Section A: Question 1 (a)

CREATIVITY


It is important not to assume one answer to any question! Rather than ask yourself the question, " How have I become more creative during my A level course?", ask yourself, "Have I become more creative?". If you answer the second question, then you will evaluate your progress much more thoroughly.

For example, the pros and cons of using GarageBand might be:

Pros

Allows me to create my own thriller soundtrack.
It's an easy to use programme with a pre-existing set of 'sounds'.
I can use i-tunes to format my soundtrack and then import to Final Cut. The process is quick and straight-forward.

But, the cons could include:

The samples available are limited.
I can't fundamentally change the samples.
My soundtrack sounds like a lot of other student's work.

Section A: Question 1 (a)

RESEARCH AND PLANNING

Begin with a timeline of all of the production units you have covered for this area:

Thriller opening sequence/ Opening sequence/ Music video.

For each of these projects, note down all of the technologies and methods you used. Be very specific!

Eg. Don't just write 'blogs'. You have used blogs in many different ways:
1. To review real text examples and discuss conventions.
2. To analyse old student work and discuss marking criteria.
3. To get peer feedback on the progress of your project.
4. To plan micro elements.
5. To discuss audience expectations.
6. To review your own progress and update your plans.

THEN, for each of your technologies and methods, make a list of pros and cons. Ask yourself some questions. Eg. for blogs and their content, you could ask:
What advantages do blogs have over 'paper planning'?
Are there any disadvantages to using blogs? Are they easy to 'read'? To access?
What are the pros and cons of getting peer feedback?
Did I find getting qualitative or quantitative information most useful?
How useful are storyboards and shotlists?
How important is research into audience experiences and expectations?

When you have completed your timeline of notes, you should be able to see how your research and planning skills have developed during your A level Media Studies and what factors have helped them to develop.