This document provides guidance and planning materials for answering potential exam questions about digital technology, creativity, and conventions of real media texts. It includes: 1. Suggested essay structures and examples to compare work from AS and A2 years. 2. Discussion of relevant theories and theorists for each topic. 3. Charts and templates to plan examples for pre-production, production, and post-production stages. 4. Prompts to analyze one's own use of genre conventions and how they compared to inspirational real media. The document aims to help the student strategically plan strong essay responses that demonstrate knowledge of their coursework processes and integration of relevant production concepts.

1. A2
QUESTION
1A

2. POSSIBLE TOPICS
•Digital Technology
•Creativity
•Use of Real Media Texts
•Research and Planning
•Post Production
•Blue represents same essay structure plan for
1. Pre-production
2. Production
3. Post-production

3. # OF TOPICS?
Will you be asked about just
one of these?

4. # OF TOPICS?
NO!
It may be 1 or 2!

5. VARIOUS THEORIES
“A process needed for problem solving….not a special gift enjoyed by a few but a
common ability processed by most people.” (Jones 1993)
Post production, research and planning
“The making of new and the re arranging of the old.” (Bently 1997)
Conventions of real media, post production, digital technology, creativity
“Creativity results from the interaction of a system composed of 3 elements: a culture
that contains symbolic rules, a person who brings novelty into the symbolic domain,
and a field of experts who recognize and validate the innovation.” (Csikszentmihalyi
1996)
Creativity
“There is no absolute judgement (on creativity) All judgements are comparisons of one
thing with another.” (Donald Larning)
Conventions of real media, creativity

6. INTRODUCTION
TEMPLATE
1. Answer or give point of view to question.
2. Outline briefly what they made across both years.
3. Explain to the examiner how they are going to structure their essay.
This stays the same in every draft!

7. DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY

8. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
TIMELINE
1. What did you know/use before you started AS?
2. What technologies in the R& P phase?
3. What technologies in preliminary?
1. What did you learn about technologies from doing preliminary?
4. What technologies in construction?
1. How did your use and knowledge of technologies improve over the
drafts?
5. Starting A2, what did you use in AS that you already knew?
6. What changes in technologies in A2?
7. How did your use and knowledge of technologies improve in the
R&P and construction phases in A2 compared to AS?
8. Looking back, what technologies can you confidently use/know?

9. DEBATES IN DT
In terms of skill development, what are the pros and cons of
using digital technology to make products?
How did you use your skills to aid the construction of your
task?

10. DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGIES
INTERNET DIGITAL SOFTWARE DIGITAL HARDWARE
Youtube (research and
uploading)
imovie
Blogger garageband Sony HD digital
camcorders & USB
uploading
Copyright free music
(MP3/MP4 etc)
iphoto Digital voice recorder -
Streaming sites: BBC
iplayer/40D/youtube
channel
Webcam (part of iphoto) Digital still cameras
(camera or camera on
phones)
3G Programs to watch = WMP,
quicktime, VLC
Ipad – all the apps you
used.
Social networking:
facebook/twitter
PC/MAC
Slideshare, Flickr, Scribd,
prezi,
DVD’s to watch (actual
DVD, DVD player vs
streaming)

11. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ESSAY
PLAN
INTRODUCTION
1. Answer or give point of view to question.
2. Outline briefly what they made across both years.
3. Explain to the examiner how they are going to structure their essay.
Part 1: PRE-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 2: PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 3: POST-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
CONCLUSION Write a brief conclusion of how digital technologies were used to aid make your
AS/A2 media coursework and summarize what technologies you used

12. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ESSAY
PLANNING
Part 1: PRE-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Example 1
Ex. Youtube
Example 2
Ex. Researching real
products
(DVD/streaming)
Example 3
Ex. Blogger
AS
A2

13. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ESSAY
PLANNING
Part 1: PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Example 1
Ex. Still cameras
Example 2
Ex. camcorders
Example 3
Ex. Uploading
footage or other
technologies?
AS
A2

14. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ESSAY
PLANNING
Part 1: POST-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Example 1
Ex. Adding
sounds/music
Example 2
Ex. Editing tool 1
Example 3
Ex. Editing tool 2
AS
A2

15. THEORIES
What theories/theorists could you connect to digital
technology?
Theorist Theory How
connected?
1.
2.

16. HOMEWORK
Complete the charts for each stage:
1. Pre-production
2. Production
3. Post-production
AND
Complete a basic plan for digital technology (not fully written
essay) by choosing 3 examples for each stage.

