Introduction
In this project report I will be defining, explaining and relating various requirements that exist in order to create a media product. I will be using my own work and other media examples of all types to fully compare how different kinds of media is recognized and how it affects the way a film is presented and how it fits into production. Most of this report will consist of pre-production and how other film companies and film suppliers use pre-production to get the best out of their media product. I will be using different kinds of media terminology to show how that fits into the pre-production process.
Type Of Production
In our project we were asked to create a '90 Second Short Moving Image' which would be not only a piece of college work, but also an applicant to the 'DepicT!' website. DepicT! are a watershed international short film competition which challenges film makers to create a 90 second ultra-short masterpiece. The creator of the company (Brief Encounters) created DepicT! in 1998 and has been going every year since. Quoted by the 'Guardian On Encounters International Festival 2011' "The cinematic Trojan horse returns, smuggling short film-makers into the big league, even more so now it’s a qualifying festival for the Oscars and BAFTA. Every year they receive videos from all over the world and range over many different genres which are then judged and the winner receives film production guidance, a cash prize of £1500 and a UK distribution of the winning film through the Digital Screen Network. DepicT! have a range of different sponsors, presenters, supporters and associates which allow them to give people with media interest, to present their talent. These are the names of that allow this competition to run:
At the end of our project we had the choice to enter our work into DepicT! once it was exported and evaluated by the producers (Me, Kieran and Bradley). DepicT! are a great example of a creative industry which makes it own profit by giving other unknown film producers a chance to be noticed. Through creating this project I have recognized that it is a lot harder than expected to create a short moving image as a lot of pre-production is needed before beginning the production section.
Other types media forms that exist int the creative industries would be the Internet (Youtube), on TV, in Movies and on Platforms like (Facebook). Any site or industry that promotes or presents a movie images is a media product. For example like Youtube, it allows the public to post any kind of moving image which could either draw attention to creative media industries or other industries that specialize in other parts of media like Music Companies.
Finance And Sources Of Funding
There are many types of ways a creative music industry can fund its project and is very important if they are a first time filmmaker. One of the obvious ways would be to use personal funds, however this depends on how big the film is going to be. The bigger the film, the more expensive it will be. However, nowadays it is easier to obtain finances to help make the film.
One example of a film that has used their own funds would be the 'Clerks'. The producer Kevin Smith sold a large amount of his extensive comic book collection in 1993, maxed out eight to ten credit cards with $2,000 limits, dipped into a portion of funds set aside for his college education and spent insurance money awarded for a car he and Jason Mewes lost in a flood. They used a maximum of 16 actors for the whole film and none were famously well known. Even the producer Kevin Smith was in the film for a short period of time.
Another way to obtain funds would be to collect a loan from the bank. Loaning money is the most common option as it is a way a film producer can have the correct amount of finances to provide props, travel etc. Lending funds requires a process at which the producer must find out if there is any state usury laws. This is the excessive and 'legal' rate of interest on their loan. Unfortunately this does not apply to studio loans. This means producers may have to repay their loan with excessive interest.
Third-party feature film development loans, similar to non -bank loans, may be secured by some form of hard asset and are usually recourse to the borrower. This means that the lender may seek direct payment from the borrower, personally, in the event of a default. In today's world if a corporate production company is the borrower, the lender may make the principals of the corporation personally liable.
Third-party feature film development loans, similar to non -bank loans, may be secured by some form of hard asset and are usually recourse to the borrower. This means that the lender may seek direct payment from the borrower, personally, in the event of a default. In today's world if a corporate production company is the borrower, the lender may make the principals of the corporation personally liable.
With these both third party and bank lenders, the producer has a choice of loans. The first loan would be the resource loan, which is made only if an endorser or guarantor (e.g the producer) is made personally liable for payment in the event the borrower (e.g production company) defaults.
The second one would be a debt or equity transaction. With debt or equity transactions, the producer will have to make clear how the intended loan is to be characterized. An example of this would be a loan to be used for development or pre-production expenses. This is classified as debt.
Another way of obtaining money from or for making a film would be advertisement This can go two ways. A film can promote a certain product or business which can bring money for the business and also bring in profit for the producers. This is called 'Product Placement'. An example of this can be seen in the 007 James Bond Series. In the film series James Bond would drive a '1965 Aston Martin DB5'. Aston Martin are a famous car make which have been with the 'Ford Company' since 1994 and are very famously seen in the James Bond Series. This is a form of product placement. This in favor gives more profit to the producers whilst promoting a product.
Another way would be the lottery. In some countries there are film industries that give out lottery money to producers for making a film. One example of this would be the 'BFI'. This is a company that can fund script development, film production, short film export and distribution, cinemas, film education, culture and archives, festivals and audience support schemes. They also support film makers in the UK who are emerging or world-class and are capable of creating distinctive and entertaining work. Every year they have £15 million to invest across the development, production and completion of feature films.
