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?

Week One - Context

CONTEXT

How did you find coming up Coming up with the idea for the FMP was the easiest part of this
with an idea that challenged unit. To be honest I think I knew from the beginning what I want to
you enough for your FMP? do. It is my goal and I didn’t need to think about it.

How has writing a proposal
helped you with finalising your
idea?
We unfortunately didn’t start the FMP until the second week but
once I actually got to writing the proposal it went quite smoothly.
As I said I knew from the beginning what I want to do and writing
the proposal has just strengthened my goal, it has made me work
better since everything was on paper.

How did the feedback help you
adapt your idea – what did you
change after feedback?
After getting some feedback from the tutors I have decided to
change the amount of the writing in the proposal, at first I had
quite a few paragraphs but some of them didn’t really make sense,
I have went through the entire proposal and redone it so it makes
sense and so it is good.

Are you on track for the week? This week was quite successful, I did not have too many problems
If not, how far behind are you? or obstacles in my path and I could easily finish the proposal and I
could easily prepare all of my folders and work so I can stay on
track in the future.

What work do you need to I need to prepare all of the documents, all of the folders and links
complete outside of lessons to so I can easily finish and work on them later.
stay on track?
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?
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?
My research has not yet been finished however it has already taught
me a lot of different things. I have found out what are the best
camera angles for documentaries are and I have found out what
techniques I can use to make my documentary good quality.
Some of the things that I have research have really helped me to
develop a good plan for this documentary, the things I have
researched weren’t always really straight forward and they weren’t
always easy to process but once I understood what it meant or was it
has really helped me. They have helped me to make better effort on
my plans and storyboards as well as overall idea of the editing and
working with the video.
I have looked into a lot of different styles of the documentaries, I
have decided I will create an expository documentary and I will talk
about all of the most important facts and things about bodybuilding.
I have noticed that to get a distinction grade there will be a lot of
professional work that has to go into the paperwork, the practical
and the others. Of Course I could just get it out the way and just do it
without trying to improve but every feedback I get from the tutors
can improve me if I use it correctly. From the beginning I have
applied myself in 120% towards this project, every feedback, every
constructive criticism comment I get I am trying to apply to my work
and I am not even considering stopping.
There is two topics I had to research, bodybuilding and documentary
world. Both of those topics have helped me a ton, for the
documentary side I have found out a lot of techniques that I can
apply to my documentary to make it professional and for the
bodybuilding side I have found out some info I didn’t know before.
What sources of information
did you look at that were
different from your
proposed project?
Well if it comes down to the proposal I has about 4 or 5 links to
different websites on there and if it comes down to my references
now I have about 20 to 30 links to different websites with lots of
useful information.
My range of sources has widely expanded from the beginning and it
will maybe expand even more.

How will this be useful to All of the research has showed me a ton of different ways of making
your planning? my documentary great, so when it comes down to planning I can
apply all of the knowledge I have aquired from research to it.

How has the research for
your content/topic helped
you improve your ideas?
I have looked into a lot of different bodybuilding documentaries like
“Pumping Iron” and “Generation Iron 1, 2 and 3”, they had a lot of
quick and awesome editing and this is what I will use in my
documentary. I will make the documentary as informative as possible
and if while editing something happens or I’ll be lacking any speeches
I will just add them while working.

How has the research into
artists/producers helped you
improve your ideas?
Some of the producers I have looked into like Vlad Yudin have really
infected me with their style I could say. The style they use is
absolutely awesome and using it is super effective when
documentaries especially about bodybuilding have to be very fast
paced and very quickly switching scenes.

What work do you need to I could look into some more documentary practitioners and maybe
complete outside of lessons some more bodybuilding influencers. They could maybe help me to
to stay on track? make my research better, I could also maybe contact them to make
my work better.

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
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?
Week Three - Research
RESEARCH
What did you learn from your
research?
How has the research into your
target audience helped you
improve your ideas?
How has the research into your
platform helped you improve your
ideas?
How has researching characters
and actors helped you decide who
to cast?
What have you learned from your
test shoots? How will you use
these ideas in your production?
I have found out a lot of useful information about how to use
good camera angles and good shots for the documentary
genre, I am sure this will help me to make my work more
sufficient.
The target audience of my documentary will be people who
are interested in keeping healthy and in good shape and
mood so after doing lots and lots of I would like to think good
research I think I have found information that may interest
my viewers and will help me to convince them to do or not
do certain actions.
That part of the work was slightly included into my other
bullet points so I can’t really reflect on this specific topic
however I am sure my platform of choice will be quite
excellent for this product.
I have looked into a lot of people who I knew and could help
me in my documentary. The research helped to determine
who will be efficient in what role, if it comes down to putting
the research of that topic on paper I did not do that but I
went around the gym speaking to my friends and people
whom I knew and I decided to ask them for help. They have
mostly agreed for any help.
I have mostly tested the interview techniques and angles and
not to confuse anyone, this will help me tremendously, on
the day of shooting I will just be able to choose the proper
settings and angles so it will help me be more organised and
professional.
What work do you need to I need to look into people who could help me, preferably
complete outside of lessons to experts on certain topics, like bodybuilding and powerlifting,
stay on track? etc.

