What is project management?

• Keeping track
• Decision-making
• Organise
• Pre-prod-post
• Plan
• Manage
• Discipline 
• Time management 

Management tasks during a project: 

Project management is a job role to ensure a process is in place and follow to, in order to achieve the objectives of the project. A project manager may use a number of different tool to do this. 

Project management is an art form.. 

• Project management is the effective planning and running of a project, from the ideas point to the end product and evaluation 
• Planning requires an outline of the tasks, deadlines and milestones that will be required to manage the project efficiently 
• A project timeline schedule would need to be created for the creation of the media product, to include

1. Tasks that need to be done

2. Deadlines for each task

3. Milestones within the tasks and the overall project. 

Gantt charts - 

Designed by mechanical engineer Henry Gantt in 1910, the Gantt chart has had a relatively long run as a project management tool.

Uses horizontal bars to illustrate project completion dates, progress and milestones and dependencies. 

Other management tools - 

• Production schedule 
• To do lists
• Workflow tool: Split by team member so that it is clear who is doing what, when.

Documentation needed to aid project management: 

• Initial pitch or treatment
• Call sheet
• Budget proposal form
• Budgets
• Contract
• Storyboard
• Set diagram
• Editing log
• Camera shot list
• Talent release form
• Location release form
• Recce/scouting sheet 
• Daily progress report
• Continuity sheet
• Equipment log
• Shooting script
• Visual effects (FX) breakdown
• Audience questionnaire for product testing 
• Asset log 
• Risk assessment

Why are production management tools useful during pre-production?

Production management tools are so useful during pre-production as they are usually there and in place to ensure that everything runs smoothly and is more organized. It helps with producers and important people on sets schedules to run smoothly and to know exactly what tasks they have to complete and at what time.