If supported by the BFI, it means that producers will not just be given funding. They will also be assisted at every step of their film by the BFI team, who can offer advice and practical help with many aspects of developing and producing their film. The BFI cover many kinds of film from commercial mainstream to experimental, from genre movies to personal stories, from documentaries to animation to live-action fiction. They do this to widen the choice of films shown in cinemas to collect a wider audience. From April 1st 2011, BFI had become the Lottery distributor for 'Film Funding'.
BFI also do a Film Export Fund. This aims to enhance the export opportunities for British films that have been selected to appear at important international festivals. Creating festivals can provide a powerful platform to launch international sales campaigns, but taking full advantage of these opportunities can present a level of financial risk for sales companies. The fund from the BFI aims to help sales agents to maximize a festival selection through enhanced publicity and/or marketing activity as well as assisting with technical and logistical cost involved with a high profile festival appearance.
An example of an investor would be 'Creative England'. This is a national agency that invests in and supports creative ideas, talent and businesses in film, TV, games and digital media. 'Creative England' aim to grow the brightest, the best, and those with the most promise so that individuals and businesses can achieve their full creative and commercial potential. They help identify future opportunities to grow the economy and generate jobs.
Supporting the export opportunities of individual British films that are selected for festivals the Fund aims to:
- Raise the profile of UK films in generally crowded festivals and international film markets;
- Increase opportunities for international sales and distribution of British films;
- Improve distribution advantages and the box office performance of British films in international markets.
- Promote UK film, talent, services and crews internationally.
A total of £200,000 has been allocated to the Film Export Fund.
Private investors would also be another way to gain money to produce or assist a film. Many companies (some being Film), receive initial funding through private investments. Young businesses work closely with investors so that the two are on the same level about the company's growth and development.
Private investors are wealthy individuals looking for a profitable return in a viable business ventures, also know as business angels or angel investors. This could be risky in the film industry as no one knows how much the film is going to make when the final release is out to the public. However private investors can offer networking opportunities and business connections or sometimes take on a management role in their invested company. So if a film does not make profit then their is connections their for future projects. That can improve skills and profit for future projects.
With private investors, they don't mind taking risks on developing companies. This is different to funding like bank loans or financial institutions. The funds received from private investors is much quicker than funding from venture capitalists because less due diligence is involved. Venture capitalists are individuals who invest large sums of money in already-established businesses. In conclusion, private investors are usually more patient about receiving a return on their investment than venture capitalists or large firms.
Another way would be to to raise money. This in account could be good for the film in two ways. One way is that money is raised to fund production or pre-production for the film. The other would be advertisement. Raising money means announcing to the public. If they hear about a film before it is made it can increase publicity.
'Avatar' is a prime example of investing money. The film's budget was $237 million and made a profit of over $2 billion. Because of the high budget, the film it's self must of had some sort of investment funds to get such a remarkable profit. A re-release was also introduced which would contain extra footage that wasn't in the original. Because the original was so successful, money was there for a re-release.
So to conclude this section there is a lot of ways to fund money for pre-production and production. The main ones are, personal finances, loans, sponsors, the lottery (BFI), private investors and raising money.
Requirements
When talking about requirements it is all about what the money given will be spent on. This could be a number things like equipment, insurance, clearance, copyright, costume, talent, cast and crew, props and materials, travel, hotels, flights and catering. There are also additional costs on venues, editing facilities and FX facilities.
When it comes to equipment, the producer must make sure that he / she knows how many cameras they will need and what kind (3D is becoming more popular). They will also need to decide if they are going to buy or hire. If there is a pre-production schedule made, then hiring would be the best option as it would be cheaper and the producer would know roughly how long they will need the equipment for. When shooting our 90 DepicT! film, every lessons we made sure that we had the right camera needed for the job and that it was charged and had available digital memory. Also when hiring or buying a camera the producer must make sure that the camera is in good condition. If it is damaged then it could affect cost as insurance may or may not have been added.
Insurance
Insurance, copyright and clearance is also an important part of pre-production as it falls into the 'legal' documentations at which a producer must complete. This is all done before the recording of the film itself. Legal Issues will be covered in more detail, as well as more detail on insurance, further in this post.
Insurance is needed for the crew, actors and the public as they can get injured while shooting is in progress. This is not the only insurance that is needed in film production. Another type of insurance would be equipment insurance. This is needed because, if equipment is being hired, wherever it's cameras or props etc, then insurance is needed just in case the equipment gets damaged in any way. This can occur on outside locations as weather can affect film equipment, such as cameras. Also if equipment is misplaced then it is suspected to be paid for.
Another form of insurance would be footage. If footage is damaged or lost through the filming period, then more will be needed. This could be expensive. However, in the film industry there has been a huge shift from film imaging to digital. This consist of digital memory more than film strips. Memory on digital cameras can become more expensive which can be why there are some high budgets in certain films. The reason why the shift was introduced was because it was easier to collect recordings on digital than it was on 'film'. Also more things could go wrong with 'film' than on digital. For example 'film' strips break or deteriorate over time. 'Film' today still hasn't disappeared as some people do prefer the old stuff and is shown in many special theaters around the world.
