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Original poster

EPQ tech help, film making

49 replies

mastertomsmum · 27/05/2023 19:10

Anyone have recommendations for the best equipment - camera, mic etc. - for making a 30 minute film for EPQ ?

Feeling very out of our depth and not much help from school

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underneaththeash · 30/05/2023 21:50

Remember though it's the write up that's more important - the research and background to the actual artifact. You can just film on an iphone.

Original poster
mastertomsmum · 30/05/2023 21:53

The write up work is all very comprehensive and up to date. I think the final artifact (ie the film) will end up being less than 30 mins and might be covered in short bursts as there are 3 ideas - 3 separate ideas about film. 3 fellow pupils to do acting roles.

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Original poster
mastertomsmum · 30/05/2023 21:54

underneaththeash · 30/05/2023 21:50

Remember though it's the write up that's more important - the research and background to the actual artifact. You can just film on an iphone.

Yes all that stuff has been very well done by him up to this point

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Original poster
mastertomsmum · 30/05/2023 21:56

Cathpot · 30/05/2023 21:33

Also not I’m not an expert as my first brush with EPQ was when my daughter did hers this year ( not film) . It was all a bit of a nightmare as the original teacher really didn’t have an handle on it and then left so by the time she got to a teacher who did know what was what it was late in the L6th. Anyway- the issue for her was that until the second teacher was on board she hadn’t really understood what the project needed to look like. In fact most of the marks in her case came from the process, rather than the product. Lots of documenting plans, trial runs, keeping a reflective diary on how it was going, noting conversations she had with people she went to for advice, referenced research and a presentation for feedback etc. this was something if a nightmare to sort out in a short time frame and while she did manage and it was overall a useful process , it was a bit fraught.

Do you think he has a clear idea of where the marks will come from- can you find and download the relevant syllabus? Can he corner a teacher and get a breakdown of what he needs to do?

He’s a good idea on the marking and the research work, ideas etc very well done by him. He’s just not really on the actual filming and all how to’s yet

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MBappse · 30/05/2023 22:13

If he's making a film and he's done the research, surely how to actually film it is an key part of the research he has done?

Original poster
mastertomsmum · 30/05/2023 22:33

MBappse · 30/05/2023 22:13

If he's making a film and he's done the research, surely how to actually film it is an key part of the research he has done?

That’s the bit we are on now

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mondaytosunday · 31/05/2023 00:40

Applicants to filmmaking degrees only need a short film - nothing like 30minutes!
My daughter did a school magazine for her EPQ. Basically the actual doing it was the research. Trail and error, as there is no one at the school that had any experience at all. So part of the research and documentation was written retrospectively as she set about putting it together (literally from scratch, she had to make the templates, do all the design, form a school club to recruit writers, set a schedule, edit it, Do the illustrations, get the articles approved, deal with printers etc). The hardest part was dealing with school bureaucracy! She couldn't anticipate the problems she would have until she had them.
So is the research he has done so far just the screenplay and storyboarding? As @MBappse says surely the actual making of the film is the major part of the research? I think your son needs to scale it way back to a five minute film, and document that process.

Original poster
mastertomsmum · 31/05/2023 08:44

As mentioned multiple times, there is a major amount of research done. In no way just the screenplay, storyboard.

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Piggywaspushed · 31/05/2023 09:46

Kindly, OP, I think it is because you are being a little obtuse, if that's the right word, about what your DS is actually doing. Can you not just say:

DS is completing his EPQ , the theme of which is ..... To do this he needs to make a film which shows... the research he has done is about....

To give an example

DS2's EPQ was an exploration of racism in cricket, motivated by recent news stories and wanting to extend his sociological and historical studies into the contemporary world of sport. To do this he read various academic and biographical texts from different cricketing countries and periods and watched various webinars and followed the news, maintaining a log of reflections. His artefact was an academic essay and a presentation to peers on the ECB scandal.

or

A student elected to write and self publish a novella. She researched the novella form and conducted historical research into witchcraft. She complied five drafts and investigated self publishing and commissioned book cover art. She presented the various drafts and reflections to an audience [please not this student is now doing English at Oxford -so extreme!]

Then we might understand how the film fits in with what is being assessed and be able to see how far the quality of filmmaking matters. It genuinely must be frustrating that the media departments are being less than helpful - I'd get him to ask his tutor for help in convincing them to borrow equipment.

I do think EPQs are so much simpler when they just write an essay/do a presentation!

Original poster
mastertomsmum · 31/05/2023 09:54

Piggywaspushed · 31/05/2023 09:46

Kindly, OP, I think it is because you are being a little obtuse, if that's the right word, about what your DS is actually doing. Can you not just say:

DS is completing his EPQ , the theme of which is ..... To do this he needs to make a film which shows... the research he has done is about....

