The document discusses the various processes involved in pre-production for a media project. This includes establishing details of what will be filmed such as locations, schedules, and budgets to keep the production on time and within budget. It also covers requirements for short films such as following a three-act structure. Methods of financing include private funding, public funding, and joint financing. Logistics that must be planned include timescales, facilities, locations, personnel, materials, and adherence to regulations and codes of practice. Key pre-production documents that are formatted according to industry standards include screenplays and storyboards.

1. A1 Requirementsfora specificmediaproduction
The purpose of pre-productionistoestablishdetailsof whatwill be filmed,where,how andplanning
post-production.Itallowsthe whole productionprocesstokeep,andbe finishedontime,andkeep
withinthe budgettheyare workingwith.Italsoallows the crew andfuture cast know where andwhen
theyneedtobe neededtowork,asit variesdayto daywhenshooting.Itmakessure everythingiskept
to schedule andeveryoneknowswhattheyare doing.
Requirementsof shortfilm:
Short filmsare filmsthat have a runtime of 40 minutesorshorter.Theyusuallyfollow the three-act
structure or the ‘joke’structure forveryshort shortsas there isnot enoughtime toestablishand
developandbeginning,middle andend.Shortfilmsneedtohave the same pre-productionworkas
feature films,whichincludescall sheets,riskassessments,locationreccesandshootingschedule along
withstoryboardingandanidea.Thisallowsthe time scheduleandbudgettobe stuck to,withoutgoing
overand runningoutof money andtime tofinishthe short.
Finance:
There are manydifferenttypesof financingyoucangetfora film.These include:
 Private funding–thisincludesusingsourcessuchascrowdfunding,bankloans,yourowncredit
cards or studioloans.Thistype of financingallowsthe filmmakertohave more ownershipand
freenesstodowhattheywant to theirfilmasone companyisnot fundingitall.
The two mostusedwebsitesforthose whouse crowdfundingare KickstarterandIndiegogo.Thissource
of financingis still verynew,butthere have beenafew well made,successful filmscreateddue tothese
twowebsites.The mostfundedfilmsofaron these websitesisthe VeronicaMarsmovie projectin2013
fromKickstarter.The campaignraised$5,702,153, makingit one of the most fundedprojectsof all time.
Thisform of financingcanbe riskyas if you’re usingyourownmoney,youmayhave a lossof moneyorif
yougive moneytowardsanotherproject,itmaybe a disappointment.
Studiossometimeshave theirownproductioncompaniestofundfilms,like WorkingTitle ownedby
Universal Pictures.Itwasformedin1984 and has grossedover$7.5 billionworldwide.Some of their
mostcommercial andcritical hitsinclude BabyDriver,Love Actually,AboutaBoyand Fargo.

2.  PublicFunding –thisfinancingisfrom organisationsthatreceive moneyfrompublicbodies.
Some examplesof placesthatgive publicfundingisthe BritishFilmInstitute,Raindance,Film
Londonand WomeninFilm.Publicfundingisgoodtoget the filmproductionprocessstarted;
however,the filmproducermayneedtogetmultiple companiestoloanmoneytomake the film
for the differentareasof productionanddistribution.
The BritishFilmInstitute (BFI) isone of the largestpublicbodydedicatedtosupportingfilminthe UK.
BetweenApril 2011 and March 2015, the awarded£128,831,288 across 927 unique projects.The film
fromthistime withthe highestnumberof awardsisUnder the SkinbyJonathanGlazer.
 JointFinancing–whenthe provisionof fundsfora projectisfromtwo or more sources.Some
filmsfindfundingfordifferentsectionsof productionfromdifferentplaces.A companymay
fundthe actual filmmakingpart,andanothercompanywill overseedistributingandmarketing
the film.
A directorwhohas struggleswithgettingmoneytocreate filmsisSpike Lee.HisfilmMalcolmXhad
manyfinancial problems.WarnerBros.Settlesona$20 millionbudget,butLee pre-soldthe film
overseastoraise another$8.5 million.Productionendedupgoingoverbudget,whichledtothe film
intothe hands of the CompletionBondcompany.He thengota group of celebritiestolendmoneyto
finishthe filmat220 minutesand$33 million.
https://youtu.be/LbKs766Tr88
There are manyreasonswhyfilmsneedfinancing.Itisusedtohire/buyequipment,payforcrew,
transport,material,clearances,talentandfacilityhire.A budgetiscreatedtosecure financingforand
leadto pre-productionandthe productionof the film.Itisusuallysplitinto4differentsections:
 Above the line –creative talent
 Belowthe line –directproductioncosts
 Post-production –editing,visual effectsetc.
 Other– insurance,completionbondetc.

