Bring your science to life

Video and motion design

Video plays an increasingly important role in how we communicate. We use it to distil complex topics and share them in accessible and engaging ways, to put people at the heart of our stories and tell them with authenticity, and to demonstrate our expertise to grow trust in our brand.  

Our creative hub works with the wider communications team and our science experts to deliver a variety of video and motion design products. These range from short-form ‘snackable’ content for social media audiences, to long-form educational videos.

GNS does not have an in house videographer. The costs of outsourcing videography will need to be met bu the project.

Why use video to tell my story?

Overview and options

We can develop simple videos in house, but without a resident videographer we need to outsource videography, editing and design services. Our creative hub provides creative direction and works alongside providers to ensure you don’t just get a great video, but also have a comprehensive plan to share the video with your audience.

There is likely a cost attached to video production. We will work with you to find a solution that meets your needs, your budget, and aligns to GNS’ overarching video objectives.
You will only be able to see linked content if you are connected to the GNS VPN.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Georgia's Expedition

Estimated resource hours

24 to 32 hours.

Indicative timeframe

Less than one week (from the time we received the footage).

Indicative budget

There is generally no cost to this sort of video project.

Our scientists visit awesome places and do inspiring work that makes great videos. While we can’t always be there to shoot footage ourselves, we can transform staff-shot footage into engaging short-form videos for social media. DIY footage allow us to tell timely stories, from anywhere. If you get in touch with us in advance, we can provide advice and/or equipment to get the best out of what you shoot, and plan how you can get it to our team so we can get your 'now' stories out to the world.

Antarctica is not just ice

Estimated resource hours

40 to 60 hours.

Indicative timeframe

Between 1 and 2 weeks.

Indicative budget

There is generally little to no cost to this sort of video project.

Not everything requires all the bells and whistles! Sometimes what our stories (and our audiences) need is simplicity, clarity, and timeliness. Our simple videos are professional and visually pleasing, but they don’t require a huge budget or timeline. They tend to make good use of our library of existing footage, in combination with simple graphics, voiceovers and/or captions.

Meet GNS Science

Estimated resource hours

200 to 300 hours.

Indicative timeframe

1 to 2 months.

Indicative budget

Some costs required.

A complex video production will have lots of moving parts. This might include on-location shooting, development of motion design, scripting, and wrangling a broad assortment of video ‘talent’ (that’s what we call the people in the video, in the biz). As productions become more detailed, they take more time and more budget to get right. This is particularly true when it comes to motion graphics. Motion design and/or animation provide an amazing uplift in production value, but they also require significant and often specialised creative expertise.

Earthquakes in Aotearoa New Zealand

Estimated resource hours

240 to 300 hours.

Indicative timeframe

About 2 to 3 months.

Indicative budget

There is cost to this sort of video project.

There’s nothing our creative team loves more than getting to sink their teeth into a significant, premium video production. Our top tier videos are precisely story-boarded and incorporate high quality footage and complex animation. They often require multiple days of shooting at a variety of locations and will generally utilise significant animation and motion design to illustrate key topics. Because of the significant time investment in developing a premium video, we recommend them for subjects that have a long ‘shelf life’ to ensure you get return on investment (rather than for a discrete publication or corporate topic that is unlikely to garner ongoing interest).

How it works

Our production process

Kickstart Meeting

We’ll set up an initial meeting to discuss your video requirements and objectives. The earlier you get in touch with us, the better we can support you.

Creative Treatment

Depending on the scale of the project, we will produce a creative treatment, where we lay out the creative approach, art direction, scope of work, deliverables, and production timelines. It serves as a bridge between the initial idea and the final production, offering a clear understanding of the creative direction.

Pre-Production

In this step, we plan and gather anything we need for the production. Depending on the project type, this might include contacting freelancers, booking flights/accommodation if we are planning a recording, talking to print shops, venues, etc.

Production

Once everything is approved from a conceptual standpoint, we jump into production. All projects follow a production protocol, but for complex and premium projects, we’ll agree with you on a production plan.

Production plans are designed in phases, with each completion of each phase considered a key milestone. Once a milestone is accomplished and it is usually costly (time and budget) to go back a phase.

Delivery

We will deliver the final product in the required formats – ready to be shared as outlined in your comms plan or campaign.
The GNS communications team is always just a meeting, phone call, or email away.
Not sure who to contact directly? Email us at communications@gns.cri.nz