Higher Assignment – Section One
This page is designed to provide useful web resources and links which will enable you (at this initial stage) to compile a totally beast mode planning and research portfolio for your Higher Assignment. Remember this piece of work is worth 50% of your overall grade so you should be spending time making sure you’re putting your best foot forward.
The areas you will be asked to ‘write up’ about in a detailed and complex manner are:
A) Creative Intentions (5)
This is where you discuss what meanings you wish to create and how you will use technical and cultural codes to create that meaning. The most common mistake in this section is not basing decisions in research – you need to give examples from existing media content which is similar to yours or uses a technique or method you are planning to use.
B) Content Research (refer to at least one key aspect) (5)
Select one from categories, language, narrative or representations. Conduct research into similar media content and make decisions about your piece as a result.
C) Content Research (refer to a different key aspect) (5)
Select another from categories, language, narrative or representations. Conduct research into similar media content and make decisions about your piece as a result.
D) Production Roles (5)
In this section you should research a minimum of two production roles and give details on what you found out and decisions you have made as a result.
E) Audience Research (5)
Conduct research into your audience and try to find out the specifics of who they are. Consideration of age, gender, political leaning, lifestyle, socio-economic background, etc, can all come into play here. Remember to discuss what decisions you have made on content as result of your findings.
F) Institutional Context Research (5)
Research the internal and external controls which may affect production and discuss what you have decided to do as result.
Your research can be done in any order but it may be advisable to start with audience, once you have established your audience you have a solid ground to go on and make other planning and research decisions.
Audience Research
Suggested tasks:
- Look into the target audience and demographics of the channel you are thinking of producing for (focus only on audience as other institutional information is required to be submitted in the Institutions research and planning).
- Look at similar media content across platforms and channels and identify characteristics of your target audience.
- Consider age ratings and scheduling positions of content similar to yours to gauge audience age.
- Consider similar products content and identify audience expectations and wants.
- Use the Audience Uses and Gratification Model to identify why your audience will engage with your text
- Research social media/comments sections to find information on audience responses.
- Look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to identify your audiences main needs.
- Consult BARB data for information on trends and viewing figures.
- Conduct a focus group comprised of people who would be within your demographic range and/or survey people within your demographic range.
- Create an audience profile.
AUDIENCE RESEARCH // USEFUL LINKS
BARB.co.uk / YouGov Profiles Lite
audience profiling powerpoint – slideshare / how media producers define their target audience – slideshare / six steps to decoding your target audience – forbes / how to create customer profiles to reach your target audience – convinceandconvert / audience profiles – thinkbox / audience – mediaknowall / maslow’s hierarchy of needs / audience uses and gratification model / understanding audience – brianair.wordpress / tv viewing statistics and trends report – tvlicensing.co.uk / imdb ratings and comments – IMDB / rotten tomatoes ratings and comments – rottentomatoes.com / british media tropes – tvtropes.org / media consumer’s survey 2015 – deloitte.co.uk / trends that will change the tv industry – ey.com /
Content Research
SUGGESTED TASKS:
- research genre conventions/patterns seen in similar content
- conduct some specific analysis of an opening sequence of similar content focusing on technical codes (shot sizes, camera angles, editing)
- narrative research – propp
- narrative research – todorov – create a table showing the todorovian breakdown of the narrative of the pilot episodes of similar shows and give details of your own product in terms of overall narrative stages
- narrative research – barthes – codes from similar content opening sequence + codes you intend to use in your product
- research representations and consider how you will construct representations in your piece
Institutional Research
SUGGESTED TASKS:
- research copyright law for the use of music in your piece
- consider the health and safety implications of any action stunts or location specifications – research health and safety legislation and figure out what procedures you may need to put in place
- look up the school expectation code (on the school website) and consider how your production might need amended to fit around it
- consider your options when it comes to filming equipment and editing software – explore options and make a table comparing the pros/cons and/or specifications of each in order to make an informed choice
- how does your media product fit in with the channel’s social ideology, values and/or role in media
- scheduling – use the Radio Times website or similar to research schedules of major TV stations and figure out the best place for your product
- research certification of DVD releases of TV shows in the UK and present your findings
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH // USEFUL LINKS
copyright – cla.co.uk / PRS for music / a guide to music copyright – BBC academy / television production – BBC academy / production ideas and skills – BBC academy / health and safety in the film, theatre and broadcasting industry – HSE.gov / best free video editing software programs – techradar.com / imovie benefits and limitations – googlesites /
