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This unit will enable students to develop their understanding of the specialist production stages and roles within the collaborative organisation of media production. Students develop practical skills through undertaking assigned roles during their participation in specific stages of a media production and analyse issues concerning the stages and roles in the media production process. Students also develop an understanding of media industry issues and developments relating to production stages and roles and the broader framework within which Australian media organisations operate.

AREA OF STUDY 1

Media production

This area of study focuses on students producing a media product within a collaborative context and explaining the process undertaken. All media representations are constructed through a production process. Production is usually undertaken in stages, often grouped under the headings of pre-production, production and post- production, with segments of the various stages undertaken by specialist individuals or teams. The specialists perform specific roles in the development of a media product from its inception to completed production, distribution and/or exhibition. As each media product progresses through the various stages of production, the work practices and conventions of each specific stage help shape the final nature of the media product.

Outcome 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain the media production process and demonstrate specialist production skills within collaborative media productions.

To achieve this outcome the student will draw on knowledge and related skills outlined in area of study 1.

Key knowledge

This knowledge includes

• stages in the media production process from planning and/or pre-production to final audience reception;
• the specialist roles in each stage of a media production within the context of the collaborative nature of media production;
• production techniques, practices and conventions used to structure media texts and to engage audiences.

Key skills

These skills include the ability to

• identify specific stages and roles in the media production process;
• describe the collaborative nature of stages and roles in the media production process;
• undertake specialist roles in media production and apply the relevant technical skills;
• apply production techniques, practices and conventions in the collaborative production of media texts;
• work collaboratively with others in the production of media texts.

AREA OF STUDY 2

Media industry production

This area of study focuses on Australian, overseas and/or global issues and/or developments in the media industry and their impact on media production stages and specialist roles within these stages. Media products are the result of collaborative and specialist production stages and roles. The degree of specialisation among production personnel may vary according to the production context. The many specialist stages and roles each require different skills and training. Work may be regular or irregular depending on the type of role and the funding for media productions. Issues or developments arise in the media industry in the production, distribution, exhibition and reception of media texts, both fiction and non-fiction. In this area of study, the term ‘media production’ can be understood as one or more media productions.

Outcome 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to discuss media industry issues and/or developments relating to the production stages of a media production and specialist roles within the media industry.
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on knowledge and related skills outlined in area of study 2.

Key knowledge

This knowledge includes

• characteristics of stages of a media production within the context of the overall production process of a particular media product; for example, marketing of a film, broadcasting a television program, post-production of a computer game, shooting a music video, newspaper layout, designing a website;
• specialist roles performed and production skills applied in the stages of a media production by specific media personnel;
• Australian, overseas and/or global media industry issues and/or developments relating to the stages of a media production and specialist roles; for example, production issues concerning the making of a film, program or other media text, training and employment pathways for specialist media roles, industry practices at stages of a production process;
• media industry issues and/or developments and their impact on production stages and specialist roles.

Key skills

These skills include the ability to

•    describe characteristics of the stages of a media production within the context of the overall production process of a particular media product;
•    discuss the specialist roles and production work performed in stages of a media production process;
•    analyse the impact of Australian, overseas and/or global media industry issues and/or developments on stages of a production process and the specialist roles undertaken.

AREA OF STUDY 3

Australian media organisations

This area of study focuses on an analysis of Australian media organisations and the social and industrial framework within which they operate. Media products are produced within a cultural, aesthetic, legal, political, economic, institutional and historical framework. Their production, distribution and circulation is affected by law, self-regulatory codes of conduct, industry pressures and the practices of particular media organisations. Other factors (for example, sources of revenue, ratings, circulation, ownership and control) influence the nature and range of media texts produced by individual organisations. Consideration of the impact of these factors on media organisations and their products is important in developing an understanding of the production role of different Australian media organisations.

Outcome 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe characteristics of Australian media organisations and discuss the social and industrial framework within which such organisations operate.
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on knowledge and related skills outlined in area of study 3.

Key knowledge

This knowledge includes

• ways in which Australian media organisations produce and distribute media texts, for example, through film production, Internet programming, exhibition outlets, broadcasting sites, television transmission, newspaper and/or magazine production;
• source(s) of income and/or finance of Australian media organisations; •    ownership and, where appropriate, patterns of ownership over time of Australian media organisations;
• audiences of Australian media organisations and/or texts; for example, audience size and demographics, ratings or circulation figures;
• the nature and range of media texts produced by Australian media organisations and, where appropriate, similar overseas organisations, which are distributed in Australia; for example, music and current affairs programming on radio, film production budgets and genres, commercial and non-commercial television station programming;
• the relationship between the nature and/or range of texts produced by Australian media organisations and the funding and management of these organisations;
• historical, cultural, legal, political, economic and/or institutional factors affecting the conduct and operation of Australian media organisations.

Key skills

These skills include the ability to

• describe features of Australian media organisations;
• compare the nature and operation of Australian media organisations; •    discuss the impact of the funding and/or management of Australian media organisations on the nature and/or range of media texts produced by Australian media organisations;
• analyse the conduct and operation of Australian media organisations within the historical, cultural, legal, political, economic and/or institutional framework in which they produce, distribute and/or exhibit media texts.