posted

April 18, 2012

time

2:03 p.m.

by

Darren

New Ad Win!
Omni Work With Bristol Landmark

The team are over the moon to have been chosen to create the ss Great Britain's new TV commercial. We are all big fans of the Bristol landmark and won the contract following a 3 way pitch.

We were blown away by the difference in pre-conceptions vs. the reality of the visitor experience having felt that the ss Great Britain could come into the stuffy, hands off “National Trust’ style experience  - when it’s actually the complete opposite. We intend to paint a picture that says the ss Great Britain is not a roped off, stifled few hours out, but an historic playground for all - a unique, tangible learning experience.

We will adopt a hand-held, observational (but still cinematic) style for the shoot and this tactile and intimate use of the camera will communicate how hands on and free the ss Great Britain experience is.

The recent dramatic rise in the cost of living, means that families finances are suffering and will continue to suffer at least in the short term. It’s reported that, due to government cuts, the average family living in the UK is now £160 a year worse off. Women within the family unit tend to be the decision maker on where the family are going to visit, and research is demonstrating, that attractions now have to work harder to appeal to the entire family (where once they could concentrate on Dad or the kids etc)

What we do not want to create is your standard regional attraction ad – ticking all the boxes, communicating what’s on offer but not engaging in anyway on an emotional level and the ss Great Britain team felt that, with our approach, we really understood what they are about.

The ad begins its run in June 2012.

Find out more about the ss Great Britain.

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posted

Feb. 21, 2012

time

4:08 p.m.

by

Sam

RTS Award Nominations
Boarding School Bomber

Our latest hour long drama-doc for BBC3, The Boarding School Bomber, was nominated for 'Best Documentary' and 'Best Writer' at the upcoming Royal Television Society (RTS) - West of England. 

We were up against some stiff competition and didn't come away with an award this time but lovely to be nominated and thanks to all the cast, crew and contributors who worked so hard on the production.   

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posted

Dec. 23, 2011

time

8:40 a.m.

by

Sam

Bristol Street Art Film
Featuring: Nick Walker

Omni recently produced a short film featuring Nick Walker, 1 of 72 Street Artists who painted a street in Bristol horizontally and vertically over the space of a week. 

We shot this film just for the love of it all and for the love of our city of Bristol.

Nelson Street was by far the most boring and grey street in the city centre and this project, organised by Inkie (A local street artist) and Bristol City Council, turned this street into a vibrant, inspiring place to visit.

Well done all involved. 

You can view the film on YouTube and find out more about SeeNoEvil on their website.

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posted

Dec. 23, 2011

time

7:23 a.m.

by

Sam

Omni Viral Makes RudeTube
Safe Sex Campaign

A viral we produced for the NHS around safe sex and Chlamydia awareness has just made E4's RudeTube, building on its already successful 1x million channel views to date.

The film concept was to try and hook in some of those horny internet browsers out there into a voyeuristic, amateur home made sex tape style production only to shock them at the climax with a six piece marching band, cheerleaders and a song about safe sex!

In case you are wondering, no, the actors had absolutely no idea that we had the band waiting outside, which certainly added to a very fun shoot.  

Check out the films in full and other NHS viral work we have produced in our portfolio. We also produced a supporting microsite which took the curious user through to more infomration on Chlamydia. 

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posted

Dec. 5, 2011

time

10:42 a.m.

by

darren

New UWE Campaign
UWE = Employability!

The team has been lucky enough to work with The University of the West of England since 2006. Over this period we have created over 20 unique films for them -  ranging from large budget international student recruitment films, to films that use comedy to communicate the rather dull (but essential) freshmen Health and Safety lecture!

We are currently working on a film that showcases its students and graduate’s talents, communicating what working with UWE and its students can do for your business. The film features interviews with both students, graduates and employers and clearly demonstrates that UWEs commitment to supporting their students goes beyond the lecture theatre.

The number of British students applying to university has slumped by more than 15 per cent amid a public backlash over a sharp hike in tuition fees.

Universities are going to have to work harder than ever to attract the right audience and demonstrate that, by investing in their education, that the students are going to see a real return.

The biggest drop is among mature students, with applications from 25- to 29-year-olds falling by a fifth and demand from over 40s slumping by more than a quarter.

The film will be used across multiple platforms and will promote UWE students to local and national businesses as the perfect resource to increase innovation, productivity and profit.

