Astral Studios

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and communications manager for a leading education and training authority.  We operate within five different subsectors, including telecom, IT, print and digital advertising, and electronics.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Astral Studios?

We wanted Astral Studios to assist us in producing a corporate video that would provide an overview of our organization, show how we assist South Africans, and highlight some of our programs. It would provide developments and updates, establish our sector profile, and also profile our stakeholders and beneficiaries. 

We wanted to promote skills development in our subsectors and communicate the strategic imperatives of our stakeholders. The messaging would speak to enhancing partnership development and maintaining stakeholder relationships. The video would also support and leverage our brand reputation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were responsible for the production of various videos, including scripting, shooting, editing, postproduction, and delivery. Each of our target audiences had their own training providers and employers, and we wanted to share each perspective.

We gave Astral Studios a list of our requirements and then specified our objectives to the team. Then they provided the treatment and wrote scripting. We facilitated the interviews and site visits for the location shoots. 

The project included creating four different videos for different sectors. These were from the perspective of a training provider, an employer, a beneficiary, and of a center of excellence. Within the videos, we addressed absorption rates and whether learners had attained the right skills for job placement. 

There was another segmented video that did an overview of our corporate structure. This video featured a message from our CEO, board chairman, executive management, and CEOs from our center of excellence. They also produced a full 20-25 minute film. 

What is the team composition?

Astral Studios was well equipped for our project—there were quite a few team members involved. They had a field crew comprised of a director, producer, cameramen, and assistants. 

How did you come to work with Astral Studios?

Our video required a service provider with the right experience. Astral Studios stood out in terms of professionalism, creative ability, and previous corporate video production experience. We also reviewed Astral Studios’ cost. Their ability to meet deadlines was important as well, given that our project had a very tight timeline. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Astral Studios in October 2016, and they produced the video in two weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project got positive feedback—it was phenomenal. The videos were created meticulously with great use of graphics and good editing.

The content allowed us to showcase our success stories instead of using an annual report to explain them. This method of visual communication had a higher impact than written reports. People are able to actually hear from the beneficiaries, which increases our credibility and allows us to promote our programs.

How did Astral Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

Their performance was exceptional, and they met stringent deadlines to deliver the project on time. Astral Studios managed the project in a professional, efficient manner. They were fully committed to the project, and they went to great lengths to fulfill our objectives.

I appreciated their openness and accessibility. Their communication was responsive and they kept us abreast of the status of the project. We used email and phone calls to communicate from the morning until late in the evening.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very innovative; they try to remain relevant in the information age. They also had great relationship-building skills. It wasn’t a matter of producing a one-off service won through a competitive bid. Instead, we built an ongoing relationship. We’re still able to engage them whenever needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn’t have any complaints while working with them.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s important to start with a detailed brief and create open lines of communication. This way, both parties will be on the same page if a challenge arises. Constant feedback is essential to the success of any project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the commercial manager of a South African company that manufactures chemicals for various industries. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Astral Studios?

We were participating in an agricultural exhibition and needed to visualize our idea. We were struggling to convey our concept without a video, so we hired Astral Studios to help create the animations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Astral Studios handled everything from start to finish. Irene (Executive Producer, Astral Studios) spent time working to understand the concept before production began.

Our team created the script, working with a specialist in the topic to explain the ideas in plain language. Irene then communicated the ideas to her graphic design teammates. Throughout the process, we were able to view and request changes.

Astral Studios created two videos for us, of which one was more focused on a specific audience regarding technical aspects and chemical reactions (processes) within crops and how our products can provide aid thereto.

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with Irene, who was the liaison with the team. There were 1–2 other people from Astral who got in touch with us, including on the payments side. They also supplied voiceover artists.

How did you come to work with Astral Studios?

After researching a few South African companies, Astral Studios caught the attention of our company's director. We looked at their portfolio, communicated through email and phone, and provided Irene with our outline before selecting them.  

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Astral Studios between October 2016–February 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is difficult to quantify success, but the videos helped spread awareness of our products and services, which was the message we wanted to convey.  Following the exhibition in Cape Town, the Western Cape experienced a severe drought, which had a negative impact in general on sales of micronutrients and fertilizer products in that province.  

We will use the videos again for another exhibition this year, after which we intend to update the content.

How did Astral Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very conscientious and got back to us swiftly after we asked for changes. Their processes and timing can be described as being effective.  Their graphics skills and field expertise were impressive. Any time I had an inquiry, they treated me as though I was their priority and made us feel like we were their only customer. They adequately delivered on their promises.  Even once we stopped working together after the exhibition, Irene still followed up with us to check in.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were professional and personable—we felt like a part of their team, not just another customer.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At this point, there’s nothing they could have improved on for the purpose we contracted them for. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Give Astral Studios a broad outline of your needs. If you allow them to visit your company, they’ll get a better feel for your team and work. Once they understand the culture and core values of your business, they’ll be able to relay that into an exceptional animation.  

