5:00 Films & Media

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Mediashock Productions (www.mediashock.com.sg) produces highly targeted video content to help our clients in the fast growing technology industry increase sales, build their brand awareness and elevate an Idea to Action.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 5:00 Films & Media?

Mediashock worked with 5:00 Films & Media on a multi-city video project, involving filming work in Maryland, New York and Singapore. This project featured the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize award winner, Professor Rita Colwell, which 5:00 Films & Media supported us with a line producer and a filming crew.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a responsible local partner in the USA whom we could rely on, since we are based in Asia to fulfil the filming and producing of the scenes necessary for the project.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had worked together with 5:00 Films & Media for the last 4 years, in various projects in different parts of the world collaboratively. When the opportunity arose for us to appoint a local partner based in the US, we knew we could obtain brilliant support from the team.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Line producing, project coordination, scheduling with talents, location scouting and filming

What was the team composition?

We worked closely with the project manager, and he was the single point of contact for us. He was not a one-man band, and had help from his other team mates who delivered great work. I am not sure of the other team members in detail.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

With a trusted partner like 5:00 Films & Media, we did not have to fly our own team across the globe. Hence we were able to provide a competitive quote with guaranteed quality of deliverables to our clients.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had frequent skype calls, although the timezone differences made it challenging for both parties. We found the best timing to be morning in Singapore, and evening time in the US. However, we ran into some last minute changes in the original plan, the team at 5:00 Films catered and supported really well.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team gave suggestions and feedback, beyond the original brief from us, after they had attended the site survey. I felt totally at ease with them. This is a team that gives 200% whenever they're on a project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Some minor hiccups on the filming format and frame rate. We work on 25 fps typically, and the norm for US projects is 29.97 fps or even 24 fps. Both sides could have reminded each other to ensure this is synchronized before the start of the next multi-city project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing and PR at NHP Foundation, a nonprofit housing foundation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 5:00 Films & Media?

We wanted to do our very first corporate video to tell our complicated story. The challenge was the fact that we had never done a video before.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the beginning, they met with us in our D.C. office. We explained our work and saw a video of theirs that served as a template for our project. They made an effort to get to know our business, even the quirks of our organization. Most importantly, they brainstormed with us to figure out how to tell our story in a way that would appeal to potential donors.

The video’s purpose is to tell the story of what our organization does to help us raise funding. 5:00 Films & Media did the editing and mastering of the video up until the day of our event. They were very calm and got us the final product when we needed it.

What is the team composition?

Chad (Senior Producer & Technical Director, 5:00 Films & Media) and Josiah (Producer, Shooter & Editor, 5:00 Films & Media) have been our main points of contact. Tim (Head of Story, Brand Strategy & Partnerships, 5:00 Films & Media) is on the editorial side and helps come up with the vision.

Chad conducts most of the interviews and is also the editor and the hands-on person onsite. Josiah does the filming and directs the shots. All three have been with us from the beginning.

How did you come to work with 5:00 Films & Media?

Before me, there was someone else who worked in our D.C. office who found them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2016 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The project was challenging, but by the time we were done with it, we were so pleased. The video won an award. It was initially viewed by 300 people at one of our events, and we pushed it out to our 3,000-member database soon after.

We’ve received a fair amount of unsolicited feedback from reports that cover our field. It’s been great getting high praise from media professionals.

The things that were problematic were more on our end because we didn’t understand the process. We’d never contracted with a video company before where we were involved. This year, we’re in a much better place. We learned a lot from them, and we collaborate well.

We’re now on our third video, and we’re like a well-oiled machine. We love working with them. It’s been a great experience. The second video was probably too broad in its scope, but that’s not their fault. That was required by our company for the second year.

This year’s video is going to be our best one yet. We have a great relationship and understanding of what goes into making these videos work. I can’t say enough good things about them.