To see examples of our work for UWE go to: http://www.omniproductions.co.uk/portfolio/university-of-the-west-of-england/  

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posted

Dec. 5, 2011

time

8:31 a.m.

by

Darren

Counting the Costs
Successful Campaign

The team have just heard that it's Counting the Cost campaign film for the Meningitis Research Foundation has helped them achieve their goal of capturing 10,000 signatures. 

Recent policy states that if an organisation wants to present a petition to Downing Street it must now have at least this number of names committed to it.

Our film was posted across numerous social media channels and the campaign managed to reached its target over a few months. 

This petition plays an important part in the foundations call on the Government to pursue the widest and earliest implementation of vaccines to prevent meningitis and septicaemia. 

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posted

Nov. 22, 2011

time

8:35 p.m.

by

Sam

Omni Drama Doc on BBC iPlayer
Boarding School Bomber

Nice to see our latest docu/drama on BBC iPlayer for all those who missed it on BBC3 this week. (and currenty in most popular)

...and an interesting read about the commissining process here>>>.

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posted

Nov. 11, 2011

time

9:35 a.m.

by

RICH

The Boarding School Bomber
Debut broadcast commission

The Boarding School Bomber, a 60 min film starring Adam Deacon. 

9pm Monday 21st November 2011, BBC3

The true story of how and why a public schoolboy became a would be suicide bomber.

This compelling film is the debut BBC broadcast commission for Bristol based Omni Productions. The Boarding School Bomber starring Adam Deacon (Adulthood, Kidulthood) is an hour long documentary-drama telling the story of Isa Ibrahim, the middle class public school boy from Bristol, who in 2009 was arrested in Westbury-on-Trym and convicted for planning a terrorist act. 

The commission grew out of a short drama called Conviction made for Avon and Somerset Police in 2010 as part of a training package aimed at preventing violent extremism. The film focused on the story of Isa Ibrahim, highlighting a series of missed opportunities, alongside the ultimate success of police relations with the Muslim communities that resulted in Isa’s eventual arrest.

Omni Productions have a track record of making award-winning dramas for the public sector, but have always had ambitions to make longer length programmes for TV. Their chance came after Tamsin Summers, Development Executive at Omni Productions showed a commissioner at the BBC a clip from Conviction. The commissioner immediately saw the story as one of national significance and very relevant to the BBC3 audience, and was impressed by the power of the drama.

Omni brought Susannah Price on board, an independent Producer / Director who worked closely with the team to develop the film for the BBC. Richard Penfold (writer director) and Sam Hearn (co-director) created additional drama that was added to the existing drama from Conviction and integrated into the new film. The drama sits alongside interviews with Isa’s friends, the police involved with the investigation and Isa’s mother, as well as footage Isa watched on the internet. Omni were given exclusive access to CCTV footage showing Isa’s journey across the city, which is interwoven with the drama.

“Its amazing that we have been able to make the leap from Corporate drama to TV commission: we have always believed in the quality of our work, but it’s very hard to get a commission without a track record and we are thrilled that the BBC saw talent in the company, and by teaming us up with the right people, were confident to award us with this commission.”
Executive Producer, Rachel Drummond-Hay.

The Boarding School Bomber is on BBC3 on Monday 21 November at 9.00pm.

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posted

Nov. 8, 2011

time

9:31 a.m.

by

Darren

Black Mountain Hike
Omni Adventures

Following on from last years trek up Snowdon, the Omni team all got together this Friday for a 15km walk across the Brecon Beacons.

As a company we try to organise events like this as often as possible - the only rules being; no cringe worthy team building exercises and no whiteboards - just good clean air, horizontal rain and some breath-taking views.

Flickr Photo Feed here: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwSQzAA

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posted

Oct. 14, 2011

time

8:50 a.m.

by

Darren

Funding success
Omni Produce a Winning Film

I mentioned on my last blog post that we had just finished a couple of films for the Meningitis Research Foundation. One of the films was part of what was effectively a competitive pitch between six shortlisted charities to become Deutsche Banks charity partner of the year. The international banks staff were left to vote on who they wanted to support, and after 10 tense days the Foundation called to let us know that both they and the "Help a Capital Child" appeal had won!! The bid could net them each up to £1,000,000 over the next year.

Promoting a charity is a much more complex process than promoting a product, service or brand. The NSPCC is one of the U.Ks best known charities and its campaigning role has often been controversial. In the Guardian recently New Philanthropy Capital,  a consultancy and think tank dedicated to helping funders and charities to achieve a greater impact, concluded that NSPCC's campaigning is "flawed and naive" and that there is "zero evidence" that the £250m it has spent on its recent "Full Stop" campaign actually benefited any children.

