Tutors Summary

Well done Rebecca and thank you for taking part in this years BFI Film Academy. This blog covers a true reflection of what you achieved.  I think your animations skills developed during the production week as well as using all the live action kit. You were always polite and happy person and the film benefited from your creative input.

You can find a rough copy of the film here:

https://vimeo.com/148244026

(A password for the film has been sent to you via an email)



Please do not share this yet on social media as this is still only a rough cut but feel free to show universities and other organisations or add it to your showreel.



Wishing you great success for the future

Spencer Whalen
MediaActive

1.1 - Outline the Culture of the film industry

What do you know about the working culture of the film industry?
Culture is defined as the ideas, customs, values, behaviors, beliefs and attitudes shared by a group of people who are working towards a common goal. This requires extremely effective team with working skills for everyone concerned. There must be a very clear goal for the film, which is to produce the best film that can be made, within timescales and budgets.  This can encourage people with specific roles to work with others so that can complete their deadlines that have been set. This can produce lots of high pressure as there will be lots of long hours involved, so ways of dealing with stress are important to consider. Usually, if a film is taking place in a location which is not on the film company premises, everyone will be expected to have the flexibility to just drop everything at a moments notice, which in itself is stressful.

Whilst on this course I got to work in a team for many situations, discussing what we thought could and should happen.The film industry as a whole is a very fluid industry to work in as although deadlines have to be met and production costs have to be carefully worked around there is still room for artistic license and flexibility in timetabling is needed to account for people working on various projects at the same time.

The teamwork aspect is very important as many people in the industry work long hours and under extreme pressure to meet the deadlines. Freelance work is the most common and contracts are generally short term in nature with everyone needing to be able to try their hand at a number of different roles to get the job done on time. This leads to the workforce being extremely well trained in the long term  and able to do many types of work but can mean that staff work long hours  as well as being asked to travel all over the world sometimes at a moments notice. This can lead to a difficult home life balance  and can make things very stressful for both home and work relationships.

What qualities do you need to work in the film industry?

To survive in the industry you need to show initiative from the start and not be afraid to muck in help when needed. Getting along with people is a skill that is often underrated but being able to work under pressure whilst still being able to communicate effectively is very important especially in a small team. You also need to be very determined and even if you are insure of quite what you are doing you need to sound positive and be confident in your own ability to learn things as quickly as possible. It also needs someone who will be willing to ask for help if they are unsure about what to do as some things could be very dangerous or costly if they are done incorrectly; you also need to be prepared to fail and to learn from your mistakes. Time management is a major plus as keeping positive and meeting deadlines requires good organisational skills.

1.2 - Identify Time Management Skills

Why is time management important in the film industry?

Time management is an essential skill in working in the film industry as mentioned in my previous blog as deadlines are so important. Many people are relying on you to do your job and very often another aspect of the production will not be able to start without your task being finished. This can get particularly complicated if people are working in multiple jobs. If the film goes over the time schedule the costs rise dramatically putting more pressure on the film to make money. The weather and light conditionsare also  factors as it can considerable delay production if the conditions cannot be matched on a regular basis or if filming has to be re-shot and the weather and or light conditions have changed.

The key skills which need to be developed are:

·         Self discipline – time management is 99% self-discipline.

·         Punctuality – everyone needs to be on time

·         Schedules and call sheets – without them being kept up to date things will fall behind

·         Using to do lists – these need to be used but in a flexible manner so that they become a positive tool for all members of the cast and crew on the film, making them rigid and unobtainable can be negative a s a team building tool so care needs to be taken daily when drawing them up.

·         Prior preparation and planning- again effective planning means making sure that preparations are discussed with all members of the team before anything actually stars and then regularly updating these as circumstances and staff change and the production moves forward. Flexibility is the key whilst still keeping the timeline in mind at all times 

1.3 - Describe the key aspects of health and safety when working on film productions

What needs to be considered in terms of health and safety when working on a film production?

What can be put in place to ensure health and safety risks are minimized?