17. CREATIVITY

18. WHAT IS CREATIVITY?
Some basic definitions:
‘making of the old, re-arranging of the new’,
‘something new that communicates something to someone’,
‘something original’.
Thinking or behaving imaginatively. It could involve
extending/developing or going against/challenging conventions. What
did you do in your c/w? Why?
What were the restrictions given to you? (You were given specific tasks in
AS/A2). After this, what creative processes began? (You choose a genre
and had to create an original story)

19. CREATIVE POINTS TO
CONSIDER
1. How creative were you in decisions made when creating your c/w?
1. How were you creative in the pre-production stages of research and planning?
2. How was your product influenced by your lifestyle/relationships/interests? (is anything 100% creative?)
2. “Creativity is always constrained by generic conventions”. To what extent did you adhere to or subvert
(challenge or omit) conventions in the creation of your media products?
3. How were you creative as an individual and in a group? (sharing and developing ideas, the evolution of
ideas)
4. You must appreciate the balance and importance of using individual/group creativity against using
existing filming conventions and techniques.
5. Did the technologies enhance your creativity? Why or why not?
1. How did using digital technologies aid you in your ability to construct a desired product?
6. What limited your creativity? (group work/ideas, technology problems, time/deadlines,
genre/conventions, other obstacles)

20. THEORIES FOR
CREATIVITY
“The making of new and the re arranging of the old.” (Bently 1997)
Conventions of real media, post production, digital technology,
creativity
“Creativity results from the interaction of a system composed of 3
elements: a culture that contains symbolic rules, a person who brings
novelty into the symbolic domain, and a field of experts who recognize
and validate the innovation.” (Csikszentmihalyi 1996)
Creativity
“There is no absolute judgement (on creativity) All judgements are
comparisons of one thing with another.” (Donald Larning)
Conventions of real media, creativity

21. CREATIVITY ESSAY PLAN
INTRODUCTION
1. Answer or give point of view to question.
2. Outline briefly what they made across both years.
3. Explain to the examiner how they are going to structure their essay.
Part 1: PRE-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 2: PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 3: POST-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
CONCLUSION Write a brief conclusion of how your creativity made your AS/A2 media coursework
come to life

22. CREATIVITY ESSAY PLANNING
Part 1: PRE-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Example 1
Ex. coming up with
idea (individual
and/or group setting)
Example 2
Ex. Using/developing/
challenging
conventions
Example 3
Ex. How were your
creative in your
planning such as:
blogs, storyboards,
scripts,
*Ex. How were you creative in
the drafting process?
AS
A2

23. CREATIVITY ESSAY PLANNING
Part 1: PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Example 1
Ex. Using cameras to
film your creative
ideas
Example 2
Ex. Ability to create
mise-en-scene,
actors,
costume/props
Example 3
Ex. Uploading
footage or other
technologies?
AS
A2

24. CREATIVITY ESSAY PLANNING
Part 1: POST-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Example 1
Ex. How were you
creative in Adding
sounds/music
Example 2
Ex. How were you
creative in your
editing?
Example 3
Ex. How were you
creative in the
drafting process?
(combining old/new
footage to desired
result)
AS
A2

25. THEORIES
What theories/theorists could you connect to creativity?
Theorist Theory How
connected?
1.
2.

26. HOMEWORK
Complete the charts for each stage:
1. Pre-production
2. Production
3. Post-production
AND
Complete a basic plan for creativity (not fully written essay)
by choosing 3 examples for each stage.

