- The final sign off comes after the project has been presented
or delivered and the client is happy to sign that the specified
targets have been reached
- The sign off stage also prompts payment to be made and paperwork
to be completed and filed
Once the master tape for a television programme has been handed
over, a back-up tape or master dub will be held by the production
company, along with any other relevant material.
In the same way, multimedia projects are usually archived and
copies of projects stored with all relevant paperwork. This back-up
process is vital as the client may return at some point for duplication,
updates, second series or they may need a new master at a later
stage. Material from this project may also be required for inclusion
in another.
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We usually back everything up to CD, one
copy in the office and one copy off site. It's important
because more often than not they'll run off a leaflet,
two months later they need a re-run, they need to know
where those files are to give them back to the printer.
Also it's important that they're there in case two years
down the line they want to make a change to the website,
so you don't have to recreate any of the artwork again.
Karen Fewell |
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The maintenance phase also begins at this point because it's
only when the multimedia project is signed off and implemented
that updates will be needed.
Many companies produce content management systems upon which
clients are trained, enabling them to update systems themselves.
Alternatively, a maintenance contract may be taken out with a
company ensuring that the content or design is updated at specified
times.
At sign off stage sometimes clients like to produce a testimonial
for the company they have been working with. This is a document
stating their positive views on the project and company and it
can be used as a reference or recommendation to enhance the company's
reputation and help them gain credibility.
The end of a project may not always be so defined. With websites
it may be that the project is never fully closed off because it
can lead to other things such as maintenance without a specified
contract, updates, amendments or spin off projects. In the case
of television a particular programme or series of programmes may
be signed of but there may be worldwide potential in a particular
project, which can keep a production company in business for a
long time.
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I guess a successful closure is someone
phoning up next week and saying we've got something
else for you to do, so the closure of a project is the
ongoing nature of another project. Grant Campbell |
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