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Research & Pre Production 

Remember to REFLECT as you go!

Research

Research is to support development of your product. You will need to develop and analyse skills & knowledge within your project area. Research is key to developing skills throughout the project. You need to reflect and show the process of research development within your production. For example researching into lighting techniques to then see the technique tested and evaluated within your production stage. 

Use your research to analyse and understand your project product and theme. Remember to analyse a range and always think about further research, what could your initial research lead onto and how effective can it be?

Research should have a plan and each research task should consider AUDIENCE & PURPOSE within your reflection.
 

Suggested primary & secondary research to carry out:

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  • Genre research / existing products - find 3-5 examples and comment on styles, character, settings to use and why. 

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  • Artist/Media role research - Research responsibilities and how to use roles in production.

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  • Audience - Understand product demographics & Psychographics. How to place your product and where to market? How to use Primary research such as surveys, focus groups. What does the data show. 

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  • Finding locations - Find 3-5 locations and why/how they can be used, permissions?

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  • Colour schemes - find techniques of colour grading or how existing styles you can use and why. link to colour theory? 

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  • Lighting discussion - How to light your production and methods you can use (Look up 3-5 techniques and analyse existing products)

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  • Composition / technical research - Use the handbook or similar to learn about a hard skill you struggle with - CAMERA HANDBOOK HERE

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  • Sourcing actors, equipment etc

Action Research

Practical development needs to be highlighted and shown on your blog. This part should include areas of improvement for technical knowledge and development. You need to communicate ideas of practical goals and identify aims. 

Bring your SKILLS TEST from the proposal stage back in an action your plan.

Use your research to analyse and understand technical aspects to put into practice. Create 2-5 Action research tests that help improve your skillset for the production of your project.
 

Technical aspects you need to consider:

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  • Lighting - Testing light set up, using lights for certain emotion, three point lighting. 

  • Cinematography - Camera settings, transitions, test scenarios, interview set ups, lenses. 

  • Grading - Colour grading, black and white shooting. 

  • Editing effects - Post production techniques, VFX, graphics. 

  • Costume & make up - Hair and make up SFX, Costume or prop design, prop test.

  • Set design - Set design walkthrough

  • Sound design - Foley test, audio equipment comparison, sound effect design.

  • Software - Skills improvement, beginner - intermediate. 

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USE the tutorial list for support if you are stuck - TUTORIAL LIST HERE 

Pre-Production 
 

As you know, effective pre-production is essential for the success of any production. If you are working individually or collaboratively you will need to evidence your pre prodcution and development using schedules, meetings, recordings, practical findings and much more. Below is an example for Film creation, you will need to create your own, depending on the project.

 

  • Script/Shooting Script

  • Locations & Risk Assessment (identification; recces; limitations and risks, e.g. distance, access, cost and weather)

  • Finance/budget (equipment, transport, talent, crew, materials, facility hire)

  • Time (deadlines, availability of equipment, availability of personnel, time scales for clearances)

  • Personnel (size of team; roles; skills and experience; resourcing; availability and costs)

  • Meetings (minutes of meeting/recorded)

  • Treatment - Key scenes, synopsis, characters, structure, content & style etc

  • Shot list 

  • Storyboards - Animatic, digital etc 

  • Materials. / Costumes & props 

  • Camera & lighting plan / set design (Framing; angle; movement; lighting; appropriate point of view)

  • Sound Plan (including ambience & foley recordings)

  • Rushes Log / EDL –(Keep a record of all scenes/shots/takes you have recorded)

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Here is a link to pre production documents that may help your production - LINK HERE

 

 

Add work to your action plan from your proposal to make sure you are on track to finish each area of the project!

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