Individual Contractor: LONG TERM AGREEMENT FOR FILMMAKERS with UNICEF Lao PDR

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

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Advertising Summary:

The overall objective of setting up the Long-Term Arrangement is to facilitate and expedite the process by which UNICEF in Lao PDR will hire the services of filmmakers to produce short films, capturing stories of change through the story of protagonist(s) from the field and share with stake holders at national and global level and to use as an advocacy tool.

Advertisement Text:

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual Contractor: LONG TERM AGREEMENT FOR FILMMAKERS. The assignment, under this Long-Term Arrangement, is expected to have a duration of 4 years. The initial LTA would be for 11.5 months (2021 – 2022) with an option for renewal for subsequent years subject to satisfactory performance evaluation and continuing need for the service. The service fee shall remain unchanged for the whole period of this assignment. The Individual Contractor is based in Vientiane, with travel to the field based on state / national requirements. UNICEF seeks to employ filmmakers who have permission to work in all parts of Lao PDR. Non-Lao PDR passport holders based in Lao PDR will need a valid work permit. Those based outside Lao PDR will need to work with the country office to obtain necessary documentation to complete the assignment.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Produce 2-5-minute long, news-style video packages based on human interest stories, pre-defined advocacy priorities, complete with shot list, script and voice-over;
• Propose a structure, a visual treatment with clear flow of segments. Capture the stories of change through the story of one or few protagonist(s) from the field;
• Attend pre-production briefing on issues being covered and participate in preparatory research and production planning meetings (in person or by phone);
• Work in close coordination with the advocacy and communication team/programme lead at the Lao PDR Country Office;
• Shoot at various locations in different states of Lao PDR. Shooting brief interviews/sound-bites of people involved in the initiative;
• Develop scripts in English for the film and obtain UNICEF’s approval;
• Understand and comply with UNICEF branding guidelines;
• Provide regular updates to the project coordinator in UNICEF, regarding key understanding and major challenges, if any;
• Record high quality voice over with good quality professional voices in English and Lao;
• Advise on music to be used where required and purchase rights to music on behalf of UNICEF with cost ‘on actual’;
• Gather relevant sound effects as required;
• Desk review of previous films on the topic and/or other material available;
• Edit the film into a fast paced, high quality, engaging product including the addition of graphics where required and subtitling of sound bites in English and Lao as required;
• Present the film to UNICEF and make necessary changes post UNICEF feedback (s);
• Present and submit the final products in English and/or Lao;
• The vendor will be briefed by the concerned Programme Officer in UNICEF on the requirements of the film and the dimensions to be covered;
• The film maker will be required to work in close coordination with the advocacy and communication team/programme section.

Responsibilities of the Vendor:

1. The vendor will use their own equipment; cameras, microphones, software and other accessories that may be required for this task;
2. The vendor will not give the film or any part thereof, to any third party without the written permission of UNICEF. The film and all its components such as footage, music, sound-bites, etc. will be a property of UNICEF, and the videographer will not share the same with anyone else;
3. The vendor will not put their own name or logo/emblem in or on the film. The only organization branding in the film will be UNICEF. UNICEF may choose to add the name or a logo of any other partner organization, including Government.

Responsibilities of UNICEF:

1. UNICEF will provide all details pertaining to the activity to be filmed;
2. UNICEF will provide all the expected components of final film(s);
3. Will provide feedback/support/guidance during the development of the films;
4. UNICEF will orient the film maker on UNICEF’s branding guidelines.

UNICEF retains copyright over all films shot during the course of an assignment. The consultant may be required to travel to remote, hard-to-reach areas to get relevant pictures. Filmmakers may be required to work on Saturdays and Sundays, based on the requirements of the assignment.

Deliverables

• A well edited, high quality, ready to broadcast film as per the initial brief;
• Films can range from 30 seconds to ten minutes;
• Shooting masters of the film are to be retained by the consultant for one year from the date of finalizing the film;
• Mixed track master to be submitted to UNICEF electronically or in person;
• International tracks version to be submitted to UNICEF electronically or in person;
• Cue sheet of the master (this is different from shot list);
• Music cue sheet;
• Shot list (in case of human interest stories);
• B-Roll. The B-roll will contain a selection of the best shots and interviews for each of the packages;
• Final Scripts in English and Lao (whichever is needed);
• If the rights to any existing footage, music, sound, voice or photo are to be procured, copyright license will be in the name of UNICEF, for all mediums, in perpetuity. These will be ‘on actual cost’;
• UNICEF consent and release forms for everyone appearing in the film to be signed by the people/children (by their guardians) to be completed by the vendor with UNICEF support where required and submitted to UNICEF;
• Talent release form – for any film where actor’s services have been hired;
• If UNICEF asks for, the consultant will ensure that all copyrights of the writer, lyricist, footage etc are with UNICEF;
• When asked by UNICEF, a shorter version of the film should be edited out of the main film. This may be a promo or a short version for presentation. No fresh shooting or recording may be required for this;
• If desired, clean version of the film (without graphics/text), with open format of graphics to enable language versioning;
• A shortened edited version of the film – like a promo, if needed;
• Language version of the film, if requested;
• Subtitling in English and/or Lao as required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

UNICEF Lao PDR requires professional film makers using high quality and well-maintained equipment.

1. 1. Experience of minimum 5 years and quality of work demonstrably meet the highest international standards with regards to film and editing technique;
   2. Uses creativity and storytelling techniques to craft powerful content to communicate to key audiences;
   3. Excellent track record along with experience making films for and about the social development sector;
   4. Access to and able to use the latest technology in the field of film making and multimedia production;
   5. Experience in making films about, with and for children – including shooting and interviewing children.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

The selection for the LTA will be on the basis of technical evaluation & financial offer in the ratio of 70:30. The cumulative analysis method (weight combined score method) shall be used for this recruitment:

Technical Qualification (Max. 100 Points; Weight: 70 %)

1. Cover Letter – Explaining the motivation for applying and also explaining how the qualifications and skill- and if any relevant educational qualifications of the candidate are suitable for this position (10 Min Marks/ 15 Max Marks).
2. Relevant work experience of minimum five years (15 Min/25 Max Marks).
3. Work Samples (15 Min/ 25 Max Marks) – Including previous scripts, shoots and broadcast films. Candidates will be shortlisted for the interview on the basis of the review of sub-criteria 1, 2 and 3 as listed above. The candidates who score overall 40 marks and above against
4. criteria (1 through 3) as well as meet the minimum cut-off in each of the above 3 sub-criteria will be shortlisted for interview.
5. Interview with candidates (30 Min/35 Max Marks). Total technical score – 100. Minimum overall qualifying score is 70. Only those candidates who meet the overall qualifying marks of 70 as well as score the minimum cut-off in each of the above sub-criteria including the interview will be considered technically responsive and their financials will be opened.

Financial Proposal (Max. 100 Points; Weight: 30 %)

Lump-sum offer with the cost breakdown: Consultancy fee, travel costs (economy class), per-diem to cover lodging, meals, and any other cost related to the consultant's stay in Vientiane, including transportation inside the city and other costs. The travel (if involved) shall be based on the most direct and economy fare.

No financial information should be contained in the technical proposal.

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened/evaluated and compared among those technically qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 70 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

The applicants should provide medical insurance covering medical evacuation for the whole duration of the assignment -as part of the financial proposal submission.

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents to: http://www.unicef.org/careers opportunity/employ/

• Letter of Interest (cover letter);
• CV or Resume;
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available);
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment.

For every Child, you demonstrate… For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.