WEEKLY JOURNALS
Week Two - Research
RESEARCH
What did you learn from your
research?
How has the research for your
medium helped you improve
your ideas?
How has the research for your
genre helped you improve your
ideas?
How has researching the
conventions of your chosen
genre helped you understand
what is required from you in
order to meet a distinction
grade?
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?
From my research I have learnt what’s required to make a
successful Stop Motion Music Video. Stop Motion Music Videos
need simple, child-like qualities to engage the viewers as it allows
them to follow the story of the song easily and connect with the
characters because of the materials used. It has also showed me
what others have produced/are producing and what is more
appealing towards certain people. Child-like qualities are great for
this because it gives the viewer the sense of familiarity and can
trigger some childhood memories of colouring or playing with Lego
or PlayDoh.
The research that I did for my medium helped me to improve my
idea of doing a Stop Motion Music Video by showing me the history
behind stop motion. Allowing me to see what others have done
and how hard people work on making stop motion clips and films
is inspiring. This is why I chose to challenge myself by using paper
and using a song.
It allowed me to explore the different genres of this type of
production and understand which one my production fits into the
best. The genre that my production fits in is a mix of them, it’s a
narrative stop motion animated music video. This is combining the
genres of narrative music videos and animation.
By researching the conventions of my genre – a narrative
animation – it has helped me understand what I need to do to get
a distinction grade. This is because of the way I have seen other
productions of high standard work; it gives me an idea of the
quality of work I need to produce to achieve that grade.
It has given me examples to follow and back up my research of
what I need to make my production just as successful as a
professional piece of work. It has also allowed me to understand
my medium and genre better by seeing how other people create
their stop motion clips/music videos etc, and all the different
techniques and software they use.
I looked at everything to do with stop motion animation or music
videos. I didn’t look at anything that wasn’t linked with either of
these. The only sources I used that were different from my
proposed project were different types of materials used which still
isn’t that different from my idea.
This will help with my planning because I know what I need to do
to make it look professional and interesting to watch, it will also
allow me to get a clearer picture of what I want my production to
 be like.

How has the research for your It showed me the basics of how to make what I want and the best
content/topic helped you ways to do it. As well as showing me tips and tricks of how others
improve your ideas? did there stop motions and the different types of editing software
to use for different effects.

How has the research into
artists/producers helped you
improve your ideas?
Looking at the works of Tim Burton and Nick Park is inspiring
because of how much detail and commitment is evident in each of
their stop motion films. They both have different styles as Tim
Burton has a more gothic horror theme, but Nick Park has more of
a joyful and happy theme to it. However, they both produce
something easy to follow and childlike, but also realistic and
entertaining to watch.

What work do you need to
complete outside of lessons to
stay on track?
Due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, and now that everyone
has been asked to stay home it has slowed down my ability to
work. This is because the WIFI in my house has been randomly
crashing every now and then, so I haven’t been able to do a lot in
one day. I can only do little pieces of research at a time before it
goes again. I have been writing what I can in my notebook when it
does crash so when it I get back online, I can type it in. But, I do
have quite a lot to get finished.

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 the first two weeks
● ‘accomplished & considered’ – all of the above referred to in your daily/weekly reflections