BTEC Creative Media Diploma Units Guide

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BTEC Level Three
Diploma in
Creative Media Production
Year 12
Unit 1: Pre-Production Techniques for the Creative
Media Industries
Unit 16: Film and Video Editing Techniques
Unit 29: Music Video Production
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 1: Pre-Production Techniques for the Creative Media Industries
Unit Introduction
This unit will develop your understanding of and skills in pre-production. The unit covers
planning and resourcing requirements for production and post-production, how to locate
resources and how to organise your deployment. You will also develop an understanding of
health, safety and legal issues in relation to pre-production.
Pre-production, which mainly involves research and planning, is a vital ingredient of any
successful media product. For example, the successful completion of a photographic
fashion shoot for a magazine depends on locations, material and talent being available for
the work to be undertaken. Successful location recording of video material depends on
crew members and talent being in the right place at the right time. Good pre-production is
vitally important where expenses are being incurred for people and materials, and where
budgets and deadlines are to be met. Pre-production is generally undertaken by producers
and their teams. A team could consist of a number of staff from location managers to set
designers. All of them have a vital part to play in the production of a media product. Their
work will include drawing up outline budgets and funding strategies, finding factual
information, additional material and contributors, using archives, researching locations,
undertaking risk assessments, and organising and coordinating logistics.
Through following this unit, you will develop an awareness that any media production
operates within limitations regarding time, facilities, personnel and budget. You will learn
how to identify the requirements of a media production, and how to plan for the provision
of those requirements. You will also learn that successful pre-production involves ensuring
that all the various elements for production are in the right place at the right time.
Additionally, the unit will enable you to conduct production risk assessments and develop
an awareness of the rights and responsibilities of producers and other media professionals.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand requirements for a specific media production
2. Be able to prepare pre-production documentation for a specific media production
3. Be able to apply pre-production planning for a specific media production
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Unit 16: Film and Video Editing Techniques
Unit Introduction
This unit aims to develop your skills in, and understanding of, moving image post-
production processes.
You will do this through exploring the professional practice of editing, and developing your
own technical and creative skills. You will also develop an understanding of how your work
can affect the final outcome of a production.
Editing of film or video material is an essential part of any audio-visual production. Without
the process of removing, adding and manipulating source material, all film and video would
have to be shot in sequence and without mistakes.
The process of editing involves making creative decisions about source material. It provides
an opportunity for the creativity of the filming stage to be continued through to the finished
product.
Through study of the development and principles of editing, you will develop an insight into
the ‘language’ of editing and the technical conventions used by editors to communicate
with audiences.
Skills will be practised through editing video material or, where facilities permit, film. You
will also develop an understanding of how your work can affect the final outcome of a
production. You will be able to experiment with editing processes and use your skills in the
production of your own film and video products. You should learn that editing is not merely
a technical process, but also an aesthetic one and you should be able to demonstrate this
understanding through your practice, as well as the articulation of principles.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the development and principles of editing
2. Be able to prepare moving image material for editing
3. Be able to edit moving image material
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Unit 29: Music Video Production
Unit Introduction
In this unit, you will explore the purpose, styles and conventions of music video, then,
develop, plan and produce a music video.
There are many opportunities for the application of music video production techniques in
the media industries. Besides the established outlets of TV music channels, marketing and
promotion within the popular music industry and direct DVD sales, there are also websites
of new and emerging artists, such as MySpace and YouTube, phone downloads, and VJing
in music venues, at concerts and at festivals.
Music videos provide the ideal opportunity for experimenting with visual moving imagery,
allowing you to use your creative imagination to the maximum and to apply technical skills,
which have been developed in other units. The study of established styles and conventions
of the music video is a starting point, as you need to understand what has already been
done in order to develop your own ideas. You can then experiment with techniques to
create music videos, which might reflect your own musical interests. Alternatively, you
might work for a band or artist to create a music video for a ‘live’ brief. You will also be
able to enhance and further develop the transferable skills of video production. In
particular, the post-production techniques of editing and effects application, with the
potential for advanced techniques such as mixing digital or stop-frame animation with live
footage, chroma key and matte effects.
You will develop the creative knowledge needed to entertain and engage the target
audience, to potentially consider the requirements of a client and fulfil the promotional
purpose of the product.
The development of creative concepts and the skills needed to apply them are readily
transferable to many other genres including advertising, drama and computer game
design.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the purpose of music videos
2. Understand the styles, conventions and techniques of music videos
3. Be able to originate and plan a music video production for a specific music track
4. Be able to work to complete production of a music video
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Assessment Criteria for Unit 1:
Pre-Production Techniques for the Creative Media Industries
P1 Outline requirements and
sources of requirements for a
specific media production
M1 Explain in some detail and
competently present
requirements and sources of
requirements for a specific
media production
D1 Comprehensively explain
and present to a quality that
reflects near-professional
standards fully detailed
requirements and sources of
requirements for a specific
media production
P2 Generate outline pre-
production documentation for a
specific media production with
some assistance
M2 Generate competent,
carefully presented and
detailed pre-production
documentation for a specific
media production with only
occasional assistance
D2 Generate thorough and
comprehensively detailed pre-
production documentation for a
specific media production,
working independently to
professional expectations
P3 Apply pre-production
planning to a specific media
production working with some
assistance
M3 Apply pre-production
production competently with
only occasional assistance
D3 Apply pre-production
production to a quality that
reflects near-professional
standards, working
independently to professional
expectations
Assessment Criteria for Unit 16: Film and Video Editing Techniques
P1 Describe the development
and principles of editing with
some appropriate use of
subject terminology
M1 Explain the development
and principles of editing with
reference to detailed illustrative
examples and with generally
correct use of subject
terminology
D1 Critically assess the
development and principles of
editing with supporting
arguments and elucidated
examples, and consistently
using subject terminology
correctly
P2 Apply editing preparation
techniques with some
assistance
M2 Apply editing preparation
techniques competently with
only occasional assistance
D2 Apply editing preparation
techniques to a technical
quality that reflects near-
professional standards,
P3 Apply editing techniques
working within appropriate
conventions and with some
assistance
M3 Apply editing techniques to
a good technical standard
showing some imagination and
with only occasional assistance
D3 Apply editing techniques to
a technical quality that reflects
near-professional standards,
showing creativity and flair and
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Assessment Criteria for Unit 29: Music Video Production
P1 Describe the purposes of
music videos with some
appropriate use of subject
terminology
M1 Explain the purposes of
music videos with reference to
detailed illustrative examples
and with generally correct use
of subject terminology
the purposes of music videos
with elucidated examples and
consistently using subject
terminology correctly
P2 Describe the styles,
conventions and techniques of
music videos with some
appropriate use of subject
terminology
M2 Explain the styles,
conventions and techniques of
music videos with reference to
detailed illustrative examples
and with generally correct use
of subject terminology
the styles, conventions and
techniques of music videos
with elucidated examples and
consistently using subject
terminology correctly
P3 Originate and plan a music
video production for a specific
music track working within
appropriate conventions with
some assistance
M3 Originate and plan a music
music track effectively showing
some imagination and with only
D3 Originate and plan a music
music track to a technical
quality that reflects near-
professional standards,
P4 Work to complete
production of a music video
working within appropriate
conventions and with some
assistance
M4 Work competently to
complete production of a music
video showing some
imagination and with only
D4 Work to a technical quality
that reflects near-professional
standards to complete
production of a music video,
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THE BRIEF
Sony Music Entertainment has asked you to create a new music video for one of their
artists. However, the track that you choose to use must be an unreleased track from one of
your chosen artist’s albums. To see a list of their artists, visit www.sonymusic.co.uk/artists.
You will be required to plan, design and arrange all of the pre-production, production and
post-production work in preparation for submitting your music video of your favoured
artist.
As with any production work, you will need to be arranged into a production group and
mutually agree on the job roles for each member. Some of the tasks, though, will be
individually undertaken.
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TASKS
TASK ONE
(Unit 29 = P2, M2)
Create a slideshow presentation that identifies different genres of music, along with
examples of artists from that genre. Following this task, and to further demonstrate your
knowledge of the varying genres of music, choose two music genres and explain the
similarities and differences between them.
Aim to include some links to exemplar music videos from your chosen genres.
Things to consider:
Variety of genres; range of artists; links and screenshots of music videos;
similarities or differences in audience/rhythm/pace/video styles.
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TASK TWO
(Unit 29 = P1, M1, D1)
Design a slideshow that explains and illustrates the numerous purposes of a music video.
Things to consider:
Promotion of artist; promotion of record label; representation; synergy; album
sales; Laura Mulvey’s Male Gaze theory (1975).
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TASK THREE
(Unit 29 = P2, M2, D2)
Write an illustrated case study that analyses and critically evaluates two different music
videos from two different genres. Conclude the case study with a comparison of your two
chosen videos.
Things to consider:
Genre and style; codes and conventions (iconography, lip synch, dance choreography,
song’s meaning, allusion, links to other artists, representations); narrative (linear, non-
linear, open-ended, closed, single-strand, multi-strand); camera shot types, angles and
movement.
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TASK FOUR
(Unit 16 = P1, M1, D1)
Create a slideshow presentation that explains and illustrates…
 The purpose of editing
 The various editing techniques used to engage viewers
 The history and development of editing
Try to use illustrated examples from music videos, films and television programmes.
Things to consider:
Purpose (manipulate time and interpretation); principals (storytelling, 180o
rule, creating
pace, combination of shots); techniques (continuity, cutaway, ellipsis, fast/slow motion,
match cut, match-on-action, parallel editing, shot-reverse-shot); transitions (fade in, fade
out, dissolve); development (analogue, digital, smartphone software).
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TASK FIVE
(Unit 1 = P1, M1, D1) (Unit 29 = P3, M3, D3)
Working in your teams, hold a brainstorming session about the resources that you will need
for production, as well as the regulations that you must take into consideration when
making the music videos. This brainstorm must then be written up as an illustrated report
that explains why you require each resource.
Things to consider:
Resources (audio track, sources of finance, video cameras and other filming equipment,
photo cameras, filming locations, editing software, Internet access, desktop publishing
software); regulations (the British Board of Film Classification; the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988); time (deadlines); contributors (cast, crew).
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TASK SIX
(Unit 1 = P2, M2, D2) (Unit 29 = P3, M3, D3)
You must now plan, design and undertake the following pre-production documentation:
i. Production schedule (on-going)
ii. Treatment
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 form(s)
xi. Shooting schedule
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 SEVEN
(Unit 1 = P3, M3, D3) (Unit 29 = P4, M4, D4)
Using the ideas and pre-production documents that you have created, you must now begin
filming your music videos.
All group members must contribute to the filming of the music video.
Things to consider:
Purpose; target audience; continuity; variety of shot types; mise-en-scène;
suitable sounds.
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TASK EIGHT
(Unit 16 = P2, M2, D2 / P3, M3, D3) (Unit 29 = P4, M4, D4)
Log the footage that you have taken using an Edit Decision List – this will help you with the
editing of the music video. All group members must contribute to the editing of the video.
Things to consider:
Continuity; cuts matching beat; variety of camera shots.
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TASK DEADLINES
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Task 6
Task 7
Task 8
Portfolio hand-in
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RECOMMENDED READING
Key:
Author (year), Title (edition), Publisher.
International Standard Book Number
Branston G and Stafford R (2010) The Media Student’s Book (fifth edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-55842-6
Long P and Wall T (2009) Media Studies: Texts, Production and Context, Pearson Education.
ISBN: 978-1-4058-5847-2
Schwartz L (2007) Making Music Videos: Everything You Need to Know, Watson-Guptill.
ISBN: 978-0-823-08368-8
Turow J (2011), Media Today (fourth edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-87608-7
Vernallis C (2004) Experiencing Music Video: Aesthetics and Cultural Contexts, Columbia University
Press.
ISBN: 978-0-2311-1799-9
About’s How to Shoot a Music Video Step-by-Step –
musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/ss/makeavideo.htm
Sound on Sound’s A Recording Musician’s Guide to Making a Music Video –
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may10/articles/makingmovies.htm
The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media – www.creativeskillset.org
WikiHow’s How to Make a Music Video – www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Music-Video
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BTEC Creative Media Diploma Units Guide

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