There are many different types of briefs. Some favor the client whereas others favor the media producer. It is so important to carefully read through your brief as it includes all the details, deadline, and expectations that the client has. If you don’t read the brief carefully then you could spend money producing something that the client hasn’t really asked for.
A formal brief is a written document which uses technical and specific language, it is in depth displaying the budget, deadlines ect. The majority of briefs are in this style since they are safe and secure as both parties sign them as proof that everyone agreed to the brief. These briefs however can be very costly if the contract is broken, as courts and lawyers will have to get involved. The contract will also be very complex to create, making sure all the clients wants for the product are written in it.
An informal brief can be as simple as a chat between friends; there are no written documents or specific requirements outlining what the client wants. The client does not have to complete any paperwork for the media producer, therefore this brief is quick and simple. However, if the brief is not met there’s no paperwork to suggest what the client wanted/ asked for.
A contractual brief is when tasks are accepted under legal obligation meaning all documents are signed. The clients desires and deadlines are all outlined on the brief and these must be met by the media producer. These briefs are very popular since they are again very safe and secure. A lot of pressure is put onto the media producer to meet the deadlines provided, however both the client and media producer have to abide by the brief so the pressure equals out between them. Also, if the legal obligations are not met the client and media producer could be taken to court (this could become very expensive).
A negotiated brief allows both the client and media producer to make decisions. This means the brief can be altered to favor each party, making it a popular brief. This allows both the client and media producer to create a brief, which both parties agree on; ideas and problems can be discussed and altered. However, the two parties may not be able to come to an agreement, which can cause problems. Also, this brief can become time consuming if no one can agree on anything.
A co-operative brief includes two or more media producers/ production companies working together to meet the brief. For example, a media producer could create all the content but give the footage to a separate post-production house. Many different ideas could be put forward to make the product better overall, however many ideas could clash and cause arguments – this could also work out to be more time consuming as it will take longer to reach an idea which everyone agrees on. This could also be expensive as more people will have to be paid. The final media product could be completed quicker though, since more people would be working on it.
A tender is a brief, which is advertised and given to multiple media producers. The media producers then create a proposal and pitch their ideas to the client one by one. The client will pick the best tender. The client can choose from many different ideas, picking their favourite, or the client could choose the cheapest media producer and tell them the other ideas that the more expensive companies thought of. This process could be very time consuming, depending on how many media producers want to air their ideas, however a lot less work is left for the client.
A competition is a brief which is advertised and given to multiple media producers who don’t have to pitch their ideas, but they create their product and the client chooses their favourite. The reward is often just the prospect of getting your project published. Media producers could end up spending a lot of money on their product with out it being chosen – and even if it is chosen they may not get paid for it. The client however gets to choose from many different products without needing to put any effort/ money into it.
This image presents a competition brief for a short film. The brief firstly provides some background information on the event, providing names, dates and venues. Next the brief discusses the theme of the short films and what will happen if you win the competition. The mandatory requirements are then discussed along with deadlines and how your short film will be judged.
A commissioning brief is when a media company employs a secondary company to produce a product for them. The brief is not negotiated between the media producer and the employer however, the commissioner might negotiate the brief with the client. The independent company will be paid and could receive royalties. Clients may use this type of brief as a way to put the production to the back of their mind, and have another company over look the production. Many different companies could however get involved making things harder to get done.
My FMP is a formal commissioning brief since I have to create a product for BOA to use. The brief asks us to create one five-minute informational video to be used during induction week as an introduction to the school. The video should include music, visual effects, statistics, and interviews. There are some legal, ethical and regulatory issues with creating this product.
Throughout creating my FMP I will develop a range of different skills. Since I will be a one-man team, I will have to individually complete each section of production – pre-production, filming, and post-production. I will be able to advance my filming skills since I have focused on directing events instead of actually filming them. My organisational skills will also be improved, as I will have to create production schedules and the entire pre-production in order to complete a product I am proud of.
Kerry Hatfield 