Selfbuild TV

Abstract

This project focuses on the design and creation of video content for Selfbuild TV, a new paywalled YouTube channel that has yet to be launched. Selfbuild TV will be a small part of the paywalled suite of resources available on Selfbuild+. Selfbuild+, due to launch in October 2020, will be.an online depository of information and resources for those building, extending or renovating their house in any of the 32 counties of Ireland. Selfbuild TV will be home to a series of videos about Irish residents undertaking a self-build project. Two Selfbuild TV videos were shot and edited for this Dissertation by Practice. These two pilot episodes serve a dual function. The first is to create a structure for future Selfbuild TV videos, i.e. a format that can be readily duplicated. The final structure of the videos emerged from the editing process and gaining clarity on what the technical limitations would be. The second function was to create content in the form of two pilot episodes, each approximately 10 minutes long, produced using mobile journalism (mojo) techniques. The editing process combined a phone app and a more established editing software, Adobe Premiere Pro. These choices were made because of their low production cost: filming on a phone and requiring only one person as journalist, cameraman and sound recorder. The Selfbuild TV pilot episodes contain a “how-to” component (basic information, tips, advice, insights) but also share the experience of what it is like building in Ireland today, highlighting both the communal nature of house building/renovating and the messiness of life in general, which is projected onto how self-build projects are managed. A key outcome of this project was to highlight the need to devise more formats for Selfbuild TV. Future video making will have to consider how to produce engaging content from user generated material. A format will also have to be devised for face to face interviews, with independent experts in their field.