The purpose of this film series is to complement our existing efforts to promote study in the UK at Universities and University colleges through the Education UK and SIEM programmes in the USA and Canada. The series will provide a suite of engaging content that will resonate with prospective US and Canadian undergraduate and postgraduate recruits. This series in particular is to support the Education and Creativity strands of the GREAT campaign.

We are producing 10 films for the series.

These short films will feature 10 creative academic practitioners who are preparing the next generation of creative UK talent from a diverse background of creative education subject areas. The purpose of the films is to celebrate the UK creative higher education sector as a whole. The films will be promoted to both Canada and US audiences. To sit alongside our current suite of animated films, “The Academic Film Series”, these films will also have an animation overlay. These inspirational videos will represent the breadth of the UK Creative Higher Education sector. For reference, the academic film series can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbZ7Jd_01zPdx9cHwaUXVaIiUeM5ILCpm

Film Specification:
• 2-3 minutes in duration
• Filmed under the Education is GREAT / EducationUK brands
• Cutaway shots of footage and photos of the subject area supplied by the University
• Interviews with the academics on their creative education subject fields, why the subject is important, why students should want to study this subject, why students should study this subject in the UK, why students should study in the UK to receive a creative education, future employability, etc.
• Shoot style: Please see academic series
• University brand and logo featured: University specifically not to be overly promoted in film
• British Council retains all rights and footage

Distribution and Promotion Specification:
• British Council USA Website
• British Council USA social media including paid for promoted posts to reach a national audience
• Search engine optimization
• Education UK and British Council hosted events
• Email marketing promotion to school counsellors and students
• For reference: The current Academic Film series has been running for one month and the views average at 2,900 per film due to our promotions

How you can participate:
We are looking to UK universities to nominate their institution to represent the UK in the creative higher education sector. To apply, please nominate up to three different academics you have in mind for the series. We will be making our selections to ensure that we have a fair spread across the various areas of work, art forms, and institutions that we want to present:
• Areas of work (Artists; Technicians; Producers; Presenters)
• Art forms (Performance arts; Visual arts; Literature; Media/digital arts)
• Institutions (Diverse institution types; Diverse mission groups; Diverse UK regions)

We will also be looking for a diverse applicant pool to ensure gender balance, a mix of nationalities (all working primarily at a UK University), and age diversity.

Our selection preferences will be favoured towards:
• Experience of film interviews
• International work experience, preferably in the USA
• Availability to film on the dates provided
• Representation of UK best practice
• Preferably in these subject areas: Animation, architecture, art, broadcast, design, fashion, film and video, media, music, performing arts, publishing, software and computer services, television and radio

Application:
• One application per university by international office. University may nominate up to three academics.
• Academics must:
o Be available to be interviewed on one of the filming dates
o Be available to set up a pre-shoot phone consultation with the production company
o Be willing to work with production company to set up interview time on one of the filming days
o Be willing to travel to London film studio for the interview
• Preferably, academic should be willing to provide feedback as to what types of animations should be used in their film
• University must be willing to work with production company to provide footage and photos of the subject area and the academic’s field of study
• If your University is chosen and you have nominated more than one academic, we will notify you of two academics you can choose from. You must respond with an answer of which one will be available by 11th February, 2015.

Costs:
• University must make a £750 (exc. VAT) contribution to the costs of filming.
• University must cover all transport and subsistence costs associated with participation.

Timeline:
• Application deadline: 31st January 2015
• Participant notification: 6th February 2015
• University acceptance/notification of academic’s availability: 11th February, 2015
• Filming dates (must be available for one of these days): Tuesday, 24th February and Wednesday, 25th February
• Films will be completed to be promoted by the summer of 2015

To apply:
Please complete this survey monkey form by 31st January 2015: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8ZBFDD5

To apply, please complete this survey monkey form by 31st January 2015: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8ZBFDD5