Dear Solihull Academy student. Firstly, well done for finding your way to this page to begin your remote learning journey. The information that you will find here will cover the same content as lessons in the classroom and will help you to prepare for the R081 Pre-production skills Module exam that you will take as your first step towards success on your Creative iMedia course. Work hard and get in touch if you have any questions. Kind regards, Mr Wilkinson.

Learning Objectives

This module covers the following learning objectives:

• LO1 Understand the purpose and content of pre-production;
• LO2 Be able to plan pre-production;
• LO3 Be able to produce pre-production documents;
• LO4 Be able to review pre-production documents.

Learning Activities

The Videos below will take you through the content of the module along with some exam style questions and some top tips on how to answer them.

LO1 Understand the purpose and content of pre-production

Mind Maps

Key Knowledge Self Assessment - Mind Maps

Check your answers against the information below. If you're missing any key points, then add them to your table.

Purpose of a Mind Map

• Quickly record ideas and related thoughts in a way that is structured;
• Work out and show others the links between thoughts, specific areas and processes within a project or part of a project;
• To start the thinking process and play around with ideas to create clearer ideas.

Uses of a Mind Map

• Show a range of ideas. This can be used with any project or even just key parts of a project;
• Point out and connections or links between or within parts of a project;
• Show a complete overview of a project to communicate the range of activities needed to achieve a goal and how they are related.

Content of a Mind Map

• Central node: with the main theme.
• Sub-nodes: with interconnecting lines or branches for the different parts.
• Text: at each sub-node for key points, ideas, activities, requirements, and so on.
• Images: can also be used on sub-nodes.

Task 02: Draw a Mind Map to connect ideas about an advert for a new mobile phone with hologram technology.

Mood Boards

Key Knowledge Self Assessment - Mood Boards

Check your answers against the information below. If you're missing any key points, then add them to your table.

Purpose of a Mood Board

• Assist with the creation and organisation of ideas on a project by collecting a range of materials and information that represent the tone and scope of what a product might look like;
• To inspire the creation and design approach.

Uses of a Mood Board

• The starting point for any creative project;
• An organised place to gather samples, materials and any other relevant content together;
• A reference point a consistent possible styles;
• A way of sharing thoughts and ideas about a project and show a particular styles to others in the team.

Content of a Mood Board

A mood board can be digital or physical and can contain a lot of different types of content. Here are some of the main things it might include.

• Images: from anything that is relevant or related, such as existing similar products, photographs, logos, screenshots from films, website pages, advertisements and posters;
• Colours: especially those that fit the brief and audience or have been successfully used before in a similar product;
• Text: with key words, fonts and styles;
• Other materials: such as textures and fabrics;
• Sound and video: (on a digital mood board).

Task 03: Create a Mood Board to show the mood for a new video game about a robot vampire.

Visualisation Diagram

Key Knowledge Self Assessment - Visualisation Diagram

Check your answers against the information below. If you're missing any key points, then add them to your table.

Purpose of a Visualisation Diagram

• Organise the layout of a static (not video or animation) media product;
• Show others what the layout and composition of a completed media product could look like;
• Communicate enough information about an idea to a graphic designer or graphic artist to enable them to create the idea you have in mind.

Uses of a Visualisation DiagramFor any static media image project, such as:

• A pitch/ proposal to a potential client;
• To communicate your intention for the product to a production team.
• Plan a static media image project; for example,

1. CD sleeve,
2. Poster,
3. game scene,
4. display screen,
5. comic book page layout,
6. web/multimedia page layout,
7. magazine/ book cover, or
8. print based advert (magazine, newspaper or poster).

Content of a Visualisation Diagram

A Visualisation Diagram can be digital or physical and can contain a lot of different types of content. Here are some of the main things it might include.

• Images/ graphics: size and location;
• Logos: client's organisation or product;
• Colour: (including schemes) to make it stand out;
• Text: Location, Size, style etc. and key names of products and services;
• Fonts: which complement and enhance the visual interest;
• Annotations: not to be included in the final product, but to provide more information where components need explaining.

Task 04: create a Visualisation Diagram of a book cover for a story like Harry Potter on an appropriate story of your choice.

Storyboards

Key Knowledge Self Assessment - Storyboard

Check your answers against the information below. If you're missing any key points, then add them to your table.

