Regulation/BBFC

BBFC podcast episode 70 - Game of thrones

What certificate was GOT given?

• Games of thrones was the certificate 15 and then 13 of the episodes were given 18 for strong bloody violence.
• The series has strong language, sex, violence, sexual violence, nudity, threat and horror.
• There are many scenes with mass amounts of violence and threat.

How did they arrive at this decision?

• The episodes that are given an 18 because there are too many strong and ghaury images to be acceptable at 15 to watch. 
• There are also scenes that are too violent and bloody for a 15, so they felt strongly about making it an 18. There is a lot of blood, bodily organs creates a huge feel of bloody violence. 

In conversation: production designer Pat Campbell podcast - 

1. What does the role of production designer entail?

A production designer is responsible for the overall look of a production. The design, feel and atmosphere of it. They start very early in the production with the director. A lot of discussions happen with the director and production designer about locations, building set, the look of the atmosphere and so on. A production designer doesn't have authority over anyone however they work together with everyone to achieve a common look or range of designs. 

2. During a production, which other members of the production and which other areas of the production does the production designer co-ordinate with?

The production designer works with Set designer, costume designer, DOP (lighting). Depending on the project they may or may not be involved with the director and writer etc. There are so many different roles in the art department that the production designer are in contact with.

3.What issues with locations can occur during the production of a TV drama?

They want to use the real locations. However they are huge tourist locations so they had to match these locations with more accessible ones. There are a lot of location scouts too achieve the visual look that they want. 

4.What skills, education and experience is it beneficial for a production designer to have?

A production designer must have a creative and very visual  and creative eye. Having as much work experience as possible the better. It is a very hard field to get into and understand the many different areas of the graphic, props, construction, costume, makeup and production. An artistic background is very useful and being able to draw and draft by hand or computer. Try and get onto training courses as it is a very difficult business to get into. Offer to volunteer or ask to watch filming on sets. Just getting a better understand of the field you want to work in.

5.During the production process itself, where are the working locations that a production designer tends to work and how do these relate to the actual filming of the TV drama?

The production designer sketches images of the location they would want to work in. When filming takes place the production designer is not on set and they move onto another location or back to the workshop. Being a production designer no days are the same.

Legal issues

Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property law-
What all new products require -

• Developing new products 
• Creating eye catching designs 
• Creating a good brand 

How do you protect your ideas from being exploited from others? 

Intellectual property known as the IP law

Trying to protect your ideas from being exploited.


4 areas of the IP law - 

1. Trade marks-

• Used by businesses to protect their brands.
• Can be registered in the UK.
• Applies to name, logo or both.
• Trade marks only need renewing every 10 years. 

2. Copy rights-

• Copy rights Exists in documents, maps, plans, websites and photos
• Copy right can last up to 70 years after your life time. 
• Copy rights last alot longer and you do not have to renew constantly 

3. Design rights-

• An advantage is that they are not expensive 
• If people buy your products from the way that they look you would want to know about design rights. E.G jewellery 
• Design rights cover the UK and abroad. 
• If you dont register it you will have unregistered design rights are free.
• If you dont register it then you may have rights you dont even know about. 

4. Patents - 

• If you invent a new product or process then think about PATENTS.
• Patents can last up to 20 years and registering it can be very complicated and also is a very expensive process. 
• Even though it is expensive and complicated it is beneficial because you can get professional advice. 

Star Wars copyright article - 

• A prop designer who made the original Stormtrooper helmets for Star wars has won copyright battle with director George Lucas over his right to sell replicas. 
• The man spent half a decade and almost £700,000 fighting the full force of a movie moguls legal team and Andrew Ainsworth refused to be weighed down. 
• Bailiffs demanded £12 million and defended the onslaught in court.
• "PANDORAS BOX' - To his surprise they fetched £60,000 at Christies, which left him in no doubt about their potential.
• The fans recognised them as the real thing but by the time he sold 19 to the US Lucas did too. 
• Lucasfilm sued for $20 million in 2004 and he argued that Ainsworth did not hold the intellectual property rights and had no right to sell them. This was upheld by court. 
• The designer had no assets in the US so it moved to the UK 
• It was ruled there was an "implied contract" 
• Court rejected the billionaire directors claim and the focused moved to design rights, whether the helmets sold were works of art or industrial props. 
• Lucas film could convince the courts the 3D works were sculptures, they would be protected by copyright for the life of the author plus 70 years
• If this did not happen, copyright protection would be reduced 15 years from the date that they were marketed. 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT -

