Bakerbuilt Works

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Communications Manager for Cocoon House, a housing program for homeless youth in the Everett and Snohomish County area. Our mission is to break the cycle of homelessness through prevention, outreach, and housing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bakerbuilt Works?

We've been working with them for a number of years. Most recently, we reached out to them for an upcoming event. We are building a new location with a larger facility that will allow us to house more youth. We were tearing down an old church to put up our new facility. We wanted them to capture our groundbreaking ceremony and assist with the media participating in the event.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bakerbuilt is creating a series of films for us for capturing the entire process of building our new facility. They record interviews and also use drones to film the location. We’re currently in the construction phase and they’ve captured material from every stage so far. They will do so through to the grand opening ceremony in summer 2019 where we will share the final product.

Our first conversation was meant to be a casual discussion of how they could videotape the entire groundbreaking event. It morphed into a discussion about the artistic and historical value of the full process of tearing down a well-known building and replacing it with something that could promote similar ideals of helping people and bringing better things to the community. After that meeting, we decided that, rather than do a one-off video, that would develop a longer-term project to combine material recorded at the groundbreaking ceremony with periodic video of the teardown and construction processes.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager and there is a team of videographers and a master planner behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Bakerbuilt Works?

They completed some videos and editing for us in the past, and we were pleased with what they created. When it came to this project, we both thought of them and, at the same time, they were recommended by one of our partners.

We were familiar with them and they knew us too. They knew the details about our facility, our organization, and our leadership. It was a continuation of a relationship that had been ongoing.

How much have you invested with them?

We’re spending a little under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together specifically on this project in March 2018 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The fact that our project has turned into a broader, documentary-style video wouldn’t have occurred without Bakerbuilt coming up with the idea. That they were able to come up with that idea on the fly was far beyond what I expected or anticipated. It was fantastic to work with a dreamer and a doer combined into one.

The expanded nature of the project gives us an opportunity to have a historical record of our facility that we can share with the thousands of people that will come to our grand opening ceremony. When I came back with the idea, it was extremely well received. We shared an early video with our Board. Everyone is really excited about it.

How did Bakerbuilt Works perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager keeps us up-to-date constantly. They always ask permission before they go to the site to video even though it’s a public space. They go out of the way to make sure we’re OK with the next steps. They’re also quick to respond to whatever we need. They really have a fantastic team and I’m very impressed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Any time you combine knowledge, talent, and vision in one company, you're going to see some success. With them, there’s an additional sense of adventure. They’re open to taking chances and trying new things in order to be innovative. I honestly couldn’t imagine going with anyone else.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not right now. My experiences with them so far have been phenomenal.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would say, come in with an open mind and be ready for excitement and out-of-the-box thinking. They’re so much more than videographers. They could change your entire communications plan within just 15 to 20 minutes of a discussion with you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a medical center in the Pacific Northwest. As the development director, I guide fundraising efforts to support the center’s mission.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bakerbuilt Works?

Our foundation embarked on a large fundraising campaign to advance programs at the hospital. We needed video assets to communicate our story and highlight key physicians and innovation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve worked with us on six physician profiles, a promotional video for an event, and three patient stories. Most of the videos are interviews. We directed most of the interview content and they were responsible for editing and creating a comprehensive story. The event video was pieced together from physician interviews and functioned as a kind of movie trailer to highlight technologies and innovations in different programs around the hospital.

What is the team composition?

We typically work with Amanda (Executive Producer, Bakerbuilt Works) and Daniel (Principal, Bakerbuilt Works). We also work with one or two camera operators and a video editor.

How did you come to work with Bakerbuilt Works?

They did video production for other departments in the hospital. They had good reviews from the marketing staff, so we started a partnership with them for our fundraising projects.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in the first quarter of 2017. Our most recent video was finished in April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re talented video editors and are fairly affordable. They’re highly professional and the quality of their work reflects the image we want to portray.

How did Bakerbuilt Works perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is stellar. They keep projects moving without being pushy and they help remove obstacles to progress. They’re very responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their pricing is extremely flexible and they understand the constraints of a nonprofit organization. Their quality and value are exceptional. I appreciate that they’re a local company and are easy for us to access.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide them with clear expectations of the deliverables you want. That will help align the final product with your needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an electronics production company, manufacturing equipment for scientific research as well as high-precision applications. As an application sales engineer, I help generate sales and marketing information, working with potential and current customers to better understand the different fields that we can serve.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bakerbuilt Works?

