Definition Films

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I oversee all marketing activities for Pisoni Family Vineyards.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Definition Films?

We wanted to create beautiful, striking and inspirational videos to use for various marketing purposes. We release the videos on social media and our website and blog.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to capture the essence of our winery and vineyards in video format. In other words, we wanted to convey how much we love our land, our team and the efforts that go into making great wine.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose Definition Films after viewing their extensive (and impressive) video library and after meeting with Justin and the rest of the team.

We were very impressed with Justin's professionalism and sheer talent for capturing beauty in every video he (and team) creates.

We knew he could convey the tone we were looking for in our videos--inspirational, beautiful, artistic, passionate.

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

We have worked with DF to create a number of videos. Embraced by Fog was captured by a drone that flew above the fog in the Santa Lucia Highlands overlooking our Pisoni Vineyard.

The DF team drove out to Gonzales early in the a.m. with their equipment and were all set up and ready to film by sunrise--not an easy feat! The Story of Lucia was captured late in the afternoon for the best lighting.

DF again drove out to Gonzales with their equipment to film, but this time they were filming the Pisoni family in the vineyard. DF knew exactly which shots/angles would work best and made everyone feel comfortable on camera.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

After shooting, the DF team takes the footage back to their studio in Santa Rosa and creates a first draft of the video. We are sent a link to the video in a program called Frame.io where we can view the video and leave comments with specific timestamps. We review and send over our feedback, and DF makes edits as needed until we are happy with the final product.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have seen an increase in blog traffic ever since we began publishing the videos on our blog. We also receive very positive feedback from customers on social media, who enjoy seeing the "behind the scenes" work that we do here at the vineyards and winery.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow has been extremely effective. Justin and the rest of the team are responsive and attentive to detail. They listen to our critiques of the video drafts and make changes that are accurate to our feedback.

Email and phone responses have been very fast. We haven't run into any major bumps on filming days either. The DF team always comes prepared.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I am repeatedly impressed by their talent and their passion for the projects they work on and the equipment they use. 

Justin is in his early 20s, yet his level of professionalism and ability to capture such beauty in his videos is something unparalleled by other film companies in this area. We love working with Definition Films and look forward to the exciting projects we have in the queue!

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can honestly say that I have nothing negative to say about Definition Films. Justin has repeatedly gone above and beyond our expectations. We are excited to see the results of the new sound studio and new equipment!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My company is a B2B technology service and consulting business. I’m the industry marketing manager for the U.S. business unit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Definition Films?

My company hired Definition Films to plan, shoot and edit and short customer case study video with one of our clients.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to tell the story of our relationship with this client, and how our services have impacted their business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was looking for a video crew located in close proximity to our client, I contacted several video production companies in the Bay Area and Santa Rosa area and felt that this was the best fit.

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

We produced two versions of a customer case study video (4 minutes and 2 minutes). Definition Films was instrumental in the pre-production planning, getting all the shots we wanted and more during the shoot, and very quick to edit and responsive during editing phase.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We communicated mostly over email—the response time was consistently very quick. They also use frame.io for the editing process which made giving feedback a breeze.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had nothing but great feedback on the videos internally at our own company, with the customer we worked with and with other customers and prospects who have seen it.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Perfect, no complaints. Justin and his team are responsive and quick to get work done.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed with how well Justin and the team understood our vision. My work with Justin was entirely remote, as I live across the country, but I trusted him completely to create our vision with our customer, even though I was not onsite whatsoever. I attribute that comfort to the pre-production planning and care Definition Films took with this project. During production they got every shot we asked for and more. And post-production they were quick to edit and responsive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing comes to mind—I was happy with this entire process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Berkeley Patients Group is the nation’s longest-running dispensary. I’m the Director of Marketing & Social Impact

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Definition Films?

Video production and photography

What were your goals for this project?

