This assignment brief outlines tasks for students to develop skills in short film analysis, research on screenwriting and the commissioning process, idea generation, scriptwriting, and pitching a short film idea to a panel. Students will work in groups to analyze short films, research the writer's role, generate ideas for a short film on the theme of "going on a journey", write a proposal, treatment, and script, practice pitching, and do a final pitch of their idea to commissioners. The purpose is to develop technical, research, group work, and pitching skills relevant to the media production industry.

1. Assignment brief
Qualification Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
Unit 2: Communication Skills for Creative Media Production
Unit number and title Unit 22: Single Camera Techniques - Partial
Unit 24: Writing for Television and Video - Partial
Start date 31st October 2011
Deadline 15th December 2011
Assessor name Iain Goodyear
Assignment title IG1 - PITCHING YOUR FILM IDEA
The purpose of this assignment is to:
Develop your skills and technical code analysis of short films.
Develop your ideas generation and group work skills.
Develop your research skills in relation to script commissioning.
Familiarise you with script writing format and script drafting.
Develop your ability to verbally pitch a short film idea to a panel.
Scenario
A crucial aspect of any media production is the successful pitch of an idea to media specialist
commissioners. This process takes place early in the life cycle of a production and requires careful
planning and consideration. The pitch is primarily an opportunity for media producers to convey their
ideas and generate interest and enthusiasm for a production project with a view to securing funding.
This assignment will require you to work in groups of 3 to verbally pitch a production company proposal
for a short film to a panel of commissioners. The purpose of this pitch is to communicate how viable your
film idea is and to secure funding that will allow you to realise your film idea into a short film
production. The theme of your short film is ‘GOING ON A JOURNEY’ and your pitch, proposal and
supporting documentation must make clear how your film will explore and communicate this theme.
Prior to the delivery of your group pitch, you will be required to produce evidence of research and
existing film influences. This will consist of the following sections:
*Research that describes short film codes & conventions and production practices
Practicing your verbal pitching of ideas and responding to feedback to improve your pitching skills
Visual evidence of ideas generation and existing film influences
An account of how your film will explore the provided theme through narrative, cinematography
and mise en scene
*Research that describes the writer’s role in the commissioning process with appropriate use of
subject terminology
A draft short film proposal, treatment and 1st draft script
*YOU ARE REMINDED THAT ALL SECONDARY RESEARCH SOURCES ARE TO BE CORRECTLY REFERENCED
WITH SUPPORTING REFERENCE PAGE(S).
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2. Tasks Grading Criteria Mapping
Task 1
Produce a comprehensive word-processed analysis of three short films. Unit 22: P1/M1/D1
Using subject specific terminology, comment on how meaning is communicated
through the use of cinematography, mise en scene & the use of sound and music.
You must include still images from your chosen films to illustrate your
observations and use appropriate terminology accurately.
*Your word-processed analysis must be uploaded to your IG1 assignment blog.
Task 2
Produce a comprehensive and well-structured video research report (using Unit 2: P1/M1/D1
combination of still images, word processed text, music and sound recordings Unit 2: P2/M2/D2
and compiled using Adobe Premiere) that describes the screenwriter’s role in Unit 24: P1/M1/D1
the script commissioning process.
Your video report must clearly describe what you understand script commissioning
to mean (including visual examples such as website screen grabs or book
research source quotes as well as other references you have used to obtain this
knowledge).
Your video report must also detail what processes of development a script writer
goes through to develop a script for production (including visual examples such as
website screen grabs or book research source quotes as well as references you
have used to obtain this knowledge).
*Your video research report must be uploaded to your IG1 assignment blog as
an embedded video.
Task 3
Showing creativity and flair generate ideas for a short film production using the Unit 22: P2/M2/D2
theme outlined in your assignment scenario on page 1. Unit 24: P3/M3/D3
These ideas can be presented in the form of sketches, hand drawn and digitally
produced mind maps, mood boards, images you have gathered / found and
photographs you have taken.
Your ideas generation must clearly state how your ideas relate to the provided
theme in the scenario on page 1 of this assignment.
*All ideas generation must be uploaded to your IG1 assignment blog.
Task 4
Showing creativity and flair produce a 1 paragraph proposal and 1 – 2 page Unit 24: P3/M3/D3
treatment of your short film idea.
This must be based on, and further develop some aspects of your ideas generation.
Your treatment must include information of chosen film genre, target audience,
character biography information and a descriptive overview of your film idea’s
narrative.
*Your word-processed proposal and treatment must be uploaded to your IG1
assignment blog.
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3. Task 5
Produce a short film script based on your developed idea to near professional Unit 2: P3/M3/D3
standards. Unit 24: P5/M5/D5
Your script must be a 3 to 5 page document.
Your script must NOT contain dialogue but should feature clear scene headings,
make specific reference to characters by name and feature detailed descriptive
character action
*Your word-processed scripts must be uploaded to your IG1 assignment blog.
