Unit 27 & 4 factual programming project management

BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production UNIT 27 & Unit 4: Assignment Title: Factual Programme Production & Project Management Date Set:

September 2012

Date Due:

Assessor:

PH

Learner:

January 2013

Rationale: Factual Programme Production is one of the largest areas of television output, providing an extensive range of opportunities and professional roles within the industry. This sector is the main communicator of information in relation to worldwide events, local issues or opinion, and attitudes within society, from the most serious global issues to the purely entertaining. It provides enormous scope for potential production ideas. The genre includes news, documentary, educational, review, chat shows, ‘reality’ TV and other sub­genres. It involves engagement with the key media issues of representation, objectivity, subjectivity and communication of meaning.

There is a wide range of opportunities for the development of creativity both within the production process and in the topic or subject content, including opportunities for learners to work on projects that they find personally interesting and challenging.

The Project Management unit gives learners the opportunity to enhance their skills through the planning and management of a media production. Learners can expect to gain experience in production management from the initial origination and researching of an idea, through the pitch, to managing a production team or a part of one, taking personal responsibility for the effectiveness of the production process. Learners will develop the ability to play a key part within a production, and will be given opportunities to demonstrate the management qualities, individual focus and appropriate collaborative skills needed for a successful production.

Scenario: You have been commissioned to make a short documentary for an online film festival

Learning Outcomes: Factual Programme Production On completion of this unit a learner should: 1 2 3 4

Understand issues relating to factual programming for television Understand codes and conventions of factual programming for television Be able to plan and research a factual programme for television Be able to produce a factual programme for television.

Project Management On completion of this unit a learner should: 1 2 3

Be able to originate, develop and research an idea for a media product Be able to pitch a proposal for a media product Be able to manage a production process to create a media product.

Grading Criteria: Pass

Merit

Distinction

To achieve a pass your work must:

To achieve a merit your work must:

To achieve a distinction your work must:

Factual Programme Production P1

describe issues relating to factual television programmes with some appropriate use of subject terminology

M1

explain issues relating to factual television programmes with reference to detailed illustrative examples and with generally correct use of subject terminology

D1

comprehensively explain issues relating to factual television programmes with elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly

P2

describe codes and conventions of factual television programmes expressing ideas with some appropriate use of subject terminology

M2

explain codes and conventions of factual television programmes with reference to detailed illustrative examples and with generally correct use of subject terminology

D2

comprehensively explain codes and conventions of factual programmes with elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly

P3

plan and research a factual programme for television working within appropriate conventions and with some assistance

M3

plan and research a factual programme for television effectively showing some imagination and with only occasional assistance

D3

plan and research a factual programme for television to a quality that reflects near­professional standards, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations

P4

produce a factual programme for television working within appropriate conventions and with some assistance.

M4

produce a factual programme for television competently showing some imagination and with only occasional assistance.

D4

produce a factual programme for television to a technical quality that reflects near­ professional standards, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.

Project Management P1

originate, develop and research an idea for a media product working within appropriate conventions and with some assistance

M1

originate, develop and research an idea for a media product showing some imagination and with only occasional assistance

D1

originate, develop and research an idea for a media product showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations

P2

pitch a proposal for a media product with some appropriate use of subject terminology and with some assistance

M2

pitch a proposal for a media product competently with generally correct use of subject terminology and with only occasional assistance

D2

pitch a proposal for a media product to a near­ professional standard consistently using subject terminology correctly and working independently to professional expectations

P3

manage a production process to create a media product working within appropriate conventions and with some assistance.

M3

manage a production process competently to create a media product to a good technical standard, showing some imagination and with only occasional assistance

D3

manage a production process to near­professional standards to create a media product, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.

What you need to complete this assignment You will be expected to present: ● This needs to contain: ●

Important information about the assignment ∙ You need to complete each of the P tasks in order to meet the requirements for a Pass grade. ∙ You need to meet all of the Pass and Merit grade criteria to be awarded a Merit grade. ∙ You need to meet all of the Pass, Merit and Distinction grade criteria to be awarded a Distinction grade. ∙ You should check carefully over each task and look at the assessment criteria before you submit your work for assessment. ∙ If the assessor decides you need to do more work on a task then they will explain what you need to do and set a new deadline for the task. ∙ Students who perform well are those who complete tasks throughout the assessment period of this assignment rather than trying to complete the whole assignment at the end in a hurry. ∙ Remember copying work from another student, a textbook, an internet site or any other source is plagiarism. You need to sign a statement when your assignment is completed to state that your assignment is all of your own work.

