TV Production Advisor
CUSO-VSO
Application Deadline: 24/02/2011
Position Description:
Category: Television | Film |
Website: www.cuso-vso.org
Tags: TV, Production, Advisor, Video Editing, Writing, Final Cut Pro
OVERSEAS PLACEMENT: TV Production Advisor
PARTNER NAME: FEMINA HIP
LENGTH OF PLACEMENT: 12-24 months
PLANNED START DATE: May 2011
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 24th 2011
ABOUT CUSO-VSO:
CUSO-VSO is a non-profit development agency that works through volunteers. Each year, we send hundreds of global citizens to work on collaborative development projects in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. We are one of North America’s leading international development organizations that work through volunteers.
ABOUT THE PARTNER ORGANIZATION:
Femina Health Information Project (HIP) is a non-profit organization working through multi-media to promote sexual health, HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equality, civic education and healthy lifestyles in Tanzania. Femina HIP was initiated in 1999 and has become one of the most well recognized long-term mass media initiatives in Tanzania.
Femina HIP uses ‘edutainment’ as its main approach, entertaining and educating youth and their communities in appealing, exciting formats that mirror youth culture and language. Real life stores of ordinary youth and docudrama are central to the approach as well as an interactive, participatory production processes, giving voice to the questions and concerns of the audience.
Research and constant monitoring ensure that the products are relevant to local contexts and stimulate change processes.
THE VOLUNTEER’S ROLE:
The volunteer will work as a TV Production Adviser and will be responsible for supporting the organization and increasing the capacity of the production team.
Specific placement objectives are to:
• Work with the TV team, and other editorial team within the project to continue improving the TV production process, integrate comments, ideas and plan from yearly workshop reviews.
• Strengthen organizational skills of the in-house TV team.
• Build the capacity of the TV production team by developing ways to improve programming and developing strategies for critical thinking around TV production.
• Work with the external production team to improve camera, lighting, sound recording and postproduction
Specific tasks of the volunteer may include:
• Fine-tune the production process of Femina HIP’s newly developed television entrepreneurship competition, Ruka Juu, which is currently in its pilot season.
• Help create more efficiency and productivity within the TV department by first identifying the strengths and weaknesses of individual TV team members, and then by fostering those strengths and strengthening those weaknesses.
• Work with the Executive Director to define specific roles and responsibilities of individual TV team members, which will help create accountability and a stronger TV team.
• Work with the TV team to ensure TV talk show themes are well researched and partner organizations consulted, that design documents are formulated with clear messages and rational.
• Assist with the development and implementation of design and planning tools, production schedules, indexes and annual plans, and good practices in regard to TV production.
• Assist in the development and integration of graphics, special features and new film techniques into the TV program.
• Work in the field with the TV team to assist with story development, research, editorial collection and filming, editorial contributions are welcome, some script writing or evaluation may be expected.
• Assist in the coordination of messages; ensure that core messages developed by the ED and PR and are included in the TV show and that there is cross promotion of Femina HIP products of the show.
• Help identify areas feedback evaluation and ensure that results generated by monitoring and evaluation studies are integrated into the TV talk show.
• Take part in planning and production of the TV talk show; assist in developing planning tools to be used
• Advise the team on new techniques and ways to control quality of the show
• Take part in providing training to the internal and external production team.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• Essential qualifications for this volunteer placement: • University/College degree in television, or motion picture; or an equivalent of education and experience
• Minimum three years of experience working in television production and/or documentary film production
• Analytical and creative thinker with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• People management skills and negotiation skills
• Ability to communicate and instruct TV production
• Knowledge of the technical aspects of television production including professional television broadcast equipment, video processing, audio mixing and graphic composition and manipulation
• Knowledge of picture composition and lighting techniques
• Video editing experience
• Considerable knowledge of the techniques, practices, and methods associated with organizing, planning and directing television programs
• An interest and willingness to learn about health promotion in Tanzania
Desirable:
• Knowledge of Final Cut Pro or other video editing programmes
• Dramaturgical experience, some experience with designing and/or writing TV / Film drama
• Experience with budgeting and adhering to strict and often pressurized time schedules
• Good understanding of healthy lifestyles, development issues and youth/pop-culture
TRAINING AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Our training and support package covers the costs of being an overseas volunteer, allowing you to live a modest but healthy lifestyle while you volunteer abroad.
This includes:
• Attendance at a CUSO-VSO assessment day in Ottawa or Vancouver (candidates must cover the first $150 of the most cost-effective travel expenses and accommodation costs)
• Travel and accommodation costs associated with pre-departure training in Ottawa
• Return airfare and visa/permit (this includes a return flight in the case of a family emergency)
• Coverage for required vaccinations, medications and comprehensive health insurance.
• Accommodation while overseas
• A modest living allowance, which varies depending on the country where you are placed
• Quarterly payments to support you in your placement
Application Instructions:
Please apply online at http://www.cuso-vso.org/volunteer/apply-online/, quoting referral code TAN-LTV-860 and the name of the placement.