The videos are all on YouTube, but I wouldn’t imagine they have a ton of views. We work in a pretty niche area. Each year, we’ve succeeded in having a larger response to our event in terms of attendance and donations. It’s a mix of things that make people decide to donate, but we think the videos play a major role.

How did 5:00 Films & Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. The first year was hard because we didn’t have anything to compare to. We were probably difficult to work with because we had so many other hurdles that came up. We also weren’t responsive enough.

We were set up to be executive producers, and they made sure we were the ones that did the first draft of storyboards and scripts. That was a unique position for me to be in because I was more used to a video producer that would take over everything for us.

It was interesting to be much more of a collaborator, but in a good way. It forced us to clarify our goals and our vision. 5:00 Films & Media was also great in terms of educating us. The relationship has grown to where we are worthy, collaborative partners.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a group of magic makers. Especially with last year’s video, so many things had to be included, and they produced a beautiful product. The only problem with last year was that the video didn’t pull on people’s heartstrings in the same way that the first-year video did. Part of that was because we didn’t set it up that way.

The second video was much more matter of fact about the importance of healthcare in the affordable housing space. It was more business-like, which is the way we chose to go last year. Even though it was complicated, they did a great job. This year, anticipation is high, but I know they’ll come through.

Part of the reason for their success is that they already had good experience as far as understanding nonprofits. They convinced us very early on that they understood what our business was and how to communicate. They were also very helpful in explaining to us what the process was going to be.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, Chad is a great interviewer and does a wonderful job making people comfortable. They’re great collaborators.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let them do their process. Don’t try to interfere or over direct as a client. You can trust them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Education Center, Events & Operations Assistant Director

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 5:00 Films & Media?

We hire them for every public conference for the last 3 years and they film and produce all of our videos to publish online. They help us in time of need when we are having any sort of IT issues or problems with video, lighting, etc. They are honestly incredible. They are now helping us turn all of our videos into podcasts as well.

What were your goals for this project?

To develop a trusting relationship with a video production company and it has gone above and beyond that. Josiah and his team are so easy to work with and never let us down with their quality of work.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Everyone I work with uses them and it made sense.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

We work with them to send a conference agenda and they send us a quote. They always film our entire day of conference sessions. We work with them on 6 events per year and have been for the last 3 years. They come and set everything up, film, breakdown, provide edits to the videos within 2-3 days, and then post the new videos to our website.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They never make mistakes, their work is seamless. I cannot say it enough how incredible and professional they are with everything they do.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Their ability to tackle issues as they come head-on and work with situations in a room where they might not have all the resources or tool. Also, their calmness to work through situations before I even get to the room which allows me to have 100% trust and faith in their work ethic. I never have to worry about a thing when they are in the room.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I rely on them heavily as the Events Director to not have to bat an eye or fear that something will go on with my conference. If live steam goes dead, or the speaker turns off the entire mic system in the room, they are the ones to run and fix it before I get there. I am lucky.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their professionalism, transparency and reliability consistently impress us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, they are amazing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Thurgood Marshall Academy is a public charter high school in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington DC. As the Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships, I lead the development and communications team to secure financial support for the school.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 5:00 Films & Media?

Each year, TMA hosts a fundraiser to support the programs and services that are not funded by the city. We showcase a 3-5 minute video to our guests, and retained 5:00 films to produce a video that tells our story while making an appeal for support.

What were your goals for this project?

Following the Gala, we feature the video on the website and show it during our presentations at volunteer recruitment events. The video needed to both describe our school but underscore the importance of outside supports to our success.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A few years ago I was referred to 5:00 films and considered them along with two other companies. During a planning call, I was impressed by how quickly they understood our goals; in addition, they came in under our budget.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

We had an initial planning call to discuss the goal of the video, and we collaborated on the overall strategy. Their scope of work included filming for 2 days and production and they provided all of the equipment.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We worked through two or three rounds of draft; the review from TMA (Executive Director and I) had few edits - we were primarily focused on teachers and students in the video, making sure there was equitable representation. We also provided the text to include in the video; 5:00 films selected the music and overall style.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We see the biggest impact from continued use of the video during orientation and recruitment sessions. Everyone who sees the video is even more excited to get involved with our school.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Email worked best for our workflow, and we had no hiccups during the filming and production process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were extremely professional and efficient! They knew how to navigate our school space and were flexible during filming for transitions throughout the day. They connected with students during the interview, which made the project even more enjoyable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of communications for Center of Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), a global nonprofit with offices in conflict zones around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 5:00 Films and Media?

