What should you have on your blog - revisited

I've previously suggested that you look at James Corker's and Katie Boal's blog in order to understand what makes a good A2 offering. I've also directed you to Kathryn Dowson's To digest this down, by now you should have examples of:

• General research into the genre you are working in (so an overview of music video/ packaging as a concept: what are the codes/ conventions etc.)
• Specific research into examples from the genre, including deconstructions of a range of products (how are the codes and conventions of the form demonstrated within your chosen genre)
• Summary of your findings
• Detailed consideration of print products in the area you are working in - several examples of digipaks (front covers, back covers and booklets) as well as adverts - thorough analysis and deconstruction
• Initial trials/ examples linked to your developing ideas (both video and print), with discussion and analysis as well as audience feedback
• Initial notes linked to planning/ developing work (again, both video and print) - responses and clear consideration of outcomes
• Your branding (logos/ schemes/ umbrella design concepts etc), again with detailed commentary and analysis
• Research into your target audience, both general and specific linked to your genre
• Your pitch - the video from September and perhaps a review of this based on your subsequent experience/ revisions
• A treatment - you should use the template I gave you in October (if you need a new copy, please ask)
• Detailed planning, including storyboards - you can also include revised/ updated versions as and when your idea developed/ changed
• Several examples of work in progress (again, both video and print), again including detailed commentary/ analysis and audience feedback
• Regular entries detailing your production process including notes about filming and editing, particularly changes you have made in the light of audience feedback and the reasons for these (should be a lot of this). You should focus on what you did, why you did it, whether it worked and any issues. In particular, you should take into account how your have applied your research, the implications of any audience feedback, how your technical skill has developed, problems you have solved and so on. Remember - the more detailed, the better
• Entries linked to each of the five key concepts and each of the five production areas covered in the exam. Again, you should regularly review these

I cannot reccomend using James's blog as a model highly enough, since he covered all the bases in depth. As did Katie. As did Kathryn. You are also advised to consider both James' and Craig Mullen's October entries since between them they give a very clear indication of how to plan the projects effectively.

Remember - you should be aiming to do at least 3 blog entries a week (one every other day) so you should have over 100 by the time you hit the end of the year.