Media Production Design

[kidzpastor]

If this has been posted before let me know (I couldn't find it, but then I'm not sure how hard I looked):

What would be your dream media center layout for production/post production of video/audio recording? Looking at anywhere from 500 to 2000 square feet depending on vision.

We're in the process of building a new building (offices/children's facility). I've been given the task of submitting initial concepts for the media dept. I was wondering if anyone had some nice layouts that they would care to share.

A-Primary use is post production for audio/video.
B-This room would not be for live production of the services.
C-I produce weekly video announcements (graphics, voice overs, afterfx).
D-Secondary use would be for studio production (green screen/vocal booth)
E-We create inhouse small group videos etc.

In thinking ahead, I would love to set up a small "school of media ministry" to train local hi-schoolers on audio/video production (grips/lighting/camera op, etc.) I'm also considering selling them on a production company in the building if I can convince them it will pay for the extra space in the end.

I don't want to present a 2 million building that they brush off as too large, but i don't want to sell the ministry short.

I just need ideas. I'm sure you have lots of questions that I haven't answered so ask away.

[Gracetech]

I've designed some studios that where a little larger than that. Do you have any other aspects that you would like to incorporate into the studio?

crt

[kidzpastor]

I don't know. Give me some ideas. Basically, I currently film services live and then use my office to post edit. I also duplicate cd's and dvd's for people that want copies of the services. When I create videos I find whatever room or location that is available to do the filming - sometimes I hang my green screen on the wall, etc. For voice overs I record using our sanctuary sound equipment. Not the most professional setup but I make do with what is given me. I have the opportunity now to create a more professional setup. My mind is going a mile a minute so I am just now researching what I need vs. what I want vs. what they will allow me to purchase within my budget (which hasn't been set yet). Thanks for your help.

[Gracetech]

Well we know you atleast need an Edit Bay. Is there anything in particular you want in an Edit Bay? Company friendly or all business Bay? You will of course want to have the room treated to remove the room from the audio. Sound's like you would need atleast 1 sound booth. How large a sound booth would you need what is the largest thing you would think you would track? I would go with a simple Vocal booth if you don't know.

I would probably setup the rest of the space as a shooting studio. I would have one corner with an infinity wall in either chroma color. Make sure the ceiling height of the building is atleast 16' so you can have a grid around 12' unless you are shooting wider which probably won't be possible with this little of a space. Which brings us to the lighting grid which would be a 4'4' grid with either hard circuits or dimming circuits probably around 16 to 24. Make sure to either add in some acoustic control around the perimiter of the rest of the shooting space. This can be either curtains or acoustic panels(foam panels are not an option). The other thing would be to make sure that the world outside the studio stays outside the studio and you can decide on how extreme you want that depending on the noise level you expect outside the studio. Points to bring up to help push this idea along, that i have used in the past for other churches, are you can use the studio as a rehersal hall, also as a scenic shop. Churches like multipurpose so you may want to think of other ways this building could benefit your church outside of media. Just be careful what you promise as sometimes it will come back and haunt you.

Let me know if i can be more specific on things.

crt

[tedanderson]

Churches like multipurpose so you may want to think of other ways this building could benefit your church outside of media. Just be careful what you promise as sometimes it will come back and haunt you.

That sounds good but combining "production" and "multipurpose" opens a can of worms. When we first started our department with a designated production room, other departments thought it would be a great place for meetings, storage, prop building, etc. to the point where it seemed like someone was imposing on us every time we needed to do something. So eventually we had to kick everyone out, put a lock on the door and demand that the room be used for no other purpose other than production. On one hand it seems like a waste of space when the room was being utilized only once or twice a week but whenever we had to run in to do a last minute project, it was really a pain in the neck to have to clean out the room and reorganize things or ask people to leave, etc.

[kidzpastor]

Thanks Chad. As a starter question, since we are in the planning stages of just a footprint of the building, how much space would you reasonably ask for? As is typical, I will probably have to advocate for space in conjunction with the other ministries that will want their space too. My thinking is that my space can actually be a revenue stream if it is designed correctly. If I have a decent recording studio/shooting studio there would be no reason I couldn't shoot local bands, demo tapes, etc. And if I were to develop a school of media ministry (say 10-15) students, that would be an additional revenue. It does depend, of course, on the initial setup and vision I can present.

Thanks for your insight Ted. How much room do you have? How is it utilized? Do you have both a sound booth and shooting studio?

I just found out that my office/work area will be adjacent to a portion of the building labeled "future expansion" and amounts to 4500 sq feet. I know they aren't going to give me the lion's share of that, but how much should I reasonably ask for?

Thanks for your input.

[Gracetech]

You have to answer some questions first before i can give you any guidance. Go back and reread my previous post.

crt

[tedanderson]

I know they aren't going to give me the lion's share of that, but how much should I reasonably ask for?

Ask for all of it. Seriously. The church reserves the right to take back whatever they want anyhow. One thing I can say about Media is that there is NEVER enough room. The actual square footage of our media related occupied space is roughly 3000 square feet. This occupies roughly 20% of the combined facilities and we probably occupy more space than any other department.

For a shooting studio, we utilize the sanctuary- and even though it's somewhat "multipurpose", we only have to share exclusive (non-church service) use with the music department. When the next building is built I am going to request 1000 square feet to make a shooting studio so that we can put some black curtains in the distance giving that "infinite depth" effect and so that we can put up some permanent green screens.