Unit 6:

Production management in media organisations (LEVEL 3)

Learning outcomes On completing this unit candidates will have an understanding of production management in media organisations. They will be able to analyse the composition and functions of a production team within a specific media organisation. This will be achieved by focusing on a specific management role within the chosen organisation to gain an in-depth appreciation of the role and functions. Candidates will be able to produce a schedule and manage a small team during a production. They will be able to evaluate their own effectiveness in management. Assessment objectives

Knowledge, understanding and skills

Assessment objectives 1 and 2 should be based on a single organisation selected by the candidate 1 Analyse the composition and functions of a production team within a media organisation

OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media

Organisations: eg • newspapers • magazines • television and film companies • radio stations • games publishers Teams as appropriate to the chosen sector: eg • product design • pre-production • production editing • post-production Television or film production team: eg • director • producer • floor manager • runner • lighting director • production manager • camera operators • sound and lighting crew • television mixer • on-line editor • special effects and stunt teams Newspaper and magazine production team: eg • journalist • sub-editor • editor • photographer • graphic design • page layout staff • print staff • classified advertising staff

(continued overleaf)

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Unit 6 – Production management in media organisations

Assessment objectives

Knowledge, understanding and skills

1 Cont

Radio station: eg • producer • editor • station manager • studio technician • broadcast journalist • news • weather and travel team • presenter • DJ • phone-in switchboard Games publisher: eg • developers • designers • testers and programmer Relationships of the production team with other teams within the organisation: eg • research • finance • marketing • distribution • legal

Analyse the composition and functions of a production team within a media organisation

2 Describe the roles and functions of a manager within the production team

Management roles: eg • producer • editor • station manager • director Functions could include: • idea origination and proposal development • raising finance • production scheduling • budgeting • formulating technical and creative strategy • devising work pipelines and procedures • recruitment and training • managing manpower and resources • facilitating team communication • risk assessment • overall quality control • liaison with outside organisations

3 Produce a schedule for a day’s production

Productions might include filming a scene, technical rehearsal, making a front page of a newspaper, games programming day, making a radio programme (continued overleaf)

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OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media

Unit 6 – Production management in media organisations

Assessment objectives

Knowledge, understanding and skills

3 Cont.

Schedule includes: • objectives of the day’s work • resources including personnel • time • equipment/materials • location/studios • contingency plans • budget (based on professional rates) • times of meetings

Produce a schedule for a day’s production

4 Carry out and evaluate a managerial production role

Management roles: eg • producer • editor • station manager • director Evaluation includes: • relationship with team • achieving appropriate quality and quantity of work • meeting deadlines • effectiveness of interpersonal skills • strengths and weaknesses

Assessment This unit is centre-assessed and externally moderated. In order to achieve this unit, candidates must collate a portfolio of evidence showing that they can meet all the assessment objectives. Portfolios of work must be produced independently. They will need to be made available, together with witness statements and any other necessary supporting documentation, to the OCR Visiting Moderator when required.

Guidance on assessment and evidence This unit gives candidates the opportunity to investigate production management within a particular media organisation and to follow good practices when they take a managerial role within their own productions. It can be delivered alongside other production units. For Assessment Objectives 1 and 2 candidates should write a series of case studies based on a specific media organisation. Evidence could include hierarchy charts. The evidence could take the form of a written report or a verbal presentation. It is recommended that they can research their chosen media organisation through visits and talks from media practitioners. However, if this is not possible, the information can be found from written source such as production company websites, extra feature material on DVDs in the case of films, and written contact with the chosen company. For Assessment Objective 3 candidates should produce a plan for one day’s production or its equivalent, eg two half days. It is appropriate for editing to be included as part of production. Not all production activities have to be carried out but candidates should be able to identify at least two activities that can be broken down into tasks or steps. The plan should be for a team of four people including the manager (ie the candidate in the role of director or editor). Although in college and school productions, the candidates incur no costs, they should be basing the cost of the day’s

OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media

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Unit 6 – Production management in media organisations

production on professional rates that can be found on the Internet or by applying to individual companies. For Assessment Objective 4 candidates should carry out the managerial role for the production day that they planned for Assessment Objective 3. The evidence for this should be a tutor witness statement supported by an evaluation from the candidate. This evaluation could take the form of a written report or a verbal interview with the tutor supported by audio evidence or a tutor witness statement.

