• Attract new students to all venues of study offered at the YMCA Computer Training Center, especially the Cambridge ICT Diploma Class.

• Inform prospective students, participants, and spectators of upcoming YMCA run events, namely the YMCA International Summer Computer Training Program (Aug 2003), and the YMCA/Worldlinks sponsored ICT Academic Quiz (May-June 2003).

• Create a 5-10 minute Industrial film concerning The Gambia’s YMCA on a more generalised scale to be used as a recruitment tool and all-purpose informational video for perspective investors, future project partners, and any other interested parties.

The following proposal has been structured so as to allow for a degree of flexibility. Each of the five proposed projects has been broken down individually. At the end of this proposal an overall production and postproduction prospectus can be found.

Format:

• 30 seconds long
• Archived on: Mini DV

Overview:

• This advert will focus on the great work the YMCA Computer Center is doing. It will incorporate elements of YMCA history, and information about successful past students. The emphasis will be placed on qualitative aspects of the Computer Center, the friendly, knowledgeable staff, the state of the art facilities, and the success expected from program graduates. The unspoken theme of this commercial revolves around the premise that with our guidance you can be a better person. The commercial will end with a fade to an information screen detailing classes, etc.

Structure:

• This will be a narrative style commercial. The images are glossy, sunny, and friendly, the information succinct and unobtrusive. The script will be a single monologue, to be read by a warm, hearty voiced narrator. The transitions will be primarily composed of fades and a slow-moving camera frame will accompany every shot. The camera’s goal here is likened unto any number of airline commercials in theme. The YMCA is a vital, living place where wonders of the world will be revealed if only you have the courage to attend.

Production Notes:

• Filming will take place both at the YMCA Computer Center and on Location (specifics TBD)
• One of the visual goals is fluidity. The participants are in their element oblivious to the camera. The viewer sees people at work, hard and honest.
• Costumes, props, and other incidentals are to be provided and/or donated by actors for the production duration.
• Note for ending: "full and part time classes starting soon, enrol now!"
• The music should incorporate some simple layered beats. For more, refer to section: 3.1

Format:

• 30 seconds long
• Archived on: Mini DV

Overview:

• This ad will take a story format. We begin with our dejected protagonist, an intelligent, attractive young woman, as she comes home and falls back onto her couch after a hard day. Her husband, off screen asks how it went today, "Badly." The response reflected in her face. Sighing and slumping back we see the day’s trials via flashback. We follow her drudgery at a lacklustre job interview. Of course, the interview ends with the sad note that without any IT skills they can’t help her. Returning to the present we hear the inner monologue of our protagonist "Is this it, is there nothing I can do?" she wonders. Glancing over to her side, see sees something lying on the couch beside her a newspaper lying open to a print advert. She reads the print ad aloud with interest. It is an ad for the YMCA Computer Training Center, and seems to answer her prayers. The advert reads something along the lines of "Tired of rejection? Looking for a better job? Learn the skills needed for today’s changing business world. Join the YMCA family by taking one of our versatile Computer Training Programs. Realise your dreams. You can change you world" Looking up, we see that our protagonist has found her answer. Entering frame the husband sits down beside his wife ready to console. "Don’t worry, there’s always other jobs" he says looking to her. Noticing her smile he gives a quizzical look, "What is it?" "I think everything’s going to be ok." She smiles knowingly as we fade to a information screen. A narrator gives us an information blurb as we read about the YMCA Computer Center.

Structure:

• This advert takes a fairly explicit storyline tact. The key to this ad lies in the believability. If the commercial doesn’t resonate as realistic to the viewer then it will fail. Therefore both the actors and the setting need to be comparable to what perspective students know and expect. We obviously want the viewer to relate to the protagonist, they need to understand her frustration. To that end, the camera work should be simple and dramatic, the lighting natural, and everyday ambient background noise should be the score. The theme to this ad is self-fulfilment. The unspoken message, if you are willing to work, you can make your life better.

Production Notes:

• Cecelia Senghore, has volunteered her residence as a possible filming location.
• In regards to sound, it is imperative to have at least some location sound. In the best of cases all the sound will be recorded on location. With any additional ADR completed at a later date.
• The exact same information sheet used at the end of Commercial A should be used at the end here.
• The same narrator used in Commercial A should be used here.
• Costumes should be natural and therefore provided by the actors.
• Actors could most likely be culled from local YMCA members; especially the actors involved in the after hours Play School. I would recommend two current vocational school students in particular, Oley Sarr, and Kekuta Kandeh.
• The newspaper advert, could be easily created here at the YMCA; through some dedicated physical cutting and pasting we could most likely nest it within an existing newspaper. Or, we could of course just pay for an advert to run one day in a local paper and use that as our prop.

Format:

• 15 seconds long
• Archived on: Mini DV

Overview:

• This commercial will be short and to the point. The audience is local and should already know something about the YMCA. The facts speak for themselves strongly. Emphasis should be placed on the community element to the quiz and the benefits to the participants. Simply put, knowledge leads to reward.

Structure:

• There are two apparent possibilities for the structure of this commercial:

1. The images are generic: YMCA, classroom scene, teachers, finished off by an information screen listing dates, times, etc…
2. We stage a mock quiz with actors in heated debate; an intellectual clash that plays on tension and action.

