WHAT’S THE RIGHT FORMAT
FOR YOUR RESEARCH FILM?
Deciding on the right format for your research film means thinking about the story you want to tell, your intended audience and budget. Below are a range of format options to help you decide what might work best for your research.
These formats can be produced both stand-alone and in combination. Budgets range from £2k upwards and are dependent on the number of shoot and edit days, travel and other factors.
SOCIALS
Super Shorts
Usually a component part of a larger package of video content but can also be produced separately, super shorts are formatted for distribution on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. These generally work best as insightful, thought-provoking or humorous videos that tease an aspect of your research.
DURATION: 10-90 seconds
OUTPUT PLATFORM: Social media
SHORTS
Researcher Profile
A quick and accessible way to present your research to colleagues and others. It’s a chance to explain your achievements so far, what drives you, your passions within your subject or perhaps the focus of intended future study.
DURATION: 2-3 minutes
OUTPUT PLATFORM: University profile page, social media
Research Promo
Intended for research-based initiatives and startups that offer services to public or private sector clients, these short and impactful films give an overview of your research, highlight the expertise of your team and promote the benefits of your research.
DURATION: 3-5 minutes
OUTPUT PLATFORM: Research micro-sites, client presentations, conference screenings, general marketing
Press Release
As part of a research press release, a punchy video can be a powerful way of grabbing the attention of busy journalists and media professionals, as well as acting as a ready-made screen test for media appearances. We work with you to present the most important and compelling aspects of your research findings in a concise film.
DURATION: 1-3 minutes
OUTPUT PLATFORM: Press release, social media
MID FORM
Research Impact Profile
A compelling overview of the key outcomes of your research, highlighting important impact and knowledge exchange successes, which could form part of an Impact Case Study submission for REF 2029.
DURATION: 5-10 minutes
OUTPUT PLATFORM: University webpages, social media, conference screenings
Policy Presentation
If you are aiming to influence government directly by presenting your research to policymakers then video can amplify your research findings and recommendations as part of a presentation or through special screenings.
DURATION: 5-10 minutes
OUTPUT PLATFORM: Screening to policymakers
Series Shorts
From engaging profiles of stakeholders to primers on particular themes within your research, a series of short films offers flexibility in how content is deployed, whether over a period of time to build momentum across social media or across different parts of your research output.
DURATION: multiple 3-5 minutes
OUTPUT PLATFORM: YouTube, university webpages, social media, conference screenings
Short Documentary
A comprehensive overview of your research project that could include sequences captured through the course of the project, interviews with key stakeholders, archive footage and any project generated media. In addition, there’s the option to spin off excerpts in multiple different formats for social media engagement.
DURATION: 10-30 minutes
OUTPUT PLATFORM: University webpages, social media, conference screenings, film festivals
LONG FORM
Feature Documentary
As part of a funding proposal a long form documentary can chart the entirety of your research and turn it into a compelling narrative documentary. Film festival screenings can be an effective means of driving further media coverage as well as providing occasions for presentations, panel discussions and direct engagement. Successful feature documentaries can often be picked up for TV broadcast.
DURATION: 60 - 90 minutes
OUTPUT PLATFORM: Special screenings, conference screenings, film festivals and broadcast