This document provides an overview of a course on understanding the television and film industries. It outlines the unit introduction and learning outcomes, which involve learning about ownership, funding, job roles, legal and ethical obligations, and developing technologies in the industries. It details various tasks for students to complete, including creating slideshows on industry structures and job roles, and producing a report on legal obligations and a career development portfolio. Deadlines are set for submitting the portfolio and tasks. Recommended reading materials are also provided to support student research.

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BTEC National
Diploma in
Creative Media Production
Year 12
Unit 8: Understanding the Television and Film
Industries
Name: ...................................................................................................
Deadline: ...................................................................................................

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Welcome
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: 0208 498 1300
E-Mail: zchristodoulou@kshsonline.com
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Unit 8: Understanding the Television and Film Industries
Unit Introduction
This unit aims to develop your knowledge of the television and film industries and the structure of
individual companies. The unit will develop your understanding of job roles, working practices and
regulation, and will enable you to prepare the necessary documentation to apply for a job in these
industries.
The television and film industries have gone through many changes in the last two decades. The
development of new technology, as well as the inevitable changes in governing legislation and
working practices, has resulted in an increase in the range of services and service providers that
now make up an increasingly diverse industry.
These changes have been driven, for the most part, by the technologies that have enabled media
companies to access increasing audiences in ways different from the traditional ones, and,
subsequently, to provide a greater range and diversity of content. Whilst terrestrial television is still
dominated by the major household names such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, multi-
channel services via satellite and cable have changed the face of television within the UK and across
the world. The digital revolution now allows audiences to use television and a host of other media
content in whatever way is most convenient to them.
As a result, media content has become more inclusive, catering for a wider range of tastes and
opinions and a greater spectrum of ages, cultural and geographical backgrounds.
Similarly, the film industry has gone through a range of technological, financial, commercial and
aesthetic changes – changes that have helped the British film industry go through a relatively strong
period of growth and development in the first few years of the 21st century.
An understanding of the operation of the various organisational structures in the television and film
industries is essential for anyone intending to work in these sectors. It is equally important for
anyone wishing to progress onto higher-level qualifications to be aware of the range of job
opportunities and of the relevant training that is required.
Learning Outcomes
1. Know about ownership and funding in the television and film industries
2. Know about job roles in the television and film industries
3. Understand contractual, legal and ethical obligation in the television and film industries
4. Understand developing technologies in the television and film industries
5. Be able to prepare personal career development material
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The Brief
You will soon be ready to take the next step into further education, training or
employment. To develop and expand your knowledge of the media, you will need to
conduct comprehensive research into two specific media industry – in this instance, the
television and film industries.
The TV and film industries have many doors and avenues open to budding filmmakers,
cinematographers, writers, actors, art directors and graphic designers – just to name but a
few job roles.
Your tasks will involve you finding out about the job roles available, how to gain
employment, and how the industries interact with their audiences.
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Assessment Criteria for Unit 8:
Understanding the Television and Film Industries
P1 Describe ownership and
funding in the television and
film industries with some
appropriate use of subject
terminology
M1 Explain ownership and
funding in the television and
film industries with reference to
detailed illustrative examples
and with generally correct use
of subject terminology
D1 Comprehensively explain
ownership and funding in the
television and film industries
with reference to elucidated
examples and consistently
using subject terminology
correctly
P2 Describe the
characteristics,
duties and responsibilities of
management, creative and
technical job roles in the
television and film industries
with some appropriate use of
subject terminology
M2 Explain the characteristics,
duties and responsibilities of
management, creative and
technical job roles in the
television and film industries
with reference to detailed
illustrative examples and with
generally correct use of subject
terminology
D2 Comprehensively explain
the characteristics, duties and
responsibilities of
management, creative and
technical job roles in the
television and film industries
showing how they relate to
each other, with reference to
elucidated examples and
consistently using subject
terminology correctly
P3 Describe contractual, legal
and ethical obligations in the
television and film industries,
with some appropriate use of
subject terminology
M3 Explain contractual, legal
and ethical obligations in the
television and film industries
with reference to detailed
illustrative examples and with
generally correct use of subject
terminology
D3 Comprehensively explain
contractual, legal and ethical
obligations in the television and
film industries with reference
to elucidated examples and
consistently using subject
terminology correctly
P4 Describe developing
technologies in the television
and film industries with some
appropriate use of subject
terminology
M4 Explain developing
technologies in the television
and film industries with
reference to detailed illustrative
examples and with generally
correct use of subject
terminology
D4 Comprehensively explain
developing technologies in the
television and film industries
with elucidated examples and
consistently using subject
terminology correctly
P5 Prepare personal career
development material using
basic formal language
M5 Prepare carefully produced
personal career development
material using generally correct
formal language
D5 Prepare personal career
development material to a
quality that reflects near-
professional standards,
consistently using correct
formal language
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Tasks
Task 1 (8 = P1, M1, D1)
Plan and design a slideshow that explains and illustrates the structure of a specific TV
company, as well as a specific film company.
Remember to create a separate bibliography that references your used sources.
Things to consider:
Ownership; funding; synergy; subsidiaries; examples of products/services.
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Task 2 (8 = P2, M2, D2)
Create a slideshow that explains and illustrates a variety of job roles available in the film
and television industries
Remember to create a separate bibliography that references your used sources.
Explanation; examples; conditions of employment; skills and qualifications; methods of
recruitment.
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Task 3 (8 = P3, M3, D3)
Produce an illustrated report that explains what legal and ethical obligations must be
considered when working in the TV and film industries.
Remember to create a separate bibliography that references your used sources.
Things to consider:
Industry codes of practice (TV/film); the British Board of Film Classification; Ofcom; the
watershed; the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; the Defamation Act 2013.
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Task 4 (8 = P4, M4, D4)
Plan and design a slideshow that explains and illustrates the technologies available for TV
and film producers, and how these technologies have evolved over recent decades.
Remember to create a separate bibliography that references your used sources.
Things to consider:
Digital video; high definition; 3D; the Internet; on-demand.
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Task 5 (8 = P5, M5, D5)
You must now prepare personal career development material that demonstrates your
abilities to work in the TV and film industries. Begin by conducting research into the two
industries to read about what jobs are available and what personal skills and qualifications
are required.
Things to consider:
Curriculum Vitae; personal statement; career action plan.
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Task Deadlines
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Portfolio hand-in
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Recommended Reading
Key:
Author (year), Title (edition), Publisher.
ISBN
Branston and Stafford (2010) The Media Student’s Book (fifth edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-55842-6
Connell B (2010), Exploring the Media: Text, Industry, Audience (second edition), Auteur.
ISBN: 978-1-906733-47-6
Lacey N (2002), Media Institutions and Audiences: Key Concepts in Media Studies, Palgrave.
ISBN: 0-333-65870-1
Long and Wall (2009) Media Studies: Texts, Production and Context, Pearson Education.
ISBN: 978-1-4058-5847-2
Turow (2011), Media Today (fourth edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-87608-7
The BBC’s film site – www.bbc.co.uk/film
The British Film Institute – www.bfi.org.uk
The BFI’s History of Film and TV site – www.screenonline.org.uk
The British Film Council – film.britishcouncil.org
The Guardian’s film site – www.guardian.co.uk/film
The Independent’s film site – www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film
The Internet Movie Database – www.imdb.com
The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media – www.creativeskillset.org
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Notes