Employer Liability is also another part of insurance that a producer should undertake. This is similar to injury insurance as it falls into the safety of the cast and crew (and possibly the public). This insurance is created to provide indemnity in respect of the producer's liability to pay compensation for death, disease or bodily injury to employees arising of and during the course of their employment. There is also Public Liability which means compensation is required in the event of accidental bodily injury to any person or damage to property.
To conclude insurance it is really important to require insurance so that the producer is fully covered for severe financial liabilities in case anything does go wrong. Closer reading may be required as some insurance policies don't cover acts of terrorism.
Budget is also another big part of pre-production as it is need to buy props, materials, talent, travel etc. It is also used to buy insurance cover. Props and materials are essential when making a movie as it can be the 'glue' that puts a story together. However, props are not always used to give a movie a concept. In feature films, this is very rare. The 'Harry Potter' series are famous for using as many props as possible. They go over hundreds of 'wands' as they get damaged through filming. This means extra cost for the producer.
Costume is also important when going through the pre-production process as it is a way to express what a character's personality is. One example of this would be 'Voldemort' out of the Harry Potter series. In the series he is presented in a dark, long cloak to give him a 'dark' and 'evil' personality. If characters didn't wear costumes then films would be less effective in what they are trying to achieve. So costume is vital part in pre-production.
In our 90 Second DepicT! Short Film, our group's costumes were the cloths we were already wearing. No other costumes were needed as the story of our film was about 3 lads kicking a football around. So casual wear was already obtained.
Talent cost is also needed in the film making because in feature films like 'The Fast And The Furious', actors like 'Vin Diesel' are shown to give a familiarity to the audience. Because he is such a well known actor, then people will want to go and see the film more. However this means bigger cost; the more well known the actor / actress is, the more it is going to cost for the producer to hire them.
In some cases 'low budget films' use themselves in their production to reduce expenses. One example of this would be 'Clerks'.
Another cost that comes into budget would be travel, hotel and flights. When shooting a film a producer may need to go to several different locations, wherever it's out of their country or not. This means they will need to gather costs for travel, hotel stays, and food. One example of a film that does this quite a lot is the James Bond series. In each different movie, 007 moves around the world to either stop a mastermind from taking over the world, or to get a new sexy women. Either way it means more cost will have to go to the producers.
Cast and Crew is essential when making a 'big' movie as they would have to be skilled in what they do in order to get maximum results in the final cut. However, this isn't always the case. If a producer wants to make a 'short' motion picture, then supplying cast and crew could just be friends with skills in media production. This could come to no cost at all. In some media productions you do get people who are 'Free-Lance Workers'. These are people who are self-employed and are not committed to a particular employer long term. They are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and labor contributed by its regular employees. Other people work independently. At least 89% of people are free-lance workers.
Another thing that can fall into budget is editing and FX facilities. Sometimes producers and editors don't have the space or money to get what they want out of their film. So, they either hire them out or buy them out for future projects. Another way is hiring services to come in and help out with the film. These services would help design and create the effects and then adapt them into what the film is and what the producer and director wants the effect to do. One example of this is 'Industrial Light And Magic'. Founded by George Lucas in 1975, it was created to drive evolution of visual effects and have been creating some of the most stunning special effects of all time. This company is famous for creating the effects for the very successful 'Star Wars Saga'; one of the most creative franchises of all time.
Time in pre-production is important as it is a guideline into completing a motion picture. It allows the producer to see how long things will take and what the cost will be for how long they will be producing. Cost and time both link with each other as facilities (FX and editing) and equipment could only be used for the time payed for. If something has gone wrong within the pre-production or production process, them more time is needed, which can affect cost and patience. If the cast and crew are on a contract, and something goes wrong, then it can start to frustrate them as more time is needed for them to work. Producers often create contracts with longer time periods than needed so that they are covered if anything goes wrong. One film that did go over schedule time was Heavens Gate By Michael Cimino. By day 6 of filming it was already 5 days behind schedule because Cimino's specifications "didn't look right" and were torn down and rebuilt. The 'street set' in question needed to be 6 feet wider.
Some producers often get outside assistance to help with editing and shooting so that they are reassured that the person hired is skilled and has experience. Some examples of this would be Avatar, Lord Of The Rings, and Harry Potter. In films like Harry Potter, the producers worked close with Warner Brothers Studios, which are marking up to their 90th Anniversary and are a great example of a studio facility.
When deciding a location the producer and director (if present) needs to consider if the location is privately owned or not. If it is privately owned then the producer can get a location release signed by the owners. A location release is a legal documentation which expresses permission for the producer to film on their land. If permission is not obtained then prosecution or a fine can be given to the producer which can shut down they entire film.
When it came to the filming we did get some limitations, but were able to over come them. One of them was the public. When shooting we had people, not part of our film, walk through our shots, which we didn't like. So instead of writing out release forms for that specific person, we waited for them to pass by and we re-took the shots. The only releases that were created were for our group; they were two minor releases and one adult release.
They operate over the 'Communications Act 2003' and it is a detailed Act of Parliament, which spells out exactly what Ofcom should do. The Act states that Ofcom's general duties should be to further the interests of citizens and of consumers.
