The Commissioning Process

To commission: ‘…to put in or make ready for service or use’

Ideas are chosen for production

What Is It?

The Job Roles

Commissioning BodiesCorporations

i.e. BBC

Independent Production Companiesi.e. Bedlam Productions Ltd

Independent Directors and Producersi.e. J Blakeson

Organisationsi.e. Independent Cinema Office

Competitionsi.e. The Sunday Times: First Light

Pre-production planningWhat needs to be accomplished throughout production, before it has started

Script editingIn order to fit the target audience etc.

Director/producer involvementAdvice and opinions

Shooting scriptCamera movements, angles etc.

Production

Page lock-downThe final plan – what will and what will not be produced

Adjustment during shooting stageHow can what has already been produced be made better?

The Role Of A Writer

Becoming A Writer

Agent representationFor press conferences etc.

Royalty paymentsPaid to the larger companies so that their work can be produced

Professional presentation

Time managementDeadlines, meetings etc.

CopyrightLaw suits/legal action can take place if material breaches copyright terms and conditions

BiasParticularly in factual pieces, views/opinions need to be balanced. It is unethical and prejudiced to present one point of view and not the other.

CensorshipContent is removed so that it can be made suitable for younger audiences i.e. sex/violence etc.

WatershedsAfter this time, content containing sex/violence etc. can be shown

LibelIf a programme mocks/openly insults another party, that party may take legal action if they deem the content offensive

PlagiarismPresenting another’s work/ideas as your own. Again, legal action can take place

Legal And Ethical Considerations

Your Task

Explain The Commissioning Process For Writing For Television And Video. What Is The Role Of The Writer In This Process?

What is the commissioning process?What are the job roles within it and what do they involve?What is a commissioning body? Give real examples.What is the role of the writer throughout the production?To become a writer, what needs to be considered?What are the legal and ethical considerations?

Deadline: End of the day!

Good Starting Points For Research

www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning

www.theproductionguide.co.uk

www.channel4.com/info/commissioning

www.skillset.org/film

Learning Objectives

1. Everyone will know about the commissioning process

2. Everyone will have completed ‘Task One: The Commissioning Process’

3. Most of you will have started to generate ideas for your short film

Doodlebug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WhKt_CkXD0

John Wayne, Je’taime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3b0M-YsQjU

Useful Site

http://shortsbay.com/

Homework

Generate Ideas!

1. Loglines (the plot in one sentence)

2. Characters

3. Locations

4. How might the above become a new idea? Generate story ideas

5. What research will you need? (i.e. if one of your characters has a medical condition, research it!)