Unit 8 Assignment 2

Trade unions

What trade unions can you join if you work in the media and film industry?

BECTU is the UK's media and entertainment trade union which covers people working in broadcasting, film, independent production, theatre and the arts, leisure and digital media.

Why is it important to join a trade union, what can they do for you?

They negotiate pay, conditions and contracts with employers. They can give you personal advice for independent members and can represent you. You can get advice on health and safety and. BECTU provides benefits for its members. Trade unions can also provide training and courses. They do networking events and career development opportunities. 

What examples can you find of strikes or other trade union action (look for writers guild strikes in USA), why did they strike, did it impact any productions?
The Writers Guild of America Strike from November 2007 to February 2008. 

The strike was targeted at the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and they wanted funding for writers to be increased compared to profits of larger studios. They won the strike.

Why did the BBC Strike? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz-2P13IK9E&feature=youtu.be)
They striked because of job cuts, work loads and claims of bullying. Jobs were cut by 2000 over 5 years which most are voluntary redundancies, some were compulsory redundancies. The strike lasted 12 hours.

Freelance contracts

What does it mean to be a freelancer in the media?
It means that you don't work for a production company/conglomerate and are self employed. 

What types of freelance contract are there?

Fixed priced contracts - that means you will get paid an agreed amount of money and when you will receive that money, but if the job costs more than originally planned or you do extra hours you only get paid for what was agreed in the contract.
Time and materials contracts - means that you get paid for your time involved in providing the particular service and also for the goods, software or other materials that you have had to purchase in order to provide that service.

What types of film or media contracts (short term/fixed term/ first refusal)

Short term - contracts aren't for very long periods of time and you don't have to continue doing any work for it once it has ended.

Fixed term - it has a fixed starting date and ending date.

First refusal - you can reject a contract before it is offered to other people.

Advantages and Disadvantages of freelance contracts

Advantages:

• You can work for lots of different companies.
• You are your own boss
• Times and materials contracts mean that you get paid for all the hours you do and materials/softwares that you do.
• You can get work from your own network of people
• You can choose who you want to work for
• You can choose when you want to work
• You can negotiate your own income.
• More job opportunities if your work is of a high standard 

Disadvantages:

• You might not always get work
• If you're just starting out you won't know many people so it will be harder to get jobs
• You have to find your own work and know what to look out for within a contract e.g things you aren't willing to do or things you might think are unfair
• You may often find that you do not have the option to work on the basis of a contract of your own because a lot of companies already have contracts made up already.
• Fixed price contracts mean that whatever you do within the job no matter how many hours you do or the cost the money agreed in the contract is all you will get.
• No sick pay or holiday pay
• If you don't do a good job then you won't get work so you have to make sure you do the best you can.

In my opinion I would rather have a stable in house job rather than be free lance because because I would want a stable income and always have work with set hours etc.

Editorial guidelines

Explain what an editorial guideline is

The editorial guidelines are the values and standards. They apply to all our content, wherever and however it is received.

Look at the following link and summarise the guidelines for two or three of the subheadings

http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidelines/

Religion 

The BBC supports all religions and respects conscience and freedom of thought. They aren't discriminative towards any religion but still believe in freedom of speech and people's right to their own opinion.They comply with the 2006 Racial and Religious Hatred Act which forbids a person from using or displaying threatening words or behaviour. 

Harm and offence

The BBC wants to reflect the world whilst being sensitive towards certain subjects and  having a younger audience means they don't want to show things that will impact them emotionally. There are "generally accepted standards" that can be shown but this list evolves over time. 

They broadcast challenging and innovative content that doesn't breach laws or rules but the reaction depends on the judgement of the audience. 

Why is it important for a television producer to work under guidelines.

So that a programme abides by any rules and regulations. 

Under 18s being on tv has laws and rules regarding copywriting. To make sure they don't get into legal trouble they have to comply with the guidelines to protect themselves and the company from getting into any trouble.

BBFC

Who are they and what do they do? 
The British Board of Film Classification who censor films in the UK give them ratings.

What can you/can't you show in a PG, 12A and 15

When was the BBFC founded?
It was founded in 1912.

When was the video recordings act introduced?
1984

What was it?
Any video recording sold in the UK had to have a classification by someone/an authority. For 72 years video was released to the public before age classfication.

What was controversial about The Human Centipede II?
This film is over the top and too explicit. People were saying that horror was being taken too far. It is also controversial that the creator of this film Tom Six said that 'it is art' which a lot of people disagreed with because he is basically saying that violence is art.

Explain the reasons why the BBFC did not rate the film.
They didn't rate the film because it was in breach of the Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964 and any other relevant legislation. The BBFC have said that there is a genuine risk that the film may be considered obscene within the terms of the OPA for the reasons that

• The characters obsessive sexual violent fantasies is in breach of its classification guidelines.
• It poses a real as opposed to a fanciful risk that harm is likely to be caused to potential viewers.
• Even if it was confined to only adult viewers (being rated an 18) it is unacceptable to the public.