3. The biggerthe budget,the betterthe filmwill visuallyasthe cast andcrew maybe more professional
and have lotsof experience,youcanspendmore onhigherqualityequipment,canpayfor multiple
locationsoruse a studioandbuildsetsandcan spendmore moneyonvisual effectsinediting.Itwill
lookbetteronscreen,butmany independent,lower-budgetfilmsdowell andcanhave betterstorylines
and narrative.
If the budgetisnotdone correctly,itcan leadthe filmintoalot of debt,or itmay not everbe finished.It
isone of the most importantfactorsof the pre-productionprocessaswithoutmoneytomake afilm,it
cannot be made.Companiesandpeoplewhogive outmoneytopeople whomake filmsalsoneedtobe
careful tomake sure theydon’tgive themtoomuch moneythattheywon’tmake back.There are
multiple examplesof filmsthathada massive lossanddidnotmake theirproductionback.The project
mustbe profitable.Forexample,the filmKingArthur:Legendof the Swordhada productionbudgetof
$175 millionbutcame outwitha lossof $150 million.
Logistics:
 Timescale isanimportantfactorfor manymediaproductions.Toavoidfilmsgoingoverbudget
and time,schedulesare made.If somethinggoeswrong,andthe estimatedtime and/orbudget
iswrong,compromisesare made.
RobertRodriguezwrote El Mariachi withelementshe coulduse already;aschool bus,twobars,a jail,a
ranch and a pit-bull.Thismeanthe couldhave asmallerbudgetashe alreadyhadsome majorprops and
a couple of locationstoshootin.

4. A schedule isusuallycreatedbythe Producer/UnitProductionManagerwhenarough budgetis
estimatedforinvestors.
The First AssistantDirector(AD) organises ashootingscheduleandaproductionboard.Thisboard
includesthe typesof scenes,whethertheyare filmedatday(D) or night(N) andwhethertheyare
exterior(EXT) orinterior(INT) shots.Itincludesthe scene numbers,the castinvolvedandweather
conditions.Blackstripsare usedtodivide shootingdays.
Schedulingcanhelpcastand crewfromrunningintoany problemsasithelpsthemsticktoa time limit,
so theycan geteverythingfinishedontime andnotgo overbudget.Studioschedulesare definedby
budget.
 Facilities:Whenpeopleselectanequipmenthouse,alaboratoryor a soundfacility,theymean
use specialistsforguidance.Theymayconsultwiththeirdirectorof photography,soundmixer
and editor,alongwiththe directorastheycouldhave establishedconnectionswithcertain
houses.Thiscan be helpful if theyrunintoproblemsata laterstage.
Typesof facilitiesthat are essential:
▫ Camera and lightingequipment. The type of equipmentcrewsusedare limitedtothe
requirementsbythe directorandcinematographerandthe budget.The producerand
productionmanagerwill negotiate withequipmentrental housesforthe bestdeals.

