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Putting Video-Making Skills To Use For Charity

Wednesday 3 May 2017, 1:37PM

By Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

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Toi Ohomai media students outside the SwitchedOn Exercise and Wellness Centre.
Toi Ohomai media students outside the SwitchedOn Exercise and Wellness Centre. Credit: Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

BAY OF PLENTY

Video is a popular way for businesses to promote their products and services, but the cost involved is a deterrent for some businesses, especially not-for-profits and charity organisations.

That’s why students at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology have been working on a series of professional videos for the SwitchedOn Exercise and Wellness Centre in Mount Maunganui.

The students, who are studying the NZ Certificate in Communications Media, scripted and filmed a series of instructional videos for SwitchedOn to use on their website and social media accounts, showcasing the facilities of the centre, which specialises in working with people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Liz Plank, Business Development Manager for the SILC Charitable Trust that governs SwitchedOn, said the organisation had been wanting to get some videos produced to promote the facility for some time but the cost to get this done professionally had put the project out of their reach. 

“That’s why we jumped at the chance when Toi Ohomai approached us to see if we’d be interested in working with the students on this. I was very impressed with the students’ professionalism; they interpreted our requirements well and we’ll be using these videos on our website and social media.”

The students’ tutor and programme coordinator, Adrian Maidment, said the project had a double benefit in that it gave the students some real-world practice, as well as getting them involved with a charitable organisation.

“They received a brief from the client and executed it, just as they would in the real world,” Adrian said. “They had to be innovative and also got the experience of working with a client.”

Student Libby Brooker said she found the project personally rewarding.

“You know it’s for a good cause because they don’t have the money to throw at making videos.”

The videos will be edited by the students at the new facilities at Toi Ohomai’s Windermere campus and will be on the SwitchedOn website in a few weeks. 

Recent video projects by this group of students include an interview with OiYOU exhibit owner George Shaw and various interviews at the recent Jazz Festival.