Unit 2: Media Pre-production and planning (LEVEL 3) Learning outcomes By completing this unit, candidates will be able to multi-skill across a range of text, audio, visual, audio-visual and moving image media, exploring the use of a wide range of simple and more complex techniques. They will be able to work safely in studio, offices and on location. Candidates will understand that the success of media products is based on feasible and clear proposals and treatments and be able to carry out effective research, justifying the use of different research methods. They will be able to evaluate their own strengths and plan how to develop their specific and transferable skills. Assessment objectives 1 Develop specific skills to use in text/visual based and audio/audio visual products 2 Develop transferable skills to use in text/visual based and audio/audio visual products Knowledge, understanding and skills Create a file of work to demonstrate cross media skills: Three text/visual skills eg designing page layout editing news stories writing feature articles Three audio skills eg recording speech creating sound effects dubbing music beds Three audio-visual skills eg vision mixing designing sets adding special effects Skills must include: generating ideas eg mood board, storyboard, spider charts editing eg adding special effects, including animation into a webpage Develop transferable skills to use in text/visual based and audio/audio visual products Demonstrate transferable skills which must include: following working practices which protect the health and safety of all showing awareness of personal safety storing sharp/electrical equipment appropriately wearing appropriate clothing with regard to health and safety saving, storing and indexing work presenting work showing creativity and good organisation using digital equipment caring for equipment the ability to work without supervision the ability to follow instructions the ability to offer technical support to other team members the ability to take a leadership role the ability to meet deadlines OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media 1
Assessment objectives 3 Present proposals and treatments for text/visual and audio/audio visual products 4 Conduct and justify research for text/visual based and audio/audio visual products Knowledge, understanding and skills Make a proposal and treatment for one audio/audio visual product and one text/visual product Proposals include: idea purpose content eg number of pages, length of episodes target audience justification of ideas Treatments include: description of content in terms of aesthetics and style sample materials eg drafts, storyboards, suggested layout, sample copy Define purpose of research for one audio/audio visual product and one text/visual product into eg: target audience product comparisons talent/actors stimulus for ideas: document ideas and concepts, eg rough books, For each product demonstrate at least one type of primary research: questionnaires interviews visits observations focus groups For each product demonstrate at least one type of secondary research: print products audio-visual products Internet 5 Evaluate progress in practical skills Justify choice of research method Explain and present research findings Evaluate skills in terms of: creativity ability to work accurately meeting deadlines use of equipment and materials Ability to: share tasks support other team members meet deadlines evaluate peers 2 OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media
Assessment objectives Knowledge, understanding and skills Review ability to work: under direction independently in a team Gain feedback on skills Identify strengths and weaknesses in terms of creativity, technical ability and group dynamics, eg share tasks, support other team members Explain how and when skills can be further developed eg through educational courses, work experience Assessment This unit will be centre-assessed and externally moderated. In order to achieve this unit, candidates must collate a portfolio of evidence showing that they can meet all the assessment objectives. Portfolios of work must be produced independently. They will need to be made available, together with witness statements and any other necessary supporting documentation, to the OCR Visiting Moderator when required. Guidance on assessment and evidence Candidates should gain knowledge, understanding and skills through practical tasks so that they can effectively decide where their strengths and interests lie. The focus of this unit is to develop candidates practical skills. This may help them choose to follow a specific or general pathway within media. Centres are strongly advised to integrate this unit with others so that the skills developed and the proposals presented may act as starting points for products made in other units. This may be the production work candidates will do in Units 3 and 4 though some centres may choose to integrate it with some of the optional units. Candidates are not expected to make complete products in this unit when demonstrating their skills. Tutors may find it useful to introduce this unit at the same time as Unit 1, so that candidates are able to absorb theoretical concepts through practical work. Planning is usually considered to be an important part of pre-production. However, in this unit, candidates will not necessarily be making one product but possibly parts of lots of products, so for the purposes of this qualification planning has been incorporated into unit 3 in which candidates make a specific media product. The purpose of Assessment Objectives 1 and 2 is to enable candidates to develop and experiment with a range of basic and more complex skills in both text/visual based and audio-visual areas. It is important that candidates develop technical, visual and auditory skills and gain competency in using digital equipment across media areas. Audio skills can be developed and demonstrated through use of radio, music technology or moving image digital technology. They will become aware of how some skills such as teamwork or good presentation of work are useful in all areas. They will then be able to use these skills in other units. OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media 3
