Filmkraft

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Marketing Manager of Chesapeake Fine Food Group

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Chesapeake Fine Food Group is dedicated to curating and delivering the finest prepared foods from around the world, offering over 400 unique products while staying true to its roots of exceptional quality, customer service, and a passion for culinary excellence.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Filmkraft to accomplish?

• We hired FilmKraft to shoot a commercial for Linear TV and CTV, aiming to create high-quality, engaging content that effectively showcases our brand and products to a wider audience.
• Our goal was to produce a polished and compelling ad that drives awareness, resonates with our target customers, and ultimately increases engagement and sales.

SOLUTION

How did you find Filmkraft?

Referral

Why did you select Filmkraft over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Filmkraft were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The scope of work for Filmkraft’s project with Chesapeake Fine Food Group, LLC includes the production, editing, and delivery of a lifestyle video campaign. The key deliverables consist of TV and CTV commercials, including two 15-second and two 30-second spots in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Additionally, multiple social media videos will be produced in varying lengths—30, 15, 10, and 6 seconds—formatted for widescreen (16:9), vertical (9:16), and square (1:1) viewing. The final videos will be delivered in Quicktime Apple ProRes 444 UHD (archive quality) and Quicktime h.264 HD (internet-ready quality). The total production fee is $50,000, with payments split into two installments: 50% upon contract signing and 50% upon final delivery. The completion and delivery deadline for all assets is September 6, 2024. Chesapeake Fine Food Group retains full approval rights over creative and financial decisions, ensuring the final product aligns with their brand vision and campaign goals.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Successful delivery of all agreed-upon video assets on time and within budget, ensuring high production quality that aligns with our brand standards. The campaign drove significant impressions, website visits, and revenue, demonstrating its effectiveness in reaching and engaging our target audience. Additionally, performance metrics from CTV, and social media—such as audience reach, engagement rates, and conversion impact—further validate the project's success in enhancing brand awareness and contributing to our overall marketing and sales goals.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes, Filmkraft managed the project efficiently and delivered all assets on time. They were highly responsive to our needs, maintaining clear communication throughout the process and incorporating our feedback seamlessly. Their professionalism and organization ensured a smooth workflow, making the entire experience easy and collaborative.

They demonstrated strong communication throughout the project, adhered to deadlines, and remained flexible to ensure the final product met our specific needs. Their comprehensive approach to production and delivery made it easy to work with them, and the final videos perfectly aligned with our campaign goals.

What was your primary form of communication with Filmkraft?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What I found most impressive about FilmKraft is their clear expertise in creating high-quality, multi-platform content that caters to both traditional media and digital marketing needs. Their comprehensive approach to this project, from the production and editing of lifestyle video campaigns to delivering assets in multiple formats and aspect ratios, really stood out to me. They clearly understand the importance of versatility, providing everything from TV and CTV commercials to social media content tailored for various platforms. 

I also appreciate how they ensure full creative control for their clients, which demonstrates a strong partnership mindset and commitment to aligning with brand goals.

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

There’s nothing significant that stands out as needing improvement. The final product aligned with our vision and goals for the campaign. I think they did a great job, and I don’t see any areas where they could have approached things differently.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Sr. Director Brand and Creative of a photo book company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company is #1 rated in photo books, providing the largest selection of fully customizable designs to create, print, and share photo books, decor, calendars, and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Filmkraft to accomplish?

• Drive brand consideration
• Differentiate 
• Drive purchase

SOLUTION

How did you find Filmkraft?

Referral

Why did you select Filmkraft over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Filmkraft were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Brief alignment, creative concepts, scripting, casting, production, and postproduction. Develop two versions of a single concept to drive brand consideration and differentiate our brand from the competition. We wanted various lengths of each concept to test across channels and optimize performance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Delivery of exceptional creative within scope and budget, creative performance measured by engagement, traffic, and sales

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Highly collaborative, communicative, and very responsive. They brought a ton of craftsmanship to the project - attention to detail, challenging decisions with thoughtful perspective, and always keeping the outcome and business objectives in mind. Creative was delivered as expected, and continuous communication around changes in timelines, scope, or expectations ensured we were all aligned on the next steps and outcomes.

