BTEC CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION - Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques

Introduction
Pre-production involves all the processes of preparing elements for a film, play, etc.
Pre-production is important because it is where the film is structured and financed.
Without pre-production, projects have no direction and some of the greatest films
ever made would be nowhere near as good without a good pre-production team.
Pre-production includes finding the finance to create the project; without pre-
production it would be nothing more than a home movie without finance.
Pre-production is done so it gives the film or play etc. direction. You dont want to
skip pre-production, go straight to filming and realize youve forgot that camera that
you need. Pre-production is vital and if you find yourself without having done it for
your project, youre going to run into a whole lot more problems further down the
road. For example, during the pre-production of The Dark Knight Rises, if director
Christopher Nolan hadnt given the film some direction through his rough draft of a
script, the film may never have existed.
The type of production I will be working on for Unit 22 will be my own short film,
however I will be referencing from short films/feature length films and other
performances I have knowledge of.

2. Finance
Short films can be financed in a number of ways from the easy method of product
placement to the much longer and harder task of seeking funding from the
government. Funding can be achieved also by self-funding however this is very
expensive and may not always get you your money back. Crowd funding has also
become very popular in the last few years with various websites such as Kickstarter
creating many new projects, most famously funding $1.25 million for Spike Lees
new movie.
Productions costs can vary for different short films however, a low-budget short
four-minute clip by Charlie Brooker cost 47,667! The cost contains the salary for
the camera and sound man who stands at 850 a day, the production team, the
talent as well as series and assistant producer which sums up to over 1,900.
Material included in the short clip includes copyrighted products so it adds another
500 to the cost of production. 2011 film Attack the Block cost 8 million to make
through FX effects,cast,crew and filming. Even though it took a 5 million loss in the
box office, Attack the Block was significantly popular and has been listen as a cult
film by many.




BTEC CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION - Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques


3. Time
Time is a very important factor in production. When time is a very important factor,
there is most likely a deadline which must be met. A deadline is a time limit; an
amount of time before something must be accomplished. In production deadlines
are vital and without them, Hollywood would be very unreliable for good films.
Deadlines can be set for a number of things and they must always be met if the
project youre working on is going to be successful.
If your film is going to be effective and successful, youll need to know about the
equipment you need and also its availability. Without the needed equipment
production cant continue, filming cant start and the film comes to a halt. Some
films can take a decade to be made (look at James Camerons Avatar) or can be out
finished within a month. Typically, short films will be created on a minimal budget
and within a very short time. There is no timescale for any movie as it only moves as
well as the crew can make it go, so there is no real way to determine how long most
films/short films take to create.

1. Personnel
Matching skill and experience can be crucial in the production of a film. Most
obviously, these two credentials are needed in the cast. The film may feature
some of the best modern visual effects but with poor acting a film will never
really connect with its audience. Matching skills and experience in some areas
are vital to a movies growth and progression from pre-production to its final
scene. Bigger budgeted movies will always include the top actors with a lot of
experience mixed with a blend of fresh new faces that have all the potential.
Smaller, less known actors may have to do various roles in short films to wait for
some recognition and bigger roles. Just look at Tom Hanks; he started out as an
extra in US sitcoms Taxi and Happy Days in the 80s before he got his big break
in Splash!
Behind the cast of a film are the people who are just as important as the main
actor and supporting talent; the producers, writers, director and set designers.
The role of producer and creator are perhaps the two most important jobs.
Between the two jobs they both organize, and co-ordinate the direction the film
is going in. In bigger jobs with bigger budgets, producers and directors earned an
annual mean wage of $115,920 in 2011. Of course, everything varies and with
more success comes more money. Tyler Perry earned over 74 million in 2008
for directing, producing, writing and starring in two of his movies.

2. Facilities
Facilities can range from studios where the audio is edited to effects house for
BTEC CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION - Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques

visual and CGI creation. For a short film, green room studios may be needed but
readily-created sets are always in demand. During production youll need certain
equipment for different specifics of the film. The sound and camera crew will
need their own cameras, stands, etc. whereas the writers may just need a room
to themselves, a notebook and pen. Here is just some production/post-
production equipment I would use;
- cameras
- tripods
- lenses
- a head
- support rigs
- digital recorder
- overhead boom operator
- mixers
- XLR leads
- key light, fill light & a back light (three-point lighting set-up)

3. Materials
When making a film, its pretty much certain youll need materials. Materials for
costumes, props, the music, filming etc. Behind all the obvious equipment like
cameras, its important you recognize fully what materials are required to suit
your film. Youll need cloth for your characters props, sewing machines most
likely, anything that will help create the image in your head of what they should
look like. For sound youll definitely need to book a studio. Sound is all important
to films and youll need a good recorder as well so your audience can understand
whats going on more clearly. Recorders, mixers, sound and audio engineers are
all vital to creating the type of sound you want. With the studios will come audio
controls where you can alter and make effects to the audio. Your sounds
engineers will be able to create your ideas so they are probably most vital. Script
writers are important too if youre not the most creative mind.
Clearances for materials may include copyrights. It is vital you either make sure
you pay the rights owners of any material that isnt yours or not use them at all.
Without paying the rights owner will probably end up in a legal battle over the
royalties your film makes.



4. Contributors
Contributors are your talent. The actors. Extras. Anyone who is on screen and in
your film. For short films, its better to go for lower paid actors and if possible,
ones with experience in low-budget films. As director, youll be deciding whos in
your film and deciding their contracts. Contracts are just as important as the
BTEC CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION - Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques

talent themselves. Contracts can disrupt the production of the film if theyre not
settled by the time filming comes around and may deplete the moral of your
crew if they find out someones haggling for a lot more than anyone else. You
can never go over budget with contracts and wages and its important to
remember that the talent should be paid what they deserve, not what they think
they should be earning. Contracts dont only include wages but also legal clauses.
Legal clauses can include insurance (in case theyre injured on set), how long they
film for and what their breaks are. In blockbuster Hollywood films, some
contracts even include clauses preventing the talent from shooting other films or
speaking about anything other than the project you have signed them for. By the
way, you wont need contracts or legal forms if youre just filming in public.
Contracts are only for people youve cast I n your film and that are being paid.

