The complete production process includes many elements: acquisition, animation and graphics, audio, editing, authoring, asset management, delivery, distribution, and presentation. Business-to-business production resembles all other production except in one way: In business-to-business production the producer typically controls the entire process, from acquisition to distribution and presentation. Broadcasters and cable producers lose control of the project once a program leaves their facility. Similarly, feature film producers have no control over the presentation quality of their shows. In most cases, however, the business-to-business producer or their client own (or have rented) the entire production, post-production, and presentation package.

The business-to-business producer tracks a project from acquisition on through to editing stages, knowing that every critical detail is largely dependent on how the end result will be presented. Many, if not most, projects these days include animation and graphics. If the end result of the project is a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, authoring is also required. Will the project be delivered on videotape? Is this project going out over the Web or will it be shown on a giant video wall or on a high-definition plasma screen? The producer must know all of this and understand the implications of the final means of presentation because it dictates every aspect of the production process. -ND

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