What was your primary form of communication with Filmkraft?

Virtual Meeting

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

The attention to detail, holistic approach to business and creative objectives, craftsmanship, collaboration, and a people-first relationship that felt like a true partnership. The team brought an eagerness to problem solve, an openness to ideas, and a ton of tenacity to overcome challenges.

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

No, keep the care, transparency, and craftsmanship going! 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CMO of The Vets

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We provide at-home veterinary care for dogs and cats in the comfort of home.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Filmkraft to accomplish?

• Demonstrate the benefits of working as a veterinary professional at a mobile veterinary service

SOLUTION

How did you find Filmkraft?

Referral

Why did you select Filmkraft over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Filmkraft were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

There were 3 elements to this project: 

1. Hero "Day in the Life" docu-style film, meant to showcase a typical day for a medical team working in our mobile practice 
2. Testimonials from vets and technicians in our practice, talking about the benefits of working here and what makes it rewarding 
3. Opportunistic still photo shoot to fill some gaps in our brand photography library.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The videos and photography that FilmKraft delivered were of extremely high quality, both in terms of production value and in terms of storytelling. Since we have started using these videos in our recruiting efforts, we have doubled our talent outreach response rates.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The team at FilmKraft is extremely responsive to feedback and managing to a production schedule. In the case of this project, I did not have a hard deadline and many of the deliverables were tied to the personal schedules of our veterinary teams, so flexibility was key. The FilmKraft team was great at communicating timelines and setting expectations based on the constraints in a given week - we worked together to prioritize deliverables on a rolling schedule.

What was your primary form of communication with Filmkraft?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The team was very invested in the success of my company - it never felt like I was working with a production company, but instead a partner and extension of my own team. They consistently over-delivered in terms of the quality of work for my given budget, and brought new ideas to the table like graphics and animations that I wouldn't have thought would be in scope for a project like this. The end result was something we could all be really proud of.

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

None that I can think of - the project was seamless.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the VP of Brand Marketing responsible for the development of our integrated marketing plans. Additionally, I oversee all of our offline efforts including Linear, CTV/OTT, and Streaming Audio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Filmkraft?

During the pandemic, we were searching for a company that could help us build video content for us to use across our video partners to support everyday and holiday occasions.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed a few shops, but chose Filmkraft after speaking with Dmitry and seeing first-hand how innovative he and his team have pivoted during COVID times. His passion and their willingness to work with us closely to solve our problems landed him the job.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Dmitry and his team has been super successful in not only with helping us to tell meaningful/heartfelt stories, but creating direct response/YT best practices tactical assets as well.

What was the team composition?

I've worked closely with Dmitry, Paloma and most recently Dasha and others to bring our ideas to life. All very polite, collaborative and share our passion for creating inspiring content.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our launch piece with the Filmkraft team continues to be one of our top performers during everyday and peak periods across all video partners to date.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I cannot speak highly enough about the collaboration the team has to provide what the client is looking for.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their accessibility and willingness to work within the limits (either budget, time, resources)

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

Would be great to get a slack channel developed for less important but time sensitive asks.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the marketing lead for Deezer, a music streaming app in North america

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Filmkraft?

Video production and editing

What were your goals for this project?

High quality content with artists to share on our social channels and in app.

SOLUTION

How did you select Filmkraft?

We researched and RFP'd three companies for the project, then conducted phone interviews with each.

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

We provide a scope of work and the partner provided a detailed proposal. We then developed a pre-production plan for all content. Filmkraft was responsible for all aspects of production withour team conducting interviews. Filmkraft provided the prescribed number of finished videos, including all titles/animations and for all social formats.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We had three rounds of revisions for each video, the team was very responsive to our feedback.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Cannot share, but we were happy with the increase in engagement on our social channels.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very, they were seamless and fast in providing what we needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We have worked with FilmKraft on a handful of productions now. One of the most important questions I always ask is would you work with them again...and the answer is YES!

