Weekly Journal
Regular evaluation updates are required, as with every unit. Please
remember to take photos and get behind the scenes footage as you film.
You might find it easier if you note down a record of what you did each day
in a diary form.
Please use the following guidance to help you with each week.
Week 1
What have you been asked to
do?
How has analysing other
productions helped you to
understand the genre better?
How will your understanding of
codes and conventions now help
you to produce a better
production?
What did you learn from
practising recording Foley
sounds? (Radio Drama Only)
What did you learn when using
Adobe Audition? What skills do
you need to develop with this
software?
How did researching your target
audience help you develop your
idea?
Are you on track for this week? If
not, how far behind are you?
This week you worked on your research
This week we have been asked to research radio
dramas in preparation for our own productions, we
have done primary research by asking people their
opinions on listening to radio dramas/podcasts, as
well as secondary research about the demographic
and popularity of radio broadcasting and online
streaming. We also listened to and evaluated a series
of radio dramas two being ones we found by
ourselves.
I have learnt how the use of Foley and music can help
create an image in the listener’s head. I have also
learnt what genres work best in the format of a radio
drama.
I will apply my understanding to better my production
by making the characters clearer. It is easier to tell
characters apart by their accent, voice and vocal
mannerisms. I will also use tone of voice to convey
emotion in a character as you cannot use visual ques
like facial expressions.
N/A
I learnt how to use reverb effects to change what kind
of room a sound is being produced in. I have also
learnt to switch between multitrack and waveform
mode in order to focus on more specific parts of the
audio sample.
The results of my primary research shows that people
in the demographic of 16-19 are highly uninterested in
radio dramas, because of this I have decided to
develop my idea into a faster paced story that will
hopefully keep the audience engaged.
I am quite far behind, I have missed a few lessons,
and I still need to review torchwood and the
examples of previous radio dramas.
What work do you need to I need to finish my analysis of torchwood and the
complete outside of lessons to other 2 examples, as well as finish off my analysis of
stay on track? the 2 radio dramas I chose.

Week 2 This week you worked on your planning

What did you learn from your

planning? How has it helped you
to progress your idea?
How has your idea Why? Relate back to target audience
developed/changed during the
planning stage?
How did you ensure that your
script was to a high standard?
What issues did you have when
planning your production? How
did you overcome them?
What did you learn from the Upload images of you recording your Foley here as well as
recording of your Foley sounds? on your page

How much work did you

complete outside of the lessons?
Are you on track for this week? If
not, how far behind are you?
What work do you need to
complete outside of lessons to
stay on track?

Week 3 / 4 Production This week you worked on your production

What practical work have you

done and how helpful was your
earlier planning?
How will this be useful as your
production process continues?
Upload your behind the scenes
photos and videos (explain what
they show)
What issues did you encounter
when recording and how did you
overcome them?
How well have you worked to
your production schedule?
Are you on track for this week? If
not, how far behind are you?
What work do you need to
complete outside of lessons to
stay on track?
High Grade Tips

Use screenshots to support your analysis – especially when comparing your work to other
pieces.

Considered and capable demonstration of processes – detailed documentation of your

production process – such as still images, and annotated screenshots of your specific
production and editing process – including ‘what’ and ‘why’ and not just ‘how’.

Specific – be specific! Don’t just say e.g. ‘the lighting was good’ – show us where the
lighting looked good and why you think that.

Final evaluation on whole unit This week you worked on your production

Comparison to researched Is your production to a professional standard? Take

productions screenshots from your production and the productions you
analysed in your research (especially anywhere you tried to
recreate something you had researched). Is your
production as good? Why? Why not? What could you
improve?
Production Strengths Overall, what were the strengths of your production? Use
some screenshots / downloaded clips to show anything of
which you are particularly proud. That might be shots or
images from you creating Foley sounds or images of you
recording your work.

You need to gather feedback on your production from your

classmates and discuss the positive things they have said.
How were you able to get such good feedback? (This can
be done in the form of vox pops, interviews, focus groups or
surveys.)

You should also discuss feedback that you got from your
teachers and how this was helpful or informative
Production weaknesses Overall, what were the weaknesses of your production?

Why have these weaknesses occurred? What needs

improving? Is it your practical skills? Could you have done
more research? Did you not plan your recording effectively
and end up doing things very last minute? Consider the
entire production process and really think about what might
have let your production down. As above but for any
 negative points you received in your feedback. What could
you have done to avoid these issues? How could you
improve next time.
Did you meet your goals? Think back to the goals that were set in the brief and the
Why/why not? goals you set yourself (you should have mentioned these in
your opening paragraph). Discuss whether you met them
effectively. If you didn’t quite achieve your goals, consider
why and how you could improve for next time.
Self-evaluation At the end of the unit, how do you see yourself as a
practitioner? What are you strengths? Which areas do you
need to develop?

Write a brief outline of what you need to work on in terms of

your personal development. Do you need to work more out
of class? Do you need to develop your practical skills? Do
you need to move outside of your comfort zone more? Do
you need to spend more time on the "boring" bits (research,
planning, etc)? Discuss what you need to work on and
how/why this will help you.
High Grade Tips

Use screenshots to support your analysis – especially when comparing your work to other
pieces.

Considered and capable demonstration of processes – detailed documentation of your

production process – such as still images, and annotated screenshots of your specific
production and editing process – including ‘what’ and ‘why’ and not just ‘how’.

Specific – be specific! Don’t just say e.g. ‘the lighting was good’ – show us where the
lighting looked good and why you think that.