Pre Production Paperwork - Conception and constraints

As you are working through the list to define what each bit means, be aware of how they link together. For example, take the main examples of visualisation -

• Storyboard 
• Shotlist 

Here is a Storyboard introduction and an example form the film Cloverfieldare useful. If we consider the,  last storyboard, we may generate a shot list that lists all the shots we need to capture that - it may just consist of "establishing shot panning up building". However, compositing is involved, so there are a number of shots to be completed and added together to produce that final shot - so we would also need "long shot of woman, panning up". Our final shot list would be a numbered of all the shots we need to get.

This is all very well, but then we start to look at out constants.

• Budget
• Equipment List
• Travel Details
• Clearances & copyright (intellectual property)
• Codes of practice and regulation. 
  

We can't afford to build a collapsed building... however, the company opted for Green screening, which although cheaper, still involves a budget. Our current budget is too small even for that, so may just involve a rewrite of the script to add a shot of a character looking up in shock and exclaiming that the building has fallen over.

If we don't have the budget to get access to the equipment, we need to re consider how we are going to redesign the storyboard to cope with this change. Planning what location we are going to film in is based on the budget we have. By being aware of how all these processes link, we can consider options right from the start. And remember, budgets can go up as well as down...

 As you research all these tasks, please bear in mind you are explaining and finding examples. So...

Clearances & copyright (intellectual property) relates to the copyright on anything you may be using in your production that has been made by anyone else. The main issue is Music - you cannot just use a piece of music - you need to get clearance. This can be done by either asking the writer and publisher (and anyone else who may have a copyright on the piece.) It is far easier to find music where the artist has given permission to use the work - such as Creative Commons. This is the same for other video, images, logos or anything else designed.

Codes of practice and regulation relates to what you are legally allowed to do. If you are broadcasting on the BBC, they have a set of guidelines. They are also covered by Ofcoms legal Broadcasting code to cover what can legally be broadcast. It is a good idea to be aware of this for online video work too, as this will probably be brought under the same guidance at some point.

Again, both of these constraints effect how you are going to create your film. As you work through all these tasks, make sure you are able to explain what they mean and be sure to find examples of how they can effect your planning.

Flow of information 1

We have links to all the media coverage of these major events here on Blackboard for you to look at. You need to select one of these as media coverage of a major event.

You need to define Qualitative, Quantitative, Primary and Secondary in your blog.

Then, talk about the primary research you have selected - What is it? Is it reliable? How is it classified?

Question the research - how accurate do you think it is?

Group Splits!

Group A
Amy Lewis
Alex Bently
Jessica Bowers
Adam Butt
Lancelot Goddard
Stephen Hewton
James Philpott
Charles Oxford
John Peeke
Gemma Richards
Robert Windows
James Morris

Group B
Emma Baker
Jamie Blake
Adam Snook
Dan Clarke
James Greene
Joe Lambard
Sophie Matthews-Morley
Sarah Morgan
Shanon Slade
Shaun Sykes
Harley Williams

Initial Assessment

You will need to do a short assessment in English. This is to gauge what level you are at, so we can see if you need any extra help.

So, you will need to get onto the system - if you are on a MAc, log in via RDC. Then -
Click on ‘Start’
then ‘all programmes’
then ‘online exams’
then ‘BKSB Initial Assessments’
then ‘Initial Assessment’
then ‘BKSB Initial Assessment’.

Log in with you name, and where it says 'Reference' put your student ID.
You will need to do the 'Dyslexia Checklist', and then onto 'Maths and English' assessments. Follow the links to 'Quick Checks' and then 'Self Assessment'.

Once you have completed the 'English' test, click on 'results' and print out a copy to give to me.

Please note, if something goes wrong I will ask you to do this in your own time - these results are important!

Lights, Camera, Action! Groups

The groups are as follows - Don't worry about the A/B split, as most of your sessions won't be split.

Group 1: James Philpott, Alex Bentley, Gemma Richards, Shannon Slade
Group 2: Jessica Bowers, Jamie Blake, Charles Oxford, Adam Butt
Group 3: John Peeke, Sophie Matthews - Morris, James Morris, Shaun Sykes
Group 4: Emma Baker, Adam Snook, Stephen Hewton, James Greene
Group 5: Rob Windows, Joe Lambard, Lance Goddard, Amy Lewis
Group 6: Dan Clarke, Jordan Robinson, Sara Morgan, Harley Williams.

Please tell me which scene you are planning to do by commenting below.

Lights, Camera, Action!

The first big task in Lights, Camera Action is to copy one of the following scenes. In case you don't have a hard drive just yet, here are the files so you can look at them at home.

Fargo - Bad reception
Fargo - Stressed
Fargo - Something Unsaid
For a Few Dollars More - When the music Stops
Hot Fuzz - Perfect Accent
Raiders of the lost Ark - Drinking Game
Shaun of the Dead - Girl in the garden
Sherlock Holmes - It's not a date.

Copying scenes or films is called Swedeing. You make every attempt to copy the elements of the film, but you do not have to be completely accurate - you can dress the set differently, even cast it differently. You just need to keep the dialogue the same, and copy the camera movement and framing as closely as you can.

And a year has gone past...

Just under a year, and we are back to Burying the past. It is a new cohort, but the same script - let's see what they can do with it!

Everyone will be back next week, and should have complete Pre Production folders. After that, there is a 1 week filming window - Tuesday to Friday - where everyone is off timetable as of 2.15 on the Monday. We will be around, but you will need to be filming!