Production Equipment

What is it?
- Production equipment refers to equipment which is being used on set, this includes any equipment which is needed to film. For example:

Lights	Light stands
Generator	Filters
Gels and diffusion	Grip stands
Reflectors	Accessories

Grip equipment:

- The Grip equipment department on a film set are directed by the films key grip. The grips have two main functions.

- The first is to work with the camera department closely to be able to prove camera aid, this would be just encase the camera is mounted to a dolly, crane, or in a position not usually used. 

Equipment:

Crane	Tracking Vehicles	Remote Heads	Jimmy
Jib	Jib Arms	Easy Rig	Dollies

A camera package would include:

Camera	Lenses
Filters	Tripods

Whereas Camera Movement includes:

Dolly

Track

Sound Equipment includes:

Sound Recording Unit	Headphones	Microphones
Mic holders	Cables

Archive/ Library/ Self-generated/ Archive and Internet Materials, Property Rights and Copyrights

Different Materials:

An emmsence history of materials produced for use within film means that now exist archives that can be resourced for new productions. What follows here is research into the kind of things which are provided within archive material and it's uses. 

Archive Material:
- This is old materialised footage which has been used in previous production from the vast amount of genres.
- When someone or something is being used to create a film. This would be when Senna had been used to create a film directly about him.

Who uses it?
- Documentary film makers generally rather to use this footage, as it allows them to authenticate their narratives.

An example of Archive Material would be:

- The Cove. The footage from the archived material was used to expose the suffering of dolphins from Japanese fishermen. The footage which was displayed allowed the audience to feel the impact of what the fishermen have been doing to the dolphins. The slaughtering of dolphins displays and makes the audience understand that is is happening.

Library Material:
This refers to material effects.
- When the filming stage is complete within a production the wild tracks of non dialogue is completed by the company in which it was produced from. 
- Many productions choose to collect and build up a library of sounds over the decades. 
- Companies in the larger spotlight tend to sell what they own in their libraries of sounds to obtain a profit.
- Archives of video materials tend to be in companies collections and are often referred as [action essentials].

The website [prosoundeffects]offer a wide range of Sound effects libraries, but prices aren't cheap, it tend to become more expensive the larger the memory filled with sounds. 

http://www.prosoundeffects.com/ 
- This comes to $3,995,00 and they provide different purchase options.
There are many other websites which offer bundles depending on genre of sounds and how popular, so prices vary. 

Self-generated materials:
- This is where anything created for a production this may include sound and video creations.
- Constructing props - in house for production companies costs a lot of money to make. It would be more effective to export props from a prop house as it would save time and money. 

Archive Material:
- This involves old and already used footage which has been used within film productions. Documentary makers often use this so that they can use real footage to make the overall documentary more authentic.

Internet:

- The internet is the way to conduct Secondary Research, the internet offers cleared sounds and effects for your short film. 

For my movie I would choose to use
http://soundbible.com/free-sound-effects-1.html
This would be for sound and effects they offer a wide range in which I can use for completely no fee. 

If I were to use this site I would be able to even create my own sound library for no cost and it would save time.

Property Rights and Copyright conditions:
- With existing company material if you wanted to use it you would have to get their permission and there may be a charge involved.
- However, everything in which you use you need to have permission as if you don't and your film is published this could cause problems. 
For example:
- If someone has created something such as sound or an effect and it is copyrighted you cannot use it without consent. 

Codes of practice and regulation

Clearances:

PRS:

Who are they?
- The PRS are the Performing Rights Society. PRS represents members who perform rights. This is whenever a piece of music is performed and played in any public surroundings. 

MCPS:

Who are they?
- The MCPS also have an important role these stand for the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society. They represent members with mechanical rights, for music which is reproduced as a physical product.

PRS and MCPS work together with forms of music. Such as PRS is there to protect the music if it is played in public places. Whereas with MCPS their role protects music which is stored on a different form of technology such as discs. 

Filmmakers and release forms:
- Filmmakers are required to have release forms as they need to have written consent from the person they are using or the property which would of been used. 

Clearances are generally required when wanting to include certain brands, photographs or music within your production. With this you must ensure that you have written consent with the owners of the content before using any of it. Otherwise, including content without certain permissions will result in perhaps legal action happening such as a fine or even being sued from the companies or the original owners. 

