Tutors Summary

Well done Rachel and thank you for taking part in this years BFI Film Academy. This blog covers a true reflection of what you achieved.  Your cinematography skills added an extra depth to the film and as the production week progressed you seemed a lot more comfortable around the kit. You really picked up on editing very quickly and seemed you were a natural at it. You also had involvement in the musical composition for the film.

You can find a rough copy of the film here:

https://vimeo.com/148244026

(A password for the film has been sent to you via an email)



Please do not share this yet on social media as this is still only a rough cut but feel free to show universities and other organisations or add it to your showreel.



Wishing you great success for the future

Spencer Whalen
MediaActive

1.1 - Outline the Culture of the film industry

What do you know about the working culture of the film industry?

• The working culture of the film industry involves a large team of people that cover specific jobs. This team combine their specific roles to create departments, that combine to make the general team. in each department, there are smaller groups working on specific projects, for example in an art department, there are specific groups, such as concept art or set design. This group have a general project but their individual jobs all combine.

• Also, the working culture has to be to a deadlines. This must happen, not only to have a general deadline, but also to have each section of the film, from pre production, to post production, work to a deadline. The deadline effects the time taken to create the film itself, but also effects the budget for the film. This relates to the high pressured intense environment on a film, that is all fuelled by the budget and little time given to do a great deal. This amount of pressure can create a very busy and stressful environment of a film, which is why communication and teamwork is vital for a production to be successful. This tight amount of time leads to long hours of intense work, that is full on and tiring, but indicates how much effort and enthusiasm is needed to produce a film.

• Also, it is unlikely that the crew will be working close to home, so location shooting and working in film studios requires a lot of travel and moving around the country, or even the world. Film locations could be anywhere, from Rainforest to City, so Film crews move around a lot.

• Also, working in film is a very flexible job. Crew could be needed at short notice for varying amounts of time, so being flexible and willing to drop everything at short notice is vital for working in film. Also freelance work is common so working without a team and managing yourself is a useful skill to have. Finally, working in a film does not guarantee a permanent contract. Contracts only last the months that you work on the film, so its important to grab all opportunities and work on a variety of projects.

What qualities do you need to work in the film industry?

To work in a film industry, you need to have initiative and make logical decisions. when faced with dilemmas or difficulty, you will need to make rational and logical choices that ensure that the deadline is met, though not compromising the quality of the production. 

• Getting along with people will also improve your communication which is vital in every area on a film set. If teamwork fails, the qualities and communication of the film will also decrease, leading to the process being unenjoyable, and also giving you a bad reputation for future work. Being determined is also important, as many things on film sets don't go to plan. being determined also helps you to show your enthusiasm for the project and encourage a productive and happy team. This also links with the importance of being prepared to fail, and retrying things if they don't go to plan. Having a rethink and trying a different approach could improve the quality of the film and knowledge. 
  Confidence is also vital, as if you lack confidence in your area, others will doubt your ability too. Having confidence can also improve your work, and encourage others to let you take some lead, as they will know you are capable. 
  Being organised is important, as managing time will indicate how well you work under the deadline and how enthusiastic and prepared you are. There is a fair amount of work to do, so if you don't manage time well, the overall production progress could be slowed due to lack of organisation. 
  
  Having a flexible attitude will help to run a production, as thing will often not work out perfectly and time is short, so working around a schedule will often require changes and a positive attitude. Being a team player is also vital, as the whole production will revolve around communication and working in groups, which runs best in a positive and friendly atmosphere.
  Listening to others also indicates how people view you in the team. If you are not interested in other's ideas, people are not likely to be interested in yours, and will lack respect for you and your ideas. By listening to others, you can understand the project better and be more involved with ideas and plans, however, it is important that you are respected and listened to too.
  
  
  Working in high pressure and short deadlines, will also be common, and being on the ball and willing to work unusual hours in intense time will show your commitment to the film, that will enable you to work well in the high pressure environment. The timescale for each part of the project will be effected by how quickly the crew works as a team, and efficiency will allow for more quality and less money to be spent.

1.2 - Identify Time Management Skills

Why is time management important in the film industry?