Purpose of a Storyboard

• Provide others with a visual example of what a dynamic media product (e.g. video, animation, visual book) could look like;
• Provide a graphical illustration of a series of movements over time (e.g. animated 3D character);
• Provide clear instruction to production crews on what film scenes are intended to look like;
• Provide clear instruction to editors on how a scene should be edited to communicate a story.

Uses of a Storyboard

• Communicate ideas and intent for the production of any media product involving movement or a sequence of scenes (especially along a timeline/ storyline), such as:

1. video/ film,
2. digital animation,
3. comic book,
4. computer game (storyline),
5. multimedia product (graphic animation).

Content of a Storyboard

Storyboards can contain a high amount of information as they show a series of scenes over time and incorporate information about visual aspects, audio aspects and dynamic (movement) aspects.

• Number of scenes: in a sequenced order.
• Scene content/action: what is visible to the viewer (made up of images, pictures and title/chapter text).
• Timings: expected/ calculated duration of each shot/ scene.
• Camera shot types: how much of a person/ object is in the shot; for example, long (Whole Person), mid (half body), close up (body part/ area), extreme close up (single feature such as eyes etc.).
• Camera angles: for example, high (looking down), low (looking up), aerial (from above), over the shoulder (show interaction in a conversation etc.).
• Camera movement: such as panning (left/ right), tilting, zooming (in/ out), moving with camera (walking/ track and dolly).
• Lighting: such as natural, studio, mood or special effects (like alien tractor beam etc.).
• Sound: background music, dialogue (talking), sound effects, ambient sound (background noises).
• Locations: type of room and layout, outside places and environment.
• Camera and lens type: depends on type of product being made. e.g. video camera for film or stills camera for stop motion animations.

Scripts

Key Knowledge Self Assessment - Script

Check your answers against the information below. If you're missing any key points, then add them to your table.

Purpose of a Script

• Identify the type of location where the action takes place;
• Identify who is in each scene (actors, narrators, etc.);
• Provide stage directions for production team and actors;
• Provide dialogue (speech) for actors and other characters;
• Support the pitch or proposal for an idea;
• Tell a story for a reader and generate interest.

Uses of a Script

Any product involving moving images with a cast or characters, dialogue (spoken words), actions and a timeline, including:

1. video products (films, vlogs, etc.);
2. audio products (idents, audio books, etc.);
3. animated products (advertisements, independent films, cartoons etc.);
4. computer games (scene setting or during game play;
5. screenplay.

Content of a Script

Whilst the main content of a script is dialogue, it also gives a significant amount of direction to convey how and where a scene plays out and the intent of the author for how the final product should look and feel.

• Cover: Name of Author, story/ product title and brief description;
• Set/locations: where the action takes place;
• Scene descriptions: scene set up and actors orientation in them;
• Direction: what happens in the scene, how characters interact, what actions they complete, etc.;
• Names: characters or actors (normally wirtten in capitals, e.g. RICHARD.
• Dialogue: (speech) how it is spoken (quickly, loudly, high pitched, etc.).
• Camera shot types: how much of a person/ object is in the shot; for example, long (Whole Person), mid (half body), close up (body part/ area), extreme close up (single feature such as eyes etc.).
• Camera movement: such as panning (left/ right), tilting, zooming (in/ out), moving with camera (walking/ track and dolly).
• Sound: background music, dialogue (talking), sound effects, ambient sound (background noises).

Format of a Script

There are certain conventions (ways of doing things) that are used for all scripts to make it easier and quicker to find specific information.

• Location: Left hand margin.
• Camera shot: Left hand margin.
• Direction: Left hand margin.
• Actor names: indented ~2.0 inches from the left margin.
• Dialogue: indented ~1.0 inch from the left margin.
• Speech marks: because scripts are largely dialogue, speech marks are not commonly used.

Congratulations, you've made it to the end of Learning Objective 01: Understand the purpose and content of pre-production.

Goto LO2: Be able to plan pre-production.

Content reference: Wells, Kevin; Allen, Victoria; McAtominey, Sarah; Stephens, Tony. Cambridge National Level 1/2 Creative iMedia. Hodder Education. Kindle Edition.

Video Credit: Tech Head Online Learning.