How Two Interns Didn’t Screw Up Their First RB!
The story of Arundhati & Apoorva acing their first ISB Research Bytes episode
Ever wondered what happens when two plucky interns are handed the creative keys to an acclaimed video series? Spoiler alert: They don't screw it up!
Research Bytes (or RB as we call it), a brainchild of the Indian School of Business (ISB) and LastBench Studio is a series that converts dense academic research into bite-sized content that’s as entertaining as it is enlightening. Each episode, running between six to eight minutes, distills complex studies by ISB's brilliant researchers, and is produced by the creators at LastBench.
The Creative Process: From Script to Screen
When our talented interns - Arundhati and Apoorva - were handed the reins to produce an episode of RB, the stakes were high.
Given that ISB is a regular client, the pressure was on - like, way on. So they decided to roll up their sleeves and dove into brainstorming sessions and creating Figma boards, trying to set their visual and creative style in stone. But to their surprise - it revealed that they were on completely different pages. Arundhati and Apoorva were at a dead end, but the clock was ticking.
At this point, you might think they were doomed, but they pivoted and decided to take a completely different approach. They hopped onto a Google Meet and dished out all their ideas, discoursing about them one by one. Several long hours and polite disagreements later, they managed to land on a middle ground that did justice to both their styles.
“At the end of the day, it was about doing good work instead of being right”
For Arundhati and Apoorva - this was their first rodeo leading a project solo, sans the safety net of experienced mentors. “We had to meet the standards set by the previous creators,” said Arundhati. While learning the ropes of new software, they aimed for the perfection RB had achieved over three seasons.
"We started with one script—Arundhati and I”, Apoorva recalls. The video focused on climate change and its impact on farmers' finances, which meant our visuals had to be both poignant and powerful.
Before diving in, they asked themselves: what is the purpose of these visuals? This question guided their choices in style and direction and helped them map out their battle plan.
With just ten days on the clock and Apoorva working remotely, the duo had to plan everything to a tee. “We realized that it's essential to divide work and have an insane trust in the other person, instead of trying to control what they are doing,” said Arundhati. This provided them with the creative space and freedom to do their work on their own terms, and with periodic check-ins, the pressure was kept at bay.
As Arundhati recalled, they got into a routine where Apoorva would prepare the assets for the voiceover the night before and Arundhati would make the animations for it the next morning. “After a point, our workflow became so efficient that it didn’t even feel like I was working as such, I just looked at the Figma board and did what was jotted down,” Apoorva reminisced.
At LastBench Studio, our approach to creative work is as inclusive as it is innovative
Being interns, both Arundhati and Apoorva agreed upon how essential it is to have the space to grow and the freedom to execute their vision in their unique way. Their collaboration blossomed into a video focusing on climate change and its impact on farmers' financial conditions. The visuals employed were harmonious, strategic, and specific to the Indian context. They chose a unified colour palette with complementary colours and contrasts - all very appreciated by the whole team. With the opportunities to lead, learn, and complete each project with growing confidence, they demonstrated a steep learning curve.
At LastBench, we believe that great ideas can come from anywhere, and it’s vital to trust people, even newcomers, to bring those ideas to fruition. So we keep our doors wide open for collaboration, welcoming external talents with open arms and plenty of coffee.
PS: Keep an eye out on our socials, the episode will be out soon!