What are the different kinds of Briefs?

By Ryan Sue

Contractual
A contractual brief is a contract where a media
company is employed by a client to complete a project for them, there is also a very specific set of guidelines which the media company will have to follow. These guidelines must be followed and they must do exactly what the client states, if they fail to do so this will create a breech in the contract and the company could face legal actions.

Negotiated
If the company and client have any issues between
them about the project the details can be negotiated so both are happy, through the negotiations the brief an be changed in order to fit both the company and the client. This can be changing the appearance of a project or the contents.

Tender
A tender brief is where a client will advertise their brief
and a production company will form a proposal and pitch it to the client. These could involve multiple pitches to the client from more then one company. Then the client will get to choose which company they will want to go with for there product.

Formal
This is where a company is given a brief by a client
which will specify the outlines of the product which they want to be made. This brief is very open and give little information but enough to complete the product, if there are any issues that the company would like to go over it can be discussed with the client. Both the client and company will formally agree on the product when they think it is ready. This can not always be legally binding.

Informal
This is a brief that is not documented and is usually of
the verbal kind. This is where the client and company will just discuss the product they will be making and ultimately agree on the project when they have discussed about it.

Commisson
Commisson is where a large company will employ an
other media company which is independent to create and produce the product for them. The brief is not negotiated between the media company and client but however it is negotiated between the Larger and independent media companies. If the media company decides to use the product the independent company will get a cut of the royalties.

Competitive
This is where a client can put their briefs out so it can
be viewed by all different production companies then they will all compete to get the clients attention to pick them. The best product that is produced at the end the client will pick.

Co-Operative
There are normally working with 2 or more companies
to get hired by the client. After both companies have received the brief they can then proceed to work together on the project.

Different kinds of briefs

Good briefs and Bad briefs: Affect timescales

Most briefs are specific and have a specific deadline.

Some people are unsure of what they want and virtually
have no brief.

Briefs can sometimes write themselves

Goalposts are needed to start a project. Useful to do market research to see existing products. Good relationship with the client/company.