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BTEC Level Three
Diploma in
Creative Media Production
Year 12
Unit 2: Communication Skills for Creative Media Production
Unit 3: Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries
Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques
Name: ...................................................................................................
Deadline: ...................................................................................................
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THE COURSE
Welcome to the BTEC National Diploma in Creative Media Production. You will find this a
practical, work-related course on which you will learn by completing projects and
assignments based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands.
We aim to help you to develop your creative and technical skills, as well as helping you to
gain an understanding of the underlying theory of digital media production. In addition to
learning about the employment area you have chosen, you will develop the skills needed to
start a career in the media industry.
To do this, you will be required to produce a portfolio of practical productions supported by
paperwork and theoretical research. To be successful in doing this, you will have to work
both independently and within groups in a professional manner, showing yourself to be
organised, resourceful, reliable, committed and being capable of meeting strict deadlines.
We hope that you will benefit from this challenging, yet rewarding course and that it will
lead to you continuing your studies or eventually finding a job in the media industry.
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YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
You are expected to treat all equipment and accommodation with care.
You are NOT allowed to bring food, drink or chewing gum into work areas.
You may NOT use mobile phones while you are working, unless otherwise instructed.
NEVER allow other students or friends to use equipment booked out to you, and do not
leave equipment unattended at any time. If it is damaged, lost or stolen, it is YOUR
responsibility!
If you experience any problems with equipment, ask for help from your teacher. Do not try
to repair equipment yourself.
Please remember
It is your responsibility to back up your work onto a memory stick at the end of every lesson. You
are responsible for saving your work to the hard drive of the computer and the safekeeping of your
original material. Please remember to take your memory stick at the end of every session, and only
use the memory stick to transport work. You must provide a folder for each unit and bring it to
every lesson. You will also be introduced to a referencing system to allow you to produce
comprehensive bibliographies of the materials you have used in your study.
How to contact your teacher…
Telephone: 020 8498 1300
Blog: https://zcmediastudies.wordpress.com
Google Mail: zchristodoulou.317@kingsolomonhigh.com
Twitter: @ZCMediaStudies
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Unit 2: Communication Skills for Creative Media Production
Unit Introduction
The aim of this unit is to ensure that you are able to communicate effectively in creative
media production contexts in writing and orally.
This unit aims to improve your functional communication skills. The unit not only relates to
wider communication skills as a whole, which are an essential part of everyday life, but
also specifically targets skills that you can expect to use on a regular basis within the
creative media sector, such as pitching ideas, writing proposals and constructing reports.
You will, therefore, develop your ability to communicate your thoughts and ideas through
pitches, proposals and reports to a range of audiences using appropriate modes of address
and forms of technology. You will also develop skills in checking and proof-reading written
materials.
Through this unit, you will learn how to select from and summarise information gained
from sources when conducting research for assignments or productions.
Learning Outcomes
1. Be able to extract information from written sources.
2. Be able to create a report in a media production context.
3. Be able to pitch a media production proposal using appropriate technology.
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Unit 3: Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries
Unit Introduction
The aim of this unit is to develop understanding of and skills in research relevant to
creative media production. You will present your findings in both written and oral forms and
will learn how to cite and reference your sources.
Research is fundamental to all aspects of creative media production and is the essential
starting point for productions of any scale. It can be used to determine the financial
viability of a future production, to gather a range of information relevant to the content of
the production, or to assist with the planning of technical and logistical requirements.
There are also media companies that conduct extensive research using a range of
sophisticated methods to gather data about audience consumption of media products and
services. This has become increasingly necessary in the highly mixed and competitive
environment media industries operate in. Learners who are looking for a job that requires
research skills might consider employment in a research agency, or in pre-preproduction
for radio, television or film, whilst a knowledge and understanding of research techniques is
vital in a number of roles in advertising and marketing. They are also, of course, important
in journalism. However, some ability to undertake research is essential for anyone working
in the media industries.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the nature and purpose of research in the creative media industries.
2. Be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques.
3. Be able to present results of research.
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Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques
Unit Introduction
With the introduction of more television channels, some specifically dedicated to drama,
the single camera drama production has become very popular with broadcasters and
audiences. This means that there should be more opportunities for people with skills in
single camera techniques to gain employment in this sector. This might be in terms of
technical skills in production or creative skills in developing ideas into production.