Signposting to Key Skills 4

The unit contains opportunities for developing the Key Skill, and possibly for generating portfolio evidence, if teaching and learning is focused on that aim.

Key Skill reference

Key Skill reference

Key Skill reference

C3.1a

4

N3.1

IT3.1

4

C3.1b

4

N3.2a

IT3.2

4

C3.2

4

N3.2b

IT3.3

C3.3

4

N3.2c N3.2d N3.3

Mapping to National Occupational Standards Occupational Standards

Unit Number

Title

Art Department/ Animation/ Graphics (General) for Skillset

DMI11 DMI15 X1 X2 X3

Negotiate and agree the design and budget. Co-ordinate activities during production. Contribute to good working relationships. Ensure your own actions reduce risks to health and safety. Conduct an assessment of risks in the workplace.

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OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media

Unit 6 – Production management in media organisations

Resources This section provides suggestions of suitable resources. The list is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive, and candidates should be encouraged to gather information form a variety of sources. Some suggested resources are intended for tutor use. The resources in this section were current at the time of print. For the most up-to-date list of resources please refer to our website: www.ocr.org.uk Publications Evans, Russell. (2002)

Practical DV Filmmaking Focal Press

Gates, Richard. (1999)

Production Management for Film and Video Focal Press

The Guardian (Annual)

The Guardian Media Guide: Guardian Newspapers

Lyver, Des. (2001)

Basics of the Video Production Diary Focal Press

Millerson, Gerald. (1999)

Television Production Focal Press

Websites BBC. URL:http://www.bbc.co.uk Channel 4. URL:http://www.channel4.com Documentary Information System. URL:http://www.docos.com PACT, independent producers association in the UK. URL:http://www.pact.co.uk SKY TV. URL:http://www.sky.com Training agency serving the film and TV industries in the UK. URL:http://www.skillsformedia.com Websites for particular television productions are often worth a visit as they may detail various details about the Production Process.

OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media

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Unit 6 – Production management in media organisations

Grading Assessment Objective AO1 Analyse the composition and functions of a production team within a media organisation

AO2 Describe the roles and functions of a manager within the production team

AO3 Produce a schedule for a day’s production

AO4 Carry out and evaluate a 6

Pass

Merit

Distinction

Candidates identify the key personnel in a production team and describe their key functions. They show a limited understanding of the relationships between different teams within an organisation. The evidence gives a general outline and with little reference to a specific organisation.

Candidates identify the key personnel in a production team and describe their functions in detail. They can explain how different teams interrelate referring to examples from a specific organisation.

Candidates identify a range of personnel in a production team in detail. They differentiate between support personnel, practitioners and management roles. They can explain the importance of how different teams interrelate referring to examples from a specific organisation.

Candidates outline the main role and key functions of a manager within a production team.

Candidates describe the main role and a range of functions of a manager within a production team referring to a specific organisation.

Candidates produce a detailed and informative case study of a production manager from a specific media organisation.

Candidates produce a basic plan for a day’s production. They identify general activities and approximate times. The times may not be feasible. There is a basic list of resources and work areas are identified. There is a rough estimate of budget. A time for a production meeting is indicated.

Candidates produce a detailed plan for a day’s production. They identify general activities and specific tasks and give feasible times. There is a comprehensive list of resources and work areas are identified. There is a realistic estimate of a budget based on professional rates. Production meeting times are well managed and documented with a clear agenda

Candidates produce a well structured plan for a day’s production. They identify general activities and specific tasks and give feasible times. They provide contingency plans. There is a comprehensive list of resources and work areas are identified. There is a realistic estimate of a budget based on professional rates. Times for a group production meeting and meetings with individual personnel are meticulously documented with firm agenda in place.

Candidates carry out a managerial role but may experience difficulties in

Candidates carry out a managerial role and are successful in most areas such

Candidates carry out a managerial role and are successful in all areas such as OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media

Unit 6 – Production management in media organisations

managerial production role

OCR Level 3 Nationals in Media

supervising progress, monitoring quality or fostering good team relations or in meeting deadlines. Their evaluation may be brief or shows an unrealistic assessment of the effectiveness of their management skills.

as supervising progress, monitoring quality or fostering good team relations or in meeting deadlines. Their evaluation contains some detail and shows a realistic assessment of the effectiveness of their management skills.

supervising progress, monitoring quality or fostering good team relations or in meeting deadlines. Their evaluation is detailed and shows a realistic assessment of the effectiveness of their management skills. They can identify areas for improvement.

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