TASC Media Production study plan

Map the full Media Production domain into a personal checklist of pre-production, production, and post-production subtopics, marking each as strong, shaky, or unknown.

Define and write out the three production phases in your own words, listing at least four concrete tasks that belong to each phase.

Identify the roles on a standard production crew and describe in one sentence what each role hands off to the next.

Set up a study log and a terminology notebook that you will update every week.

Explain the stages of script development from concept to shooting script, and describe what changes at each stage.

Compare three script formats (narrative, documentary, and PSA/corporate) and note how their structures differ.

Draft a one-page treatment and a two-column shot list for a 60-second scene of your own invention.

Label every element of a standard script page, including scene headings, action lines, dialogue, and transitions.

Describe camera operation fundamentals, including exposure triangle settings, focus, and white balance, and explain when to adjust each.

Compare five shot types and three camera angles, and state the narrative purpose of each.

Explain the rule of thirds, leading lines, and headroom, and apply them to sketch three composed frames.

Outline a basic three-point lighting setup and describe how key-to-fill ratio changes mood.

Explain the purpose and workflow of a paper edit and an edit decision list.

Describe the difference between continuity editing and montage, and give an original example of each.

Sequence five shots into a coherent scene and justify each cut using a named editing principle.

Identify common audio problems in production and describe one fix for each.

Explain the roles of producer, director, and editor across the production timeline and where their responsibilities overlap.

Build a production schedule and call sheet for a hypothetical two-day shoot with at least six crew members.

List the legal and ethical checkpoints for a production, including releases, permissions, and fair-use considerations.

Describe a basic budget structure with at least five line items and explain what drives each cost.

Trace a signal path from microphone or camera through recording, editing, and export, naming each stage.

Compare common video codecs and container formats and match three delivery scenarios to appropriate export settings.

Explain resolution, frame rate, bit depth, and bitrate, and describe how each affects file size and quality.

Describe standard audio levels and loudness practices for broadcast and web delivery.

Distinguish among the major distribution channels and explain the technical and content requirements of each.

Describe how audience, platform, and runtime shape editorial and technical decisions.

Analyze three short productions of different genres and identify the production choices that signal each genre.

Draft a distribution plan for one project, matching platform to audience with stated reasoning.

Consolidate all weekly notes into a single condensed review sheet covering the entire domain.

Answer 60 practice questions under timed conditions and log every miss by subtopic.

Re-teach the three weakest subtopics in writing, explaining each as if to a beginner.

Simulate a full timed section and record your pacing strategy.