Okay, so you need an idea. We are changing this project for your year group to hopefully make it more interesting and relevant to you. With that in mind, we would like you to work with a genuine client and audience rather than producing an imaginary product, as was the case with both the i-pod advertisement and the horror/thriller/graphic novel task. Rather than constructing largely pointless questionnaires and generating huge amounts of paperwork which you find boring to produce and we find even more boring to mark, instead you will be including only the most relevant and concise of details.

YOUR BRIEF- Mr Ryan, Ms Allan & I would like your year group to re-launch and indeed invigorate SIS TV. Although I would envisage that many of you will want to produce TV based texts, there is also an opportunity to produce other media related synergy tie-ins with our parent, TV company. This could include print related products like magazines or websites.

Remember, usually your pre-production leads directly into your production, which means that you will be working on this project for quite a while; so think carefully about what you want to do. Also note; what I am describing here is the pre-production AND the final practical piece, So, if you choose to make a TV based task: your pre-production is the STORYBOARD; your practical is the actual TV programme itself.

Also note - I talk about group sizes here; that ONLY applies to the PRACTICAL piece. Your pre-production is done ABSOLUTELY on your own! Share ideas, but produce your own materials.

1. SIS TV

Go to the SIS TV page of the wiki and select a channel of programme that you would like to work within. The actual nature of the task will be negotiated based on your interest but generally speaking, you will be required to make a short TV programme, working with a client who has a genuine media related need. This could include working with feeder primary schools, producing film related educational resources to help teachers with the delivery of the PYP. (Primary Years Programme) Alternatively, you could be involved in a sports programme, dealing with filming and editing genuine sport events, for- perhaps- the PE department. By the time you have started this project, I will have contacted teachers in our school and beyond to see what kind of resources they need. However, be clear that because this is an individual pre-production assignment you MUST NOT under any circumstances suggest that you will definitely carry this through to production. You need to decide this after the pre-production, as remember that the production itself will be done as a group.

2. The SIS Community Channel

The SIS community channel is modeled on the British satellite channel known as The Community Channel. The idea here is that you work with a local organisation to provide for their media needs. This could be working with an NGO (Non-Government Organisation) or INGO (International Non-Government Organisation) like Hong Kong Dog Rescue, Clean the Air etc, which have been used in previous years. You could produce a promotional magazine, film or website extension (this could include Web 2.0 applications like forums or wikis) and possibly even with companies associated with your parents. This also provides you the opportunity to score some CAS related hours as this clearly acts as a service.

3. THE MAGAZINE

Produce a cover, a contents page, an advert and a feature for a magazine. Either make your own magazine or produce content for the South China Morning Post Sunday Supplement. The pre-production will be a mock up (a rough version) of the design. For example, you don't need to actually write the story until you do the final Practical piece.

This suits students who like working with Photoshop or similar tools, who enjoy photography or writing articles or who like graphic design in general. It also might suit those who prefer working alone or in very small groups (absolute maximum of two!)

The SCMP option works well since it forces students out of their comfort zone; you are writing and designing for an adult audience, not teens. However, it does mean that all design questions have largely been answered for you in advance; it is very difficult to score top marks (not impossible!)


4. THE CAMPAIGN
Produce an advertising campaign or marketing materials for a real-life company. The pre-production will be the proposal plus the mock up or storyboard or whatever the appropriate planning method is for the piece you have been commissioned to make.

This one can be challenging. Find and make contact with a company (ah, parents CAN be useful for something), find out about their marketing needs and fill them! You might end up making a short advert, a print-based information campaign or a radio piece (or anything else!) It is suited to students who like designing their own projects and who would like to see how the media works in reality. Group size really depends on the nature of the project undertaken.

Note - it is perfectly possible to score full marks in any of these projects. Different students will find different projects easier or harder, however; choose carefully, and remember, you CAN choose other options - but LET ME KNOW!

Back to Pre-production page

Back to GCSE Media page