inform the creative critical reflection to some degree.
Level 2 4–7 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is apparent at a limited level, as evidenced on the blog, with limited examples of film or magazine production elements. The finished product also demonstrates limited evidence of this research. Research informs the creative critical reflection to a limited degree.
Level 1 1-3 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is apparent at a minimal level, as evidenced on the blog with examples of film or magazine production elements barely apparent. The finished product also demonstrates minimal evidence of this research. Research informs the creative critical reflection to a minimal degree.
Level 0 0 There is no evidence of ability to undertake and apply appropriate research.

 

FILM OPENING TASK (scroll down for Magazine task)

Research Posts:  

* in order to be able to complete the research posts, please decide first upon the genre/hybrid genre/sub-genre you want to approach in your film opening.

1) 9 Frame Film analysis – Different film openings (3 film openings). Excellent website with openings which already has the 9 frames extracted for each: http://www.artofthetitle.com/ 

  • What are the conventions found in these film openings?
  • What do the elements in the opening represent? (Denotation and Connotation)
  • How is the credits part integrated with moving images? (Denotation and Connotation)
  • Who is the audience for this film opening? (be specific)
  • What genre is the film in? How is this shown?
  • What features of the film opening will you use/not use in your own?

Examples of 9 frame analysis:

Lord of War: http://www.scribd.com/doc/243266984/Lord-of-War-9-frame-analysis#scribd

Se7en: http://mediadarren.blogspot.ro/2012/05/nine-frame-structure-analysis.html

2) Target Audience Questionnaire

You need to manage to find out all info you can regarding your target audience. Make sure you manage to get this info:

  • What age are they?
  • What genres of movies do they like?
  • Where do they usually watch movies? (cinema, online: which websites, etc.)
  • What socio-economic group do they fit into?
  • What type of film openings do they usually prefer? (heavy editing, classic, direct address, establishing, action, etc.)

Examples of questions: http://media.alexhutu.ro/target-audience-questionnaire-analysis/

https://emaborzzz.wordpress.com/2015/12/09/target-audience-questionnaire/

3) Viewers Profile (Who is your audience?)

Present the Target Audience Questionnaire results through a Piktochart: https://piktochart.com/

  • How will these results affect how you plan your film opening?
  • What will you include/not include based on these results?
  • Who will be your main target audience based on these results?
  • In which of the following groups do they fit into: explorer, aspirer, succeeder, reformer, mainstream, struggler, resigned?

Example: http://media.alexhutu.ro/target-audience-questionnaire-analysis/

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Planning Posts

1) Moodboard

Based on the chosen genre and research done through 9 Frame Analysis, create a moodboard:

  • Include genre conventions you want to follow in your opening + any new creative ideas that do not fit in any genre
  • Include images of characters, locations, props that are similar to the ones you intent to integrate in your work
  • Include titling examples – fonts, position of text on top of image

Examples: http://www.gomoodboard.com/boards/si1ai18v/share, https://emaborzzz.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/moodboard/, https://anamariatapalaga.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/film-mb.jpg

2) Plot&Story

  • Present the general idea/story of the entire film
  • Title + selling line
  • For opening: decide upon what appears in the opening only
  • Analyse your idea: is it S.M.A.R.T? (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound)

Example: http://media.alexhutu.ro/movie-plot-square-one/

3) Script & Storyboard Development

  • Write the script in Celtx and create the storyboard for your film opening task.
  • Why are the script and storyboard appropriate for your genre & audience?

Examples Scripts: https://maraparaa.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/script/, http://media.alexhutu.ro/script-square-one-film-opening/

Example Storyboard: https://maraparaa.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/storyboard/

4) Animatic presentation of your storyboard

Example: http://media.alexhutu.ro/presentation-of-storyboard-film-opening/

5) Location recess – scouting locations for your film

  • Photographs of the locations
  • Why are these appropriate/not appropriate for your genre and audience?
  • Your final location decisions

Example: https://maraparaa.wordpress.com/2016/03/03/locations/

6) Characters

       Checklist for each character:

  • Name
  • Role in the film
  • Present and describe what is he/she wearing and why
  • Photographs of the actor
  • Why have you chosen that actor?
  • Why is he/she suitable for your genre and audience?

Examples: https://emaborzzz.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/characters-and-actors/, https://maraparaa.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/characters/

7) Props

  • Make a clear list with all items you will need to use in your shooting.
  • Why are the props appropriate for your genre/audience?
  • Are there any props you want to use symbolically? which are those and why are they suited?

Example: https://maraparaa.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/props/, http://media.alexhutu.ro/film-opening-props-characters-locations/

8) Budget (here present also the roles you have in the film production)

  • Above the line
  • Below the line
  • REAL budget you actually need

Example: https://maraparaa.wordpress.com/2016/04/26/budget/

9) Pitch Presentation (example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X22cXxpG-PM)

Prepare a presentation with information from all the above posts. You will have to present your movie to a “producer” and make him/her wish to fund your movie – during MY MONEY WEEK. For this you will also have to add:

  • Distribution
  • Festivals
  • Competitions
  • Innovative marketing ideas
  • The companies research:

-) Film Companies research – minimum of 2 companies, 1 large, 1 small

Who would fund/produce your movie?

