Fog Coast Productions

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Penserra is an institutional financial services firm headquartered in Orinda, CA. I am the firm's director of marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

Penserra had a need to detail its business services and culture through video content. Having never done this before, and having no desire to do this ourselves, we interviewed over half-a-dozen video production companies before ultimately deciding to hire Fog Coast Production.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was simple. We wanted to tell Penserra's story through a series of short videos.

SOLUTION

How did you select Fog Coast Productions?

Fog Coast's video portfolio as presented on their website initially caught our attention. I then followed that up with a phone call with Andrew at Fog Coast, who listened to what we wanted and then followed it up with a very detailed proposal.

After narrowing our search to three companies, we invited Andrew for an interview at our Orinda office. Andrew was professional and clearly knew what he was talking about. Our final decision to go with Fog Coast Productions was an easy one.

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

Andrew first helped us devise a script. Then he and his team came to our offices to set up production. The initial scenario called for a 90-minute interview with Penserra's CEO, followed by several rounds of editing. The entire process went off without a hitch, and the quality of the initial video was excellent.

Because of their fine work, we asked Andrew and his team to create a second video from the original 90-minute interview. They did, and once again delivered an excellent video.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The communication between me and Andrew was excellent. He responded quickly to every question and request.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both videos will be prominently displayed on our website, and go a long way toward telling Penserra's story; exactly the reason why we hired Fog Coast Productions.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Because this was our first foray into video production, it was critical that expectations be manageable. Andrew was honest in what we could accomplish given our needs and budget, and he didn't make promises he couldn't deliver on. The timeline from the start of this project to the final deliverable far exceeded our expectations. Fog Coast does great work.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

1. Professionalism- Andrew knew what he was talking about.
2. Communication - Andrew asked all the right questions, and was prompt to respond to mine.
3. Quality - we are very satisfied with their deliverables.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Creative Producer & Project Manager for Mixpanel's Creative Marketing Team. Mixpanel, is the leader in product analytics, helping companies innovate faster and create better experiences for their customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

Our team was launching a campaign for one of our newest features. We engaged the services of Fog Coast Productions to help us show potential customers how to use our features to drive results.

What were your goals for this project?

To increase Marketing Qualified Leads.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A former co-worker had used Fog Coast for a different kind of video on our website so that’s where we learned of the name. We then put Fog Coast in our list of 9 other production companies, many of which I have personally worked with at other companies. Our Creative Director and myself reached out and had numerous conversations with each of these companies. While there were many reputable companies on the list, the combination budget, turnaround time, and general good feeling we got from speaking with FogCoast, helped inform our decision.

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

The videos we created were a general overview of our product and how to "stack" features in order to get insights and answers to important questions.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Fully integrated Vimeo account that lets the client select a timecode and area of the video to provide feedback. The information is immediately shared with FogCoast and provides the most seamless and accurate method available.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We greatly surpassed our goals for this launch.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was key during these short-turnaround projects. We communicated by phone and via email. Emails were always returned in a timely manner. Their process for giving notes on the videos was also seamless. All I needed to do was click on the area of the video that needed adjustments and type in my notes.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication response time, accuracy, & creativity.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of at the moment! They were great to work with!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

True to the mission Statement of Hillel SV, we create meaningful Jewish experiences for students at a time when they are making important decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.

Our staff create situations for Jewish students to interact socially, increasing the likelihood that they will meet Jewish life partners. We provide training and support for students to stand up against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism on campuses.

Additionally, we contribute to campus cultural life by presenting programs featuring Jewish/Israeli music, arts, holidays, customs and values. We are a multi-campus Hillel that actively supports Jewish student groups at five local campuses and welcome any college age students in Silicon Valley no matter which school they attend.

Submitted by: Sarita Bronstein, Executive Director and Mitch Reitman, Assistant Director

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

Pre-production, story-boarding, filming, adding background footage, post-production.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of the project was to create a micro-documentary to use in its fundraising activities, community and student engagement, and to build name recognition for Hillel of Silicon Valley.

We wanted a documentary that can be shown at Hillel SV’s primary fundraiser, L’Dor V’Dor in February, 2020, host on the organization’s website, and show at numerous presentations about Hillel SV throughout the year in order to:

1. Explain that Hillel of Silicon Valley (SV) serves the students at San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, Foothill College, De Anza College, and West Valley College, as well as any undergraduate or graduate student in Silicon Valley not served by another Hillel.

2. Illustrate Hillel SV’s mission and purpose.

3. Convey Hillel SV’s urgent responsibility as a Jewish educational institution within a small window of opportunity to help students navigate anti-Semitism and anti-Israel activity so they will want to live safely, proudly, and confidently as Jews and supporters of Israel.

