Planning for treatment prezi (what to include)

Introduction:

In this blogpost, I am going to plan my treatment for my short media product. The final treatment will be presented on a Prezi.

What have I learnt

• what types of research there are (quantitative and qualitative)
• what methods of research there are (Primary and secondary)
• different media research agencies
• how to carry out different methods of research (e.g. questionnaire, proofing/referencing secondary sources)
• the three different purposes of research within media (audience, market and production)

What research did I undertake

• carried out forms of primary research on audience
• carried out research on how to create a short film
• what equipment I need
• what members of staff i need and what roles
• how to budget and estimating the prices of materials
• researched different locations and prices and permission

(include examples in the prezi, e.g. the focus group video, and image of questionnaire)

How did it help with my proposal

• helped me to find information, data and statistics on how to create a efficient media product
• how to make it relate to my target market
• helped me find effective techniques against rival film makers
• how to include different techniques to help with my film making

Structure

• Low budget drama
• horror/psychopathic genre
• will be set in a graveyard, desolate field/park, deserted barn/stable/bedroom
• the story will be based around a possessed/psychopathic girl seeking revenge and torment on a group of victims
• the film will remain a cliffhanger at the end to scare the audience more
• the music used will follow regular horror genre mise-en-scene techniques to ensure we achieve the correct response from the target audience of 16-25 year old.

Budget proposal

• Personnel: TOTAL: £315
• Suppliers/equipment: TOTAL: £965
• Facilities: TOTAL: £25
• Locations: TOTAL: £0
• Logistical support: TOTAL: £800

FINAL TOTAL: £2105
FINAL BUDGET: £2200

Schedule/timescale


Pre-production:
create a moodboard (1 day)
plan mise en scene (1 day)
create a script (3 days)
carry out a risk assessment (2 days)
create a timeline analysis for cuts and edits (1 day)
production schedule (inc. crew, location and shots) (3 days)
TOTAL: 11 Days

Production:
test out equipment (2 days)
film the scenes (2 weeks)
record the sound/audio clips (3 days)
TOTAL: 19 Days

Post-Production:
edit the scenes (1 week)
add sound effects and music (2 days)
insert and create/add special effects and credits (2 days)
proof check to small focus group (1 day)
publish on the internet (1 day)
advertise using social networks, local media and competitons (e.g. virgin shorts) (2 days)
TOTAL: 14 Days

TOTAL DAYS: 44 Days (6 weeks and 2 days)
BUDGETED DAYS: 49 Days (7 weeks)


Editing equipment

editing software/hardware (Photoshop, computer basics (monitor, keyboard, hard drive, mouse) camera accessories headphones/speakers)

Production and Budget research

Introduction:

In this blog post, I am going to research and present the findings of any production research needed towards my 5 minute document and treatment presentation. My media product will be a low budget product, so costs will be reasonably low.

BTEC guidelines:

Production research: content; resources, eg personnel, talent, finance, suppliers, facilities, locations, logistics support; costs; viability; placement, eg publication, broadcast, webcast, podcast, audience.

Resources:

Personnel:

(1) The personnel needed for the production of my short media product will be a producer, director, researcher, script writer, equipment operator (camera, lights, sound), editor, actor/actresses, set/location designer.

All of these members must be asked for permission and I must take into account of costs to the personnel.

Talent

Talent needed for each member of personnel must be based on the experience and qualifications achieved.

E.g. director must have previous experience, actors/actresses must have acting/performing experience, editor must have qualifications on editing software/hardware.

Finance

(refer to costs)

Suppliers/equipment

(2) Suppliers are needed to get the appropriate equipment and resources needed. The equipment needed to help in making my product are;

• camera
• tri-pod
• microphone/audio recorder
• boompole
• dolly/tracker
• lighting
• editing software/hardware (Photoshop, computer basics (monitor, keyboard, hard drive, mouse) camera accesories, headphones/speakers)

All of these equipment will need to put into costs/budgeted.

Facilities

The facilities that are available to allow me to plan and create my media product are at home, the work place (schools), public facilities (library, internet cafes, etc).