The Health and Safety at any workplace is always very important as everyone needs to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. On a film production there are many aspects of the job which involve equipment and tasks which could be dangerous as well as there being a huge number of staff who could come into contact with hazards over a period of months so making sure everyone is aware and correctly trained is a big undertaking. The production company and the management are responsible overall, but everyone is responsible for their own safety and should act accordingly; if you are unsure or are untrained you should not be doing your task as accidents can cost both you and the film production time and money as well as being potentially life changing.

·         Risk Assessments- These should be done regularly to identify potential accidents and injuries, again flexibility is the key as staff and situations and equipment types change throughout the production

·         Accident Reporting- everyone should be aware of how to report and accident

·         Only authorised persons should be in these roles and only trained staff should be supervising them-Lighting (heat and electrics) , rigging and de-rigging, trip hazards of wires etc, stunts, lifting heavy equipment

·         Fatigue and long hours- these can cause many accidents so strict timetabling and the correct monitoring of overtime is needed by the managers of the production. Correct breaks need to be observed by all staff and managers as well as providing adequate food and drink

·         First Aid Kits must be on site at all times and be filled with the correct items for the area that they are involved with and the size of staff to be catered for. There should also be trained First Aiders on site at all times and if something is booked which could be potentially life-threatening more precautions need to be taken as well as informing the Emergency services about what you are doing and asking for advice and / or help.

·         The correct insurance for staff and equipment should also be obtained before production starts and it is often a good idea to get legal advice if the production has complicated stunts in or heavy equipment is being used.

·         All equipment should be checked on a regular basis and these checks need to be logged

·         Fire safety needs to be observed with everyone knowing where the evacuation points and assembly points are , where the fire equipment is, who are the fire wards for each shift/ area and how to report a fire or emergency; phones may need to be provided for this if the signal is poor on location

An example of a risk assessment is below, as well as two useful links on how to write them:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/filmmaking/guide/production/health-and-safety

http://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/theatre-tv/index.htm

1.4 - Explain how regulations may affect the use of copyright materials

How do regulations affect the use of copyright materials?

The Copyright Act 1911 

Copyright is a legal contract that grants the creator of an original work the rights to its distribution. This allows someone’s idea to be protected and so somebody else cannot take that idea and claim it to be their own. This could be through copying files illegally. If you produced the TV show or film, then you would normally obtain the rights to, or gain permission to use, the works required to make the production.

<p><a href="http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law" title="UK Copyright Law">UK Copyright Law</a> fact sheet from the UK Copyright Service.</p>

1.5 - Identify materials that may be subject to copyright

What materials may be subject to copyright?

Materials subject to copyright could include:-

– Script
– The finished film
– Recorded music and music scores
– The use of sound, story or image during the production.                                                                        -  Literary (lyrics manuscripts, documents, newsletter, articles                                                                      - Dramatic (plays, dances)

- Artistic (Photos, paintings, architecture, technical drawings, maps, logos)

- Published Editions (magazines, articles)

- Sound Recordings

- Films (broadcasts and programmes)

How has copyright regulation affected your film production?

Our production was based on a story over 70 years old so that we would not be bound by the copyright legislation. We also created our own sounds and music effects or used copyright free content where we only needed to credit them in the final cut:  E.g. freesound.org

2.1 – 2.2 - Identify Key job roles and responsibilities in the film industry and describe the structure and interrelationship of the production department

Key job roles and responsibilities in the film industry

On the set, the director is mainly in charge of all the departments. The director must make sure that all the heads of departments know what they are doing. He/she interacts with all the departments. 

The key job roles are:
- The Producer, who is responsible for the whole film, from initial concept to final production and delivery to cinemas

- The Director, who is responsible for the overall look and style of the film. The Director ensures that the story is told, in a coherent way so that all elements come together for the final rushes.

- The writer generally provides the initial ideas for the film and works with the Producer and Director to develop it further, using film scripts and story boards.

- Director of Photography is the role which brings the story to life in terms of the images, lighting, angle of shots and helps to support the Director to work with the crew to ensure the best outcomes.

