Pre-Production considerations for Unit 62

In some ways the professional media industry and the project I am currently working on are very similar. Sometimes we may need to consider different aspects and elements in media projects to what you would expect to consider at a professional standard. A lot of considerations have to to be taken particularly in the Pre-production stages when making any kind of film.

Type Of Production

It is vital of course, that a media production company know what type of prduction they are working on. Are they going to produce a radio show? A video? Or a peice of audio? They then need to plan how they are going to show this. On a web site? On the television? Or maybe on a interactive media platform (phone apps ect.). Once they have decided on the type of production they need tot stick to this plan and to be sure not to mix too much, as this could be confusing for the members of the production team.

For me and Sam we are goin to make a promotional web site. Our client has requested that this will be placed onto an interactive web site for the public and other students to see. Therfore it is important that we onsider the following pre-production element to ensure we create this video, and so we can keep to te purpose and aim of this project.


Equipment

Without equipment, media probably wouldn't exists! It plays a key part in all media platforms and types. It's what keeps the industry going. However this importance in media has a high price.

Within the media industry it's not possible to produce any film without using the very best and practical equipment.Most companies will have the average camera which will allow them to create a video, however, for them to reach the norm standards they are expected to reach (which would be a professional standard to others) they will have to think about hiring equipment from other companies. Of course this will be a costly aspect. Equipment such as cameras and tripods will cost a lot of money and will be taken out of the available funds for the project. This will result in the company having less available funds for other features of the video such as effect and crew members (such as actors/ actresses).

Due to the limited time a company may have with hired equipment, they may be forced into rushed filming and decision making, which could possibly lower the overall quality in the media.

Fortunately, the project I am undertaking, contrasts with the professional industry in terms of equipment. As I it is within the school grounds, I am allowed to use the equipment the media department can offer. Fortunately I am part of a technology college, and therefore the equipment is to the highest qualities a school could offer. There is a slight difference in terms of how advanced and technical the cameras would be compared to the cameras and equipment used within the professional. On the other hand my production team (me and Sam) do not have to break into any financial stages to use this equipment, it is all free for use to us and whilst the cameras may not be as good as the ones used at professional levels, they are good enough to allow me and Sam to create a superb and high quality promotional video. To ensure we get the best equipment for our promotional video, maybe we should consider discussing the potential of each piece of equipment before jumpping in straight away and deciding what we are gping to use?

Personnel

Like mentioned the production team for this project I am working on will consist of only myself and Sam. We may use others (such as friends and volunteers) to become a character in the video. We may ask permission for people to either become a character or just to just simply be themselves (doing a sporting activity). Again this will not include any finance as this is something which would not be costly and can be found in and around the school facilities. Although saying this, we will need to be sure to have permission from anyone whom may be in a shot to avoid indecency, and privay issues. Myself and Sam will also have to consider thesize of the team, and how many bodies are neede in this project. Do we need a camera crew? Do we need actors (if so how many)? And do we need any assitance for gathering and transporting equipment? These are some questions we may ask eachother when we come to making these pre-production considerations, together, as a team, in the near future. A problem or issue we may debate about is who will be suitbale for each role. People have just as many weaknesses as strengths in media, so it is important that we get the correct person doing the jobs and electing them roles which they are stongest at doing, we may disagree from time to time the strengths and weaknesses of eachother, and others. This wont be an issue as it is importnat that we keep a fluent and clear communiation within the team, as this will allow us to voice our opinions and preferences to one another. 

In the professional media industry, each individual person involved in the project will be wanting some kind respectable wage. Famous or very popular personnel will have a numerous of companies wanting there input. This means that a company will have to offer the very best they can in terms of money and appreciation. This will ultimately be a key factor in the financial department for a media company. The question stands however, is it really worth spending money on personnel for a media company?   