As different candidates will have different skill levels at the beginning of the unit, it may help if each carries out some form of initial skills audit and then periodically reviews progress as the unit proceeds. These records can then be referred to as part of the evaluation to be carried out for Assessment Objective 5. Candidates should demonstrate these skills through producing small pieces of evidence, the best of which they should store and index in a work file that could be both paper based and electronic or all electronic. A tutor witness statement should be included to support this evidence by eg confirming what digital equipment was used, what leadership qualities were shown, what technical support was given. A proforma may form the basis of a witness statement but it must refer to an individual candidate rather than to a group. The witness statement or media products eg photographs may be used to evidence safe working practices. For Assessment Objectives 1 and 2 candidates could be given a series of small discrete production tasks eg writing a feature article, filming a short sequence to include a tracking shot. They could be given an overarching task that demonstrate a number of skills eg producing a 10 second television advert which includes print activities such as storyboarding and writing copy and audio-visual activities such as filming and editing special effects. It is acceptable for a product such as a web page to be considered as either a text/visual based product or, if it includes animation or video clip, as an audiovisual based product. It is expected that most of this work will be individual work though the candidates must have the opportunity at some point to work in a group. Some media tasks such as studio filming rely heavily on teamwork whilst writing copy for hard news can be seen as a solitary task. Although some media tasks are completed independently, almost all media employees have to function as part of a team with regular meetings, eg the journalist writing hard news needs to liaise with an editor. Candidates should have the opportunity to experience both types of work. They need to be able to follow instructions accurately, show leadership qualities and meet deadlines. Candidates can observe media teamwork if they visit a television studio as a member of a studio audience. Talks from visiting speakers from the media industries can highlight how job roles operate. For Assessment Objective 3, candidates are expected individually to make proposals and treatments for both a new text/visual based product and an audio visual based product. They may for example make a proposal for a magazine which they intend to make in Unit 3 or Unit 14 and a proposal for a radio advertisement which they intend to make in Unit 4 or Unit 26 or 27. If candidates are working on an integrated project (for example a campaign for the release of a piece of music which incorporates a promotional video and a poster campaign) they should produce one proposal but this should clearly distinguish between the two products and offer specific detail, primary and secondary research and treatments for each. Making proposals and treatments should emphasise to the candidate that the media industry is a business that has to sell its products. Candidates must realise a proposal and treatment is a business idea and should present it as fit for purpose as a commercial document. It must identify who the proposal and treatment is from and to whom it is going; it should be word processed with clearly presented story boards, drafts and sample copy; and descriptions should be clear and concise whilst also being original and attractive to the commissioning body. They should also be feasible and legally and ethically appropriate. Some candidates will want to make up a company name to add to the proposal. It is acceptable for a proforma to be used for the proposal as long as it does not limit the candidate. Some media organisations expect ideas to be submitted using their submission forms and it is acceptable that if candidates have access to these that they can use them. The research activities related to Assessment Objective 4 will need to be carried out simultaneously with the production of the proposal. There will need to be preliminary research into audience and the market, and, as the proposal develops, the research should become more focused. It will help candidates if their research is specific (eg which topics attract magazine readers most or which colour do readers find most attractive on magazine front covers) rather than general and wide (eg what do readers expect to find in a magazine). 4 OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media