Task 6
As a production team you must then decide on which film proposal you will take Unit 2: P2/M2/D2
through to the pitch stage and further development in your next assignment. Unit 2: P3/M3/D3
In teams of 3, you must present a summary of your ideas to the others in your
group. Then, as a group you must decide which idea you are collectively going to
develop into a verbal group pitch to a panel of commissioners.
You must then produce a PowerPoint that visually shows your ideas generation and
existing film influences (this will be played throughout your verbal pitch). Prior to
your actual pitch you will present a practice pitch to your class for which you will
receive written feedback.
You must present an analysis report that also visually interprets your feedback with
the use of graphs and charts that makes specific reference to audience feedback
questions. This analysis should also include a summary of what changes you, as a
group, will implement to have a beneficial effect on your final pitch.
*Your word-processed practice pitch analysis must be uploaded to your IG1
assignment blog.
Task 7
Pitch your short film idea to a panel of commissioners, showing creativity and Unit 2: P4/M4/D4
flair and to near professional standards. Unit 2: P5/M5/D5
Unit 24: P4/M4/D4
Your final pitch must be no more than 3 minutes long and you will be stopped after
this time has elapsed so rehearse your pitch thoroughly before you deliver it.
*Your group final pitch video must be uploaded to your IG1 assignment blog as
an embedded video.
Sources of information
This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose
Iain Goodyear
Date 03.10.11
Harry Arnold
Date 03.10.11
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4. Unit 2 Communication Skills for Creative Media Production (Level 3)
P1: use appropriate techniques to M1: use appropriate techniques to D1: use appropriate techniques to
extract relevant information from extract information from written extract comprehensive information
written sources sources with some precision from written sources
P2: present a media production M2: present a structured and D2: present a well-structured and
report which conveys relevant detailed media production substantial media production report
information [IE] report which conveys which conveys information with
information and explains precise exemplification and justifies
conclusions with clarity conclusions with supporting
arguments
P3: review reports to make changes M3: review reports to make D3: review reports to make
with occasional beneficial effects changes with frequent changes with consistently
[RL] beneficial effects beneficial effects
P4: deploy and manage appropriate M4: deploy and manage D4: deploy and manage
technology to pitch a media technology to pitch a media technology to pitch a media
production proposal [SM] production proposal effectively and production proposal with
with some creativity and flair and to
imagination near-professional standards
P5: employ appropriate forms of M5: employ forms of address in a D5: employ forms of address in a
address in a media production pitch media production pitch media production pitch with flair to
to communicate ideas [CT] to communicate ideas communicate ideas with impact
effectively
Unit 22 Single Camera Techniques (Level 3)
P1: describe the features of single M1: explain the features of D1: comprehensively explain the
camera production with some single camera production with features of single camera production
appropriate use of subject reference to detailed illustrative with reference to elucidated
terminology examples and with generally correct examples and consistently using
use of subject terminology subject terminology correctly
P2: generate outline plans for a M2: generate detailed ideas for a D2: generate thoroughly thought
single camera production working single camera production showing through ideas for a single camera
within appropriate conventions and some imagination and with only production showing creativity and
with some assistance [CT] occasional assistance flair and working independently to
professional expectations
P3: produce a single camera M3: produce a single camera D3: produce a single camera
production working within production to a good technical production to a technical quality that
appropriate conventions and with standard showing some imagination reflects near professional standards
some assistance [SM] and with only occasional assistance showing creativity and flair
and working independently
to professional expectations
Unit 24 Writing for Television and Video (Level 3)
P1: describe the writer’s role M1: explain the writer’s role in the D1: comprehensively explain
in the commissioning commissioning process with reference the writer’s role in the
process using some subject to detailed illustrative examples and commissioning process with
terminology appropriately [IE] with generally correct use of subject elucidated examples and
terminology consistently using subject
terminology correctly
P2: collect and prepare suitable M2: collect and prepare good D2: collect and prepare excellent
background materials for a background material for background material for a
scriptwriting project with some a scriptwriting project scriptwriting project to near-
assistance [CT] competently and with only professional standards working
occasional assistance independently to professional
expectations
P3: produce script proposals M3: produce script proposals for D3: produce script proposals for
for specific purposes specific purposes showing some specific purposes showing creativity
working within appropriate imagination and with only occasional and flair and working independently
conventions and with some assistance to professional expectations
assistance [CT]
P4: pitch a prepared proposal M4: pitch a prepared proposal D4: pitch a prepared proposal to a
effectively near-professional standard
P5: produce a script for a specific M5: produce a script for a specific D5: produce a script for a specific
purpose working within appropriate purpose competently showing some purpose to near-professional
conventions and with some imagination and with only occasional standards and working independently
assistance. [CT, assistance to professional expectations
SM]
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5. :PLTS: This summary references where applicable, in the square brackets, the elements of the personal, learning and thinking skills applicable in
the pass criteria. It identifies opportunities for learners to demonstrate effective application of the referenced elements of the skills.
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