BPG celebrated its 20th anniversary in October. We wanted to highlight the history of the organization, including testimonials from staff, patients and community leaders to tell our story in an impactful way, in a documentary-style and short, shareable clips. To celebrate our milestone, we hosted a private event for stakeholders and presented donations to 10 local nonprofits which formed a coalition for change in our community, and we wanted to capture the emotions of all on this day. We also renovated our store, and wanted to capture photos of the space, our customers, staff and attendees of our celebratory event.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I worked with Justin and the crew at Definition Films on other projects, including educational and promotional projects. I found Justin and DF to be incredibly professional, fairly priced, and fun to work with. Choosing them for this important project was a no-brainer.

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

For our company’s 20th anniversary, DF broke down testimonials from customers, staff, and owners highlighting this historic milestone, as well as the excitement for future endeavors, as well as highlights from our celebratory event. We received a documentary feature film which told the story in depth, and 10 short clips (1-2 minutes) shareable for social media and other digital marketing, with unique topics. Justin and I discussed the project goals, length, and detailed steps for completion. He presented me with 3 options that fit my budget, and I ultimately chose the biggest package because I felt it was a great price and knew the quality would match.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Justin was with our team every step of the way. The entire process was clearly outlined and completed as scheduled. Revisions were minimal and easy, as his team did a great job capturing our vision and the software he used was easy to navigate, making for a very smooth feedback process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our entire team is so happy with the results! Our digital engagement skyrocketed and exceeded expectations. We now use the content created to onboard new employees, engage community organizations, and tell our story in efforts to fundraise, make political advancements for our industry, and change hearts and minds.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective! I have no complaints.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Justin and the Definition Films crew we’re sincerely a pleasure to work with. Their directions and expectations were clear, their energy always at peak, and their equipment and quality top notch.

Are there any areas for improvement?

In the 4 years working with Justin and Definition Films I’ve only seen huge improvements. I’m sure they will constantly find ways to challenge themselves and deliver the best results to their clients.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Co-Owner at Lucky Rock Wine Co. I have been working in this world for 14 years. Currently, make wine in a saturated market- this requires us to be a cut above the rest, especially in our marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Definition Films?

We hired DF to head up a long campaign that required a handful of video content gathering, storyboarding and production/editing.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have a series of ads along with informational and customer facing, brand awareness videos ranging from 15- 60 seconds long, complete with motion graphics, voiceover, music, and effects.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We hired Definition Films after hearing glaring reviews from a fellow business owner who had worked with DF in the past. He mentioned that they over delivered, especially for the price quoted. We hold third party endorsements in the highest regard.

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

We had DF shoot over 2 days in 4 locations in order to create SKU specific ads as well as create longer, informational videos for brand awareness. These videos were used to embed on our website, on our home page (in process), throughout multiple social media platforms and in email campaigns. There were multiple rounds of edits done- Typically, after the rough cut was done they would come back with multiple options to choose from and would happily edit more rounds in order to get the videos 100% correct. Justin, the owner, mentioned that he did not want to call a project done until we knew that we were satisfied.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We would meet, and brainstorm then we would go over storyboards and shoot footage. After, we would work through file sharing platforms, Zoom meetings, email, phone and text to get the multiple videos tweaked in rounds as they would come due on the predetermined timeline.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have had nothing but compliments from our fan base, not to mention our new fans that were acquired through the campaigns thus far. Our videos have been highlighted and/or referenced on several platforms- the most recent was referenced in an article called "New Year: Time to adjust your digital marketing strategy"

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have not had any issue thus far. Workflow has been as good as, or better than, previous vendors.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

When I felt like I was asking too much for what we paid for. They ensured me that they wanted to make us happy, and if it took more to get the job done, they would do it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an animal protection foundation. Our vision is a world where animals live free from suffering. I am the Communications Manager and spearhead our media relations efforts, press materials, and celebrity relations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Definition Films?

We worked with Definition Films to create a Public Service Announcement for the organization.

What were your goals for this project?

To create an innovative video in which the message was portrayed

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My boss did extensive research and chose Definition prior to me working there, however, when she left I was the direct contact and Justin couldn't have been easier to work with. He was responsive, timely and helpful.

