Brief - Component 1

 This is a coursework component, internally assessed and externally moderated, 50 marks.

Candidates produce a media product from a choice of two set briefs – a film opening or a magazine. They present evidence of the process of their work (research, planning and production) on an online blog. Candidates also reflect critically on their finished media product in a creative digital format of their choice, answering a series of set prompt questions. All work involved in creating the portfolio, including process, finished product, and creative critical reflection, is put online for moderation purposes.

The work may be undertaken individually or by a group (maximum group size is four candidates). 

Candidates must present the evidence for assessment individually whether they have worked in a group or individually. Centres must assess candidates on an individual basis. Each candidate’s blog should clearly indicate the candidate’s own role in any group activity to allow the teacher to assess the contribution of each individual within the group.

This component assesses the following Assessment objectives (AOs):

AO2: Analyse media products, and evaluate their own work, by applying knowledge and understanding of theoretical and creative approaches, supported with relevant textual evidence.
AO3: Research, plan and construct critically informed media products using appropriate technical and creative skills.

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Set briefs

Candidates must work to either the Film opening task (video) brief or the Magazine task (print) brief. Centres may select one or other set brief to offer to candidates, or may wish to let candidates choose between these two briefs themselves.

The set brief options are as follows:

Option 1: Film opening task (video)

Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film (to last a maximum of two minutes). Titles should follow the institutional conventions of commercial cinema. The task may be undertaken individually or as a group. There should be a maximum of four members to a group.

All images and text used in the main task must be original, and produced by the candidate(s). Sound should be predominantly original (dialogue and atmospheric sound), though music taken from an acknowledged source may be used as part of the soundtrack.

This task should be preceded by relevant preliminary exercises to build up candidates’ skills with equipment and their understanding of conventions.

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Process
Each candidate must complete an individual blog which is started at the beginning of the project. Each blog should contain:

• the process of research, planning and production
• any refinement, changes or edits made, and reflections on key moments
• all individual contributions to any task undertaken as a group
• evidence of any preliminary exercises
• the final finished product, clearly labeled

• the creative critical reflection, clearly labelled.

Some production elements such as storyboards may be shared by all members of a group. Collaborators who worked with the candidate on research, planning and/or production must be listed on the Individual Candidate Record Card under ‘other group members’. Centres should select dedicated blogging applications which allow posts to be read chronologically, with appropriate capabilities to embed other applications.