Silvermouse (for Production Paperwork) Completing and Submitting the BBC Front Page The Front Page acts as the cover for the BBC Programme as Complete paperwork. It contains all the key information about the programme. As the BBC PasC is the only official record of the programme, the Front Page is an essential element of the paperwork. Use this helpcard to find out how to complete it correctly and accurately.
Contents The Front Page ...... 2 Locating Your Programme’s Front Page Form ...... 2 Editing the Header ...... 3 Working with the Front Page Form ...... 4 Update Form ...... 4 Mandatory Fields ...... 4 Completing the Front Page Form ...... 4 Production Information ...... 4 Programme Funding ...... 5 Co-Funder/ /Rights Holder ...... 6 Programme Details ...... 6 Producer and Director ...... 6 Synopsis ...... 7 Restrictions ...... 8 Contact for Queries about the Programme ...... 8 Film and VT Summary ...... 8 Submitting the Front Page Form ...... 9 Locating a Submitted Front Page Form ...... 10 Rejected Forms ...... 10 Locating an Approved Front Page Form ...... 11
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The Front Page
The Front Page form is the cover for the BBC Programme as Completed, or PasC, paperwork. The Contributors and Copyright forms form the remainder of the PasC.
The PasC is a critical document to complete accurately and diligently, as: ◼ With the Cue Sheet, it is a complete written record of all the clearances which were completed at the beginning of the production process, for example, locating rights owners, negotiating fees and the signing of contracts. It should provide details of all the rights already obtained, or explain where to find information about clearance required for further use of the material. The PasC record needs to be completed for every programme or repeated programme. ◼ It fulfils the BBC’s ongoing need to honour licence requirements and copyright legislation ◼ It should state details of restrictions of rights obtained for the programme, which may affect future use of that material ◼ It ensures the correct payments are made to the contributors, and the correct clearance has been sought for the copyright items in your programme. ◼ The PasC needs to be approved within 14 days of the programme’s transmission
You must amend the PasC to update any incomplete or incorrect entries which were made prior to transmission. The form can then be re-approved as soon as it has been updated.
The PasC provides essential information to various departments within the BBC, for example: ◼ Programme Acquisitions can use the total durations to complete Sequence or Purchase Programme agreements ◼ BBC Archives can catalogue material for possible re-use
The Front page contains information which is not already in the Header.
It is important to consider data protection when entering information into Silvermouse, especially when using free text fields. No personal or financial information should be included, and where you are entering a person’s name or contact details you must inform them beforehand, unless they are already aware.
Locating Your Programme’s Front Page Form
Search for your programme either in the Inbox or Library
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Click on Front Page to display the form:
Alternatively, if you are already viewing a form within your programme,
From the Forms area, select Next to open the second page of forms:
Click on Front Page to display the form
If you are unable to locate the BBC forms for your programme and you expect to see them in Silvermouse, please contact your Delivery Co-ordinator or silvermouse.support@bbc.co.uk.
Editing the Header
Make sure that the information in the Header is correct before completing the form.
Click on Edit Header For more details about the information that should be completed, please refer to the Header helpcard.
Click on Update to save the changes, or Cancel if no changes are required
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Working with the Front Page Form Update Form Update must be selected to save the form. You can use either of the Update options and the whole form will be saved. If you have missed any of the mandatory fields, they will turn orange. You should complete them and then click on Update again.
If you switch forms without updating the form, all your changes will be lost.
Mandatory Fields Mandatory fields are indicated by a red asterisk *. To save the form, these must be completed. The Front Page form mandatory fields are: ◼ Co-Funder/Rights Holder(s) Name – this is only mandatory if the Add link is clicked ◼ Synopsis ◼ Queries to be addressed to: ◼ Job Title
Although many of the fields in the Front Page form are not mandatory, please ensure you complete all the relevant fields to ensure your reporting is robust, detailed and accurate for future exploitation by other productions; otherwise, the BBC may reject the form.
Completing the Front Page Form
When completing the Front Page form, the following information is required:
Production Information
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File/Tape Number: In the File/Tape Number box, specify the file number or tape spool number for the programme. This should only be for the programme that was sent for transmission, and should not include any digital clones or safety copies of the programme
In-Vision Subtitles: Select the In-Vision Subtitles checkbox if the subtitles have been created within the programme, for example, when a contributor speaks indistinctly or when a foreign language is used. If the subtitles are a separate file, they should not be included here. The In-Vision Subtitles should not be used for other captions Independent Inserts: Select the Independent Inserts checkbox if there are any inserts from an Independent Production Company, whether specifically commissioned for the programme, or as archive material. The full details of each insert must be included in the Copyrights section of the PasC Production Dates: In the Production Dates box, enter the dates the filming took place, when the material was being gathered or shot. It does not include pre-production when the production office started planning, or post-production when the rushes were sent to edit. The dates should be as accurate as possible, but do not need to be exact if the programme was shot over several months. Programme Funding Select all the Programme Funding checkboxes that apply: ◼ BBC ◼ SPV Not relevant to Indies ◼ Co-Production (or Co-Pro) This is where there is third-party investment in the programme in exchange for certain exploitation rights, for example from a distributor (excluding BBC Worldwide – see below), another broadcaster of VOD service ◼ Co-venture Not relevant to Indies ◼ S4C Wales ◼ MC Alba ◼ J.P with Worldwide (Joint Production with Worldwide) This is where BBC Worldwide has invested in the programme in exchange for certain exploitation rights ◼ Other Third Party This should be selected for additional third-party investments, for example tax credit funding, location incentives, and gap financing. Once selected, a further field is displayed so details can be added.
