Help to complete the research and planning section of the OCR A2 Media Studies course.

1. Checklist Help!
The bulletpointnumbers correspond to the number on the checklistin the area you are looking at.
Research
1.You should have researched atleast5 different documentaries ofdifferentgenres. You should
screenshotareas ofinterest from the documentary to match your analysis. Focus on: CONVENTIONS
of the documentary you are watching, commenton use ofsound - music, voice over, consider how the
narrative is told, consider the use ofediting, text, transitions, shottypes and mise-en-scene.
Also, research 3-4 documentaries from the same genre - you think you would like to make.
2&3. You should have researched at least4 magazine listings DPS and newspaper adverts. Whatare
the conventions ofthese? What can you say about the size ofthe text? The positioning ofthe images?
The size ofthe images? The use of colour? The location ofthe logo (advert)?
4. Have a record ofyour group meetings. This could be a screenshotofyour group chataboutyour
documentary, this could be a video, this could be a sound cloud or a film on YouTube. It could be in the
form of a production log where you explain WHATYOU did in your group - a running commentary.
5. This is where you analyse the conventions ofeach category, you should use screenshots oftypical
conventions ofthis style of documentary. Your analysis should explore the use ofcamera, use of
editing techniques, use ofsound, use ofmiss-en-scene, how the narrative is told and the TV channel
that favours this style. You could also consider the typical genres ofdocumentaries thatare made with
this category.
6. Research at least2 or 3 different institutions that make documentaries. Find out:
 How do they target their audiences?
 Who are the audiences that watch their documentaries? How do you know? Use YouGov lite?
 What are their core values?
 How are these values shown in the documentaries that they make?
 Which institution matches the type ofdocumentary that you would like to make?
 Why would this documentary match the values ofthe institution?
7. For ONE episode ofa documentary that you would like to recreate - from your chosen category and
genre, analyse in detail, consider the following:
 The use of sound
 The use of editing
 The use of camerawork
 The use of miss-en-scene
 How the story is told - the narrative
 How the audience is targeted.
 The category ofdocumentary.
 How this matches the institution that you think would show your documentary.

2. 8. Audience research - you should have uploaded a questionnaire you created on survey monkey.
As part of your research, for the documentaries you researched ofthe same genre, find them on
YouGove lite UK. Look atthe typical demographics ofan audience - how does this compare to your
own results? What aboutthe interests of an audience? etc.
9. Questionnaire analysis. As part of your analysis, you should include a graph or pie chartetc. - survey
monkey does this for you!You MUST analyse HOW you will use these results to inform the decisions
linked to your planning. What are your thoughts with regards to the results? Do you think that you
asked a wide range ofages, gender and a large number ofpeople? Do you think the results allow you
to make sound decisions? Ifso, why? If not, why not?
10. Upload the video ofyou and your group asking questions to potential audiences.
11. Analyse how the responses ofthe people you questioned help you to make a decision aboutwhat
an audience expectfrom a documentary.
Planning
1. Layouts of your DPS and Poster. Either hand draw these or complete this on the computer. Think
about the positioning oftext, images, logos etc. Explain why you've made these designs,how do they
match the conventions ofa DPS or poster? Which design do you prefer and why?
2. Shotlist of the film – your projected filming schedule. This is to enable you to film your documentary
effectively, second by second. Once completed, you should analyse whatwent well and what changes
you made and why.
3. Storyboards for documentaries. You should have atleast2 drafts and 1 final storyboard. Explain
what you’ve decided to do and why. What changes did you make along the way? Why? How did this
help you to structure your documentary? Why?
4. Mind-map ofyour ideas – analysed linking to audience and institution. What are your initial
documentary ideas? Which is your least favourite? Explain why this is the case. What is your favourite?
Explain why this is the case. What elementofyour research helped you to make this decision? Why?
5. Scripts (if needed) Have atleast1 draft and 1 final version ofyour script. What are your characters
going to say? How are they going to interact? Remember: a documentary is fact based, therefore what
you include in your script, should be accurate!
6. Hand drawn copies ofadverts and dps.You should create a design ofeach product. Your drawings
do nothave to be perfect. They can be outlines ofimages or stick people. The idea around this is to
show that you are considering the placementofkey conventions. Explain your ideas,whatyou will or
won’t keep and why.
7. Casting/auditions – analysis of reasoning and decision making. Here you should have 5 or more
photos or filmed auditions that you analyse. You mustexplain why each person matches your
expectations for the documentary or do not. Say why they suit the roles for your documentary. Ow do
they match codes and conventions?

3. 8. Photoshoots – magazine and advert. Have a range ofimages that you analyse, explaining why they
will match or won’t match the conventions ofyour dps/advert.Analyse why they do match codes and
conventions. Explain which images you will use and why.
9. Research into costume. Create a mood board. Create a series ofimages thatrepresentyour ideas
for costume/props/location. Explain how these match the codes and conventions ofyour documentary.
Explain why they wouldn’t fit into your documentary. Explain why you like them and why you don’t. Link
to audience expectations ofyour genre/style ofdocumentary.
10. Research into location. Create a mood board. Create a series ofimages thatrepresentyour ideas
for costume/props/location. Explain how these match the codes and conventions ofyour documentary.
Explain why they wouldn’t fit into your documentary. Explain why you like them and why you don’t. Link
to audience expectations ofyour genre/style ofdocumentary.
11. Research into props. Create a mood board. Create a series ofimages that representyour ideas for
costume/props/location. Explain how these match the codes and conventions ofyour documentary.
Explain why they wouldn’t fit into your documentary. Explain why you like them and why you don’t. Link
to audience expectations ofyour genre/style ofdocumentary.
12. Your institution – logo/name etc.Analysis ofreasoning/decision making and links to typical codes
and conventions ofinstitutional logos. Create your own logo/production company name.Analyse why
this logo/production company name (or series oflogos/names – choose one) follow the conventions of
logos created by real institutions. Explain the aims and values of your institution and why a channel like
ITV or BBC would show YOUR documentary on their TV channel.
13. Consideration ofshot types – take images ofyour subject/location. This is so you are creating a still
image plan ofyour documentary. You should analyse your reasoning for each shot – link to the
expectations ofan audience and an institution.