4. Convey Hillel SV’s program approach in deepening student’s connection to Jewish life by providing meaningful experiences to learn about Judaism and Jewish life; increasing the number of students who engage in exploration and experiences that connect them to Israel; integrating students into the greater Jewish community.

5. Show how Hillel SV educates Jewish and non-Jewish students about the history of Israel and its place in the complex political landscape of the Middle East and how we help students to effectively respond and advocate on behalf of Israel.

6. Use the documentary to help us in the raising of additional funding to counter drops in foundation and Jewish Federation support.

While our audience is very supportive of Hillel SV as an organization and understands our mission and the types of programs we provide, it is becoming more and more difficult to get across the urgency of securing the future of the Jewish community, willingness of young Jewish to express their Jewish identity and support of Israel in these times of increased anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment.

The funding challenge becomes more of an issue every year because we are serving more students and programming costs are rising, but our income is not increasing in proportion to our expenses.

7. Provide a definitive message into the community about the pluralistic nature of Hillel of Silicon Valley. Religious people may think our programs are not religious or “Jewish” enough; Israelis may think that we are too religious. Some may perceive us as too Zionist in focus.

The fact is that Hillel SV creates many points of entry for students to explore their identity and connection with Israel. We are very diverse (Jewish affiliation, family background, Jewish experiences, multi-cultural, interfaith, Israeli).

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We considered two companies. We had one referral. We reviewed similar types of videos.

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

The pre-production phase of this project consisted of concept development, scheduling shoot dates, formulating interview questions based on the mission, scheduling crew, location scouting.

Production (August through December 2019): The production for this project took place over a four-month span and consisted of capturing interviews of Jewish professionals, community leaders, and additional/alternative footage to accompany soundbites.

Post-Production (January-February 2020): The post-production on this project will begin after all the necessary footage is captured. Post-Production consists of logging footage, editing, color grading, stabilization, music, lower thirds, export, upload, delivery and archiving.

Delivery of micro-documentary (Rough cut January 15, 2020; final version February 1, 2020)

Show documentary at L’Dor V’Dor Fundraiser (February 9, 2020)

Show documentary at other fundraising opportunities (February through December 2020)

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Andrew at FCF was the primary producer. The team worked with us on several rounds of feedback.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Hillel of Silicon Valley had the great pleasure of working with Andrew Klein and his team at Fog Coast Productions. We needed a mini-documentary presentation about the work of our non-profit in order to make the case about the realities, opportunities, challenges that our organization faces in our work with college students.

From the very exploratory stages, Andrew was very reassuring that he can create a story board that conveys both facts and emotions. We needed something that demonstrated the many programs our organization offers while at the same time expressing how we must overcome challenges. We wanted a video that would not only help us communicate the important work we do, but also to help us in our fundraising efforts.

Andrew and his team came several times to film footage of activities. On many occasions we conveyed concern that we didn’t know how they were going to convey the challenges we wanted to show. Andrew continued to reassure us that he had a good handle on the story board.

Ahead of schedule, the first version of the video was completed. We were pleasantly surprised that the video had the right tone, conveyed the story balance we were seeking. We were given the opportunity to spend a day with Andrew to fine tune the message, and make any adjustments.

We found Andrew flexible, accommodating, and open. The video was previewed to our community at our annual fundraiser to rave reviews. Our donors and leadership said that they learned new things about our programs and challenges.

We believe the video is a terrific vehicle to meet our goals of increased visibility and fundraising. We are delighted to review Fog Coast Productions to any organization seeking to consider a similar project.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was handled very effectively via phone calls and emails.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team was patient, understanding, reassuring, efficient, and helpful throughout our work together.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Senior Manager at a gig economy company headquartered in San Francisco. Our company has about 80K contractors across the US and parts of Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

We hired Fog Coast Production to help us create a video that shares why people have joined our platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking to create an authentic video featuring real people sharing their experiences on the platform. A big goal of the project was to have people share their experiences with others who may be interested in joining the platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team searched online for a video production company in the San Francisco area and identified 3 possibilities. We contacted each company and narrowed it down to Fog Coast after speaking with them on the phone and receiving their proposal. We selected Fog Coast based on their promptness, ability to give direct feedback and provide direction on best practices.

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

Once we selected Fog Coast Productions they started working with us to get to know our business and ultimate goals. We worked with them on casting, location scouting and concept development in order to ensure our final product was what we wanted. The end product is one 2 min video featuring 4 people shot across multiple locations.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided a three person filming crew for the on sight/ day of shooting. They were all professional, flexible and efficient at completing the shoot and managing various complexities that come from being on site. After filming we received multiple rough drafts that we provided feedback on. Fog Coast turned the edits around very quickly and we were able to within our timeline.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have not posted the video yet, however the internal team loved the final product and we are looking forward to sharing on a broader scale.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow and process with the team was great. Their overall timeliness and ability to interpret our vision to reality was fantastic.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team has been amazing throughout the process. Fog Coast is responsive, able to provide input and feedback on what has worked or not worked in the past to keep us on track and have listened to our needs to ensure the final product was exactly what we wanted.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very satisfied with their work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Human Resources Director for a full service, small city in the Bay Area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

We hired Fog Coast Productions to create a short video of the city, showcasing employees and why it's a great place to work.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to include all the employees who volunteered to be a part of the project, show some of the city, and create something fun that can be used as a recruitment tool to attract potential hires to the city.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We considered several companies before choosing this one.

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

We asked for volunteers to be a part of the video. We created a set of questions to interview current employees and showed Fog Coast Productions around the city so they could see some places they might like to shoot. We selected a couple of locations for shooting, and Fog Coast Productions obtained a permit to use a drone to shoot some aerial shots. We chose the music last.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We had several rounds of feedback, using a very simple online tool to provide feedback and suggested edits.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project has just been finished and shared with employees, who all loved it! It has not been used for the intended purpose yet.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was quick and effective. They were responsive to our feedback.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The final product is fantastic! I couldn't be happier.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would have spent more time selecting music with the providers, to understand their vision and ours, but we have an amazing final product and I am very happy!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Luma Therapeutics is a healthcare startup that specializes in home-based psoriasis treatments. As the senior director of marketing, I oversee the company’s physician and patient marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fog Coast Productions?

We wanted to make a product demo video to accompany our latest product release.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fog Coast Productions was required to develop an animated video that demonstrated the functionality and convenience of our products. We also wanted the videos to highlight the differences between similar treatments that are on the market. They began by drafting visual storyboards, which were later converted into full animations. To complete the final edits, their team provided voiceovers and visual effects.

How did you come to work with Fog Coast Productions?

I was referred to them by a colleague who had experienced success with them in the past. During our initial meeting, we were instantly impressed by their thoroughness and eagerness to work at all hours to assist us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $10,000 for their video production services.

What is the status of this engagement?

They worked on the video from December 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although it’s too early to measure the impact that the video has had on our business, we can verify that Fog Coast Productions has improved the way that we tell our story. The animation is featured on our corporate and patient websites, and we plan to show the video at the next industry conference. We have also added their work to our investor pitch deck and webinars for prospective patients.

How did Fog Coast Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

The project was highly successful because both of our teams were committed to creating the best product that we could make. Fog Coast Productions encouraged us to give feedback during every stage, which made the process remarkably smooth.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Fog Coast Productions delivered an amazing asset in a very short timeframe. We were also delighted by their customer-first approach to business; their dedication to the project was unwavering, despite our exhaustive list of requirements and strict deadlines.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We did not experience any issues while working with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the director of marketing at a real estate marketing automation company that serves brokerages of all sizes. I oversee all branding, content development, lead generation, and marketing operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

We have many amazing clients who can share fantastic stories about the value of our service. In the past, we've always tried to capture the stories in dry case studies and short quotes. This time, we wanted to create short testimonial videos to better showcase their personalities and successes.

What were your goals for this project?

We hoped to use the video during our sales demos, in follow-ups, on the website, and at trade shows.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I visited a conference in San Francisco that I knew many of our clients would attend. I Googled video production companies in San Francisco, and Fog Coast Productions appeared. After speaking with several other companies and reviewing examples, Fog Coast Productions won because of their solid proposal, suitable budget, and professional and easygoing attitude. I felt confident that they knew what they were doing, that they would guide me, and that they would deliver a quality product.

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

We decided to do create five videos: one client-focused testimonial, two best practices videos, and one company-focused video. We also requested on-screen text to add visual interest.

We discussed what types of questions to ask clients beforehand. During the video shoot, I asked our clients questions. I knew that gathering enough material for the videos would depend on the answers we received. After filming, we didn't have enough unique material to make the second best practices video, so we created a shorter compilation to use on social media.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided a three-person filming crew and all the appropriate equipment.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We felt proud to share the videos with our clients, who were happy with how professional they looked. We've gotten great feedback from clients and plan to use the video at our 2019 trade shows! 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their workflow and communication were great. A few weeks in advance, we talked about the flow of the shoot and discussed the questions we would ask. They gave helpful suggestions since this was our first time creating a video.

