BBC's 'Esther' production A general purpose production database for storing production related data together with the personal data of contributors to the program. The system also automates the production of contributors' transport requirements when travelling to and from the studio on recording days.
BBC's 'Drs Revisited' A shot logging and transcribing database which is used to research interviews and shot lists eventually leading to the creation of an electronic 'cutting order' which is then loaded directly into the Avid for batch digitising and fine cut editing.
BBC's 'Scotland Century' Another shot logging and transcribing database used to store interview transcriptions for a series of 32 half hour radio programs.
ISL Productions Ltd A Sports Tape library database which not only contains general details on the tapes but also full shot lists and thumbnail images taken from each shot. Barcode labelling and tracking is fully catered for and the results of searches can be exported as EDLs or digitising lists compatible with Avid, Lightworks etc.
BBC's SMEF Project As part of this project, James acted as consultant in developing a database demonstrator which showed that by defining the metadata associated with general broadcast production, it was possible to construct a database system which 'knows about' all data associated with the production and can retrieve and manipulate it in such a way as to avoid any re-entry of data, no matter where the user is in relation to the programme making cycle. This project was demonstrated at IBC '98 in the form of a presentation and series of workshops and received much acclaim from other European Broadcasters. It will hopefully be the model on which future real systems will be based.
London News Network James has developed intermediate tape tracking library systems for ITV2 and LNN who have to handle tapes coming from a variety of companies within the Granada group such as LWT and Carlton. Eventually it is hoped to further develop the system to incorporate content logging of all tapes within the South Bank site.
Current development projects include:
MIRA The Motor Industry Research Association maintains an extensive stills library which was managed using IdeaList and which was not Y2K compliant. Having completed the transfer to a new bespoke system which also interfaces into a print ordering and charging system on the company's network, a Web browser interface is being developed for intranet (and possibly extranet) use.
BBC Sport James is currently involved in trials (using a modified version of Phoenix Log as a test package) looking first at the way BBC Sport in particular collects data for its extensive shot library and in the long term, to look at the way the BBC collects shot data across the whole spectrum of broadcasting.
Sydney Olympic Broadcasting Organisation (SOBO) Post Production Consultants Ltd is providing the logging and tape management systems for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. SOBO is responsible to the IOC for recording and making available all material emanating from the 40 games venues to those broadcasters who have paid for rights to use this footage. As with the ISL (and any sport based) logging software, speed of use is critical since all venues will be logged 'live'. All shot data and videotapes from the games will eventually be migrated into the IOC's database at the Olympic Museum in Switzerland.