The evaluation may take the form of a written or verbal report but it must include feedback from the tutor/teacher or technicians who have supervised the candidate s practical work. Candidates may find it helpful to refer to tutor feedback and their own skills audits when referring to their skills. It will be useful for candidates to be able to recognise their strengths so that they can select appropriate roles to work in for Unit 3. Explaining how their skills can be further developed may be addressed in a number of ways eg by looking at higher education courses or through making a career plan. Signposting to Key Skills The unit contains opportunities for developing the Key Skill, and possibly for generating portfolio evidence, if teaching and learning is focused on that aim. Key Skill reference Key Skill reference Key Skill reference C3.1a 4 N3.1 IT3.1 4 C3.1b N3.2a IT3.2 C3.2 4 N3.2b IT3.3 4 C3.3 4 N3.2c N3.2d N3.3 Mapping to National Occupational Standards Occupational Standards Production (Film and TV) Skillset Art Department/ Animation/ Graphics (General) for Skillset Unit Number P1 P5 DMI10 DMI13 DMI14 DMI15 X1 X2 Title Contribute ideas for productions Identify sources of information and present findings Research requirements based on the design brief Co-ordinate resources to meet production needs Liaise with team members to assist the production process Co-ordinate activities during production Contribute to good working relationships Ensure your own actions reduce risks to health and safety Resources This section provides suggestions of suitable resources. The list is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive, and candidates should be encouraged to gather information from a variety of sources. Some suggested resources are intended for tutor use. The resources in this section were current at the time of print. For the most up-to-date list of resources please refer to our website: www.ocr.org.uk OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media 5
Publications Bagnell, Nicholas. (1993) Berger, Arthur. (1998) Chater, Kathy. (2001) Emm, Adele. (2001) Newspaper Language Focal Press Media Research Techniques Sage Research for Media Production Focal Press Researching for Television and Radio (Media Skills) Routledge Websites Advertising Standards Authority. URL:http://www.asa.org.uk BBC. URL:http://www.bbctraining.co.uk Channel Four. URL:http://www.channel4.com Guardian Newspaper. URL:http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk National Museum of Photography, Film and Television. URL:http://www.nmpft.org.uk Writing for Performance. URL:http://www.writing.org.uk 6 OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media
Unit 2 Pre-Production and Planning Level 3 Grading Assessment Objective AO1 Develop specific skills to use in text/visual based and audio/audio visual products. Pass Merit Distinction Candidates demonstrate they have developed specific skills in generating and editing material which contains some errors and is generally of a low technical quality. Candidates demonstrate they have developed specific skills in generating and editing material of a sound technical quality with few errors. Candidates demonstrate they have developed specific skills in generating and editing material using a wide range of basic and more complex techniques. The sample material is of a high technical quality and shows creativity. AO2 Develop transferable skills to use in text/visual based and audio/audio visual products. Candidates demonstrate transferable skills with encouragement, following safe working practices and caring for equipment appropriately. Candidates carry out activities for specific roles. They sometimes have difficulty in meeting deadlines. Candidates demonstrate transferable skills following safe working practices and caring for equipment appropriately. Candidates carry out activities for specific roles. They meet most deadlines. Candidates show initiative when demonstrating transferable skills following safe working practices and caring for equipment appropriately. Candidates are effective in carrying out leadership roles. They meet all deadlines. AO3 Present proposals and treatments for text/visual and audio/audio visual products. Candidates complete proposal forms and treatments for the products, providing only brief details. The proposals are feasible. Candidates complete proposal forms and treatments for the products, and describe the target audience, content and type of products in detail. Ideas are feasible and show aesthetic and stylistic considerations. Candidates complete proposal forms and treatments for the products, and describe the target audience, content and type of product in detail. Ideas are feasible and creative. Ideas are feasible and show aesthetic and stylistic considerations. The treatments include sample materials to convey ideas. OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media 7
Assessment Objective AO4 Conduct and justify research for text/visual based and audio/audio visual products Pass Merit Distinction Candidates carry out limited primary and secondary research for the products. They give simplistic descriptions of the research and research findings. They give brief statements on how the research impacts on the products they are developing. Candidates carry out a detailed primary and secondary research for the products. The focus of research is defined. They give detailed descriptions of the research and research findings. They give examples of how the research has influenced their ideas. Candidates carry out extensive primary and secondary research for the products in depth eg using large samples or consulting an extensive list of secondary sources. The focus of research is specific and defined. They give detailed descriptions of the research and research findings and it is concisely and clearly presented. They give a number of examples of how the research has influenced their ideas. AO5 Evaluate progress in practical skills Candidates identify rather than evaluate their skills using simplistic terms. They give limited suggestions on how to improve their skills. Candidates evaluations of their progress in practical skills give details and use media terminology. They give suggestions on how and when to improve their skills. Candidates evaluations of their progress in practical skills show objectivity. They give details and use media terminology. They give a range of suggestions on how and when to improve their skills. 8 OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media