I must take into account if any costs are needed when using these facilities, e.g. usage fees, electrics, printing costs, etc).

Locations

For my media product, I have researched and selected a few locations for my media product according to the audience feedback I recieved. I may not use all of these locations, i have just researched and listed them for the purpose of the treatment. Once I start planning the pre-production and create the media product, I will edit the final choices of locations.

I have chosen to set my locations at;

• a park
• a graveyard
• a desolate bedroom/barn/stable

Logistical support

I will need logistic support to help me move my equipment and personnel from each location. So I need hire/rent a van and minibus to help with moving the resources. This will also need to be taken into account within the costs.

Costs:

All of these costs are estimated according to research through primary and secondary research. This is not the finalized amount and it will be used to help budget my finances. (3)

Personnel:
producer (£50)
director (£50)
researcher (£45)
script writer (£45)
equipment operator (camera, lights, sound) (£20)
editor (£50)
per actor/actresses (£35)
set/location designer (£20)

TOTAL: £315

Suppliers/equipment: (4)
camera (£300)
tri-pod (£20)
microphone/audio recorder (£25)
boompole (£35)
dolly/tracker (£70)
lighting (£15)
editing software/hardware (Photoshop, computer basics (monitor, keyboard, hard drive, mouse) camera accesories, headphones/speakers) (£500)

TOTAL: £965

(Some of the equipment prices have been estimated from Amazon.co.uk)

Facilities:
Home (£20)
Work environment (schools) Free
Library (£5)

TOTAL: £25

Locations:

a park (£0)

a graveyard (£0)

a desolate bedroom/barn/stable (£0)

Logistical support: (5)
Compact Van rental - 1 week (£250)
15 seater minibus rental - 1 week (£ 550)

TOTAL: £800

FINAL TOTAL: £2105

FINAL BUDGET: £2200

Placement:

My finalised media product will  be webcasted, which means I will place the video on YouTube.com and it will be available to download and share on other websites, e.g. Blogger, Facebook, etc.

Bibliography:

(1)http://edtech.guhsd.net/video/videoroles.html (16/09/2012)

(2)http://www.indie-film-making.com/video-equipment/ (16/09/2012)

http://www.ehow.com/video_2384807_equipment-making-documentary-film.html (16/09/2012)

(3)http://www.indie-film-making.com/setting-a-budget/ (16/09/2012)

(4)http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-life/7594223/Making-a-short-film-the-essential-equipment.html

(5)http://www.vanrentals.co.uk/listveh.php (16/09/2012)

Schedule planning

Introduction:

To help me plan my schedule for creating my media product (5 minute video), I am going to split the tasks into three categories, pre-production, production and post-production. This will help me to organize what tasks need to be completed, and in which order to help me complete the product in chronological order.

All of these tasks will take place once the treatment has been presented and accepted by the client. This schedule will be included within the treatement to the client.

Pre-production:

• create a moodboard (1 day)
• plan mise en scene (1 day)
• create a script (3 days)
• carry out a risk assessment (2 days)
• create a timeline analysis for cuts and edits (1 day)
• production schedule (inc. crew, location and shots) (3 days)

TOTAL: 11 Days

Production:

• test out equipment (2 days)
• film the scenes (2 weeks)
• record the sound/audio clips (3 days)

TOTAL: 19 Days

Post-Production:

• edit the scenes (1 week)
• add sound effects and music (2 days)
• insert and create/add special effects and credits (2 days)
• proof check to small focus group (1 day)
• publish on the internet (1 day)
• advertise using social networks, local media and competitons (e.g. virgin shorts) (2 days)

TOTAL: 14 Days

TOTAL DAYS: 44 Days (6 weeks and 2 days)

BUDGETED DAYS: 49 Days (7 weeks)

Bibliography:
http://www.indie-film-making.com/the-filmmaking-process/ (16/09/2012)

http://www.indie-film-making.com/planning-and-storyboarding/ (16/09/2012)

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-art-of-scheduling-a-film.html (16/09/2012)

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Movie (16/09/2012)

Single camera techniques

Introduction:

In this blog post, I am going to be researching and explaining the filming and editing technique of "single camera techniques.