- Sound designers will manage and provide the audio images and devices which will complement both the story and its visual focus.

- Production Designers carry out a vital function in terms of designing the sets, props and costumes. In larger films, each of the functions mentioned will be the responsibility of different individuals and the Production Designer will manage all, to ensure that costumes and sets and so on, match the vision of the Producer and the Director.

- The Editor works with the raw footage to bring it together, using the best shots and incorporating sound and special effects.

- Actors will provide the focus of the storytelling and are those which are most in the public eye. The term ‘Actors’ can also embrace extras and stunt people, who contribute the excitement and atmosphere to a film, amongst other things.

- Backers – or those who provide finance are of course vital. They have to be persuaded that the film will make substantial returns on their investment, so a key role for the writer and producer is to persuade them that this is the case.

The whole film making process tends to be split into 5 main areas:

1. Idea and development
This stage involves thinking of the initial idea for the film. This could be from a unique perspective you want to share with the world or a specific theme that you want to create. You also need to think about the structure of the film you want to create- do you want the end of the story to be at the beginning of the film, or do you want it to be in chronological order? After the initial idea has been drafted a few times, a script needs to be written, thinking about characters, dialogues, sights and sounds.

2. Pre-Production
The Pre-production process includes preparing for the shoot such as choosing a location, casting, and planning to shoot the film in the most cost-effective way possible. A risk assessment must also take place to ensure a safe working environment. It is also worth while to plan a shot list to make shooting more effective and efficient on the day- plan which shots are going to be used to the cinematography and camera team are prepared.

3. Production
This is probably the largest stage of the film process. Here, the audio and visual aspects of the shoot are taken, the film crew work together to film the actors in character and the audio and sound effects of the film. This is when storyboarding during the pre-production proves to be essential, as it helps to ensure that the right things are being recorded with the right mood lighting and set design fits the theme of the film.

4. Post-Production

This stage includes editing all of the rushes that were gathered during the days of shooting. It is then up to the editors and director to choose the best scenes and sequences to create the image and story that was originally envisioned.

5. Distribution
This is when the film gets viewed by an audience. This starts with theatrical distribution and may eventually spread for home viewing e.g. DVD. Marketing also takes place here, such as producing a trailer for the film and having a premiere.

2.3 – Outline the potential progression routes into the film industry and wider sector

What could be your potential progression route into the film industry?

Getting into the industry can be difficult; it’s about who you know and how you come across. Making a good, lasting impression is what will get you more work as people will keep requesting you. It requires dedication and grasping opportunities.

Runner: make contacts, get names out, fill CV, experience on-set, get to know how sets/companies work

Film school: learn skills needed on set

Work on short films: large role in small projects, learn skills at own pace

Runner -> 3rd/2nd AD -> 1st AD -> director

Runner -> AC -> Cam Op -> DoP

Write short films -> write screenplay

There is the option of getting stuck in as a runner/camera assistant and doing your time, working your way up the ladder. The good thing about this is that I may get to be involved in big projects and end up with great credits on my CV, learning from top names in the industry. However it does take a long time to progress into a role where I have creative input. On the other hand, if I want be to be involved in the creative process from the beginning, I could set up as a freelancer and work on as many small projects as possible. This meant that I will be problem solving and learning a lot on the job.

Producing online content is a great way to create professional development opportunities. Once your videos gain some attention, companies and individuals come to me with projects they want me to be involved with...

The creative media sector is growing, meaning the line between traditional film and modern media is beginning to blur. Original Netflix’s shows are testament to this; streaming television only available online is an entire new phenomenon.

A degree in Media Studies or a more specialised degree will be of value especially if it has a work- experience or gap year within it.

The BFI Film Academy is a very useful way of finding out what aspect I may be interested in and what course, internship or apprenticeship to apply for as well as ideas about work experience and general ways of making contacts and adding skills to my CV

2.4 – Outline the relationship between the film industry and wider creative media sector

How is the film industry influenced by the wider creative media sector?