We approached them to create video content for our website to help explain our products. A lot of customers, including those with a high scientific or engineering background, might not be familiar with our particular brand of equipment. As a result, we wanted to develop a series of quick videos that could better describe our product and its potential uses.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

So far, they’ve produced two videos for us. These videos generally lasted between 5–10 minutes and reviewed a single subject matter. After a series of product shots that emphasized the tool’s specific functions, one of our experts would discuss how to approach their particular field with regard to our product.

Tonally, we were going for a semi-formal interview feel, so there was only a bit of scripting. Our specialist would have the product in hand, going through and answering questions posed by some of our customers. They would then capture the specialist pointing out the various product features before editing the shots together.

Beyond production work, they also provided consulting services. The team reviewed our ideas and suggested the best way to tackle certain shots. Drawing from their previous experience, they advised us on effective approaches that other customers in similar industries had used.

What is the team composition?

We initially worked with three members to organize the project and ensure completion. On production day, two members came to our site to shoot the videos.

How did you come to work with Bakerbuilt Works?

We found them because we’re both located in the greater Seattle area and were looking for a production company. We visited their site to introduce ourselves in person and had a good experience talking with them. After working with them a bit, we decided to move forward with the projects.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around the five-figure mark.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work lasted from July–October 2017, though we plan on collaborating with them again to produce three more videos.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From a qualitative point of view, we’ve received positive feedback from our viewers. Not only have we uploaded the videos online to our website and YouTube channel, we’ve used them in expos as visual assets. We’ve noticed that they invite different people to come and learn a bit more about our technology, whereas, before, they might have just walked past our booth.

How did Bakerbuilt Works perform from a project management standpoint?

They were professional and worked fairly well. I had no complaints coming out of the process. Collaborating closely with us, they customized the time line, catering to what we could provide. They were amenable to working around our schedules and coordinated with our personnel’s availability to secure location times. This ensured that they would deliver the finished product in a timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their willingness to tailor both the in-person shoot and the editing process. They provided helpful suggestions without taking over and changing our vision. With their advice, we could better understand how to take our initial ideas and establish the most practical route to shooting the video. They also maintained transparency about the project status, telling us what was and wasn’t done. Ultimately, it was important to us that they provided guidance and expertise to lead us through the process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in with a high-level vision of what you want to accomplish and know your end goals. Additionally, take advantage of their resources because they understand the smaller processes that you need to implement to create the final product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a cabling company that makes equipment for certifying, installing, and testing copper and fiber cables used by contractors, engineers, and enterprises worldwide. I’m the global communications manager, and I’m responsible for PR, messaging, and outbound marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bakerbuilt Works?

We needed resources to produce promotional videos about our services as well as basic instructional videos. Usually, we’d try to communicate certain messages about our products to our market, but sometimes we’d need a video for our sales team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Over the years, they’ve completed about 20 projects with us, some of which included multiple videos. Typically, we provide them a script, storyboard, and shot list, which they use to set up the production. Sometimes they help with the pre-production work, simplifying our ideas for clarity or to make things easier to film. After the shoot, they edit the videos and send them to us. In general, they do live-action work.

A major project that they did for us was a series of 16 training videos for one of our product lines. They created short, 6-minute instructional videos showcasing the different versions of the product. The tutorials introduced each product and demonstrated how to work productively with them. Customers could then view the series online at their leisure.

For another project, they collaborated with us to create a training video, showcasing our product accuracy as well as our calibration lab. They filmed the video in our high-end lab, interviewed some of our team members, and edited it into an overarching story. We initially commissioned the video for internal use before utilizing it for promotional purposes.

Additionally, they also manage our YouTube channel on an ongoing basis. Once the team completes a video, they upload it to YouTube with translation files, which allows viewers to watch in different languages. They constantly redo our channel to emphasize products/tutorials, add new content, and increase our visibility.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with their project manager or owner, but they typically assign 3–4 people to each project.

How did you come to work with Bakerbuilt Works?

While I’m not sure how we originally started working with them, I believe they had worked with a number of different marketing groups in our company, including myself. Compared to other more expensive production companies I've worked with, Bakerbuilt Works refrained from adding unnecessary features without compromising on quality. We’ve continued to work with them ever since.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $200,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work began in March 2010 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been extremely pleased with their caliber of work throughout the entire production process. Because they have a lot of experience, they’re able to advise us, refining our ideas to simplify filming. Their in-depth knowledge of our business allows them to effectively communicate our messages in a way that appeals to our engineering-minded customers.

Our salespeople and clients have praised the team’s instructional series for its convenience and training capabilities. Before, customers would ask us to send sales reps to teach them how to use our products. However, a training session could take nearly half a day, and our sales team would be more inclined to push newer products. Now, with Bakerbuilt Works’ videos, not only can we save time by emailing our customers links to our tutorials, we use the videos in our own onboarding process.