27. USING
CONVENTIONS
OF REAL
MEDIA TEXTS

28. TIPS
Before planning for this topic, you might want to look at your:
-AS evaluation
-A2 evaluation
This is clearly related to the 1st question
„How does your media product use, develop, challenge forms and
conventions of real media products”
1. Know your inspirational real media products
2. Know the genre and conventions you used/developed/challenged
3. Explain WHY your used/developed/challenged
4. Explain HOW they are similar and different to real media products

29. GENRE
• ‘Genre’ is a critical tool that helps us study texts and audience responses to texts by dividing
them into categories based on common elements.
Daniel Chandler (2001) details that the word genre comes from the word for 'kind' or
'class'. The term is widely used in rhetoric, literary theory, media theory to refer to a
“distinctive type of ‘text’”.
• All genres have sub genres (genre within a genre).
• This means that they are divided up into more specific categories. Barry Keith Grant (1995)
suggests that this allows audiences to identify them specifically by their familiar and what
become recognisable characteristics.
• Genres are not fixed. They constantly change and evolve over time – your coursework
productions, are postmodern pieces and/or adapt to changes to advances in technology.
Christian Metz (1974) argued that genres go through a typical
cycle of changes during their lifetime.
David Buckingham (1993) argues that 'genre is not... Simply
"given" by the culture: rather, it is in a constant process of negotiation and change’.
Steve Neale (1995) “genres are processes of systemisation” – they change over time.

30. WHAT ARE REAL
MEDIA TEXTS
AS A2 main A2 ancillary
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Real media texts are the real life texts of your task.
AS = real film (various genre) opening sequences
A2 = real TV documentaries + real double page magazine spreads in
listing magazines + newspaper adverts
Below list 3 examples of real texts you were inspired by for your tasks.
Write a few bullet points explaining WHAT/HOW it was inspiring for your
idea.

31. WHAT ARE
CONVENTIONS
Any media product has generic conventions in order than an audience
understand it’s form and purpose. Conventions are recognizable and
familiar characteristics that an audience expect to see/experience based
on existing products they have previously seen/experienced.
When a media product mostly uses generic conventions, it is conventional
or stereotypical.
Example: ‘House of Wax’ = group of attractive, young teenagers
going on adventure, in isolated place, dumb blondes,
sex, disturbed villain who was mistreated and taking
it out on ‘normal’ others, blood & gore & torture of
tolerable degree
When a media product mostly challenges (or omits) generic conventions,
it is NOT stereotypical because it breaks the mould.

32. GENRE &
CONVENTIONS IN AS
Genre and real inspirational films Conventions of this genre
(consider how it has changed over time,
therefore how it’s conventions have
changed over time)
USE
DEVELOP
CHALLENGE
Come up with at least 5-10
examples….don’t just say
‘horror’…be more specific, we live
in a day and age of subgenres!

33. GENRE &
CONVENTIONS IN A2
Genre and real inspirational
products
MAIN & ANCILLARY
Conventions of this genre
(consider how it has changed over time,
therefore how it’s conventions have
changed over time)
USE
DEVELOP
CHALLENGE
Come up with at least 5-10
examples….don’t just say
‘documentary’…be more specific,
we live in a day and age of
subgenres!

34. YOUR GENRE &
CONVENTIONS IN AS
Conventions
USED
Conventions
DEVELOPED
Conventions
CHALLENGED
Similarities to
inspirational
films
Differences
to
inspirational
films
GENRE : _________________________

35. YOUR GENRE &
CONVENTIONS IN A2
MAIN
Conventions
USED
Conventions
DEVELOPED
Conventions
CHALLENGED
Similarities to
inspirational
documentaries
Differences
to
documentaries
GENRE : _________________________

36. YOUR GENRE &
CONVENTIONS IN A2
ANCILLARIES
Conventions
USED
Conventions
DEVELOPED
Conventions
CHALLENGED
Similarities to
inspirational
ancillaries
Differences
to ancillaries
GENRE : _______________ GENRE : _______________

37. LIST YOUR
CONVENTIONS IN AS
Fill in the chart to know your conventions
Real
Inspirational
Films
And their
Conventions
Your
Conventions
USED
Your
Conventions
DEVELOPED
Your
Conventions
CHALLENGED
Similarities
to real
inspirational
film
Similarities
to real
inspirational
film
1.
2.
3.

38. LIST YOUR
CONVENTIONS IN A2
Fill in the chart to know your conventions
Real
Inspirational
Documentaries
And their
Conventions
Your
Conventions
USED
Your
Conventions
DEVELOPED
Your
Conventions
CHALLENGED
Similarities
to real
inspirational
documentaries
Similarities
to real
inspirational
documentaries
1.
2.
3.

