Multimedia Production

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION 4(1+3)

Lesson 15: Planning the Multimedia Programme

Managing production and post production

This involves managing the production process and planning and managing content acquisition.

1. Managing the Production Process
   The prime role the production manager is to keep the project on-time and on-budget. For this detailed Timeline/PERT charts need to be developed and an effective tracking system needs to be designed and implemented to keep constant track of what is going on. A good tracking system should monitor and keep record of the following project development aspects:


• Project Financial Accounting System
• Project Building Blocks filing and record system
• Artwork and applications screens and interfaces
• Programming code filing and documentation system
• Project revision and testing records


2. Managing Content Acquisition
   Content is the "stuff" around which an application is developed. It is the text, narration, graphics, colors, backgrounds, videos and animation. In other words, content are all the elements that compose a multimedia application.
   
   Content has a value and a cost. Cost refers to the monetary price incurred to acquire or develop content, while value refers to its merit, usefulness, importance, or significance. A balance has to be struck between the value and cost of the content against the production budget and the desired outcomes.
   Content either has to be sourced or if it is not available then it has to be created. The main responsibility of content development lies with the Content Specialist, Script Writer or Computer Graphic Artist. The content specialist undertakes the following tasks:


• Content research
• Identifying document sources
• Identification of the building blocks like colours and graphics representative of the theme, time or period to be presented in the application
• Identifying individuals to be interviewed
• Location to be videotaped
  If content is not readily available then it needs to be developed. This includes editing and manipulation of existing graphics, photos, video, sound or text.


3. Copyrights
   Producers and users of multimedia programmes need to be aware of and abide by the copyright law. Multimedia productions, by definition, combine a variety of elements from varied sources. It is essential to know how the use of these materials is affected by legal constraints. It is also important to acquire copyrights for own production, after its completion.


4. Testing and Delivering Multimedia Application
   The Evaluation Process
   The process of evaluating (testing) and revising a multimedia application project is dynamic and constant. It involves both internal and external evaluation.


1. Internal Evaluation
   The happens within the multimedia development group, through internal discussions for evaluating the aspects of the application:


• Application design : is it logical and facilitates learning
• Project goals and objectives : are the established goals and Objectives being met
• Content is the acquired content represented accurately
• Text and narration : are the text and narration grammatically Correct
• Application graphics : are the application graphics adequate To fulfill the goals and objectives
• Sound : is the background music, effects and other sounds well recorded
• Application navigation : are the navigational structures and Aids effective
• Programming code : is it working as originally planned
• Delivery : can the application be delivered via the proposed medium
• Time and budget : is the project on-time and on-budget
• Legal considerations: have all licenses and other copyrights Been procured
  The prime responsibility of this function lies with the production manager and can be most effective if the team members are open to positive criticism of their peers.


2. External Evaluation
   The following are the components of external evaluation:


• Alpha Testing : Alpha testing takes place when the project is considered a working model i.e. it is not finished but it is functional. The purpose of Alpha testing is to determine if the general direction and structure are adequate and what changes are necessary. Members of the Alpha-testing group should include a balance of friends and critiques.


• Focus Group Testing : After Alpha testing some groups are composed of individuals who represent the expected audience of the project. Standardized forms should be used for requesting comments and suggestions from the Focus Group.


• Beta Testing: Once the project is in a final draft form, copies should be made available to a group of potential users called a beta-testing group. standardised questionnaires should be used for collating feedback. Beta testers check all possible paths of navigation and log all events that strike them as unusual.


• Quality Assurance (QA) is the formal name given to the process of beta testing. When the beta version of a multimedia application is released and the functionality testing starts, the QA process has formally begun.


5. Project Revision
   Based on the feedback the application should be revised, incorporating the valid changes suggested. The application revision sequence is presented in the Figure-2 below:


6. Developing Documentation
   User documentation is a very important feature of high-end multimedia titles. While designing the application documentation, the following information should be provided:
   
   This information can be provided to the user in the form of a Read-Me file, which is a self-contained read-only document contained in the application itself. The other way is to develop a printed User's Manual for the information to the user.


7. Delivering the Multimedia Application
   High-end multimedia applications that are text and graphic heavy are best delivered on a CD-ROM. The other effective way of delivery is on an internet website.


1. Burning a CD-ROM :Before recording a CD-ROM, it must be ensured that the application and supporting Files after they are recorded on the CD-ROM. Read and Write CD-ROM drives will allow editing in the near future.


2. Delivery through internet website: Multimedia content is being widely disseminated through internet. Although currently bandwidth problems, requirement of a number of plug-ins to play real audio and real video, long download time and other problems exists that hamper the delivery of multimedia applications through internet, but are amenable to continuous updating and hence the content does not get outdated.


3. Integration of CD-ROM and Internet: The relationship between CD- ROM and internet is similar to the relationship between computer’s hard drive and ROM. On the ROM, the information once recorded cannot be changed, while on the hard disc information can be written over and over again. A more effective way of delivering a multimedia application is an integration of the two mediums of CD-ROM and Internet.