Anattic

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founding director and one of the trustees of Mental Health Motorbike, which is a mental health support service for the motorbike community of the UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anattic?

One of the big issues we're addressing is the number of suicides among young men in the UK. We approached Anattic to put together a film that could target that specific demographic.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Anattic worked very carefully with us to come up with a plan and a storyboard. We initially met with and bounced ideas off of James (Owner & Founder). They then brought in a whole team of professionals and scouted possible filming locations. They also provided the equipment and found a drone company to partner with. It was an all-in-one package. Anattic was also responsible for casting, and they found a model from Edinburgh who was able to come down and work on the shoot for the entire three days of filming.

Postproduction followed immediately after the three-day shoot. In the end, the team delivered a two-minute advertisement within a very tight deadline. 

How did you come to work with Anattic?

I decided to work with them on this project because one of Anattic’s founding directors — whom I’ve known since he first left university — is a motorbiker himself and was very interested in putting this advert together. I had also worked with him on some international films in the past and knew that he could produce quality work.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around £15,000 (approximately $21,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The whole process took about six weeks, from January–February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We told Anattic what we wanted, and they made it happen. We were very pleased with the output. In fact, the advert was submitted for a national award and won first place for cinematography. We were also able to showcase it on big screens over a ten-day period at a recently concluded motorbike event that hosted 66,000 bikers. The feedback that we got from the attendees and organizers were very positive, and people from all around the event really engaged with the content as it played on the big screens. 

How did Anattic perform from a project management standpoint?

There was nothing I could fault about the entire engagement. The whole process, from our initial meetings to the conception and eventual sign-off of the storyboards, was seamless. Anattic set the filming schedule and adhered to it. We communicated through phone, email, and WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I found them to be very relaxed. I know that they’ve worked with big brands and companies, and all of them say the same thing about Anattic. We never felt that they were stressed, despite being under the pressure of having to manage so much equipment and talent. They just handled everything so professionally and so well. Their youth and energy really stoody out. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there was nothing they could’ve done differently. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go into the engagement with a clear idea of what you’re setting out to achieve, but don’t be too rigid with it; allow Anattic to develop that idea because they’re very creative and have a wealth of experience to draw from. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Digital Marketing Manager for Heatable, an online boiler installation company. We're changing the way people buy their new boilers. We offer a fixed online quote in 60 seconds for a brand new boiler including installation and we can even fit it the next day.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Anattic, and what were your goals?

As our business continued to grow, we wanted to accelerate this further by making our first venture into TV advertising. As much as marketing and organic traffic are valuable, we feel TV is a vital part of building trust and brand integrity. To achieve this we wanted to create an advert that was relatable to the masses. This is where Anattic came in and helped bring our concept to life.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We researched video production companies that specialised in TV advertising and went through a number of options. We chose anattic because of its prestigious reputation for producing remarkable adverts. The team also believed in our concept instantly and was on board from the get-go.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started the process with an initial meeting to get to know each other, to see if we were a good fit, and to go over our creative concept. Once this was decided we worked closely with Matt the producer and Andy the director to expand on the script and to allow them to add their own spin on it.

Once we agreed on the script we then worked together to find a suitable cast, which the team at Anattic nailed the first time. This was also the case for the location house, which the team picked the perfect spot for instantly. It was then left to Anattic to source all props, make arrangements for the cast, and dress the location house.

We were then able to go to the filming of the advert on the day and Matt and Andy allowed us to be heavily involved, which was great for us. From this, we were sent the initial 40 and 30-second cut and worked together to make sure this was pieced together correctly.

After this was signed off we then were sent the next edit with colour and sound editing, before then receiving the final 30 second and 40-second edit. Anattic even submitted all the necessary files to ITV to go live and sent us a variety of different cuts for us to use on social media.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

Our main point of contact was Matt, who was the producer. He was there to answer any queries we had (which there were quite a few of, as it was our first time on TV) and to make sure everything was running smoothly. We also worked closely with Andy, the director, and held regular meetings to keep up to date with everything before, during, and after the filming of the advert. We were able to be open with our feedback and the y were always super flexible.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the advert has gone live, our website traffic and sales have risen by a considerable amount and we've had incredible feedback from customers and partners alike, saying how relatable and well-executed the advert is.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Both Matt and Andy were incredibly easy to communicate with and always had time for us, despite their busy schedules. We held video calls, twice, sometimes three times a week, to ensure everything kept moving, to cover off any feedback we had, and to make sure we were happy.

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

Anattic really understood our creative concept, where no one else had, and were able to take it to a whole new level. Not only this, they managed to deliver a stunning advert in an incredibly short time frame - without breaking a sweat.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

It would have been good if we could meet up in person a little more to go over feedback, but this wasn't possible due to the distance between some of the team and COVID restrictions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I head up the sponsorship and partnerships team at a large Australian telecommunications company. We have many sponsorship deals with well-known talent and sportspeople.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Anattic, and what were your goals?