5. DOP or gaffersmayowntheirownequipmentandcanbe rentedas part of an overall deal.However,the
ownermaybe more cautiousinusingtheirownequipment,andif theyare notdoinga goodjob,itis
harderto fire them.Onthe otherhand,the equipmentwill be ingoodcondition,itwill possiblybe a
cheaperdeal andtheymay knowhowto use the equipmenttothe bestof theirabilityastheyare
familiarwithit.
▫ Sound Equipment.Productionsoundmixersalmostalwaysbringtheirownequipment,butitis
alsoavailable throughrental houses.The equipmentusuallyconsistsof aprofessional sound
recorder,a back-uprecorder,a full complementof microphones.
▫ Labotories.This onlyappliestofilmmakerswhouse filmtofilmtheirfilmslikeChristopher
NolanandQuentinTarantino.A deal witha processinglaboratoryisneeded.Theydevelopthe
shootfootage andmake a positive printfromthe originalnegative.Once the filmisedited,they
can helpwithdigital printsreadyfordistribution.
▫ Sound Stages vs Practical Locations. You can shootfilmseitheronlocationorbuildsets;most
filmsutilise both.Filmswithsmallerbudgetstypicallyuse locationsastheycanbe free.For
example,bigblockbusterfilmslike the Avengersuse soundstageswhereasmore independent
filmslike LadyBirdshootmore onlocation.There are many soundstagesownedbybigfilm
studios,like paramount,thatcanbe used.

6. Advantagesof usingasoundstage:
 Riggingforlightsandcables
 Generoussupplyof power
 Soundproofed
 Floorsurface issmoothand flat– dollymovement
Disadvantagesof usingsoundstages:
 Can be expensive –youmustpay for constructionof sets,the facilityduringconstruction,
holdingtime andtime whileshooting.
A practical locationmustbe bigenoughto accommodate the scene andproductioncrew.Formost
efficientuse of time,choose several locationsthatyouneedtofilminthatare ina close proximityto
each otherwhichsavestime movingtothe differentlocationsasittakestime to packand unpack gear.
Low-budgetfilmsshouldonlytrytouse few locations,like ReservoirDogswhichisfilmed,basically,in
one location.
Alsoconsiderthatyoumay needa permitorpermissiontoshootassome locations.If youdo nothave
permission,youmaybe prosecutedand/orfined.Forexample,if youare filminginapublicarea,the
police needtobe informed.A personfromthe publicmaycontactthe police astheymay not be aware
someone isfilming,soitstopsanyfuture trouble fromthat.
Usinga practical locationmaymake the filmfeel more realisticaswhatisbeingshownisnotfake,
whereassoundstagesdonotusuallyfeel real andconveyasense of beingfromanotherworldor
universe.Locationshootingismore efficientasitischeaperand meansa filmmaybe able to be filmed
quickerasthere is noneedto waitfora setto be built.
 Locations:Whenfindinglocationstofilmat,alotof differentfactorsneedtobe takeninto
consideration.One importantpieceof paperworkthatneedstobe filledoutforeachlocationis
a locationrecce:
A locationrecce referstoa pre-filmingvisittoa locationtodetermine whetheritissuitable forshooting,
includingaccesstonecessaryfacilitiesandassessmentof anyissuesthatcouldoccur. Reccesare
importantas theyestablishwhetheralocationissuitable forfilmingornot.It includesthoughtof space
for cast and crew,equipment,outside noise andtransport.

7. The more preparationof a locationpriortoshootingmeansthe more efficientyoucanbe on the days of
filming,the smallerthe possibilityof thingsgoingwrong,andthe outcome will be betterasyouwill be
prepared.It’seasiertostickto yourschedule andbudgetif youcan preventanythinggoing wrongwith
the locations.
http://msolivesmedia.weebly.com/btec-induction/from-script-to-screen-2-location-scouting#
 Personnel:The castisanyone whohasan acting part ina production.The crew ismade up of
manypeople,all doingdifferentjobsincluding;
 Grip,bestboy,soundassistants,locationscout,runner,director,producer,electricianetc.
It isimportantto geta good,experienced crew asit will make the whole productionprocessrunmore
smoothlyandthe outcome will be betterthanhiringlessqualified/experiencedpeople.
https://noamkroll.com/90-of-directing-is-casting-heres-why-you-need-to-prioritize-your-talent/
Castingdirectorscan findactorsto cast by contactingagencies,orcastingcallsgetput out ontowebsites
for actors to see andapplyfor.Gettinga good cast isimportantbecause theywill be able toportraythe
scriptand the character theyare playingmore realistically,anditwill feel more authentic.
 Materials:Thisincludesclearancesandimportantinformationforfilming.Youneedtoget
permissiontofilmpeopleandfilmatcertainlocations.Youneedtohave mediainsurance and
statutoryregulations.If youare usingchildactors,youneedchildperformance licenses,andall
the cast and crew needtobe paid,at least,the minimumwage. http://filmlondon.org.uk/legal
Gettingpermissionisimportanttomake sure youstay withinthe law.
Adherence tocodesof practice and regulation:
 ClearancesandLegal–can be lawsthat protectthe rightsof creators,workersand organisations.
Typesof clearancesinclude;
 Screenplays
 Music on soundtracks
 Adaptations
 Actors
 Crew