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
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?
Week Four - Planning
PLANNING
What did you learn from your
planning this week?
What issues did you encounter and
how did you overcome them?
How did you ensure that your
storyboards were completed to a high
standard?
How has your planning
developed/changed during the
planning stage?
How have you ensured your
script/shooting script is of a high
detailed standard?
I have learned that planning is the most important part of
the work, it applies to everything in life and without it
everything is very hectic.
Well there was quite a few issues over the course of the
work that I have done so far. My local gym was always
busy and there was people who didn’t want to be recorded
so honesty that was the only and the worst problem I have
had. Asides from that there was no problems in my work
so far.
To ensure that my storyboards were completed to a very
high standard. I have used an online storyboard creator on
which I have designed my desired mise-en-scene and the
cast. Obviously some of them didn’t work perfectly in
practice but there is nothing I can do about that.
I have planned the locations I would like to use in my
documentary but when I have arrived at the certain place,
they weren’t exactly as I remembered them or pictured
them so obviously I had to include that in my planning and
my documents, it was honestly alright to do it but the
planning had to be a little bit changed.
Asides, the program I have done my storyboards on was a
little limited, it didn’t let me do everything I wanted to do.
My script is really, restricted on the gyms and if people can
help me or not. From what I have planned it seems like it is
professional but it will only show in the finalised product.
How well have you managed and
organised your cast and crew to be in
available when you need them?
Well, people in the gym are usually extremely busy, they
are purpose driven and they don’t usually have time, I have
first asked the people if they are free, if they said yes then I
have put it into the planning, maybe it wasn’t very obvious
but it was there for me.
Overall the management of the cast and the crew was
hectic at times but after all I have managed to finalise my
project.

Are you on track for the week? If not, I am on track if not ahead of what I have planned. I have
how far behind are you? been working my butt off to get here.

What work do you need to complete I will once again add some research and master my
outside of lessons to stay on track? planning part of the work to get to a point where all of my
work will be very easy.

High Grade Tips

Planning & Production

● ‘effective planning, organisation’ –​ your FMP Workbook will explain what you need to do in
the next few weeks to make sure all of your planning is completed, and also how this will help you
● ‘efficient production against timescales’​ – your FMP Proposal will clearly identify how you
intend to create your project before the deadline in May
● ‘commitment & subject engagement’​ – all of the above referred to in your daily/weekly
reflections
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?
Week Five - Planning
PLANNING
What did you learn from your
planning this week?
What issues did you encounter and
how did you overcome them?
How did you ensure that your
location recces were completed to
a high standard?
How did you ensure that your props
list and crew list were completed to
a high standard?
How have you ensured your
production schedule includes
enough detail?
How well have you managed and
organised your cast and crew to be
in available when you need them?
I have learned that planning can change the cause of a
project, my planning was changed a few times to suit my
work. It was changed to allow me to work more efficiently
and safely.
I have came across a few issues like the gym or shop staff
not being sure if I can record anything in there but I have
overcome this problem by speaking and messaging the
managers, once they let me record I went and recorded the
footage I needed.
I have made sure I have mentioned all of the addresses, all
of the locations and actions which I will be expected to
perform within that location.
I have first done a little sketch of what I need and what I
have, then I have put everything on paper, by that I mean
the document and I have just made sure that I am talking
about the certain prop or crew member in an important
matter or voice.
Well… about that I have made sure everything was
scheduled before hand and I have thought about everything
even a backup plan, well… a few backup plans and
locations.
Before I have planned anything I have made sure I have
contacted all of the people I needed in my cast group and I
have arranged a little meeting to explain what will be
happening to them and what they will be helping me with.
Are you on track for the week? If I am perfectly on track for this week, there is nothing I have
not, how far behind are you? to worry about.

