Case Study - Nicholas Fishwick

Nicholas Fishwick - The Museum Documentation Association

The Organisation

The Museum Documentation Association (MDA) is the UK’s leading voice for documentation and management of information about museum collections. They created SPECTRUM, which is a nationally recognised standard for documentation and has been developed in partnership with over 100 museum professionals. MDA is a not for profit organisation and currently only employs eight people.

The Placement

Nicholas Fishwick, a second year Natural Scientist at Cambridge University started a STEP placement with MDA on 4th July. The Placement consisted of once main project. The project Nick was responsible for was to remake a short training video and DVD suitable for groups and individuals working in museums.

The placement tasks included:

• Scouting for a location
• Sourcing equipment and personnel
• Writing the script
• Writing the storyboard
• Practice Filming
• Rehearsals and production forms
• Filming
• Editing
• Designing the DVD – cover, labels and menus
• Advising on a duplication company

The outcome of Nick’s project was a training film called ‘Making your Mark’ with a duration of approximately twenty minutes. The film featured demonstrations on techniques for marking and labelling objects varying from archaeological materials to paper and photographs.

Benefits to the organisation

• The film was made at half the cost of hiring a private company.
• There was greater control and feedback over the film as editing is completed in-house, this has also made the entire process easier for MDA without the hassle of contracting another company based away from the office.
• Nick worked on aspects of the film that an outside company would have struggled with: e.g. the script, casting, direction within the constraint of the location, etc.
• His research into the different stages of the production such as details about the duplication using technical knowledge. Also Nick’s sourcing of cheap equipment as an undergraduate
• MDA wanted someone who would have a short-term buy-in to the organisation; and so a more personal understanding of the company’s aims compared to detached professional relationships.
• They also had the benefit of a lot of support from STEP.

• Nick learnt a lot about the film-making process and the project has developed many video skills such as organising the different shots and the editing process.
• Despite not having much film experience in the past, Nick has now been inspired to work on more film projects in the future. He is hoping to produce a short film, which can be submitted at the next year’s Cambridge Film Festival.
• Nick’s video portfolio has been started off on a firm backing, with the direction and production credit to a short film, which is being retailed.
• The project has developed Nick’s design skills with the titles and covers for the DVD and video.
• Nick met with professional filmmakers who offered excellent advice.
• MDA paid for Nick to attend two training courses, on editing and the rights management which will provide useful in film-making and also with his interest in photography.
• It has given Nick work experience within an office environment, which he had not experienced before.
• Finally it gave Nick the satisfaction of co-ordinating and completing a complex project which was very different from challenges Nick had faced before.

"“MDA’s involvement with the STEP Programme has been a significant development for us. On the one hand, by working with an exceptionally bight and motivated undergraduate we have been able to produce a commercially viable product for roughly 50% of the projected cost. On the other, Nick has been able to get a better understanding of working both in the public sector and as part of a relatively small organisation. Beyond the end of the project, we have all benefited from the sharing of new skills and experience. We have seen significant growth and development in our organisation over the past 12 months and STEP has provided the perfect catalyst for staff from different teams to come together and work on an exciting and slightly out-of-the-ordinary project.”"