The Grid

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder & CEO at Lumenus a company that makes IoT connected safety products. We are based in Los Angeles and have offices in Taipei and North Carolina. My role is to oversee all operations from the product, marketing, and sales.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Grid?

We have been working on a new product, our first for the mass market, since 2018 and were finally ready to launch to market. We have a very 'different' version of a bike light than the average company, so we knew a visual video had to be both informative and exciting.

We hired The Grid because we knew they could help us scout multiple locations for a few different times and capture the visuals we needed. But beyond that, we chose The Grid because of their post-production capabilities.

They were able to add the necessary elements of graphic design and visuals that really brought the entire project together to be a strong final product that told the whole story.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was multifaceted. First to create a great video that could be used on our website, social media, and with our PR/press coverage. But it needed to be both the entire long-form video as well as could be broken down into smaller, shorter scenes that individually tell the story they need to.

The second was the need for a video that would help explain a complicated and brand new product to all audiences. It must explain visually through the shots but also through the animations and post-production graphics to emphasize the technical aspects of what was happening.

The final was this needed to be upbeat and informative but at the same time, the goal was to use this to sell products and convert viewers of this video to customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Grid?

The Grid came highly recommended when I asked around locally in North Carolina, with a second office in Los Angeles we had access to very talented videographers there as well. We spoke to a few firms and got quotes, and The Grid had better quality products to show us and had a better price for what the shoot was going to entail.

Their post-production and the drone/camera options made them a great fit. We knew that The Grid could produce great work from their reel, but what really made us sure we wanted to hire their team was after meeting with Kyle and Sean.

They listened, truly listened, and took the time to discuss our needs, goals, and vision. You could tell that they were deeply committed to making a great final product and that they love what they do.

After watching more of their samples and going through a storyboarding process it was clear that Kyle understood what we needed to shoot and create visually and Sean understood that there were going to be added elements after they shoot that he would add in post.

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

We came to The Grid essentially 'blind' to what we wanted or needed in a final product. We shared a few of our competitor videos and similar styles we liked first, then worked alongside their team to help understand the core parts of the script.

After our team worked the script to tell our story (the first draft at least) we worked with The Grid to storyboard the entire shoot, Kyle then worked that storyboard with our voiceover to show us shot for shot what the final product might look like--which allowed us to make a few edits and really have a strong vision going into shoot days.

Then a week before the scheduled shoot we met on-site and drove all around exploring the different options for where we could make sure we had the locations and lighting based on time of day and external factors out of our control to determine a flow for the shoot days.

The scouting was a really strong part of having a great video team, The Grid team really helped identify what we needed and what we didn't need to make sure that we could be efficient as we planned out our shoot.

The day before the proper shoot Kyle came out to one of the locations to then test different lenses, camera mounts, and all sorts of things that were above my head! We were able to make sure that our actors would feel comfortable (as our shoot involved moving vehicles and sharing the road with cars!) as we moved through the pre-shoot planning it was clear that they knew what they were doing.

Then on the two different shoot nights, we were able to relax and feel like everything was under control, even when things didn't go exactly according to plan. But having that planning process as a big part of The Grid's methodology allowed us to know that they had already prepared for these types of scenarios and have a backup solution ready.

My role was really just support and reviewing shots to make sure that it captured the visuals of the product and showed features as we would want them to look in the final cut. Then after two full shoot days/nights, we let Kyle and Sean go to work!

They were hyper-efficient in getting us first cuts and asking all the right questions to make sure the product we would receive back in the first draft met our needs. They even found our voiceover actors and helped us rework the script a little to match the final cut of the video.

After two rounds of review and great editing on the post-production side of graphics by the genius Sean we LOVED the final cut and were really pleased to have made the process so seamless and easy.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The feedback rounds were always effecient, we could tell that The Grid team valued our time. We limited our feedback from my company side to make sure that there was a main point of contact, but The Grid always was open to any feedback (including that of our actors) in the process.

The project management was GREAT this was one of the best aspects of working with The Grid, they provided us a client portal that held all of our cuts and imagery so we always had the same link that updated with new materials.

The video feedback was super easy, they used a premium solution that allowed for us to make notes right on the video and drag and drop those notes based on the timestamp and location on the screen so we could even make the most minute comments but making sure that it was placed on exactly what we were talking about--there was never any confusion because the notes existed off-video it was always in one place.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Grid nailed it, we felt great about the final product and it checked all the boxes of our goals for the project. We now have a hero video on our webpage that tells the story marvelously, but can always be cut down to the short-form versions to break out and highlight certain features.

This had been picked up by the press and media, and because it's so visually appealing they always include our video (which is way better for us) due to it's high quality. All of our team and our partners love the final product.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project management was seamless, as mentioned, the ability to keep it all on a singular portal was huge. We still access this portal for the needs of storage and sharing certain elements with our partners!

The video editing/notes tool was great because of the simplicity of leaving our feedback and having their team make comments in real-time right back. We shared this software solution for feedback internally at our team and were able to keep all comments in that video so it was super easy to share within the team and have those notes go directly to The Grid.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Honestly, it was all-around just a great experience, so much so that it's hard to single out and 'most impressive' element. I think that in and of itself is the most impressive component, that usually you have a place where a provider shines and places where they are not so good--but that was not the case with The Grid.

