FPMS – FILM PRODUCT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

INFORMATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE FPMS PROJECT

I. Project Title

FPMS – Film Product Management System

II. Brief Project Description – Distinctive Features

The Film Product Management System (FPMS) is a computer system designed to support the management of audiovisual production at every stage. It’s a completely original and innovative project on a global scale. With FPMS, planning, managing, coordinating, and accounting for each production from a user panel and a dedicated, private cloud server becomes possible – all in one place! FPMS is a scalable and fully professional, intuitive system that is easy to share with partners.

III. Social Value of the Project

The FPMS system will allow comprehensive planning, managing, and accounting of audiovisual production in Poland and worldwide. It will possess many functions to streamline the work of producers (and others), supporting production management and making the entire process more intuitive (both visually and technically). This will improve the entire audiovisual industry, standardize processes, and almost eliminate errors through automation. The rationale for the FPMS system directly stems from market analysis and needs.

Implementing the FPMS project for managing audiovisual production will enable:

Professionalization of the industry,

Easier entry into the industry,

More efficient operations in audiovisual production (in terms of time and finances),

Redirecting to profiles of trusted entities and certified signatures to minimize document printing,

Assistance in creating applications for funding institutions (initially in Poland like PISF) and in creating so-called pitch decks or sales presentations for projects, thus assisting in the financing stage,

A database of film professionals and production companies, and a job board, thereby activating and facilitating job finding and recruitment in the creative sector,

Greater artistic and economic quality of projects through automation and streamlining production actions (and creative efficiencies),

Segregation and archiving of documentation for greater transparency and minimization of errors and risks,

Assistance at every stage of production (from uploading scripts and creating production packages, such as schedules, budgets, contracts with crew members and co-producers, cash flow, scene and location cards, through planning, coordinating, and automated response to changes at each stage, to accounting, administration, and settlement, including distribution revenues),

Strengthening the producer’s awareness and knowledge through a distribution management panel (box office, festival dispatch, fulfilling distribution agreements, P&A budget),

Better prepared content for specific target groups (audiences, clients).

The project was preceded by consultations and analyses. Since the applicant is present not only in the IT world but also in the film world, gaining knowledge about dependencies in film production is facilitated. The project has a real impact on the national cultural landscape. It aims to facilitate entry and bring the creative sector closer to the business sector and enhance its stature. Accommodations for visually impaired individuals will also be implemented. Despite its commercial business model, FPMS will also have a free version for foundations, schools, and NGOs.

IV. Project Alignment with Strategic Goals – Multidisciplinarity

The FPMS system is a fully commercial, scalable system based on a SaaS (Software as a Service) model, with subscription options varying based on the project, the number of team members, and the required cloud server space. Initially, it will be launched in two language versions: Polish and English, making it usable by foreign producers and co-producers. The creation of FPMS also means the creation of a high-quality cultural offer with above-average economic potential.

At its core, FPMS combines many industries, both in terms of users and those involved in its creation (programmers, consultants, artists, filmmakers, UX/UI designers, salespeople). The producer will be able to share specific functionalities of the system with department heads (production manager, set manager, chief set designer, director, cinematographer, etc.) and team members (e.g., set manager or production assistant, or technical department of film equipment, props, lighting, or accounting and administrative) within a given production (contracts, storyboards, work plans, „calendars”, invoices, and many others) – while they themselves will see and control the whole. The system will facilitate entry into the industry, and for those already in it, it will help in professionalization, resulting in more professionally prepared, targeted, and accounted projects. FPMS will act like a professional producer’s assistant, offering advice, reminders, and data sorting, and also automating the creation of many documents, such as budgets and schedules. In the future, it will be supported by private, local artificial intelligence, i.e., machine learning, which will further automate operations and speed up all processes, including filling out documents.

FPMS will support the production of all kinds of audiovisual works, such as short and feature films, commercials, music videos, and series – after selecting the project of interest, the system will propose specific functionalities, as not all functions in a series production are necessary, for example, in a music video production (this choice will also affect the subscription price). FPMS is aimed at every branch of the audiovisual industry, whether it is popular or high culture.

V. Project Alignment with Strategic Goals – Competitiveness of Polish Creative Industries Worldwide

The FPMS system is an innovative and original solution supporting the creative sector. Such a solution does not exist in the world at the moment. We are aware of programs like Movie Magic (production organization) and Celtx (scriptwriting and document management), but none of these solutions currently offer such a comprehensive approach and do not have the features of a producer assistant like our FPMS system. The involvement of Artificial Intelligence in automating processes and its implementation into our system in the testing phase will occur as a natural next step in the system’s creation – it is not a priority in the early stages.

We will create a demonstration platform (proof of concept – the result of the Task), and then a fully functional (Project) platform, preceded by many tests and industry consultations, for managing, archiving, and accounting for audiovisual production.

