BTEC Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production (Broadcast)

Final Major Project Assignment Handbook

Learner Name:……………………….Tutor:Broadcast teamAcademic Year:…………..

BTECLEVEL 3EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION - Broadcast

Assignment title: / My Final Major Project
Unit number:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 17, 36, 37, 40, 46 / Unit title:
Pre-Production Techniques for the Creative Media Industries(improve on grade for year 12)
Communication Skills for the Creative Media Industries (improve on grade for year 12)
Research Techniques(improve on grade for year 12)
Production Management Project
Working to a Brief in the Media Industries
Audio Production Processes and Techniques (criteria 3 and 4)(optional)
Interview Techniques for Creative Media Production
Presentation Techniques for Broadcasting
Speech Package Production (optional)
Factual Programme Production Techniques for Radio
Assessors:Broadcast Team / Internal Verifier:Simon Bunyard
Issue Date:09/10/2014 / Submission Date:15/05/2014

The work for this assignment must be submitted in accordance with theinstructions given in the assignment.

Learner Tracking record

Stages / Completed / Date / Learner signature / Tutor signature
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5

Learner declaration

I declare that all the work submitted for this assignment is my own work or, in the case of group work, the work of myself and the other members of the group in which I worked, and that no part of it has been copied from any source.

I understand that if any part of the work submitted for this assignment is found to be plagiarised, none of the work submitted will be allowed to count towards the assessment of the assignment.

Learner Name:……………………………………………..Signed:……………………………………………………… Date:…………………

Introduction to ‘The Final Major Project’- General overview

‘The Final Major Project’is a real-world experience which leads to the production of a promotional video for a live client. By the end of the project you will have produced a polished and creative professional production to a specified client brief provided by your course leaders.

By completing the assignment you should be able to demonstrate achievement of all the criteria of the units listed above (individual unit assignment briefs provided).

Through completing this project you will:

  • develop essential professional practice skills whilst working with a client
  • professionally manage a production from start to finish
  • develop theoretical skills by analysing existing products, and develop your ability to identify codes and conventions
  • develop your understanding of pre-production techniques (including research) and put them into practice
  • develop skills in production whilst producing your programme and features
  • further your skills in editing when taking your project into post-production
  • present your work to a client and adjust it in light of their feedback
  • develop important general skills such as efficient working procedures and time management.

Your experiences at each stage of this project will build your skills and understandingin media production. Carefulnote of your progress should be made in yourassignment production diary.

Scenario

Corporate and promotional video production accounts for a fair proportion of media employment. Commissions for this type of work range from small-scale jobs for cash-strapped organisations to quite lavish productions that will accompany the release of a big movie. In both cases, however, the client will expect creativity and technical excellence on a very tight budget (hypothetical budget of £10000), and completion to a seemingly realistic deadline. In other words, it is not easy money, but it is probably the commonest source of that rare commodity for a freelance video producer.

Your clientrequires a 5 minute or more film to use for promotional and marketing purposes. The video/film will need to target an audience identified by the client.

You have a hypothetical budget of £10,000 and the deadline will be set in your brief

General procedure

Media students are to individually produce one short promotional video (about five minutes, may vary dependant on client) in accordance with the production brief presented by the client, highlighting the key themes/issues theClient would like covered.

Students will select a production team to help produce footage for a video, and each member of each team (if you are working in pairs) will do an individual edit and produce an individual production diary. All work must be presented in a physical project folder.