This unit aims to give you an opportunity to use production skills, already gained from
previous units, and develop them further to create a production using single camera
techniques. There is also the opportunity to explore existing single camera productions.
This will help you to think about, plan and produce your own productions. As part of this
exploration, you will investigate the use of camera scripts and storyboards as tools of
storytelling.
You will develop the organisational skills required for the planning and implementation of a
single camera drama production and will identify key production roles and take on one or
more of these roles during your own production. Set design, cinematography, lighting, use
of sound and editing techniques will all be part of the skills that you develop through
following this unit. Health and safety issues will also be addressed in both location and
studio shoots, with you producing risk assessments prior to any production work.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the features of single camera production.
2. Be able to plan a single camera production.
3. Be able to apply single camera techniques in a production.
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Assessment Criteria for Unit 2:
Communication Skills for Creative Media Production
P1 Use appropriate techniques
to extract relevant information
from written sources
M1 Use appropriate techniques
to extract information from
written sources with some
precision
D1 Use appropriate techniques
to extract comprehensive
information from written
sources
P2 Present a media production
report which conveys
relevant information
M2 Present a structured and
detailed media production
report which conveys
information and explains
conclusions with clarity
D2 Present a well-structured
and substantial media
production report which
conveys information with
precise exemplification and
justifies conclusions with
supporting arguments
P3 Review reports to make
changes with occasional
beneficial effects
M3 Review reports to make
changes with frequent
beneficial effects
D3 Review reports to make
changes with consistently
beneficial effects
P4 Deploy and manage
appropriate technology to pitch
a media production proposal
M4 Deploy and manage
technology to pitch a media
production proposal effectively
and with some imagination
D4 Deploy and manage
technology to pitch a media
production proposal with
creativity and flair and to near-
professional standards
P5 Employ appropriate forms
of address in a media
production pitch to
communicate ideas.
M5 Employ forms of address in
a media production pitch to
communicate ideas effectively
D5 Employ forms of address in
a media production pitch with
flair to communicate ideas with
impact
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Assessment Criteria for Unit 3:
Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries
P1 Describe the nature and
purposes of research in the
creative media industries with
some appropriate use of
subject terminology
M1 Explain the nature and
purposes of research in the
creative media industries with
detailed illustrative examples
and with generally correct use
of subject terminology
D1 Comprehensively explain
the nature and purposes of
research in the creative media
industries with elucidated
examples and consistently
using subject terminology
correctly
P2 Apply research methods
and techniques with some
assistance
M2 Apply research methods
and techniques competently
with only occasional assistance
D2 Apply research methods
and techniques to near-
professional standards working
independently to professional
expectations
P3 Present results of research
M3 Present results of research
competently
D3 Present results of research
to near-professional standards
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Assessment Criteria for Unit 22:
Single Camera Techniques
P1 Describe the features of
single camera production with
some appropriate use of
subject terminology
M1 Explain the features of
single camera production with
reference to detailed illustrative
examples and with generally
correct use of subject
terminology
D1 Comprehensively explain
the features of single camera
production with reference to
elucidated examples and
consistently using subject
terminology correctly
P2 Generate outline plans for a
single camera production
working within appropriate
conventions and with some
assistance
M2 Generate detailed ideas for
a single camera production
showing some imagination and
with only occasional assistance
D2 Generate thoroughly
thought-through ideas for a
single camera production
showing creativity and flair and
working independently to
professional expectations
P3 Produce a single camera
production working within
appropriate conventions and
with some assistance
M3 Produce a single camera
production to a good technical
standard showing some
imagination and with only
occasional assistance
D3 Produce a single camera
production to a technical
quality that reflects near-
professional standards showing
creativity and flair and working
independently to professional
expectations
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THE BRIEF
Your production company has recently finished the rough cut of three new horror films
entitled Anathema, Blood is Thicker and The Devil’s Playground, which are due to be
released on Friday 13th
October, Halloween night and on Christmas Eve, respectively.
Your job is to pick one of the films and create a tantalising theatrical trailer that will make
up the main part of the marketing strategies for the chosen movie.