References

Relevant books:

Relevant Websites: http://tallismedia.weebly.com/level-3-unit-27.html http://tallismedia12.tumblr.com/

P1, M1, D1 P2, M2, D2

Learning Outcome 1 (Factual): Understand issues relating to factual programming for television Learning Outcome 2 (Factual): Understand codes and conventions of factual programming for television Task(s): 1. Introduce Factual Issues (accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, balance, subjectivity, opinion, bias) via comparison of Bowling for Columbine & Tattooed Tears, introducing film language codes (editing, camerawork, soundtrack & mise­en­scene) as way of analysing the documentaries 2. Write up individual analysis of the 2 documentaries 3. Introduce News Conventions (presenters, news headlines, music volume/tone, studio and location shooting, mode of address to viewer, field reporters, links to studio Interviewing of experts and witnesses, actuality footage, graphics/animation) via analysis of News at 10 ­ make a popplet in groups to identify and explain the News Conventions with examples from News at 10.

4. In groups construct paragraphs that identify News Conventions, illustrate with examples from News at 10 and explain how the Factual Issues are present within TV News.

5. Write up individual analysis of News Conventions and Factual Issues using News at 10 as illustration.

6. Compare News at 10, 60 seconds & Newsround ­ in groups construct paragraphs on popplet identifying specific conventions (e.g. soundtrack, graphics/animation, presenters) and how the programmes Represent themselves differently because they have different Target Audiences 7. Write up own comparison of News at 10, 60 seconds & Newsround ­ focusing on Representation and Target Audience.

8. Documentary Conventions ­ look at expository documentary conventions using ‘The Trap’ as illustration.

In groups construct paragraphs on popplet identifying out what the main conventions of expository documentaries are, providing examples from the Trap to illustrate and comparing to Interactive (BFC) and Observational (Tattooed Tears) as explanation of how there are different modes/types of documentary 9. Write up Documentary Conventions ­ identifying and explaining the different types ­ and compare and contrast different modes/types using own choice of expository documentary and the class examples (BFC & Tattooed Tears) as illustration 10. Cut and paste all analyses in correct order into an essay format in Google Docs 11. Write an introduction to the essay ­ based on a basic writing frame generated by students in class and shared online 12. Proofread and improve essay, making sure all parts are analysed in the relevant way and to the level of detail necessary ­ Assessment for Learning in class to aid this & also provide an essay plan ­ and links to class notes on website 13. Write the conclusion to the essay ­ considering the relation between codes and conventions, representation & audience, AND the factual issues.

14. Proofread and improve essay focusing on factual issues ­ ensuring terms are regularly used whenever relevant ­ and conventions of TV New and documentaries

Learning Outcome 1 (Factual): Understand issues relating to factual programming for television Grade

Completed:

Not Completed ­ action required:

Pass

Date returned: New Date Due:

Merit Distinction Learning Outcome 2: Understand codes and conventions of factual programming for television Grade

Completed:

Pass

Not Completed ­ action required:

Date returned: New Date Due:

Merit Distinction

P3, M3, D3 P1, M1, D1

Learning Outcome 3 (Factual): Be able to plan and research a factual programme for television Learning Outcome 1 (Project Management): Be able to originate, develop and research an idea for a media product Task(s): 1. Individually generate one initial Idea each for your group’s documentary on Popplet 2. Individually carry out a SWOT analysis on popplet for your own documentary idea 3. Briefly pitch this idea to the class:

● ● ● 4.

describe what the idea is identify 1 Strength, 1 Weakness, 1 Opportunity and 1 Threat explain relevant Factual Issues for your idea As a group identify your FINAL IDEA and produce a detailed SWOT analysis and a paragraph justifying why you chose this idea over the others 5. Develop your Programme Concept ­ What is you documentary about? Identify the point of view/opinion of your documentary. Explain if it is it biased or balanced, and why? Talk about the FACTUAL ISSUES. 6. Provide a detailed definition of Target Audience (CARGEL, SOC, psychographics...) and why your documentary will appeal to your audience (Uses & Gratifications) 7. Detailed Secondary Research ­ Who will your Interviewees be? What archive footage could you include?

What relevant facts and figures could you include?

8. Develop Interview Questions ­ differentiate these for different interviewees ­ i.e. you will ask different interviewees different questions 9. Primary Research ­ VIDEO some interviews in the studio and on location ­ as research into what your interviewees know about your topic, and whether they will be good interviewees, and as research into your skills ­ with the camera, with mics... etcetera. This will act as practice for your final interviews and as a way of gathering useful primary research/information. Once filmed and edited (briefly) review/evaluate the interview.