In our experience, every aspect was seamless, easy, and highly professional. The thing I really loved, as compared to working with our video companies in the past, was that their passion came through in our project and that we could tell it was not just 'another gig' but that they truly cared about us, our products, and the final video they worked on.

If I have to pick one thing that was my favorite, it's the people. Sean & Kyle were really amazing to work with and I highly suggest them to anyone.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The Grid was a great solution and I have no areas for improvement!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of WAAM. We’ve created a fitness app for top influential trainers, athletes, and celebrities to help their fans work out like the pros. Our users can work out anytime, anywhere on their phones.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Grid?

We needed to increase our video library, so we hired them to do video shoots of fitness workouts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the start of the project, we talked about the concept and storyboarding, and set expectations. Their team would come on-site to shoot. They filmed then edited all of the footage.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Sean (Co-Founder, The Grid) and Kyle (Co-Founder, the Grid).

How did you come to work with The Grid?

I heard about them through my community.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent approximately $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from November–December 2017. Everything was filmed and edited in those two months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The videos are great. We’ve received positive feedback about their high quality. Many have said the videos are professional and creative.

How did The Grid perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m 100% satisfied with The Grid’s project management abilities. We communicated through text and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with their flexibility. They were willing to work with us whenever issues came up. Because we shoot talent, there were frequent schedule changes with the workout instructors but Sean and Kyle were very cooperative.

Likewise, they were cooperative with us. As a startup, their team was very accommodating in working with our low budget. They made an effort to help get our feet off the ground and start going.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think it’d be helpful if their company had more people. I’d always need them last minute and they’d often be busy. Expanding their company size would be beneficial.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Tell The Grid what your vision is, and they’ll collaborate with you to bring it to life.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Marketing Manager at Benchmark Tool and Supply. We are a construction hardware and software supplier.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Grid?

We hired The Grid to tell the story of a new product launch. We hosted several demo days and wanted them to capture the capibility of the product, the attendees and get interviews to capture geniune reactions of thoes in attendance.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to effectively capture the capability of new precision technology. We were also hoping to capture genuine responses via interviews of those in attendance.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The Grid has done work for us in the past and we have been pleased with the results

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

The Grid arrived early and went over the shots we wanted and what story we wanted to tell. We went over where the machine would be, what we would be doing and where we thought the best shots would be. The Grid was excellent in providing feedback and expertise on where they could get additional angles .

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We provided the general tone we wanted to portray, and The Grid took care of everything else.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Grid was able to provide an excellent 1 to 2 minute video that was a perfect summarization of the event within 24 hours. This was extremely beneficial, as we had 2 additional demo days and we were able to use this video to promote those days. I believe we had greater attendance based on the video The Grid provided.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Flawless. If there are ever any edits that need to be made, The Grid is very prompt in responding and making the requested changes.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Everything, really. They are excellent at communicating prior to events. They always arrive early to allow plenty of research and prep time. They are very professional with any of our customers they interact with. Their post-shoot processing time is very fast and their videos are always very sharp and well done.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would only say he needs to hire more help so they can grow and service more customers!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I work for North Carolina's largest health insurance provider. My role is in internal communications and employer brand. This includes giving our current employees a sense of pride and showing potential candidates that we’re a great place to work.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Grid?

We wanted to film a video highlighting our company culture including our awards and recognition program and our annual spirit week. The goal was to show potential candidates about how we reward employees and reinforce a sense of positivity and camaraderie amongst our current employees.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We put together what we wanted to accomplish through the video. The Grid really helped us figure out from beginning to end what kind of questions we need to ask employees during interviews to get those answers. 

They filmed over the course of several days for each video they produced. For the rewards project, they did a full-day video shoot following our CEO around when we announced the recipients of the CEO Excellence Awards. They also filmed at the gala and did individual interviews with some of the recipients. 

They also produced a video about our annual Spirit Week which is where we take the opportunity to celebrate our company, culture, and people. They came to our campus multiple days to get candid shots of our employees walking the halls and during events. 

They send us the first cut after they’re done filming and ask for our feedback. We only have to go through one or two rounds of edits before the video is ready to go live. 

What is the team composition? 

Our main point of contact is Kyle (Co-Founder, The Grid), but he’s brought five or six additional staff members with him for some shoots. 

How did you come to work with the Grid?

One of our HR employees knew Kyle outside of work and recommended him to me. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000 on these internal communications videos. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on these projects from February-November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The videos have been widely viewed by our employees and have been well received. They elicit a really positive and even an emotional response in some cases. It gives viewers a feeling of empowerment. 

How did the Grid perform from a project management standpoint?

They are responsive and easy to communicate via email and in person. Their internal organizational methods must be great because they always get videos to us before the deadline. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

The team at the Grid is so creative and can find new angles to show similar concepts. They need little to no direction from us to deliver a great product. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. Every time I’ve worked with them, I’ve been really impressed. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about the end result you want and communicate how you’re going to use the video. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of Aeriallook, a service, and technology company that utilizes video, 3D, VR and AR technologies to help brands enhance their user experience and increase client acquisition.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Grid?

