This document provides information about pre-production techniques for media productions. It discusses types of productions like single-camera dramas and documentaries. Careful pre-production planning can help save time and money for low-budget productions. Key aspects of pre-production that are covered include finance, timelines, personnel, facilities, materials, locations, regulations, and creating documentation like schedules, scripts, storyboards and mood boards. Good project management and organization are important for successful pre-production planning and management of a media production.

1. Btec Media
Booklet 1, Pre-production techniques for the creative media industries
1. Understand requirements for a specific media production.
1.1 Type of production
Identify the different types of production that you will be involved with throughout the course. Pre-
production is a vital stage of any creative production process.
Case study: single camera drama
Filming with a single camera reduces costs of equipment and crew. These methods are often used in
dramas, documentaries and comedies. My Name Is Earl and The Office etc.
To save money and time during the shooting of low-budget productions careful preproduction
planning need to be thought through.
1. In what ways can careful pre-production planning help if you have a small budget?
When planning has been thought through well it saves time which saves money as the
longer you spend filming for etc the hours these people work need to be paid.
2. What are the advantages of undertaking a single-camera production?
As well as time and money being saved, the director has more control over the one camera
to create the shots they want. If multiple cameras were being used they’d have to be
managed by someone else as the director can’t be in two places at once.
3. What problems might be encountered when planning a single-camera production?
Even though it’s technically more efficient to use the one camera it may take longer to shoot
all the shots needed as the camera needs to packed up and set back up each time it shoots a
new shot. Also if the camera breaks there might not be another one on hand to rely on so
shooting may have to be postponed until the camera is fixed or replaced.
In a carefully structured and planned approach to the work, and comprehensive and well managed
pre-production stage should provide a firm foundation for the production its self.
1.2 Finance
An important part of the pre-production process is to access the financial viability of the proposed
production. There are to two things that need to be considered: Potential sources of finance such as
advertising, sponsorship, subscription fees, cover price, sales and rental charges. Secondly the
expenditure of crew, personnel, facility hire, clearances and legal costs. These requirements will be
subsidised by your college, as you will be using their equipment and materials and you won’t have to
pay for the personnel on your team. This means funding shouldn’t need to be secured, keeping the
cost down.

2. However exploring potential funding for your project is wise as you can see what’s available out
there and you need to be able to demonstrate that you are able to work in a realistic vocational
context.
1.3 Time
Timescale is an important factor for any media production and deadlines can often be tight. For
example a journalist working on a daily newspaper will have a certain amount of time to research
and write a story for the next edition of the paper. Deadlines for your practical projects are likely to
be less pressured, but you will still need to think carefully about the availability of your crew and
equipment, the timings of the different stages of the production process and the final deadline for
the project.
Case study: TV Drama
1. How does the breakdown of time of this programme reflect the timings for you own project?
For our own projects we will have to give time and thought to each stage for a project in
order to make sure the stages run smoothly together and no time is wasted or used in
correctly. We will use very similar if not the same stages, planning and prep work, shooting
and post-production work.
2. Why does a series like Lost need so many people working on it?
It needs so many people because there are so many jobs to get done in a limited amount of
time and rather than people having more than job they’re likely to just have the one so they
can focus on it and get it done quickly.
3. Does the fact it was filmed mainly on location add any extra complications to the pre-
production process?
Yes, everyone and everything is flown out to Hawaii increasing the expenditure costs. If
someone is ill or some equipment is broken a replacement will need to be flown out. Also
it’s a lot harder to get everyone and the equipment to the same place that isn’t nearby
rather than if they chose to film in America.
1.4 Personnel
Sourcing the right personnel for a media production is another important aspect of the pre-
production process and you will need to ensure you have the right sized crew for the job and that
each member has the right balance of knowledge, skills and experience to undertake the specific
role that is needed.
An important thing to do is to access the initial skill level that each member of your team has. You
will then be able to plan what skills you need to develop further and how you will be able to do this.
This process to also useful to spot any skill gaps you have and any areas that you might need extra
help.

3. 1.5 Facilities
Any creative media production will involve the use of production equipment and facilities to capture,
record, edit and manipulate the raw material into the finished product. Computer hardware and
software is now at the heart if the production and post-production processes that are used to create
all digital media products.
Professional production companies will either use their own equipment and facilities or hire what
they need for a specific production from facility houses. Other work such as post-production special
effects can be outsources to a specialist company.
1.6 Materials
All my material will be original, meaning I will be producing it myself. Undertaking test location shots
and recordings could help me develop my ideas further during the pre-production stage; this will
also help me to decide which original material I will include in my final project and how I will go
about getting the effects I want.
For example when I did my test location shots I had problems with mise en scene which made me
rethink my locations so I didn’t have that problem on the days of filming, saving me time.
If I wanted to use some existing materials such as photos, sound or film footage sourced from the
internet or elsewhere, I’ll need to be aware of copyright. Copyright owners can choose to grant
permission or license others to use their work, usually for a fee, while retaining ownership over the
rights themselves.
When developing ideas, I need to think about the permissions that I will need to get before the
production process can begin. For example I needed to ask my artist and their record label in order
to use my chosen song. They gave me permission as long as I embedded a link to the song on iTunes
where my video is used, for example when I upload my final video to YouTube I will add a link to the
songs iTunes in the description.
1.7 Contributors
My contributors are my actors, also known as the talent. I had to get permission from the actor
himself along with his parents as he is under 18. I asked them to sign a release and consent
agreement form so I have documented evidence of their permission to be featured. I will also need
to create a biography of my contributors in the supporting documentation I produce.
Main regulatory bodies in the media sector.
Media Sector Regulatory Body Website
Television and radio Ofcom www.ofcom.org.uk
Film British Board of Film Classification
(bbfc)
www.bbfc.co.uk