10. Secondary Research ­ Gather audience figures for factual TV viewer watching patterns on BARB (researching competitors and the market for documentaries) for C4, BBC & ITV 11. CONSTRAINTS ­ Costs, Time, Personnel, Resources. LEGAL & ETHICAL 12. Planning ­ Location recce, Gantt chart, Interview schedule, Risk assessment, Shooting script, Photo storyboard, Budget, Equipment Bookings, Permission/Release forms, Contact lists, Call sheets

Grade

Completed:

Not Completed ­ action required:

Pass

Date returned: New Date Due:

Merit Distinction

P2, M2, D2

Learning Outcome 2 (Project Management): Be able to pitch a proposal for a media product Task(s): 1. PROPOSAL ­ Develop all your planning and research into a detailed proposal (using Prezi, Keynote, Powerpoint...) specifying: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Your programme concept (i.e. the outline of your documentary). What is you documentary about? Identify the point of view/opinion of your documentary. Explain if it is it biased or balanced, and why? Talk about the FACTUAL ISSUES. Target audience ­ and why your documentary will appeal to your audience Your Secondary Research into YOUR TOPIC present what you have found out ­ and how this has given you ideas or shows the development of your ideas Your Interview Questions ­ making the point not all interviewees will be asked the same and why...

Your Primary Research ­ your VIDEO interviews ­ edited and (briefly) reviewed/evaluated Secondary Research into audience viewing figures for factual programmes ­ and the conclusions you have drawn from these figures Resources needed (cameras, mics etc) AND personnel requirements ­ interviewees and crew (camera, sound, interviewer(s), who will organise interview locations and interviewee appointments/schedule?)

Constraints ­ Costs, Time, Personnel, Resources. LEGAL & ETHICAL Project schedule ­ gantt chart

2. PITCH ­ plan your presentation and present your pitch to the class: ●

your pitch is the presentation of your proposal

● ● ●

all group members must participate in some way formal presentation (you are marked on this) but lively and animated (your presentations and you) make your presentation as you wish ­ PowerPoint, Prezzi, Popplet, Keynote...

● ● ●

preparation of the materials for your pitch are important it is also important that you rehearse of pitch; so that the delivery of your pitch is the best you can make it ­ not just reading out your proposal, but presenting it in a professional manner

Grade

Completed:

Not Completed ­ action required:

Pass

Date returned: New Date Due:

Merit Distinction

P4, M4, D4 P3, M3, D3

Learning Outcome 4 (Factual): Be able to produce a factual programme for television.

Learning Outcome 3 (Project Management): Be able to manage a production process to create a media product Task(s): Factual Production: ● ● ● ● ● ●

filming of ­ general views, interviews, cutaways/actuality footage film interviews in either the studio and/or shoot on location during filming record the soundtrack (ambient sound/wild track, interviews) after filming record in the studio your scripted voice over(s) source music to be used on your documentary creating graphics and on­screen text

Post­Production: Editing should be used to: ● ● ●

create the narrative get across your meaning and opinion illustrate your topic (remember the images are used to illustrate the voice over) with archive footage you have sourced online or with actuality footage you have filmed

Project Management Planning & Production management: ●

●

● ● ●

Grade

keep a record of regular team meetings to monitor and review the production process ­ meet and keep a record of your meetings at the beginning of each lesson ­ these need a written agenda and you need to keep minutes; keep to proposed schedule and deadlines ­ if any problems arise during filming, such as equipment booking and problems with interviewees appointments... you need to keep a record of this on your production log/team meetings with notes regarding backup/contingency plans for resources, personnel (crew & cast) and logistics (organising filming and interviews and resources are available when needed) team and individual performance ­ your log should be a truthful account of the performance of your team as a whole and your team members log your equipment booking and use the call sheets, all permission forms for locations and interviewees should be filled out and signed during filming your log and team meetings should show that you are monitoring the quality of your filming and editing (i.e. you may choose to re­film and repeat interviews, or review and improve your editing and soundtrack) in order that your documentary is the highest quality it should be

Completed:

Not Completed ­ action required:

Pass

Date returned: New Date Due:

Merit Distinction

Important information about the assignment

● ● ● ● ●

You will be marked on each task, But you need to evaluate and review the project at the end in order to determine P,M or D grades You need to complete each of the P tasks in order to meet the requirements for a Pass grade.

You should check carefully over each task and look at the assessment criteria before you submit your work for assessment.

If the assessor decides you need to do more work on a task then they will explain what you need to do and set a new deadline for the task.

Students who perform well are those who complete tasks throughout the assessment period of this assignment rather than trying to complete the whole assignment at the end in a hurry!

Remember copying work from another student, a textbook, an Internet site or any other source is plagiarism. You need to sign a statement when your assignment is completed to state that your assignment is all of your own work!