Copyright:

What is it?
- Copyright allows the maker of brands and or property this then protects all their ideas including brands, music, logos etc.

Health and Safety:

It is important that health and safety is regularly relegated during the film making process. 
- You should under any circumstances have at least one experience member within the team who is aware of all the health and safety issues which could effect the film making process. 
- Some genres with scenes including animals or scenes with horror or action could pose risks.
- Lastly, make sure that all the locations used are safe for all crew and talent members.

Insurance (Public liability, completion insurance):

Insurance is a large important and essential part within the film making industry. The basic insurance cover that will 100% be needed will be health and safety for anyone involved within the production which involves cast and crew. Equipment can likely be damaged very easily so having this insured would be very important. 

In film making, it is crucial that you have insurance as it is required in case anything happens to the equipment or production crew whilst working. However, insuring all of your equipment may be difficult due to having a low budget.

What you will need to cover?
- Equipment
- Footage
- Employers Liability
- Public Liability

Equipment - having the knowledge of how much the equipment is worth therefore allowing you to get it insured accordingly.

Footage - this includes damage or potential loss of videotapes.

Employers Liability - this is to pay compensation for any deaths, diseases or bodily injury's to employee's who are working within the production of the films course. 

Public Liability - in the event of damage being caused accidentally this will cover injury towards person or property.

The same applies when gaining permission for filming on public locations or houses, as generally written consent is a must and given by higher authorities or even the owner of the location. 

All of the actors must also sign release forms which would agree for them to be part of the production, in order to protect the production company from any legal action which could potentially restrict filming. 

Regulatory bodies (Ofcom, British Board of Film Classification) [BBFC]:

Ofcom:

What is it?
- Ofcom is the regulator communicator in the UK. They are in charge of regulating TV, radio and video within on demand sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, also the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.

What does Ofcom do?
- They offer a vast range of high-quality radio and TV programmes.
- TV and radio services are provided by a range of different organisations. 
- They also ensure that people listening to the TV and radio aren't affected from harmful or offensive material. 
- People are also protected from being treated unfairly in TV and radio programmes, this also protects them from having their privacy invaded. 
- Demand services viewers are also protected from harmful content. 

Ofcom would become involved in my drama to see if any of the material which would be shown would affect in the way of being offensive or harmful to viewers. If potential viewers complain about the show Ofcom will be allowed to get involved and investigate, if any regulations have been breached Ofcom have the right to give them a fine. 

BBFC:

The [BBFC] is the British Board of Film Classification. This board is an independant, non governmental body which have put time into classifying cinema films since 1912. They also classified videos and DVD's since the Act of Video was passed in 1984.

The British Board of Film Classification set age rating standards on films and also label them the right certificate. If you as the film director wanted the film to be aged rated 15 but the board felt it was an 18. They would then tell you which scenes or parts in which you could cut out to make your film 15. 

The organisation BBFC would have to get involved within a film which would be presented to then allow them to give it a certificate to show what rating the film actually was.

PACT:

Producers' Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT)

PACT is known as the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television. PACT gives independant producers within the UK their intellectual property rights. PACT works mainly towards broadcasters and producer groups as this promotes and creates training opportunities aswell as fair access for all. 

NUJ:

National Union of Journalists (NUJ)

NUJ stands for the National Union of Journalists. The NUJ stands as the voice for journalists and journalism. The National Union of Journalists is an inclusive union and represents a broad range of media professionals. The group strive for higher improved pay and working conditions in which their members work in, they also strive to protect and promote media freedom, professionalism and ethical standards. 

BECTU:

Broadcasting Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)

BECTU is the Broadcasting Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union. This organisation represents staff, contracts and freelance workers which are based in the UK. BECTU offer a wide range of servers such as:

Negotiating pay, conditions and contracts with employers	Personal advice and representation for individuals
Advice and representation on Health & Safety	Benefits and services for BECTU members
Training support and courses	Networking events and career development opportunities

With BECTU's website they also provide standard pay rates for their workers within the media and theatre industries in order to provide the basic knowledge as to how much staff members would and should be receiving, which can generally be determined by their position within the job role, how many hours they would be working per day and what type of production they would potentially be working for. 

The overall key aims in which BECTU as a union is to protect jobs, aswell as improve pay and conditions within service, this includes pension.