Unit 1:Pre-Production Techniques- P1/M1/D1 - Understand requirements for a specific media production.

1 Introduction

Pre-Production is the process of preparing all the elements involved in a film, play, or other performances. In films, pre-production involves a storyboard, script, location, props, costume and etc. Crew members would be hired once things are set.

2 Finance
Finance is the process of accessing the financial viability of the proposed production. Short films can be financed by advertisements, sponsorships, subscription fees, cover prices, sales and rental charges. Another way it can be financed are by covering elements such as equipment, materials, transport costs, crew, personnel, facility hire, clearances and legal costs. An example of a film is Attack the Block. This film costs $13,000,000 to be made. The amount of money the film made was $1,024,175 which means that the Attack the Block film made a loss of $11,975,825. This means that there is a great chance for other film producers not to create a second Attack the Block due to its loss.

The producers of Attack the block, namely James Wilson and Nira Park, had to travel to other countries to maximize their chances of getting the funds they need from the finance. Also, the producers needed to be aware of the laws when they decided which country to approach because countries offered tax breaks to those who funded films.

3 Time
Time is an important factor to be considered when it comes to productions and deadlines. For example, a journalist working on a daily newspaper will have a very tight deadline to research and write a story for the next edition of the paper. The film crew would have to make sure that all the scenes are made in a short amount of time. Using EastEnders as an example, given that the series is successful and people like watching them, they are always expecting a new episode the next day so, the crew has to make new episodes in a short period of time. When I am planning to make a film, I would make sure that I will complete tasks on or before the deadline. I will need the correct equipment for my film. One of the equipment I will need is a camera to record the actions in my film.

4 Personnel
Matching skills and experience are important so, I will be able to undertake the specific role that is needed. Also, I will have to learn the skills that members of my team have then, I will have to know what skills I need to develop and how I will manage to do it. For example, if I were to be a camera operator, I would need to provide my own camera and learn how to use it to film the characters from different angles. If I were to be a film director, I would need to learn to direct the crew and cast on how the scene should look like. I will need to make sure that my production team has experience and skills before doing a role in the filming.

5 Facilities
The different types of facilities I would need for a short film. For example, I would need the equipment for my film like a camera to record all the footages needed. I would also need a tripod to make the camera stand. I would need to edit the footages in the Apple mac room by using the software Final Cut Pro. Meanwhile editing my film I might need to use special effects to make my short film tenser and easier for the audience to understand what is going on. I will also need to have the equipment to record the sounds and dialogue needed in my film. For that I will use the software Pro Tools and edit with Logic Pro. After doing all that I will need to put the sound and the video together on time so it matched.

6 Materials
Materials required in film making are scripts, film footages and materials from sound or photographic library. However, it is critical that in using the latter ones, I need to be aware of copyright issues, which if neglected could lead to being sued by the other party. For example, if I were to use soundtracks in my short film, I would need to be granted permission from the owners of the materials. For clearances, the Charlie Brooker programme explained how, for example, showing a clip of an episode from Cloppa Castle would be considered copyright material, except if used for purposes of criticism and reviews. Other than that, its use would mean that the production company could pay the original owner approximately 500 pounds. He also talks about how a copyrighted photo of John Selwyn Gummer could cost the production company 50 pounds. Another thing I would need for my short film are costumes for each character, which links to the storyline in the film. Chris Jones states that this is important because costumes help the viewer create a world of imagination and aesthetically pleasing. An example could be the costume of Batman which gives a sense of adventure, heroism but also animation because of its unique style. A third requirement in making a film is incidental music, also known as background music, which has to be compatible to the scene at a particular time. According to mediamusicnow, this is important as it introduces an adds atmosphere, tension and dramatic effect to the scene, for example Mendelssohns incidental music for Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Nights Dream. I would ensure that the talents have knowledge of the content of the script, so that they

would be aware of what lines to recite.

7 Contributors
I must remember to need permission from people who are featured or quoted in my media production. I will do that by getting them to sign a release form for an agreement to be permitted to be featured. After getting people to sign the release form, they will become talents for my film. I will need evidence that the people who are in my film have signed the release. This is how my release form would look like:

8 Locations
I will have to get permission in order to film in the location I chose. But before I will do that, I must visit the place to see if the place is where I want to film. I would also need to ensure that the locations are suitable for my purpose. I must always make sure that I have the equipment and materials I need especially depending the amount of the crew and talent in the film. I must be sure that the weather is good which means that it should not rain, snow or be too windy. I must make sure that the location that I chose is safe. Lastly, I must also make sure that I have a second location in case I cannot use my first location for any particular reason. The location I am choosing to do my filming is inside the CTK St Marys college.

9 Codes of practice and regulation.

The BBFC regulates the film industry that rates films that are released. For example a film released that the BBFC has is Fast Five which has an age rating for people who are 12 and above. Another one is the Human Centipede which has which has an age rating for people who are 18 and above.

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/search/releases/fast%2Bfive [Accessed on the 3rd of January 2014]

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/search/releases/human%2Bcentipede [Accessed on the 3rd of January 2014]

Unlike the BBFC, Ofcom regulates television in the UK, advertisement, radio sectors and etc. the Ofcom Broadcasting Code provides ethical rules which broadcast journalist must adhere to or face sanctions from their employers. An example of a TV broadcast that Ofcom has

information is the BBC news. Ofcom shows a graph of news sites in the UK that people watch the most. This is where BBC news is at for being the most watch news site in the UK. Most popular news sites on desktop and laptop computer in the UK.

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/market-data/communicationsmarket-reports/cmr12/internet-web/uk-4.56 [Accessed on the 3rd of January 2014]

Ofcom also shows comments of what people think about other TV, radio sectors, newspapers and advertisement. Ofcom can direct a broadcaster not to repeat a programme or advertisement. Pact is the UK trade association which represents and promotes commercial interests of independent feature film, TV, digital, children's and animation media companies. To get public liability, I must make sure that I am permitted to use any copyright materials, health and safety considerations that I would be aware of, and I should have the permission from people who may appear in my work like the cast and film crew. I must also make sure that I already have public insurance for my production work. This would mean that I need to make sure I am covered for possible severe financial liabilities in case anything goes wrong on set. I will need all this things because the public may feel uncomfortable with people filming near their area. I will get permission by making an agreement with the location manager.