Unit 1: Pre-production LO1

Comprehensively explain and present to a quality that reflects near-professional standards

fully detailed requirements and sources of requirements for a specific media production
TASK
From all the pre-production you have carried out over the past year you need to pick one
and complete the following task.
You will need to show an excellent understanding of the requirements for the proposed
production and will be able to explain fully why each element is required.
You will give detailed explanations of how these requirements will be sourced and give full
consideration to codes of practice and regulatory issues.
From the table below you need to explain why each element was important to your chosen
production and detail how you would source them.
For example

Finance:
Sources of finance

Type

Equipment
Transport
Talent
Crew
Materials
Facility hire

Importance

Sourcing

Importance
It is important to have finances in place before production starts, as every
producer needs to pay for Equipment used such as Cameras, tripods, green
screen, lighting and sound. For an Advert production for example, a producer
may also need materials such correct costumes, items for correct mise-en-scene
and talent in order to fulfil the desired effect. Crew will also be needed such as
cameraman, soundman lighting engineer researchers editors and runners in order
to produce a professional looking advert.
Once all is complete facilities such as editing suits and postproduction equipment
will be needed and these cost a lot of money.
Sourcing
Crew
Crew can be sourced trough websites such as Creative England
http://www.creativeengland.co.uk/index.php/portfolio/locationproduction-support/
Editing suits such as Dynamic post Production
Facility
http://www.dynamicpost.co.uk/index.php/final-cut-pro-suites/
can be hired for 350 per day. This will include the editor and
sound engineer.
Materials
Materials can be sourced from high street shops, retail outlets
or studio Props departments
Transport
Transport can be sourced via Transport for London
http://www.tfl.gov.uk, National Rail http://www.nationalrail.co.uk,
hertz car hire etc..
A days travel card in London will cost the producer 12 per
person.

Finance:
Sources of
finance

Equipment
Transport
Talent
Crew
Materials
Facility hire

Importance
Finance is important in a production because if there isn't enough
money for any of the items listed above, the production will be of
bad quality. There needs to be enough money for equipment such as
cameras and microphones, all the necessary equipment to achieve
a good quality film. There also needs to be enough money for
transport so that the equipment and the crew can get to other sets
efficiently. Talent is important as the actors which are recruited need
to be good at their job so that the film isn't perceived as a joke. The
editors and script writers also must have talent so that the film isn't
boring and well finished. A producer may need materials to create
the correct atmosphere in a production such as costumes etc. After
all this is completed, facilities such as editing suites and equipment
can also be quite expensive.
Sourcing
Equipment: http://decodeuk.com/
Transport: http://www.nationwidehireuk.co.uk/
Talent: http://www.castingfiles.com/
Crew: http://www.slvision.co.uk/
Materials: http://www.sandsfilms.co.uk/costume-makes-andrental.html
Facility hire:
http://www.theknowledgeonline.com/search/Studios_For_Film_TV_Co
mmercials

Time:

Deadlines
Availability of equipment
Availability of personnel (size
of team; roles)

Importance
Planning time is very important whilst planning a film because if
time is not used efficiently, the film will take a long time to be
completed as everything would be very organised. Therefore it is
very important to include deadline whilst planning films. This will
make sure that everything is completed by when it needs to be. This
will save time and make things a lot easier. Time is also very
important to organise because if your team are hiring equipment, it
is essential for the owners of the equipment to know how long their
equipment will be used and also in what conditions. This is also
another reason why planning is so important. It is also essential to
have deadlines for the film as contracts need to be made with the
actors and crew so that they know how long they will be working for.
Facilities:
Production equipment
Post-production equipment
facility houses
Importance
The facilities for filming are very important because it wouldn't be
possible to film the production without it. Post-production equipment
is also very important because if the quality of the editing
equipment is of good quality and a talented editor is employed, the
film should be of a good quality. The type and the quality of the
equipment needs to be determined beforehand so that this can be
added to the budget and so that all the money used is planned out
efficiently. Post-production equipment is also important so any
effects which are not possible to be filmed on set by using a single
camera can be added in after the filming.
Sourcing
Post-production equipment facilities: http://www.hireworks.tv/
Production equipment: http://www.prokit.co.uk/

Materials:

Original materials,
Archive and library materials
Photo-library materials
Sound library materials,
Internet
Audio
Script
Interviews
Costumes

