PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT IN  TV

Kick things off with a warm welcome and a roadmap for success. Meet your instructor, get the lowdown on the course structure, and sort out all the practical details — so you’re set up and ready to dig in.

• Instructor intro 
• General housekeeping
• Course overview

Get the inside scoop on who’s who in TV production and where the production manager fits in the mix. You’ll confidently navigate the roles, responsibilities, and relationships that keep a TV set running smoothly — no matter the genre or team size.

• Production manager: Roles & responsibilities
• Team: departments, staff, creatives, etc.
• Communication & goals
• The current TV production landscape

What makes different TV productions tick? By the end of this class, you'll be spotting genre nuances, breaking down treatments, and pinpointing exactly what it takes to bring a creative vision to life.

• Project types: Different kinds of TV productions
• Understanding the creative vision
• Workshop: Choosing a project outline & identifying production requirements

Assignment #1: Create an 8-10 point production checklist based on the project outline. Write a short (max 100 words) paragraph evaluating potential risks and challenges, highlighting their severity.

Learn how to build rock-solid production schedules that can handle anything — from last-minute changes to full-blown crises. You’ll know how to plan, adapt, and keep everything running smoothly, no matter what curveballs come your way.

• Creating a schedule 
• Creating contingency plans

Assignment #2: Using the provided treatment, build a basic production schedule, factoring in travel, staffing, and contract durations.

Learn how to create a production schedule that actually works — now hands-on. In this workshop, you’ll break down a real example, build your own plan step by step, and figure out how to adapt it for any project. By the end, you’ll have a schedule you can confidently put into action.

• Workshop: Build a schedule, discuss the thought process behind it, analyse, adapt, and review it with peers

Learn how to break down scripts, tackle budgetary needs, and craft budgets that align with funders, timelines, and creative goals. From navigating tax incentives to balancing talent and production costs, you’ll gain the tools to budget confidently.

• Identifying preferred funders
• Breaking down a script or treatment 
• Gathering quotes & estimating based on creative needs 
• Identifying department needs, timeframes, and costs
• Project-specific considerations
• Case study: Production treatment review

Learn how to turn a director’s big vision into reality — while keeping studios, suppliers, and budgets happy. This class is all about finding creative solutions, managing competing priorities, and negotiating like a pro to keep everything on track.

• Managing the creative vision
• Managing studio requirements & changes
• Negotiating with external suppliers: Vendors & deals
• Internal negotiation: Balancing different department priorities

Assignment #3: Plan adjustment alert! Evaluate the budget, identify 3 issues caused by the change, explain their impact, and propose creative, time- and budget-friendly solutions.

By the end of this class, you’ll know how to build your dream production team, choose the perfect shooting location (or studio), and juggle everything from logistics to green screens without breaking a sweat. Let’s talk crew, locations, and all the behind-the-scenes magic!

• Hiring the right team 
• Studio & location
• Location scouting & production considerations
• Shooting for GFX / VFX 

Learn to keep costs under control without losing your cool. This class dives into budget monitoring, expense reporting, and handling those unexpected financial curveballs — plus, you'll get the lowdown on different cost-tracking tools to keep things running smoothly.

• Locking budget
• Cost monitoring
• Managing the unforeseen
• Financial firefighting 
• Examples: PMI, Moneypenny, Excel

Learn how to run a smooth and efficient shoot day, from pre-planning and scheduling to managing last-minute changes and department needs. You'll walk away knowing how to juggle overtime, keep the crew on track, and complete a professional production report.

• Setting up for success
• Scheduling on set
• Examples of daily production reports

By the end of this class, you'll confidently navigate recruitment rules, contracts, and working with minors. Get ready to tackle employment law, diversity, and all the paperwork that keeps things compliant — so you can build a team that’s both legal and ethical.

• Recruiting fairly: D&I, regional requirements
• Employment & taxation law
• Unions & guilds
• Documentation: Visa, permits, licenses
• Child actors: Specific requirements & limits
• Working time regulations 

Assignment #4: Analyse the provided scenario. Identify 4 labour-related considerations, assess their risks, and explain how they might impact production.

Spot and handle potential risks in various work environments — ensuring safety is a top priority. Get ready to dive into risk assessments and learn from real-world scenarios – all while prepping for your capstone assignment.

• Risk assessment: Safe working conditions, high-risk activities
• Risk evaluation 
• H&S experts and advisors 
• Workshop: Risk assessment
• Capstone assignment intro

Assignment #5: Start your capstone: Use the template to draft a schedule and budget for the treatment.

After Class 12, you’ll gain the inside tips on post-production — from the stages and schedules to managing multiple moving parts. You’ll also know how to set up credits and ensure everything runs smoothly between editing, graphics, and sound.

• Post-production overview
• Managing multiple independent schedules
• Overseeing communication between teams
• Credits

Understand exactly where and when to use GFX and VFX, how to fit them into your timeline and budget, and how to apply all this to your own capstone projects. Hear from a real VFX producer and gain insider knowledge.

• Guest speaker: VFX producer 
• VFX overview
• Genre applications
• Schedule & budget considerations 
• Discussing post-schedule & applying it to capstone

By the end of this class, you'll have the understanding of copyright essentials, from creative elements — like music and locations — to archives. You’ll also explore how to clear materials the right way and identify what needs clearance in any production. 

• Creative elements subject to copyright
• Clearing archives
• Workshop: Viewing a short section of a programme 

Assignment #6: Watch the provided episode. Identify 6 elements requiring copyright clearance and propose strategies for addressing them. 

Assess your team’s strengths, delegate tasks like a good leader, and ensure everyone’s well-being is top priority. You’ll get valuable feedback on your capstone progress, helping you lead and communicate effectively across departments.

• Capstone project progress feedback 
• Recognising & evaluating team’s skillset
• Delegating and supervising effectively
• Communication 
• Duty of care 
• Conflict management & resolution

Where to find key industry players, how to build and maintain solid professional relationships? We’ll tell you. Start creating a vendor list that’ll help you thrive as a freelancer. Time to level up your network and keep the connections strong. 

• Industry associations & pathways
• Events, databases, organisations
• Maintaining professional relationships as a freelancer
• Building a list of suppliers & contractors
• Vendor management 

Assignment #7: (Optional) Draft or update your CV for review in session 17.

By the end of Class 17 — and the whole course — you’ll have a solid game plan for your future, whether you’re diving into the world of freelancing or aiming for a studio gig. You’ll also explore the latest TV production trends and learn exactly how to network your way into the industry with a killer outreach strategy.

• Working freelance VS staff
• Future of the industry: Where is TV production headed?
• CV & interview advice
• Workshop: Creating a 3 month plan for outreach & networking