4.1     Explain why copyright is important in the film industry

Copyright = important rights you, as a film maker (or a general author), have; allowing you to make a copy of your film, allow it to be published; screened publicly, shown on TV, etc; others would need your permission to do this. 

The law of copyright exists in order to protect your work from others and allows you to get money from your work (if others wanted to use it). Also, because Film-makers have the moral right to be acknowledged within the production. ‘Intellectual property law’ is covered by copyright, meaning artistic works; musical, literary works e.g. film, computer software, poetry, novels and so on.

If I used copyrighted work in my film; I would need to find the owner of the work, e.g. a song, ask for permission and negotiate payment if necessary in order to have an agreement that I could use their piece of work. If I didn’t do this and I’m found guilty of ‘copyright infringement’ I could be fined varying amounts depending on how used the work is.

I think the copyright law could affect my film production, mainly in terms of sound effects; songs. Personally I envision music with scenes, but most of the music I know will be heavily copyrighted, if it’s widely used enough for me to know it well. Therefore, finding music to use for my film will be tricky because I don’t want to use copyrighted music and potentially be fined for my damage.

4.2 – Demonstrate Good Health and Safety practice when working on film productions (Part 1)

Considering health and safety during a film production is important because it can help repent accidents from happening on set, during filming, etc. which could affect the whole film e.g. if an actor tripped on a wire and injured his/hers face, they would be unable to act for a significant amount of time depending on how visible and painful the injury was. Due to the many factors involved in a film production, like lighting, camera, sound, set, there would be many potential risks to consider. 

The key safety issues relating to a film production include; Weather; if it’s raining surfaces could become slippery and dangerous, actors and crew members need to be dressed sensibly to avoid becoming too cold and vice versa (sun stroke, dehydration, etc.) tripping hazards; cables from microphones, cameras, lighting, lifting hazards; especially with large, expensive equipment or if the film has a built set, it could fall apart or heavy objects could be dropped, broken/ injure someone, and many more.

A risk assessment is vital when producing a film, because it shows you have considered all the possible dangerous situations with a sensible response; preventing any accidents from happening on the day. This improved awareness of all ways things could go wrong, will help keep everyone safe. Even minor elements like pressure to finish filming, leading to rushing, not looking after equipment properly can decrease people’s safety massively.

Risk Assessment

(To be continued further before the shoot)

Hazard: Camera/microphone/lighting wires

Risk: Tripping and getting injured, breaking equipment

Response: Tape all lose wires down to the floor, or keep them out of actors/ cameramen’s routes or wrap around equipment e.g. boom mic; wrap wore around the pole.

Hazard: Smashing guitar

Risk: injury by impalement of the broken bits of guitar, they could be sharp and fly out of control

Response: Have the camera far away from the action and zoom in, keep other crew members away/ wearing protective clothing if close, possibly have a practice guitar to destroy before shooting the scene.

Hazard: Weather

Risk: It could be rainy and cold, causing slippery surfaces for filming and acting and illness if crew members are too cold throughout shooting in the open

Response: Check the weather forecast 48 hours, 24 hours and 6 hours before the shoot to have time to prepare clothes, extra heating, umbrellas, possibly alternative locations, etc.