Top Go Viral production tips from Jeremy Dunn

Corporate video and television commercial producer Jeremy Dunn has worked at toast for over eight years and is one of the company directors. Jeremy is scheduled to produce and judge the Go Viral script contest winner’s idea, and constructed much of the contest himself. His clients have included Innocent Drinks, Morgan Stanley and LadyLucks. Here he provides some top production tips for young creatives planning to submit their scripts. He writes:

In my view, this is a great opportunity for someone out there to really shine, and make a name for themselves.

Whether you have had an idea that's been bouncing around your head for years or have just had a eureka moment, the Go Viral competition could just be your fast track to the top. Worse case, you get a professional, director led piece of lovely work that will be yours forever to show off.

From a producers perspective I can't wait to see what scripts come in. 

In an ideal world I'd loved to be amazed, shocked, disturbed, in stitches... whatever it takes really. The key for me is that it has to fit the classic 30-second time frame, which actually is harder than it sounds.

30 seconds on the one hand is short and sweet, but with the right idea… its actually loads of time to 'stop' the world and make us all stand up and take notice. 

The 30 seconds should have a beginning, middle and end, and not necessarily in that order. 30 seconds gets you from the start, leaves you guessing or simply spins you round and spits you out. It’s up to you.

Whichever way you choose to go I promise the young winner will get the best we, as a production house can offer, from the directing brilliance of Stuart Fryer, to the latest HD cameras, to top notch finishing facilities.

I will pull out all the stops to ensure that the winning entry will have their 30 seconds of fame.

So, good luck and get scribbling!

Keep up to date with our video production tips, news and analysis by subscribing to our RSS feed in the top right hand corner, or join us on Twitter and Facebook. Watch out for some top Go Viral tips from our competition director Stuart Fryer later this week. Click here to apply.

TV ad eraser ‘Auto Hop’ is causing a stir

Cheeky satelite TV provider the DISH Network’s digital video recorder now offers viewers the chance to skip ad breaks for free, but is advertising its services on TV. Known as the ‘Auto Hop’, the promotional push has caused a stir within the television industry. Major producers are concerned over how they can continue producing high quality shows without income from ad revenue and the networks are fuming.

In retaliation, News Corporation is refusing to air any of the Auto Hop ads and the New York Times reports that other network owners are looking at ways to sue the DISH Network. The chairman of NBC Broadcasting,Ted Harbert said: “Just because technology gives you the ability to do something, does that mean you should? Not always.”

Research analysts strongly believe that this move reflects how scared television companies are of subscribers abandoning traditional TV in favour of internet-based firms. But, the DISH Network argue that in the long term they are encouraging viewers to watch more programming as they will become more engaged with the shows. But, who do they think will be funding those shows two years down the line?

Watch our favourite new TV ads here. Keep up to date with our video production tips, news and analysis by subscribing to our RSS feed in the top right hand corner, or join us on Twitter and Facebook. For a production quote contact us here.