There are a few types of brief that companies use to make deals with other companies.
Contractual brief
A contractual brief is a brief that is created by the client and then given to production house or a media company. This type of brief is not one that can be negotiated unlike a negotiated brief. An advantage of a contractual brief is that once it is given to the production house/ media company it is much easier for them to understand what to do as the guidelines have already been set, however a disadvantage of this type of brief is that the production company has no input on how the production of the project should go and they wouldn't be able to make any needed improvements because they have to follow what the contract says.
A contractual brief is a brief that is created by the client and then given to production house or a media company. This type of brief is not one that can be negotiated unlike a negotiated brief. An advantage of a contractual brief is that once it is given to the production house/ media company it is much easier for them to understand what to do as the guidelines have already been set, however a disadvantage of this type of brief is that the production company has no input on how the production of the project should go and they wouldn't be able to make any needed improvements because they have to follow what the contract says.
Negotiated brief
A negotiated brief is when the client and the production company have a meeting to discuss how the production of the project should go. In this meeting the client will usually propose the principles and their ideas and the production should go. This type of brief has the advantage over a contractual brief because the product company will be able to have some form of input on the production. This means that any proposals that are made by the client depending on whether that proposal is appropriate or not can be changed through negotiation.
A negotiated brief is when the client and the production company have a meeting to discuss how the production of the project should go. In this meeting the client will usually propose the principles and their ideas and the production should go. This type of brief has the advantage over a contractual brief because the product company will be able to have some form of input on the production. This means that any proposals that are made by the client depending on whether that proposal is appropriate or not can be changed through negotiation.
Now comparing these two types of briefs which one is more effective depends solely on whether the product is on a smaller or larger scale in which case I think that the contractual brief is much suited and more effective if used for products that are more on a larger scale because it is bound to be made up of many details which is why a contractual brief is better for it because then the production company won't have to worry about making kind of improvements as the plan has already been laid out for them.
A negotiated brief is much more suited for smaller scale products because the client could use some tips or pointers on how to further improve the product. Whether it is a negotiated or contractual brief it is crucial for the person working on or managing the brief to have the skills that will enable for them to work with each other effectively.
Formal/Informal brief
In terms of writing any style of brief there is a significant difference between that of an informal brief and a formal brief. While a formal brief is one that is discussed in great detail between the production company and the client, an informal brief is one that is quickly discussed between the client and the production company. A formal brief consists of many meetings and documents like sign-off sheets throughout the whole process of discussing the product. An informal brief however usually consists of the client handing the brief to the production company and having a quick meeting. Comparing these two types of brief format its safe to say that the formal brief is much more effective as it includes a lot more data compared to that of an informal brief using the formal brief format will result in higher-quality products.
Commission brief
A commission brief is a standard type of brief with an extra increment. This will allow for the client of the product to apply for a refund on the money after the product has been completed. This is another form of commission, but, if the client was to get a refund then the product can no longer be used for the contracted purposes. This means that a new product or service will have to be created from scratch.
Tender brief
A tender brief is where the client will create a brief and then distribute it to multiple production companies. This allows for production companies to make offers and propose ideas to the client. The client will then choose from one of the offers made by the multiple production companies, which they feel will benefit them the most. Basically its like a bidding war for the best idea.
Co-operative brief
A co-operative brief is exactly as the title suggests, this is where the client will hire multiple companies or companies meeting other companies to help with a single project. This is mainly used on large scale productions like films, adverts and animations. This is very effective because of the fact that it allows for multiple ideas to be collated which also helps with the workflow. Because it allows multiple people to work on the same project this means that the product will get completed much sooner and result for a higher standard of work.
Competition brief
A competition brief is just basically the type of brief that shows the guidelines of a competition so it like instructions. For example a company like Rockstar games might have a new character they want to add a new character into the game and so they are looking for a voice actor to voice this new character and for people to enter the company must first produce a competition brief which tells the competitors on what they should include in their act. Unlike the tender brief where the client only gives it to a few selected production companies a competition brief is basically given to everyone as it is open to the public.
Reading a brief
When the producer or the company is to receive a new brief, it is very important that the contexts of the brief is completely understood. First the overall idea of the brief must be understood, otherwise the product cannot be made without the idea. Secondly there are a few factors that relate to the idea such as:
When the producer or the company is to receive a new brief, it is very important that the contexts of the brief is completely understood. First the overall idea of the brief must be understood, otherwise the product cannot be made without the idea. Secondly there are a few factors that relate to the idea such as:
- Demographics
- Geographic’s
- Market Competition
- Use of the product (marketing/advertising etc.)
- Style of the product.