Firstly, time management is vital as there are constantly deadlines to meet. these deadlines indicate when the next stage of the film production can continue. this means that if deadlines are not met, the next stage of the production cannot continue and this slows the whole schedule of the film production. also, each member of the crew have specific jobs, that connect to the wider group. This means that you are relied upon to complete our job, and could be letting down other areas if you don't work to the set timescales. This also means that other areas of the team may not be able to complete their jobs if you haven't, leading to a constant fallback on the production schedule.

Also, overrunning schedules and deadlines, means that more money needs to be spent. This could be from renting and using equipment, to using locations or actors. ultimately, this means that money is lost to poor time management, impacting you and the production negatively over time. This also means that if extra budget spending is in your name, it could put other productions off from using you, as they want to save as much money as possible.
Weather and daylight could also effect the time you can spend filming, which can impact the cost spent on running the production. Planning the times filming, based on daylight and weather reports shows efficiency and could also save money on time spent filming, and also time hiring and using equipment and actors.

Finally, it is common in film production to be working on various jobs in the team, so being organised in where you need to be for each job at set times, ensures that you don't let people down, and you can work using maximum effort for each job you do. being organised and focusing in the deadlines ensures you can create a quality job for each task you do, without using up costs and time, that could be spent improving the film.

Give at least 4 examples of good time management skills

self discipline is really useful in time management, as it allows you to set personal deadlines and control the amount of work done. this also means that planning how long you spend on tasks and how long you have to do it, controls your concentration and effort, meaning that the task can be done with greater quality. Being self disciplined also shows employers that you are enthusiastic and hard working, as you show organisation and willingness to finish tasks.

Also, being punctual is important, as it links into organisation and enthusiasm. This also means that a set amount of time can be spent on specific projects, and being on time means this set time can be fully used, and no valuable time will be wasted. Being punctual also helps when working in a team, as being late can often lead to missing important announcements or deadline updates.

Using call sheets and schedules, is another way to manage time well. call sheets allow you to understand where you need to be, at what time, and doing what task, which is vital to keeping to deadlines and tasks. schedules also assist in keeping track of progress and finishing tasks and projects. this also means that preparation can be made, as schedules may show upcoming projects and tasks, that need further planning and reviewing. by keeping to schedules and call sheets, you can ensure that you are on track and have time to finish each project, as well as being prepared for future projects.

To do lists are also a useful way to manage time, as creating a physical list will always reveal each individual task, whereas mental lists often leads to ignoring tasks and forgetting. Lists also mean that you can tick off tasks that are finished and show what you still need to do, so you will always be sure of the work that has to be done. By putting deadlines next to the tasks, you can prioritise the nearer tasks and organise the order of tasks that need to be done. this technique is a great way to plan the day and manage time effectively.

Preparation and planning allows future tasks to be planned, meaning that you are more organised and prepared when it comes to doing the task. this could mean gathering information, research, materials or instructions, ready for when it comes to doing the task, so when it comes to the deadline, more time can be taken perfecting the project and ensuring it is of the best quality. planning also helps to uncover any mistakes or queries in the process, meaning that problems can be resolved and when it comes to the task, especially filming, no time can be wasted fixing issues, and instead the time can be fully used and the filming isn't rushed, which could effect the quality of the film. 

1.3 - Describe the key aspects of health and safety when working on film productions

What needs to be considered in terms of health and safety when working on a film production?

when working on a film production, risk assessments ensure that the crew are aware of the various dangers on set, and how to remove dangers when they occur. Risk assessments also contain instructions on what to do when emergencies such as a fire could happen, and how to stay as safe as possible around the equipment. 

Accident reporting is considered when working in a production, as recording what injuries and accidents occur, can help to consider how to make the area safer, and to record accidents that are unusual or could have been prevented.

The use of lighting also needs to be considered in terms of health and safety, as lighting requires a large amount of electrics, that are potentially dangerous. Also, industrial lights can also create heat, that could cause burn the operators, so they must be made as safe as possible, and the operators must be made aware of these dangers.

Rigging and de-rigging must also be considered. Also, as the huge amount of wires and cables increase the risk of falling, and if the equipment is unsafe, this could cause major injury. by making the crew aware of these risks, and using a safe method to rig and de-rig the set, the risk of injury can be reduced, making the working environment much safer.