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was updated on October 17th, 2019, by the client. New content is below.

BACKGROUND 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the commercial manager of a South African company that manufactures chemicals for various industries. I am also involved in one of the sister companies, of which its scope of business is the rental of mobile coating plants for agricultural use.

I oversee the rental agreements between the company and the customer as well as marketing concepts (designs, advertisements, etc).  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE 

What challenge were you trying to address with Astral Studios?

For this project, we decided on digital (social) media platforms as the direct marketing channel. We wanted to introduce our equipment, which is a first for the South African market and needed a video to draw attention to what we offer.

Our request to Astral was for two videos—one for the South African market and one for the African market. As we were once again participating in an Agricultural Exhibition, we needed to be able to use the videos for the (1) Exhibition as well as for (2) Digital marketing.

SOLUTION 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Astral Studios handled everything from start to finish. We created the draft script, which Irene (Executive Producer, Astral Studios) tweaked to make it more suitable. Throughout the process, we were able to view and request changes.

Astral’s work included:

• Scriptwriting and arrangement, pre-production, research, conceptualizing, and storyboarding
• Arranging for a voice-over artist as well as recording and editing
• One day’s filming on site
• Providing background music and sound effects
• Sourcing of background images and transfers to compatible formats
• Digital offline and online editing, graphics and tilting.
• 3D Animation and modeling
• Scene development, production management, production coordination, and web conversions

What was the overall project size?

RSA video:

• 1 x RSA video (2.15 minutes)
• 1 x RSA commercial version (40 sec)
• 1 x RSA commercial version (12 sec)

Africa video:

• 1 x Africa video (2:15 minutes)
• 1 x Africa commercial version (40 sec)
• 1 x Africa commercial version (12 sec)

The 2:15-minute versions are the full videos; the 12- and 40-second versions are only snippets of the full version, for digital marketing purposes.

What is the team composition?

We worked mostly with Irene and Mike (Director, Astral Studios). Irene managed their film crew when they came through to our premises for filming.

How did you come to work with Astral Studios again?

As Astral Studios are already familiar with our agricultural chemicals and we have experience of their quality of work, the choice was obvious to involve them in this project. 

How much have you invested with them for this project?

We spent $25,000 on this project.

What were the start and end dates of this engagement?

The project started on July 9th and ended on August 27th, 2019. They met the deadline we indicated as being the second week in September (to be in time for the Exhibition).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK 

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement/ to showcase the results of the work done?

As our product serves only a niche market, it is difficult to quantify success at this early stage.

The Exhibition was a success in that the video definitely drew attention and led to us receiving many compliments for being creative and well put together, as well as explaining the concepts clearly.

With the Exhibition, our focus was more on the chemicals we sell. But the message was delivered that both companies work together: one supplying innovative chemistry (products) and the other innovative technology (mobile coating plant).

Following the Exhibition, which ended on October 4th, the consultants running our digital marketing campaign began using the videos on our social platforms. We will be reviewing the results with them this month and will make changes to the strategy if necessary.

To date we’ve had already had a few enquiries, which we see as a positive result. Again, it is important to emphasize that the message the video spreads is only relevant for a relatively small portion of the South African population.

How did Astral Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

As our previous experience with them, they were very conscientious and responded swiftly after any inquiries from our side.

Their processes and timing can be described as being effective. Their graphics skills and field expertise were impressive. They adequately delivered on their promises.

Irene still checks in for a chat every now and then, even after completing our project(s).

What did you find most impressive about them?

They deliver a product and service of world-class quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At this point, there’s nothing they could have improved on for the purpose we contracted them for.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Give Astral Studios a broad outline of your needs. If you allow them to visit your company, they’ll get a better feel for your team and work. Once they understand the culture and core values of your business, they’ll be able to relay that into an exceptional animation/end product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the national coordinator for a civil society called SOS Coalition.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Astral Studios?

As a complex subject, we needed someone to make a video that could simply explain digital migration to a wider audience. We weren’t satisfied with the deliverable we got from a previous vendor, so we needed a partner who could manage the dry nature of government-directed content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Astral Studios directed the entirety of the pre- and post-production processes of the explainer video. They translated the digital migration content we provided into audiovisual media for a broad audience.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Irene (Executive Producer, Astral Studios) and Mike (Creative Director and Producer, Astral Studios). There was also a floor manager who worked on the project. They were flexible in terms of the staff members that would be assigned to us. 