- Technical Specifications (FPS, Aspect Ratio, overall quality of final product).
It is crucial the creators of a game product to be able to understand all of these needed factors. If
the idea is not properly understood or match the needed factors, the product will be deemed not as
effective as it should be to the client which can then lead to them making financial losses. It
is very important to be able to identify all the known factors so that the project can then be
planned in terms of:
- Time scale, resources
- Locations
- Crew and post production/production/programming/animation time
When negotiating the brief there will always be a type of consultation process involved. It will
either be a formal or informal meeting between that of the production company/person and the
client. When using a negotiated brief it is an opportunity to suggest further improvements of the
product to make it more effective, unlike a contracted brief where even though there is a
consultation process involved the production company can't really give their input on the product.
Although this makes it easier for the company to make the product nothing can be changed for the
better if there was an issue with the brief. Negotiated briefs allows for the creators to have input on
which direction the brief should go.
When it comes to the discretion in interpreting the brief there is a level of discretion that occurs when dealing with a client like when you are negotiating a brief. An example is when you are given a brief you must interpret the ideas and thoroughly think about them in a technological sense. This includes thinking about how you would create the production, how you would distribute the production and also how the client wants it to look like. This is where the meetings and consultations come in which enables a discussion between the client and the production company.
When dealing with any brief, or making any form of media product which will be seen by the public, it is very important to thoroughly considered the Legal, Ethical and Regulatory constraints. This includes having to make sure that the ideas and themes that are included in the product do not cause any kind of emotional or physical harm to anyone but sometimes somethings are unavoidable. This is also the case where Legal constraints have to be thought of, because there are many created by the government that needs to be followed.
This can include the Data Protection Act, Advertising Standards Authority, Ofcom, EU Competition Commission and many more. It is crucial that any kind of production has a detailed report of how the product will not be affecting any of the laws and regulatory bodies. When comparing the different constraints that may affect any media product, it is clear that legal constraints are the hardest to avoid, because it is required for a proper understanding of all the laws and regulatory bodies that may have effect on the product that is being made. Whereas the ethical constraints is possible to be worked upon in order for it to be avoided, like having different ethnic groups working on the one product in order to make sure that no beliefs or themes go against the different types of ethnic groups.
During the process of the production there are many different opportunities in the form of stages at which there is a possibility that the ideas can be changed or developed. This is one reason why all production companies use sign-off sheets. Because it is a form of security, which states the whenever something has been completed, the client will not be able to change it. This makes the process of the production a bit easier and more effective for the production company in charge. For example if client was to issue a change in the middle of the production process then the company would have to comply to the order that was issued, whereas if there was a sign-off sheet it would be impossible for the client to make any kind of changes at all. It is crucial of any production company to have a sign-off sheet, because it creates a sense of security for them which also makes the job easier because it doesn't allow for the clients to demand any changes in the middle of the development of the production.
Like there are alterations to the final product, there can also be alterations made on the budget of the product. This can sometimes happen whenever the new costs have increased or when original prices have changed, and so the new cost must be discussed with the client to ensure that they are okay with paying for any extra cost. If this was to happen the pre-production must have an updated version of the record, the updated version should state the amount the prices have been increased to, it doesn't matter whether its an increase or a decrease. Any existing document must be updated.
Like making any kind of alterations to the final product, changing the conditions of the given product can also have an effect on the final product. A good example is if the clients were to maybe change the target audience/demographics for the product then the company will have to make changes on specific aspects. This will affect the production company in some way like creating more working hours on this single project alone. A way for the company to avoid this kind of situation is by having detailed consultations that can provide evidence, an example for this are meeting minutes and having sign-off sheets that say that when a certain part of the product has been completed it cannot be changed in any way anymore.
In terms of the first meeting or consultation with the said client, it is very important that all the costs that will be involved in making the product is discussed in detail and at a high standard to avoid any kind of issues with the budget in the future. The process of the meeting usually goes with the client going over the costs that they will pay for, and then with the production company presenting a list of all the costs that will be involved. They do this in order to settle a final price for creating the product. This can also only be done by using a negotiated brief.
Working with a brief can also mean that it gives opportunity to the producers and clients involved with the project to develop new sets of skills, like learning new communication techniques, development skills in producing the product and also being able to increase the range of different ideas that they have about given products. It can also increase network of those involved with the project.
Working with two different briefs can increase one's multi-tasking skills, it can usually develop through working with different types of briefs like an animation brief and a game brief. And also working with a contractual brief and negotiated brief at the same time can be an advantage to the producer because it can allow for them to work on one project more effectively. The producer will also be able to switch between different projects effectively, which is a very important skill to have when working in any media company.