What is interesting here is that the two charities that won the Deutsche Bank pitch both submitted film as part of their bids - so, when compared solely with the written word, did the films immediate emotional impact play a part in influencing the bankers decision? I know that our editor certainly had tears in his eyes when he was cutting it together, which is always a good sign. 

What we do know is that £1,000,000 will have a significant impact on meningitis and septicaemia research and we are hugely proud to have helped them secure this funding. 

The film's script, graphics, animation, edit and voice over were produced in just a couple of days to an increadibly tight deadline:

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posted

Sept. 19, 2011

time

5:38 p.m.

by

Darren

What's Your Name Worth?
Meningitis Research Foundation

The team has just finished working on two campaigns for The Meningitis Research Foundation.

The foundation estimates that there are around 3,300 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia every year in the UK and Republic of Ireland. As part of their "Counting the Cost" Campaign they intend to present a petition signed by 10,000 people to 10 Downing Street.

To help drive support we came up with a film that features handwritten names slowly revealing themselves on screen, representing that each of us is as unique as our signature and that anyone of us is at risk of contracting meningitis or septicaemia. 

The film will be launched as part of Meningitis Awareness Week (19th - 25th September).

The second film is part of a larger campaign to help the foundation become one of two partner charities supported by Deutsche Bank. Having managed to get down to a final shortlist of six charities, the next stage will see the banks staff vote on who they want to support. Winning this will make a huge difference to the foundation and the result will be announced on the 22nd September. Fingers crossed!

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posted

Aug. 4, 2011

time

11:17 a.m.

by

Darren

University Challenge
New UWE Films

Over the past 5 years we have had the pleasure of working with the University of the West of England on over 20 productions.

Omni are currently in production on a student recruitment campaign for UWE's Business and Law faculty. Omni proposed a film that used a mixture of 2D motion graphic animation with live action observational documentary. An approach that stylistically takes the well-established theme of the traditional law book and modernizes it with a UWE brand twist. Communicating that UWE Business and Law School is not a stuffy, dusty reference book but a modern, dynamic iPad app.

Omni were aware of how intimidating, complex and inaccessible the subject of Law and Business might be to the uninitiated prospective student and therefore will communicate that the faculty is both modern, professional with a polished ethos but at the same time inclusive, accessible, friendly and embracing.

Omni's second recent win with UWE is to produce a film that demonstrates UWE's commitment to employability. The film will showcase its student's and graduate’s talents whilst communicating the business benefits of working with UWE.

The film will feature success stories from graduates, alumni, students and employers.

With rising fees universities find themselves under increasing pressure to attract the right students and demonstrate value for money and Omni embrace the challenge of helping UWE achieve this.

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posted

Aug. 4, 2011

time

11:03 a.m.

by

Darren

A Helping Hand
Meningitis Research Foundation

The Meningitis Research Foundation seeks to improve the outlook for people affected by meningitis and septicaemia by campaigning for early recognition, better treatment, and comprehensive aftercare and support. 

Omni are excited by the prospect of helping the foundation bring their "Counting The Cost" campaign to life. "Counting the Cost" reveals the shocking lifelong costs of surviving meningitis and septicaemia and calls on Government to pursue the widest and earliest implementation of vaccines to prevent the diseases.

The MRF need 10,000 signatures in order to be able to present their case to parliament and our film will be key in promoting the campaign and driving people to sign the petition.

For more information and to sign the petition go to: http://www.meningitis.org/sign-petition 

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posted

Aug. 4, 2011

time

10:57 a.m.

by

Darren

British Red Cross
Progressive First Aid

Omni are about to get going on a film for The British Red Cross, a charity that has been on our radar for a number of years.

The film will act as a communications tool for the Red Cross's Community Based First Aid initiative (CBFA). The film is specifically about how the Red Cross can help drug agencies deliver training to service users around first aid techniques and the administration of the anti overdose drug, Naloxone.

Drug users are obviously often first at the scene of an overdose and can be the difference between life and death for the victim. This progressive project is south west based and hopefully our film can help with their bid to launch it as a national initiative.

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posted

Aug. 3, 2011

time

10:50 a.m.

by

Darren

New Charity Win!
Aid Transparency Initiative

Omni has recently been working with Wells-based charity, Development Initiatives, producing a film for the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI). IATI is a voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiative that includes donors, partner countries and CSOs (civil society organisations) and its aim is to make information about aid spending easier to access, use and understand.

The Omni team went over to Paris to capture interviews with some of the initiatives key stakeholders, who had travelled from all over the world to meet and discuss aid transparency.

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