Lights! Camera! Action! Is Not the Whole Picture

Have you ever wondered how a video or film comes to be?

Whether it’s a film the magnitude of ‘Avatar’ or a quick video prepared for a relative’s anniversary, all productions go through the same basic stages. And, certain roles need to be filled in order to bring the production from concept through to completion. Depending on the scope of the project, either an army of people fills the roles or one person can wear all the hats.  As an example, here’s how we in Media and TV Production at the UBC Media Group typically move through the process.

Video production can be broken down into three main phases: 1) Pre-production, 2) Production and 3) Post-production. Our role as the Producer is to co-ordinate and manage the production of the video from the conceptual stage through to post-production.

Pre-Production

The Client and Producer first meet to discuss and determine the audience for the video, what the ‘story’ is and how it is to be told. The Client introduces the Team or Liaison Person with whom the Producer communicates throughout the making of the video. The Client provides the Producer with as much background content information as they can in the form of an outline or rough script along with any pertinent research material. If it applies, the Producer works with the Client to formulate the questions that will elicit the desired information from the participants appearing in the video. From this information and the rough script, the Producer has the Writer fashion the first script draft.

The Producer and Client Liaison review the first script draft and the Client suggests changes and corrections. The script revisions are incorporated and then go back to the Client for approval. If more corrections and modifications are necessary, script revisions are done until the Client approves a final script. In the meantime, the Producer, in preparation for the shoot, organizes the Talent, Crew, locations and various other shoot requirements. Once the final script draft is approved, the shoot can proceed.

Production: The Video Shoot

The Producer provides a Director, a Crew, which provides visuals and sound, and equipment for the shoot. The Client and Producer usually collaborate in choosing the Talent. There may be an initial shoot where video interviews are collected to provide material with which to shape the script. Subsequent shoots are directed according to the final script.  The Client Liaison is present at the shoots to ensure that the content is correctly presented and interpreted.

Post Production: Video Editing

The Producer, in collaboration with the Video Editor, provides a rough edit of the program using the final script as a guide. If needed, the Producer arranges for a voice-over Narrator, chooses music and co-ordinates a Graphic Designer and Animator to produce graphics and animation. The Editor expertly melds together all these elements. The Client views the rough edit to ensure that there is no content misinterpretation or to make suggestions regarding the presentation of the material.  The Editor makes any necessary changes and then the Producer delivers to the Client a final finished edit of the program.

“To be prepared is half the victory”  Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Secret Tips for Grant Submissions

“Fertile vistas may open out when
commonplace facts are
examined from a fresh point of view.”

L.L. Whyte

UBC is renowned for world-class research, innovative thinking, and its talented community of faculty, staff and students.  But research excellence relies on funding — and securing that funding is competitive and challenging! How can your grant application stand out from the competition?

Small Point = Big Difference

Researchers who face the challenge of breaking into the ‘fundable area’ realize that decimal point differences in final scores can literally translate to hundreds of thousands of dollars difference in final funding. For example, at the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) table, a score of 4.3 could mean $750,000 compared with a 4.2 that provides no cash. Not a small point after all! Obviously any ‘edge’ you can give your grant submission is worth the effort ten-fold.

Leveraging Media in your Favour

Studies by educational researchers have shown that approximately 83% of human learning occurs visually.  Also, studies have shown that by adding relevant visual media to text, retention rates increase up to 89% over using text alone. It’s no wonder that a large proportion of academics best access information `visually’!   Well-designed graphics, diagrams and photographs can quickly tell the story at first glance. A customized `theoretical framework` or a diagram to illustrate the biology that underpins key processes may help reviewers understand the fundamental concepts of your research more quickly and easily.

Find the Balance

When you stop and think about it, funding committees read hundreds of pages in grant proposals. On a purely visual level, these submissions equate to thousands of pages of black text on white paper. Adding relevant visuals to perfectly summarize your concepts not only adds interest to your submission, but makes you stand out. Key words to remember here are “make it meaningful”. Your choice of image(s) should add depth of understanding to your content. There is an art to striking a balance between meaningful information, good design and providing enough information — but not so much information that the graphics become cluttered or confusing.

Dynamic Communication

The process of grant reviewing is not an empirical science. Considering the difference a fraction of a point can make for the success or failure of significant funding, a preliminary investment to work with professional media experts can greatly impact long-term gains. For example, The Media Group helped grant applicants secure over $5 million dollars in new grant funding last year alone! Your initial investment for images is cost effective because those images generally have a high re-use value.  One single image used for a grant submission can often be re-purposed for lectures, conferences, progress reports, websites, podcasts and/or on-line learning at a later date.

Final Consideration

After success in receiving the funding for your research, keep in mind that you will likely be required to present and publish your findings at the end of your project timeline. By factoring the cost of production time into your grant proposal, your department will be covered for the provision of professional media design when the time arrives. Think creatively and utilize media to your best advantage!