Unbreakable Media provided multi-day conference video production and photography for the Water Research Commission's 3rd and 4th Biennial Symposiums in 2017 and 2019.
Across the two conferences, our role expanded from daily and full conference highlight films to a broader content package that included innovator profiles, photography and a dedicated tribute film. The repeat appointment gave the WRC a consistent visual record of its symposium while creating content that could continue supporting its communication beyond the conference itself.
Project overview
- Client
- Water Research Commission
- Events
- 3rd and 4th WRC Biennial Symposiums
- Locations
- Boksburg and Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Production period
- 2017–2019
Services
- Conference videography
- Conference photography
- Daily highlight films
- Full conference highlights
- Profile videos
- Tribute-film production
The 3rd WRC Biennial Symposium | 2017
The 3rd WRC Biennial Symposium took place from 18–20 September 2017 at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg.
Presented under the theme "Adaptation to the New Normal," the symposium brought together more than 400 researchers, water-sector experts, government representatives, innovators and industry leaders.
The three-day programme covered climate pressures, water scarcity, the green economy and the partnerships needed to strengthen South Africa's water future. It included keynote and plenary sessions, technical workshops, an exhibition, technology launches, partnership signings, young entrepreneur presentations and an awards gala dinner.
Unbreakable Media covered the different parts of the symposium through conference videography and photography, creating both daily content and a complete overview of the conference.
Deliverables
- Two daily conference highlight films
- One six-minute full conference highlight film
- One three-minute awards highlight film
- Multi-day conference photography
An expanded content scope for the 4th Symposium | 2019
Following the 2017 project, Unbreakable Media returned for the WRC's 4th Biennial Symposium, held from 11–13 September 2019 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
The symposium was presented under the theme "Innovation in Every Drop" and focused on managing uncertainty through research, collaboration and innovation.
Once again, the programme extended far beyond the main conference stage. Coverage included plenary and panel discussions, technical sessions, workshops, exhibitions, innovation showcases, the Knowledge Tree Awards, a hackathon and presentations involving young innovators.
For this symposium, the production scope expanded beyond conference highlights. Six standalone profile videos were created to give selected innovators and exhibitors an opportunity to explain their work in greater depth. Unbreakable Media also produced a dedicated tribute film honouring women who had made important contributions to the water sector.
Deliverables
- Two daily conference highlight films
- One seven-minute full conference highlight film
- Six innovator and exhibitor profile videos
- One tribute film honouring women in water
- 1,755 professionally edited conference photographs delivered across three days
Honouring women in the water sector
Created specifically for the 4th Biennial Symposium, the Honouring Women in Water tribute recognised women whose leadership, research and contributions helped shape the sector.
The short film featured Dr Thandi Ndlovu and Jackie King and was created using existing and client-supplied footage. It demonstrates how a conference content package can include purpose-made films for specific moments in the programme, rather than relying only on general event coverage.
Creating value beyond a single conference film
The two symposiums demonstrate how conference video production can serve several different communication needs.
Daily highlight films provide concise coverage of individual conference days. A full conference film creates a lasting overview of the programme, speakers and key activities. Standalone profiles give innovators and exhibitors dedicated content that can be shared separately, while photography supports reports, media releases, websites and future event communication.
Together, these deliverables gave the WRC a broader visual record of each symposium instead of relying on a single highlights video to represent the entire conference.
A continued production relationship
Being commissioned for both the 3rd and 4th Biennial Symposiums allowed Unbreakable Media to develop a strong understanding of the WRC's conference environment, subject matter and communication requirements.
The expanded scope in 2019 also reflected the growing role of video within the symposium—from documenting the conference to creating focused content around innovators, exhibitors and significant contributors to the water sector.
This working relationship continued with the WRC's 5th Biennial Symposium, for which Unbreakable Media delivered a substantially larger hybrid conference production involving pre-event content, motion graphics and extensive post-conference editing. View the WRC 5th Biennial Symposium case study.
Conference video production in South Africa
Unbreakable Media provides professional conference videography, photography and post-production for multi-day conferences throughout South Africa.
Our conference production services can include daily highlight films, full conference videos, speaker and exhibitor profiles, interviews, photography, motion graphics and content created for use before, during and after an event.
Planning a conference or symposium? Contact Unbreakable Media to discuss a content package designed around your programme and communication requirements.