Learning Studio Project Request
This form is best viewed in a desktop browser. Completion time: 5–10 min.
Production planning is essential for us to maximize the time and resources available in the Learning Studio. Consider, for instance, that a video aiming to give a sense of what it feels like to walk through Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Falling Water” would have very different aesthetic, narrative and production demands than a video describing a core concept in communication theory. Clearly defining your project in advance will help us clarify its scope and purpose, which in turn will aid our production planning and ultimately help you get the best results.
Is video the best medium?
There are many concepts that are better served by media other than video. Creating and maintaining video files and keeping them up to date can be resource-intensive. Before proceeding further, make sure you have thought critically about the best type of media to support your topic and audience.
Video length
Viewership drops dramatically as video length increases. Some types of events and lectures do need to be filmed in full, but these events are much more captivating in person. Full-length classroom lectures will strain the attentions of all but the most avid viewers. Our general rule of thumb is to keep most videos between 3-5 minutes for individual topics and 5-15 minutes for more advanced or deep-level exploration. Often, we advise breaking up longer-running projects into smaller chunks, using subtopics as a guide for deciding where to place these breaks.
On-screen persona
These questions can help you decide whether or not you want to be on screen, which will help determine the format for this presentation. Interviews with students conducted by the School of Continuing Education at Columbia University suggest that using humor in presentations helps make presentations more engaging, but you may find that using humor does not come naturally to you. Considering in advance the tone of your presentation and on-screen persona can lend a more consistent and polished feel to your final video.
Your audiences
We prefer to focus our greatest production resources on video content that is relevant to the broadest possible audience. These questions help us understand the audience for your particular project, and it may help you consider how you might tailor your presentation to best suit this audience.
Usage rights
These questions surround the usage rights of all images, audio, and video clips that will supplement your presentation. Depending on your intended audiences there are many different laws and policies that may apply to the use of this media. We highly recommend that you consider, discuss and plan these elements in advance.
Producers and Project Owners
The successful completion of your project depends on careful planning beforehand and timely responses to the needs of editors and media producers afterward. Filming is often the least time-intensive part of the project. Here are a few resources that may help as you choose exactly what type of effective video project you have in mind.