From VCE Study Design
Audience engagement, consumption, reception and the requirement to work under constraints including time, budget and skills, are all central to the media production process. The stages of the process should not be seen as static or linear; rather they are iterative and interrelated. Underpinning the media production process is ongoing analysis, reflection and evaluation requiring critical, creative and reflective thinking.
The stages in the media production process are:
Development: the ideas, intention, narrative and audience that are the foundation of the production are explored. In this stage other media products are investigated to analyse media codes and conventions, genre, style and the location, context and time when the production was produced. Equipment, materials and technologies are investigated in a range of media forms in relation to the audience and intention. Experiments using materials, equipment and technologies are conducted to develop understanding of and skill in their use.
Pre-production: the production is planned considering the specified audience, intention, narrative and context. The construction of the narrative of the product is planned, including how it will engage, be consumed and read by the specified audience. Media codes and conventions, genre and style, are considered in the construction of the narrative. Documentation and the planning of the production are carried out in visual and written form using tools such as production notes and storyboards. Equipment, technologies and materials to be used in the production are documented. The way the product will be distributed to the audience and the context in which it will be distributed and consumed is also planned.
Production: the planned production design is captured and recorded. Annotations may be added to the production design plan in relation to media codes and conventions and any changes to the production design. Production may be a collaborative process involving a number of people with specific roles or it may be an individual process. Reflection and evaluation of the production can occur through written documentation, oral feedback and/ or visual feedback.
Post-production: the production is refined and resolved considering the intention, audience and the construction of narrative. Media codes and conventions are used to resolve ideas and to consider the engagement, consumption and reception of the specified audience. Specific equipment and technologies are used in editing. Feedback is sought and the creator and participant will reflect upon the product and its relationship to the specified audience and intent.
Distribution: the product is delivered to the specified audience in a planned context and location. At this point the creator and/or participants will seek feedback for future productions based on audience response and personal reflection.
Development: the ideas, intention, narrative and audience that are the foundation of the production are explored. In this stage other media products are investigated to analyse media codes and conventions, genre, style and the location, context and time when the production was produced. Equipment, materials and technologies are investigated in a range of media forms in relation to the audience and intention. Experiments using materials, equipment and technologies are conducted to develop understanding of and skill in their use.
Pre-production: the production is planned considering the specified audience, intention, narrative and context. The construction of the narrative of the product is planned, including how it will engage, be consumed and read by the specified audience. Media codes and conventions, genre and style, are considered in the construction of the narrative. Documentation and the planning of the production are carried out in visual and written form using tools such as production notes and storyboards. Equipment, technologies and materials to be used in the production are documented. The way the product will be distributed to the audience and the context in which it will be distributed and consumed is also planned.
Production: the planned production design is captured and recorded. Annotations may be added to the production design plan in relation to media codes and conventions and any changes to the production design. Production may be a collaborative process involving a number of people with specific roles or it may be an individual process. Reflection and evaluation of the production can occur through written documentation, oral feedback and/ or visual feedback.
Post-production: the production is refined and resolved considering the intention, audience and the construction of narrative. Media codes and conventions are used to resolve ideas and to consider the engagement, consumption and reception of the specified audience. Specific equipment and technologies are used in editing. Feedback is sought and the creator and participant will reflect upon the product and its relationship to the specified audience and intent.
Distribution: the product is delivered to the specified audience in a planned context and location. At this point the creator and/or participants will seek feedback for future productions based on audience response and personal reflection.
Unit 3: AoS 2 - Media production development
This area of study forms the initial part of the Media production process. It documents exploration and investigation, experimentation, reflection and evaluation throughout the process. Media production development enables students to investigate a range of styles, genres and forms to develop their own distinctive style from different influences. Unit 3 Area of study 2 provides students opportunities to explore media technologies and processes related to their investigation and reflect on the development of their media product. Media production design articulates the context of the media product, including the intention, specific audience, the narrative and distribution of the product. It forms the basis of the planning of the creation of the media product, including representations, subject matter, characters, roles, tasks and timelines.
Exploration and investigation
As part of their exploration students should identify an idea, concept, ideology or theme, audience and media form they wish to examine for their Media production process. Students make links between their ideas and themes, and explore codes and conventions of media forms and document influences. Students identify multiple influences from different media forms and the use of different media technologies. They record the codes and conventions that form the narratives, style and genre of these influences and how they are distributed, engaged, read and consumed by audiences. Students analyse aspects of these influences that may assist in developing their own individual style. They investigate technologies, equipment and materials in a range of media forms relevant to their selected media product and evaluate the capabilities of these resources.
Experimentation
Students use the Media production process and technologies in at least two experiments. Experiments should be short activities or exercises, not complete productions and focus on skill development. Students document the influences, the use of media codes and conventions, aesthetic and structural qualities, genre and style identified from the study of different media forms, to their own experiments. Students should consider in detail different technologies and processes, and how codes and conventions can be manipulated to communicate different meanings.
Reflection
After each experiment, students should write a detailed evaluation, making note of:
Exploration and investigation
As part of their exploration students should identify an idea, concept, ideology or theme, audience and media form they wish to examine for their Media production process. Students make links between their ideas and themes, and explore codes and conventions of media forms and document influences. Students identify multiple influences from different media forms and the use of different media technologies. They record the codes and conventions that form the narratives, style and genre of these influences and how they are distributed, engaged, read and consumed by audiences. Students analyse aspects of these influences that may assist in developing their own individual style. They investigate technologies, equipment and materials in a range of media forms relevant to their selected media product and evaluate the capabilities of these resources.
Experimentation
Students use the Media production process and technologies in at least two experiments. Experiments should be short activities or exercises, not complete productions and focus on skill development. Students document the influences, the use of media codes and conventions, aesthetic and structural qualities, genre and style identified from the study of different media forms, to their own experiments. Students should consider in detail different technologies and processes, and how codes and conventions can be manipulated to communicate different meanings.
Reflection
After each experiment, students should write a detailed evaluation, making note of:
- the intentions of these experiments and their relationship to influences, research and studied media forms
- the manipulation of codes and conventions and the relationship to the narrative, structure, style and genre
- the opportunities and constraints of all technologies or processes used
- how the individual style the student has used in the experiment has developed
- how specific audiences would be engaged when reading and consuming the codes and conventions, narrative, style and genre of the experiment.