Media Production Essay Example

Media Production Essay Example Media Production Essay Media Production Essay There are many things to consider when creating a film, music video or animation. How much will it cost? Who needs to be employed? How long will it take? These are the main questions that need to be answered before anyone even begins to create a piece of media. Personnel Producer Producers are the main individuals in television, film and video production. The initial idea for a project often comes from a producer, who will oversee each project from beginning to end and may also be involved in the funding, marketing and distribution processes. A producer or executive producer is meant to report directly to the client (the person who wants the film/music video created). Producers work closely with directors and the other production staff on the media piece. Most of the time, they need to have directing skills themselves as it is likely that the producer will also be the director and take care of all of the production operations. Producers arrange funding for each project and are responsible for keeping the production within the allocated budget. Directors Directors are responsible for the look, sound and style of a film or media piece. Their job usually starts when they receive the script, although in some cases the director may also be the scriptwriter. It is the directors ‘artistic vision’ that will guide the work of the crew as they look for the right locations, hire the cast, design the sets, sound and lighting, and finally edit and dub the finished recording. Typical work activities include: -interpreting the script; -directing actors; -managing technical details, such as camera shots and the use of lighting; -making final decisions about location and design; talking with the producer at certain stages, for example, when editing the final cut; -managing the work of the other production staff and delegating tasks accordingly to create the final production. Scriptwriter A scriptwriter is a person who writes scripts. A script is a written version of a piece of media. Scripts are written for TV shows, movies, commercials and plays. A scriptwriter writes scripts for anything that requires one including internet show and podcasts. A scriptwriter produces content for radio, television broadcast, movies, theatre and other types of performance. As with all writers, scriptwriters conduct research on their topics in various ways: personal observation, library and Internet research and interviews. Writers then pick the research material they want to use, organize it and use the written word to express storylines and ideas or to convey information. This research is needed so the storyline can be historically accurate if needs be (such as ‘King Arthur’ or ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’). Casting director A casting director is responsible for helping to gather a number of actors or actresses for a given role to fit the script and directors vision of the performance. The casting director reads the script and meets with the producer, director and sometimes the writer, to get an idea of the type of person a given role calls for. Once this is determined, the casting director begins auditioning. They will meet with any number of individuals and begin narrowing down the field. Once a handful of hopefuls have been identified, the casting director then presents them to the director, producer or writer of the project. Casting directors meet with thousands of actors over the course of a given year. They must determine whether an actor fits the look of a character as well as whether or not that particular actor would be believable in the role they are casting. Production manager A production manager is involved with the planning, coordination and control of the set. They ensure that goods and services are produced efficiently, and make sure that the processes run as smoothly as possible. This is important as the director and producer cannot do this extra work while coaching and directing the lighting, and sound crew, as well as the actors themselves. A production manager is involved in both the pre-production (planning) stage as well as the production (control and supervision) stage. A large part of production management involves dealing with people, particularly investors and dealing with any public involvement. Art director Art directors oversee the artistic design of advertisements and print materials (such as billboards or magazines), as well as the filming of television commercials and are responsible for the quality of the finished product. The art director can choose to hire a photographer, an illustrator, models, and any props necessary for an advert. If a photo advertisement comes back from the printer with an imperfection, the art director is also responsible for retouching it. In advertising, the art director is not only responsible for the look of an advert but is also part of a creative team responsible for developing the initial concept. An art director and a copywriter (who writes the adverts) may decide on an advertising concept together. Then they determine how the ad will look and what it will say. Editors A film editor is technically a mechanic who removes the unneeded clips and fits pieces of film together to make the finished feature. He works with cinematographers and sound editors to mesh sight and sound to make the film work. Being a film editor requires hours of looking through footage and then assembling a film a half-second at a time, while working quickly to meet the filmmakers deadlines. While a skilled movie editors contribution can mean the difference between a hit and a so-so film, film editing done well is usually completely unnoticed by the audience. Here are some of the most important elements in the job of a film editor: -Read the script and meet with the director to understand his  vision of the film. -Make visits to the locations during filming to gain a sense of how the shooting is going to take place. -Go through footage, once shooting is done, and select scenes based on their dramatic and entertainment value and contribution to stories’ continuity. The editor has to look for the best combination of photography, performance, consistency and timing. Trim the segments of footage to the lengths needed for the film and assemble them into the best sequence to tell the story. -Work with sound effects editors, sound directors and musical directors on sound, score and film sequences that will be added to the film. -Insert music, dialogue and sound effects, using editing equipment. -Review the edited film, make corrections and prepare it as a first cut for the director and producer to view. The first cut may take up to thre e months to assemble. -Make revisions, as requested by the director