Get Into Production Management for Unscripted TV

Introduction

Want to know how unscripted television programmes are planned, organised and delivered? Get Into Production Management for Unscripted TV is an introductory, practical course designed to give you an insight into the people, processes and skills behind successful factual, documentary, entertainment and reality TV productions.

You'll explore the role of the production management team and discover how productions are organised from development and pre-production through to filming, post-production and delivery. You'll gain an understanding of production planning, scheduling, budgets, contributors, locations, paperwork and communication, while developing practical skills that can be applied in a professional TV production environment.

Whether you're completely new to the industry, looking to move into television production or interested in understanding what a career in unscripted TV production management involves, this course provides a practical introduction to the production management process and the roles within it.

Course Outline

During the course, you'll explore:

• Understanding unscripted TV – an introduction to factual, documentary, entertainment, reality and specialist factual production.

• The production management team – exploring the roles of production managers, production coordinators, production secretaries and other key members of the team.

• From development to delivery – understanding the different stages of an unscripted TV production and how production management supports each stage.

• Production planning – exploring how teams plan resources, people, equipment and logistics ahead of filming.

• Scheduling and logistics – learning how production schedules are developed and how travel, accommodation, crew and resources are coordinated.

• Budgets and financial management – an introduction to production budgets, tracking expenditure, purchase orders, expenses and cost control.

• Locations and contributors – understanding the practical considerations involved in securing locations and organising contributors and participants.

• Production paperwork – exploring essential production documents, permissions, releases, records and administrative processes.

• Health, safety and risk management – understanding the production team's responsibilities for managing risk and keeping contributors and crew safe.

• Working across departments – exploring how production management works with editorial, camera, sound, art, post-production and other departments.

• Communication and problem solving – developing the organisational and communication skills needed to keep a production moving when plans change.

• The production environment – gaining an insight into professional expectations, working practices and routes into unscripted TV production.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Understand the role of production management within unscripted television.

• Identify key roles within an unscripted TV production management team.

• Understand the different stages involved in producing an unscripted television programme.

• Understand the fundamentals of production planning, scheduling and logistics.

• Identify key production paperwork and understand why it is required.

• Understand the basics of production budgets, financial administration and cost control.

• Understand the practical considerations involved in working with locations and contributors.

• Recognise key health, safety and risk management responsibilities within TV production.

• Understand how production management works with editorial and technical departments.

• Apply basic organisational, communication and problem-solving skills to production scenarios.

• Understand the professional expectations of working in unscripted TV production.

• Identify potential entry-level roles and next steps towards a career in unscripted TV production management.

No previous TV production experience is required.