• The Tory MP claimed journalists 'misuse' Fol requests - cheers a selection of public interest stories that would never have emerged without the act.
• According to conservative MP Chris Grayling journalists misuse the freedom of information act to create other stories. 
• Journalists from national, local trade press there are generally some exceptions. 
• There are 103 different examples of why Gravling has been proved wrong. 
• There are issues of domestic abuse, gross expenditure, wrongdoing, spying, child abuse, cybercrime, dodgy landlords, inflated bonuses, spurious expense claims and more. 
• Only 40 of 250 returning jihadis in UK face prosecution: the sun 
• Clare law 1,300 domestic abuse disclosures made on BBC news. 
• BBC were accused of spying after nearly 150 staff emails accessed or monitored. 
• Two children aged 7 and 8 suspected of rape as figures reveal almost 1000 alleged child criminals last year

Data Protection act - 

• The UK law says that all business operating in the UK must follow the 8 principles. 
• The average person living in the UK has around 4000 pieces of data collected from businesses and then stored in 1000 data bases each week. 
• Customer data is the life blood of every business on the planet. 
• The data needs to be secured fairly and safely 
• The 8 principles are the law but also just the right thing to do.

8 principles - 

1. Requires the data subjects consent

2. Should onky be kept for the reason it was collected

3. Should be kept accurate

4. Shoukd be kept up to date

5. Should only be kept for as long as its needed

6. Should be made available to the data subject

7. Should be processed securely 

8. Should only be processed within in the UK 

Copyright, designs and patents act 1998 -

• A person can recreate exisiting media or new media in anyway they want. 
• Only something that publishing houses and big movies in the film industry use.
• Only originally applied to big newspaper firms and film industries. 
• It is all available online however doesnt mean it is free or legal. 
• Respect the people in the music industry by purchasing their songs and not downloadign them illegally because they should make money on their products. (ethically correct).

Libel Law 

Katie Hopkins Libel Law-

Define libel law: Libel law is a method when you intentionally try to damage the good reputation of someone expressed by print, writing, pictures and any communication in physical form that is possible to ruin a persons reputation.

Katie hopkins tweeted about Jack Monroe saying that she 'ruined' a memorial for those who have fought for this country, and then asked if her grandma has any spare medals. Monroe felt as if Katie Hopkins ruined her reputation and therefore sued her. After 21 months of court cases and lawyers, Monroe won the case and Hopkins had to pay £107,000 in the period of 28 days just to her solicitors and £24,000, just to Jack Monroe.


Slander -

'Owners of a subway shop in Utah sue for defamation in what police once said was a soda drugging case'
Layton police said the employee planted drugs in an officers drink, but no evidence was found.

• The owners of the Layton subway shop are suing the city for defamation after their employee was accused of drugging a police officers drink.
• Franchise owners said in the lawsuit that sales dropped off a lot after police publicized the drink spiking assertion.
• Also several employees quit working in the shop after they were question by the police. 
• "This is an unusual case that deals with constitutional defamation or slander by a public agency, a police department in this case. 
• Officers accused an 18 year old working in the drive thru of lacing an officers lemonade with methamphetamine and THC (element in marijuana).

Human Rights act 2014 - 

• Human rights are the values of society that keep people FAIR, JUST AND EQUAL
• It is used to protect against the elderly, children, people in care, people with mental illness, victims of abuse, prisoners, teachers and mentally ill people. 
• Our human rights are protected by the law that means we can do something if our rights are attacked.
• Over the years we have developed our own rights, especially on equality and equal and fair rights. (For example, gay marriage has become legal). (Also women can now vote).
• People want to take the human rights act down. Years and years ago only the upper class got rights but now we have fought so hard for rights. 
• Human rights doesn't exist in countries such as China and North Korea because they have always been dictated by what the king says.
• World war 2 Hitler over the rights - After world war 2 Europe stuck together and decided that wasn't going to happen again and that they weren't going to be dictated by one person
  
• After world was 2 the European convention on human rights was published and discussed that this could never happen again.
• The european convention on human rights was a simple document. It puts rights not rulers at the heart of society.  Some of these included the right to life, right to liberty and security, freedom of expression and speech.
• Then in 1998 (50 years after) the government then wrote the human rights act. UK law public hospitals, schools must be able to express there human rights. 
• In hospitals, patients we are entitled too compassion. Journalists are under no obligation to reveal their sources. 
• Soldiers must be given the correct equipment so they are equal and all given a fair chance. 
• We are all treated equally and if we are found innocent, there is no obligation for them to keep our DNA. They have to get rid of it if you have been proven innocent.
• We have to be treated fairly everywhere. They are part of our British heritage. UK law and government. 

