Here's some things we might need to know about our in-house multimedia services. 

People

Victoria has two multimedia producers:

• Steve Cochran – focus on marketing/comms promotional videos
• Warren Butcher – focus on learning, teaching and research videos

There's also someone in the film school who has been paid to produce podcasts in the past

Resources

In addition to the editing and filming equipment that you'd expect, Image Services has:

• a studio in New Kirk that can be booked for filming interviews; has all the necessary equipment
• a subscription to a music library
• a small collection of stock clips of Wellington and Victoria
• drones (they have them, but are unclear about how they can be used)

Cost

Free. The only possible associated costs that fall back on the unit that commissioned the video are:

• travel for the film crew
• music, if they decide to use something outside the music library (usually around USD $100)
• stock images, as above, prices vary

Video project process

Every video needs a leader who will be the producer’s main point of contact. This person will be responsible for:

• arranging an initial meeting with the producer
• coordinating talent (selection, prepping, rewarding, getting permissions signed)
• finding and arranging to use locations
• making regular users of any public/university space aware of upcoming filming
• manages review process once a rough cut has been produced.

Steve prefers that a person from COMT be involved throughout this process, if not taking the lead. It's not necessary to prepare storyboards. 

Workload

Image Services prefer at least a 10 day lead time before shooting. A planning meeting held some time before shooting starts is essential.

Currently, the calendar isn't overbooked. Warren is going away for a month with a research group in June/July, and there's a possibility that this will happen more often in the future. 

People shooting their own video

Naturally, this is not Image Service’s preferred way of doing things. However, there is equipment and training available where necessary. The training is aimed at people teaching people who are going away for research trips or field trips how to record their trip, it’s not lessons in how to make a promo.

Image Services can take raw footage and edit it. The most common problem that arises from amateur video is bad audio.

Production time

The quickest and easiest video to produce is one based around interviews that are conducted in the studio and professionally filmed. For example, a 30 second video with 1-3 studio interviews means 6-8 hours of work for Image Services. Turnaround time depends on other commitments. More complicated productions can take weeks of work.