8. Copyrightallowsthe ownerof apiece of workthe right to sayhow otherpeople canuse it.It is
importantas itprotectswork againstuse byotherswithoutpermissionandallowsthe ownertoget
moneyfromtheirwork.
Clearancesare importantastheymake sure someone doesn’tinfringethe rightsof others.Manyfilm
festivalsandfilmdistributorswanttosee a piece of worksclearancesbefore doinganything.
The HangoverPart II’sfilmposterdidn’tgetclearance asthe character shownhas a replicaof Mike
Tyson’stattoo,whichthe creatorsdid notask permissionof the tattooartist.Theywere suedandthe
artistwon.The filmcompanyhadto pay thema lotof money,butif inthe firstplace,theyhadsettled
some sort of agreement,itwouldn’thave arisenandcostthemmore.
 Regulations:The BBFCclassifyandcensorthe filmsexhibitedatcinemasandvideoworks
releasedonphysical mediainthe UK.Theyimpact filmsasonlya certainage audience maybe
able to watcha filmreleased.
 Trade UnionsandProfessional Bodies:
 Producers Alliance forCinemaand Television(PACT) –a UK trade associationforindependent
contentproducersin feature film, television,animation,children'sanddigital media.
 Equity – equity-basedfinance ishavinginvestors contributemoneytothe productionin
exchange foran ownershipinterestinthe filmandthe profitsderivedfromthe exploitationof
the film.
 BECTU – a trade unioninthe UK. Theysupportmembersworkinginnon-performance rolesin
broadcasting;filmandcinema;digital media;independentproduction;leisure;ITandtelecoms,
and theatre andthe arts.
Theyall helpcrewmembersin the filmandmediaindustry.
A2 The formats for the pre-productionprocesses

9. Establishedindustryformatsforpresentingpre-productionwork:
Screenplaysare one of the mostimportantparts of pre-productionas,firstly,ittellsthe complete story
that will be filmed,itcontainsall the actioninthe filmandall the dialogue said.Itallowsothermembers
of the crew(castingdirectorsandlater,costume andmake-updepartmentmostly) togeta feel forthe
characters andwhat theywill looklike.Afterthe screenplayiscompleted,peoplecangetto workon
create schedulesanddecidingonbudgetsneededtomove the filmintothe productionstage.Itisone
of the mostimportantand essentialdocumentsneededtobringthe whole pre-productionprocess.
The industryformatfor a screenplay:
▫ 12-pointcourierfont
▫ 1.5-inchleftmargin
▫ 1-inchright margin
▫ 1-inchtop and bottommargins
▫ Dialogue 2.5-inchesfromleftsideof the page
▫ Pagesshouldbe numberedinthe toprightcorner
Keyterms:
 Scenes – the action in a single locationwithinacontinuoustime.
 SlugLines - a line of abbreviatedtextatthe beginningof eachscene inascreenplaythat
describesthe locationandtime of day.
 Scene Description –textthatdescribeswhata character isdoingina scene, orwhatis
happeninginascene.
 Character Cues – identifieswhatcharacterisspeaking.
 Dialogue –the wordsthat the characters say.
 Parentheses - awordor phrase insertedasan explanationorafterthoughtintoapassage which
isgrammaticallycomplete withoutit.