39. LIST YOUR
CONVENTIONS IN A2
Fill in the chart to know your conventions for ancillaries
1. Double page magazine spread 2. Newspaper advert
Real
Inspirational
Ancillaries
And their
Conventions
Your
Conventions
USED
Your
Conventions
DEVELOPED
Your
Conventions
CHALLENGED
Similarities
to real
inspirational
ancillaries
Similarities
to real
inspirational
ancillaries
1.
2.
3.

40. ESSAY PLANS
There are two CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA TEXTS ESSAY PLANS
Choose
1 (if you choose 1, then create similar charts to digital
technology and creativity)
Or
2

41. CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA
TEXTS ESSAY PLAN
1.
INTRODUCTION
1. Answer or give point of view to question.
2. Outline briefly what they made across both years.
3. Explain to the examiner how they are going to structure their essay.
Part 1: PRE-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 2: PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 3: POST-PRODUCTION 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
CONCLUSION Write a brief conclusion of how conventions of real media texts were used in aid to create your
AS/A2 media coursework and summarize how they were similar and different to inspirational real
media products

42. CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA
TEXTS ESSAY PLAN
2.
INTRODUCTION
1. Answer or give point of view to question.
2. Outline briefly what they made across both years.
3. Explain to the examiner how they are going to structure their essay.
Part 1: INSPIRATIONAL MEDIA PRODUCTS & THEIR CONVENTIONS 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 2: CONVENTIONS USED/DEVELOPED/CHALLENGED 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 3: HOW YOUR CONVENTIONS ARE
SIMILAR/DIFFERENT TO REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS 3 examples
Compare AS & A2
CONCLUSION Write a brief conclusion of how conventions of real media texts were used in aid to create your
AS/A2 media coursework and summarize how they were similar and different to inspirational real
media products

43. THEORIES
What theories/theorists could you connect to conventions of
real media texts?
Theorist Theory How
connected?
1.
2.

44. HOMEWORK
DUE NEXT WEEK
(1 WEEK TO COMPLETE!)
Complete the charts for your conventions essay plan (1 or
2):
AND
Complete a 30 minute response for:
1. Digital technology
2. Creativity
3. Conventions of real media texts

45. R&P & POST-
PRODUCTION
An ‘affect on/effects of’ structure can be applied that takes into
account the stages of production to more difficult options:
- Research and Planning
- Post Production

46. RESEARCH
&
PLANNING

47. NOTES
Remember research & planning is part of PRE-PRODUCTION
Remember that research and planning are 2 different things:
RESEARCH PLANNING
-learning material/key terms
-investigating and researching real
media products
-mind mapping (generating ideas)
-exploring range of ideas
-narrowing down ideas
-developing idea
-finishing idea
-on-going: drafting the planning ideas
after making drafts

48. ESSAY STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION
1. Answer or give point of view to question.
2. Outline briefly what they made across both years.
3. Explain to the examiner how they are going to structure their essay.
Part 1: HOW DID YOU COMPLETE EFFECTIVE RESEARCH 2-3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 2: HOW DID YOU COMPLETE EFFECTIVE PLANNING 2-3 examples
Compare AS & A2
Part 3: WHAT WAS THE EFFECT OF YOUR RESEARCH & PLANNING 2-3 examples
ON PRODUCTION (can discuss the effect of good/bad research and planning had on production)
AND can discuss how you had to update your research & planning in drafts)
Compare AS & A2
Part 4: WHAT WAS THE EFFECT OF YOUR RESEARCH & PLANNING 2-3 examples
ON POST PRODUCTION (can discuss the effect of good/bad research and planning had on post-production)
Compare AS & A2
CONCLUSION Write a brief conclusion of how you completed research and planning and how it was used in aid to
create your AS/A2 media coursework and summarize how they were similar and different to
inspirational real media products

49. RESEARCH
Example 1
Ex. ___________
Example 2
Ex. __________
Example 3
Ex. __________
AS
A2

50. PLANNING
Example 1
Ex. ___________
Example 2
Ex. __________
Example 3
Ex. __________
AS
A2

51. EFFECT OF R&P ON
PRODUCTION
Example 1
Ex. ___________
Example 2
Ex. __________
Example 3
Ex. __________
AS
A2

52. EFFECT OF R&P ON
POST-PRODUCTION
Example 1
Ex. ___________
Example 2
Ex. __________
Example 3
Ex. __________
AS
A2

53. HOMEWORK
Complete the charts for your research and planning essay
plan
You could complete a response if you wanted to.

