Conference build-up 8

In our first foray into video for CILIP Cymru Wales, Helen Staffer briefly talks about her anticipated highlights for the conference and has some tips for first time conference delegates.


Conference Anticipation 1 from CILIP Cymru Wales on Vimeo.

Helen Staffer is currently Events Officer on the CILIP Cymru Wales Executive Committee. In this role Helen has been instrumental in the complex processes of conference:

• venue selection, 
• theme identification, 
• crafting the programme, providing a balanced, pertinent, informative and challenging programme, including identifying potential speakers and breakout session leaders,
• choreography - ensuring that all will flow smoothly in the build-up to, during and after the conference, 
• project management and leadership - liaising with the other members of the Executive Committee and the Policy Officer for Wales.

Helen achieves this on top of the "day job" (the site management of two of Cardiff University's Libraries), as well being extremely involved in many of CILIP Cymru Wales' other activities and interests! Many thanks Helen!

Like Helen, why not join the Committee?

CILIP Cymru Wales is always looking for new Committee Members. Prior committee experience isn't essential, but committee members do need to be:

• enthusiastic and keen to contribute to the profession in Wales,
• able to attend up to four Committee Meetings in a year,
• willing to undertake work on behalf of the Committee,
• a member of CILIP and living and / or working in Wales.

Why not help shape the future of the profession in Wales? In doing so you will be broaden your professional horizons, networks and profile, learn new skills, whilst being informally mentored and supported by a terrific group of colleagues in Wales. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain!

About the video

The video was shot on a hand-held video recorder and the resultant MP4 file uploaded to WeVideo - a free, cloud based video editing service. WeVideo allows you to trim and re-order video clips, integrate photographs, easily add in title screens, subtitles and transitions between shots. The service also enables the addition of soundtrack files to your video, but in this case only the audio stream from the camera was used.

So, having experimented with this would I do it again? Yes!!! But, clearly there's room for improvement:

• Audio quality. We need to think carefully about the quality and recording level of the audio file, and plan to improve this. This video was originally intended to include "off camera" questioning. But the off camera prompts were much louder than Helen's contribution which made sound balancing very difficult. [OK, that and the fact that I hate hearing my own voice in recordings].
•  Location. It was a beautifully sunny day and so being outside seemed such a good idea at the time. I like hearing the bird song and the City Hall clock chiming in the background, but I guess that these may be distracting for some viewers! Ditto - the  people moving around in the background of the shot, oh and that rather fetching containerised storage facility in the background.
• Careful segmentation of the filming. The spontaneity of the film is an endearing feature but this makes for some editing difficulties. In future I think I would aim to pause between questions to provide really clear edit points and fade outs

In future I think I could put another video together in about an hour. This one has taken longer to produce because I had to learn how to use WeVideo, set up a Vimeo channel, "play" with the video camera etc. So if a clip has enduring value and multiple usage then there could be rewards in time saving. Using video may also  enable reaching and engaging with a new audiences, and provides valued variety of formats.

And what wouldn't I change? Helen - she's a natural in front of the camera!