When working on any type of brie, the creators of the product will usually be able to have their input on the idea of the project. However this is not the case when working with a contractual brief as everything have already been laid out by the client. But having the input of the producers involved can help with further developing the idea for the product, it will also allows for them to discuss different methods of filming and planning which correct any kind on flaws that is withing the idea. This can result to having bigger and higher quality products being made, this benefits the producers because it will please the clients which will make it more likely for them to be recommended to other potential clients.
When it comes to the discretion in interpreting the brief there is a level of discretion that occurs when dealing with a client like when you are negotiating a brief. An example is when you are given a brief you must interpret the ideas and thoroughly think about them in a technological sense. This includes thinking about how you would create the production, how you would distribute the production and also how the client wants it to look like. This is where the meetings and consultations come in which enables a discussion between the client and the production company.
When dealing with any brief, or making any form of media product which will be seen by the public, it is very important to thoroughly considered the Legal, Ethical and Regulatory constraints. This includes having to make sure that the ideas and themes that are included in the product do not cause any kind of emotional or physical harm to anyone but sometimes somethings are unavoidable. This is also the case where Legal constraints have to be thought of, because there are many created by the government that needs to be followed.
This can include the Data Protection Act, Advertising Standards Authority, Ofcom, EU Competition Commission and many more. It is crucial that any kind of production has a detailed report of how the product will not be affecting any of the laws and regulatory bodies. When comparing the different constraints that may affect any media product, it is clear that legal constraints are the hardest to avoid, because it is required for a proper understanding of all the laws and regulatory bodies that may have effect on the product that is being made. Whereas the ethical constraints is possible to be worked upon in order for it to be avoided, like having different ethnic groups working on the one product in order to make sure that no beliefs or themes go against the different types of ethnic groups.
During the process of the production there are many different opportunities in the form of stages at which there is a possibility that the ideas can be changed or developed. This is one reason why all production companies use sign-off sheets. Because it is a form of security, which states the whenever something has been completed, the client will not be able to change it. This makes the process of the production a bit easier and more effective for the production company in charge. For example if client was to issue a change in the middle of the production process then the company would have to comply to the order that was issued, whereas if there was a sign-off sheet it would be impossible for the client to make any kind of changes at all. It is crucial of any production company to have a sign-off sheet, because it creates a sense of security for them which also makes the job easier because it doesn't allow for the clients to demand any changes in the middle of the development of the production.
Like there are alterations to the final product, there can also be alterations made on the budget of the product. This can sometimes happen whenever the new costs have increased or when original prices have changed, and so the new cost must be discussed with the client to ensure that they are okay with paying for any extra cost. If this was to happen the pre-production must have an updated version of the record, the updated version should state the amount the prices have been increased to, it doesn't matter whether its an increase or a decrease. Any existing document must be updated.
Like making any kind of alterations to the final product, changing the conditions of the given product can also have an effect on the final product. A good example is if the clients were to maybe change the target audience/demographics for the product then the company will have to make changes on specific aspects. This will affect the production company in some way like creating more working hours on this single project alone. A way for the company to avoid this kind of situation is by having detailed consultations that can provide evidence, an example for this are meeting minutes and having sign-off sheets that say that when a certain part of the product has been completed it cannot be changed in any way anymore.
In terms of the first meeting or consultation with the said client, it is very important that all the costs that will be involved in making the product is discussed in detail and at a high standard to avoid any kind of issues with the budget in the future. The process of the meeting usually goes with the client going over the costs that they will pay for, and then with the production company presenting a list of all the costs that will be involved. They do this in order to settle a final price for creating the product. This can also only be done by using a negotiated brief.
Working with a brief can also mean that it gives opportunity to the producers and clients involved with the project to develop new sets of skills, like learning new communication techniques, development skills in producing the product and also being able to increase the range of different ideas that they have about given products. It can also increase network of those involved with the project.
Working with two different briefs can increase one's multi-tasking skills, it can usually develop through working with different types of briefs like an animation brief and a game brief. And also working with a contractual brief and negotiated brief at the same time can be an advantage to the producer because it can allow for them to work on one project more effectively. The producer will also be able to switch between different projects effectively, which is a very important skill to have when working in any media company.
When working on any type of brie, the creators of the product will usually be able to have their input on the idea of the project. However this is not the case when working with a contractual brief as everything have already been laid out by the client. But having the input of the producers involved can help with further developing the idea for the product, it will also allows for them to discuss different methods of filming and planning which correct any kind on flaws that is withing the idea. This can result to having bigger and higher quality products being made, this benefits the producers because it will please the clients which will make it more likely for them to be recommended to other potential clients.