Their clear, timely feedback showed me what to expect on the day of filming. They had the first iteration ready for review soon after the shoot, and the post-production and editing moved quickly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their flexible approach made the location and lighting work well. Amazingly, they also found the best clips without much input. Most of my edits related to choosing an intro/outro and adjusting on-screen text. The client shots were spot-on, and they did an awesome job of choosing the highest-impact dialogue.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only thing that I'd request is to receive advice about clothing earlier. Their work and communication were high-quality, though, so I have no complaints.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the marketing and communications director for the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, a philanthropic catalyst that connects Bay Area Jews to the power we have as a community to improve the world. We partner with donors, organizations, and foundations to address the pressing issues facing our community, and we develop innovative strategies that result in deep and lasting impact locally, in Israel, and around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

We needed to create several videos: one to highlight the impact of our work and one to present to a community leader. Both were critical because they'd be viewed by some of the wealthiest philanthropists and donors in the Bay Area.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the videos to inspire and educate the audience on who we are and what we do. We also wanted them to entertain and purposely poke a little fun at the winner of our annual Sinton Award, which goes to an extraordinary life-time leader who has given time consistently to the Jewish and general communities.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

One of our employees referred them.

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

They started off by explaining the entire lifecycle of the process in advance, so expectations were set from the beginning. We collaborated on the videos, and they posted them onto a platfom that allowed us to provide edits, suggestions, and feedback on specific frames. We had three rounds of feedback until all the different complicated video components were streamlined and looked effortless.
 

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Communication was key to making this effort successful, and their process had the perfect mixture of meetings, listening to our needs, and creative collaboration. They were highly creative in their approach, and responsive and professional. They also made it very clear that they wouldn't leave without us being absolutely satisfied with the final product, which we were.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The videos were well received, and one of them will be used throughout the year in all of our distribution channels to help people understand the nature of our work. We continue using them now to make our blog and social media presence more dynamic.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Since there are only two of them, we always felt attended to. Their success depended on our team having a unified vision.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their combination of skill, knowledge, agility, creativity, and responsiveness was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

With this being a new professional relationship, we look forward to working with them. We're still improving how we communicate our needs and their translation of those needs. We did find it very helpful to have both of them in the room when explaining the projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the head of growth at Growth Drivers, a marketing agency specializing in scaling startups and small to mid-sized businesses in the tech industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

We needed to animate seven illustrations on our client’s website in a short time.

What were your goals for this project?

Our client wanted to increase their site’s production value with more user interactivity.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We'd worked with Fog Coast Productions before, and their high-quality work, expert knowledge, and competitive prices made them a no-brainer. They were also easy to communicate with and willing to work within our process.

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

The illustrations were custom, and, once animated, had to fit within the space where they lived on the website. All of them had to be the same speed too. I requested specific parts of each illustration be animated and received an estimate quickly. We had to do a lot of problem-solving to fit the scope of work. The tricky part was that the animations had to be extremely high-quality but couldn't slow down the website.

On top of this, we had to make some changes because the animations wouldn't work perfectly with the site as it was designed and developed. Steve (Co-Founder, Fog Coast Productions) took this in stride, and we found a solution to complete the project on time and budget.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The entire project was managed via a Google sheet I created with specific instructions for each animation. We also created a folder system within Google Drive to manage which animations needed approval and which ones had been approved.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our client is exceptionally happy with the animations and sees both longer session duration and time on page.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Because this was a one-off project, we didn't have Steve work within our normal project management system. Still, everything went smoothly. We communicated through Slack daily and had zero issues finishing the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They worked efficiently while communicating every step of the way. Steve fit within the process I’d outlined and cooperated extremely well with our developer, which made my life easier.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not off the top of my head.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a physician with an IV vitamin and alternative health facility.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

I wanted to create a promo video that I could use for digital marketing and place on my website.

What were your goals for this project?

I was looking for a fun and upbeat way of attracting people to my business. I also really wanted to capture the atmosphere at the business, since I think that’s a big drawing point for our clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended to me by one of my employees.

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

We met in person to discuss my ideas for the project. Fog Coast Productions researched my website and business to get an idea of my style. They did everything from giving us questions to answer so we wouldn't have to script things ourselves to helping us send emails to the clients who would be in the video. We got a detailed outline of the day of the shoot; nothing was left to chance. It was all well planned, which made me feel comfortable and confident that the shoot would be seamless.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We had two very knowledgeable people to handle filming, one of which was the owner of the company! We kept on schedule the entire day and even finished early. We had three rounds of drafts to use, but we only needed one. We only switched one word on the captions and added a five-second blurb about a service we have, and we were done!!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I haven't posted the video yet, but I expect great things!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

There was a seamless interaction with all the staff involved.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were organized and delivered exactly what they promised. It sounds like it’s not a lot to ask for, but you would be surprised with how often that doesn't happen. They also exceeded my expectations, which is really hard to find. The end product was phenomenal!