To give an example

DS2's EPQ was an exploration of racism in cricket, motivated by recent news stories and wanting to extend his sociological and historical studies into the contemporary world of sport. To do this he read various academic and biographical texts from different cricketing countries and periods and watched various webinars and followed the news, maintaining a log of reflections. His artefact was an academic essay and a presentation to peers on the ECB scandal.

or

A student elected to write and self publish a novella. She researched the novella form and conducted historical research into witchcraft. She complied five drafts and investigated self publishing and commissioned book cover art. She presented the various drafts and reflections to an audience [please not this student is now doing English at Oxford -so extreme!]

Then we might understand how the film fits in with what is being assessed and be able to see how far the quality of filmmaking matters. It genuinely must be frustrating that the media departments are being less than helpful - I'd get him to ask his tutor for help in convincing them to borrow equipment.

I do think EPQs are so much simpler when they just write an essay/do a presentation!

I’ve given that info now and got some responses.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 31/05/2023 09:58

OK, fair enough. I genuinely can't see that in any of your posts.

titchy · 31/05/2023 10:00

You haven't given that response anywhere! Unless I've missed it, what is the purpose of the film? What is is meant to demonstrate? Why is film the most suitable medium for this purpose?

Piggywaspushed · 31/05/2023 10:06

Anyway this rig

is the sort of thing I was talking about upthread if the product is not needing to be too fancy.

Genuinely , though, if one has no experience at all of filmmaking, then teaching and coaching is required, if the EPQ thesis is 'how I learnt to be a professional filmmaker'...

Original poster
mastertomsmum · 31/05/2023 10:08

It’s a film about film, the film is the artifact. It’s 3 perspectives, it’s scripted, there are some actors. There is lots of research, the logs and diary and so on, there is how to research some done, some in progress.

To those mentioning essays as the artifact : students doing essay based A levels are recommended not to present an essay style document as the artifact at my DCs sixth form

OP posts:
Original poster
mastertomsmum · 31/05/2023 10:12

About an aspect of cinema

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Original poster
mastertomsmum · 31/05/2023 10:15

Cheers for the rig link 👍🏼👍🏼

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Piggywaspushed · 31/05/2023 10:20

Really?

My DS did 3 essay based A Levels and got an A* in EPQ... writing an essay! Why would you not want students to work to their strengths? To be fair, DS's school was in its first year of EPQ when he did his, so they may have gone for the path of least resistance. But my point is you don't need to be flash harry to get top grades.

So, what I am inferring is your DS is interested in the history of film, at a guess, and has decided to make a film which showcases three eras? Or styles ? (eg silent, French New Wave , high concept...) and his film is intended to somehow sow this evolution? And he has no previous expertise or even experience in filmmaking (or access to equipment). I am revoicing that in my head as a Dragon's Den pitch. Genuinely, it sounds a little like he has been left to get on with it and is now a bit lost/out of his depth/unmoored?

Piggywaspushed · 31/05/2023 10:20

mastertomsmum · 31/05/2023 10:15

Cheers for the rig link 👍🏼👍🏼

You're welcome.

Original poster
mastertomsmum · 31/05/2023 10:32

Regarding skills, there has been research but some more is needed. He’s not unprepared or under prepped. I’m on here for a bit of additional advice

Regarding the essay as the artifact. Strongly encouraged not to have essay based unless maths/science student.

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Piggywaspushed · 31/05/2023 10:56

I'm not criticising him, or you, to be clear! I think the whole story sounds like a a rather familiar EPQ tale of waving ideas ahead with minimal checking of students skills or aptitudes and minimal supervision/support.

Original poster
mastertomsmum · 31/05/2023 12:51

Piggywaspushed · 31/05/2023 10:56

I'm not criticising him, or you, to be clear! I think the whole story sounds like a a rather familiar EPQ tale of waving ideas ahead with minimal checking of students skills or aptitudes and minimal supervision/support.

See what you mean. There has been input but not necessarily in the right areas but we will track back in the coming weeks

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mondaytosunday · 31/05/2023 13:04

Goodness I would have thought most EPQs are essays, interesting bud school discourages that.
I still don't understand what he's doing. If the film is about the question? A demonstration of the results of his research? Why don't you tell us what the question is?
But your original question was about film equipment, and I think you've had answers addressing that, and opinions on length. I hope he figures it out and does well!

Original poster
mastertomsmum · 31/05/2023 13:27

The end product is an artifact. The artifact is the film. The marks as a whole - as we knew and has been pointed out here - are based in the project as a whole, research, diary etc etc

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 31/05/2023 22:38

mastertomsmum · 30/05/2023 21:54

Yes all that stuff has been very well done by him up to this point

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Then just film it on any device which you can edit.

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