4. Computer games Pan European Game Information
(PEGI) Entertainment Software
Rating Board (ESRB)
www.pegi.info
www.esrb.org
Newspapers and magazines Press Complaints Commission (PCC) www.pcc.org.uk
Advertising Advertising Standards Authority
(ASA)
www.asa.org.uk
Internet W3C (World Wide Web
Consortium)
www.w3.org
Trade unions and associations in the media sector.
Trade union/association Website
Pact (Producers’ Alliance for Cinema and Television) www.pact.co.uk
NUJ (National Union of Journalists) www.nuj.org.uk
BECTU (Broadcasting Entertainment, Cinematograph
and Theatre Union)
www.bectu.org.uk
TIGA (The Independent Games Developers’
Association)
www.tiga.org
ELSPA (The Entertainment and Leisure software
Publishers Association)
www.elspa.com
BIMA (The British Interactive Media Association) www.bima.co.uk
1.8 Locations
It is important to check out locations during the pre-production phase. This can save lots of time and
money during the production stage. Fortunately my actor is working for free so wasting money
wouldn’t be too much of a problem however my time with my actor is limited and I have a deadline
to meet, so it is important for me to ensure my locations are suitable for my purpose. I have looked
into permission of the location I want to use which is a public footpath, so I don’t need to have
permission granted. Checking out my locations before the production stage also make me aware of
any health and safety issues that may be present.
I have done a location reconnaissance (or recce) visit to my potential location and have decided it is
suitable. I will work on a production schedule as I will be able to find out about distance, access,
power supply, potential problems over weather, health and safety issues and any costs associated
with using that particular location.

5. 1.9 Codes of practice and regulation
One reason that media companies undertake pre-production work is to make sure that they are
planning to produce adheres to relevant codes of practice, laws and regulations that govern and
control their industry.
Public liability
Public liability is another legal requirement that needs to be considered when involved with a
creative media production, particularly when I film I will be using a public footpath so I need to
ensure I won’t be putting members of the public at risk from the production activities. Since I am a
learner my school should already have public liability insurance for my production work.
Regulatory bodies, trade unions and trade associations
During the pre-production process I will also need to be aware of the relevant codes of practice and
industrial guidelines and regulations that relate to my specific area of production.
2. Be able to prepare pre-production documentation for a specific media production
2.1 Procedure
The specific pre-production processes and procedures that I follow will be dictated by the actual
production I am creating. However for any production being made all the following keys areas
should be covered.
• Identify finance, personnel and resources that are required and are available to you and
your production team.
• Prepare a budget.
• Book personnel and resources.
• Prepare a detailed production schedule.
• Identify relevant health and safety issues, risk to the project and any legal issues.
A production schedule is a planning document that brings together all of the information needed for
a particular production. It’s used to refer to so team members how they’re progressing and what
they will need to have in place for the next part of the process. This document needs to be setialed
and well thought through as it is an important piece of work to include in my final portfolio.
A production schedule should contain the following key elements:
• Details of the original proposal
• Key dates as agreed with the client for the different stages of pre-production, production
and post-production, together with the final completion date
• Details of production equipment required and where it is being sources from

6. • Location details and any transport required
• Full details of the crew, talent and other personnel with full contact details
• Any props and other resources used
The production schedule is often supplemented with a sheet that details the specific plan and
resources for a single day production – this is called a call sheet. This sheet is given to the crew and
talent so everyone is clear on who is needed and where they’re needed.
2.2 Documentations
Pre-production documentation is very important part of my portfolio, it needs to be used for all
stages for example my moving image production will need me to include how I’ve developed my
ideas through storyboarding.
Before I start the production process I need to make a detailed production schedule showing what I
am going to do when it is going to be done, and how. I will take the schedule with me through the
production stage to refer to so I stay on track.
Risk assessments need to be made so the relevant health and safety precautions are put in place. I
also need to create a contingency plan in case anything goes wrong. It covers all aspects of
production, I will need alternative arrangements ready in case things don’t follow the original plan
this is so my plan stays on track and will be completed for the deadline.
Pre-production documentation.
Production type Pre-production documentation What is it?
All types of production Production schedule A detailed plan that brings together all
the information needed for my
production to take place.
Call sheet A document that details the specific
plan and resources needed for a single
day of production.
Risk assessments Details of thing that could go wrong
and relevant health and safety issues.
Contingency plan This links to my risk assessment and
shows what your alternative plan is if
some of the things that could go wrong
actually do.
Permissions Forms that give me permission to film
in the places I have chosen and the
people I want to include.
Moving image Storyboard A visualisation of each shot of my

7. finished programme that includes
timings and details of the soundtrack
Script What the people in the programme are
going to say. However since my final
piece is a music video I will not be
having any audio other than the song.
Shooting script A more detailed script that includes
camera angles, locations, types of shot,
dialogue and soundtrack.
Radio and sound
recording
Script What the people in the programme are
going to say, together with how they’re
going to say it and any music or sound
effects.
Print and interactive
media
Concept drawings Drawings of what picture or page
might look like.
Thumbnails Rough sketches of a proposed page
layout.
Mood boards Collection of different examples of
colour, text and styles to show how the
finished product will look.
Web-based interactive
media and games
Structure diagrams Similar to a storyboard
3. Be able to apply pre-production planning for a specific media production
3.1 Elements of production
The framework for this production should be provided by the pre-production work that I completed
earlier on in the unit. Creative process is complex and the logistics can be difficult so the more pre-
production planning the better.
3.2 Project management
Clear communication and good organisation skills are perhaps the two most important aspects to
having a successful production management. I need fully record and document all of the meetings
and briefings that I have with my team and keep all the relevant paperwork and documentations up
to date. I also need to make sure I keep track of decisions are noted.