0/NFCE QUALIFICATION SPECIFICATION

UNIT 1 DELIVERY OVERVIEW

Participant handbook

Unit 01 Develop own working practice for the film industry

This unit will enable participants to gain an insight into the culture and working practices within the film industry. They will identify development opportunities and routes into the industry and gain an understanding of the various roles within it. Participants will develop an awareness of processes and skills involved in working collaboratively and will develop the technical skills necessary for film production.

Aims of the qualification

The qualification aims to support Film Academy participants to:

• Understand the industry’s culture, structure and marketplace

• Gain and improve technical skills

• Understand and contribute to the production process

• Review and critique your own production

• Understand the key roles and job market in the film industry

• Work effectively within teams

• Reflect on your own development and plan your next steps

• Develop skills in critical film appreciation

Below is the qualification outline and delivery overview, which includes all assessment criteria.

Section 1: Be able to develop technical skills to meet film production requirements

1.1 Describe areas for development in your current knowledge, understanding and skills

Additional Information: Areas identified for development in a learners current knowledge, understanding and skills need to be recorded, perhaps using a workbook / journal or online portfolio, for example.

1.2 Take a role in the production of a short film

Additional Information: When considering the learner’s own role within the production process, students need to identify and apply the technical skills required of the role. Film production also needs a range of resources, which would be cameras, recording equipment and editing facilities, but might also be actors, specific set requirements,or specialist help, for example. These need to be identified and described and utilised.

1.3 Gain feedback on how you performed your role

1.4 Review own technical skills and use of equipment

Additional Information: The learners need to be critically aware of their own skills and review them frequently and identify how they may be improved. This would be done by self-reflection, which would need to be documented and by the use of other sources, such as feedback from members of the production team or tutor.

Section 2: Understand professional development opportunities within the film industry

2.1 Explain the working culture of the film industry

Additional Information: To work in the film industry it is necessary for individuals to understand responsibility, personal initiative and good working practice. Learners should show that they understand this, including the freelance nature of the industry, the long working hours and the pressures of working on set or location. Other factors involve the relevance of time management, dressing appropriately, having a flexible attitude and understanding the importance of networking.

2.2 Describe a range of key job roles and responsibilities in the film industry

Additional Information: The key roles within the film industry, such as director, actor, art director, director of photography, editor, producer, scriptwriter, must be understood by the learner. The relationship between various activities in the film production process and the interdependence of all aspects of filmmaking, should be described.

2.3 Outline the potential progression routes into the film industry and wider sector

Additional Information: Research and describe the various progression routes into the film industry and the interdependent creative industries in general. These could include through qualifications, apprenticeships, entry-level positions, developing a portfolio of work and film festivals for example.

Section 3: Be able to develop effective working relationships with film production team members

3.1 Explain the importance of teamwork when working on a film production

3.2 Identify the qualities needed to work well with others

3.3 Describe how you worked with others collaboratively on your film production

Additional Information: The industry relies on teamwork and on the confidence in the various people within it to carry out their roles to support the whole film production process. Learners need to be aware of and demonstrate good timekeeping, reliability, safe working, use of personal initiative and the ability to collaborate with others to test and adjust their decisions.

Learners need to identify how their behaviour or the behaviour of others impacts on working relationships. Interacting with others in the overall project has to be demonstrated practically and the learner should identify specific examples of teamwork, for example what problems where overcome and creative decisions made. This could be supplemented by a report from a suitably qualified professional, such as a tutor.

Section 4: Understand film industry working practices and legislation

4.1 Demonstrate good health and safety practice when working on film productions

Additional Information: Learners need to demonstrate a practical understanding of health and safety when working on their own film based project.

Some of the safety issues are general but others, such as those relating to set lighting or manual handling in the rigging or de-rigging of sets, are specific to the industry. These practices need to be identified and documented with reference to key aspects relevant to the film industry.

4.2 Explain why copyright is important in the film industry

Additional Information: Copyright issues are important within the film industry, not only with regards to distribution and illegal copying of films, but also with ideas development, scriptwriting, use of story, sound and image during the production stages. Learners should identify materials, which may be subject to copyright and explain and demonstrate the impact of copyright regulations in filmmaking. Learners can evidence the practical application by including consent forms, location agreements and referring to the original works created in the making of their film.

Section 5: Be able to review film productions.

5.1 Review and critique at least one short film production

Additional Information: An important part of working in the industry is being able to make some personal but informed judgments of the films produced. Learners need to critique at least one short film production by commenting on the narrative structure, the use and suitability of sound, camera and editing techniques, or relationship of image to story, for example. The learner needs to research others’ film reviews to understand the skills needed and demonstrate that ‘review’ moves beyond simply like or dislike.