Castleview

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a Marketing Event Manager at an IT company. My role is to produce high impact events, both digital and in-person.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

For this project, we needed to record (10) 10-minute sessions, (24) 5-minute breakout sessions and cut/edit them all to be ready for our event. Our goals were to provide a high-touch experience for select accounts as we were announcing our presence as a company in the Telecom industry.

SOLUTION

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

Castleview was one of 3 vendors we got a quote from before deciding to go with them. The deciding factors were budget, some of our team has worked with them before, and timeline.

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

We started with a discovery call to scope out the project. Once they let us know they had the resources to assist in this project, they came up with a timeline and some guidance on what they would need from our team to get everything done in time. They gave us a few different quotes as we wanted to use some video crews and some at-home recordings over Zoom so the price was a bit variable until we decided what direction we wanted to go in. Then, our team introduced the Castleview team to all of our speakers, who reached out to everyone to schedule their recordings.

We had to record all 34 videos in a 2-week span, across multiple continents and they were able to deploy remote video crews to the speakers' homes or local studios to get the highest quality videos. We had weekly planning calls, and bi-weekly status updates as we got closer to make sure we were on track and hitting our deadlines. Once all of the recordings were done, we QA'd the videos together to make sure we didn't need to re-record anything. They also made us a short animated intro video for the event based on the needs of our messaging team.

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

We worked with a few different team members from the Castleview side. We had a project manager who oversaw the entire project, a recording director for all of the videos that were done on-site with video crews, and another recording director for all of the breakout videos that were recorded. Everyone was extremely easygoing and great to work with! We didn't have much information to work with until the last minute and they took the project on and ran with it in a very efficient and effective manner.

They even learned to use a new recording software the week before to help record all of the remote video shoots. Their whole team was truly wonderful to work with and never complained once despite some speakers re-scheduling or not showing up for their recording time and even recording late at night for those speakers located in Asia to accommodate their schedules.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We hosted a digital event for a few thousand customers and partners in which these videos played a pivotal role in the success of the event. We announced some new products at this event, and the videos they recorded helped explain these new offerings to customers in a concise and high-quality way. This event would not have been possible without their help recording and editing these videos to the highest possible quality. They fit everything into this extremely tight timeline with a smile on their faces and went above and beyond to get it all done in time.

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

The project manager was great to work with and was extremely flexible to get everything done in the tight timeline we had. We had our weekly calls to discuss timelines, collaboration tools to use, etc. and as we got closer to the recordings, we had more frequent calls for status updates on the schedules, recordings, budget, etc. She was very organized overall and very easy to work with overall!

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

They took the time to learn new software's, they worked with multiple people on our side to schedule recordings and make sure everything got recorded in our tight timeline, and their frequent communication was outstanding! They did everything with a smile no matter how big of a speed bump we ran into or how many hours on nights/weekends they had to put in.

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

Nothing at all. I'll work with them in a heartbeat again and have even recommended other teams at our company work with them for any video recording/editing needs!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I serve as the Communications Associate for the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC). I help maximize the impact of TACC and CCATT by realizing the successful implementation of contemporary communication strategies with a focus on policy advocacy.

I also spend time developing suitable methods to broaden the reach of the association and its affiliates.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Castleview?

We wanted an engaging and modern way to show our policy priorities to legislators and community college presidents during the 87th Texas Legislature. We hired Castleview for the production of our animation video explaining these complex issues in an easy-to-consume way.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a quick alternative to putting our priorities in front of policymakers. We also wanted content for our socials and website.

SOLUTION

How did you select Castleview?

A previous employee found Castleview and recommended them.

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

Castleview first had an interview call with us to understand the scope of our project and vision. From there they provided us an estimated timeline to submit our script and start the production process. Once we submitted our script they provided edits and updated our vision.

From there they worked on production for about 2 weeks and delivered the video for the first round of edits. Once we provided those, they delivered all the components to the final product.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We mainly only had communication with the executive producer, which was a nice way to streamline the communication. However, most of the Castleview team was always cc'ed in the emails. They provided multiple rounds of helpful feedback and were always open to meeting and talking.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our stakeholders absolutely LOVE our videos. We constantly get questions about who helped produced them and how we came up with such unique ideas.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent workflow. Castleview made it easy to move edits up the ladder to leadership and approval.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their organization, the way they provided and delivered on their timeline, their pricing, their responsiveness, and their creativity.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very pleased with all of the work, maybe a quicker turnaround on animation. But we understand this is an element that has a lot of moving parts.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Imagine A Way is a non-profit providing financial support and resources to children with autism in central Texas. I am the Development Director with a focus on fund development, community partnerships and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Castleview?

Castleview has created several videos for the community that we premiere at our annual Gala fundraiser. We also use versions of the videos on social media and on our website to promote our work in the community.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have a compelling video that appropriately shares the stories of the children with autism that the community serves. At the Gala specifically, our goal is to encourage guests to feel compelled to donate. This was especially important in 2020 as we moved to a virtual Gala.

SOLUTION

How did you select Castleview?

We selected Castleview after a recommendation from a Board Member who had a good experience with them in a previous role. We were especially appreciative that they were willing to work with our non-profit budget, and donated a portion of the video to us in kind.

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

In our most recent video, we provided Castleview with our vision (especially because it was different than previous work we had done together). They were able to modify what we sent them to fit our scope. They conducted interviews on camera with our families, utilizing the questions and content we provided. The team was also able to improvise in order to capture some raw moments from our families.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The vendor had 3+ people working on our project. We were able to provide a couple of rounds of feedback and have input on music that went into the video to ensure the tone we wanted was captured well. We had a project manager supporting us with any questions or ideas we had. There was a team on-site to film and edit.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Anecdotally, we received great feedback from all who saw the video, expressing that it really showcased the work that we do within the autism community.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The best part about working with the Castleview team is their ability to understand our desires and come up with a plan to execute. I am definitely appreciative of their willingness to jump on a Zoom call in order to flush out our vision.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Castleview genuinely cares about the community. As a non-profit, it is so important that we partner with companies who want to make a difference.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Cost could definitely be a barrier to many. We are only able to afford with in-kind support. And, even that is at the top of our budget.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

As CEO/President of M&C Media LLC, I consul with producers and companies on high-profile, award-winning documentaries, video productions, programming and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Castleview?

Create a promo-style sampler video from a collection of films produced by a noted museum.

What were your goals for this project?

Make sure the video works as both a selling tool and representation of the high-quality films.

SOLUTION

How did you select Castleview?

I knew their work from other projects where they were involved along with me.

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

They had to take 20 films, each approximately 30 minutes long, and create a promo-style sampler of under 5:00 in length that could be used for marketing the films to distributors, networks and streamers. This involved reviewing the content in detail, outlining a creative approach, and then following up with various rough cuts, customer feedback and delivery of a final video.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Feedback was built into the approval process at every stage. This included working directly with M&C Media and indirectly with M&C's client.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Castleview is extremely customer-focused, so the feedback process was instinctively smooth and creative. They worked closely on the creative, taking into account a wide variety of notes and reactions, and made sure the video met our needs.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow could not have been smoother. Even when the client caused a few delays, Castleview was understanding and helpful.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Castleview's attention to detail and creativity were matched by the company's clear devotion to making sure M&C Media got what it needed. However, they didn't sacrifice their artistry in the process, and they were willing to suggest better alternatives if necessary.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Based on my experiences with Castleview, I'm sure there are areas for improvement, but I frankly can't think of any at this time. They are focused on the work and should be rewarded for it!