Lesson 1 Unit 4 Pre-Production

Portfolio
 L3 Extended Certificate in Creative
Digital Media Production

The Course Guide

outlines:
Units you will complete
Examination /
coursework
Grading criteria
Qualification grading
 Folder Set Up
Use dividers to order notes as follows:

1. Assessment tracker sheet to record

your progress
2. Course guide booklet
3. Introductory material
4. Unit 4 Pre-Production Portfolio NOTES
5. Unit 4 Pre-Production Portfolio
MARKED WORK
6. Unit 10 Film Production Fiction NOTES
7. Unit 10 Film Production Fiction
MARKED WORK
8. Unit 1 Media Representations NOTES
9. Unit 1 Media Representations MARKED
WORK
10. Unit 8 Responding to a Commission
NOTES
11. Unit 8 Responding to a Commission
MARKED WORK
 Course Overview
What will I be studying?
Your Level 3 Extended Certificate in Creative Digital Media Production consists of
FOUR units:

Unit size
Unit number and title guided Method of assessment
learning
hours

1 Media Representations 90 Online examination

4 Pre-Production Portfolio 90 Internally assessed assignment

8 Responding to a Commission 120 External examination

10 Film Production Fiction 60 Internally assessed assignment

 Course Structure
Unit size
Year Unit number and title guided Method of assessment
learning
hours
Y12 T 5 / 6
Y13 T 1 / 2 1 Media Representations 90 Online examination
Jan 2019

Y12 T 1 / 2 4 Pre-Production Portfolio 90 Internally assessed

assignment

Y13 T 3 / 4 8 Responding to a Commission 120 External examination

Y12 T 3 / 4 10 Film Production Fiction 60 Internally assessed

assignment
 Exams

Unit 1 Jan 2019, re-

take if required June
2019

Unit 8 June 2019

 Where are we now?
Unit 10 Film Production
Fiction youve started
looking at conventions of
narrative film
Once you have completed
the assessment for learning
aim A you will start Unit 4
Pre-Production Portfolio
this unit will enable you to
complete pre-production
tasks in preparation for your
film production
 Unit 4 - Pre-Production Portfolio Overview

What will I study?

You will learn the requirements of planning and delivering a digital media product,
carrying out essential pre-production tasks and creating a pre-production portfolio.
This unit will enable you to develop your understanding of the essential pre-
production work that takes place as part of a creative media production. You will gain
an understanding of the requirements of the planning stage, from finance and logistics
to regulations. Your investigations will help you develop the pre-production skills and
experience needed to carry out your own tasks and to produce a digital media
product. You will create a portfolio and manage the pre-production for your own
creative media production.

How am I assessed?

Assessment is through internal assignments.

Assessment 1 Learning Aim A
Assessment 2 Learning Aims B /C/ D

You will present ALL your work for your assessments on your blog
 What assessment objectives are
assessed?
In this unit you will be assessed on how you:

A Understand the requirements of pre-

production of a digital media product
B Carry out pre-production for a digital media
product
C Produce a pre-production portfolio for a
creative media production
D Review pre-production of a digital media
product.
 Assessment Objectives
A Understand the requirements of preproduction of a A1 Requirements for a specific media
digital media product production
A2 The formats for preproduction processes
A3 The functions of preproduction processes
A4 The purposes of preproduction
documentation
B Carry out pre-production for a digital media B1 Procedures to follow
product B2 Pre-production requirements relevant for
a chosen sector

C Produce a pre-production portfolio for a creative C1 Formats for documenting pre-production

media production C2 Contents of pre-production portfolio
C3 Maintaining a preproduction portfolio

D Review pre-production of a digital media product D1 Elements of pre-production

D2 Project management
Learning Aim A: Understand the requirements of pre-production of a digital media product

