Ufilms is a small business created and ran by the students of Film and TV at Stockton Riverside College. We offer services in filming, editing, DVD production and photography.
There are 11 members of Ufilms and some have specific roles or have more involvement in the production side or pre-production side of projects due to their skills and expertise. Business meetings are held every week to discuss on-going projects, any issues and plans for the future.
My role in Ufilms is Operations Manager, this is a senior role which involves overseeing the production of goods and/or provision of services. It’s my job to make sure the organisation is running as well as it possibly can, with a smooth efficient service that meets the expectations and needs of customers and clients. I ensure communication is being kept between the company and clients, but also between the members of the team. I ensure all projects are being completed to the schedule and that every member is involved in our projects. I also manage the company’s Facebook and Instagram page, making sure we regularly update our social media and keep our engagement with consumers through an online presence.
Jess Bramfitt also has a managing role and is the Ufilms Accountant. She is in charge of creating and documenting all invoices, income and outcome. If a member of the team requires money for a project they must consult Jess who will evaluate the cost.
Matthew Taylor has a leadership role as Human Resources/Wellbeing Manager. He is in charge of making sure members of the team are happy but sharing the workload evenly. He is also the person to go to if anyone has an issue with another member in the workplace. Matthew created a weekly session of ‘Positivity Thursdays’ where everyone wrote positive messages to each other to boost people’s confidence and self-esteem as well as highlighting what we value about each other.
Every member of Ufilms takes on production roles by being a part of different projects. However some people do more work as their expertise is useful in recurring projects e.g. Matty Dickens as DOP.
When setting up the business we decided on the pricing: £8 per hour per camera or £8 per hour for editing. The price is considerably less than that of the industry as this is a student ran business and this means less experience and expertise. We get paid from projects cash in hand as this is easier for us all to access. Myself and Jess are the two members with keys so we can make sure money is only be used when necessary. Our first lot of income came from a ‘Dragon's Den’ style pitch to a panel of successful business men and women from the area. Myself, Kane Smith, Matthew Taylor and Taylor Henderson pitched Ufilms as a film business, who were interested in making promotional videos for the college. As we are the college’s audience we know what to advertise to hopefully draw in more potential students. We spoke about an overall video for the college and then focusing on the single areas in the college e.g. Performing Arts, Construction, A-Levels, Makeup. We were successful in our proposal and awarded £70 (we are yet to be paid the remaining £30, as the winning money was £100). Another lot of income came from a deal with the company Page2Stage. We agreed to film a number of the drama companies performances and burn them to discs for Kelly Fairhurst (the owner) to sell onto the students. We also agreed to plan and produce two promotional videos for the drama company and the business’ party company. After our initial Dragons Den bid we were eventually successful in setting up a meeting with the schools liaison board from our college. We pitched our promotional video idea and the college agreed to pay us £80 to complete an overall video about the college. If this was proven to be a success the college would look into videos being made for each department.
Ufilms is marketed as a local, student-run business offering services in filming, editing and photography for public and private hire. Our biggest selling point and how we attract new customers is through our social media platforms. Our Facebook has over 300 likes but our post reaches can rise to as many as 2,447 people. However some posts can dip down to 200. This shows we don’t have a consistent audience engagement. Persistent sharing of posts from different accounts (family members, and the Newcastle Film Festival) help u to reach more people who don’t like the page. We regularly update Facebook with a variety of posts, we post news about upcoming films, film facts or updates about our current projects. We also have a Twitter account linked to Ufilms. This is ran by Matty Dickens and Jess Bramfitt and updated frequently. As Twitter has limited characters it’s hard to really sell our business on the platform. However Jess and Matty use short and snappy phrases to engage our audience and make sure to post photos - normally updates on our current filming projects. People are more likely to open a photo and engage with it. They also share tweets from a variety of other professional film companies, keeping our page up to date with the latest from film and TV. Facebook is the company's main focus as this is where the majority of interest and potential clients come from, with customers using Facebook to communicate with us.
There have been many successes and many failures for our company. I have mentioned the Dragons Den bid which was a huge success for the business as it was our first big payment. This money now meant we were in profit and could invest in new projects and have a budget if needed. Another success was our Educating Grandad video, we produced this video to be entered into the College’s Equality and Diversity competition and we won a prize money award. The video focused around a Grandad’s negative and racist beliefs. A positive message was reinforced through the other family members - tolerance of other people’s beliefs, mutual respect, rule of law and the importance of democracy. All of Ufilms content is at a professionally high standard. This is a success for the whole team as we have managed to work together to make some incredible projects. But every business is not without its failures. A number of times the team have failed to communicate with other members, making sure that everyone is kept on the loop. This can prove an issue if cameras are being used and someone needs them, more projects are being taken on when some are still outstanding, etc. Communication is vital between members of the business as we must work together. The fair share of work dealt out in the business has also proved an issue. However I believe this is due to a lack of enthusiasm for the business itself and an overall work ethic in some people. It makes sense for someone who is enthusiastic to work, wants to increase their potential and their skills to take on a project, than someone who won’t put any effort in.