and producers, and prepare the final cut for release to the film house for production. The final cut may take an additional month at least to finish Line producer In television and film, producers handle the business side of a project, making decisions about what projects to make, finding financing, establishing a budget and deadlines and then ensuring the project progresses as scheduled. Line production is the process of overseeing the day-to-day activities on a film or television show set, much like a foreman in a factory. Storyboard artist A storyboarder, also called a storyboard artist, is a professional visual artist who works with entertainment and advertising. They are responsible for drawing the scenes of a film or television production, to provide an example of a directors plan prior to a film being created. In addition to illustrating a directors vision, these drawings also let the director get rid of certain ideas prior to going into production, saving valuable money and time. The initial conference with the director and producer occurs so that the storyboarder may gain an understanding of the visual goals of the production. Following the meeting, they illustrate various scenes, based upon the specifications they have received. These drawings are then reviewed by the person in charge, who will either request the storyboarder redo them, create new storyboards or decide that production may begin. The storyboarder repeats this process for each scene of a shooting script. Location manager Location managers are responsible for making all the practical arrangements necessary when filming or photographic shoots take place outside the studio. Productions are made in a wide range of places and location managers need to research, identify and organise appropriate sites. As well as arranging and negotiating site use, the role usually includes managing sites throughout the shooting process. This involves working to strict budget and time limits and maintaining a high standard of health and safety and security. The demands of organising crews and dealing with a range of people make this an intense and varied role. Construction manager A construction manager or supervisor is responsible for running  the whole or part of a film site and he or she will make sure a scene is completed safely, on time and within budget. Responsibilities include making preparations before work begins, including communicating with the public, directors, producers and cost managers involved in the production. SFX crew Visual effects commonly refers to alterations of the films images, although the VFX crew works alongside the special effects department for any on-set effects that need physical representation during filming. Visual Effects Producer The visual effects producer works with the visual effects supervisor to break down the script into storyboards, and advises the director as to how they should approach the scenes. Visual Effects Creative Director VFX creative directors are very much like production designers, except they direct and supervise the creative side of the films visual effects. The position is particularly in demand for films with massive amounts of computer generated imagery and scenes. Visual Effects Supervisor The visual effects supervisor is in charge of the VFX crew, working with production and the films director to achieve the desired in-camera optical effects of the film. Visual Effects Editor The visual effects editor ‘sticks together’ visual effects into the current cuts of live action sequences, producing many versions of each shot. Altered scenes are then looked over by the visual effects supervisor and creative director for aesthetic and technical direction, and by the producers for review and final editing. Compositor A compositor is a visual effects artist responsible for compositing images from different sources such as video, film, computer generated 3-D imagery, 2-D animations, matte paintings, photographs, and text. Rotoscoper These artists may rotoscope the footage, manually creating mattes for use in compositing. They may also paint visual information into or out of a scene, such removing wires and rigs, logos, dust busting, scratch removal, etc. 3] Matte Painter These artists draw/paint entire sets or extend portions of an existing set. Camera crew Cinematographer The term cinematographer has been a point of contention for some time now. It is usually synonymous with director of photography, though some professionals insist this only applies when the director of photography and camera operator are the same person. Director of Photography The director of photography is the chief of the camera and lighting crew of the film. They make decisions on lighting and framing of scenes in conjunction with the films director. Typically, the director tells the them how they want a shot to look, and they choose the correct filter, and lighting to achieve the desired effect. Camera Operator The camera operator uses the camera at the direction of the cinematographer, director of photography, or the film director to capture the scenes on film. Generally, a cinematographer or director of photography does not operate the camera, but sometimes these jobs may be combined. Loader The loader is the designated film loader. They transfer motion picture film from the canisters to the magazines for attachment to the camera. After exposure during filming, the loader then removes the film from the magazines and places it back into the cans for transport to the laboratory so they do not get light damaged on the way. It is the responsibility of the loader to manage the inventory of the film and make sure none of it gets lost or damaged; however with the use of digital photography nowadays, this position is often eliminated. Camera Production Assistant Usually a volunteer or trainee in the camera department, the camera PA assists the crew with finer details while learning the trade of the camera assistant, operator or cinematographer. Digital Imaging Technician On digital photography productions the digital imaging technician is responsible for the coordination of the internal workings of the digital camera. Under the direction of the cinematographer or director of photography, the DIT will make adjustments the film as necessary. Motion Control Technician/Operator This technician operates a motion control rig, which is sometimes called a camera robot which is able to consistently repeat camera moves for special effects uses. Motion control rigs are typically rented with an experienced operator. Sound and lighting crew Production Sound Mixer The production sound mixer is head of the sound department on set, responsible for recording all sound during filming. This involves the choice and deployment of microphones, operation of a sound recording