Importance
Original material is very important because the content used in your
film needs to be different to anybody else's. The content needs to
be shot specifically for your production. If you don't use your own
content you run the risk of facing copyright laws. Archive and library
materials can be useful in making a historical feature. Clips from
significant historical events could be used as flashbacks in film.
Photo-library and sound materials can be used in the production
anywhere. They are usually used to make the film seem more
realistic, such as gun sounds etc... Getting material from the
internet to use for your film is one of the easiest way to get material
but you could be fined for copyright if you don't check who owns
what materials. Any audio throughout the film is very important
such as sound effects and dubbing of actors so that the viewer can
understand it more easily. A script is very important in a film
production as it gives the actors the exact idea of what the director
wants to complete in this film and what they are trying to achieve. It
also guides the actor in what direction to go and what to say.
Interviews could be important for a documentary series, to get facts
across to the viewer easier. Costumes are also very important as
they show what actors are playing what and make it easier for the
viewer to associate the character with the plot of the film.
Sourcing
Original materials: Original content will need to be filmed by
yourself or crew.
Archive and library materials: http://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/all-

guides
Photo and sound library materials: http://www.bfi.org.uk/archivecollections
Internet: www.google.co.uk
Audio: This will be from recording done by the producer.
Script: This needs to be written by the producer of the production
Interviews: You can film the interviews yourselves or find an
interview which is suitable to the production on www.youtube.com
or other websites.
Costumes: http://www.4rfv.co.uk/c/43773/costume-boutique

Locations:

Recces
Limitations and risks:
Distance, access, cost, weather

Importance
Location recces are very important as they give the producer a
wider understanding of the location and whether or not it would be
suitable for the production. They are important as they give a clear
understanding of what the producer would like to achieve. Risk
assessments of the area are also very important so that the crew
and actors know what risks there are at this specific location. This is
so that there are no serious injuries which could impact the deadline
of the film and the date of it being completed by. The access and
distance of the location is important because if the location is far
away, transport needs to be used and therefore it can cost a lot of
money to get the whole crew to this location. The weather is also
important to take into account because if the location is in a muddy
place, rain would ruin the set and it would be hard to film unless
that is what is needed for the specific production.
Sourcing
Location Recce: http://filmandmedia.weebly.com/preproductiontemplates.html
Risk assessment: www.hse.gov.uk/risk/risk-assessment-and-policytemplate.doc
Codes of
practice and

Location permissions
Clearances

regulation:

Copyright
Health and safety
Insurance

Importance
Location permissions are very important as you can get in trouble
for not having permission as it can be seen as trespassing if the land
used is owned by somebody. It is also important as it gives the
owner a idea of what will be taking place on their land. Clearances
are important as it decides whether the film is suitable for television
and gives is an age classification such as PG etc... Creating a
copyright for your production is very important as it stops anybody
else from stealing any of your content and it also stops you from
stealing anyone else's work legally. Health and safety is very
important as it is important to make sure that the crew and actors
are safe and healthy. It is important to check risks which could
endanger any of your employees as it could lead to the deadline of
the project being delayed if any severe problems were to take place.
Insurance is very important as equipment can be damaged and if
it's ensured, easily replaced. It is also important as it can add to
compensation for crew or actors if they are injured.
Sourcing
Location permissions: http://www.4docs.org.uk/wiki/Release_Forms
Copyright:
http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law
Health and safety: http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/
Insurance: http://www.moneysupermarket.com/insurance/
The below only requires you to discuss the importance
(Choose the one that relate to your production only)
Regulatory
Ofcom
bodies:
Press Complaints Commission
(PCC) Advertising Standards
Authority (ASA)
Pan European Game
Information (PEGI)
Entertainment Software Rating
Board (ESRB)
British Board of Film
Classification (BBFC)
Importance
Regulatory bodies are very important because they protect the
viewer from content. It decides which content should be accessible
by which audience and sets a legal barrier so that young audience
can't get access to inappropriate material. The British Board of Film
Classification is a company which sets these barriers. They are

usually made for parents so that children aren't able to access

material which could influence their behaviour in a negative way.
BBFC associates themselves with films whereas other companies
such as PEGI associate themselves with gaming material.
Trade
unions:

Producers Alliance for Cinema

and Television (PACT),
National Union of Journalists
(NUJ)
Broadcasting Entertainment
Cinematograph and Theatre
Union (BECTU)

Importance
BECTU is the UK's media and entertainment trade union. BECTU
covers broadcasting, film, independent production, theatre and the
arts, leisure and digital media. The key aims of the union are to
protect jobs, win recognition agreements and to also improve pay.
Trade
associations:

Entertainment and Leisure

Software Publishers
Association (ELSPA)
British Interactive Media
Association (BIMA)

Importance
British Interactive Media Association focuses on supporting and
promoting the British digital industry. They also like to reward work
which they believe deserves more attention than it is already
receiving. They are also very focused on encouraging the next
generation in film and media as a whole.