5. Locations
Filming in certain places and locations can be difficult. The public can be
unpredictable and unreliable. When choosing locations that hit your specific
needs, its important to scout these locations out and find a time in the day when
they are as quiet as possible without resembling a ghost town. You will also need
to get the council or boroughs permission to film in public, on the streets or the
landowners property.
They have the legal right to stop you filming and it will ruin the work planned out
and set for that day. There are always limitations when it comes to filming. For
example, if your talent doesnt have insurance then its wise not to be doing
anything too risky like stunts or other dangerous scenes for your film. If needs
be, a stunt man can be hired but there are still regulations. Lives should never be
put in direct danger and safety checks must above adequate or risk everything is
something goes wrong.

6. Codes of practice and regulation.
A) Once your filming is done, you will need to gain regulation for your film to
be screened anywhere. Regulation can be acquired in the UK from the
BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) should your film be suitable for
to attain a level for screening in the UK. The BBFC is a non-government
funded company which is instead funded by the film industry. The BBFC
decides what films are appropriate for what kind of audience and if they
should even be allowed to be shown at all. The classification groups which
films can be slotted into a are decided by range of factors like its content,
language and impressions it implores. The classification groups are; U
Suitable for all, PG Parental guidance, 12A suitable for 12 years and
over,15 suitable for 15 years and older and 18 suitable only for adults.
BTEC CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION - Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques

Cases in which some movies have not been given a rating and therefore
withheld from UK screening at first include the original Texas Chainsaw
Massacre (banned for 25 years), The Exorcist (banned for 13 years) and A
Clockwork Orange (banned for 13 years).

B) If your film is going to be shot at any point in a public environment, its more than likely
youre going to need your local councils permission to film it. Whether its in the high
street, a dirty alley or completely away from the public you will still need permission
and police offers are more than likely to ask you for a warrant. Property owners will
also be able to make your leave from their land unless you have their permission.
Anyone who is shot in your recordings that is not part of the film e.g. pedestrians etc.
you will need a signature of consent to have their face in it. If they do not consent and
sign the form you will either have to cut the scene and re-shoot or blur their face; the
latter being less favorable unless shooting a documentary.
C) PACT is a trade union for independent creates content and media producers. It
represents and promotes these peoples commercial interests in the UK and is often
seen as the voice of UK creative media. Its advice and beliefs are often listened to by
the government as PACT represents such a large portion of independent media in the
UK.


Overall, Id say the research and the sources were very helpful. Its given me a
wider knowledge of film, TV and media in general. Looking back, the research
has given me a better insight into what pre-production is too; the fine details,
the technicalities and the moral/legal issues of it.
Also, answering the last two questions independently I feel showed the
quality and depth of research I found. Before having started the research, I
wouldnt have been able to answer either question whereas by the end of it I
had finished the two questions without having to look anything up.













BTEC CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION - Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques

Unit 2 Research







































Date Source URL Notes;



16/10/13

18/10/13
22/10/13
20/10/13

Free Internet site

BBFC Banned and heavily edited list

BTEC National Creative
Media Book, pg. 145,151
The website was extremely helpful for
the 6th section and a lot of the
information I gained was from the
website.

The book had quite a few helpful
pages about film, media and
television. This particularly helped
when writing up the Time piece as it
gave me an insight into what film and
television production was like.
Free Internet site & BTEC
National Creative Media
Book, pg. 140
The Newest Hottest Spike Lee Joint by
Spike Lee Kickstarter

Short four-minute clip
As the full piece started to come
together I started writing the pieces I
had less knowledge on. Again the book
was very helpful but Charlie Brooker's
clip was the most helpful as it gave
figures for pre-production unlike any
other material I had come across.
Spike Lee's Kickstarter fund was also
helpful as it gave a different view to
the film industry and how it works.
BTEC National Creative
Media Book, pg. 137
Free Internet site


What we do - Pact

What is classification | British Board
of Film Classification

Page 137 helped a lot with the film
and TV aspects of this unit.
Especially with Finance as well as it
produced information on the UK
film industry.
15/10/13
PACT helped me understand a
different side of the media, the
independent and likely less
wealthy side of UK film. And the
BBFC gave me a clear guide to the
restrictions and guidelines which
by films operate under in the UK
and also abroad.
22/10/13 Key Ideas In Media, pg. 47,
pg. 48, pg. 49
The Key Ideas In Media book gave
me a good idea of the restrictions
in the Codes of Practice. It gave me
a better idea after reading the
BBFCs website what the
classification groups where with
more in-depth knowledge.
24/10/13 Primary Research
(questionnaire)
I handed out questionnaires based on
a range of topics included in this unit.
A lot of the results showed not many
people knew much about pre-
production and therefore it made me
more focused on gaining knowledge in
this area.
BTEC CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION - Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques
























Sources from the internet;
BBFC Banned and heavily edited list
What we do - Pact
What is classification | British Board of Film Classification
The Newest Hottest Spike Lee Joint by Spike Lee Kickstarter
Short four-minute clip

Sources from books, magazines, etc.;
BTEC National Creative Media Production, Level 3;
pg. 145,pg. 151,pg. 137, pg. 140,
Key Ideas In Media, pg. 47, pg. 48, pg. 49



By Aonghus Mullen


BTEC CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION - Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques