Blockbuster Video

 

Client:	National Charity
Event:	Annual Staff Conference
Venue	Midlands Theatre
No. of people:	65

 

The group was divided into teams of no more than six – with each team being set an assignment to produce a short ‘corporate’ film to show to prospective corporate donors. The film needed to reflect not just the needs of the charity – but also its strengths and its ethos.

 

Few parameters were set for teams – but those that were set were vital components and crucial both to the delivery of the finished film and to how the film is judged. Parameters that were set included:

• A strict limit on the length of the film – no more than ten minutes
• A theme. Each team was ‘allocated’ a theme or genre and the finished product needed to reflect this. The genre could be generational so that films would reflect changing values and habits. One team therefore looked to produce a Silent Movie; a second team looked at producing a film in the style of the 1950’s; a third looked at producing a film reflecting modern day attitudes; a fourth team looked to produce a film set in the future.
• Other teams were asked to produce a film in the style of particular genres – such as a Spaghetti Western, a James Bond, a Simpsons, a West End Musical or a Humphrey Bogart theme! A third group were encouraged to reflect the theatrical nature of their surroundings and look to produce from a particular theatrical style such as Shakespeare or Pantomime.
• A need to incorporate certain core messages in the film

The exercise had as its core objective a desire to promote the values of the charity and underpinned with a need to consider the overall business objectives. The initial – and probably most important – part of the exercise was the planning, with teams encouraged to fully document the content of their film, the objectives and the logistics (scripting etc) of the production. We encouraged a formal approach using techniques such as storyboards to allow all team members input into the creative process.

Teams were encouraged to be as creative as possible and include traditional cinema or theatrical techniques such as props, location, music and scripts to produce an entertaining end-product.

Feedback and comment on the finished product was by way of an Oscar ceremony with all team members present - in a social environment - with a screening of the videos and awards being presented not just for Best Film but for Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Music, Best Costume etc. Diligence supplied some props and all the necessary Oscar paraphernalia – including a red carpet for a photo opportunity!

 

• Blockbuster Video
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