Infographics

Franchising

What is franchising? 

• A media franchine is a collection of related media in which several works have been produced from an original creative work such as a film or TV. 

• Franchising is a business strategy. It is a marketing system for creating an image in the minds of current and future customers about how the companys products and services can help them. 
• It is a good method for distributing products and services that suit customers/audiences needs.

Franchising is a form of business that the owner of a product, service or method obtains distribution through affiliated dealers.

Franchisor = The one that owns it

Franchisees = The one that buys it 

Advantages - 

• The risk of reducing business failure is reduced by franchising. 
• Products and services will have already established a market share. 
• You can use a recognised brand name and trade mark. Which will help  you benefit from any advertising and promotion by the owner of the franchise. 
• No prior experience is needed 
• Franchise enables small businesses to compete with big businesses. 

Disadvantages - 

• Costs may be higher
• The franchise agreement usually inlcudes restrictions on how you can run the business.
• You may find it difficult to sell your franchise
• All profits are usually shared with the franchisor 
• Franchisor may go out of business 

Examples of franchises- 

• Harry potter
• James Bond 
• Star wars
• Batman
• Transformers

About BBC worldwide - 

•  BBC worldwide is the main commerical arm and is owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Coporation (BBC). 
• BBC helps keep  the licence fee as low as possible. 
• They exist to support the BBC public servcie mission and to maximise profits on its behalf. 
• This is acheieved throguh investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world that is consistent with BBC standards and values. 
• The BBC is branching out into the world of franchising.
• They are working co-operatvely with other organisations and creative partners to create high ends dramas that are exported around the world. 

Global markets - 

BBC worldwide has identified five markets that have high growht potential. These markets are Asia, Central Europe, Middle east & Africa (CEMA), Northern Europe and Western Europe. All of these are collectively known within BBC worldwide as global markets 

How much does it cost to advertise on UK TV? (HOMEWORK)

Summarise the TV article

• Facebook unveiled a set-top TV app to host video content
• By 2020 online ads will account for 60% of marketing budgets while TV will represent just 21.5%

Storyboard and script for crowdfunding Video

Hey guys, its Lielle! Back at it again with giving you the best tips for raising money for a short film!

OR

looking to raise some money for your short film? I have the perfect tips and tricks for you! Keep watching to find out more…

Let me tell you why it is a good idea to find investors and grants and also why people want to invest in your idea.

- It is a good idea to find investors to help you out, this way you are able to start planning your production as soon as possible. This makes your life easier as you don’t waste your time saving all the scraps of money you can find!

- People would only want to invest in your idea if it is interesting and if they can see real potential and true passion for your film, so when you present your idea for them make it fun and interest and makes sure they know how serious you are!

- Why do investors invest? They invest to first of all help you and second of all to hopefully gain a profit. If they put in a small sum of money, they could get out 10x as much as they put it!

There can be more than one investor but just remember the more investors the more money that you will be dishing out afterwards.

You also have the BFI FILM FUND – the lead agency for film in the UK

Then comes BBC FILMS – They Are committed to finding and developing new talent, working with some of the foremost writers and directors in the industry.

You also have FILM 4 - They invest in £15 million annually in developing and financing films for theatrical release in cinemas!

regional

Kick-starter- There are loads of projects out the on Kick-starter (3700) especially with it being the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. A home for music, art, theatre, games, comics, design, photography,

and most importantly…film! The whole idea of it is that you post a video or picture of your idea and you get people to invest money in return for something.

For example, Enemy of man was funded on kick-starter, to everyone who helped raise their target got early access to a snippet of the film and much much more, how cool is that! Number one tip with kick-starter is ALWAYS Make sure you know what you want to do/ your idea so that people know what they are investing in! Also, it would be a clever idea if you promote some offers for your investors so that they would WANT to invest.

You also have Indigogo, gofundme, crowd cube, crowdfunding.

The only difference with Indigogo and kick-starter is that on indiegogo whatever money you raise you get to keep where as on kick-starter if you don’t reach your target then you have to give back to your donators.