In the face of growing international competitiveness, the creation of the FPMS system will significantly strengthen the reputation and position of Poland and Polish creative sectors internationally. Our system will be international and will support both Polish and foreign productions as well as international co-productions. In Poland, we have outstanding programmers and IT workers, and it is with the best in the industry that we will create the target FPMS solution in the future. We will therefore use existing resources but also create new ones. Thanks to our system, which supports production, standardizes, and professionalizes the entire audiovisual industry, the significance of creative industries will increase not only in the industry but also among the audience, who will receive better-prepared productions (more efficiently managed, often resulting in better artistic effects). The result will also be the creation of a larger number of production companies, which will be encouraged by our system that makes the life of a producer easier, and this raises hope for a larger number of thoughtful and targeted projects. Our FPMS program will also support the distribution process, scheduling, festival dispatch, and promotion and marketing of films, series, music videos, and commercials. All of this will support building the resources and conditions necessary for the effective and sustainable development of Polish creative industries. Above all, more good films will be made in Poland, as film production will become easier, more thoughtful, and more efficient!

VI. Project Alignment with Strategic Goals – Artistic and Cultural Value

The creative industry is a business, and we treat it as such, but we fully understand its artistic value and importance on the national and international stage. The FPMS platform is a Polish product with international reach. As a manifestation of culture, it will promote Polish culture worldwide and will be understandable and attractive to a global audience (but primarily European). It is an innovative solution based on modern technologies.

Film production is a complex process requiring many different tools: e.g., Excel to create a budget, Movie Magic to create a „calendar” and scene and location cards, and of course many folders and various kinds of files, archived on a computer hard drive, possibly in a binder. The expected result of implementing our project is to systematize the entire process, assist in segregation, and guide step by step through the process of producing films and other audiovisual works. Thanks to FPMS, the producer will be able to focus on the business aspects of production, and the rest of the team on the creative aspects.

The FPMS system will support risk management and sudden changes in the production stage – for example: from unplanned costs, which will always be visible in the system from the very beginning, through „escaping” shots in planning the „calendar”, to automatic proposals for solutions of various change scenarios at each stage, including planning and executing film distribution.

As creators of the FPMS computer system, we approach the challenges associated with human functioning in the digital and virtual world in a balanced way. The FPMS system will only have the necessary functions, devoid of „gamification” (scoring and rewarding), and will be a fully professional system for managing professional productions.

Here is the scope of key planned functionalities in the system:

Database of Knowledge on Films and Polish Cinematography and a Catalog of people and Creators (film crews) in the cast divided by function in the crew and their Portfolio.

Catalog of Companies in the Film Industry.

Designing and Implementing a Budget (also based on the budget of the Polish Film Institute).

Creating and managing film projects at all their stages.

Delegating tasks and accounting and reporting the working time of the Film Crew on set or at another stage of production (apart from the web system, a mobile application will also be created).

Calendar and work plan for the Film Crew.

Creating Budget Calculations for Film Production.

Managing Alerts, Contacts, and Film Documentation.

Film Crew Configurator.

Managing equipment on set and beyond.

Production Work Schedule.

Managing Props, Costumes, Makeup, Set Design, Lighting,

Reporting and KPIs of Film Projects.

Planning, implementation, and documenting cost settlements at each stage of film production.

FPMS is a necessary solution emerging from market demand, comprehensible and attractive to a global audience. It uses new technologies so that the producer and the rest of the decision-makers can devote more time to the artistic and business aspects of the project.

The task is to create a so-called proof of concept (PoC), i.e., a working, scaled-down demonstration version of the FPMS project.

The PoC will allow for the presentation of solutions and securing funding for further stages of creating a full, commercial version (e.g., Creative Europe). It will also allow for further tests, substantive consultations, and interface design. The task is an integral part of the project (PoC is a standard stage), but it requires a significant amount of work and time (and finances) right from the start. Professionally, I am an expert software architect in the IT industry, with development plans divided into stages and milestones for the entire project. The knowledge gained from creating the proof of concept will allow acquiring new resources, both human and product, which will be used to produce the full version of the FPMS system.

The FPMS system is a technologically complex, innovative platform that exemplifies how technology and digital resources can help art and creative sectors. The task responds to a market need, which is more efficient audiovisual production, improving the ratio of financial inputs to the final effect achieved and reaching specific target groups, as well as more efficient promotion, accounting, and archiving of projects. Both the task and the entire project require collaboration of programmers, interface designers (UX/UI), artists, and filmmakers (especially producers). The task is original, real, and adequate to the assumptions.

The task consists of:

Business analysis of the software area dedicated to the interactive industry, developing a business model for functionalities and using the FPMS system (industry consultations),

Designing the user interface,

Designing and implementing the system’s administrative panel,

Creating a Job Portal for the industry and a Creator of Audiovisual Teams,

Creating interactive templates for budgets of various types of audiovisual production,

Tools for budgeting production according to available templates (based on PISF budgets) and funding structure,

Creating a Producer’s Database: a place to create, store, and segregate documentation (contracts, invoices, schedules, applications, etc.),

Tools for creating and managing a shooting calendar, scene and location cards based on the script, as well as, among others, equipment, props, and costumes,

Location Database plus categorizing photos (GPS coordinates and navigation in the app)

Knowledge base of Polish cinema (creators and companies)

Creating a mobile application in MS Power Platform technology;

The task will directly affect the financing of the entire project, indicate basic functions, present possibilities and implemented initial visual designs (UI/UX) both in the application and in the system itself.