Our work is very nuanced and often difficult for audiences to understand. In order to address that, we wanted to produce videos to help people understand what we do and why.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was a collaborative effort from the beginning, where 5:00 helped us script the videos. 5:00 handled the entire video production project while making sure to receive input from us along the way. They shot and edited the videos before we uploaded them to our website and various social media outlets.

What is the team composition?

Tim (Head of Story, Brand Strategy, & Partnerships, 5:00 Films and Media) and Josiah (Creative Team, 5:00 Films and Media) were my main points of contact. I recall working with around four people: mainly with two videographers and a project manager.

How did you come to work with 5:00 Films and Media?

I’d come across them before when working in the general videography and filmmaking space. We put out an RFP and had several responses come in. 5:00 was just right because they had extensive experience while understanding the severe limitations of a nonprofit budget.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve had two projects with them, and they’ve both cost around $20,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first engagement lasted from June–August 2018, and our most recent project lasted from June—August 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

5:00 was truly able to grasp the unique work we do at CIVIC, and helped us relay that in an accurate but accessible way. We’ve gotten great feedback from everybody who’s watched the videos— they’re the perfect length, and they’re very easy to understand. For many of our social media outlets, the videos have gotten the highest user engagement out of all of our posts.

How did 5:00 Film and Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They were extremely flexible and made sure to follow up with us on all developments. If we needed to shift our timeline, they’d be very communicative and transparent about working out a schedule that worked for both of us. They were very on top of things in that way.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a genuine passion for the missions of the organizations that they capture. They really understand the objectives of the associations they work for, and why they matter. They’re able to bring that vision and mission to life.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything, and I don’t say that lightly—really, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would allow for the very first conversation to be broad, in order to bring them in as a partner. You should be clear about your goal, but leave it as a big picture. They’ll bring their expertise in to create something great.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief marketing officer of Raffa PC. We’re an accounting firm headquartered in Washington D.C. It’s a certified B Corps regional professional services firm that recently merged into Markham LLP, the 15th largest accounting firm in the nation. I’m part of Markham now, but my work with 5:00 Films and Media was with Raffa PC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 5:00 Films and Media?

We wanted a creative partner that could visually showcase how our work was making an impact in the field.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled the core content creations and ideation of the videos as well as the production, tackling projects from start to finish. A few years after my first engagement with them, Raffa PC did several client testimonial videos. We also conducted interviews with mission-based organizations.

For instance, for our 20th anniversary, we selected five clients to receive an award. To go along with the recognition, we produced a short documentary showcasing each of their missions. That was a big project, working individually with each non-profit. Three of the five films won Telly awards, and each of the non-profits used the video for their fundraising and value proposition efforts. We did a screening where we unveiled the videos and celebrated our clients. That was a huge success, and each organization has found ways to utilize the videos to advance its mission since.

Over the years, we had several more engagements with them. We did a lot of internal video work, much of it showcasing client case studies that visually detailed how we built capacity for them in our work. On our website, we had about 50 short interviews with clients on-location, capturing the heart and soul of their organization and how we benefited them. Those are available still on the Raffa PC website. All of the videos were produced by 5:00 Films and Media. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with their team, led by Esteban (CEO, 5:00 Films and Media).

How did you come to work with 5:00 Films and Media?

