An Introduction to Omni Broadcasting Network

NETWORK BACKGROUND

Name

The organization, Omni Broadcasting Network (henceforth OBN), is a media corporation with divisions in television, radio, and the World Wide Web. The word ‘omni’ which means ‘totality’ in Latin, was given as the organization’s name. Omni fits the network’s modus operandi which covers broadcasting via the majority of electronic mediums available in today’s information age.

Logo

OBN’s logo consists of 4 blocks, each representing the essential 4 pillars required for the foundation of a basic structure. These blocks in the logo however do not stand independently. In fact, they are interdependent, and when the structures are put together in that particular fashion, it represents the interpretation of the word ‘Omni’ – totality. The general outlook of the logo is set to provide a professional image overall.

Ownership

The hypothetical ownership of the network has been set to be of a government entity. The explanation on this matter shall be further elaborated below.


VIEWING ALTERNATIVES
7th July Premier Screening

The 'Sales Pitch' Perspective
A mock arrangement of TV content (with a hypothetical scenario thrown in), created as a sales pitch to gain government grants.

The 'Government-Owned Channel' Perspective
A channel owned by the government. Thus explains the cheap programming during prime time, the inconsistency and biasness in news reports, and the usage of outdated documentaries. (source of creative inspiration: TV3 and RTM 1 & 2)

The 'Short Film' Perspective
Presented in the full form of a short film. Plot: regular TV programming gets disrupted by actual occurrences which governments of the world are unable to explain nor solve. A survival instructional video from the Cold War era (from the western block's perspective) is broadcasted while network technicalities fall apart. (source of creative inspiration: 'Without Warning')


A MESSAGE FROM OBN
Welcoming card to members of the floor at the Premier Screening

OBN has prepared a collection of mock advertisements, an episode of prime time TV series, public service announcements, film trailers, a documentary, and not forgetting news reports from both in and out of the studio.

The production stage was initiated on 8th April 2009 and followed suit with post-production from 15th June 2009. With a team of 15 students, OBN's objective is to provide good old TV material via a meticulous process.

The work featured contains the application of not only subjects which we have previously been taught. OBN has taken the liberty to pay homage to directors such as Ed Wood Jr., incorporating and spoofing social issues during the Cold War, and so forth.

Our advertisements have been informally put up on an international survey which received mixed reactions from both laypersons and professionals from advertising firms.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Felicia Aw Bee Kim
Irwan Dahili
Ruby Tan Siew Hoon
Aaron Goh
Niko Fahrisjah Tandianoe
Mark Noel James
Aaron Abinesh Marian
Leow Hong Foo
Eric Chong
Imran Osman
Ooi Yi Jing
Eastern & Oriental Hotel
KDU Penang

AUDIO / VISUAL REFERENCES

'Ode to Joy'
Ludwig van Beethoven - 9th Symphony (Final Movement)

'Night on Bald Mountain'
Leopold Stokowski - arrangement for Walt Disney's 'Fantasia' (1940)

'Central Services / The Office'
Michael Kamen - soundtrack for 'Brazil'

'Numb' (piano instrumental)
Linkin Park

'Top of the World' (guitar instrumental)
The Carpenters

'Fox News Theme'

'The Awakening'
Nox Arcana

'Sailor Moon Theme - Moonlight Densetsu'
Tetsuya Komoro & Kanako Oda

untitled track
Kill Bill vol. 1

'Twisted Nerves'
Bernard Hermann

'Cape Fear'
Bernard Hermann

'The Mummy Suite'
Jerry Goldsmith

'Harry Potter Theme'

'Little Miss Marionette'
J. Fiddy / S. Burdson - Tots & Pops

'Marching Tin Soldiers'
J. Fiddy / S. Burdson - Tots & Pops

'Morning Break'
J. Fiddy / S. Burdson - Sunflowers

'Dance of the Masks'
M. Frey / B. Sielbert - Odd & Quirky

'Raa Raa'
Vidyasagar - soundtrack for 'Chandramukhi'

'Lollipop'
Chordettes

'Little Britain theme'
David Arnold

'Unfaithful' (instrumental)
Rihanna

'Charlie's Angels 2000 theme'
Apollo Four Forty

'Tsar Bomba' Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwlNPhn64TA&feature=related

'Rita Hayworth as Gilda' Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgdKgV9Y62w&feature=related


APPLICATION OF PREVIOUS SUBJECTS IN PROJECT

PRE-PRODUCTION
[1] Script Writing & Story boarding

a. Media, Culture & Society
b. Introduction to Sociology
c. News Writing & Reporting for Electronic Media
d. Principles of Advertising
e. Principles of Copywriting

PRODUCTION
[1] Filming

a. Introduction to Film Studies

[2] Radio Broadcast

a. Introduction to Radio Production

[3] Web Page

a. Multimedia & Web Development

POST PRODUCTION
[1] Editing

a. Introduction to Film Studies

[2] Presentation

a. Desktop Publishing
b. Principles of Public Relations
c. Principles of Advertising
d. Creative Strategy

Programme Line Up

TELEVISION BROADCAST

OMNI three Prime Time slot: 2000 - 2100 Hrs.

*note: programme line up is designed to form an overall plot.