Create a diagram showing the relationship between film and the wider creative sector

The creative media sector covers advertising, marketing, games design, fashion design, radio and film. The skills required to work in any of these sectors are very similar, in that they all require a high degree of creativity, plus particular technical skills. Although they are all individual sectors, the film industry require expertise and input from most of them, particularly fashion, marketing and advertising. All of these sectors attract people with strong creative skills and natures (although all do also require people with strong business and management skills).

Digital sectors are becoming more closely related to the film industry, especially with the use of CGI and special effects. A person working in digital use will generally have more expertise in image manipulation than those employed by the film industry. The use of digital techniques is also an important consideration with relating to budget, as it is considerably cheaper to use digital images rather than manipulate around actors or stunt people, for example.

The use of You Tube by amateur film-makers has proved a crucial test-bed for ideas and many have come to the forefront of the industry due to their popularity. 

The Games industry has had a huge surge in its creative development with links to games like Halo, Tomb Raider, as well as the book and film links from Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit and the Hunger Games franchises. This will also now increase with the launch of the next generation of Star Wars films.

Marketing sectors can assist with advertisement and promotion of the film, as an outsourced function, rather than the film company having this expertise in-house. This sector may also assist with obtaining additional sources of funding, such as crowd funding.

3.1 – Describe the impact of your own behaviours on others

How do you feel you have worked with others on the production team?

What was the impact of your behavior on others?

My role within the team was as an animation designer and after the initial filming I helped compose some of the music. I felt that I was a good member of the team as I was able to stay positive and keep everyone focused on their tasks. I have a positive mental attitude which helped keep everyone friendly and communicating with each other.

I feel that I was a good member of the team to have around as I was able to communicate with different sections of the team; this enabled me to learn a lot as well as make sure that everyone stayed calm and focused. If things became stressful I was very good at pinpointing the problems and making sure everyone relaxed and re-thought the problem before continuing. 

3.2 – Identify the key factors for effective working relationships

What qualities are needed to work well with others?

When working as an effective team a good deal of time and effort needs to be put in by each member for the process for it to work. Everyone should be involved in the common goal but it is the manager’s role to make sure that everyone contributes as well as listening to all the ideas put forward before deciding on the path to take. A team effort will only move forward positively with a good end result if everyone agrees in the direction they are taking and feels that their opinions are valued and heard, even if they are not used in the final production.

Listening to the other team members and making sure everyone feels that they are being communicated with is very important

As stated previously time-keeping is very important for all members of the team, if there are problems they need to be assessed immediately. Punctuality is the key to a happy work environment

A positive attitude is very important to maintain as each member of the team can keep everyone on track.

Ability to self-analyse and make sure that you learn from your own mistakes as well as those of the rest of the team

Respect- treating others in the way you yourself want to be treated will allow the team to be effective.

3.3 – Interact with others to encourage collaborative thinking and teamwork

Give an example of when you worked with others to encourage collaborative thinking and teamwork

Whilst on this course I got to work in a team for many situations, discussing what we thought could and should happen. Before the production had began we had to decide on what our plot / script would be so that it would be easy for the whole team to follow. This process took a while as we all had lots of ideas for our set theme of ‘Ellesmere’: whether we should follow traditional folk law or make something original up. Discussions took up a lot of time, but we had to be thorough for all ideas; seeing if we had any plot holes or problems with planning / costume / set / etc…

Initially everyone was shouting at each other trying to get their ideas heard, I decided that everyone should get a chance to present their idea whilst everyone else listened and then we would all decide as a group which one was best suited to our group in the timescale. At that point  everyone calmed down and thought about what would be best for the group and presented a short synopsis of their idea.

In the end it was decided that we would base our short film on Mad Jack as the character has many tales that we thought we could turn into one giant tale (not using them all – but a few). We also decided that it would be sensible to use the ‘Ellesmere Bells’  that ring at the bottom of the mere when there’s danger arising; connecting the film to Ellesmere directly.

4.1 – 4.2 - Identify the resources needed to meet film production requirements and the technical skills and equipment required for your production role

Identify the resources needed to meet film production requirements and the technical skills and equipment required for your production role

What is your production role?

