Unit 1 : Pre-production Techniques for Creative Media Industries

Unit 1 will feature in all practical elements of your 2 year course

Individual Task

Understand requirements for a specific media production

Research and write a report on the importance and requirements for pre-production in film and television. Upload your findings to your blog. You must consider;

• Type of production e.g. film and TV

• Finance: sources of finance and requirements e.g. equipment

• Time: e.g. deadlines

• Personnel: size of team; roles; skills and experiences; resourcing; availability; costs; team or crew CV’s

• Facilities: e.g. production equipment and availability; costs

• Materials: type, e.g. original materials and sources; costs; clearances

• Contributors: type, e.g. specialists, experts, talent, public; contributor biographies

• Locations: identification; recces; limitations and risks, eg distance, access, cost, weather

• Codes of Practice and Regulation: clearances, eg Mechanical Copyright Protection Society-Performing Rights Society Alliance, location permissions; legal, eg copyright, health and safety; insurance, eg public liability, completion insurance; regulatory bodies, eg Ofcom, Press Complaints Commission (PCC), Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), British Board of Film Classification (BBFC); trade unions, eg Producers’ Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT); trade associations, eg The Independent Games Developers’ Association (TIGA)

What is Pre-production?• The process of preparing and planning before

actual production begins, specifically the choosing of locations, casting of actors, revision of script etc before you film.

• Within the media industry pre-production is an crucial requirement

WHY?!

• Pre-production is the initial planning stage of any production.

• It can provide; • A sense of direction and structure• Help production go ‘smoothly’• Time frame• Consideration for… and practice

What you need to consider for pre-production

• Relevant to the brief the company provides • You will need to consider the audience- Who are they?

• Idea, Script, storyboard, lighting, camera angles, props, costumes, shot length, sound/music…

When Researching…

• Some examples of what you will need to consider is:

• The type of production (HINT: TV!!!)• Finance (The cost of everything from travel

and food to renting space, wages) AND who is sourcing the finance!

• Time – Deadlines are really important – Consider why?

Research from Country File

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/collegeofproduction/videos/tv/countryfile_preproduction

• Examples of the initial steps in planning a programme for the BBC

Important Paperwork you will need for this unit

• Initial ideas /Mood Board / Treatment• Recce (Location/s)• Risk Assessment• Call Sheet• Storyboard• Permission form (Location & Actors)• Budget Sheet• Props and Costume List• Minutes (Every time your group meets inc. filming)• Footage Log• Production Schedule• Script

Why are each of the above so important? Write down 2 reasons and if able to provide an example for each point.

Some templates are available on Moodle

Unit 1 CriteriaFor Task 1:

Pass

• To achieve a pass grade, learners must achieve all the criteria at pass level. For each of the criteria learners must present evidence that addresses each italicised sub-heading of the content for the learning outcome.

• P1: learners will simply list the requirements for a specified production, giving brief indications of where or how the specified requirements will be sourced. This list may contain one or two minor omissions but will be substantially complete. It will not contain any explanation of why the requirements are as they are and there will be only minimal consideration of codes of practice or regulatory issues

Merit• To achieve a merit grade, learners must achieve all the pass and all the merit

grade criteria. For each of the criteria learners must present evidence that addresses each italicised sub-heading of the content for the learning outcome.

• M1: learners will show good understanding of pre-production requirements for the proposed production and these requirements will be set out in some detail.

• Some thoughtful consideration will be given to relevant codes of practice and regulatory issues.

• Learners will be able to explain why the requirements identified are important and will give reasonably well-detailed explanations of how they will be sourced.

Distinction• To achieve a distinction grade, learners must achieve all the pass, all the merit

and all the distinction grade criteria. For each of the criteria learners must present evidence that addresses each italicised sub-heading of the content for the learning outcome.

• D1: learners will show an excellent understanding of the requirements for the proposed production and will be able to explain fully why each element is required.

• Learners will give detailed explanations of how these requirements will be sourced. They will give full consideration to codes of practice and regulatory issues.