We have engaged Anattic to develop and deliver a series of different content pieces over the last 12 months, to maximise one of our largest ambassador deals with Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo. In some instances we have briefed Anattic on the end-to-end creative process, in other instances we have requested they act as a local production arm alongside a Sydney-based creative agency.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I've used James and Matt over and over again becuase they are calm, organised, easy and good fun to work with and most importantly brilliant with high profile sporting talent. Their laid back nature brings the best out of the talent and they are always amenable to feedback, striving to deliver the best outcomes for me as a client.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The process of working with Anattic varies depending on the brief. Generally we start with a briefing call and from there they map out the full production process.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I work with James and Matt directly, and to support them they pull in the best talent for the job, depending on the requirements and expertise needed. Feedback is always ongoing and open - I have found their creative to be very strong but at the same time, they have never been precious about their ideas if we do request feedback and changes to be made.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Over 3 shoot days of 4-6 hours each, we have delivered around 20 pieces of film for various different campaigns and projects.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Unlike a traditional agency model, the guys work in real partnership with me as a client and with the talent managers - involving us throughout the process to ensure the end result is exactly what we all expect. They take a lean approach, keeping the team nimble from start to finish.

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

Their unique style and personality and attitude made them a joy to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a company called Metropolis Studios and it is a recording studio and mastering facility based in London. It is the biggest independent recording studio in Europe, and it’s very well-known throughout the world. Our core services are mixing, recording, and mastering. As the studio's brand director, I run brand partnerships across the world, working with brands such as MasterCard and Amazon Music.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anattic?

We’re a recording studio but we also do a lot of video production when required. A lot of the projects that I’ve worked on, particularly over the past 12 months during the pandemic, have had guests coming to the studio for intimate experiences. A lot of those activations have switched over into extreme experiences, so obviously, we had a necessity to work with a production partner who can deliver high-quality audio and video production.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Anattic provides us with a full range of video production and editing services. They map out the floor and lighting plans for the bands as to where they’re going to be featured within the studio. We also work closely with them on the scheduling for each of our production, and they provide us with a full crew, equipment, and production support on the day of shoots. Their delivery ranges from live streaming to pre-recorded production, as well as offline post-production editing for content.

Additionally, I do a lot of the background work in terms of what the production is actually going to be with the partners, but they do a fair amount of research in terms of who the acts are, what their style is, and what kind of look and feel the bands have. Moreover, we do a lot of pre-production meetings with the bands so that creatively, their input is centered around the content itself as opposed to the final product.

All of the videos we produce go into a mixture of different platforms. Some go to YouTube, and quite a lot of them are independently, and privately streamed, as Metropolis has their own streaming platform — which can also be delivered to any social media platform.

What is the team composition?

From their side, I work directly with Matt (Director, Producer & Account Manager) and about 3–6 other people.

How did you come to work with Anattic?

I met Matt through a well-known fashion brand that I work with. Matt was the videographer for that brand at the time, and he filmed a lot of the sessions for us. Since then, we’ve continued to work with them as they developed as an agency, because we get along very well and we trust them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve probably invested about ￡30,000–￡40,000 (Approximately $41,200–$55,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in January 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had great reviews from all of our clients which is why we continue to work with Anattic.

How did Anattic perform from a project management standpoint?

We really like the way that Anattic manages their production. They’re very laid back and low-key in their shoots and productions, when there are quite a lot of people on site. I personally like their organized shoots, and everybody from their team knows what they’re doing. Their pre-production is good, but they’re also very flexible and accommodating — when things change on the day of shoot, they don’t make a fuss about it. They’re very professional, calm, and unflappable. 

We communicate mostly on the phone, but when we have creative production meetings with the clients and bands, we do Zoom video calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think it’s their experience working with Metropolis over the last four years that makes them stand out. We’ve probably done over 100 video shoots, they know the studio incredibly well, and they understand the way that my crew and team operate. We’re impressed with how they balance the relationships, their respect for the studio, and their understanding of its processes. We’re also impressed with knowing what kind of lighting works well at the studio, as lighting is key to the production.

They’ve learned a lot about the studio, so I think they’ve got a massive advantage over other production companies. They can walk in there and be very comfortable because they know how the studio operates.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really don’t have any issue with them because they do everything on time, turn everything around quickly, and scale their production easily to the budget. They’re doing an amazing job so far.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want. It makes it a lot easier for a production company to work when they’ve got clients who know what they want. I’ve got a very clear set of standards and ideas of what I want for a recording studio. Our audio is of exceptional quality, so we can’t allow anything to go out of the building that is less than exceptional. It’s quite difficult for production companies to fill the gaps if the client doesn’t have a good sense of what they want.