device, and sometimes the mixing of audio signals in real time. Boom Operator The boom operator is an assistant to the production sound mixer, responsible for microphone placement and movement during filming. The boom operator uses a boom pole, a long pole made of light aluminum or carbon fiber that allows precise positioning of the microphone above or below the actors, just out of the cameras frame. The boom operator may also place radio microphones and hidden set microphones. In France, the boom operator is called the perchman. Utility Sound Technician The utility sound technician has a dynamic role in the sound department, most typically pulling cables, but often acting as an additional boom operator or mixer when required by complex filming circumstances. Not all films employ a utility sound technician, but the increasing complexities of location sound recording in modern film have made the job more prevalent. This role is sometimes credited as cable man or python wrangler. Gaffer The gaffer is the head of the electrical department, responsible for the design and execution of the lighting plan for a production. Sometimes the gaffer is credited as Chief Lighting Technician. Best boy (Electrical) The best boy electric is the chief assistant to the gaffer. He or she is not usually on set, but dealing with the electric truck and rentals. Lighting Technician Lighting technicians are involved with setting up and controlling lighting equipment. The Runners A runner is an entry-level position and is considered the most junior role in the production department of a broadcast, film or video company. There is no single job description as runners act as general assistants and undertake whatever basic tasks are required to ensure the smooth running of the production process. Runners’ general responsibilities include tea making, transporting scripts and hire equipment, taking messages, looking after guests, and getting everything in place for shoots. This role offers the opportunity to gain vital experience and knowledge of the production process, offering valuable networking opportunities, and is often seen as the first step on the ladder for people aspiring to roles in production. Typical activities include fetching and carrying items, such as equipment, tapes, cable and scripts; transporting cast, crew and production staff between offices, studios and shoot locations; driving cars, vans or trucks between locations and around sets; helping set up a location for a shoot; keeping the set clean and tidy and handing out post and messages to colleagues within the production team. Extras Many pieces of media require the use of extras, the most common of which being ‘rent-a-crowd’ for blockbusters such as Harry Potter or Sweeney Todd. This is where you hire a specific amount of the public to attend social events, films, music videos or TV shows. People do this either to boost numbers or because it is substantially cheaper than hiring actors and actresses. Other than Rent-a-crowd, members of the public are used to provide their opinion, provide historical facts or can be interviewed. Usually the interviews are conducted to delve deeper into history, whether for a documentary on the World Wars, or a historical film about Ancient Civilisations. Directors usually find that interviewing members of the public is not only cheaper, but adds opinion and substance to an otherwise fact-based program and allows the viewer to catch a glimpse of what it was really like to be in the chosen situation. On many occasions, members of the public will not suffice, and the director must call in the experts. These are people who have dedicated their lives to one chosen subject, and can provide a better understanding. Examples are Alan Titchmarsh; the gardening expert, and David Attenborough; presenter of the most well known wildlife programs including the ‘Life of Mammals’ collection. Even though they specialise in different fields, these people are chosen because of their skill and knowledge on their chosen subject and are two of the most well known experts in the UK. Finance Before a film or music video can be produced, one must research into the financial issues that may arise, such as equipment, facilities, casting and crew wages, rights clearances and any copyright infringements that may be present. For example, if you were to re-make the film ‘Annie’ you would need to pay for the rights to each song and create your own script that is substantially different to original. This is usually the job of the producer before any of the crew is hired, and many will not accept a job if the rights have not yet been cleared. Any producer or investor wants to ensure that their money is only spent on the production; therefore any investments must be set up in a separate bank account. This allows the investor to see how much money has been spent, and from that, how much is owed back to them from the sales of the film. In addition, all documentation must be approved by the investors, the producers and the director before investment is made. This includes Script development, Casting and crew choices, credits (onscreen title and end credits), delivery date and sometimes even the certificate of the film (verified by PEGI or another regulatory body). If the investor wants something changed in the script, cast line-up or delivery date; it must be done before they make the investment. Materials Before media production starts, the materials used must be decided upon and verified. Such materials can include Archive footage (as shown in the award winning war film ‘Memphis Belle), sound library material (such as gunshots or other sound effects) or Original footage (footage taken of the actors on set or scenery). Other materials are used to create mood and atmosphere. Music can be used greatly to create a specific atmosphere, even if you can barely hear it. On the film ‘Event Horizon’ music is used to create an aura of suspense and tension. The music is so quiet you can hardly hear, however if you watch the same scene on mute, the scene has less impact, thus proving that even the tiniest detail of a scene can have a major impact. The same fact goes for visual effects. Even a slight alteration to the colouring of a film or music video can have a major impact on the impression it gives. If a film is based in the past, then suitable costume is required. This means the costume department must research into periodic costume to give the right feel to the piece of media, and confer with the props department to hire the correct era of antique furniture and other such items. This is important because if, for example, someone began to use 21st century objects (mobile phones, laptops etc) in a film like Pride and Prejudice, the story would not be considered realistic, and as a result, would not sell.