Understanding the requirements of pre-production

Type of production:

What is a documentary?

 A documentary is a term to describe a film or programme, that in some way ‘documents’ or captures reality. Documentaries are normally used to give an unusual, interesting or a different angle on information in topics. An example of this would be Aileen: The selling of a serial killer.

What is a news programme?

A news programme or news show is a regularly produced and broadcasted television programme that reports recent, current and world events. A news program can include live or recorded interviews by field reporters, expert opinions, opinion poll results, and occasional editorial content. An example of this would be BBC news

What is a factual programme?

A factual programme is a non-fiction television programming that documents actual events and people. This can also be described as a documentary. An example of this would be KiDULTHOOD.

Finance

Items

Items I will need to complete my factual programme will include:

Equipment

We will need several Cameras; A big camera for filming, and several smaller cameras for head cams, so the viewers can see what we see. Torches/Head torches so when we’re down there, we can turn off the lights and only have a small bit of light. We will use various tripods as well. Sound boom, to record any sound we cannot hear.

Transport

We may need transport to get to other known haunted places around Henley, such as private houses or pubs. For this we could use public transport, or a car.

Talent

Talent will be anyone who is on camera at any time. Our talent will include Jack, Annie, Josh, Elliot and Sarah, as we will all be part of the documentary at some point.

Crew

Project manager, camera man, assistant camera man, producer, assistant producer, sound recorder, lighting, presenter, extras, researchers, runners, technicians, historians, experts on site, to help with the realism of the shoot.

Materials

Reconstruction materials, scripts, sound recordings,

Facility hire

We will not need to hire out anything, but use of the Rotherfield basement will be needed. For this we will need to speak to reception.

Clearances

Clearance means to have legal access from (in some cases) Police, the Council, and the government.

Time:

What is a deadline?

A deadline is the latest time or date in which something should be completed.

Why are deadlines important to TV productions (News and documentaries)?

Deadlines are important to TV productions because the channel will want to get the show out by a certain date or time. The longer the company goes over the deadline the more money it would cost them.

Why is availability of equipment important?

It is important for the equipment you want to use to be available at the time because if they do not have the equipment in, you will have to delay your deadline, which will then cost you more money.

Why is availability of personnel important?

It is important for the availability of people when producing a TV production because you will want the right people to be a part of it, if it is not how you planned then everything could turn around.

What is meant by ‘timescales for clearances’?

Timescale for clearances means that when you have finished your production you will need to get it cleared by (in some cases) the police, the council and the government. The timescale is how long it will take for this to be cleared before airing.

Personnel:

What is the average size of a news/factual production team?

The average size of a news team can be over 65 people. This includes lead positions, as well as assistant positions.

What are the roles?

Roles include; Producer, cameraman, wardrobe, researchers, interviewers, interviewees, researchers, journalists, casting director, costume designer, location manager, make-up artist, production designer, set designer, television producer, writer, head writer, screenwriter, story editor, boom operator, floor manager, graphics coordinator.

What is the cost of your average production team

(In dollars)

Facilities:

What production equipment is needed?

Cameras, tripods, microphones, booms, lighting etc.

What post-production equipment is needed?

Computer software; Premiere (Maybe after effects), Word, PowerPoint and paint.

Cost of hiring?

There will be no cost, as everything above will not need hiring.

Materials:

What are the ‘original materials’, ‘archive and library materials’, ‘sound library’, ‘script’, interviews, recorded music.

Original Material:  Original material is a piece made yourself, and not copied from the internet or from other sources.

Archive and library materials: These are materials that you can get from a library or other resources.

Sound Library: This is where you can get various sound clips which do not have any copyright on them.

Script: Script is where you write the words you want the actors to read out on a sheet, for them to learn, and have as evidence.

Interviews: An interview is where you get an expert in a certain subject, or a 1st hand victim or viewer of an event.

Recorded Music: Recorded music is music that has been pre-recorded, so you would not have to record it yourself.

Contributors:

What are…?

Specialists: Specialists are someone who has been taught in what they specialise in, so will know a great deal about it.

Experts: Experts are very much the same; they know a lot about what they study or are interested in.

Talent: Talent is anyone shown in the documentary, even if they are an extra.

Public: The public is the audience of the documentary. The people watching.

Contributor biographies: This is at the end of our documentary, like credits, I will name everyone involved or who helped out.

Why are they needed?

These are all very important because they add to the idea of the documentary being put together and working well. Without just one of them the production would not be the same, and something would be left out.