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

It was a lot of back and forth with editing, but all changes were made right away.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Easy, helpful and took direction really well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely cohesive, simple, easy. Great flow of communication and very timely. We would be sent cuts of the video and send back edits and feedback, changes would be made in a very timely fashion.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their responsiveness and easy-going attitude impressed us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Offer different options for the backdrop of the PSA.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for a leading media company in Sonoma County, California. I am a top-billing Account Manager that is responsible for the stewardship of over a million dollars of local and regional client advertising dollars.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Definition Films?

We have worked with Definition Films on a number of projects. Justin & his team have been my top resource for client video production. We have done a number of projects, including by not limited to: marketing and recap videos for events & music festivals, television commercials, website videos, digital ads including Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and pre-roll, as well as client testimonials.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals have always depended on the project, and Definition Films has always exceeded our expectations: With event marketing videos, our goal has been to produce something that people engage with, share, comment and reflect on, in an effort to convey the experience, and ultimately sell more tickets. For client ad-videos, the goal is to generate awareness of a product or service, to generate click-throughs to the website, and ultimately increase sales within a timeline. These are often very short, and need to leave a lasting impression.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Justin and his team at Definition Films came highly recommended . They do a good amount of work in our region and have always provided top quality work that clients love. After working with them once, I knew we would be doing business together for a very long time.

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

After selecting Definition Films, their team scheduled a needs-analysis to better understand our goals of the video. Each of my projects have needed a different level of involvement. The team at Definition Films are highly creative and are great collaborators. Often, I ask that we work together on story-boarding or scripts, and they have always been great with feedback and providing a professional eye. They staff the shoot accordingly, and can assist with hiring out actors and voice-over talent as needed. Once the draft cuts were complete, their team sent over via web portal to allow for further collaboration and feedback. They make it seamless from start-to-finish, and have been a joy to work with.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The film crew and post-production crew was assigned. Their project manager works with me on the script and storyboard, making sure it met our goals and represented our company/clients well. Depending on the project, a few revisions we're made and the team made sure we loved it before the shoot. Nothing ever went to shoot until we/the client loved the script/storyboard. Even on-shoot, their team took direction exceptionally well, and did what they said they were going to do. They are always very respectful and can navigate complex challenges. Like difficult clients or difficult personalities. - As an account manager that works with many clients, it is not uncommon to run up against multiple decision-makers or personalities within a business; it was important to me to find a video vendor that has the same level and standard of customer service as I have.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Each campaign, each client is different and garnishes different results; though we've seen an increase in brand awareness and social ad-engagement for the clients that have ran digital-video-ads. Our clients are thrilled with the creative messaging and As for our event marketing efforts, it is the foundation of our digital marketing, and continues to drive ticket sales and brand-engagement.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was exceptional. I feel they really heard and understood our needs and the vision we had for the projects. They communicate well and managed the expectations from both me and the client. They upload draft cuts to an online portal and would take call to further discuss and collaborate.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Definition Films provides a level of service that is second-to-none, and a quality of work that blow clients away. The quality of the work and the service impressed me most about working with their team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I'm a firm believer in "always room for improvement" - though there is nothing noteworthy that should have happened differently. We were very happy with the end product and the process was unique to DF.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a contracted employee through a regional center that’s responsible for providing services to people with developmental disabilities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Definition Films?

We were creating a curriculum for people with developmental disabilities to learn about safe social-sexual development and needed a series of short videos. We were also facing a time crunch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They predominantly provided production—filming and editing. Sometimes, they worked with us when we needed to re-edit and re-film things, but we wrote the scripts and lead the creative aspect. Our content needed an expert hand, and they were great at being patient. We worked with actors with developmental disabilities, and they were great with them—kind and patient.

How did you come to work with Definition Films?

We were interviewing a local branding company for this project, and they mentioned Definition Films as one of their subcontractors. We checked out Definition’s list online and were impressed by their video quality.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$49,999 so far. That’s been split up between 7–8 full filming days, as well as multiple days in their studio doing audio recording and voice-overs.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since June 2018, and we have another six months left on our contract.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve pilot-tested videos in teaching classes to people with developmental disabilities and gotten feedback from instructors. 50 people with developmental disabilities have also previewed the videos, and we’ve gotten a lot of feedback from that.

