This short-film production, in addition to being a labour of love, is part of a research project to assess the viability of an in-house production company being set up at Ravensbourne University London.
Every year the University turns out many fine student-led films (final major projects) and a number of staff-led projects, including those in the form of films (narrative, documentary, music video, experimental).
These gain funding from different avenues, but what I aim to demonstrate with this project is the feasibility of a financially sustainable production line of short film projects every year, entered into and winning competitions, selling to VOD services and so on.
I envisage eventually a fully transparent artistic film production company working within Ravensbourne University whereby paid roles at every stage of each production are available to staff, students, graduates and externals (roughly in that order).
The Production Company will assist with, guide through and monitor each stage of each production to ensure the highest standards, that deadlines are being met, that our stated goals are being met and that Ravensbourne University’s values are being met. We will also be self assessing each production to generate constant data and improve efficiency and quality.
Overall this project, once in motion will have many direct and broader net benefits for Ravensbourne University.
| Direct/immediate benefit | Net benefit |
|---|---|
| Students, staff and graduates having much better professional interaction and collaboration. | Current students having links with graduates and/or practitioner thus driving immediate industry employment, marketable by Ravensbourne. |
| Inter-course collaboration | Improved sense of student community across courses. Better student experience. |
| Regular output of high-quality film content branded as Ravensbourne Productions. | Improved profile for Ravensbourne Uni Winning festivals etc to fund future productions |
| Vastly improved profile within the UK film industry | More competitive student and academic application pool. |
| Free educational material for use by students and lecturers in perpetuity. | Money saving; eg. for EPP not buying stock footage for editing. Option for course leaders to use a given production for a module, mimicking a real client brief for students to work to; eg. Motion Graphics making a film title/credit sequence, Illustration creating concept art. |
| Staff, Students, Graduates getting paid. | The availability of these paid roles will drive work and attitudes on coursework and in the workplace as this is what their potential employment in hte production company will be judged upon. |
| Improved hands-on practical experience for staff. Eg regular use of new previously unused equipment. | Increased level of knowledge to pass on to students + other staff members, better student experience. |
| Staff learning new skills. | Fulfilment of Ravensbourne University’s commitment to develop staff knowledge and careers. |