AC224: Production Accounting for Film and TV

Module code: AC224

Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Mr Tony Graham, email: a.graham@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( TAKE AC107 AND TAKE AC110 ) (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: Mini placement

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to introduce students to the wider context of finance within the high-end film and TV industry and to the detail and nature of a production accounting role.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Explain the main financial considerations in assessing a proposal in film or TV.
2. Describe the issues in setting up a production accounting facility for a shoot and how these can be overcome.
3. Explain and demonstrate the main tasks, including payroll and contracting, purchase orders, petty cash, VAT and insurance.
4. Recognise the different software packages available and how these can help in the process.
5. Produce a production budget, identify the key risks and reforecast as necessary.
6. Appreciate the issues involved in closing the shoot and the costs involved in post-production.

Module content

The module will look at:

• the wider, international, context of film and high-end TV production
• the constraints, both financial and non-financial on a production
• typical processes and procedures in a production accounting role
• key tasks of the production accountant, including day-to-day transactions, cash management and forecasting
• specialised software used in the role

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Sessions will be run as a blend of lectures, discussion, group work and practice.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Sessions will be partly run in an informal manner so as to provide an opportunity to receive oral feedback on a variety of small group tasks. Through this informal feedback mechanism, students will be able to practice and develop various skillsets related to the area and the communication of ideas and arguments in a coherent manner. The groups preparing presentations will be given the opportunity to discuss issues and receive feedback on potential content and presentation.

Reassessment

Additional costs