When it came to production I was initially part of the stop motion team, collecting leaves as well as finding suitable loctations to shoot. I suggested that it was best to shoot in a place where the mere was visible so that it established where we were – as well as being recognisable to the locals.

Once we had chosen the location we moved onto the filming process. I made the leaves ripple by moving them with my feet, shuffling to start off with and eventually kicking them in the air.

I also took part in the 2D stop motion where we drew bottles on dark card and cut them out and then used the light board to give a more vintage realistic feel by using card to reflect the light from around the edges and create an eerie feel to the scenes.

I have done some stop motion before but this was the first time that I had actually used the equipment properly and actually created the parts to the moved around. I learnt a lot about the use of background and shade in creating atmosphere and a 2D image that was believable.

What equipment and planning documents do you need to carry out this role?

The resources that were needed to meet the film requirements were:

Crew -

• Director.
• Producer.
• Camera Operator.
• Boom Operator.
• Editor.
• Actors within film.

Equipment -

• Laptops for editing (Apple Macs) + Editing software (Premiere Pro).
• Canon.
• Camera batteries (x3). + Battery charger.
• Camera tripod.
• Memory cards.
• Radio Mic.
• Boom Mic.
• Headphones for Boom Operator.
• Camera bag.
• Power and power packs

Other -

• Any props needed for shoot.
• Pre-production documents – Contact details; risk assessments; storyboard; shot list; time table for shoot day; consent forms; location of shoot.
• Transport for equipment to location of shoot.
• Transport for crew to location of shoot.
• Knowledge and training- of both the equipment and location
• Health and safety- training and  a first aider present and kit plus emergency plan and back-up identifies, risk assessments for the location properly carried out
• Editing facilities to ensure a professionally finished product

4.3 - 4.4 - Review your own technical skills and use of equipment and Identify sources of feedback on your performance

How well do you think you have carried out your role in production?

In this production my role was to be one of the set / character designers, as well as being a stop-motion animator - which I thought I carried out thoroughly as I always offered input into the group discussions, as well as ensuring that I was constantly doing something. 

How do you think your technical skills have developed in this role?

My technical skills, in my opinion, have improved majorly as I had originally had a vague idea how to operate professional animator / editing programs , but with some one-on-one lessons from my tutors / peers I can now do perform at least the very basics on each program.. This has not only given me confidence in myself, but in the amount of effort that I put into a production - linking with what I said earlier. 

I had a lot of things to learn and one of the most important was getting my ideas across in a large group. I learned a lot of new skills during this week and I will be taking them forward into all the other projects that I will be taking part in.

4.5 – Describe areas for development in your current knowledge and understanding of skills

What is your current knowledge and understanding of film?

My understanding of film, compared to others is quite small; though I have watched many types of films I have never been able to thoroughly read into what is happening within one scene.
Recently, I can analyse a sequence clearly: using mise-en-scene, types of lighting, sounds, colour symbolism, etc...

I also understand the economic side of film: the budget of each production, the theme set and the people who work hard to produce a successful project. I know that these areas are usually forgotten as most people tend to focus on the actors / cast that have been used to bring the characters to life.

What skills do you have?

I have a wide range of skills in different areas. My main "skill" is character / set design as I constantly have to scribble down my ideas or else I forget. This skill isn't an easy one either as it usually has to be quite detailed or else some people may not understand what you mean - or may misinterpret what your thought(s) are.

I also tend to dabble in the skill of script-writing / as I find that it links easily with the artistic side; making my ideas clear to my audience with a piece of dialogue or structure for a plot.

Music is also a strong skill I have as I find myself continuously humming a tune or envision a piece of music with the types of instruments and structure for my composition. To complete this, it could take a while but determination will kick in and urge me forwards towards completing it.

How would you like you develop your knowledge and skills?
To develop my skills, I would like to gain a more technical side as the film industry now relies heavily upon the fancy equipment to make a film more "realistic" and "believable. This would also add to my wide range of skills - making it possible to create / practice my own short film, showing off the skills that I may have.