• Fuller and more extensive explanation and a higher standard of presentation will discriminate between this grade and the merit.

Finance

• How is television production financed?

• In groups of 4 spend 3-5 minutes discussing how you think TV production is financed.

Sourcing Finance• TV License – Every household has to pay a TV License fee to watch material on the TV and Internet!

• BBC – Is hugely funded by the TV License… but that isn’t where they get all their money from!

• Digital Channels such as SKY and Virgin, get a fee from their customers for viewing their programmes

• Advertising – TV channels such as ITV have Ad breaks where companies pay for spots e.g., prime time TV advert costs more than late night and the number of adverts shown in a day can contribute to finance.

• Sponsorship – TV shows (and movies) can be sponsored by a company : Can you think of any TV shows that are sponsored? What do they do?

• Licensing – images of characters

• Merchandise, commission from clients,

• Producers often have to front the money for unknown TV shows

Task:• Using the information you have just been told. Find out the following:

1. How much is a TV License?

2. What does the TV License fee support?

3. How is SKY / Virgin etc funded?

4. How is Channel 3/4/5 funded?

5. What other ways do you think TV productions can be funded?

6. Pick a TV show and see if you can find out how it is funded

Planning a TV Show

Generally it is the Producer who will keep track of costs on a production

What sort of costs would youTrack on a budget sheet?

Why?

Time• Time is crucial when planning a production because you

need to keep to deadlines throughout the process.

• In the pre-production stage you need to book everything from facilities to props , so knowing when is important!

• Within the TV industry is a requirement for all to keep a schedule so that everyone stays on track.

• If you do not meet a deadline then you will fall behind, or it could lead to the whole production falling behind – this could cost money! – Why?!

Exemplar Schedule

Personnel• Cast• Crew• How are they found? What do they have to go through?

• When hiring people for a production , just like any job experience is a big factor! And what skills people can offer

• Those who are qualified in more than one role are more employer and COULD prove cheaper than lots of individuals.

• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1220617/fullcredits

• Inbetweeners (2008-2010) used 11 distribution companies• Downton Abbey (2010-13) has used to date over 21!

Facilities

• In this section you can cover how TV productions gain the facilities needed etc

• Booking• Costs• Timescale• Availability

Materials

• Importance of making sure you have everything you need.

• Pick a show and list all the types of ‘materials’ it requires.

Materials

• Why is a script important and a requirement?• Props and costume• Audio

• Why is keeping the cost of this important?

• Pre-production paperwork includes Script writing, props and costume list …

Contributors

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production/article/art20130702112136253

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production/article/art20130702112135292 -21

Contributors

• Contributors can be classed as a majority of different people involved in a filming of a TV show.

• Come Dine With Me the contributor is classed as the contestants taking part in the show.

• The One Show often have guest speakers ranging from talent to specialists

Locations

• Recce are important to scout the location and to find out if any incidents could occur or if it is suitable for the shoot

• Risk Assessment is a requirement. No matter where you plan to shoot, one must be done!

• Locations are important to consider for a variety of reasons such as; weather, historic relevance etc

Regulatory Bodies

• How many regulatory bodies can you think of?

• What is a regulatory body?

A Government body that has the authority to tell a business such as a television company what it may or may not do and enforces rules and sanctions in place to ensure that the rules are not broken.

Regulatory Bodies

• OFCOM• ASA (Advertising Standards Agency)• BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)• BBC Trust• Radio Centre• BBFC (British Broadcasting Film Council)• Film Distributors Association• IVCA (International Visual Communications Agency)

Ofcom Facts 2013: Television

• 97% of UK homes have digital TV• £52.2 million TV’s are owned in the UK• 39% of homes have free-view on the main TV

sets• HDTV is owned by 49% of the UK population• 241 minutes of TV is watched each day

OFCOM

• Established by the Office of Communications Act 2002

• UK TV censor who regulates UK commercial TV via broadcast, cable and satellite

• Responsible for reulating TV, Radio, Telecommunication and Wireless Communications

OFCOM

• Part of Ofcom is maintaining plurality of broadcasting

• Applying adequate protection for audiences against offensive or harmful material

• Applying adequate protection for audiences against unfairness or the infringement of privacy

OFCOM

• Ofcom has to take the following in to account when accessing broadcasting codes;

• The degree of harm and offence likely to be caused• The likely size and composition of the potential audience• The likely expectation of the audience as to the nature

of a programmes content• The likelihood of people being unintentionally exposed

to material• The desireability of maintaining the independence of

editorial control over programme content

OFCOM

• Ofcom’s Regulatory Principles;• Ofcom will regulate with a clearly articulated and

publicy reviewed annual plan with certain objectives to follow

• Ofcom will intervene where there is a specific statutory duty to work towards a public policy goal which markets alone cannot achieve

• Ofcom will operate a bias against intervention, but with willingness to intervene firmly, promptly and effectively where required

OFCOM

• Will strive to ensure its interventions will be evidenced based, proportionate, consistent, accountable and transparent in both deliberation and outcome

• Ofcom will always seek the least intrusive regulatory mechanisms to achieve its policy objectives

• Ofcom will research markets constantly and will aim to remain at the forefront of technological understanding

• Ofcom will consult widely with all relevant stakeholders and assess the impact of regulatory action before imposing regulation upon a market

TV Example:

• Hollyoaks 2013 Train Scene• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-240

3152/Ofcom-raps-Channel-4-Hollyoaks-train-death-scene.html

• The response: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23850778

• Changing attitudes: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s154/the-voice-uk/news/a498512/holly-willoughby-revealing-dress-complaints-not-investigated-by-ofcom.html

ASA• ASOS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvgu5WIfRLE

• Complaints Ruling; • http://

www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2013/3/Asoscom-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_215014.aspx

• ASDA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr5Zge14XG0• 2012 campaign where the TV ad featured a mum preparing for all

aspects of Christmas while her family looked on. The ad sparked 620 complaints to ASA, claiming that it reinforced outdated stereotypes and was sexist.

www.BBC.co.uk

• Find the BBC Editorial Guidelines and online services guidelines by searching ‘editorial guidelines’

- What are the main areas these guidelines cover?- Why is there a need for the BBC to publish these

guidelines?• Search for ‘breaches of editorial guidelines’ on the BBC site

and explore 1 of these- What were the issues?- What were the findings of the BBC Trust?- What were the consequences for those who were judged to

have breached the guidelines?

Consequences

• Failure to comply with professional practices, regulatory bodies etc can have serious implications for producers, such as;

• Legal action• Being removed from supplier tender invitation

lists• Loss of reputation• Loss of business.

Copyright

• The need for permission is important as it is about get the rights to something specific such as; music, TV and footage, a persons image…

• It protects the creators of music, sound recordings, images, photographs, films, broadcasts and written work.

Individual Task

Understand requirements for a specific media production

Research the importance and requirements for pre-production in film and television. Upload your findings to your blog. You must consider;

• • Type of production e.g. film and TV• • Finance: sources of finance and requirements e.g. equipment• • Time: e.g. deadlines• • Personnel: size of team; roles; skills and experiences; resourcing; availability;

costs; team or crew CV’s• • Facilities: e.g. production equipment and availability; costs• • Materials: type, e.g. original materials and sources; costs; clearances• • Contributors: type, e.g. specialists, experts, talent, public; contributor

biographies• • Locations: identification; recces; limitations and risks, eg distance, access, cost,

weather• • Codes of Practice and Regulation: clearances, eg Mechanical Copyright

Protection Society-Performing • Rights Society Alliance, location permissions; legal, eg copyright, health and

safety; insurance, eg public liability, completion insurance; regulatory bodies, eg Ofcom, Press Complaints Commission (PCC), Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), British Board of Film Classification (BBFC); trade unions, eg Producers’ Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT); trade associations, eg The Independent Games Developers’ Association (TIGA)

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production