1. A Level Media Studies
The Advanced Portfolio Evaluation

2. The following slides have tips on
ways to answer the four evaluation
questions.

3. You don’t have to write a thing!

4. Your evaluation can take the
form of a Podcast or
Director’s Commentary

5. You will get extra marks for
presenting your evaluation in an
interesting and creative way. A
boring old Powerpoint (like this
one) just doesn’t cut it at A2.

6. Question One:
In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
This question asks you to compare and contrast your
music promo project with professional work. What
‘typical’ elements have you included in your music
video, DVD Digipak and Print Advert that can also be
found in professional work.
This requires some analysis of the key elements of your
music video, DVD Digipak and Print Advert:

7. MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS
• Use Diane Railton stuff about music video genres
(pseudo-documentary style, art music video etc.).
What genre does your music video fall into? Why do
you say this? Include screen grabs from your video to
illustrate your point.
• Use the Andrew Goodwin stuff – what Andrew
Goodwin points can you apply to your music video?
• Use the key theorists from the ‘Critical Responses to
Music Videos’ presentation on the blog. Apply some
of the theorist’s work to your video

8. Blog resources:

9. MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS (Cont’d)
• State why you think your video is appropriate for the style
of the track, the image of the artist or band and the genre
of music
• State how you have chosen to represent the band in the
video. Why would this representation be appropriate for
the genre of music and for the target audience? Include
evidence of styling (hair/clothes) and youth culture bits
from your youth culture mood board that illustrate the look
you were after
• What were you hoping to achieve with the video – what
were your inspirations?

10. DVD DIGIPAK and PRINT ADVERT ANALYSIS
• What are the key elements of your DVD Digipak?
What have you included and why?
• What inspired your DVD Digipak? Is it similar in any
way to existing Digipaks?
• Is there anything unique about your DVD Digipak?
Ask the same questions about your Print Advert

11. Question 2:
How effective is the combination of your main product
and ancillary texts?
For this question you need to state that the music
video’s main aim is to generate interest in the band. The
music video is a piece of marketing and promotion.
The aim of the music video is to increase awareness of
the band or artist; to encourage people to download
their tracks; to increase web traffic to their site; to
encourage people to share and like the videos on
Facebook and You Tube

12. The music video, DVD Digipak and Print Advert together
give the band a brand identity.
Is there a recognisable link between the three elements
of your music promo project?
What are the similarities between the 3 elements in
terms of:
Imagery
Styling
Text
Tone/Mood

13. How do these technical elements reinforce the image of
the band?
The DVD Digipak is specially designed to encourage
people to buy a physical copy.
What elements have you included in your DVD Digipak
that are not available online or in digital form – in other
words – why would somebody buy your DVD Digipak?

14. Question 3:
What have you learned from your audience feedback?
Present results and feedback and make comments.
Include:
• Likes/comments on Facebook
• Likes/comments on You Tube
• Feedback from the artist/band
• Survey Monkey responses
• You can film a ‘vox-pop’ of people’s responses if you
want

15. Question 4:
How did you use media technologies in the construction and
research, planning and evaluation stages?
Participatory Cultures have been essential throughout the
project.
PLANNING
You Tube – researching professional music videos; online
tutorials
Jamendo
Myspace
Facebook
Blackberry
Animatic storyboards – to plan music video
Induction projects – to get used to using cameras and edit suite

16. CONSTRUCTION
Adobe Premier /After Effects/Photoshop
Final Cut Pro
Creative Cow
Video Co-Pilot
You Tube tutorials
Uploading first edits to You Tube for feedback

17. EVALUATION
You Tube for comments/likes etc
Facebook for comments/likes etc.
Prezi – to present the evaluation
Survey Monkey
Video-style presentation
FINAL COMMENTS
State how the blogs have helped during the project.
Say if you accessed your blogs outside of class-time;
Say if you accessed your blogs through a smart phone
or tablet.