At Ravensbourne University, I have been assigned a series producer role for our continuing drama series module. This role has been incredibly enlightening to me as I have been trying since the beginning of my career to expand my knowledge of people skills. How do I best motivate and organize a group of people? How do I create a positive and rewarding environment for those who want that? This module has given me the platform in order to make discovery happen.

Here is where we are as of 04/11/2023:

Project Planning:

We started with the crucial phase of project planning. In our inaugural week, we faced a seemingly simple but intricate challenge: to craft a static location, develop four speaking roles, maintain episode durations below five minutes, and limit our series to a concise three-episode arc. However, let me offer some context. This marks our first year of immersive and uninterrupted TV production at Ravensbourne, and this project signifies our maiden voyage into collaborative endeavors. Our team is a diverse mix, ranging from students fresh to the industry to seasoned part-time workers. To meet the demands of the module, we committed to in-person Monday meetings spanning four hours and supplementary Friday sessions of equal duration, all in dedication to the production. Between us all, we created an idea about a news anchor that is wrongfully accused live on air with one college in cahoots with the accuser to try and displace the anchor.

Script Development:

Our scripts were finalized on the 30th of October 2023, after undergoing four significant drafts, each one refining our narrative. Our class of sixteen was divided into three groups, with each group responsible for one episode. Revisions were a collective endeavor, and our Friday sessions emerged as hubs for constructive feedback. My role here was pivotal, focusing on maintaining narrative coherence across three distinct storylines, an objective I addressed through the creation of a collective beat sheet “bible”.

Casting and Pre-Production:

A casting director with previous stage acting experience, a wise appointment by Claire, aligned seamlessly with our needs. With our actors in place, we are fortunate to have four exceptional talents who were drawn to our project amidst industry strikes in America, each boasting impressive references and experiences. Pre-production documents bear the banner of my organization, SISCmedia, adopting formats from the BBC and Ravensbourne’s unique style.

On-Set Supervision:

On-set proceedings are meticulously structured, under the supervision of our acting head of department and our dedicated lecturer for this module. We anticipate that other faculty members may take an interest in our work, ready to offer guidance in case of technical challenges. Allocation of roles was my responsibility, taking individual preferences into account and ensuring each episode/block has the requisite personnel for a seamless production.

Post-Production and Quality Control:

As of this moment, these stages remain in the pipeline, awaiting their turn in the creative process.

Audience Engagement:

Our grand finale involves the presentation of our creation to a select audience within London’s creative district. We are eager to receive their feedback and evaluation, which will play a significant role in shaping the reflective report we give on our efforts collectively.