A1 Requirements for a specific media production

Types of production: film, television, audio, digital publishing, digital games.
Finance.
Sources of finance: private, public, joint financing.
Requirements of finance: for equipment, crew, transport, materials, clearances, talent, facility hire.
Logistics.
Time: deadlines, availability of equipment, availability of personnel, timescales.
Facilities: production equipment, post-production equipment, facility houses, prop houses, sourcing and costs of facilities.
Locations: identification; recces; limitations and risks, e.g. distance, access, cost, weather.
Personnel: technical crew, actors, extras, contributors, e.g. experts, specialists.
Materials: type, e.g. original materials, archive and library materials, photo-library materials, sound library materials, internet, assets,
audio, script, animatics, graphics, interviews, costumes, properties, recorded music, sources; costs; clearances.
Adherence to codes of practice and regulation.
Clearances, e.g. Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS).
Legal, e.g. copyright, health and safety.
Regulations, e.g. Ofcom, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO),
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Trade unions and professional bodies, e.g. Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television
(Pact), National Union of Journalists (NUJ).
A2 The formats for pre-production processes
Established industry formats for presenting pre-production work:
templates for scripts (written/dialogue/sound)
written or visual storyboards
written or visual storylines
page mock-ups.
A3 The functions of pre-production processes
Revising and discounting ideas.
Visualising content.
Establishing feasibility (expertise, costs, timescale, logistics).
A4 The purposes of pre-production documentation
Adherence to codes of practice and regulation.
Administrative requirements, e.g. record keeping, sharing of information among relevant parties.
Auditing compliance.
 Assignment Learning Aim A
You work for an independent film production company who broadcast
content on their own YouTube channel. In preparation for a
forthcoming film genre season you have been asked to present a
report on pre-production practices to ensure that productions within
your company are successful.

Your manager has approached you because the previous projects have
been unsuccessful. They have concluded that one reason for these
failures is a lack of effective pre-production activity.

Your manager has asked you to produce a report on the essential pre-
production work that takes place as part of a creative media
production. You will present your findings to members of the
production team.
 Learning Aim A
Task see Assignment Sheet for Learning Aim A

To create an interactive blog report.

You must research the pre-production requirements, procedures and documentation

relating to a range of digital media products. Use your findings to compile a report
that evaluates the extent to which these factors contribute to the overall success of
the planning and delivery of these products.

In order to complete this task you should analyse how the following factors contribute
to the planning and delivery of different media products and use your research to
justify your conclusions:
the pre-production requirements; in particular you should consider factors
including the requirements and sources of finance for the products, logistical
considerations such as deadlines, resources and regulatory requirements, and the
impact these factors have on each other.
the established industry formats used within the pre-production processes
the functions of pre-production processes, reasons for undertaking them and
impact they have had.
the purposes of pre-production documentation
 Assessment Criteria Learning Aim A

PASS - Explain = show understandings, justify, give examples

MERIT Analyse = break down, explain methodically / in detail, interpret,

make connections

DISTINCTION Evaluate = review, form conclusions, use evidence, strengths

/ weaknesses, consider alternatives
 Learning Objectives

ALL can explain pre-production practices and give examples

MOST can analyse pre-production practices and give examples
SOME can evaluate pre-production practices and examples
 Notes: So What is Pre-Production?
What processes occur from start to finish to
ensure a media product is completed and is
successful?

Or how do you get from this to this?

ALL can explain pre-production practices and give examples
MOST can analyse pre-production practices and give examples
SOME can evaluate pre-production practices and examples
 Look at your media product make
notes and prepare to feedback on:
How were these texts made?
What sort of planning will have taken place prior to
production?
What elements needed to come together to form the
finished product?
Who has been involved in producing them? What roles
did they play?
How might the following impact the pre-production
type of media, technologies required, finance, logistics,
time, locations, personnel, materials, locations, laws
and regulations
ALL can explain pre-production practices and give examples
MOST can analyse pre-production practices and give examples
SOME can evaluate pre-production practices and examples
 So what is

Pre-Production?

