Cambridge University Press –
Corporate Promotional Content

Cambridge University Press selected Menace Media as their video production partner to produce a variety of promotional video content to support the publishing of different research journals.

The Brief

Cambridge University Press were looking for a video partner to create content to support the publishing of various research journals. They needed a partner that could film, edit and deliver content locally (Within the UK) and brief, support and quality check remote video teams and freelancers all over the world when needing to capture content in other countries.

The content that needed to be created was 60-120 second short promotional videos featuring a key spokesperson (Editor-In-Chief) talking about the journal, what it means to them and what they set out to achieve. These videos include a variety of related supporting footage and motion graphics.

These journals address a variety of topics, with some addressing significant global challenges. Our objective was to distil these intricate subjects into concise pieces of content suitable for social media, blogs and newsletters. This strategy aimed to promote the journals and inspire viewers to contribute their research on these topics.

The Shoots

We travelled all over the country, filming world-leading scientists and researchers to cover their story and promote the research journals. The shoots consisted of a two-person team set to capture a two-camera interview, allowing for plenty of room in post-production to remove the ‘um’s’ and any stutters. Following this we capture as much relevant supporting footage as possible. This included establishing shots of locations, visuals of the key speaker engaged in research and experiments, interactions with colleagues, and a selection of abstract walking sequences.

For every shoot, it was imperative to collaborate in advance with our primary contact at Cambridge University Press and the featured speaker. To facilitate this, we arranged pre-production discussions to outline the interview questions and set expectations for the day of filming. Doing this ensured that the filming days were always smooth sailing.

The Edits

Maintaining consistency across all projects was crucial. Each project, particularly those associated with the same research journal, needed to adhere to a uniform format and specification.

The interviews guided the editing process, determining the selection of supporting footage and its role in advancing the narrative. The objective was to present topics in a manner easily comprehensible to individuals outside the research field, as the videos are intended for diverse audiences. Given the global reach of these videos, it was necessary to provide subtitles in various languages, which required obtaining translations and incorporating them.

Each video incorporated motion graphics, featuring an animated branding package tailored to each research journal. This package comprised an animated logo, introduction and conclusion sequences, lower thirds displaying names and job titles, and an animated stinger transition to facilitate smooth transitions between video segments.

The Result

We have delivered more than 50 videos for Cambridge University Press, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. Our successful collaboration has continued year on year. We strive to innovate and relentlessly push the boundaries in creating videos that highlight remarkable individuals. Our aim is to inspire researchers to advance their fields and contribute to the betterment of our planet for the long term.

We are proud to have played a part in these projects and can’t wait to see what the future holds.