FMP RESEARCH & PRE-PRODUCTION
​
Only do research that’s useful; make it relevant.
If you don't know why it's relevant don't do it - talk to your teacher.
Research is to support development of your product.
Research & pre-production go hand in hand.
Research is all about reading, watching, analysing and most importantly, doing. It is not a google search and looking at the top result. This takes time and you should be making decisions on what is and is not useful (write this down).
The whole point of research is to help you make informed decisions about your project. It also allows you to demonstrate your critical thinking skills and your decision making skills.
​
Evaluate as you go - rather than making snap decisions.
​
TASK 1
​
What were the key skills you want to develop?
​
TASK 2
​
How might you evidence the improvement in this skill?
​
​
Some things that you may need to research:
​​
-
existing products (critical analysis): review how others do it
​
What decisions are made? What shots they use? Music choice? When to cut? Mise-en-scene? Put images on your blog and analyse.
​
-
how-to do things (practical research),
​
Testing equipment, setting up lights, working with actors doing read-throughs, developing skills in colour grading or After Effects
​
-
finding locations
​
Do a recce
​
-
which props, costumes (mise-en-scene)
​
What are the options? What is going to work best for your film? Why?
​
-
colour schemes
​
You can grade or you can alter lighting or you can alter clothing and backgrounds. Colours create different emotions in the audience, what do you want to do? Why?
​
-
composition
​
Where are your actors going to be placed? Why?
​
-
sourcing actors, equipment [etc etc]
​
What can you access? Which eg mic is best? How do you know?
​
-
books
-
websites
-
magazine articles
​
TASK 3
​​
Overall time plan if not done, with emphasis on the skills you will develop & evidence
​​
TASK 4
​​
Research plan: go through the above list and make notes and answer questions and prioritise
​
TASK 5
​
Research & reflect as you go, relating to your audience.
What this means, is that you want your film to be entertaining, and your story to be good. Who will tell you if it is? People who might watch it: the audience.
​​
PRE-PRODUCTION
​
As you know, effective pre-production is essential for the success of any production. Below is an example for film creation, you will need to create your own, depending on the project.
-
Script/Shooting Script
-
Locations (identification; recces; limitations and risks, e.g. distance, access, cost and weather)
-
Finance (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)
-
Facilities (production equipment, post-production equipment)
-
Storyboards
-
Materials (graphics, costumes and props)
-
Supply (copies of any supporting documents to members)
-
Camera (Framing; angle; movement; lighting; appropriate point of view)
-
Sound (including ambience & foley recordings)
-
Rushes Log –(Keep a record of all scenes/shots/takes you have recorded)
-
Post-production (format, audio levels and transitions, jump cuts, transitions, colour correction, VFX etc.)
-
Manage (You are in charge! Control the situation in an appropriate manner)
​
FMP - Pre=Production Questions:
When writing the pre-production. Make sure to explain the following for each document.
How did you plan it?
How did you create it?
What research has helped you understand how to use the pre-production document?
How will the pre-production help you in creating your production?
What does the pre-production document explain and explore?
​
Grading Criteria
Review a range of research sources to support a creative media production project. Interpret research to develop ideas and effectively communicate to an audience.
Pass - satisfactory
Merit - high standard.
Distinction - to a very high standard.