ALL can explain pre-production practices and give examples

MOST can analyse pre-production practices and give examples
SOME can evaluate pre-production practices and examples
 Pre-production is
Preparation for the shoot
Organisation of personnel
Development of initial ideas
Planning
Budgeting and costing
Ensuring the product will be financially viable
Finance
Logistics
Legal aspects and regulations
Timescales
Materials required e.g. MES
ALL can explain pre-production practices and give examples
MOST can analyse pre-production practices and give examples
SOME can evaluate pre-production practices and examples
 The Lifecycle of a Film Production
STAGES
Development -ideas for the film
-legal issues (ownership/music etc)
-rights to books/plays are bought (if borrowed)
-screenplay is written
Pre-production -Preparations are made for the shoot
-cast and film crew are hired
-locations are selected
-sets are built
Production -The raw elements for the finished film are recorded. (filmed using
cameras/mics etc)
Post-production -The film is edited
-production sound (dialogue) is concurrently (but separately) edited
-music tracks (and songs) are composed, performed and recorded
-if a film is sought to have a score; sound effects are designed and
recorded;
-any other computer-graphic 'visual' effects are digitally added, all sound
elements are mixed into "stems" then the stems are mixed then married
to picture
-film is fully completed ("locked")
ALL can explain pre-production practices and give examples
MOST can analyse pre-production practices and give examples
SOME can evaluate pre-production practices and examples
 Overview Development
In this stage, the project's producer selects a story, which may come from a book, play, another film, a
true story, original idea, etc. After identifying a theme or underlying message, the producer works with
writers to prepare a synopsis. Next they produce a step outline, which breaks the story down into one-
paragraph scenes that concentrate on dramatic structure. Then, they prepare a treatment, a 25-to-30-
page description of the story, its mood, and characters. This usually has little dialogue and stage direction,
but often contains drawings that help visualize key points. Another way is to produce a scriptment once a
synopsis is produced.

Next, a screenwriter writes a screenplay over a period of several months. The screenwriter may rewrite it
several times to improve dramatization, clarity, structure, characters, dialogue, and overall style. However,
producers often skip the previous steps and develop submitted screenplays which investors, studios, and
other interested parties assess through a process called script coverage. A film distributor may be
contacted at an early stage to assess the likely market and potential financial success of the film.
Hollywood distributors adopt a hard-headed business approach and consider factors such as the film
genre, the target audience, the historical success of similar films, the actors who might appear in the film,
and potential directors. All these factors imply a certain appeal of the film to a possible audience and
hence the number of "A.I.S." (or "Asses in Seats") during the theatrical release. Not all films make a profit
from the theatrical release alone, so film companies take DVD sales and worldwide distribution rights into
account.

The producer and screenwriter prepare a film pitch, or treatment, and present it to potential financiers. If
the pitch is successful, the film receives a "green light", meaning someone offers financial backing:
typically a major film studio, film council, or independent investor. The parties involved negotiate a deal
and sign contracts. Once all parties have met and the deal has been set, the film may proceed into the
pre-production period. By this stage, the film should have a clearly defined marketing strategy and target
audience.
ALL can explain pre-production practices and give examples
MOST can analyse pre-production practices and give examples
SOME can evaluate pre-production practices and examples
 Create New Blog
Blog title = www.nameunit4.blogspot.co.uk

Set up tabs:

1. Unit 4 Pre-Production Portfolio Learning Aim A

2. Unit 4 Pre-Production Portfolio Learning Aim B
3. Unit 4 Pre-Production Portfolio Learning Aim C
4. Unit 4 Pre-Production Portfolio Learning Aim D
ALL can explain pre-production practices and give examples
MOST can analyse pre-production practices and give examples
SOME can evaluate pre-production practices and examples
 Study / Homework Tasks
Watch extra features on DVDs/Blu-rays at
home and report back on the pre-production
of those films.
BLOG summary of what pre-production is
with examples title: What is Pre-
Production? Include example of three of
different media products to explain what this
process is.
ALL can explain pre-production practices and give examples
MOST can analyse pre-production practices and give examples
SOME can evaluate pre-production practices and examples