Finance

As mentioned money plays a  big part in the media industry and can affect many areas including Personnel and equipment. Whilst it is important to try and keep the costs low, it is importnt that you have everything in place. If personnel is needed, then a company will have to spend some money on this sector. They cannot gry and use less actors or directors, is they are needed, otherwise this can make the project look cheap and unprofessional. In conclusion to the question above, yes, it is worth breaking into the financial side, to get the very best and wothy personnel on board for a media prduction company.  On the other hand, whilst  a company will need to spend some money to reach the very best of productions, they will need to be some-what a little cautious in spending. They will ahve to plan how much they need and what there maximum value is. They need to be very clear on how much is available to be spent on each area. If no caution is taken then there may be an over spend on equipment, which leaves less finace availbel for the personnel, which would cause unessasery problems for the company.

Due to the fact that a lot of the areas are already covered (in terms of finance) by the school, the project I am working on doesn't need any cost considered. We have plenty of resources ready for us to use, therefore, we don not a financial budget. Of course this seem to be better for us compared to a media company, as we do not need to spend time on planning and organising any finacial budgets. The down side to this is that we are not able to spend £100's on speacial effect which would enhance the viewing experience for our audience. A company may have enougth money to prvdie these effects and expensive ideas. This is one of the major differences which seprates a college project from a professional media productions company. What we should tak enote of here is the cost for each item we use (such as equipment) this will give me and Sam a better understanding how hard it would be to plan a budget when making just a simple promotional video.

Facilities

There are may types of media in today's world, from radio, to music videos. Some are more didfferent to other but they all have one thing in common...they all use audio. The question is, how and where is this audio recorded to produce a high quality sound. Well this is where a company would have to start thinking about using some facilities. They may want to record a narration, song or any other kind of speech, so they will use a recording studio. They will need the correct facilities for them to record and produce their own audio. They will also need the correct equipement, recording tools and post production equipment (for editing). This is in addition to studios, and outsourcing. Therfore facilities can also be linked with the equipment section.

For a company they may be fortunate to have a recording stuido and needed facilities alreday available to use, however, some companies may have to hire one. They will have to find a recording compnay which will allow them to hire their recording studio to do some recording. This of course is gouing to cost more moneey for the production company, so therefore facilities is another factor thet will have to consider in terms of fininace.

It is important that the correct facilities are available in the most suitable enviroments. For example, if a company does not prepare their facilitis, other companieds will book the recording stuido ahead of them, and they will be left with nothing. They may result in using facilitis which may not be as professsional and as good in terms of quality.

Again, like most pre-production factors, the facilities are free and provided for our project in school. We can use the availbel recprding studio (if given notice in advance) and we can use the computers and equipment provided in a sutible enviroment. It is important that we consider carefully about the facilites and when we plan to use them. We need to be careful as we do not want to use the recording studio when there is a lesson change for the other students in the school. This will result in a lot of background interferance and noise, whoch would not only show bad preparation for this project but it will also provide a bad qulaity peice of audio- which is very unprofessional, and will not please our client. Therefore just like a media company, it is important that we plan what facilities we need in advance so we can avid any this or any other similar problems.

Materials

Materials are important in media, in paticularly, video and filming producions and projects. Sometime there are images, audio and videos which we might want to use for own peice of media. However, the problem which acccures, is that the material may be copyrighted to anothe company or person. This means, if  company would like to use opyrighted material they would have to get permission from the rightful owner. This may involve money as they may have to pay to use it.

Similarly to the professional industry, me and Sam may also want to use pre-produced material, which may also be copyrighted. Even if it wasnt copyrighted, we will still have to recienve permission to use the material, in order for us to avoid moral issues with others. In addition to this, our client may also want us to use other materials, so we will have to discuss this with him in order for us to understand what he wants us to use and where/ when  we need the permission. 

Locations

Simarly to facilities, there needs to be some sort of planning and prepartion for the locations we choose to shoot out promotional video. We need to be sure and clear on what te best locations would be for our video. The locations need to suite the genre and the purpose of the video. It also needs to be suitable to the arget audience. For example an elderly person may not be interested in a video which is filmed in just a grafitied and dark skate board park.

We may need to also consider if the location we want to film in is availble for us. For example we may want to film somewehere which is a privtley owned peice of land. If this is a case then we need to gain permission from the owner to set foot on this land. These factors are also ones which a media company has to consider as well. They too need premission to set foot on private lnd, and they too need to consider the genre, the purpose and the audience for their media they are filming.