What work do you need to I will need to make sure all of my planning and preparation
complete outside of lessons to stay is up to date and on track.
on track?

High Grade Tips

Planning & Production

● ‘effective planning, organisation’ –​ your FMP Workbook will explain what you need to do
in the next few weeks to make sure all of your planning is completed, and also how this will help
you
● ‘efficient production against timescales’​ – your FMP Proposal will clearly identify how you
intend to create your project before the deadline in May
● ‘commitment & subject engagement’​ – all of the above referred to in your daily/weekly
reflections
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?

Week six – Planning/filming

PLANNING

What did you learn from your Once again I have learned that you should be
planning this week? pre-planning before a major assignment or a project.
It is crucial for the success of your work.

What issues did you encounter For this week I didn't encounter ANY issues.
and how did you overcome them?

How did you ensure that you are I have went through all of my work and I have made sure
prepared for filming? everything was prepared and when the day came to film.
I have made sure everyone is arriving and I have started
recording.

How did you ensure that your I have checked if I have put down a plan for what I will be
equipment lists were completed doing with the equipment and I have made sure I have
to a high standard? explained what the equipment will be in the filming and
planning.

How have you ensured your Yes, as I have mentioned before, I have spoke to each
actors and crew will be available? and every single one of my crew members and made sure
they were available.

How well have you been able to Well… everything has came together after I was rejected
organise locations and transport? by my local bodybuilder, then I have came to a
conclusion that I will record everything in college grounds
and this would be a better plan. That was a minor issue.

Are you on track for the week? If I am on track for this week, I would say I am ahead.
not, how far behind are you?
What work do you need to I just need to keep managing my stuff well and this
complete outside of lessons to should keep my luck and skill up.
stay on track?

High Grade Tips

Planning & Production

● ‘effective planning, organisation’ –​ your FMP Workbook will explain what you need to
do in the next few weeks to make sure all of your planning is completed, and also how this will
help you
● ‘efficient production against timescales’​ – your FMP Proposal will clearly identify how
you intend to create your project before the deadline in May
● ‘commitment & subject engagement’​ – all of the above referred to in your
daily/weekly reflections
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?

Week Seven – Filming

PLANNING

What did you learn from I have been working on my filming for this week so I did not
your planning this week? learn much from the planning, all I have found out was
something obvious, if you are organised you’ll succeed.

What issues did you Some of my interviewees were not ready and I unfortunately
encounter and how did had to use some other people. As I said, I have just spoke to
you overcome them? many more people and the issue was resolved.

How did you ensure that As I have said in the previous week I have made sure all of my
you are prepared for planning is down on paper. Then I have made sure that my stuff
filming? is working in terms of the cameras and mics. After that I have
just began filming.

How did you ensure that I have made sure that my equipment list is complete to a high
your equipment lists were standard by following the guidance from the previous units and
completed to a high filling the form and table out.
standard?

How have you ensured I have contacted them a few days before finishing the
your actors and crew will interviews to make sure they are actually available, if they said
be available? no which no one did, I had a few others as a plan B.

How well have you been Locations and transport weren’t much of a problem since I have
able to organise locations weights at home and also I could have bought some food to
and transport? make at home and record it.

Are you on track for the I am on track for this week, I am a very organized guy.
week? If not, how far
behind are you?
What work do you need I have to finnish of my recording and start the editing.
to complete outside of
lessons to stay on track?

High Grade Tips

Planning & Production

● ‘effective planning, organisation’ –​ your FMP Workbook will explain what you need
to do in the next few weeks to make sure all of your planning is completed, and also how this
will help you
● ‘efficient production against timescales’​ – your FMP Proposal will clearly identify
how you intend to create your project before the deadline in May
● ‘commitment & subject engagement’​ – all of the above referred to in your
daily/weekly reflections
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?
Week Eight – Filming
FILMING
What practical work have you done this
week - and how helpful was your
earlier planning?
How will this be useful to you as your
production process continues
Upload behind the scenes pictures and
videos and comment on what they
show
What issues did you encounter whilst
out filming and how did you overcome
them?
How suitable do you feel your locations
were for your filming?
How have you made use of the
technical skills you have developed so
far this year?
I have finished recording all of my footage and all of
my interviews. My planning was perfectly on point. I
have fenominaly completed the tasks I have set for
myself with the help of the planning.
I mean finishing all of the footage is good for many
things. I could just simply finnish editing right now
and be done with it.
Below this document, there is some of the behind
the scenes footage and photos. First shows the
place of where I was recording my interviews,
second shows me setting up all of the equipment,
third shows my test of the rule of thirds with one of
the interviewees.
I honestly did not come under any issues while
filming. There was nothing stopping me or making
my job difficult.
The locations for my filming were I’d like to say
perfect, the theme of the documentary is gym and I
recorded everything in the gym.
I have set the interview blur behind the
interviewees, I have sorted out all my filming and I
got to my editing. This year was quite successful in
my opinion, working on my editing skills and all of
the filming and sfx skills has really helped me with
this project.
 Having reviewed your footage, are you Everything is great, the only problem is that there is
happy with what you have captured a little too much of it but that is the magic of my
and does anything need reshooting? methods that everything is good first try but there is
too much of it.