My opinion on the decision

I do think that the film is over the top and morally wrong to watch but if you don't like it just don't watch it, because some people aren't phased by some of the features in this film and could potentially see it from the view of the director of this film so in a way i don't agree with the fact that it wasn't rated because then people can't see it at all even if they want to but at the same time it shouldn't have a rating because then it could be potentially too easy for people to see who are under the age of the 18.

I CERTIFY THAT THIS IS MY OWN WORK

Unit 8 Prep Work

What is the BBC?

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a UK-based public-service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London.
It is the world's oldest national broadcasting organisation and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees, with around 23,000 staff in total, and 16,672 in public sector broadcasting.

How is it funded?

By an annual television licence fee which is charged to all British households, companies, and organisations using any type of equipment to receive or record live television broadcasts. The fee is set by the British Government. The BBC also sell programmes worldwide which makes up a quarter of the BBC'S income. 

When did it start?

Founded in October 1922 by John Reith.

What current changes are they making to their channels or programmes?

• Cutting staff by 2000 and sending a further 1000 to the MediaCityUK development.
• BBC Three moving in 2016
• The sharing of more programmes between stations and channels, sharing of radio news bulletins, more repeats in schedules, including the whole of BBC Two daytime and for some original programming to be reduced.

Can you find 2/3 articles on peple arguing the pros and cons of the licence fee?

http://www.groundreport.tv/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-the-tv-licence-in-britain/

http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-time-to-scrap-the-bbc-licence-fee-5162.html

What are commercial TV channels?

Commercial broadcasting (also called private broadcasting) is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship. In the UK the term "public service broadcasting" refers to broadcasting which is intended for the public and will benefit rather than for purely commercial concerns.

How are they funded?
Commercial broadcasters are largely funded via advertising and sponsorship. 

How do we know if a commercial channel is successful or not?
By the amount of money it makes. For example, ITV is one of the most successful commercial channels because it shows some of the UK's best loved TV shows which brings in millions of viewers every day, which then makes the price of showing adverts on ITV enough to fund the channel along with sponsors.

What are the highest rated programmes on ITV or channel 5?

What is a meant by the term 'media conglomerate'?
A media conglomerate, media group or media institution is a company that owns large numbers of companies in various mass media such as television, radio, publishing, movies, and the Internet.

Find some 'media conglomerates'?

Who are the major film production studios?

Find two or three films for one of the major studio, how much money did they make from it (box office and DVD)

• The dark night (Warner Bros.) - Total box office sales $1,084,439,099 and total dvd sales $315,461,499.
• Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows : Part 2 (Warner Bros.) - Total box office sales $1,341,511,219 and total dvd sales $160,866,773
• Man of steel (Warner Bros.) - Total box office sales $668,045,518 and total dvd sales $105,196,218

What is meant by the term 'independent film'?

An independent film is a film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system.

Can you find examples of independent film producers?

What independent films have won awards?
Birdman has just won three Oscars at the 2015 academy awards which is an independent film, it won awards for best picture, best original screenplay and best director.

Pride is a British independent film that won several awards at the 2014 British Independant Film awards for best supporting actor and actress and best British independent film.

Pulp fiction won an oscar in 1995 for best best writing, screenplay written directly for the screen, a golden globe for best screen play, two baftas for best screen play and best supporting actor and also won best soundtrack at the brit awards.

What are the new technological developments in the way we watch/make television and film?

• TV's are now flat screens instead of big boxes. 
• We now have 3D viewing not only in cinemas but you can also buy 3D TVs and digital boxes such as Sky.
• We no longer have analogue TV and now have digital which has entitled everyone to digital freeview which means more channels and better signals.
• Films are no longer made using tape and are now filmed and edited using softewares on computers. 

Unit 21 Assingment 1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3_6IklGZ6OdM1g4WnQ2V3h6Z1E/view?usp=sharing

I CERTIFY THAT THIS IS MY OWN WORK

Unit 8 Assignment 4

Updated CV

Letter Of Application

SWOT

Show reel

University courses I applied for

• Media, Music and Sound at Edge Hill University - I chose this course because I wanted to do something more specific with sound and music because I have a big interest in it but also still want the media element.

• Media, Television and Film at Edge Hill University - I chose this course because it was similar to what I do at college which I do enjoy. 

• Media Production at Liverpool John Moore University - I chose this course because I liked how practical it was and also because it's a good university for media related subjects.

• Media, Culture and Communication at Liverpool John Moore University - I chose this course because I like the idea of it being based around social issues and cultural issues within the media which are things I find interesting.

• TV Production and Media Studies at University of Chester - I chose this course because I liked the university and the reputation it had for media courses. I also liked the balance of practical and theoretical work.

Job Adverts

• Apprentice Production Administrator -  I would apply for this job because it's quite a simple job but can get me started for a career in media by working my way up.

• Apprentice Social Media / Production Runner - I would apply for this job because I think that its a brilliant opportunity to work for an editing company where you also can begin to be a runner and then work your way up the pecking order.

