Digital Media Unit 2 Topic 1/4

Planning factors                                                                                    Unit 2

                                                                                                                                                                          Topic 1.1

When developing a media product, there are loads of factors that need to be considered. These factors can affect the production of the media product.

Type of media production and implications

Somer digital media productions can be television, films, websites, advertising ETC. The purpose could be for entertainment, education, information or promotion. Each product has their own requirements that need to be considered during pre-production. Although the content may differ, there are still some similarities too, such as a storyboard. However, parts are different, such as needing actors for particular products. 

Financial constraints

Budgets are a huge constraints of the creation of a media product. To be successful, a decent sized budget may be needed. Some costs include:

- Staffing    (director, animator, graphic designer)

- Premises 

- Location

- Legal costs

- Transport

- Resources/equipment   (cameras, lighting, props)

Different media productions will have different costs and financial requirements.

Revenue Streams

During the production of the media product, there are many revenue streams that can be used to finance the project. These include:

- Sponsorship

- Crowdfunding 

- Corporate finance

- Advertising 

- Franchising 

The type of media product and size of organisation affect which revenue stream to use.

Time constraints

Time constraints need to be kept in mind when planning a media production. The product always has to meet a deadline and failing to meet this could hurt the business financially.

Timescales are built backwards when planning a media production and then the stages are put in place. Resources needed may only be available at certain periods of times. For example:

- Filming location

- Sounds studio 

- Computer time 

- Catering facilities

- Actors

Personnel involved

Gathering the right staff is crucial. You need the right number of staff with the right skills and experience needed.

An audit of requirements for the production of the media product is carried out and then the skills and experience of individuals is matched against this. By doing this, they can identify gaps to fill.

Delays due to not having enough staff can stop a project from meeting its deadline and increase costs.

Relevant facilities, locations and resources

These can include studios, props, sets, microphones, computers, and software.

Impact of legal issues

There are many laws that have to be followed when creating the media product, and the impacts of them need to be acted up on. For example:

Freedom of Information Act

The public has the right to access information that is held by public sector organisations. Whether it is about them or about others, they are a public company.

Intellectual Property Act

If you have created a piece of work, it is your property. You need to sign an agreement to make sure the organisation makes the money from the product they sell. If this is not signed, the owner of the piece of work gets all the income even if they are sold on organisations platforms

Data Protection Act

This protects peoples private information from being used without permission.

Copyright and Patent Act 1988

Creations such as music, sound recordings, images, films or written work are not to be used by others without permission. You are able to control if people are allowed to use your material, and how they use it.

Libel

You can't include false information about someone in a media production. It could damage their reputation unfairly.

Slander

Same implications as libel, but involves false words spoken.

Impact of regulatory issues

During the production of a media product, there are many laws and regulations. They must follow these laws, or the product is illegal. For example:

- BBFC (British Board of Communication)

- PRS (Performing Right Society of Music)

Impact on ethical issues

Being ethical is doing the right or model thing. When creating the media product, ethical issues need to be considered so it doesn't offend or disturb anyone. Ethical issues can include violence in video games films or using fake internet ID to gain information. Sometimes films go out of their way to be controversial to gain more publicity. However, if they take it too far, they can have legal action taken to it, to ban sales of the product. This is extremely harmful to the organisation both time wise and financially, and can strongly affect them in the short and long term.