Ufilms illustrates the key skills required for running a small business by providing creativity. We are never short of new ideas for videos or creative ways to make money and gain interest. This can be shown through keeping up with the latest trends e.g. Mannequin challenge. I believe the management structure and actual managing of staff has worked very well. I felt comfortable in leading the team, making any necessary decisions and taking certain actions due to my role. I also tried to set an example of how members of the team should act in the workplace, be it on location or in our office. People must be committed and determined when completing jobs. We suffered many technical difficulties when trying to complete projects. Editing being the worst difficulty. Exporting videos and burning discs has affected the length of time took to finish a project. Our marketing and sales has been a slight success with no overall win. Although there has been interest and videos been made, payments have been late or not received at all. However the fact we were asked by an external member of the public who had only just heard of Ufilms to make their wedding video - marketing must have spiked at that time. Every member of Ufilms joined this business with little or no experience but will leave with plenty of experience in filmmaking for clients and creating products to sell.
Ufilms obtains its resources through the college course. We have access to all of our equipment (cameras, tripods, mics, booms, stabilisers, lights, crane, track and dolly), green room studio and editing software in the college. All of the equipment is stored correctly and taken care of in the green room/studio. Any damages to equipment must be reported as soon as possible so the issue can be fixed/replaced. Our classroom is used as the Ufilms office, where we keep our paperwork, files, accounting, money tin and hard drive with all the businesses projects. We normally hold our meetings in this room or the green room/studio. In this room we also have the assistance of tutor Kelly Fairhurst who offers advice and mentoring whilst we run the business. As students we are always learning something new and bouncing off each other. We all help each other which helps us develop our skills in an area we may lack in. People know to ask for help if it’s needed as Ufilms must continue it’s professional standard. We are all currently in training as we are students, every shoot we learn something new therefore it is important that everyone is involved in shoots and is aware of what and how people are doing certain jobs, it is also vital for people to ask for help or advice when filming so that the best quality and as near professional standard video can be achieved.
TASK 1B
As Ufilms Operations Manager I did not take on the role of Project Manager often, I found myself busy managing all the projects through the specific Project Managers. When we were approached to film a Wedding video in early May I took on the role of PM and got to work.
The North Wedding 2017
We were approached via our Facebook to film Amanda - then - Coulthard and Charlie North’s Spring wedding at Middleton Lodge in February. Amanda explained we had been recommended and told we would do a great job. Obviously, I reiterated this fact and reassured her I would personally make sure of it. The first meeting was scheduled for February 7th. Prior to the meeting I begin my research into wedding videography and the location itself. A major red flag that popped into my mind straight away was pricing. As this was our first video in this field of work what was an appropriate price to charge. Companies that specialize in wedding videos charge anywhere from £3,000 to £10,000. This along with a few other issues (use of copyrighted music, timing, getting together a team), meant I called a team meeting. In the meeting we all decided an appropriate amount to charge would be £250, asking for the £50 as a deposit. We came to this agreement using our pre-made filming and editing charge of £8 p/h. In the meeting it was decided the team on the day would be myself, Kane and Matty. I would be team Bride, focusing on shots revolving around Amanda. Kane would be team Groom, focusing on shots around Charlie. Matty would focus on exterior shots, cutaways and the guests on the day. Matthew stepped in at the start of the project to help me with research and paperwork also. It was then time for our first meeting with the couple. Myself, Kane and Matthew attended are were feeling extremely nervous beforehand, as this was our first ‘real’ meeting with an external client none of us knew we didn’t want to mess up or come across as not professional. Amanda and Charlie were absolutely lovely and really made us feel at ease, they were happily surprised at how much research we had already completed on the location and wedding videos in general. In the meeting the price of £250 was agreed, timings, clothing requirements, equipment and crew was finalised. A month later myself, Matthew and Kane went along to an Open Day at the venue to see the location and get to know how/where we were going to film. It was an incredibly beautiful place with many rooms. The main issue we came across was the room where the actual ceremony would take place. It was a very small room and with the amount of guests we were worried about where all three of us would fit to get the best angles. We made notes on our visit ready for the follow up meeting. A week before the wedding I met with Amanda to finalise the day and make sure we had all the correct timings, we also received our deposit in cash.
The day of the wedding seemed to fly by. Myself, Matty and Taylor filmed on the day as Kane was unavailable due to a date mix up. We all enjoyed ourselves alongside staying professional the entire day. We were on location for a total of eight hours and all three of us worked incredibly hard and to the best of our abilities. The footage we have is amazing and I can’t wait to finish editing the 3 minute clip and 60 minute film.