Another example would be the 'BECTU'. They are independent trade union for those working in broadcasting film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and allied areas. They represent staff, contract and freelance workers who are based primarily in the United Kingdom. 'PACT' are also a UK Trade Union representing and promoting the commercial interests of independent feature film, television, digital, children's and animation media companies. 'PACT' offer comprehensive support service for their members in terms of legal and business affairs advice. A library of contracts and advice documents are included which will help people do business.
The 'BIMA (British Interactive Media Association)', are a company that support and promote the British Digital Industry, they share knowledge and best practice and they reward great work and encourage the next generation. BIMA provides a valuable way to keep up with developments in a fast-moving sectors because of the hundreds of organisations and individual members from all sectors of the market. They also provide access to market data and intelligence through links with government departments, professional bodies and holds regular talks and conferences on key industry issues. They serve their memberships in the UK and abroad.
'TIGA' are a trade association, non-profit, representing the UK's game industry. Their members include independent games developers, in-house publisher-owned developers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities. The vision at 'TIGA' is to make the UK the best place in the world to do game business. They do this through the Government lobbying and maintain a voice in the corridors of power at both the Westminster and Scottish parliaments. The active press department that 'TIGA' obtains, promotes their ambitions among the trade press, national press, TV, radio and online. They quote that "'TIGA' is the voice of the UK games industry and as such our CEO, Dr Richard Wilson regularly provides interviews for the press.
http://www.transversal.com/sites/default/files/public/companies/bima-company-logo.pngInsurance is needed for the crew, actors and the public as they can get injured while shooting is in progress. This is not the only insurance that is needed in film production. Another type of insurance would be equipment insurance. This is needed because, if equipment is being hired, wherever it's cameras or props etc, then insurance is needed just in case the equipment gets damaged in any way. This can occur on outside locations as weather can affect film equipment, such as cameras. Also if equipment is misplaced then it is suspected to be paid for.
Another form of insurance would be footage. If footage is damaged or lost through the filming period, then more will be needed. This could be expensive. However, in the film industry there has been a huge shift from film imaging to digital. This consist of digital memory more than film strips. Memory on digital cameras can become more expensive which can be why there are some high budgets in certain films. The reason why the shift was introduced was because it was easier to collect recordings on digital than it was on 'film'. Also more things could go wrong with 'film' than on digital. For example 'film' strips break or deteriorate over time. 'Film' today still hasn't disappeared as some people do prefer the old stuff and is shown in many special theaters around the world.
Employer Liability is also another part of insurance that a producer should undertake. This is similar to injury insurance as it falls into the safety of the cast and crew (and possibly the public). This insurance is created to provide indemnity in respect of the producer's liability to pay compensation for death, disease or bodily injury to employees arising of and during the course of their employment. There is also Public Liability which means compensation is required in the event of accidental bodily injury to any person or damage to property.
To conclude insurance it is really important to require insurance so that the producer is fully covered for severe financial liabilities in case anything does go wrong. Closer reading may be required as some insurance policies don't cover acts of terrorism.
Budget
Costume is also important when going through the pre-production process as it is a way to express what a character's personality is. One example of this would be 'Voldemort' out of the Harry Potter series. In the series he is presented in a dark, long cloak to give him a 'dark' and 'evil' personality. If characters didn't wear costumes then films would be less effective in what they are trying to achieve. So costume is vital part in pre-production.
In our 90 Second DepicT! Short Film, our group's costumes were the cloths we were already wearing. No other costumes were needed as the story of our film was about 3 lads kicking a football around. So casual wear was already obtained.
In some cases 'low budget films' use themselves in their production to reduce expenses. One example of this would be 'Clerks'.
Another cost that comes into budget would be travel, hotel and flights. When shooting a film a producer may need to go to several different locations, wherever it's out of their country or not. This means they will need to gather costs for travel, hotel stays, and food. One example of a film that does this quite a lot is the James Bond series. In each different movie, 007 moves around the world to either stop a mastermind from taking over the world, or to get a new sexy women. Either way it means more cost will have to go to the producers.
Cast and Crew is essential when making a 'big' movie as they would have to be skilled in what they do in order to get maximum results in the final cut. However, this isn't always the case. If a producer wants to make a 'short' motion picture, then supplying cast and crew could just be friends with skills in media production. This could come to no cost at all. In some media productions you do get people who are 'Free-Lance Workers'. These are people who are self-employed and are not committed to a particular employer long term. They are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and labor contributed by its regular employees. Other people work independently. At least 89% of people are free-lance workers.
Another thing that can fall into budget is editing and FX facilities. Sometimes producers and editors don't have the space or money to get what they want out of their film. So, they either hire them out or buy them out for future projects. Another way is hiring services to come in and help out with the film. These services would help design and create the effects and then adapt them into what the film is and what the producer and director wants the effect to do. One example of this is 'Industrial Light And Magic'. Founded by George Lucas in 1975, it was created to drive evolution of visual effects and have been creating some of the most stunning special effects of all time. This company is famous for creating the effects for the very successful 'Star Wars Saga'; one of the most creative franchises of all time.Copyright
When it comes to copyright the producer must be careful not to use any ideas or material that has came from the original creator with out their permission first. If this is broken then the offender can undertake a fine or either prosecution. However, if the producer wants to use archive footage, to create a history film, then the original creator must have permission given to them or if he / she dies then they must be dead for at least 70 years until their work can be used. If the author is unknown then the film itself should be 70 years old before it can be used by another person. When it comes to independent, low budget films, then copyright is essential because if the producer of that film is prosecuted then they might not have the expenses to cover themselves.