VII. Means of Implementing the Task

In order to create an intuitive system, we must not only understand the needs but also the habits of audiovisual work producers. Example: where does the specificity of a film or commercial budget come from, or why do schedules and so-called „calendars” look the way they do. This is specialized knowledge and an element that goes beyond the standard activity of the applicant. However, the applicant has many implementations to their credit, so the task is well thought out and planned, as is the entire project. First, there will be a business analysis of the multimedia production area and a functional project for the implementation of a computer system that automates and streamlines work in the film industry and beyond. Our goal is to create a prototype of an intelligent management system for the multimedia industry, class ERP.

The system will be designed with the best expert knowledge from the IT and multimedia industries. The latest platform and developer solutions will be used to achieve the intended project goals. The system will consist of basic elements functioning in the film environment (at the same time automating the industry and supporting audiovisual creators at every stage of audiovisual production). For development purposes, it will largely use the Python programming language, which provides great flexibility in building the solution’s architecture. As database components, Microsoft MSSQL database and Azure and Power Platform MS cloud service platforms will be used.

Designing, programming, and implementing

VII. MEANS OF TASK IMPLEMENTATION

To create an intuitive system, we need to understand not only the needs but also the habits of audiovisual producers. For example: the specifics of film and/or advertising budgets and why schedules and so-called „calendar schedules” look the way they do. This is specialized knowledge and goes beyond the standard activities of the applicant. However, the applicant has many implementations to their credit, so the task is well-thought-out and planned, just like the entire project. First, a business analysis of the multimedia production area will be conducted, along with a functional design for the implementation of an IT system that automates and streamlines work in the film industry and beyond. Our goal is to create a prototype of an intelligent management system for the multimedia industry class ERP.

The system will be designed with the best substantive knowledge of experts from the IT and multimedia industry. The latest platform and developer solutions will be used to achieve the intended project goals. The system will consist of basic elements functioning in the film environment (simultaneously automating the industry and supporting audiovisual creators at every stage of production). For developer purposes, the Python programming language will be used extensively, providing great flexibility in building the solution architecture. MSSQL Microsoft database and Azure and MS Power Platform cloud services platforms will be used as database components.

The design, programming, and implementation of basic functionalities are already underway, followed by plans for testing and designing and implementing the final UI/UX interfaces.

Throughout, the task assumptions will be continuously consulted by a selected representative of the film industry. At the same time, a mobile application with designed user interfaces will be developed. This application will be fully integrated with the FPMS system. This system will be completely original and innovative on both a national and global scale. It will directly respond to market needs. The implementation of the task, i.e., the proof of concept (demo version), will be created in the course of this work. The programming work is the largest and most time-consuming part of the task. It started in September 2023 and will continue until the end of June 2024. Concurrently, the design of interfaces and user experiences are taking place.

Usability tests will also be conducted to ensure that the implemented interfaces meet the creators’ assumptions and market needs. The design and testing that influence the final projects will last 3 months.

VIII. EXPECTED EFFECTS OF THE TASK

Thanks to the completion of the task, i.e., the demonstration version of the FPMS system (proof of concept) along with testing the basic assumptions of the system, it will be possible to obtain funding for further development to implement the project. This will benefit film producers, advertising agencies, production houses, marketing departments in private companies, foundations, and local governments, as well as independent filmmakers, music video directors, audiovisual artists, film school students, and the entire group of creators interested in professional video content creation. The task, as part of the system, directly responds to a market need – there is no such advanced yet intuitive tool available for comprehensive management of audiovisual production.

FPMS is an online system in a dedicated private „cloud” for use on a computer (MAC, PC) as well as a mobile application (iOS, Android). The project is characterized by innovation and high cultural value, and it will contribute to the production of high-quality artistic manifestations in Poland, Europe, and worldwide, having a real, positive impact. The task has a tremendous impact on the economic value (paid use of the FPMS system), social (professionalization of the creative industry), and educational (free provision of the full version of the system for foundations, NGOs, and film and art schools). The system satisfies a market need (comprehensive management of audiovisual cultural and artistic manifestations). The task has a significant impact on the further development of the system; without the task being carried out in professional conditions, the project’s development will not take place, and the system will never be created.

The task is well-planned by us, and the cost-effectiveness ratio is definitely positive and works to our advantage. For relatively small financial outlays (compared to other such complex systems, which are market-priced), we will create a proof of concept, which is the first milestone in the project!

The task influences the development of the Polish creative sector, has enormous practical values, and has an international promotional and economic potential at its foundation.

IX. ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH DISABILITIES

The system will not create any barriers to access – every qualified entity will be able to use each of its functions at any time and place using a computer or mobile device, for free (schools, foundations, NGOs) and for a subscription-based licensing fee (private companies and individuals).

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