Stunt teams on film sets also have a dangerous job, so ensuring they are carrying out stunts safely, ensure that there is much less chance of them getting hurt. Stunt men and women must undergo safety training and potential risk briefings before they can carry out the stunts professionally. By making sure stunt teams have the correct training and experience, they can carry out their jobs safely, with reduced chance of injury.

Film crews work long hours, doing intensive work, so people become tired and unfit to work. Making sure that the crew are safe to work is vital, as tiredness often leads to mistakes being made, that could be dangerous. Stopping people who are unsafe to work, make the environment safer and also stops additional crew from being put in danger. This also links to crew members who opperate heavy machinery, as tiredness means they may not have the strength or concentration to control the machinery safely, putting others at risk. By removing these dangers, the set becomes much safer, and reduces the risk of accidents.

What can be put in place to ensure health and safety risks are minimised?

Firstly, risk assessments can be used, so crew members have been made aware of potential dangers of the set, and are also aware of what to do if they feel unsafe. Risk assessments also ensure that all risks have been covered, and things on set can be checked to make sure that they are safe to operate. 

Also, putting breaks throughout the day, ensures that crew members do not become tired, putting their safety at risk. people operating heavy equipment can rest and recover strength, and others can restore their energy, reducing the chances of them making mistakes. 

Having accident reports can aid in reporting injuries, and help to remove the chance of specific injuries happening again. 

Also, having a schedule, allows all members of the crew to have a set timetable, so they know where they should be at what time. this makes sure that all members of the crew understand what is going on when, and can see on a schedule, which tasks could be dangerous. 

Having first aiders on set can reduce safety risks, as injury's can be treated as quickly as possible, and trained professionals can treat the injury correctly, minimising damage. safety equipment can also help to keep crew safe, and reduce risk of injury. Equipment such as safety harnesses, hard hats, and face masks, can ensure that risk to health is minimised. 

Finally, checking the equipment regularly, can make sure that there are no faults, and the equipment is safe to use. Equipment must be tested before use, but checking regularly, will make sure there are no problems and the equipment is safe.

Upload an example of a risk assessment that would have been used in the production week.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2XVx26MXnFZWndJUkJ5UUdRbDg/view?usp=sharing

1.4 - Explain how regulations may affect the use of copyright materials

How do regulations affect the use of copyright materials?

When working in film production, it is important to be aware of the copyright legislation, because using materials that are copyrighted, is illegal, and cannot be used in your film production, unless you own or have gained the rights. By making sure that your production does not use any copyright materials, ensures that your production is within the rights of the law.

The Copyright and Patents Act 1988 gives the protection and original rights of use and distribution of the materials of the creator, until 70 years after their death, giving the creator original credit to their invention and compensation for the illegal use of their product .  It can be Literary, Musical, Art, published editions, Sound or film, and removes the right of others to use this material or idea in their own productions without consent.

copyright law : The Copyright and Patents Act 1988
https://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law

the copyright law has been put in place to ensure that the original creator, receives full credit and recognition for their work, and their ideas and designs are not reused without their permission. By having this copyright law in place, the creator is assured that they can protect their designs, and be given official security that their creation cannot be reused without consent.

1.5 - Identify materials that may be subject to copyright

What materials may be subject to copyright?

Literary materials may be subject to copyright. Materials such as lyrics, manuscripts, documents or articles, contain ideas and concepts that make the materials unique in creation, meaning that these original ideas could be copied or reused. By copyrighting these materials, the concepts and ideas can be protected, stopping them from being reused.

Materials such as Plays and choreography, are also original ideas that can be protected by copyright, to ensure that the original creator is given full credit for their ideas.

Musical materials, such as recordings and scores, can be copyrighted to protect the sound used, such as soundtracks and sound effects, as musical composition and sound recordings are original creations that have to be made specifically for the production.

Artistic materials, such as photographs, paintings, architecture, technical drawings, maps or logos, can all be copyrighted, as these artistic materials have all been created by a designer or artist, and these creators all deserve the original recognition for their designs. This also ensures that their styles, ideas and designs are all protected and cannot be reused without permission.