  • Who owns the company?
  • What is their company history?
  • What type of movies do they usually produce?
  • A detailed look at 2 movies from each company: genre, target audience, budget, actors, box office, marketing strategies. At least one of them should be in the genre of the film you want to create.

10) Calendar/Timeline

  • You will receive a CALL SHEET template from your teacher to complete before the shooting sessions you plan. On it you will schedule the shootings on days, locations, etc.

OPTIONAL EXTRA – You can also create a calendar to show when tasks will start and finish (including film-shoots, deadlines editing sessions, director’s cut, final cut, etc…)

  • Creating screenshots of calendars to show your shooting and editing schedule
  • You could create an interactive calendar through Google Calendars
  • Use a timeline software to illustrate your progress and schedule using one of  the following softwares/websites:

 

MAGAZINE TASK

Research Posts (first step is to decide upon the style & genre of the magazine you want to create by following the links received from your teacher):

1) Magazine analysis – 3 different magazines (for each analyse the Front Cover,  Contents Pages,  1 Double Page Spread)

For each:

  • What are the conventions found in the magazine? Position of images, text, fonts, plugs, masthead, skyline, baseline, coverline, etc. – Conventions can be found at the very end of this page.
  • What do the elements in the cover represent? (Denotation and Connotation)
  • Analyse the contents page and double page spread (Denotation and Connotation)
  • Who is the audience for this magazine? (be specific)
  • What genre is the magazine? How is this shown?
  • What features of the magazines analysed will you use/not use in your own magazine?

Example: https://mariabega.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/magazine-analysis-front-cover-table-of-contents-page-and-double-spread/

2) Target Audience Questionnaire

  • What age are they?
  • What magazines do they like?
  • How do they usually read magazines? (online, paper version, digital devices, etc.)
  • What socio-economic group do they fit into?
  • In which of the following groups do they fit into: explorer, aspirer, succeeder, reformer, mainstream, struggler, resigned?

Examples: https://mariastreang.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/untitled-infographic.jpg

3) Readership Profile (Who is your audience?)

Present the Target Audience Questionnaire results through a Piktochart: https://piktochart.com/

  • How will these results affect how you plan your film opening?
  • What will you include/not include based on these results?
  • Who will be your main target audience based on these results?
  • etc.

Example: http://wgeorgiw.weebly.com/research-and-planning-as.html, https://mariastreang.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/untitled-infographic.jpg

Planning Posts:

1) Masthead
Create your masthead – decide on the name of the magazine and design its logo
2) Table of Contents
Create the list of the table of contents – what narrative is built in this issue of your magazine? what’s the theme, the thread that goes through all articles, or there isn’t connection between them with a reason you need to know.
3) Draftplans
Create Draftplans for your cover, table of contents and double spread.
3 drawings/cover,toc,double spread. Draftplans show an overview of the magazine like the storyboard in movies.

 

4) Plan photoshoots:

Example: https://mariabega.wordpress.com/2015/03/07/planning-photo-shoot-for-the-table-of-contents-page/

You need to include at least 4 photos created by you in the magazine in different locations, and different models if possible. All photos, images, designs you include need to be original, created exclusively by you.

For each photoshoot you will need to create a post on your blog with the following information:

a) Models

  • Screen shot of an email/text message/messenger/whatsapp – how you contacted your model
  • Photographs of your chosen model
  • Why have you chosen this model?
  • Why is she/he suitable for your genre and audience?

b) Props/Costume

  • A list with all props and costumes to use in your photoshoot
  • Why are the props/costume appropriate for your genre/audience?

c) Photo-shoot Planning

  • 6-8 storyboard style planning drawings for your photo shoot/s
  • Why are these appropriate for your genre/audience?

d) Location recce – scouting locations for your photo shoots

  • Photographs of the location
  • Why are these appropriate/not appropriate for your genre and audience?
  • Your final location decisions

5) Contact Sheet of Photo-shoot images + Edits

Choose the photos you want to edit and finally get to the ones to be included in the magazine. Present all editing steps in detail, take screenshots while working and place them as timeline or create a slideshow and describe the tools you used. You can use Adobe Spark for presenting your editing steps, either Page or Video: https://spark.adobe.com/

  • Which images are appropriate for your magazine?
  • Which will you use, and on what pages?
  • What do you like/dislike about specific images?
  • How do you plan to edit them?

8) Text & Content

  • 3-5 Font options you would use in your magazine
  • Pros and cons of each font
  • Why is this appropriate for your genre/audience?
  • The barcode and other conventions like tagline, titles, subtitles, logos, social media icons, website, subscription callout, double spread article text.

 Example: https://mariabega.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/magazines-photos-and-fonts/

9) Pitch Presentation 

Prepare a presentation with information from all the above posts. You will have to present your movie to a “producer” and make him/her wish to fund your movie – during MY MONEY WEEK. For this you will also have to add:

  • Distribution
  • Festivals
  • Competitions
  • Innovative marketing ideas
  • The companies research:

-) Magazine Producers/Institutions research – Minimum of 2 companies, 1 large and 1 small

  • Who owns the company?
  • What is their company history?
  • What publications do they manage?
  • A detailed look at 2 of these publications and their target audience. At least 1 of these publications should be a magazine in the style chosen.

COVER Terminology:

FC

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS Terminology:

CP

 

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD Terminology:

DPS