Project Management

Project Management - The role of ensuring all aspects of a given production run smoothly by overseeing a number of people and departments. 

The Project Manager must ensure that deadlines are met and the brief is followed by leasing with others and holding them to account. 

Skills that a Project Manager needs:

. Good Communication
. Calm
. Teamwork
. Organisational skills
. Analytical
. Discipline
. Budgeting
. Leadership
. Timekeeping
. Negotiation
. Creative 

Production Schedules: 

. The best way to manage media project is to create a Production Schedule. This brings together logistic and resource details and includes all tasks. Milestones and the time scales and deadlines allows the tracking of progress.

. This is shared with all members of the production team and contains details of the initial proposal, key milestones agreed with the client as well as final deadline. 

KEY TERMS:

Tasks - Jobs that need doing

Deadlines - The date when these tasks must be completed 

Milestones - Identified point to be reached within the project

Contingencies - Back up plan/ideas ; alternative option

Gantt chart 

It is the most widely used pre production tool. 

Invented by Karol Adamiecki. 

Henry Gantt gives us the rule for gantt chart

Plot time and the activities / tasks 

Each task is dependant on the previous task. 

A diamond represents a milestone 

Always have keys to explain the Gantt chart 

One line is one tasks so it goes down diagonally to indicate different ones. 

Logistics 

Definition: Complex process of organising resources for production - ensuring all personnel, props, equipment and locations are in the right time, especially on big productions like a major film, which will also involve doing a recce. Poor planning leads to high costs. 

This includes getting: 

- Personnel & hiring 

- Props 

- Production equipment 

- Locations 

- Transportation 

- Care on location (Feeding) 

The production company must not only get the resources. But they need them for theorist time and for the best value possible. 

Call Sheet: 

These are used each day on production. It ensures everyone on set knows what the goals for the day are. Where they're based. When they're required to be there and what each individual's role is. 

This is helpful because it clarifies goals for day in one: simple sheet which can be calculated amongst everyone. Lists all resources and logistical details as well as creative aims (e.g. shot numbers to be filmed that day) 

Call sheets should include: 

Location details: address, map, transport details. 

Crew details, personnel, contact details, times required, health and safety notes e.g. whether, protective clothing, hazards, closed roads. 

Transport schedule: who, where & when.

Filming schedule: which tasks done and when 

Equipment: Camera costumes etc. Facilities e.g. toilets, trailers, catering. 

Finally Contingencies. 

Permission forms: 

Used to give permissions for various resources/personnel. 

Few examples below: Also clearance forms for permission to use copyrighted audio or Video

Individual Please: individuals working on a project must sign over the rights to their work and or intellectual property. Often in an employment contract

Consent form: Everyone appearing in a production - actors, employed for the project or members of the public in the background (with a visible face or audible voice). If under 18, signed by parent or guardian. 

Location Form: To acquire permission to access a space and for it to appear on camera. Some buildings are subject to copyright law which makes this form even more important. 

Asset log, recess. set design: 

ASSET LOG: This lists all things considered an 'asset' to the team: Videos, images, sound, typography designs and any other elements of style or content. Covers content produced by the production company and obtained from other sources ad allows the tracking of copyright issues and permissions.

The asset log will contain: what the asset is, what the asset contains and permission details. 

RECCES: Conducted at the same time as risk assessment and judges the suitability of a location for production - multiple mare carried out to decide.

Will consider: does It meet the creative visions and what are the logistical issues (accessibility availability and cost) 

SET DESIGN: A visual design of how the set will look including background and props in as much detail as possible as either a 2D or 3D sketch or design produced by imaging software. Helps technical team plan camera positions and movements and may include annotations to further explain. 

Risk Assessment

A risk assessment is carried out by a company as it means of identifying and trying to minimise potential risks, it should offer solutions to manage potential hazards on location and may include photographs. 

Risk assessments will normally include the following information: 

Hazard name

What are the risks? 

Who is at risk? 

How can it be controlled? Level of the risk 

It is conducted by visualising all locations before production starts to protect everyone and everything (equipment) involved.