There were a few set backs on the day of filming but nothing we couldn’t handle as a team. I arrived on location first, as Matty and Taylor had never been to Middleton Lodge they were struggling with directions. This was soon resolved as Matty - out of the three of us - kept calm and I sent him my location via Facebook. They shortly arrived and we were ready to go.
Due to the ceremony room being so small we knew we would have to think on our feet as guests were taking their seats. The bride was to walk out of a room upstairs, onto the balcony overlooking the ceremony room and walk down a set of winding stairs to the aisle. I was positioned at the back of the room/end of the aisle getting an overall viewpoint and framed angle of the whole ceremony. Taylor was positioned to the right of the aisle at the front, getting guests and the couple. Matty (being the most talented and confident using a camera) began filming the wedding entourage upstairs. After the Bride started to walk down the stairs he had to run down a set of back stairs, into the ceremony room, while taking the camera off the wheel and then placing it on a tripod, to the left at the front of the aisle, then focusing on the couple and speakers. Halfway through the ceremony a issue arose as the guest in front of me moved ever so slightly to the left - suddenly blocking my view. I moved the camera off the mantelpiece slowly and then leant against the doorframe, making sure to keep the shot steady and framed correctly.
TASK 2
(I worked in a group with Matthew Taylor and Jordan Reed. My pages are Tax Liabilities and Sources of Finance)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lvB7S2dZ0YlikC3OGA47LTEhpoSQ_C7Ea7ozV4Qz_hE/edit?usp=sharing
TASK 3
My own media production skills vary due to participating in different roles such as; Director, Editor, Camera Operator and Manager. However I think I most excel in management and directing, therefore I would like to manage my own business and team. I've taken part in a variety of projects through Ufilms so far meaning there are many different ideas and routes that the future of Ufilms and myself could take. An example is wedding videos, with more experience and a dedicated team this could be an appropriate idea.
There are many different sources of work available and I believe there is currently a high demand for new businesses with a young fresh perspective. Ufilms had just that and we were very successful in many bids using this as our Unique Selling Point. There are many different businesses in the Teesside area and we are becoming more and more popular with new shops and restaurants opening monthly and events advertised around the region - all potential clients. With social media becoming even bigger more people are wanting to advertise their business to a wide audience while staying up to date with latest trends, having a film business with young adults and new ideas make your video is the best way to do so. I believe word of mouth and using Ufilms Facebook page and subsidiary companies pages is the best way to find sources of work. Also staying in contact with the college and encouraging their enterprise project. As the majority of Ufilms current members are leaving the area for University I would be the only current staff at the Teesside branch however I hope to enlist some classmates on my own University course. This would be a great opportunity for them to develop their own skills alongside their course and gain an insight into having your own business. Before recruiting any staff I would need to see a media CV and any portfolios to make sure they can maintain Ufilms professional standard of work. After recruiting a few members of the class as staff (to begin with) I would then monitor their performances and make sure they were reaching a high standard/quality of work.
Summary of Business:
My small business idea in the creative media sector is to continue the work of Ufilms Productions, branching out to different areas of the UK as the current members leave this area to start University. As I am attending Teesside University I'll be staying in the area and hope to stay linked to the college, as first years (and years to come) develop their own businesses linking from Ufilms as Subsidiary companies.
Aim of Business/Goals:
The aim of the business is
- to create various different videos for any clients that come to Ufilms - in any of the different branches/areas, from pre-production to post
- for the Teesside branch to expand the knowledge and business skills of Film and TV students at Stockton Riverside College as they start their own path into the industry
Without a well thought out plan a business cannot excel in any aspect. Every eventuality must have a coinciding plan to counteract and make sure the business can overcome the issue.
Resources:
The business will need filming equipment: camera, microphone, boom pole, tripod, SD cards, speciality equipment e.g. dolly or stabiliser. This will hopefully be at hand from the University and College for the first years. The editing software and rooms at University are open 24/7 available to Film students. However College students are limited to their timetable sessions in their classroom/the studio. The rooms can be used as somewhere to meet clients and hold business meetings.
Growth - Linear/Organic:
I expect the business to have a linear growth, increasing the amount the business produces. This would be predicted after a year of sales as we improve after the first.
SWOT:
STRENGTHS - I and staff to come will be very skilled in all aspects of the film production and be passionate about all the videos we make. As we are up to date with current social media platforms we know the correct and successful ways to promote our business and attract potential customers.
WEAKNESSES - To clients our age is a weakness. They may not find us trustworthy and reliable due to our inexperience in the actual industry.
OPPURTUNITIES - There will be lots of opportunities for us in the university/college environment as tutors and mentors will be keen for the business to succeed and for us as students to gain as much experience as possible.
THREATS - Other professional businesses in the area that have already created a positive name for themselves may prove a threat. as they will have improved abilities and more free time to run their business day to day.
Contingency:
If my business fails my contingency will be to start as a freelancer creating smaller video content.
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