As for our promotional video, it has allowed us to train our 300-member sales team remotely instead of having them come into a lab with limited space and extreme conditions. Furthermore, our internal stakeholders consider the video a powerful sales tool because it helps people understand our corporate commitment to measurement accuracy.

How did Bakerbuilt Works perform from a project management standpoint?

While there are occasional project delays, it’s usually due to problems on our end. Their team tends to stay ahead of schedule, and they help keep us on task. For shoots, they’re good at establishing a time line and sticking with it. As a result, they’re time efficient, which brings down production costs. Instead of hiring a crew for two days, we can film everything in one.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Like I mentioned earlier, Bakerbuilt Works understands how to educate the customer effectively. They produce high-quality videos that get our messages across without being flashy nor over-the-top. Whereas some companies might create a 10-minute video to explain a product, Bakerbuilt Works knows when a 30-second video would suffice.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take the time to make sure that they understand your business and clients. Since they’ve been working with us for so long, they know how to create videos that are useful to our customers. This has been crucial to our success.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior marketing manager for an electronics manufacturer. We service electricians, maintenance professionals, and industrial facility workers by providing tools to keep their plants up and running.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bakerbuilt Works?

We’ve worked with Bakerbuilt for at least 20 years and have used them to develop visual stories that communicate to our customers how to properly use our tools.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bakerbuilt has created more than 20 videos with me leading the project and significantly more for the company in total. Most of the materials I’ve worked on recently have been geared toward selling products to our customers. However, they’ve also produced tutorial videos that explain how to use our products. The storyboarding process varies depending on who’s involved on our end. Sometimes we approach Bakerbuilt with a vague idea and ask them to build a storyboard. Other times, we create a detailed storyboard in-house and collaborate with them to refine it.

Nearly all the productions are live-action. Some solely consist of tight product shots with hands pushing knobs, while others include full-frame models or real technicians using tools onsite. They filmed a specific production late last year that involved going to a customer facility and interviewing technicians. Then, the crew followed the technicians throughout their workday to demonstrate the utility of our products.

They’ve done other projects for us that don’t completely fit the mold I just described. For example, they’ve gone to corporate events with us to film documentary-style footage. This included attending an annual sales event and tracking the key speakers over the course of several days. Another engagement required them to develop and run a multimedia presentation for an annual company-wide meeting. We’ve also approached them to perform post-production work on projects where they didn’t provide the base video. They stepped up to the task and localized several productions by translating them into 23 different languages.

What is the team composition?

We work with their Principal and whichever executive producer has been assigned to the current project. Once production begins, I’ll work closely with the videographer and sometimes the post-production editors.

How did you come to work with Bakerbuilt Works?

I can’t answer that. How they initially made contact with us might be lost to history at this point.

How much have you invested with them?

I don’t see the numbers across the whole company, but I’d estimate they engage in 20–25 projects for us per year. Considering our long-term relationship, I’d say we’ve spent somewhere between $200,000 and $1 million. Those are rough numbers, but they’re in the ballpark.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 1998 or possibly earlier. Our most recent project with them wrapped up in May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Bakerbuilt tends to stay on top of industry trends and utilizes new technology to directly benefit how our information is deployed. For example, we just discussed the merits of doing videos outside of the US in English with non-English subtitles versus narrated soundtracks in local languages. They’ve also brought to our attention, the growing trend of people watching media on their phones with the sound off. As a result, Bakerbuilt suggested a new technology that essentially equates to silent subtitles. They're very good at staying up-to-date on those kinds of things and then educating us.

How did Bakerbuilt Works perform from a project management standpoint?

I tend to approach them too often with an impossible deadline and ask if they can help us. They’re very good at meeting deadlines, but are also honest and will tell us upfront if they aren’t able to deliver on-time. However, that’s a rare occurrence. They usually find a way to get there.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate Bakerbuilt’s ability to take what we have and produce a good final product. What we start with is not always as polished, but they always find a way to deliver beyond expectations. They're good at doing the pre-production work, so the actual production side of things goes very smoothly. They’re also extremely dependable and within my budget. Close proximity means we can be in their studio within 20 minutes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We get feedback occasionally that comments on the same voice narrating all of our videos. To be fair, we never asked Bakerbuilt to use a variety of speakers. We should probably explore more voice talents for narration options in the future. That’s not a huge criticism, but it’s something we could stand to work on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This isn’t specifically about BakerBuilt, but I tell everyone I work with to do research first rather than forcing the service provider to figure out what you want. BakerBuilt will provide the product in the end, but it will take longer without an initial plan. So go in prepared with a strong idea, or you’ll end up burning a lot of hours figuring out what to do.