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Co-Funder/ /Rights Holder To add a co-funder to the Front Page:
In the Name box, type the name of the co-funder In the Details box, type the first line of the co-funder’s address
Click on Add The Co-Funder(S) will be displayed below:
Up to twelve co-funders can be added to the Front Page. You can delete or edit them as necessary.
Programme Details
Producer and Director Producer Name: In the Producer Name box, type the name of the producer of the programme Producer Contract Type: From the Producer Contract Type drop down list, select the relevant contract type for the producer, identifying if they are a freelancer, or a member of staff (which includes producers on Fixed Term Contracts) Directors Name: From the Directors Name box, type the name of the producer of the programme Directors Contract Type: From the Directors Contract Type drop down list, select the relevant contract type for the director, identifying if they are a freelancer or a member of staff (which includes directors on Fixed Term Contracts). For the avoidance of doubt, Fixed Term Contracted directors are always employed on the same terms as staff, so should never be labelled as Freelance A total of three directors can be added to the Front Page. To add another director:
Click on Add Another
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To remove additional directors:
Click on Remove
If the Producer and Director is the same person, they must be entered in both fields. A maximum of three Directors can be included in the Front Page by adding two further Directors fields.
Synopsis
The Front Page Synopsis is used for cataloguing the programme for archiving and other purposes, and has a 5,500 character limit. Where applicable, the following information should be included: ◼ Explanation of concept/genre/format unless obvious (i.e. long running shows such as EastEnders or Blue Peter) ◼ Description of the plot, characters, outcomes, performers, venues etc. ◼ Information about individual items if a magazine or sketch programme. The synopsis for each item can be reported in the “Notes” field of the relevant Content Items if appropriate ◼ Any topics of discussion in interviews ◼ Any significant or unusual events/reactions in the production ◼ Locations used ◼ Related interactive television or mobile services content ◼ Interaction with viewers e.g. voting via phone/texts/emails ◼ Titles of Sketches/Items are also useful to identify any repeat fees due to artists or contributors.
Pull From Billings The Long Synopsis in the Billings form can be pulled into the Front Page form:
In Synopsis, click on Pull from Billings However, this should only be used as a starting point, as the Billing form is promotional and tends not to disclose how the programme ends. The synopsis in the Front Page should provide a complete breakdown of the programme.
If Pull from Billings is used, any text already in the Synopsis field will be erased and replaced by the Long Synopsis text in the Billings form. It is not possible to reverse this action.
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Restrictions Any restrictions on the programme should be added to the Front Page form here, for example: ◼ UK Only ◼ BBC Public Service and BBC Store Only ◼ One Transmission Only
The Restrictions in the Front Page should only be used for restrictions which are for the whole programme. Restrictions on individual items within the programme should be added to the Contributors and/or Copyrights forms.
Contact for Queries about the Programme Queries To Be Addressed To:* In the Queries To Be Addressed To box, enter the name of the person who would be best placed to answer any queries about the PasC. For example, if you are the production coordinator completing the paperwork and you are only available for two more weeks, consider whether your production manager might be a better contact. Job Title:* In the Job Title box, add the job title of the person whom queries will be addressed to
Film and VT Summary
Shoot/Recording description: In the Shoot/Recording description box, enter details of how the programme was made and how it was shot. Examples are: ◼ Specially shot tapeless on location, ◼ Recorded in studio with tapeless inserts, ◼ OB recorded in Haydock Park on DigiBeta, or ◼ Mainly archive documentary with introduction from presenter Edit Details: In the Edit Details box, include details about the edit; what kit was used at top level (e.g. offlined and onlined on Avid Adrenaline).
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Some productions might wish to add other details, such as: ◼ where the edit took place ◼ who the editor was ◼ who the crew were ◼ where the rushes are stored TX Format: In the TX Format box, indicate whether the programme is tapeless, and provide any further details. This is to avoid confusion and to ensure the information is still valid if the File/Tape Number format ever changes.
For more details about File Formats, please refer to the BBC Research & Development blog, Delivering File Based Delivery
Submitting the Front Page Form
When you are ready to submit the Front Page form,
Select the Information Entered is Correct and Complete check box, and select Submit to Broadcaster
In the pop up confirmation window, click on OK
The form will close and you will be taken back to your Inbox Submitted forms are not displayed in the Inbox, but you’ll be able to find it in the Outbox or Library.
The form cannot be submitted if the Information Entered is Correct and Complete checkbox has not been selected, or if mandatory fields are missing.
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Locating a Submitted Front Page Form Search for your programme in the Library
Click on Front Page to display the form
To reduce the number of forms displayed in the Library, click on the Submitted filter. Forms with other statuses will be hidden:
Rejected Forms
If there is a problem with the form and it has been rejected, the IDU will contact you and you will be able to find the rejected form in your Inbox. Their feedback will be entered in the Notes field, in the Header:
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To re-submit the form:
Make the required changes Click on Submit to Broadcaster In the pop up confirmation window, click on OK Locating an Approved Front Page Form
Search for your programme in the Library
Click on Front Page to display the form
It is not possible to edit a Submitted or Approved form. You will need to ask your BBC contact to reject a form so you can make changes to it.
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