Production Notes:

• The same narrator as employed in Commercial A and B should be used here.
• If we film proposed ‘Structure 1’, the images will be simple to acquire and might be drawn from other footage and/or used in future projects.
• If we film proposed ‘Structure 2’, the actors could be drawn from the vocational school and a staged scene could be played out with a modicum of strain here at the Y. Unfortunately, in order to make the scene recognizable, a detailed outline of the structure of the quizzing will be required. (ie. is there a host?, who is asked questions first?, etc.)
• The score should be the same music from Commercial A. We want a feeling of energy and action.
• An exciting name for the quiz should be given to the quiz, for example: The First Annual YMCA/Worldlinks ICT Knowledge Bowl.
• A second, more generalized variation of the commercial should be created and archived at the Y in case that the quiz becomes a reoccurring event.

1. Were in the Peoples Business.
2. Invest in Yourself.
3. Together We Can Change Your/the World.
4. Come Learn With Us.

• 3-10 minutes long
• Archived on: Mini DV

Overview:

• This Industrial will take the form of an extended introduction to both the YMCA Summer Computer Program and to the experiences to be gained here in The Gambia. The goal of this introduction is to attract prospective international participants to our program. The content is directed at both parents and children. We want the parents to understand that it’s worth it to send their child to The Gambia, because yes we do have a great computer training facility, but more than that, their children will be exposed to a unique and exciting culture. Their experience here will be one of a lifetime. The focus of the film is twofold, fun and education.

Structure:

• The cohesive element to the structure of this short film will be an ongoing narration. Introducing us to both the YMCA and The Gambia. Keeping in mind that this will probably provide people with their first look of The Gambia, the cultural angle here should be exploited. But the real thrust of the industrial comes in our look at the YMCA; the community respect, our sense of responsibility, and our great educational results. We will take special note that our facilities are state of the art, and ever expanding. If possible, short interviews with both The YMCA Director, Sam Thorpe and The YMCA Computer Center Director, Poncelet Ileleji would give the film an excellent human element and help parents put a face to the leaders here. Some simple statistics will also assist greatly in gaining parental support. Of course the particulars of the Summer Computer Program will be the major element that is what we’re ultimately trying to sell. Footage could be appropriated from many sources, like Commercial A or Industrial B. The goal is give an impression of fun and responsibility; adventure and education. The music should have a cool African feel. A score should be produced incorporating traditional drums, accompanied by some appropriate tribal lyrics.

Production Notes:

• The score should be the same music as used in Industrial B.
• Footage created for this Industrial could be used extensively in Industrial B. It will also provide a good basis for an archive of the work the YMCA is accomplishing here.
• Hopefully, this industrial could be completed with time remaining to make copies and ship out to foreign Ys in the thoughts that they will use it for us in a recruitment capacity.
• This short could prove an invaluable tool if the International Camp is to continue and it will also provide a more personal element for foreign YMCAs strengthening our working relationships.
• We need to see kids having fun in the film. As we don’t have footage of the previous years Summer Kiddie Camp, we should focus on our year round youth involvement.
• We will need to enlist the aid of the YMCA Youth Director Joseph Peacock in at the least an advisory capacity.
• Copies of the film should go to the YMCA respectively in the US, England, Senegal, Ghana, Sweden, and Finland.

• 5-10 minutes long
• Archived on: Mini DV

Overview:

• This Industrial will be a generalized promotional video for The Gambia YMCA. It will function as an all-purpose informational video and could be a valuable recruitment tool for prospective investors and future project partners. It will be designed to showcase the great work being done here, touching on both our national and community-oriented projects. We should mention some of our successful past projects and our vision for the future of The Gambia YMCA. We need to emphasise our role in youth development and education, especially through outlets like The Computer Training Center. The theme is one of fraternity, the tone embracing warmth. Our strong Christian values give strength and purpose to our work.

Structure:

• This 5-10 minute Industrial will incorporate narration, interviews, and a number of graphical written facts. The video should act as a guided tour to the YMCA projects here. Hopefully this can be used as a tool to attract investment partners, especially from foreign markets. To that end, it should be broad in scope. By showing the world that we know how to handle the intricacies of complex projects they will gain confidence in our resource management capabilities. Much of the footage generated here can be used in Industrial A. We will strive for an informative and friendly demeanour.

Production Notes:

• As noted above the footage generated here or for Industrial A, will be quite interchangeable, meaning the cost of this Industrial will be significantly reduced.
• Much the same structure as Industrial A will apply here. Thereby limiting certain elements like interview time, reducing the necessary need to employ valuable YMCA staff time.

• 30 minutes – 500 D
• 1 hour – 1000 D
• 3 hours – 1500 D

• The sound component of the post production should as stated in the section 3.1 be completed at Bull Doff Records. Being a local production label, and familiar with the YMCA family, they are prepared to offer us fairly reasonable rates. Their hardware and software is top quality and their technicians have the expertise we require.

Cost Breakdown:

• Mini DV tape: 175 D (per cassette)

• Travel Expenses

• Sound:

• Craft Service

• Post Production

• VHS Cassettes

Note – if the suggestion in the next section is not taken then this cost might be reduced.

• Transfer PAL to NTSC

Suggestion – if funds permit, I would strongly recommend the purchase of a Multi-system Video Recording Unit. Although not absolutely required, this will allow us to transfer and duplicate VHS cassettes into the NTSC format for distribution, particularly of Industrial A, to the American YMCA’s being approached about our new summer program. Without the capability to transfer video formats we will be unable to share our promotional videos with our brother Ys overseas, somewhat defeating the purpose of making them in the first place. In simple terms this is a VCR that can play video signals in PAL, NTSC, and SECAM, it can record in the PAL or NTSC format. The particular model that I found is a high quality system that would serve the Digital Studio well. The model I found (which is most likely the only of it’s kind in the country) is priced at 4600 D, which although expensive would be of lasting use for many purposes in the years to come.

Total Suggested Cost – 4600 D

• Airtime

• BUDGETARY NOTE:

• Attached

• Final Note