Briefs and definitions

Type of brief:	Description:
Competition	Here you are in direct competition and the company that offers the best deal will be successful. The key issues here are efficiency and effectiveness in turning the brief into the product.
Contractual	This is where a contract exists between the commissioner and the producer.
Negotiated	These are briefs that are negotiated between the commissioner and the producer. The negotiation might be on content or the cost of production.
Formal	These are briefs that are carefully written using precise language. They are often written to strict legal guidelines.
Informal	These are briefs that are written with the intention to provoke a response from a client. They may be written in colloquial (informal, dad to day) language. In the folklore of films it is often said that the best briefs are written ‘on the back of a cigarette packet’. This means that they have be discussed and developed in a social setting with little formality.
Co-operative	This brief that is shared with other producers. Each may be in charge of one section of the project.
Tender	This is a brief that provides details of what you have to do and by when. There will generally be a prize awarded for the best product.