01. Intro

02. Commercial 1

03. Commercial 2

04. Commercial 3

05. Channel Signpost for Feature Presentation

06. Feature Presentation

07. Breaking News 1

08. Commercial 5

09. Commercial 6

10. Commercial 7

11. Commercial 8

12. Feature Presentation continues

13. Breaking News 2

14. Commercial 9

15. Commercial 10

16. Commercial 11

17. Commercial 12

18. Feature Presentation continues

19. Breaking News 3

20. Documentary

21. Breaking News

22. End Credits

RADIO BROADCAST

'O' F.M. Breakfast Show with Daniel Chan

[1] Signpost

[2] DJ Daniel

[3] Track: ‘Black Balloon’

[4] Commercial

[5] Signpost

[6] DJ Daniel

[7] News with Ben Singh

[8] Commercial

[9] Signpost

[10] DJ Daniel

[11] Signpost

Abstract: News

Television

Studio Anchors: John Shebat de Silva & Maya Hanum
Field Correspondent: Andrea Chuang
Weatherman: Daniel Chan

Omni’s news broadcast is presented during prime time (between 8.00pm to 9.00pm). However, these broadcasts are not standard news presentation. To accommodate the overall ‘film format presentation’, the news segments are ‘Breaking News’ which intervene prime time features. Some ‘social’ issues are reflected from the style of this presentation. An example of this would be how news networks are unable to deliver the full truth of situations yet they are obliged to appear credible as a source of information to the public.

The style of which Omni's weather report is presented pays tribute to the old school techniques. Before the end of the 20th Century, large numbers of news networks had their weatherman / woman use magnetic sheets before the 3-D / Green Screen digital maps replaced them.


Radio
News reader: Benjamin Singh

‘O’ F.M., OBN’s official radio channel presents regular radio news reporting. The format is often in an ‘inverted pyramid’ structure; where the most vital news pieces are presented first.

Web
Design: Tan Jin Yin

OBN’s mock webpage features news that are available on the world wide web. Apart from the standard written news pieces, viewers and readers online would also be able to stream live videos of news room broadcasts.

Abstract: Documentary

In this presentation, the documentary is featured as a government production. The comprehension of the footage which runs for approximately 10 minutes would require a basic understanding of the nature of government during the Cold War (1947 – 1991), particularly within the period of the Nuclear Arms Race between the western and eastern block.

Within the period of the arms race, the western community lived in fear of the atomic bomb. This fear was heightened when American and British governments began to initiate programmes on ‘educating’ the public about the dangers and consequences should the atomic bomb go off. With this, governments were provided with an automated and voluntary will of the people and civil control was made easy. A large part of the message from the ‘education’ initiation was delivered via documentaries which were broadcasted on television. These documentaries were often low budget productions and involve poor quality cinematography, mise-en-scene, and sound engineering. For the younger audience, the message came in the form of deceiving cartoons such as ‘Duck & Cover’ featuring the clever Bert the Turtle.

(Reference, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6eQkBCLkIA&feature=related)

Omni’s documentary is a parody of these productions. The production values from the aspects of technical film making and script writing are intentionally poor. It spoofs how the so called government qualities are disguised and subliminally ‘forced’ into the subconscious minds of the public and thus dictates their way of life according to how governments wish them to be. In short, the video is in fact an element of propaganda machinery.

It is also important to note that Omni has created this documentary (which is in fact a spoof of actual documentaries) in the pretense of it being produced in 1962 as a source for entertainment. A fuller understanding of the bigger picture can be achieved by having some knowledge on the elements of political propaganda and historical background of the Cold War.

From the perspective of viewing the documentary as part of the ‘film format’ overall presentation, the plot introduces the footage (which was created in 1962) to be broadcasted in today’s modern world just prior to Armageddon. It signifies how the governments of the world are unable to stop the end of days and would still be persistent or obliged to pacify the public.

Premier Screening Materials and Submission Pack

The full Submission Package includes:

1 x DVD Movie
includes disc and cover labels

1 x Data Disc
contains report, selected visuals, web page flash file, recording of mock radio show

1 x Folder

1 x Popcorn Box sample

1 x Press Release

1 x Brochure
available in 2 tones

1 x Report

1 x Welcoming Card

1 x Floor Plan

1 x Staff Name Tag

Floor Plan for the Premier Screening at KDU Penang's Lecture Theatre I

Premier Screening Two-Fold Brochure (inner page)

Premier Screening Two-Fold Brochure (outer page)

Premier Screening (7th July 2009)

Above: The presentation layout.
(pictures courtesy of andreachuang.com)

Omni Broadcasting Network staff members

Q&A Session with Director John de Silva after screening. Standing along are Howard Sin and Sherman A.

The custom made mini popcorn boxes packaged for members of the floor.

Director John de Silva and Co-Director Tan Jin Yin at the entrance to the theatre before screening

Staff members Sheryn Fong and Maya Hanum before the screening. Behind them are the exhibits.

Final Stats

Staff Members:
15

Production stage duration (filming):
9 weeks

Post production stage duration (editing):
3 weeks

Advertisements filmed:
14

Advertisements completed:
13

Advertisements released:
12

Production & Post Production cost:
RM1,200.00

Post Production Unit: Editors

7-Up Revive
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum

Coca-Cola (Global Faces Campaign - Part I)
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum

Coca-Cola (Global Faces Campaign - Part II)
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum

Dove
Status: Removed
Editor: Howard Sin, Maya Hanum

Nestle Drumstick
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum

Listerine
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum

Starbucks
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum

Digi
Status: Active
Editor: Howard Sin, Cathelynn Lim

Dell
Status: Removed
Editor: Howard Sin

Election Campaign
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum

Public Service Announcement
Status: Active
Editor: Cathelynn Lim

Film Trailer - 'Haven'
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum, Cathelynn Lim

Film Trailer - 'Attack of the Great Bi-Aquatic Creatures'
Status: Active
Editor: Cathelynn Lim

Channel Signpost - Feature Presentation
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum

Prime Time TV Series - 'Camouflaged'
Status: Active
Editor: Cathelynn Lim

News Segments
Status: Active
Editor: Maya Hanum

Documentary
Status: Active
Editor: Cathelynn Lim