54. POST
PRODUCTION

55. NOTES
Consider the fact you have already completed pre-production, you have
researched and planned.
Consider the fact you have already completed production, you have
shot/filmed/photographed (your raw footage).
Remember that post production means EDITING, manipulating raw
footage.
You should consider the stage of whole production:
What effect did R&P have on post-production?
What effect did production have on post-production?
It is about editing the form to make meaning of representation,
narrative, message etc.

56. EDITING
You should consider terms/techniques associated with editing (you can review the editing revision presentation to help you with the terms/meanings)
Continuity editing = How the editing techniques are used to create continuous actions
180 degree rule
Match on action
Eye-line matching
Cross cutting
Insert shots (can be any type of shot)
Sound bridging (sound but linked to cont. editing)
Pace = What type of pace is used and what is the effect on the audience?
Slow, medium, fast
Effects on audience = suspense, fear, excitement, on edge of seat, thrill, shock, boredom, calm, relaxed,
Time = How is the time being shown through editing? How/why?
Story time = the time of the story (ex. 50 years in a 2 hour film….story time is 50 years)
Discourse Time = the time taken to tell the story (ex 2 hours to show the story of 50 years, 2 hours is discourse time)
Summary, ellipsis, scene, stretch, flashback/flashforward
Time Allocation = How much time the characters/objects have on screen? Link this to their representation
Transitions = How a scene goes to the next scene, what type of transition is applied?
Straight cuts (no transition, wipe, fade in/fade out, overlap/dissolve, flashing, Graphic match,
Special effects = Things applied in editing process that didn‟t happen during filming, usually to enhance something
Black and white/sepia, blurring, CGI, ghost trail, animation, colour filters, contrast/lighting, cropping

57. COMPARING AIMS IN
AS & A2
AS AIM (in post-production) A2 AIM (in post-production)
How did you edit/what technologies
were involved in editing process?
What tools did you apply to edit?
Why?
What editing techniques did you
apply? Why?
What was your aim in your editing
(think of purpose of task)?
How did the editing make meaning on
an your audience?

58. ESSAY STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION
1. Answer or give point of view to question.
2. Outline briefly what they made across both years.
3. Explain to the examiner how they are going to structure their essay.
Part 1: WHAT WAS THE EFFECT OF YOUR RESEARCH & PLANNING 2-3 examples
ON POST-PRODUCTION (can discuss the effect of good/bad research and planning had on post-production)
Compare AS & A2
Part 2: WHAT WAS THE EFFECT OF YOUR PRODUCTION 2-3 examples
ON POST-PRODUCTION (can discuss the effect of good/bad production had on post-production)
Compare AS & A2
Part 4: WHAT TOOLS/TECHNIQUES/TECHNOLOGIES DID YOU 2-3 examples
APPLY IN POST-PRODUCTION
Compare AS & A2
Part 3: EXTENSION (only if you can) WHAT WAS THE AIM IN YOUR 2-3 examples
POST PRODUCTION
Compare AS & A2
CONCLUSION Write a brief conclusion of how you completed post-production and how it was used in aid to
create your AS/A2 media coursework and summarize how they were similar and different to
inspirational real media products

59. EFFECT OF PRE-
PRODUCTION ON POST-
PRODUCTION
Example 1
Ex. ___________
Example 2
Ex. __________
Example 3
Ex. __________
AS
A2

60. EFFECT OF PRE-
PRODUCTION ON POST-
PRODUCTION
Example 1
Ex. ___________
Example 2
Ex. __________
Example 3
Ex. __________
AS
A2

61. TOOLS/TECHNIQUES/
TECHNOLOGIES
Example 1
Ex. ___________
Example 2
Ex. __________
Example 3
Ex. __________
AS
A2

62. HOMEWORK
Complete the charts for your research and planning essay
plan
You could complete a response if you wanted to.