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.