Summary of stages of project

Stages / Completion date / Units Covered / Grading Criteria Covered
Pass / Merit / Distinction
1: Generate & develop ideas, Research and client pitch Research for and prepare an initial idea for your video and present it to your client. / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
2 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3
4 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2
5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3
17 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2
36 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2
37 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2
40 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3
46 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3
2: Pre-production
Produce a portfolio of pre-production documentation in preparation for production of your programme. / 1 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2
4 / 3 / 3 / 3
17 / 2 / 2 / 2
36 / 3 / 3 / 3
37 / 2 / 2 / 2
40 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4
46 / 3 / 3 / 3
3: Packaging of Features
Conduct the production of features to be used in broadcast. / 1 / 3 / 3 / 3
4 / 3 / 3 / 3
17 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4
36 / 4 / 4 / 4
37 / 3 / 3 / 3
40 / 4 / 4 / 4
46 / 4 / 4 / 4
4: Broadcasting
Complete the planned post-production process, editing your captured footage. / 1 / 3 / 3 / 3
4 / 3 / 3 / 3
5 / 4 / 4 / 4
17 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4
36 / 4 / 4 / 4
37 / 3 / 3 / 3
40 / 4 / 4 / 4
5: Evaluation
Present your final cut to the client, outlining the links to the codes and conventions of the genre and any alterations made to original plans. / 37 / 4 / 4 / 4

PMD – Represent PASS, MERIT and DISTINCTION

Time allowed

This project will take up two days of each week for the next two and a half terms.The finished video must be completed and ready for submission in the first week of May.

As this is a large project in several stages, you will be given deadlines for each stage, 1 - 5 (Schedule provided). It is vital that you keep to this schedule of deadlines. Meeting deadlines is a ‘professional expectation’ of all those working in the media industries. If you fail to meet the deadlines set in the individual assignments in this sequence you will therefore not meet that element of certain distinction criteria in the units covered and will therefore not be able to get a distinction for those units.

Assessment

By completing ‘The Final Major project’production you will cover all the criteria for 10 units of which 2 are optional- Unit 1: Pre-Production Techniques for the Creative Media Industries, Unit 2: Communication Skills for the Creative Media Industries Unit 3: Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries, Unit 4: Creative Media Production Management Project, Unit 5: Working to a brief in the Creative Media Industries, Unit 17Audio Production Processes and Techniques (criteria 3 and 4) (optional), Unit 36: Interview Techniques for Creative Media Production, Unit 37: Presentation Techniques for Broadcasting, Unit 40: Speech Package Production (optional), Unit 46: Factual Programme Production Techniques for Radio

Remember that in order to achieve a particular grade for a unit, you have to achieve that grade in all the unit’s assessment criteria.

NB: A major complication of a large project such as this is keeping and organisingyour work. When you hand work in, your material must be organised and labelled so that it is clear to the assessor what work belongs to which unit. You will be given plenty of help with this in your tutorial sessions.

My Final Major Project- Stage 1–Overview

This stage is about codes, conventions and current practice in radio programming production.

Having organised yourselves for the rest of the assignment, you will experience a client briefing — one of the fundamental elements of much media production activity, especially for the freelance worker and small company.

You will then do your preliminary research for the assignment by investigating the theories and methodologies behind corporate or promotional video production. You will look at the corporate or promotional programme as a media form and study its codes and conventions.

Using your understanding of the genre, you will develop your initial ideas and present them to the client.

My Final Major Project - Stage 2–Overview

At this stage of the assignment you will do all the pre-production planning for your promotional video — script, audio requirements, arrangements for presenters/interviewees /talent (if applicable) and locations, permissions, risk assessments, copyright clearances and, above all, schedules.

You will also produce a budget (if applicable) breakdown sheet that reflects the costs that would be incurred if you were a professional production company. By the end of this stage you should have everything in place ready move to the next stage of producing your features and show.

My Final Major Project - Stage 3 - overview

Following your pre-production (planning), you must now complete the productionstage. You should aim to follow closely the planning you have done as this will makeyour shoot more efficient in terms of time, energy and budget (if applicable). However, you shouldalso be prepared to respond creatively to unforeseen circumstances if they occur.

Through completing this assignment, you should learn to recognise the differencebetween unforeseen circumstances and poor planning.

My Final Major Project - Stage 4–Overview

You must next complete individually a cut of the video your team has been workingon, closely following the script, structure and/or storyboard you agreed in Stage 2.

As before, it is important to learn how to plan efficiently. Editing suites are veryexpensive to hire, and it is therefore vital not to waste time there. Careful planningwill ease the process and save money.

You should also learn from this exercise, when you compare your edit with those of theother members of your team, how differently the same material can be edited, evenwhen following the same script and storyboard.