Time
When me and my group were undertaking the 90 Second DepicT! Short Film, we had a set time in to when the project would end. The way we managed our time was through 'Blogs'. Everything that has happened within the pre-production and production of the short film, we have noted down in our Blogs. Each post was dated and had small explanations in what went on and where we were at. When going through the main production we did run into some problems, which did put us a little bit behind schedule. However, we did solve the problem and were able to finish the shooting and editing in the time given.
Personnel
When talking about personnel, it is about how many people are in your group, what role they played, how experienced were they and how that affects a media production, how to decide who to use in the media production, and how availability is important when creating a media product.
In our 90 Second DepicT! Short Film we were able to keep are 'personnel' as simply as possible. As this was a classroom task all of the actors, equipment and availability was there for the taking. I was in a group of 3 and when it came to who was staring in our film, we decided that we were only going to use the 3 of us as we would always be available to shoot when needed. This could of changed if we were far behind schedule. We also had the right equipment needed for are production every time we went out shooting. Time management was also simple for the three of us as we were a small group so it was easier to explain where we were at and what was needed to be done. When it came to experience, we only had the main pre-production and production basics which we were given so that when a mistake was made, we could learn from it and adapt the mistake and solution to future projects.
Skills and experience are important when it comes to media production as it is essential for keeping the production stable. One example of this would be people like the camera operators. They need to know what shots are needed and how that shot is presented so that they can set up their equipment. If people weren't skilled then the production would be a disaster. Also actors can be a vital part in the production. If the film wants to make a high profit then experienced and skilled actors / actresses are needed. This however increases the expenses for the producer.
Facilities
As explained in previous paragraphs, facilities in media production, are based round what specific facilities a producer needs to complete their film. The most common one would be the studios and editing studios. A studio is a facility that allows producers to film their shots; but are also used to keep props and equipment such as cameras, tripods, reflectors, lighting etc, stored so that it can be used for next day filming. Editing studios are similar to normal studios, they both can store props and both give the space to shoot film. However, in a editing studio, it gives the opportunity for shots to be edited.
Locations
Locations are a vital part of film making as it is essentially where the film will localize when it comes to filming (excluding studios and editing studios). When finding a location the producer must obtain a location recce. A location recce is the perfect or possible location at which a film will be shot. There may be more then one if the film involves national or international locations. All location recces must be documented as the producer's reference so they know which shots were film where.
When deciding a location the producer and director (if present) needs to consider if the location is privately owned or not. If it is privately owned then the producer can get a location release signed by the owners. A location release is a legal documentation which expresses permission for the producer to film on their land. If permission is not obtained then prosecution or a fine can be given to the producer which can shut down they entire film.
When producing our 90 Second DepicT! Short Film. We went out a took photos of where we might possibly shoot out film. Our film was on Football so only one location was required for what shots we needed. The reasons we choose a football field was because it was easy to get to, it needed no location release, and because the field was opposite the college where we studied. Transport was limited. Travel in media production is vital if the film requires more than one location.
When it came to the filming we did get some limitations, but were able to over come them. One of them was the public. When shooting we had people, not part of our film, walk through our shots, which we didn't like. So instead of writing out release forms for that specific person, we waited for them to pass by and we re-took the shots. The only releases that were created were for our group; they were two minor releases and one adult release.
Our group also wore 'Crew' tops so that if there was something that was out of the ordinary present in front of the public, then they would notice the tops and realised that it is just a film shoot. This is another way of managing a film set, by wearing 'cast and crew' clothing.
Also when going out and deciding what locations we were going to use, we had to identify the risks. When looking around our location, we noticed there were a lot of risks present within that area. Once we had identified the risks, we documented them in a 'Risk Assessment'.
One of the risks were 'slippery grounds' or 'muddy surfaces'. This was a risk because if could cause damage to equipment, to ourselves and to others. So those were one of the things we mainly noticed. The way we overcame this, was that we wore appropriate footwear and were careful of who was around us when filming fast pace action shots. Also because we had a football with us, we had to make sure we didn't kick it at any of the public when filming.
Another risk was 'lost of crew / extras'. If anyone did get lost it could have bad affects on the people filming and the people in charge of the project. The way we over came this was that at least one person from the group had a mobile phone with them and had the number of the college. They also had to give their mobile number to the college so that an emergency calls could be made. We also made sure that no one went filming alone.
Our group also emailed the police to notify them that we are filming at that certain location, so that if anything did happened out of the ordinary, then the authorities knew about it. If this is not done then the police can get involved and can disrupt a producer's filming schedule.
