How It Works

CMP uses a flexible production process depending on the scope of a project.  The following details many of the elements in a typical project.

Input and Proposal
The project begins with a client’s articulating a communication need or intention.  The client’s goals, outcomes, and expectations are expressed.  Audience, possible delivery methods, and concerns are discussed.

CMP develops a proposal that includes a creative approach and budget estimate.

Pre-planning:
A content meeting is held
The CMP creative team is assembled

• Project Manager –Responsible for overall direction of the module and creative teams. Manages production scheduling; also edits scripts, leader’s guides and other print materials
• Creative Director –Responsible for creative design and for writing leader’s guides and video scripts
• Instructional Designer –Responsible for instructional design of training projects.
• Art Director –Responsible for overall design of all graphic elements, including theme and logo designs.
• Graphic Artist –Inputs graphics into PowerPoint and leader’s guides, designs table exercises and games.
• Video Director –Directs video production and supervises editing of video modules.
• Video Line Producer –Coordinates video production.  Responsible for securing locations, booking crews and actors, arranging for production supplies and meals.
• Video Editor –Edits video including designing animated graphic effects.
• Video Duplication & DVD mastering technician – Arranges video duplication and programs DVD.
• Production Manager –Manages production process for graphics, print materials, flash drives notebook and shipping to a fulfillment house.
• Administrator –Manages billing and invoicing.
• Executive Producer –Manages budget actualizations, approval of creative direction and project budgets.

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Discovery
A project may have a discovery phase in which all information is collected.  This may be in the form of input from a subject matter expert, interviews with stakeholders, review of documents, and inclusion of existing media. It may also involve refinement of the overall approach to the project since the proposal or initial content meeting. 

The discovery phase includes the primary client contact and CMP’s team members such as the project manager, creative director, the instructional designer and/or script writer plus any other team members as needed.

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Scope of Work
Following the discovery phase, CMP may submit a draft of a scope of work with an outline or instructional design.

Once the client approves these documents, CMP will revisit the budget to more accurately reflect the cost of the scope of work. 

The client always has the opportunity to revise the scope of work and/or the budget to bring both into line with the outcome of the discovery phase, expectations and the available budget.

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Production Plan
CMP lays out the production plan including timelines, milestones and delivery dates. 

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Creative Treatment and Instructional Design:
Working with the project manager the creative director completes a creative treatment for most projects.  In the case of a training module the treatment includes the learning objectives and a detailed outline of module elements. This treatment is reviewed and edited by the project manager and instructional designer before being submitted for review by the client and legal.  For a training program the instructional designer writes an instructional design.  A writer writes the scripts for any videos in the design.

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Graphic Design:
The art director working with a graphic artist designs various electronic and print elements such as a logo, PowerPoint template, cover page, contents page, masthead, tabs, leader’s guide with icons and DVD label.

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Production Scheduling:
The schedule is managed by the project manager. The scheduling process includes content development, client and content expert reviews, legal reviews, shooting dates for videos, leader’s guide printing and PowerPoint deck production, and distribution due date.

The budget is also managed by the project manager and executive producer and reworked with new project parameters as they arise.

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Production:
The creative director finalizes the video scripts which are reviewed by the client and possibly forwarded to the client’s legal department for review and approval. Several script rewrites in the process are common. The video director and project manager may conduct casting sessions for talent and plan the video production.  The line producer may secure locations and book cast, crew, and equipment. The director directs the videotaping.

The creative director finalizes print content such as a leader’s guide and handouts, as well as PowerPoint content, and design of exercises.  The graphic artist creates the graphics to support the guide, handouts and PowerPoint presentation. 

The art director may design and video editor may execute an animated graphic logo of special treatment.  The animation may include a narrator and music.

Video editing begins upon completion of the taping sessions. The editor, working with the director and project manager, completes initial edits or “rough cuts”.  The rough cuts are posted on CMP’s secure Web site for viewing by the client. The client may review segments with upper management and Legal to move the approval process forward.

Upon approval of rough cuts, the videos go to final edit where music, graphics and special effects are added.

The leader’s guide and PowerPoint deck, when approved, are finalized by the CMP team.

Throughout the process, the completion of the elements are under the supervision of the project manager and approved internally by CMP’s executive producer

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Final Production & Distribution:
When the videos and other elements are approved by the client CMP completes the final stage of production:

• The leader’s guide pages and handout are prepared for printing including any last minute changes from the client.
• These files are sent to the production manager for final print layout. All MS Word Documents are conformed to Adobe In Design, and all materials and artwork prepared for print.
• The production manager sends all print files to the printer.  He approves proofs and negotiates delivery dates.
• The PowerPoint deck and videos are prepared for inclusion on a DVD master. A technician programs and masters the DVD for duplication.  
• The DVD master and label are sent to a duplicator for duplication, labeling and shipment to the client, various client locations, or a fulfillment house.

Each member of the creative and managerial team ensures that CMP delivers the highest quality product.

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Actualization:
Invoices from vendors and timesheets from team members are collected and entered into a budget actualization form.  A final accounting is presented to the client with an invoice.

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Client Debrief:
A summary of the project, goals, and expectations are reviewed.  Areas for improvement are discussed.

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