The Air Defense Artillery Saves Tens of Thousands of Dollars with DVD MovieFactory
Operation Iraqi Freedom Video Briefing Distributed on DVD

Over the years, the Air Defense Artillery's Branch Marketing Division has created video productions in-house, including recruitment videos on both VHS tapes and CDs. It was only recently that Lisa Henry, head civilian of the Branch Marketing Division, and her colleagues, started to research DVD production.

One high-profile project put their digital media skills to the test: to produce a video briefing on DVD of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command's role in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Branch Marketing Division had four days to create the production in time for the Air Defense Artillery Commanders' Huddle.

With only a few days until the meeting, Henry and her colleagues didn't have much time to learn how to use DVD authoring software. They needed a product that was easy and quick to use, capable of producing high-quality video, and able to handle complex projects. Producing a video briefing that could play on all personal computers was also essential.

Henry decided to try DVD MovieFactory, per the advice of Mike Gunter, a retired Army officer who is now a government consultant for video and DVD production.

"Government workers are short of time and money and need to get projects done and out," says Gunter. "So ease of use and user friendliness are very important. They also need cost-efficient media that does the job right. I recommended DVD MovieFactory because it offers all these things. It is appropriate technology - the right tool for the right job."

DVD MovieFactory 2 also burns DVD player software on the DVD with the video. This ensures that everyone can view the video on their computer without needing additional software.

Henry was pleased with her decision. "When we were thrown into the thick of it with the Operation Iraqi Freedom briefing, DVD MovieFactory was very easy from the get-go."

In a two-camera shoot, the Branch Marketing Division personnel captured the Air Defense Artillery Deputy Commanding General giving the Operation Iraqi Freedom briefing. The final hour and thirteen-minute production contained footage of his speech interlaced with 60 graphics originally created for a Power Point presentation.

Air Defense Artillery units are spread throughout the world. Therefore, a major briefing of this kind often requires a briefing team to travel to hundreds of units. This costs tens of thousands of dollars, whereas a video briefing on DVD costs only a few dollars to create and send to each unit.