How did Definition Films perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve been really appreciative of their work for many reasons. They’ve responded to everything and edited and re-edited and done more than they signed up for. They also have a passion for our mission and project.

We even had actors not show up one day, and some of their crew jumped in and filmed with us. They went above and beyond in giving up their time. We were impressed with their kindness and want to work with them again.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Knowing we were nonprofit and grant-funded, they were willing to work with us on our cost so we could afford them. They were drawn to our mission and a lot more available than other firms, who’ve given us a certain number of minutes we can talk with them for. We have their cell phone numbers and can text them as well. Finally, they were open to our changing needs and willing to re-edit changes they’d already made to fit them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We haven’t had any issues in that regard.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend having clear timetables and deliverable dates. They’re busy, so be clear about when you’ll get things back. Additionally, I’m not sure how they perform when taking the creative lead. I know they do more branding business, but we haven’t asked for that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the marketing director at a company that provided safety equipment for water treatment plants.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Definition Films?

We needed to produce an instructional video on our equipment to use for training and educational value for those looking to purchase our equipment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We already had content from a manual that dated back to when the equipment was first made. The videos they created essentially transferred that content into a different format. I created a script, and they produced the video from there.

What is the team composition?

About three of their team members worked with us to produce the video.  

How did you come to work with Definition Films?

I did web research on different video production companies in the area and collected referrals as well. Because I’d heard them through both of those avenues, I knew it was a good choice to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We collaborated between August–November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just started showing it to clients, so we haven’t collected much feedback yet. However, the internal team, including my boss, had nothing but praise for the final video. We have a few steps to do before collecting more feedback, but it was a huge success internally.  

How did Definition Films perform from a project management standpoint?

They broke down each step of the process, telling us exactly what they were going to charge us for. Because of that, we were able to stay on track from preproduction to production and reshoots. That informed our editing schedule. We had to do one reshoot that we weren’t accounting for originally. They were able to give us an updated schedule within a week, so we always knew when tasks would be completed. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism and the overall quality of the work were top-notch. They exceeded our initial expectations, producing something that looks like it cost us ten times its actual cost. The communication was always perfect.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, it was a great experience. However, we would have appreciated a bit more weight on preproduction to help point out flaws in our thinking.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want. They’ll be able to turn your vision into a finished product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the strategic marketing project manager for a pharmaceutical company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Definition Films?

We hired Definition Films to complete a global video project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a couple of kickoff meetings with them where we reviewed the scope, direction, and vision of the project. It was like doing a QA just so they could have a general idea of what we were looking for. We hired an outside agency for some of the ideation, but Definition Films brought a lot of their own ideas and some color to that discussion which helped round out the project. They filmed on location using a RED camera and we ended up shooting in six different countries, including two location in the US. They also handled all of the editing and production.

What is the team composition?

My primary contact was with two of their team members who traveled globally for this project, Everything filtered through them, but I’m not sure if they had more team members editing the film.

How did you come to work with Definition Films?

Someone within our company had worked with them on another project and recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$199,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from January–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We primarily have qualitative comments from our team at each location they visited. We would check-in to see how the shoot was going, and we received a lot of fantastic feedback. Due to their use of the RED camera, the quality of the video is amazing. We’re able to take stills from the video for photos too. Always on top of it, any spare time they had they spend shooting B-roll so we have tons of footage. They’re really great videographers and editors. It was a phenomenal experience.

How did Definition Films perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great communicators. We had daily check-ins and they always let us know what was happening and what they planned to finish. Then, at the end of the day, I would get a recap on what was completed. They would get to each location, get right to work, and get what they needed, making it a really quick process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re so passionate about their work—they were born to do this. That’s what sets them apart and makes them so incredibly awesome to work with. We had a lot fun and they're so pleasant. It was a really great experience, and I think everyone that they interacted with got a really warm, wonderful feeling from them because the emanated how passionate they were about our project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’ wasn’t anything I thought they needed to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them the opportunity to know your business and they’ll take your project to the finish line with flying colors.