Ensure that production diary is up-to-date

My Final Major Project - Stage 5–Overview

will also produce a writtenreport/evaluation on the production of your shows, critical analysing your performance taking into account other people’s opinion and views,

All 10 shows must be broadcasted by 27thMarch 2015.Ensure that production diary is up-to-date

The deadline for the evaluation is 30thApril 2015 at 16.30 pm.

Final Major Project Schedule

TASK / COMPLETION DATES
Presentation of FMP Brief by Client / 9thOctober 2014
Proposals and pitch negotiation (recorded on digital recorders)
After careful study of the options, select one and prepare a well thought-out project proposal / By 27thNovember 2014
Feedback from The Client on FMP proposals
Written feedback on student pitch and proposals / 1st December 2014
Research
Primary and secondary research to be completed and information presented using PowerPoint or other format / 11th December 2014
Pre-production
Complete breakdown of all activities, including storyboards, scripts, budgets, interview list, contingency plan, etc. / 19thDecember 2014
Packaging of features
Final mix-down of features. You may decide to package some of the features as you go but must have at least 5 packaged before first transmission. / November 2014 - 13thMarch 2015
Broadcast
Shows must be aired weekly between January and March, and must include a feature in each show / 12th January 2015 - 26thMarch 2015
Evaluation / 8thMay 2015

Please note that meeting Deadlines is very important (you will be working with busy Clients)

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT PRESENTATION

PAGE TITLE
/ CONTAINS:

TITLE PAGE

/ Title of production
CONTENTS PAGE /
  1. Initial Ideas

  1. Primary and Secondary Research (qualitative and quantitative)

  1. Proposal – Content, Style and output

  1. Initial Skills

  1. Target Audience

  1. Production schedule

  1. Production Team (including roles and responsibilities)

  1. Budget, Requirements and equipment requisition

  1. Script

  1. Interview questions/script

  1. Contingency Plans

  1. Risk Assessment

  1. Credits and supports

  1. Permissions and consent

  1. Call Sheet

  1. Contacts

  1. Interview log

  1. Post-production/Editing

  1. Production live broadcast x10

  1. Evaluation

Initial Ideas / Brainstormed ideas, notes of meetings with the Production Team. (Investigate proposals for combining different media.)
Primary and Secondary Research / Product, target audience and market research using various qualitative and quantitative research techniques
Proposal - Content & Style /
  • The brief
  • The objectives behind the production
  • The style of the shows
  • Use of features
  • Type-styles
  • Music etc

INITIAL SKILLS / Should be included in the project proposal
Target Audience / Working to the brief, showing statistics, questionnaireresults (pie-charts).
Production schedule / The week-by-week breakdown of the production
Production Team / List of crew involved, your roles and responsibilities
Budget & Requirements / A breakdown of costs, transport, location requirements, equipment.
List of all equipment required and booking forms/requisition
Script / The treatment and the script.
Interview scriptS / The questions you have created for the interviewees & vox pops.
Contingency Plans / Second choice ideas with back-up plans
Risk Assessment / Health & Safety issues, areas of risk for Production Team and Public
Credits and supporters / A list of contributors and thanks (if necessary)
PERMISSIONS AND CONSENT / Ensure that your get all permissions (for shooting at any location) in writing from the person in charge of that location. Consent forms should be completed and signed by all major interviewees and contributors.
Call Sheet / Call sheets for any location used for features and broadcast
CONTACTS / Documentary evidence of any letters, phone calls, emails etc
interview LOG / A log of all recorded interviews (during the production phase). This log will be used in the scheduling of your shows
POST-PRODUCTION/EDITING / Using Adobe audition you will Edit all features to be used in your show
pRODUCTION – Live broadcasts x10 / This is when you conduct your live broadcast including 10 features from factual programming for radio.
EVALUATION / After listening back to your broadcasts, you will prepare a written report on your shows and the quality of your background pre-production, research and production management role. This should include some peer comment, client analysis and feedback (and any changes made in the light of that feedback).
(Include “full recognition of relevant moral & ethical issues)