The Judge (Don Warrington MBE)
Law Reporter Ben Urdang.
"Telly" Award
Situation
I was commissioned by Sun and Moon Training to lead a project for The Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales (ICLR). The ICLR, a registered charity in London, is renowned for publishing authoritative law reports used by legal professionals across the country. Their goal was to elevate their profile, attract subscribers, demystify the law reporting process, showcase their resources, and engage young legal professionals.
"A Tale of Two Citations"
"Making Legal History"
Task
My mission was to produce a diverse range of videos that would:
1. Raise the ICLR's profile and attract new subscribers.
2. Elucidate the meticulous process of law reporting.
3. Demonstrate the effective use of ICLR's print and online resources.
4. Encourage proper citation of ICLR reports in court by students and young lawyers.
2. Elucidate the meticulous process of law reporting.
3. Demonstrate the effective use of ICLR's print and online resources.
4. Encourage proper citation of ICLR reports in court by students and young lawyers.
These videos were destined for multiple platforms: the ICLR website, blog posts, social media, exhibition stands, and a high-quality interactive DVD.
Actions
To meet these objectives, I led the production of five distinct videos:
• "A Tale of Two Citations": A light-hearted drama short.
• "Making Legal History": A day-in-the-life documentary of an ICLR law reporter.
• "The Story of the ICLR": A historical documentary.
• "Find That Case": An instructional video on using ICLR resources.
• "Meet the Editors": An introduction to the ICLR team.
• "Making Legal History": A day-in-the-life documentary of an ICLR law reporter.
• "The Story of the ICLR": A historical documentary.
• "Find That Case": An instructional video on using ICLR resources.
• "Meet the Editors": An introduction to the ICLR team.
Lawyer "Deirdre" (Natasha Aldersalde) in make up.
DOP Malcolm Edmunds lining up a shot.
Don Warrington in a close up.
Additionally, we captured footage of a "moot" competition final, showcasing law students in simulated court proceedings.
The Moot.
The Moot judges.
Moot participant Amritpal Bachu.
My role encompassed:
Stakeholder Management: I liaised closely with the client to define and agree upon project requirements, ensuring all stakeholders were aligned.
Content Strategy: I commissioned a script that would resonate with our target audience, particularly younger legal professionals, and shepherded it through the approval process.
Resource Optimisation: Working within the constraints of a not-for-profit budget, I assembled a high-calibre team, including BAFTA award-winning director Keith Boak and well-known actors like Don Warrington MBE and popular Hollyoaks and Brookside alumnus Ben Hull.
Production Oversight: I managed all aspects of drama and documentary filming, including privileged filming in an actual courtroom of the Royal Courts of Justice.
Content Creation: I personally filmed supplementary B-roll content to enrich the main productions.
Quality Assurance: I supervised the post-production process to ensure the final product met our high standards.
Technical Execution: I authored the DVD and designed the interactive menus, ensuring a polished, interactive final product.
Interactive DVD Menu.
Throughout the project, I maintained a user-centric approach, constantly considering how each element would serve our audience and meet the ICLR's objectives. Although film productions are natural waterfall processes (script to storyboard to filming to editing etc) I implemented what would now be considered agile methodologies, breaking the complex project into manageable sprints and iterating based on ongoing stakeholder feedback.
RESULT
The project was a great success:
Award-winning Content: "A Tale of Two Citations" won a 2010 Telly Award for education, validating our creative approach to the project.
"Telly" Award for the project.
Stakeholder Satisfaction: Paul Magrath, Head of Product Development and Online Content at ICLR, praised the project's results, stating:
"Friendly, professional and with formidable powers of organisation, Stuart proved to be the perfect choice to help produce an educational DVD for my organisation. A joy to work with, he made the most efficient use of limited resources of time and cost (essential for a not-for-profit client) and got the best results out of the team of actors and technicians he assembled. I would (and will) certainly work with him again."
Resource Efficiency: We delivered high-quality content within the constraints of a not-for-profit budget, maximising the impact of every pound spent.
Multi-platform Success: The videos found success across various platforms, from the ICLR website to exhibition stands, extending the ICLR's reach and engagement.
Long-term Value: The interactive DVD compilation provided a lasting resource for years to come.
This project not only met but exceeded the ICLR's objectives, demonstrating my ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects, balance creative vision with technical execution, and deliver results that drive organisational goals. These skills, honed in my role as a Multimedia Producer, have proven invaluable in my current position as a Product Manager, where I continue to leverage user-centric design, strategic thinking, and efficient resource management to deliver impactful products.
END