This document outlines different types of client briefs that a media company may receive, including contractual, formal, informal, cooperative, negotiated, commission, tender, and competition briefs. It also discusses the importance of thoroughly reading and discussing the brief with the client prior to production in order to understand what is being asked and ensure there are no legal or ethical issues. The document provides an example of a formal brief the client has given to create a leaflet about popular places to visit in York, with a deadline of May 19th.
2. CONTRACTUAL BRIEF
Definition
An agreement is signed by a media company ,where they will
complete a specific task in a certain amount of time, for a set
amount of money.
Advantages
You will get paid the agreed amount of money on completion of
the task. You know how much time you have to complete the
task so you can divide your time wisely.
Disadvantages
Either the media company or client could face legal action, if
they didn't stick to what was initially agreed: it would be a
breach of the contact. You need to check the contract carefully
before signing so you known not to sign if you don’t want to do
or can’t produce what’s in the contract.
3. FORMAL BRIEF
Definition
A clients will provide a media company with a brief, which
establishes what product they want to be produced.
Advantages
You can ask the client for more information by contacting them.
What they want will be wrote down on the brief.
Disadvantages
You would need to meet with the client to gain additional
information on what they want making; this could be a problem
if they are hard to get hold of or busy. A formal brief may not
be legally binding so if your media company or your client
change their mind , you will be at a disadvantage.
4. INFORMAL BRIEF
Definition
There is no contract or written agreement involved in this type of
brief. It is more likely to be a verbal agreement. A company and
client talk and agree in regards to the project. It is called as
informal because there may not be a set completion date.
Advantages
There may not be set completion date so you may have a large
amount of time to finish something. You ca make notes of what
the client wants when you discuss with them.
Disadvantages
There is no contract involved so it can be risky. Also, there may
not be a set date for complete so you may have nothing to work
or a sense of time scale.
5. CO-OPERATIVE BRIEF
Definition
Two or more productions work on a specific brief. The
companies work together to complete what is asked of them on
the brief.
Advantages
More companies means more ideas and experience will be put
into a task. If one companies needs help with anything they can
ask the other.
Disadvantages
The production companies are different so they may want to
tackle the brief in different ways. A negotiated brief would need
to be submitted if the companies failed to agree.
6. NEGOTIATED BRIEF
Definition
A negotiated brief would be created in a situation where the two or
more media companies have conflicting ideas regarding a project.
This brief is made suit the ideas of all companies and the client
involved. The negotiation could involve changing the visual style.
Advantages
The negotiated brief will hopefully suit all the companies and the
client.
Disadvantages
The client and the companies will have to compromise with each
other for the project to go ahead.
7. COMMISSION BRIEF
Definition
A large company hires an independent media company to create
a product for them. The brief is negotiated between the two
media companies rather than an external client. However, an
external client may be given the product made by the larger
company.
Advantages
There is not an external client involved in this brief. The
independent production will be paid for making the product
and maybe commission on the product’s profit.
Disadvantages
If the product is be given to external client by the larger
company then the larger company will have to be infrequent
contact with the independent company to make sure it is what
they want.
8. TENDER BRIEF
Definition
A client publishes that they need a media product making. A
production company then creates a brief, proposal and budget,
which is pitched to the client. Multiple companies can pitch.
Advantages
If you are the client, you can pick the best brief so you have choice
all a range of different brief.
Disadvantages
Multiple productions companies can enter a brief and the client will
choose, so if you enter you aren’t guaranteed that job.
If a lot media companies may enter so the client may have read and
go through the different briefs to decide which is best.
9. COMPETITION BRIEF
Definition
A brief is made available to all participating production
companies. Each company will then complete the brief. Each
project completed by the different companies and then judged,
the best is awarded the project or has the project published.
Advantages
All companies can enter for free, and have a chance at winning
the project or having their project published.
Disadvantages
The client only has to pay the company who wins meaning the
other companies may have put a lot of time or money into
some thing that they may not be paid for.
10. MY BRIEF
Which structure/structures will your client brief use?
Reference your reasons for choice/choices
My client brief will a formal brief because i have sent my client a
blank brief of questions of what they would want us to make
for them.
it is simple as they simple tell you want they want and don’t
want. Also no other companies will be involved just me and the
client.
11. READING THE BRIEF
Why is important to thoroughly read your brief?
It is important to read the brief thoroughly because it shows you the
nature and demand of the brief.
Nature is what is being asked of you, and what is the final product
expected to be. Demand is in relation to time constraints and man
power needed etc.
12. READING THE BRIEF
What is the nature and demand of your client brief?
Nature:
I was asked the recreate Brentwood guesthouse welcome letter, in the
form of a leaflet/booklet. They want me to feature the popular places
which people visit in York. Also they wanted it to be produced in A4.
Demand:
The deadline for the client project is may 19th . I do not need anyone to
help me as I can do this project on my own.
13. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
Why is it important to discuss the brief with your client prior to
production?
It is important to discuss the brief because this will help you if you don’t
understand what is being asked of you already.
14. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
What are the advantages and disadvantages of employing discretion
with a brief?
Advantages:
Some briefs may be quite brief or vague so allowing your discretion will
help in the gaps. You can get creative rather than specifically doing
what’s on the brief; you can add what you think would be interesting.
Disadvantages:
Employing your own discretion could not be what the clients; you
shouldn't’t compromise what has been briefed.
15. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
Are there any potential legal/ethical/regulatory issues with the brief’s
proposed product?
Well I think copyright would be main potential issue. I can only use my
work which I have created. For example, I will need to have taken my
own pictures.
16. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
Amendments you have considered to:
The Product
No there’s not amendments which need to be made because I think that
the brief is definitely achievable. We have two weeks for production so I
think it will be more than enough time.
The Budget
There isn’t a set budget but it will come from me. I will be borrowing a
camera so it will not cost me anything.
The Conditions
I will be paid for this, as it is just for a college project. If they decided to
use then I would paid a certain amount of money.
17. OPPORTUNITIES
What opportunities could this brief allow you to explore?
Self Development
I can use my judgement to create an interesting project, which fits a
brief.
Learning new skills
Well I will be returning back to photography to get the pictures I need.
18. OPPORTUNITIES
Multi-skilling
While I make the project on Photoshop, so I will have to manage my
time aswell.
Contributing to a project
I think it does allow me to contribute because I am making it for a
guesthouse, so it help tourists know about york. I will be working on
my own for this project.