This is a video of two young people 'scouting' locations for their film "Something Fishy".
Another way would be using 'Copyright Free Material'. This is material that is free and is given to the general public to use in any way they want, wherever it's for a film or music video. These materials a commonly found on the internet but are found of certain software like Garage Band for Apple Mac. Software like this gave me and my group an opportunity to create our own music track so that we could avoid 'Copyright Laws'.
Our group also emailed the police to notify them that we are filming at that certain location, so that if anything did happened out of the ordinary, then the authorities knew about it. If this is not done then the police can get involved and can disrupt a producer's filming schedule.
This is a video of two young people 'scouting' locations for their film "Something Fishy".
Materials
Materials in media production means what resources a producer can bring together to get what he or she wants out of their film. These resources could either be photos, music, video footage etc. There a couple of ways to do this. One way would be using original material. This consist of material created by the producer or someone on the same film project. This is a good way to avoid Copyright Laws being breached as someone else's work isn't being used without permission.
Another way would be to collect 'Archive' material. This is old material that has been recorded and is located in a physical location. It has a primary source of an organisations lifetime and is kept to show the function of that specific organisation. It can also be on people or historical events which can be used for future projects. However, copyright permission may be needed for the archive material to be used. If a producer wanted to make a documentary about 'World War II', then they would need to get permission to use archive footage or material, which will come at a cost. So a producer must balance what expenses he or she is going make, in order to get what they want out their media production. The owner of the archive material would sign a permission contract which will state that the 'producer' can use and exhibit the specific piece of material. If the author isn't alive or is unknown then the material must be at least 70 years old before it can be used without permission.
A 'specialist' in media production is someone who has skills in a specific area of media production. This could either be audio/visual, camera work, lighting, management, etc. It is basically a person who has strong skills in a specific area of study and would work well in the producer's project. They may operate certain pieces of equipment, or they might create a schedule so that deadlines are met. So there are many areas at which a 'specialist' can work with.
Talent is one of the simpler forms of contributors. Talent are the actors/actresses that appear in the movie and have a script that they read off. Well known 'talent' usually doesn't need to go through talent agencies as they would already have a 'manager' which arranges interviews or meetings with the producers. However, new talent would apply themselves to talent agencies like Sandra Reynolds, and they would represent them into what they wanted to do, wherever it's acting or modeling.
The public is all of the people that stand within a shot and are not given a specific role. This is very common in documentaries where the public are shown on camera. Permission would need to be given if any of the public are shown on camera as it breaches rights of privacy. In our 90 Second DepicT! Film, our group avoided this.
Other contributors are minor. Doctors would be there to make sure that the cast and crew are healthy and if any one has an accident then there is assistants for the injury. Also extras are people hired to create a certain atmosphere. This could either be a war zone, a city street, or a nightclub. Films like Honey would be a great example of 'extras'. One of the scenes is a nightclub scene where a great number of people are on the dance floor. They would be classed as the 'extras'.
Contributors
In media production you get set of contributors to help a producer create his media text. Some of these would be specialists, expert, doctors, talent, voice artist, the public and extras. These people are hired through the producer and he or she must read up on any skills or experiences they might have. It works like a CV, but instead is a contributor's biography. These contain information about a specific person and what skills, experience and qualifications they obtain and how it might be useful for the producer's project.A 'specialist' in media production is someone who has skills in a specific area of media production. This could either be audio/visual, camera work, lighting, management, etc. It is basically a person who has strong skills in a specific area of study and would work well in the producer's project. They may operate certain pieces of equipment, or they might create a schedule so that deadlines are met. So there are many areas at which a 'specialist' can work with.
Talent is one of the simpler forms of contributors. Talent are the actors/actresses that appear in the movie and have a script that they read off. Well known 'talent' usually doesn't need to go through talent agencies as they would already have a 'manager' which arranges interviews or meetings with the producers. However, new talent would apply themselves to talent agencies like Sandra Reynolds, and they would represent them into what they wanted to do, wherever it's acting or modeling.
The public is all of the people that stand within a shot and are not given a specific role. This is very common in documentaries where the public are shown on camera. Permission would need to be given if any of the public are shown on camera as it breaches rights of privacy. In our 90 Second DepicT! Film, our group avoided this.
Legal Issues
Most on legal issues have been explained in previous paragraphs, but some parts still needs covering. What it is meant by legal issues is Copyright Laws, Clearance, and insurances. Copyright falls into using material that is not your own. If the material is not there own then they must ask permission by the owner to use that specific material in their own work. Failure to obtain permission can lead to prosecution or a fine.
Clearance in media production is the practice of securing permission to use copyrighted material or personal likeness, or researching a property to ensure that there are no ownership claims or disputes. This step is necessary in reproducing or appropriating work such as photographs, songs, TV clips, or names. The duties of a clearance coordinator is the responsibility to manage or direct the rights and clearances and is tasked with numerous activities related to securing licenses or rights for the use of copyrighted material. Specific task would involves writing up clearance agreements, generating clearance requests and other correspondence to the copyright holder.