10. Alongwitha correctlywrittenscreenplay,manyfilmmakerspresenteitherawrittenorvisual storyboard
whichconnectswiththe script.Thisfurther visualises the screenplayandshowsthatmore efforthas
beenputintoa project,whichmay seempromisingtofinancersandotherprofessional bodies.
Correct formattingis neededsoeveryonecanunderstandwhattheyare reading,andsothe pre-
productionstage can move onto the productionstage.If a script isnot writtentoindustrystandard,
whensenttopotential financers,theywillnotbothertoreadit and itwill be sentback.Whenwritten
correctly,iteasierforeveryone tounderstandandmeansthatnochangeswill needtobe adjustedtoit
later,so effectivelyitsavestime thatcouldbe usedlaterinthe process.
A3 The functions ofpre-productionprocesses
 Revisinganddiscountingideas –The average screenplaygoesthrough6-7draftsto ensure itis
well done.Whenrevisingascriptiscarriedout, youshouldthinkaboutthe potential budgetof
the filmandthinkof ways (like usingonlyacouple of locationsandshootingonlocation) to
simplifythings.Beforefilmingiscarriedout,actors andsome crew membersmeetandthere isa
read-throughof the script.Rehearsalsare thenpracticed,whichusuallylastacouple of months.
Thismakessure that everyone knowswhattheyare doing,whichsavesfilmingtime astheycan
getthrough eachscene quicker.Italsomakeseverythinglessstressful.
(Startat 0:42 https://youtu.be/thw1-oRWo3k - Scriptread-throughforone of the star-warsmovies)
 Visualisingcontent–Storyboards visualiseeverysingleshotina film.Theymayinclude notesof
whattype of shotis beingused,the durationof the shotandwhat ishappeningineachshot.
Illustratorsare sometime hiredtodraw the storyboards.Moodboards are usedand createdto
showcase initial thoughtsormeetingandinspirethe moodof the firstdraft.Storyboardshelp
the cinematographersanddirectorsknow and visualise whatshotstheyare filmingwhen
productionhasstarted,andmakestheyget all the shotstheywanttoo so theydon’thave to re-
shootwhile inpost-production.Thisalso savesmoneyandtime.

11.  Establishingfeasibility –thisensuresthataprojectis legallyandtechnicallyfeasible aswell as
economicallyjustifiable.Itallowsinvestorstosee whetheraprojectisworthinvestinginornot
– sometimesaprojectisnot doable.Expertise,timescale,costsandlogisticsare all lookedatin
great detail tomake sure theycan be carriedout and can be afforded.
 Thisis part of the mainstoryboardforthe filmTaxi Driver.Theymustshow ideasof whatshots
are to be used,withsome notesunderneaththe drawingwhichmayincludeduration,dialogue
and the type of shot.
A4 The purposes of pre-productiondocumentation
Adherence tocodesof practice and regulation:
Pre-productionprocessesare undertakentomake sure thatwhattheyare planningadhere torelevant
codesof practice,lawsregulations.Itensuresthatnothingisillegal,andeverythingisdone withinthe
correct procedures,whichensuresthateverythingrunssmoothly.

12. Administrative requirements:record-keeping,sharingof informationamongrelevantparties –
communication.
These pointsensure thateveryoneknowswhatis happeningatanytime and whathappenedatwhat
time.If somethingchanges,more thanone personneedstoknow asit couldaffectmultiple parties,so
theyall mustwork aroundthe problemtostickto the budgetandtime limit.Italsohelpsif problems
occur laterin the productionprocessif youhave recordsfromthe beginningof everything.Itmeansthat
everythingisdone easilyandpreventsanythingbadfromhappeninginthe future.If everyone has
agreedto the terms,there isnota lottheycan do laterto change it.
Auditingcompliance –accounting
A compliance auditisanauditengagementinwhichthe goal istodetermine whetheran organisation is
adheringtothe termsof a contract or certainrulesandregulations.Thisisall writteninadocument,
that usuallycoversmanypagesandisverydetailed,thatisbinding.Mostproductionswill hire
accountantsto lookafterand overthe spending'sandbudgettomake sure everythingisrunning
smoothlyandlegally.
https://developers.google.com/web/tools/lighthouse/audits/budgets