Are you ready to edit? If not, how far I am soooo ready to edit. Everything is set and
behind are you? ready to go.

What work do you need to complete I just need to edit the video and finish off my
outside of lessons to stay on track? evaluation for now.

High Grade Tips

Practical Skills & Presentation

● ‘Considered and capable demonstration of processes’ –​ very detailed documentation
of your production process - such as still images, and annotated Screenshots of your specific
production and editing process – including ‘what’ and ‘why’, not just ‘how’
● ‘skills and knowledge used to develop alternative ideas’​ – evidence of different ideas
developed for more than one version of your Media product

Behind the scenes footage:

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?
Week Nine – Editing
EDITING
How did you find the editing process?
What skills did you have to
learn/develop during the editing
process?
Upload screenshots of the editing
process and explain what they show.
What issues did you have to overcome
whilst editing? How did you move past
them?
Have you identified any scenes which
need re-shooting? Will you be able to
do this?
The editing process was as always very fun. The
only thing about it was that I had a ton of footage,
like 20 minutes which I had to fit into 5 minutes.
I had to learn how to separate good content from
the rambling which surprisingly was really difficult.
So… at first I have made a 20 minute video which
the file of got corrupted so it had to go into the
bin. Then I have made a 15 minute video which I
was told was way too long and I have to correct it
into being 5 minutes long. Approximately. A little
bit of the editing process screenshots was
recorded below this document however as I said
some of it got corrupted. The first one shows my
preparation of clips. Second shows me separating
everything and deleting the unwanted stuff. Third
shows me adding all of the text and fourth shows
me putting all of the stuff together.
Well the only issue was me making the piece too
long, way too long and the thing is I had to make it
shorter and more efficient. Fitting a 15 minute film
into 5 or maybe 6 or 7 minute video is impossible.
Nothing needs reshooting, besides even if it did I
would be totally ok to do it.
Are you on track this week? If not, how I am almost done with all of my work all I have to
far behind are you? do now is the evaluation.

What work do you need to complete The only thing I have to do is the evaluation.
outside of lessons to stay on track?

High Grade Tips

Evaluation & Reflection

● ‘reasoned decisions and inform the development of ideas’ –​ both your evaluation
and the weekly reflections above will clearly show both how and why your ideas developed
throughout the project
● ‘demonstrating clarity in thinking’​ – all of the above plus very clear links between
your research, planning, idea development and the production of your poster and film trailer
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?

Week Ten – Final production

EDITING

Did you finish your I am done, everything is finished and I still have three days left
production on time? of the deadline.

How did you gain feedback? I got feedback from my classmates and my tutors, the
Was this process feedback was very valuable and good for my skills, I have
effective/valuable? learned a few new things which will definitely help me in the
future of my career.

What have you learned from
your feedback?
I have learned that the quality wins over quantity any time, I
have found out that having a long boring documentary is bad,
really bad unless the whole thing has budget and
professionalism, if you’re someone like me keeping it at 5 or
maybe 6 or 7 minutes is the best.

How did your work compare I mean, without the budget, of course, I have done some good
to professional productions? job, from what people in my class say, with a little bit more
practice I could do some great work on future projects.

Have you completed your Yes, I have finished my final evaluation with 3 days left until
final evaluation? the final deadline.

Are you on track this week? I am done with the work.

If not, how far behind are
you?

What work do you need to I am done with all of my work, the deadline and the standards
complete outside of lessons have been met.
to stay on track?
High Grade Tips

Evaluation & Reflection

● ‘reasoned decisions and inform the development of ideas’ –​ both your evaluation and
the weekly reflections above will clearly show both how and why your ideas developed
throughout the project
● ‘demonstrating clarity in thinking’​ – all of the above plus very clear links between your
research, planning, idea development and the production of your poster and film trailer