In our 90 Second DepicT! Film, we didn't have to get clearance as our location, material was free to the public. If clearance is not acquired then it can lead to rights being breached e.g. Copyright Laws. The police could also get involved which again can disrupt a film's schedule.
Public Liability insurance is the when one person is in the care of another. In this case if any injury is caused to the cast and crew, or the public, then insurance is there to cover the damage caused. Explained in previous paragraphs, insurance is vital part of pre-production and public liability insurance is a main one that a producer should obtain.
Another legal issue would 'Completion Insurance'. This is insurance that covers delayed completion. It covers the loss of income or specified additional expenses that results from a delay in the completion of a construction project when the delay is caused by covered property damage. So if a producer happens to go over schedule and has to pay more expenses, this type of insurance covers that.
Regulations
Ofcom
This company / service are a communications regulator which regulate TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate. They make sure that people in the UK get the best from their communications services and are protected from scams and sharp practices, while ensuring that competition can thrive.
They operate over the 'Communications Act 2003' and it is a detailed Act of Parliament, which spells out exactly what Ofcom should do. The Act states that Ofcom's general duties should be to further the interests of citizens and of consumers.
The company Ofcom is funded by fees from industry for regulating broadcasting and communications networks, and grant-in-aid from the Government. Their main legal duties are to ensure:
- That there is a wide range of communication services over the UK, including high-speed services such as broadband.
- That there is a wide range of high-quality television and radio programmes provided, appealing to a range of tastes and interests.
- Radio and television services are provided by a range of different organisations.
- Offensive material is not shown or heard to people who watch television and listen to radio.
- They make sure that people are protected from being treated unfairly in television and radio programmes, and from having their privacy invaded.
- That in the UK there is a postal service which means six days a week, universally priced delivery and collection service across the country is used in a effective way.
- That the radio spectrum (the airwaves used by everyone from taxi firms and boat owners, to mobile-phone companies the broadcasters) is used in the most effective way.
Things they are not responsible for regulating:
- disputes between people and their provider;
- premium-rate services, including mobile phone text services and ringtones;
- the content of television and radio adverts;
- complaints about accuracy in BBC programmes;
- the BBC TV licence fee; or
- post offices; or
- newspapers and magazines.
PCC (Press Complaints Commission)
This is a voluntary regulator body for British printed newspapers and magazines, consisting of representatives of the major publishers. Funded by the annual levy, the PCC charges newspapers and magazines. No legal powers are given to the PCC - all newspapers and magazines voluntarily contribute to the costs of, and adhere to the rulings of the Commission, making the industry self-regulating.
ASA (Advertising Standards Authority)
The advertising Standards Authority are the 'self-regulatory organisation' of the advertising industry in the UK. The ASA are also an non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, in many instances the legislation's are reflected by the 'code of advertising practice'. The role are to "regulate the content of advertisements, sales promotions and direct marketing in the UK" by "investing complaints made about ads, sales promotions or direct marketing".
PEGI (Pan European Game Information)
PEGI is a European video game content rating system established to help consumers make informed decisions on buying computer games with logos on games' boxes. Developed by the 'Interactive Software Federation of Europe' (ISFE), it came into use in April 2003.
BBFC (British Board Of Film Classification)
This company is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and are responsible for the national classification and censorship of films in the United Kingdom. Under the 'Video Recordings Act 2010', its has a statutory requirements to classify videos, DVDs and some video games.
It was established in 1912 as the British Board Of Film Censors by the film industry (who rather manage their own censorship rather than have national or local government do it for them). Under he legal basis, 'Cinematograph Act 1909', it operated on January the 1st 1913 and the Act requires cinemas to have licenses from local authorities.
They rate theatrically released films, and rate videos and video games that forfeited exemption from the 'Video Recordings Act 1984', which was discovered in August 2009 to be unenforceable until the act was re-enacted by the 'Video Recordings Act 2010'. The local Authorities, legally, have the power to decide under what circumstances films are shown in cinemas, but they nearly always choose to follow advice of the BBFC. They range their ages from 'U' to 'R18'. 'The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence)' was banned in the UK by the BBFC because of the "revolting" content; but was eventually granted an 18 certificate after over 32 cuts were made. The film was banned in Australia for a short period of time.
In our 90 Second DepicT! Short Film, when producing our idea, and shooting our film, it was overlooked by our teachers. This was done so that no offensive material was used and that it was suitable for our project. So we were not allowed to do anything that would be deemed 'too much'.
Trade Unions And Trade Associations
Trade Unions are an organisation of workers who have come together to achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of its trade, achieving higher pay, increasing the number of employees and employer hires, and better working conditions. Through its leadership, the Trade Union, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labor contracts with employers. "Maintaining or improving the conditions of the employment" are the most common purpose of these associations or unions.
One example of a Trade Union would be 'Equity'. They are a Union for professional performers and creative practitioners. The company is known and respected nationally and internationally for the work they do with, and on behalf of, our members working across all areas of the entertainment industry and are also a leading industry organisation.