There usually is no cost involved in loactions, however if a media company whishes to film on private land, the owner may requet for money. For example, if the media company wants to film in a farmer's stable the farmer may have to move the animals into a different location for safety, and this may cost. Therfroe he may requst money in return for the use of the stables to cover the new loction costs.

For both this project and a media company, it may be best to plan what locations are needed by creating a storyboard, which gives detail n the locations. This will give the whole production team a clear view on what the client/ producer wants in terms of locations. It is important to plan the locations as the choice of location can effect the overall theme, concept and feel to the promotional video (or any similar types of media). Therefore, sketches, moodbaords and storyboards should be made to help a team understnad these locations.

Timescale

Time is valuble, and in media time is the most expensive aspect to consider. Time is expensive because without a timescale and a clear structure of your time, there may not be enougth time to get every stage completed to the best ability, or in some cases, not even completed.

In the pre-production stage of a project, it is important that a timescale is created. A timescale will allow you to view each task and prodution stage in a clear, planned and well structured schdule. You are able to see how long you should take on a paticular stage or task and the scale (size) of the task. This way if you stick to a timescale you are certain to get everything finished to the standrad you want it to achieve. With this in mind me and Sam will certainly use and plan a timescale in the pre-production phase.

As well as me and Sam, a production company may use a timescale as well, simply for the same reasons. It is a good plan for your time, and no one from ametures to professional will get far in media withou a clear plan for their time on a certain project. Fortuatley, this is one factor that doesn't cost money, and can be planned without any financial issues.  

Codes Of Practice And Regulation

Well, this is another IMPORTANT area of preproduction for a professional company. This doesn't really apply to the project me and Sam are undertaking, but we will still need to consider these:

This area is all about the legal rights and codes a company will have to follow, in order for them to follow the law. Before the company can film a video, they will need to sort out there insurance. If a problem accured with any equipment or facilities they are using then they will need to be insured to cover the cost of the damge. They will also need to prove that they have planned and considered that there is no safety and hazards which could cause injuries to the personell. If they o not cover all of the posible hazards, the prsonell injured could sew the company for not carrying out nessasery procedure which would of prevented the injury. This will affect the finicila side, and could put a hold on the production.

A compnay will have to ensure that they follow the codes and conducts from places such as "Ofcom", Press Complaints Comission (PCC). "Ofcom is the communications regulator. They regulate the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles and the postal services.Ofcom make sure that people in the UK get the best from their communications services and are protected as much as possible from scams and sharp practices, whilst ensuring that sometimes, meduia companies aim to give their audiences and viewers. The Press Complaints Commission is a voluntary regulatory body for newspapers and magazines pritned and produced in England. This group consists of representatives of the major publishers. It has no legal powers andall newspapers and magazines voluntarily contribute to the costs of, and to the rulings of the Commission, making the industry self-regulating. Whilst the PCC do not contribute to filming, they are similar to the regulators film producers have to stick by and follow.

Another regualtion is the one, well know for video games- "Pan Europenan Games Information", or "PEGI". PEGI, is basically the policy game designers have to follow. They have to state what the minimum age group can be to play the game. Using the PEGI guide lines, they will have to clearly indicate and state the legal age a person has to be. For example 3+, 7+ and 18+.

 Similarly, in the filming industry they will also have to state the legal  minimm veiwing age for the video. This is called the "British Board Of Film Classification". This is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and are responsible for the national classification and censorship of films within the UK. A film production team will have to state the censorship. For example; 3+, 12+, 12A, 15+, 18+, PG (Parental guidence) AND U (Universal-suitable for all ages).

 Whilst me and Sam are not going to be working in this enviroment, we will still need to consider the age classification, as the audience will need to know the minimum age requirement for viewing. We will also need to make sure that we do not ablige to any of the codes and regulations as our work will be used by a client. Not only doies this not show profesionalism or no considerations for the proefessional idustry, our client will actually use our produced video for an interactive web site. This menas that we can't  forget any of the points made here, as we are technically working for a company and producing a video for the public to view.