Client Briefs and SWOT analysis

 Briefs- A document/request outlining what needs to be produced-the requirements

Types of briefs

Formal

A detailed document that is produced after a scheduled meeting between a client and a producer. Regulations and time constraints and deadlines will be outlined. 

Advantage- Less margin for error

Disadvantage- closed scope for personal interpretation. 

Informal brief

Normally a verbal agreement between the client and producer and no written document is required.

Advantage- A little more open scope for your interpretation 

Disadvantage- Could misinterpret what the producer wants

Negotiated brief

The client and producer work together to develop a brief for the project. Discussions take place where the various aims and objectives are agreed before anything is formally written down. 

Advantage- More flexability and therefore less pressure, build more of a reputation

Disadvantage- May have bad communication between the client and producer

Contractual brief

The brief is outlined within a contract of employment

Advantage- More scheduled and organised as binded to a contract 

Disadvantage- If you do not meed the requirements, you could loose reputation or get sued and loose a lot of money. 

Tender brief

When a client produces an advert for a media product to be created and various production companies will produce a pitch in response and the client will choose their favourite one. 

Disadvantage- Waste of money, time and resources for the production companies, The client could end up choosing the wrong company so is risky

Advantage- There are lots of different options you can choose from as a client. May change their vision for the better. 

Commissioned brief

A client would hire a separate independent company to create a media product for them. The media company will do their own research, create the proposal and do the planning for the project. The product will be developed based on this. A commissioner from the client oversees all of this.  exp. channel4, client hired Endamole to create a show, back mirror. 

Advantage- If successful, they can earn a lot of money. Independent company is given a huge platform which boosts their reputation. 

Disadvantage- Could destroy the reputation of the independent company if unsuccessful. Client could also loose money. 

Media platforms are the different methods and channels media is produced onto. For example, film, TV, social media, magazines, newspaper, video games, radio, print. 

Requirements 

Implicit

These will be inferred or implied from the client/brief, you have to interpret what is said.

Open to interpretation 

There is some freedom for you to make decisions about how to best create a successful product. More creative and free when making the product. 

Contraints 

There are boundaries that the project must work within. e.g. legal, ethical, time and personnel. 

Explicit 

These are clearly stated and must be met when producing the product. 

Tools for analysing a brief

Mind map

Moodboard

Blue-sky thinking 

SWOT analysis 

SWOT analysis

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

Strengths of the product and the company 

What do you do well?

What unique resources can you draw on?

What do others see as your strengths?

Weaknesses

What could you improve? company and the product exp. could u provide a pen with an i pad

Do you have fewer resources than others?

What are others likely to see as your weaknesses?

Opportunities 

What opportunities are open to you?

Threats

What threats could harm you?

What is your competition doing?

What threats do your weaknesses expose to you?

Regulation