Qualification
Institution-specific Postgraduate Qualification in Production Management
Overview
Learn to turn a script into a plan for production that is viable and oversee its resources, schedule, budget, shoot and post-production according to professional standards.
The Postgraduate Programme in Production Management explores the theoretical and technical aspects of film production. It trains professionals to manage the production of a feature film or any other audiovisual work, from the conception of the script to the release print.
Students learn to break down scripts, draw up shooting schedules, calendars and budgets, hire crews, manage locations and logistics, control costs and coordinate post-production. The programme also covers audiovisual law, intellectual property, contract models, subsidies, audits and film exploitation.
The training is based on a real feature-film project and combines theory and practice classes with masterclasses led by working professionals. Common industry tools such as Excel and Movie Magic Scheduling are used, along with resources specific to the campus. The postgraduate programme prepares students to take on production coordination, head of production and production management roles (line producing), with an overview of the entire audiovisual process.
Intended Audience
It is aimed at graduates with university degrees in fields related to business, law, communications or audiovisual media; students at film schools or studying the arts ; graduates with higher education qualifications in audiovisual directing; and professionals who wish to deepen their knowledge, update their skills or change their area within the sector.
Learning outcomes
By the end, students will be able to plan, budget and coordinate the production of an audiovisual work throughout pre-production, filming and post-production.
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Creative and narrative skills
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Analyse a script from a production perspective.
Turn a project’s creative needs into viable production solutions.
Understand a film as both an audiovisual work and a product.
Integrate production decisions with the project’s development and exploitation.
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Technical skills
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Apply Excel and Movie Magic Scheduling to script breakdowns and shooting schedules.
Prepare schedules, budgets, cash flow forecasts and production documentation.
Manage hiring, payroll, permits, locations and logistics.
Coordinate workflows, suppliers, schedules and post-production costs.
Apply the fundamentals of audiovisual law, intellectual property and contracts.
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Analytical and planning skills
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Plan pre-production, filming and post-production processes.
Anticipate needs, resources and costs through production design.
Monitor invoices, settlements, payment forecasts and cost reports.
Manage grants, cost recognition and audits.
Adjust the production plan in response to incidents and real-world constraints.
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Interpersonal and communication skills
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Coordinate technical and artistic teams and their working relationships.
Negotiate and formalise contracts with professionals and suppliers.
Communicate decisions, priorities and changes during production.
Organise the schedule and production bible.
Lead the shoot and facilitate collaboration between departments.
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Personal and development skills
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Take on production responsibilities with autonomy and rigour.
Develop organisational, forward-planning and problem-solving skills.
Work with accurate documentation and attention to detail.
Adapt to the changes involved in filming and post-production.
Strengthen professional judgement through industry cases and experiences.
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Career opportunities
The postgraduate programme prepares students to join film production departments and departments working on other audiovisual works. It allows them to focus their career on coordination, head roles, cost control, location management or production management, as well as continue along the academic pathway in Production at ESCAC.
Our graduates build careers in many areas of the entertainment and communications sector:
- Film and feature films
- Series and television fiction
- Advertising and other audiovisual productions
On-set production
- Production manager
- Production supervisor
- Production coordinator or production secretary
Management and control
- Cost controller
- Location manager
- Production and logistics manager
Audiovisual production
- Production assistant
- Line producer
- Post-production coordinator
Study plan
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Production techniques
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This module introduces the tools, processes and documents needed to plan and carry out an audiovisual production. It covers script breakdown, the shooting plan, resource management and coordination of the project’s different phases.
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Production Coordination / Secretariat
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Develop the coordination and secretariat functions within the production department. Cover document management, call sheets, call notices, travel, communication between teams and monitoring logistical needs.
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Cost control
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Cover the preparation, monitoring and updating of an audiovisual production budget. Topics include expense control, budget variances, payment management and the documentation needed to ensure the project’s finances can be tracked.
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Audiovisual law
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This module introduces the legal framework for audiovisual production. It examines copyright, intellectual property, contracts, image rights, permits, insurance and the legal obligations associated with the development and exploitation of a work.
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Head of production
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Explore in depth the responsibilities of production management during preparation and filming. The module covers hiring and coordinating teams, resource management, logistics, adherence to the work plan and resolving issues.
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Production management
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Develop the financial, organisational and strategic planning of an audiovisual production. It cover budget design, project feasibility, overall planning, resource supervision and coordination between executive production and technical teams.
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Specialisation Pathway
The Postgraduate Diploma in Production Management is part of the Film Production pathway. If students also take the Postgraduate Diploma in Film Business, they obtain the Master’s Degree in Production (Institutional-Specific qualification), worth 60 credits.
Methodology and assessment
The methodology is theoretical and practical and is structured around a real feature-film project. The students work on the various aspects of the production process and apply their knowledge to documents, decisions and professional situations. The core courses are complemented by masterclasses in which figures from the audiovisual industry share their experience. The programme uses professional resources, such as production classrooms equipped with Scheduling and EP Budgeting, and links planning, hiring, filming, cost control and post-production. No mandatory external placements are identified as a separate course.
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Theory and Practical Classes
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During the postgraduate programme, students will work on a real feature film project, developing the different aspects of its production process.
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Masterclasses
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The postgraduate programme offers a range of masterclasses to complement the core subjects. Leading figures in the audiovisual industry share their personal experiences with students in these sessions.
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Assessment system
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Assessment is based on applying theoretical and technical content to the project undertaken during the postgraduate programme. Assessment covers breakdown and planning, the coherence of the schedule and budget, document management, cost control, shoot coordination and understanding of post-production.
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Teaching team
The teaching team is made up of active professionals from the film, audiovisual and advertising industries, together with ESCAC faculty who support students as they develop the project.
Key information
Postgraduate Programme Director
Aintza Serra
Start date
13/09/2027
Schedule
Mon–Fri, 10h–14h, and Tuesday, 10h–14h and 15h–19h
Format
In person
Price
10.185€
Available Places
24
Postgraduate Programme Coordinator
Cristina Buxó
End of classes
17/12/2027
Language
Spanish; some classes may be taught in English
Credits
30 ECTS
Location
ESCAC Terrassa Campus