TAX RELIEF In terms of tax relief, We Are UK give the tax money so that that you don’t have to worry about the extra expense

The first website – what entices you as an investor?

In regards to enticing an investor, there are many different things that can contribute to this such as the promised huge returns from investing along with 25 years of royalty payments with huge uplift potential, being able to attend VIP events and even being able to take home from of the movies props and costumes.

There are so many different routes to film funding in the UK, with rax relief benefits and a wide range of awards and schemes running throughout the year with different agencies. This means that if you provide money then there will be many different types of rewards.

Good luck with getting funding guys!

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Easy way to get advertisers on your site

1. Promote an affiliate product on your sight 
Affiliate links are not technically ads but they allow you to make money by promoting someone else product. Same places pay 10% commission but some pay 50%.

2. Use targeted advertising with google Adsense 

• These ads reflect the content of your site
• It is a free website to join 
• Google does all the work, all you do is collect payments
• Doesn't work for all sites, so make sure you test it so you don't loose credibility
• Appears down the sides and around the bottom of the page. 

3. Approach companies directly to ask if you can advertise for them

• Call them rather than email them
• Build a relationship with them
• If you already have a lot of traffic on your website, make sure the company that you are talking to knows about it.
• Make sure it is relatable to your website.

4. Sign up for a blog-specific ad program 

• Generates ads that will be put onto  your website 
• sign up for an organisation and the organisation will see repeated texts which will generate advertisement 
• Get paid for having certain programmes on your website 
• Put up a post saying "click here to find out how to advertise on this blog" 
• Takes a lot of research ands testing on a website to make the best internet advertising.
• GET TO KNOW TARGET AUDIENCE!

How important is pre-production to:

A) Advertising a product: 

Pre-production is essential in advertising a product because without pre-production you wouldn't know what to relate your product to and who to advertise it too. You would have to research into the type of website and the type of advertisers. The brand and budget is also important in relation to defining your target audience. 

B) Understanding a target audience:

Pre-production is also essential in understanding a target audience because without knowing the products target audience the product will not be a success. We will find out our target audience by taking part in surveys and interviews and other research methods which will help us to then find out who our target audience is. This will then help us understand our target audience which can help us to then make the similar websites. 

Research notes for Investors and grants

Why invest films?

• Get 25 years of royalty payments with huge uplift potential.
• Guaranteed returns 
• Get named in the film credits 

There are so many different routes to film funding in the UK, with rax relief benefits and a wide range of awards and schemes running throughout the year with different agencies. This means that if you provide money then there will be many different types of rewards. 

Regional and national agencies - development and production funding

BFI FILM FUND - The lead agency for film in the UK

BBC FILMS - Are committed to finding and developing new talent, working with some of the foremost writers and directors in the industry. 

FILM 4 - They invest in £15 million annually in developing and financing films for theatrical release in cinemas. 

CREATIVE EUROPE DESK UK 

Creative Europe is the Europeans unions programme to support the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors.  From 2014-2020, 1.46 Billion is available to support european projects with the potential to travel, reach new audiences and encourage skill sharing and development. 

They promote awareness and understanding of creative Europe.

• Creative Europe offers free advice and support to UK- based applicants of creative Europe. 

• They're team of specialists are based in all four nations of the UK. 

• They promote themselves by hosting and attending events across the UK.

• Not only do they organise their own free seminars and workshops but they also attend conferences, festivals, markets and events in order to spread the word about Creative Europe.

• They also send out regular e-newletters and keep up to date on Facebook and twitter.

Who they help?

The media sub-programme supports organisations working in film, TV and new media, and offers funding, training and networking opportunities for:

• Producers
• Video game developers
• Distributors
• Sales agents
• Audiovisual training providers
• Organisers of festivals, markets and networks
• Film education specialists
• Cinema exhibitors 

Funded projects - 

There are many different funded projects that creative Europe desk have been involved with. For example a huge project was called 

'Peaceful Fish Productions MEDIA'. This took place in England in 2014. There total project funds (euros) was 49,363

Another huge project is called the 'Spider eye MEDIA'. This also happened in England in 2016. The total project grant in euros is 177,145.

RESULTS - Through Creatives Europe's MEDIA sub-programme, 40 million was invested in the UK's audiovisual sector: 113 UK companies and 55 UK cinemas in the european cinemas network benefitted directly from grants and totalling 22 million and 115 British films had their distribution supported in other european countries with 18 million of investment.