Video Services offers quality work, expertiseby Cindy AbolePublic Relations Providing top quality video services and programming support in a timely, cost-effective way is the goal of the Division of Video Services within Educational Technology Services and Distance Education. Since 1972, Video Services has lent its expertise and talents to producing instructional videos and providing production services to MUSC departments, programs, and campus individuals. “Our customers are unique,” said Bud Cooper, director of Video Services. Working in today’s age of glamour and technical polish, Cooper knows his clients recognize the convenience of good work and sound editing. “Many are trying to fulfill a requirement that ends up being a showcase not only for the individual and program, but mostly for their research work and the institution as well.” Nestled within their 18-foot-by-36-foot studio and classroom in the Basic Sciences Building, Cooper and his staff are hard at work. The room, which resembles a small section of NASA’s Mission Control, is composed of high-tech video players, recorders, computers, monitors, and various editing systems. It's quiet except for voices emitting from the images replayed on video tape. One of the first of its kind organized within a medical school or institution, Video Services provides support for video in the classroom, patient education, video distribution and production, and special programming support through a partnership with state colleges and institutions and South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV). The division formally merged with Educational Technology Services a couple of years ago to provide a combination of full-service video and audio/visual classroom support, distance education , art services, and digital imaging assistance on campus. Its projects range from video program support for the College of Medicine and College of Dental Medicine to multi-site, statewide video conferences beginning with OB/GYN Grand Rounds—the first nationally produced satellite conference program created from a medical school campus. Each year, it provides video support for commencement exercises, coordination of the public address system, and management of the ceremony simulcast at multiple campus locations. In addition, it offers graduates and guests a recap of MUSC’s graduation in video and digital formats. “In this line of business, flexibility is a must,” Cooper said, who has more than 30 years of video production experience. Another example of the division's successful work is the College of Pharmacy’s continuing education program, Pharmacy Update. After more than 15 years and 700-plus episodes, the prerecorded, two-hour program reaches about 10 percent of South Carolina's pharmacists and addresses topics such as pharmacy changes in the state's drug laws and other relevant issues. The productions are approved for two hours of continuing education credit by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education. To date, Video Services helped complete five Pharmacy Updates programs in 2004. As with all creative media, quality plays a big factor in outcomes and results. “Quality equals money, especially as it relates to technology,” said Cooper. Although the department historically has been managed by a lean budget, a weakened economy and further funding cuts continually challenge its ability to maintain quality and technical currency. Staying compatible with the customers’ needs is another priority. With so many options for video and optical storage, it remains a challenge for programs to provide their work in appropriate formats. Video Services' editing systems have the capability of processing up to 27 video formats and converting other foreign-standard design tapes to digital and other file formats like PPT and Quicktime. The winner of several national and international awards for medical television and video production, Video Services also assists in production support. When OB/GYN physicians James Carter and David Soper needed to submit a teaching video for the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, they turned to Cooper and his staff. The video featured details about a laparoscope abdominal cerclage, a new procedure to aid pregnant women. Cooper combined raw video footage from a surgery procedure with other video and graphics to create a final edited piece. In addition to production, the division maintains a fully licensed music and sound effect library to aid production and offers long-term storage through its master video product library. "What Bud Cooper and the staff provide is an incredible array of video
services," said Geoff Freeman, director of Educational Technology Services
and Distance Education. "We've managed to add many services and capabilities
that don't take away from delivering quality professional services."
Friday, April 9, 2004
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