Our first project was very last minute but the team came through with a fair quote and delivered with almost no time for planning. Our subsequent project got better each time. They are not just a professional and fun crew but also always have the end product and storytelling in mind to help make sure everything comes together.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the Business Development & Growth Manager at a publication called France-Amerique. France-Amérique is a magazine and digital publication covering the best of French culture for an American audience. I was in charge of growing the audience base and positioning the brand to attract a larger number of American/anglophone readers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Filmkraft?

We hired Filmkraft for a one-minute commercial to be aired on our partner, TV5MONDE's US channel. Our goal was to also be able to use the commercial and clips of it on social media for further promotion and to increase brand awareness.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create strong associations with our brand. The idea was to use our cover art imagery in the commercial to establish brand recognition and, ultimately, to sell subscriptions.

SOLUTION

How did you select Filmkraft?

We were in touch with several different production companies, and Filmkraft actually reached out to us at the perfect time, as we were searching for a team to help with the commercial. Filmkraft's unique ideas and excitement for the project immediately blew the other companies out of the water, so it was an easy choice to work with them.

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

Filmkraft handled every aspect of the process, from brainstorming and storyboarding to the musical score and post production. They worked with us to come up with the concept, and demonstrated a clear understanding of our publication's identity and mission.

We always felt listened to, and they really went out of their way to include us in the process and create a collaborative atmosphere. They were extremely professional and well-prepared, and everything went off without a hitch on the day of the shoot.

In terms of post production and editing, they created an incredibly intricate and detailed animation, and sent us multiple versions of different lengths and with different cuts to choose from.

They also handled all of the audio, including working with voice actors to get the tone and energy of the animated characters just right.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They set a clear timeline and everything was completed by the established due date. There was also an incredible amount of room for discussion and feedback from our team, which is something that really stood out about the process. We always felt that our vision was being respected and that our feedback would be acknowledged.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received wonderful feedback from our partners who saw the commercial, and it was a definite success as a new medium through which to promote France-Amérique to potential subscribers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our teams was very effective and they were very communicative and responsive throughout the entire project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were blown away by both the level of engagement and creativity at the ideation/script-writing stage, as well as the technical expertise when it came to shooting live footage and combining it with animation. They are truly experts at their craft and their passion for their work was evident working with them. I would absolutely work with them again.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There was nothing that I would have changed about the process--everything went seamlessly and we were thrilled with the final product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at Keepsake Frames, a photo frame startup. We make it easy to frame the photos on your phone with our app and website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Filmkraft?

We wanted to reach new customers and drive revenue with television commercials, and digital ads on social media. We hired Filmkraft as a production company to produce, to creatively consult, and to execute television ads, broadcast commercials, as well as social media videos.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with them on multiple campaigns. The social media campaigns were primarily on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Those were first, and since they did such a good job, we hired them for television commercials.

They scripted and created concepts for the television commercial, as well as cast an actress. Filmkraft created the dialog that Keepsake Frames is the best way to frame the photos on your phone. They helped to script that dialog and direct our founder, who is not an actor, to perform on camera and speak convincingly. They also designed the background and the set.

Finally, they edited the video into several iterations for broadcast television: a 15-second version, a 30-second version, and a few other variations. They did all this over two days, and we’re still broadcasting this commercial on television today, nine months later.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Dimitri (Founder). He was the director and producer. We also worked with Paloma (Partner). She’s incredibly creative. We worked with numerous other teammates as well.

How did you come to work with Filmkraft?

With a creative process, you have to have a good relationship. I think Filmkraft brings a positive and hardworking ethic to the table, and that was evident from day one. They come from a very high background, Columbia Film School. They’re of very high standards in terms of film quality.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve maybe invested around $100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began work in August 2019 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were five stars on all accounts. It’s very easy to communicate with them. They’re incredibly flexible and diligent in terms of making sure you know what’s going on. They’re very flexible and very accommodating.