Another example would be the 'BECTU'. They are independent trade union for those working in broadcasting film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and allied areas. They represent staff, contract and freelance workers who are based primarily in the United Kingdom. 'PACT' are also a UK Trade Union representing and promoting the commercial interests of independent feature film, television, digital, children's and animation media companies. 'PACT' offer comprehensive support service for their members in terms of legal and business affairs advice. A library of contracts and advice documents are included which will help people do business.
A Trade Association is an organisation founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. They are also known as an industry trade group, business associations or sector associations. The associations participate in activities, publicly related, such as advertising, education, political donations, lobbying and publishing, but its main focus is collaboration between companies, or standardization. They may also offer other services, such as producing conferences, networking or charitable events or offering classes or educational materials. Governed by bylaws and directed by officers who are also members, many associations are non-profit organisations.
The 'BIMA (British Interactive Media Association)', are a company that support and promote the British Digital Industry, they share knowledge and best practice and they reward great work and encourage the next generation. BIMA provides a valuable way to keep up with developments in a fast-moving sectors because of the hundreds of organisations and individual members from all sectors of the market. They also provide access to market data and intelligence through links with government departments, professional bodies and holds regular talks and conferences on key industry issues. They serve their memberships in the UK and abroad.
The 'ELSPA (Entertainment And Leisure Software Publishers Associations)', are an organisation set up in 1989 by British Software publishers. Until 2002, it was also known as The European Leisure Software Publishers Associations. The 'ELSPA', between 1993 and Spring 2003, voluntarily rated computer games released in Britain that were exempt from legal classification by the British Board Of Film Classification (BBFC). 3-10, 11-14, 15-17 and 18+ were the ratings originally given. The age ratings not suitable for a certain age would be marked in a 'X' and ages suitable, in a 'Tick'. The European System have replaced this company and is now called 'PEGI'.
'TIGA' are a trade association, non-profit, representing the UK's game industry. Their members include independent games developers, in-house publisher-owned developers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities. The vision at 'TIGA' is to make the UK the best place in the world to do game business. They do this through the Government lobbying and maintain a voice in the corridors of power at both the Westminster and Scottish parliaments. The active press department that 'TIGA' obtains, promotes their ambitions among the trade press, national press, TV, radio and online. They quote that "'TIGA' is the voice of the UK games industry and as such our CEO, Dr Richard Wilson regularly provides interviews for the press.Conclusion
So there you have it; all of the requirements a producer needs to consider when creating a media text wherever it's gaming, film, TV, newspaper and magazines or music. Focusing on film, a producer must consider the budget they are going to have?, what the film is?, where it is located?, is there any insurance costs?, what are the regulations? and how long will you be shooting? These are vital to what a producer needs to avoid any legal issues and to get the most out of their ability.
References
http://www.thejobexplorer.com/Job_Description/Media_Specialist.html
http://www.filmcellcostumeideas.co.uk/myfiles/New-Harry-Potter-wands.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW1jLlFZCuiAmRbIOKnoLVOhkq0ProhIegQsq5P3ooGenSg8QgeyZ9aWIuwRsEbNZvMDCgnlUAmja0ICh5W43SSTch9iHTo-vIicJv14xGUfCjfaUku4mk-ea8f9xkvPdE5jBMIJQvC0/s400/Vin+Diesel+Fast+and+Furious+Movie.jpg
http://www.virginmedia.com/images/heavens-gate-300x400.jpg
http://www.picgifs.com/wallpapers/movie-and-tv-shows/lord-of-the-rings/animaatjes-lord-of-the-rings-73676.jpg
http://static.kvraudio.com/i/b/garageband.jpg
http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2003_Honey/2003_honey_wallpaper_001.jpg
http://www.visualisingdata.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/OfcomLogo.jpg
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/PEGI.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1715000/images/_1719606_bectu150.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW1jLlFZCuiAmRbIOKnoLVOhkq0ProhIegQsq5P3ooGenSg8QgeyZ9aWIuwRsEbNZvMDCgnlUAmja0ICh5W43SSTch9iHTo-vIicJv14xGUfCjfaUku4mk-ea8f9xkvPdE5jBMIJQvC0/s400/Vin+Diesel+Fast+and+Furious+Movie.jpg
http://www.virginmedia.com/images/heavens-gate-300x400.jpg
http://www.picgifs.com/wallpapers/movie-and-tv-shows/lord-of-the-rings/animaatjes-lord-of-the-rings-73676.jpg
http://static.kvraudio.com/i/b/garageband.jpg
http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2003_Honey/2003_honey_wallpaper_001.jpg
http://www.visualisingdata.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/OfcomLogo.jpg
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/PEGI.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1715000/images/_1719606_bectu150.jpg
http://www.ps3nv.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tiga-logo.jpg/E98E2385-E7DC-4076-BAB1-8F854ED5CC43-
This is fantastic work Ollie. It is already at Merit level and won't need much to get to a Distinction:
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit repretitive - for example you discuss insurance twice. Try to tighten up on areas of repetition.
To really get a distinction it needs to utilise the medium of the blog more fully. You have lots of links, which is fantastic, but you could also do with images, video etc so that the reader is guided through a visual journey.
Top stuff though - really well done.