My first engagement with them was while I was serving as a board chair for a non-profit and hired them to produce videos relating to student service learning in Montgomery County. At the time, I was working with a youth organization producing videos for schools. That’s how we were originally connected. I was very happy with their work, so I brought them on when I joined Raffa PC.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the course of our work together, we spent between $50,000–$100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together started when I came into Raffa PC as the director of marketing about 13 years ago. But I worked with them in my previous position 2–3 years before that. Because the company we merged with had standing relationships with other videographers, our partnership ended in 2018. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The videos were compelling, well-received, and accurately represented the desired message we wished to convey. Like I side earlier, three of the five documentaries about our clients won Telly awards. The products were always successful, and we were consistently pleased with their work. Nothing ever had to be redone. They always understood and nailed our goals. 5:00 Films and Media’s work was very valuable to all involved.

How did 5:00 Films and Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Esteban is the main producer that holistically owned the project. But, we worked with plenty of professional, creative members of their team. It was a really good relationship.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They put a lot of heart into their work and listen very well to try to understand product goals. The team was great at conveying the feeling we want the audience to walk away with. There’s great alignment with our goals and their end product. On top of that, they delivered tremendous value for the cost.

Whenever we provided an idea, they could really take the ball and run with it, understanding our organization, values, culture, and engagements with clients. They were excited and supportive of our work, too. They had tremendous creative talent, technical ability, and the capacity to truly understand our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. The longer we worked together, the better the relationship was. It became easier to work with them as our partnership grew because they learned how our firm worked. I never had to worry about anything or micromanage.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a health science accelerator in Canada, supporting health innovation companies developing pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 5:00 Films & Media?

We were looking to capture a panel session at a major international health sciences conference to help educate Canadians on a new area of innovation in health sciences.

What were your goals for this project?

To increase awareness and understanding of digital therapeutics among the Canadian health sciences community.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reached out to a number of companies to assist us, and this vendor was quick to respond, understood our needs, was professional, and worked collaboratively with us to produce the finished product.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

5:00 Films was tasked to produce a full video of our panel session, plus a highlight reel and 3 soundbite clips.

What was the team composition?

...

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

They worked quickly to produce a high-quality video of the full panel session, plus a highlight reel and 3 soundbite clips that we could share on our website and social media channels.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were excellent communicators, meeting deadlines and accommodating our feedback.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed by how responsive they were even though we were in different time zones. They produced a high-quality product with a reasonable budget.

Are there any areas for improvement?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m President and CEO of Senior Service America, Inc. We’re a national organization that supports workforce inclusion for older, abled, and motivated low-income Americans.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 5:00 Films & Media? 

I wanted to develop video content around our key strategic areas. My goal was to use video storytelling as a way of building our brand and engaging our stakeholders and potential vendors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

5:00 Films & Media helped us with three imperatives. One, they created a corporate video that was engaging and captured the passion of our organization. They used client testimonies and interviews to help accomplish that outcome. Two, they created a second video for our ex-offender initiative in Colorado to present to the donor community. It showcases the lack of resources for older and primarily African-American ex-offenders who come out of the system, and then are forced back into the system because they lack the support system to find employment. Third, they also created custom short videos that I use primarily for corporate partnerships. 

We identified the clients and gave them the background of our organization. 5:00 Films & Media scripted, filmed, and produced the entire product. They used both live video and graphics added during the editing process. Much of it was interviews with staff and key stakeholders to give personal testimonials of what we're trying to showcase to the world. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with 3–4 members of their team during filming. One person served as an interviewer for the Q&A sections. We also worked with a camera operator and a setup person. I don’t know exactly how many people from their team worked on the editorial side. 

How did you come to work with 5:00 Films & Media? 

I first used them about ten years ago when I was with another organization. They were basically a startup and I was one of their first clients. We had a successful engagement for seven years, so I know them well. They were the obvious choice because of my existing relationship with Esteban (CEO, 5:00 Films & Media).

How much have you invested with them?