The purpose of researching this information is so I can apply these techniques when making my 5 minute film. I will research and explain the technique and provide examples of it being used in current media products.

Single camera techniques

"A single camera production is when only one camera is used on a shoot rather than multiple cameras.  This is likely to be used on the set of a short film as they tend to have short scripts, or it could possibly be due to a small budget or the equipment that is available to you.

Using Multi camera means that shots can edited together quickly, providing the viewer with something new to look at.  This can be achieved on a single camera production too, but a scene will have to be shot multiple times from different angles to achieve the same look.  Using single camera also means that time can be taken to construct the scenes well." (1)

"In single-camera, if a scene cuts back and forth between actor A and actor B, the director will first point the camera towards A and shoot shots number 1, 3, 5, 7, and so on. Then they will point the camera toward B and do shots number 2, 4, 6, 8, and so on.

In the post-production editing process, the shots will be assembled into their final order. Furthermore, single-camera productions tend to cluster the shooting of all the scenes that utilize a certain set and cast." (2)

Examples

EastEnders - 10-09-2012  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEAYwR04lrg)

ugly betty season 4 episode 20 part 1(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BldBXAhC_IU)

Bibliography

(1) http://gemmatv.wordpress.com/category/single-camera-techniques/ (11/09/2012)

(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-camera_setup (11/09/2012)

http://maloneydrama.wordpress.com/single-camera-techniques/ (11/09/2012)

10 strategies for securing creative funding

Introduction:

In the Computer Arts (issue 148), I carried out some secondary research on media journals/magazines and found some information to help plan out the treatment plan to the clients. Although all of the strategies may not apply, I have listed them below for proof. (Page 102).

The list:

1. Have a clear plan

Create a five minute drama based on ... and produce a treatment to present to a board of clients.

2. Align your goals

Carry out research on target audience, analyze existing short dramas, carry out production research (editing equipment and locations), carry out budget research, plan time scale, create and rehearse treatment.

(Market, Audience and Production research).

3. Focus on problem-solving

Plan out timing to carry out research, and know how to use different mediums to gather information.

4. Make effective use of your networks

Ask friends and family to help gather information. Use school, home and public equipment to record and gather data.

5. Put together and use a strong board of advisors

-

6. secure early customers

carry out research on target customers and see what their likes and dislikes are to create an effective media product.

7. understand your market

Carry out secondary and primary research on target viewers. (e.g. questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, market research staticstics).

8. know your rivals

research similar videos to help find techniques and ideas and put them into my plans/treatment.

9. define a clear exit route

-

10. be honest about your strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths: have access to many medium facilities (use to full potential)

Weaknesses: may not have many resources and equipment to carry out research.

Bibliography/Referencing:

Garrick Webster. (May 2008). 10 strategies for securing creative funding. Computer Arts. 148 (1), 101, 102.

Audience questionnaire results and focus group proof

Introduction

In this blogpost, I am going to present the results of the audience questionnaire and I am going to include a video recording clip on a small focus group that we took after concluding the results of the questionnaire.

We managed to gather data of 20 people and the focus group consists of 4 volunteers.

Questionnaire results

The results were put into Microsoft Excel and will be proofed on this blog in screen shots.

Locations question is based on a open answer which cannot be measured.

Conclusion from questionnaire

So from the conclusion, our media product will be

• aimed at teens from 16-20
• be aimed both at males and females
• be of the horror genre
• will be of a short timing from 0-30 minutes
• have a range of pop and hip hop style music
• and should be shown using cinemas

These results are just to find out what our audience like and we will carry out more in depth research on our audience (such as focus groups) to find out more information on our finalized media product. Some of these results may not be taken into account because of restrictions (e.g. lasting for more than 5 minutes, and be distributed using cinemas).

Focus group video proof

The video below shows proof of some more indepth audience research we carried out to help create our finalized media product.

>>>PUT IN FOCUS GROUP VIDEO HERE!<<<

Bibliography

http://samsia-research.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/audience-questionnaire.html

Audience Questionnaire

Printed/Written questionnaire:

Online Questionnaire: