The document outlines the planning and production details for a final major project (FMP) focused on developing a podcast centered around birdsong. It emphasizes the importance of thorough documentation, effective pre-production planning across various aspects, including script writing, location identification, sound recording, and post-production. Despite challenges posed by lockdowns, the author remains determined to complete the project with high standards and detailed planning methods outlined throughout the document.

1. FMP Planning
David Lee

2. TASK 4 [4.1] - FMP PLANNING AND
PRODUCTION
• You now need to plan your FMP. Conduct appropriate planning
documentation for your production.
• In this context refers to the ability to plan and organise work within a given
timeframe and efficient production of outcomes both individually and
collaboratively, likely to be evidenced in calendars, schedules, personal
reflective journals, images, notebooks, recordings, artefacts and through
other practical media related outcomes.
• As you know, effective pre-production is essential for the success of any
production. Address and plan for the following (though add further
planning considerations as necessary):

3. TASK 4 - FMP PLANNING AND PRODUCTION
• Script/Shooting Script/Copy
• Locations (identification; recces; limitations and risks, e.g. distance, access, cost
and weather)
• Finance (equipment, transport, talent, crew, materials, facility hire)
• Time (deadlines, availability of equipment, availability of personnel, time scales
for clearances)
• Personnel (actors/models/crew; size of team; roles; skills and experience;
resourcing; availability and costs)
• Meetings (minutes of meeting/recorded)
• Facilities (production equipment, post-production equipment)
• Storyboards, flat plans, website maps, pagination, sketches; layout plans
• Materials/Resources (graphics, costumes and props)

4. • Storyboards/Animation plan
• Design (colour schemes, fonts, style, tone, mise en scene, character breakdowns)
• Supply (copies of any supporting documents to members)
• Camera (Framing; angle; movement; lighting; appropriate point of view; settings)
• Sound (including ambience & foley recordings)
• Rushes Log (Keep a record of all scenes/shots/takes you have recorded)
• Contact sheets
• Sourced Content (What will you use? Where is it from?)
• Post-production (Photoshop, page layouts, format, audio levels and transitions,
jump cuts, transitions, colour correction, VFX etc.)
• Manage (You are in charge! Control the situation in an appropriate manner. How
will you do this? What could be difficult? What is the hierarchy of your project?)

5. PLANNING AND PRODUCTION: SCRIPT
• Throughout development of this project, I have taken great care as I
possibly can to ensure each and every aspect of development is fully
documented, including drafting the script that I intend use to record my
finished podcast. While this will not always been successful, as there is a
likelihood that a number of significant journal entries might be missing, I
will nonetheless strive to follow this approach to the letter as much as I
possibly can, including sending a finished draft to my tutor so that I may be
able to determine what to keep, what to change and act accordingly based
on whatever changes have been requested.
• For full details on this aspect of production, please see my Wix website. To
access the FMP page and review the script, either the final draft or the
original, here is the following link:
https://drlee17.wixsite.com/website/my-project-4

6. PLANNING AND PRODUCTION:
FACILITIES/LOCATION
• While certain recording facilities within the college will likely be pre-booked by other classes and/or students once
college reopens, I have already prepared for this setback and I will do my utmost to find a way to record my script
without getting in the way of my classmates. As the music classroom across from the main Creative Media Level 3
classroom is not always use, this should hopefully serve as the perfect hub with which to record what I am
writing. Additionally, to ensure I capture my narration in the best audio quality possible, I intend to use sound
mufflers to isolate any background noise from my phone recorder, having successfully applied a similar practice
during the production stage of my John Williams podcast.
• The development of my podcast does not always have to be limited to the confines of college, however, as I have
already decided to dedicate part of my personal time to recording birdsong (as had always been my original
intention). To that end, I am currently considering going to Askham Bog in order to capture these recordings, as I
am starting to feel that West Bank Park might not be the most suitable of places in order to capture such a
fascinating sound, given its popularity with the public. While the finished birdsong recordings will undoubtedly
vary greatly in terms of sound quality, I feel that the plans I have already put in place is a testimony to my
determination to capture the real deal in a place I consider to be a tranquil haven of solace. As the location itself
remains open to the public, I will not be required to carry out a recce or weigh out the limitations and risks of
using it, as I would expect to do were I to use it as a filming location.
• Should you wish to listen to the recordings I have integrated with those made by more experienced birdwatchers,
don’t forget to watch the video on my official YouTube channel. To access the video, here is the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaYlIVDdyVc

7. PLANNING AND PRODUCTION: TIME
• As I have already decided upon the subject of my FMP, which had originally
started out as a visual nature documentary prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, the
only thing left to do now is put together a script that will be satisfying to me on a
personal level and, in so doing, possibly awaken in others an interest for nature,
which I hope to begin working on soon. However, as a direct result of the third
lockdown currently in place, I am unable to work on production at college as I had
originally hoped, forcing me to once again do whatever work I can from home
• In spite of this setback, however, this has not affected my enthusiasm for the
project whatsoever and in committing myself to putting together the highest
standard of work possible, as I would whenever attending college itself, I hope to
have as much work completed as possible directly ahead of schedule. In the
event that I find myself getting a bit too far ahead in writing the script, I can
always put writing to a temporary halt and focus on other aspects such as context
research or putting together a vlog tutorial. Failing this, I will work on the script
and then come back to these elements.

8. PLANNING AND PRODUCTION: SOUND
• As sound is one of the key elements in any product, whether visual or audio-based, this
element is set to become one of the main driving influences in shaping the final direction
of my documentary and, of course, the chosen title of my recording script. With birdsong
firmly in place as the documentary’s main subject, it will necessitate the use of a
recording device so as to capture a diverse range of calls and songs as authentically as
possible. As I already have such a device installed on my phone, this aspect of production
has already been accounted for so the only thing left to do now decide upon the location
in which to start recording (as explored in the Facilities/Location section of the
presentation). Initially, I’m planning to record these sounds in West Bank Park. But failing
that, if the park does not suit my requirements, then I hope to use Askham Bog for this
instead.
• While I will likely not be able to get a recording of a specific avian variety due to the
diverse range of birds and insects across the length and breadth of the Bog, I will
nonetheless strive to capture three recordings which will, hopefully, be of satisfactory
quality. And as further confirmation that the recording is authentic, I hope to include the
wind as a form of ambience.

9. PLANNING AND PRODUCTION: SOURCED
CONTENT
• As I have done with previous audio projects, I plan to use an eclectic range of sound effects and music in
order to make the finished documentary complete. While I still intend to include my own recordings of
birdsong as per my original plan, I will still require birdsong recordings created by more experienced wildlife
watchers than myself. To this end, I have already begun investigating a number of different websites
dedicated to our wing-borne friends, including British Birds and the Sussex Wildlife Trust blog. Having
already written several sections about a few of the birds I want to talk about, the only challenge I am set to
face at the present moment is finding a suitable recording linked to said birds.
• Once I have found the recordings I wish to use in the final edit of my podcast, it is just a simple matter of
finding which pieces of music to incorporate. As I already have one or two tracks in mind that I feel will link
in seamlessly with the themes of my documentary, I will purchase them digitally following a similar approach
I used to incorporate different pieces of music for my John Williams podcast, incorporate them into the
editing suite of Premier Pro and, once the video has been whittled down to a suitable length upload it on to
YouTube. However, there is a possibility that they may take issue with certain tracks being used so I will
include at least one royalty-free track to ensure I am in full compliance with international copyright laws. The
only stipulation that I have set myself is that it should be as mellow, relaxing and tranquil as possible, in
keeping with what I have written so far in my script.

10. PLANNING AND PRODUCTION: POST-
PRODUCTION
• Once I have finished writing the script for my podcast, I intend to start focusing on the
recording phase, although I may wish to re-record what I have done in order to sure that the
recording process I have undertaken is thorough and by the book (for full details on the
facilities and locations I may use, see slide 6). After I have completed this aspect of
production, I will then set my focus on moving to editing the finished product down to a
suitable length, possibly somewhere between 2 to 5 minutes, effectively beginning the post-
production stage of my project. To this end and in order to maintain a sense of continuity
with previous projects, I will be utilising Adobe Premier Pro as this will allow me to fulfill the
mandate as set by the college and create a product that will satisfy me personally.
• However, since there is a likelihood that I will be unable to continue post-production for a
few weeks (due to having only one week at college before the Easter break begins), I hope
to use as much time as possible in the interim finding a suitable location with which to
capture the birdsong recordings I have planned. This could take the form of a solitary visit to
a quiet river, a park (which would potentially necessitate me to exploit a quiet lull before
visitors arrive) or take a trip down to a nature reserve that I think very highly of. Once I have
accomplished what I have set out to do and the college is reopened, I will then resume post-
production and incorporate my recordings into the final edit.