Published editions, like magazines and articles, can also be copyrighted, as they contain original documents, but also designs, fonts, layouts and photographs, that all need recognition and protection from illegal misuse.  A magazine can contain anything from photography, recipes or narratives, meaning the original creators have put their work into the magazine, and copyright laws can protect their individual materials.

Sound recordings are sometimes individually created for the purpose of being resold to others, who want to use these sounds. By having a copyright law in place, these recordings can be protected from being used for free, and from being distributed without the creator's permission.

Finally, Film materials, such as broadcasts and programmes, contain original ideas and designs, such as plots, characters, and settings, that all can be protected by copyright, so the original concept can be protected from illegal use of these materials.

How has copyright regulation affected your film production?

Copyright has affected the use of materials on our production: To follow the copyright regulation, we have had to create original content for every aspect of the film, including design, script and sound. We have used ideas from folk tales and have created an original script, basing characters from folk tales, from over 70 years ago, making the story, by copyright law, legal to use. If we needed to used sound that had been already created, we could use free legal sites such as freesound.org, but we have created new materials and sound effects. Designs and style has also been invented, as copying designs that already exist is against Artistic material copyright law.

2.1 – 2.2 - Identify Key job roles and responsibilities in the film industry and describe the structure and interrelationship of the production department

Outline the key job roles on a film production

• The role of a producer is to oversea the whole film, and make sure that each part of the production runs smoothly, and is delivered to cinemas.
• The role of a director is to oversea the style and qualities of the film, and suit their image. The director makes sure that the narrative of the film is told correctly, and that all elements of the film are brought together.
• The role of the writer is to create the ideas and plot to the film, and them, with a team create a script and storyboard, detailed enough to work from in film production.
• The role of the director of photography is to use light and camera technique to visually tell the story, incorporating the visual viewing and the narrative itself.
• The role of the sound designers are to provide the film with audio, that emphasises the narrative and completes the effect of the film.
• The role of a production designer is to use props, sets and costume to create the visual impression set by the director, producer, and the writer. The production designer supervises all areas of the creative team, making sure the same vision is being followed.
• The role of the editors is to use all of the raw footage used on the film production and style it to suit the narrative and visual ideas set by the producer, writer and director. Sound and visual effects are also managed at the editing stage.
• The role of the actors is to bring the visual ideas to life, re-telling the narrative visually and also by using sound ( vital for voice actors in animation ). Stunt and size doubles are also used to create the character where the actor cannot.
• The backers are responsible for providing the finance for the production, they rely on making a profit after the film is made and makes money. 

Create a flowchart or mind map of how these roles interrelate

FILM PRODUCTION FLOWCHART

How have the different roles interrelated during your production?

Predominantly, the Director, Producer and the Writer have worked together in all three areas of the production process, as the whole process, from script writing, to overseeing the editing in post production, as they have the overall visual ideas, that shape the whole production. The production designer would also work with the effects team and art department, as they oversea the visually creative aspects of the film. These groups will mostly work in the production stage, but animators and effects groups will also work in the post production stage.
 The actors would also work with the art department for prosthetics, makeup and costume, but whilst acting, will communicate with the director, as they are responsible for creating the visual image to follow the narrative, and work in the pre production stage, for casting and learning scripts, but mostly are needed in production, or post production for pick up shots.

In the pre production stage, the writer, producer and director are involved in creating ideas, a script and a story board. as well as this, there team will be creating a schedule for production, and forming a cast and crew to work of production and post production. There will also be location and time management plans.

At the production stage, the footage is filmed and animations created, that involve a timed shoot and schedule. Due to location, the cast and crew will stop in the locations or film studios.

In post production, the raw footage and animation is taken and edited, combining the effects and live action shots. The editing team create the final feature, to the satisfaction of the director, ready for viewing.


Throughout the BFI production i have worked in the art, camera, and sound groups. When working in the art group, we created a colour scheme, and made illustrations that where 2D for the animation, and also 3D structures, such as the bell tower structure, and the 3D pop-up book structures that where filmed by the live action group. In the camera group, we worked to make interesting shots and time lapses that would be used as raw materials when editing. I also worked in the sound group, recording and playing instruments that reflect certain aspects, emotions and scenes in the production.