How did Filmkraft perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great. They’re willing to accept tight deadlines and even go beyond deadlines if it’s important. We haven’t had any problems. We also mainly communicated over Google services. We worked exclusively virtually this year. That’s been really interesting because it requires a lot of communication and they did an excellent job.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The level of quality you get is impressive. They have an incredibly high caliber crew with very high standards and a strong background in film. They could fit in anywhere in Hollywood, but they’re priced affordably. Their price to quality ratio is incredible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their bench to get people more occupied with bigger projects. This would make them more organized and improve their project management flow. Sometimes we need to download lots of files and they move the folders around. They do a great job with project management, but as they grow they can improve their team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of technical pre-sales for the Americas region for a mid-sized software company. We operate in the broadcast media industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Filmkraft?

We needed help creating corporate videos for marketing and general use.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked together on 3–4 videos. For our most recent, the project was extremely challenging. We needed to produce an 8-minute video that showed complex workflows, with high-quality production. We worked with 3 continents that needed to work on this project simultaneously.

We would normally fly them all in together, but the team at Filmkraft was forward-thinking about how we coordinate all of our resources. They were the puppeteers that orchestrated all of the teams remotely.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–8 people from their team.

How did you come to work with Filmkraft?

Our marketing team found them through a word of mouth recommendation. We gave them a test run, and we’ve been using them on projects ever since.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $8,000–$10,000 on our most recent project.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our most recent project took place in April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had other videos that were not as highly produced that were also featured in the same virtual trade show. This particular video had the most responses. The quality of the production really said a lot.

How did Filmkraft perform from a project management standpoint?

As communicators, the team is very good. They’re very quick to let you know what the status of a project is; if a timeline needs a shift, they’re very good about letting us know. We communicated via email and text messages mostly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were quick to adapt to changing situations. The team was also very patient when anyone on our team made a silly mistake. They were good about keeping everyone calm, which kept us on track.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would have been great to work together in person, but that’s COVID-19’s fault.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s important to have a decent idea of what you want to accomplish. Be open and adaptable to their suggestions, it’ll help you fill in the blanks.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of Brazil Production Services and Figura Media, LLC, two production companies that provide video production services for companies and brands shooting in the United States and in Brazil.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Filmkraft?

A video project where we needed to create a profile of someone who works as an employee of NATIXIS bank in Boston for French media agency, CAPA.

What were your goals for this project?

To create an interesting and captivating profile of this worker.

SOLUTION

How did you select Filmkraft?

By way of the quality of their previous work and by way of liking Dmitry Trakovsky's pitch about the project and himself.

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

We provided a briefing of the project's stated goals, discussed a script and shooting plan with the Filmkraft and allocated a budget for the project. Filmkraft was responsible for the execution of the project on the ground.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The company's owner ran point on the production on the ground in Boston. He coordinated the talent, managed the shooting plan for the day, directed the scenes and at the end of the day delivered the video our client in France.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Footage looked good. Client has come back to work with us. Client thought the results of the shoot surpassed their expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very good.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I find Dmitry to be smart, reliable and hard working. Good results that met and surpassed our expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I thought that given the scope of the project, the service was first rate. I can't see how it could have been done better.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Director of Eight

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

SaaS

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Filmkraft to accomplish?

• Record a promotional video

SOLUTION

How did you find Filmkraft?

Online Search

Why did you select Filmkraft over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Filmkraft were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

FilmKraft helped us film a short testimonial video in New York

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The video was incredible, especially considering the short deadline and comms mainly over email. They surpassed our expectations.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

On time, emails were always quick, they just ran with it, and delivered.

What was your primary form of communication with Filmkraft?

Email or Messaging App

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

Their specialist knowledge, and ability to take a brief, and deliver an incredibly final product with very little input.

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

They were super chilled about payment, which was weird/refreshing/surprising at the same time.