We spent probably $50,000–$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

The project had multiple components, taking place from July–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram impressions have gone up quite substantially since the early part of this year. There was definitely a correlation between the circulation of these videos and the increased impressions. 5:00 Films & Media is so good at doing cutting-edge work that has a human element. Because of the quality videos they produced, we also hired them as our videographer for our national conference in November 2018.

How did 5:00 Films & Media perform from a project management standpoint? 

5:00 Films & Media’s execution was meticulous. The preparation and execution of every major task was clinical. They’re able to nail what a nonprofit is trying to accomplish on a limited budget.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Esteban and his team are very good listeners. They do an excellent job of figuring out what we’re looking for during the discovery conversation. They’re the best I've come across in knowing how to provide a product that meets what the client is looking for based on that conversation. They customized and gave us exactly what we were looking for. I can't say enough about a vendor who can offer a service with those intangibles embedded in the relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

No. If they made a mistake or I spotted something that required a change, 5:00 Films & Media would fix it immediately.

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

I'm such a happy and satisfied customer. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a cutting-edge and affordable vendor who is a good listener and can deliver a valuable product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I'm director of communications for events at a biotechnology trade association. We represent biotechnology companies, state associations, and academic institutions ranging from agriculture to health to industrial technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 5:00 Films & Media?

We put on many events during the year, including a large conference each June that draws about 17,000 people. We’ve used 5:00 Films & Media for several years to create marketing films to promote the conference. This year we wanted to create a new type of video content to use at the event.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

5:00 Films & Media helped us create a hybrid of a talk show and news program from the convention floor. To start, they worked with us on a creative team. A number of people participated from both sides. We provided the content in terms of who would be interviewed. Their team provided the input as to how to deliver that content in the most creative way. Then they produced and filmed the actual product at the event. They interspersed the live interviews with video from the convention floor. It also included interesting tidbits on what to do around town.

How did you come to work with 5:00 Films & Media? 

They’d already been working with the organization for a while before I came on board. I believe they were originally recommended by a VP at our organization. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $100,000 a year for their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

My relationship with them started in 2016 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Their work is really good. We're getting very high marks for the new program. It’s completely different and better than what we’d done before. My department selected VIPs to be interviewed, and then we sent their office the video to use on their website or social media channels. We don’t typically measure success based on clicks and views. As it's a niche market, the only people clicking on our videos are people that are already interested in that particular subject. 

The quality of the production and the content is reflected in the compliments we received during the conference. The new video created a lot of buzz. 5:00 Films & Media hit it out of the park.

How did 5:00 Films & Media perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their team is so professional. They will not deliver anything until they’re satisfied that it’s perfect, and they’ll stay all night to get it right. That work ethic is really appreciated on our end. 5:00 Films & Media is so creative. They have a good sense of style and they know the film business very well. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're affordable, easy to work with, and focused. Collaboration is key to their success. I've worked with them at four conferences and I plan to hire them again.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

I don't have anything on my end. I'm very happy with what they do.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Be clear in your scope of work. They can help you create a scope as well. Some people don't know what they want because they don't know all the things that a filmmaker can do.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Aerospace & Defense

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire 5:00 Films & Media to accomplish?

• Produce a short film

SOLUTION

How did you find 5:00 Films & Media?

Referral

Why did you select 5:00 Films & Media over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from 5:00 Films & Media were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Storyboard and produce a short corporate video

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Delivered an outstanding product. Really invested time and effort in the front end -- before any shooting -- to understand us, or strategic goals, and to develop a storyboard that delivered. The final product was extremely high quality. We wanted a film, not just another corporate video. They delivered spectacular results.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes - very agile and responsive to our needs.

What was your primary form of communication with 5:00 Films & Media?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

These are not just video guys. They are filmmakers. They really helped us to understand what we wanted to achieve from this, and they simply made it happen in a beautiful and artistic way.

Are there any areas for improvement or something 5:00 Films & Media could have done differently?

No - we were very happy with their work.