WEEKLY JOURNALS

This is where you think about your FMP learning journey and development.
Don’t simply describe what you did - consider what you have learnt and how this has benefitted
your project. What do you need to improve?

THIS IS JUST GUIDANCE THAT YOU NEED TO ADAPT TO YOUR OWN PROJECT. YOU HAVE CREATED YOUR
OWN PRODUCTION SCHEDULES AND YOUR WEEKLY BLOGS SHOULD REFELCT THAT.

THESE QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE WEEKS YOU COMPLETED THEM. DO NOT JUST SUBMIT THIS
FORM FILLED IN FOR YOUR WEEKLY BLOGS. THERE SHOULD BE 11 WEEKLY BLOG ENTRIES (INCLUDING
EASTER).

Week Two - Research

RESEARCH

What did you learn from your From my research I have learnt about rap music videos and the
research? difference in English and American videos, I felt the main
difference was that how they are made and produced with the
American style videos containing lots of colour and bright skies, I
think this is done to show the idea of how they are living the
‘perfect’ life. Whereas the English style videos are more down to
earth and realistic, for example filming on a cloudy day in an
estate.

How has the research for your
medium helped you improve your
ideas?
The research has abled me to cater the video to what I think it
needs because the song is very English, I feel a English video is
what ill produce for example Dave – Hangman is just shot in what
looks like a council estate. However, I think some subtle effects
can really change some scenes from just being down a back
road with nothing eye catching.

How has the research for your genre
helped you improve your ideas?
From my research I have been able to improve my ideas by
analysing music videos and this resulting in me being able to
choose suitable locations, editing styles and clothing which are
all vital in a music video. As all these factors can completely
change the themes and mood of music videos.

How has researching the conventions
of your chosen genre helped you
understand what is required from you
in order to meet a distinction grade?
Researching the codes and conventions of hip/hop and rap
genre, has allowed me to show that there are a big variety in
both music and there videos from Drill which is associated a lot
with guns, violence and drugs, and is looked down on because it
themes are not appropriate to all audiences especially to
younger children. There is also Grime which is coming into more
mainstream music and being played on radios due to its
increase in popularity, which is not happening with Drill, because
it’s not appropriate for radio audiences.
How has including a variety of sources
(primary and secondary) helped with
your understanding of your medium /
genre?
What sources of information did you
look at that were different from your
proposed project?
How will this be useful to your
planning?
How has the research for your
content/topic helped you improve
your ideas?
How has the research into
artists/producers helped you improve
your ideas?
What work do you need to complete
outside of lessons to stay on track?
High Grade Tips
Research
● ‘Thorough research’ - include plenty of sources and detailed analysis of this information
● ‘relevant & coherent’ – make sure your research sources are not just the same as the Media
product you hope to make - and talk about how they inform your planning
● ‘sustained’ – continue your research throughout the eleven-week project and don’t just limit it to
Primary and secondary research on medium allowed me to get
numerous perspectives and opinions on what ideas were
popular and what ideas are used typically in a hip/hop, rap
music video. Survey’s gave me the results to help me, for
example, the best shots, locations, props and clothing. This really
benefited me and will benefit my production. Furthermore,
secondary research presented the history of hip/hop, rap videos.
I also focused on the difference between American and English
hip/hop, rap videos and how the American style of this genre is
to show off and act as if they are above everyone else,
performing at big pool parties, expensive oversized jewellery too
show off. Whereas a English style is a lot more real and can just
be filmed in an estate, making it feel more real with the
audience and not just caring about trying to off to everyone.
This will useful when planning as it will allow me to put across my
ideas into reality, this is because from my research I am able to
make a successful production because, it allowed me to make
my own unique idea incorporating all the ideas from all the ideas
from the research, this means
The research for my music video helped my idea because
watching English rap videos shows that they are relatively simple
and that it does not need to be super technical and have a
super high budget, and that they just film in a car park or an
estate, with friends who are in the artists music videos in the
background, I know this because they appear in more than one
video, the emphasises that they care more about there family
and friends who they’ve known for years. On the other hand,
Americans are using a lot more actors and are just paying them
for the sake of their looks or their moves, suggesting that there is
less care and they just care about the money.
My research into Dave who is the artist of the song 100M’S, is into
his previous music videos, and I am trying to follow the themes
and style of his previous music videos. This style is laid back and
real with a relatively low budget, making it like this I feel makes it
like an actual Dave video, which is what make it feel more
professional. This is because its not realistic having lots of
aftereffects, visually changing the scene.
I need to work on my secondary research and completely finish
it all, this is because there are a few un answered question that I
still need to answer, to perfect my research.
 the first two weeks
● ‘accomplished & considered’ – all of the above referred to in your daily/weekly reflections