• Studio Assistant  - I would apply for this job because you can start off doing basic production work like basic editing and set building. It also has a variation of duties which gives you a chance to try everything and find you way into one role. 

What is your personal career plan? 

I would love to get into a career in sound production/music production or be a composer in TV and films helping to create the soundtrack to a film. 

What is next for you after college, and beyond? 

After college I will be going to university to do a degree in Media, Music and sound at Edge Hill which I hope will help me to get a job after university that has something to do with sound production. 

How easy/difficult do you think it will be to find work? 

I think that it will be quite difficult to find work after university because it's not easy to get the job you want quickly, most of the time in the media industry you have to work your way from the bottom up to get to where you want to be career wise. 

I CERTIFY THAT THIS IS MY OWN WORK 

Unit 8 assignment 1 Job roles

Editor

• Angus Wall
• Born March 15th 1967 
• Won awards for editing films like, the social network and the girl with the dragon tattoo

What does the job include? 

Being an editor bringing together footage, audio, graphics etc to create the final product, selecting the best clips and putting them together like making a jigsaw. It also involves, working closely with the director to craft the finished film, working in an edit suite for long hours, running a team of assistants and trainees on big productions.

Who are they responsible for?

They usually work with a team of editors, Angus Wall is well known for editing with Kirk Baxter who also edited the social network and the girl with the dragon tattoo. The other editors are usually less experienced editors looking to work on bigger films and gain more experience. Assistant editors jobs involve running and maintaining editing systems, supporting the whole of the post production process on feature films and working closely with film labs, and with the camera and sound departments.

Who are they the boss of?

Editors in chief are in charge of all editorial staff, sound editors and assistant editors. They have to keep people interested and organised to get this done fast and to the best standard. They have to make sure that the assistant editors are doing their tasks to deadline and to a good standard. They have to make sure the sound editors have edited what they need to in time to put it all on the main edit.

How much does it pay? 

Between $30k and $80k but could possibly be more depending on the scale of the film and how much the production company wants to pay you.

What are the working times like?
Being an editor doesn't have set working ours because it depends on the amount of editing you need to do and how many projects you get in a year. They could end up working over night if they are trying to work to a tight deadline sometimes without pay etc. 

Qualifications?
Some editor's jobs do require qualifications but that could depend on who you are working for, you might just be employed based on your experience and reputation as an editor. Some people do take film production courses to further their knowledge and gain experience and also meet potential employers/clients that you could work with in the future.

Cinematographer/Director of Photography

• Roger Deakins
• Born May 24th 
• Took part in films such as Skyfall and The shawshank redemption 

What does the job include?

This person is in charger of the whole look of the film, the photography, camera shots etc. They working heavily also with lighting. They have to provide a film with its unique visual identity, or look. They create the desired look using lighting, framing, camera movement, etc. They collaborate closely with the camera crew e.g. Camera Operator, 1st and 2nd Assistant Camera, Camera Trainee and Grips).

Who are they the boss of/responsible for? 

The camera operators and lighting technicians who have to take instruction from the cinematographer.

How much does it pay?

It pays around $50k plus.

What are the working times like? 

It can be a quite demanding job at times but sometimes if you don't have any projects on the go you might not be working a lot so the hours can vary but some can be long. 

Qualifications?
You could take a degree in stills photography to gain a good, all-round understanding of composition and light. However, a drama, art or a film/media studies degree all provide a good grounding. But you still will have to work your way up if you don't have a lot of experience because Cinematographers need a lot of experience and a good built up reputation as well as qualifications.

Director

• Tim Burton
• Born: August 25th 1958
• Famous for alice in wonderland, edward scissor hands, nightmare before christmas etc.

What does the job include? 

A director is basically the boss who has the final word on everything, they create the look of the film, they create the things that films are most recognised for. They also have to carry out duties such as casting, script editing,shot selection and editing. They act as the crucial link between the production, technical and creative teams. They act as the crucial link between the production and technical teams.

Who are they responsible for/the boss of? 

They are mainly responsible for everything creative wise. They are also in charge of pretty much everyone a long side the producer who they are almost on the same level as. Also the camera, sound, lighting, design and special effects departments. They are the person who chooses the cast an crew to hire, which puts them in charge of everyone by overseeing what they are doing, especially with editors because they are essentially in charge of the final product and the director has to guide them so the final film will look exactly how they want it to.

What is the pay like? 

Depending on how big the film is and how well known the director is their pay could be millions, but sometimes thousands if you're not that well known. 

What are the working times like? 

Hours vary but can be quite long for directors as they have to oversee everything and have a quite demanding job.

Qualifications? 
You don’t need a formal qualification to become a Director. There is some training courses and reference books on directing. In reality, you can only be a successful director if you have lots of practical experience. Making your own screenplay, short films or even plays is a good way to get yourself known and build up a reputation for yourself. 

I CERTIFY THAT THIS IS MY OWN WORK