How did you come to work with Astral Studios?

We’d seen their other work, specifically the videos for government departments and other organizations. They didn’t oversimply or overcomplicate the information, which is what we needed.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost between $75,000–$80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August 2018-January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re satisfied with the deliverables. We were worried about miscommunication on the project specifications, but everything went well.

How did Astral Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated in person, on the phone, and over email. Despite the long planning process because we were relying on government reports, Astral Studios remained flexible. From pre-planning to post-production, the team was diligent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Rather than rushing to get the job done, the team took the time to get the messaging right. We came to them with a highly technical subject matter which Astral Studios made sure they understood.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything went well.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Understand Astral Studios will not be the domain expert. If the content is explained well, there won’t be any problems.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager for a technology research organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Astral Studios?

We needed a company to develop 12 videos and infographics to use in meetings with companies, conferences, and workshops.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Astral Studios developed technical educational videos to communicate different types of industrial systems. For instance, there’s a video that tells a story of what a compressed air system is and how one can use it efficiently and effectively. We wanted companies to use them in training their operators for that particular system. The videos would help them understand how to operate the systems as effectively and efficiently as possible.

The systems and information we wanted to communicate were a bit difficult even for us. We wanted to convey the information to machine operators with basic education and years of experience in working machine in less-than-optimal ways. The information needed to be as simple as possible and to hold up to pushback. 

As a result, we met with Astral Studios multiple times to brainstorm and explain what each system does. We helped articulate the mechanical engineering part so that they could translate it into the right wording. After we gave Astral Studios the information, they refined and fine-tuned it into a communicative story. They formulated a storyboard and a proper script. Then they went back, reworded and rethought what we’ve said, and sent us back a draft explaining how they think it can fit in our video or infographic.

The videos include a bit of infographic animation. Some were filmed on site at factories with specific systems and processes. Astral Studios kept the project largely in-house, providing team members to write the script and record footage on location.

What is the team composition?

We communicated mainly with Irene (Executive Producer/Owner, Astral Studios), Mike (Creative Director, Astral Studios), and one other person. Irene was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Astral Studios?

We’re a government institution. Our tenders advertise on the government portal in South Africa, and everyone has access to them. Our government is trying to streamline all the tendering systems, so they appear on the Department of Trade and Industry tender portal. Astral Studios applied and won the bid—they met the criteria that we wanted.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$199,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June 2016–June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Astral Studios delivered educational videos that engaged with our target audience and helped guide them toward better practices with systems. After continuous requests from companies to revisit our videos, we’ve uploaded the videos to YouTube for them to easily access and incorporate into training programs. We still use Astral Studios on an as-needed basis.

How did Astral Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was excellent. We divided the project into 12 phases, each month being a phase. Even when we weren’t answering their emails, Astral Studios carried on working. At one point, it was a bit tough for us because we lost some of our staff members, but they went the extra mile to gather the information.

We communicated over email. We used to have monthly meetings. If we couldn’t have a personal meeting, we used Skype. In terms of viewing work in progress, they shared a link with us in our Dropbox before a meeting. We’d look at it and be able to give meaningful feedback.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their script-writing was creative, but Astral Studios’ patience stood out most to me. We’d been thinking about doing this project for quite some time, but we only got it off the ground because Astral Studios was able to run with it without waiting for us. They encouraged us to take it seriously and get it finished.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Astral Studios does more commercial type work, but they learned our side as we went along. They didn’t have somebody with the expertise for our more technical and industrial field.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them what you want them to do to start to with, and Astral Studios will be good to go.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm one of the owners of Doggy Oasis (Pty) LDT. We sell self watering devices for dogs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Promotional video's: 90sec, 30sec, 20sec, 6sec that identify the problem dog owners have and the video's also describes the benefits of the product with a call to action at the end.

SOLUTION

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

based on reviews, responsiveness, and price.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

• Discovery call to get to know our product and needs
• We wrote a script for the video's
• Astral studio's shortened and refined the scripts
• Script was sent for our approval, voice was chosen for the video's
• Astral developed a 3D render video of the product and made an animated logo
• Planning meeting was scheduled to discuss the shoot
• Shoot was done in one day
• Astral produced the videos

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

4, 1 helped with the discovery call and video script, 2 camera men, 1 production assistant on the day of the shoot.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

• they managed to get good shots of the dogs
• Script was really good
• Promotional video get our selling points across

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Good

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

They were willing to accommodate small startup business and provide a quality product.

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

None