Capstone Intro and Connection to New Media:
MaineStream is a student-run film crew at the University of Maine that uses the latest technology to provide video production services for promotion and marketing. Our goal is to provide a source for clubs, departments, athletics and other organizations on campus to have videos made for them and their specific needs using professional camera equipment. MaineStream will give students an opportunity to gain real-life experiences working for a business as well as furthering their skills and knowledge.
The development for this project began when founders Abigale Gutowski and Kristen Douglass realized that there was a need for a media channel at the University of Maine. As two New Media majors, having acquired a background in film production, social networking, web development, media and web design over the past three years, we realized that this was a project we could achieve and succeed in. By combining these skills and establishing solid content, we foresee positive reactions from the University of Maine community by attracting attention and promoting all aspects of our campus.
Future:
Our marketing strategy will be to advertise and capitalize on the services that the University of Maine does not offer. MaineStream will address the lack of promotional advertising and media coverage on student organizations, clubs, academic achievements, student projects, social experiences, alumni and administrative profiles. Our generation is continually relying on technology to gather insight and interest. That being said, our videos would be a great way to relay information, but also captivate the audience, and raise student morale. There are many aspects on campus that deserve attention, and video advertising would do just that.
Mainestream differs from other current media coverage the University of Maine provides because it offers a full crew made up of videographers, audio engineers, lighting crew, editors for post production, graphic designers, animators, production managers, crew coordinators, advertisement managers, media marketing specialists, events coordinator’s and business manager’s. The video quality and vibe will follow that of a student concentrated in film and video work and would act as a internship for students in the field.
Mainestream would provide the University of Maine with a competitive advertising strategy that uses social advertising as its primary means to promote events on campus through the student body and local community. Its broad based coverage would provide the University with optimal reporting on events through various social streams.
MaineStream has access to professional film equipment that is held in the IMRC building. Our goal is to work in collaboration with the equipment room to rent out equipment that will be used for the shoots. Both ventures would benefit by putting students with a background and interest in film in an environment where they get to learn how to use and handle the equipment properly while also giving the equipment room more business. Once enough funds have been raised, MaineSream plans to invest in more of our own equipment.
MaineStream plans to charge a reasonable fee for the videos we do. Prices will be determined depending on the length and detail of the video. Expenses would include the cost to film for hours worked, equipment usage, administrative costs, insurance, editing costs and so forth. We have a MaineStream bank account, managed by our business managers. We also plan to do videos for groups and businesses outside the University. We would then contract with the school and give the University a percentage of the money we make per video for those instances. MaineStream would benefit from the University resources, and the University would benefit from MaineStream work.