The trailer must be approximately two-and-a-half minutes in length, and should include all
of the conventional elements of a film trailer.
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TASKS
TASK ONE
(Unit 3 = P1 M1 D1)
Create a slideshow that demonstrates your understanding of the nature and purpose of
research. Include some illustrative examples for each explanation, as well as an evaluation.
Things to consider:
Types of research (quantitative; qualitative); methods of research (primary;
secondary); purpose of research (audience demographics; psychographics; market
competition, advertising placement; production viability; costs; technological resources).
TASK TWO
(Unit 3 = P2 M2 D2; P3 M3 D3) (Unit 22 = P1 M1 D1)
Create a report that, firstly, discusses the features of single camera techniques, followed by
an analysis of the features of The Mist (2007) and Quarantine (2008).
Things to consider:
Pros/cons of single camera; genre; narrative (linear / non-linear; open-ended /
closed; single strand / multi-strand); technical elements (camerawork; editing; mise-en-
scene; sound).
TASK THREE
(Unit 3 = P2 M2 D2; P3 M3 D3) (Unit 22 = P1 M1 D1)
Create a report that explains, with examples, the conventions of theatrical [movie] trailers.
Things to consider:
Identifiable title; company logos; music and other sound; age certification; social
media information; credits; release date.
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TASK FOUR
(Unit 2 = P1 M1 D1) (Unit 3 = P2 M2 D2; P3 M3 D3)
Carry out primary research into your chosen project via audience surveys.
The findings of this research should be collated and summarised via an illustrative
slideshow. All surveys, records, bibliographies and other notes must be kept and filed
appropriately in your portfolio.
Things to consider: (Demographic details; audience opinions; psychographic
details)
TASK FIVE (A)
(Unit 22 = P2 M2 D2)
You must now plan, design and undertake the following pre-production documentation, in
preparation for the recording of your trailer:
i. Production schedule (on-going)
ii. Treatment (see task 5b)
iii. Budget
iv. Script
v. Storyboard
vi. Location scout form(s)
vii. Site plan(s)
viii. Risk assessment(s)
ix. Location release form(s)
x. Talent release forms(s)
xi. Shooting schedules
xii. Call sheets
As a group, you must keep a weekly record of minutes of meetings, which will illustrate
your progress as a group.
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TASK FIVE (B)
(Unit 2 = P2 M2 D2; P3 M3 D3; P4 M4 D4; P5 M5 D5)
Once the treatment and budget have been completed, your production groups will present
an in-depth account of the ideas for the production, using the treatment as a guide. There
should be an accompanying slideshow for visual aid.
Please note that these presentations will be recorded for examination purposes.
Things to consider:
Pitch communication (appropriate tone, eye contact, open communication); slideshow
(clear fonts and images, legible text).
TASK SIX
(22 = P3 M3 D3)
Using the ideas and pre-production documents that you have created, you must now begin
filming and editing your trailer.
All group members must contribute to the filming, direction and editing of the video.
Ensure that you log the recorded [raw] footage via an Edit Decision List.
Things to consider:
Purpose of video; target audience; continuity; variety of shot types / angles /
movements.
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RECOMMENDED READING
Key:
Author (year), Title (edition), Publisher.
International Standard Book Number
Branston and Stafford (2010) The Media Student’s Book (fifth edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-55842-6
Cherry B (2009), Horror: Routledge Film Guidebooks, Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-45668-5
Connell B (2010), Exploring the Media: Text, Industry, Audience (second edition), Auteur.
ISBN: 978-1-906-73347-6
Lacey N (2002), Media Institutions and Audiences: Key Concepts in Media Studies, Palgrave.
ISBN: 0-333-65870-1
Long P and Wall T (2009) Media Studies: Texts, Production and Context, Pearson Education.
ISBN: 978-1-405-85847-2
Turow J (2011), Media Today (fourth edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-87608-7
Film4 – www.film4.com/special-features/top-lists/top-50-horror-films
Short of the Week – www.shortoftheweek.com/channels/horror
The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media – www.creativeskillset.org
Time Out (London) – www.timeout.com/london/film/best-horror-films
We Heart Horror – www.wehearthorror.com
WikiHow – www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Horror-Film