We hired The Grid to assist with the production of a video for a mountain retreat owned by a VIP client.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals for this project were to capture the essence and beauty that the private estate exudes. The video is to be incorporated in the Sotheby's Auction House.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were referred to Kyle by a few larger organizations operating in the Triangle of NC. Because of these high profile recommendations, we did not seek additional vendors.

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

The Grid storyboarded, filmed and edited the video footage to create a final product consisting of a lifestyle video, property video and Instagram ready clips.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided a 2 person film crew, 1 director and 1 editor. The storyboard was approved by our team and The Grid provided us an end to end solution.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Sotheby's Auction House accepted the video submission into their property auction network.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They had everything: easy communication, a professional team, and a superior end product!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their level of customer service accompanied by their superior expertise and skillsets helped us impress a very high profile client who specializes in Marketing and Video production.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We saw no areas of improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for an e-commerce company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Grid?

We needed content for an ad to post on Facebook and Instagram.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired The Grid to shoot videos for Facebook and Instagram. We met with them in-office and gave them an overview of the project such as our vision and what we wanted to create. We developed the concept and the script, which The Grid executed. They also put us in touch with a hand model to feature in the video.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two people from The Grid.

How did you come to work with The Grid?

Another company recommended The Grid.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $5,000 on the video.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in July 2017, and it wrapped up in August of the same year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were great partners and we would definitely recommend them. It was a great experience and The Grid did a great job overall.

How did The Grid perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great partners and communicated well. After our in-person meeting, we were in contact by email and that’s how we approved content. We provided notes, which their team took and implemented well. Their team was excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication sets them apart from the competition.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing that The Grid could’ve done differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come prepared with an outline of objectives and a concept. Start with an initial meeting and you’ll be good to go.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Vine Rich Events. We’re an event planning firm for corporate and nonprofit fundraising events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Grid?

We’ve worked with them on several projects, but the first project they did with us was for our client’s 150-year anniversary. We wanted to create a video that captured content before folks got excited about the anniversary.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were in charge of everything from preproduction to postproduction. The Grid collaborated with us to determine what we wanted the video to be about. We had a good idea of what we wanted, but we hosted creative sessions in which they provided valuable input. We involved leadership in the video content.

Then, on the day of the event, The Grid set up a custom-built video booth, where people can share their experience working for the company and the day of the celebration. So, we were able to get a couple of different videos out of one project.

What is the team composition?

We had about 3–4 people working with us on this specific project.

How did you come to work with The Grid?

One of our other clients recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

The first project was about $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first project lasted from January–September 2017, but we continue to work with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received a lot of great feedback. Our client was very happy with the video content that The Grid put together. They still use one of the videos for onboarding new employees. Now, they can get excited about the history of the company.

How did The Grid perform from a project management standpoint?

They were incredible. We work with a lot of vendors, but we noticed that The Grid was on top of their game immediately. They provide this awesome website where we could view our project timeline for every project we work on with them. We can easily see what the next steps are, what we owe them, and what we need to expect from them. It’s very helpful when I have a last-minute meeting with a client—I can be updated and knowledgeable about where we stand without having to call our project manager for last-minute updates.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really like how they integrate and transition between pictures, motion graphics, and static graphics. In another project we worked on, they created a timeline that flowed really well. In our line of work, switching gears grabs the viewers’ attention. I never thought someone talked too long or there was too much to read. The transitions kept things interesting.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything off the top of my head.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

At the beginning of the project, be clear about why you need the video. By doing so, you’ll let them get creative.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a partner at a law firm with about 100 attorneys.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Grid?

The Grid was supporting a case surrounding property. We needed aerial shots showcasing a property that was part of the case.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve worked on 3–4 cases for us, producing aerial shots of property and animation on proposed construction. The deliverables were to be used as evidence in mediation or trial if it came to that. At this point, we have outstanding projects with them, but our cases are moving very slowly. We’re not doing a ton of work currently because of that pacing.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Kyle (Co-Founder, The Grid). He has a team that works with him on projects, but I only interacted with them.

How did you come to work with The Grid?

I saw aerial footage that they produced for a friend and asked them for the team’s contact information.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $10,000–$50,000 on their services in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2017 and still have a few active projects with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve used his footage in two cases and one mediation. In that mediation, we were able to resolve the case. Him being able to show how beautiful the property was with his footage helped us make our case. Their deliverables showed how said property would be affected by construction, which was important to us. 

How did The Grid perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re super responsive. When I email Kyle, he responds within an hour, which is great. I really enjoy working with him.

What did you find most impressive about them?

For the price, the quality of their services is very competitive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything negative to say about them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

In any project, it's beneficial to discuss your long term vision. Kyle does a good job of that.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

At Fourscore Business Law, we believe that ideas deserve opportunity. So we represent entrepreneurs, investors and innovating businesses at critical decision points including venture financing transactions and mergers and acquisitions. We also serve as outside general counsel for businesses that don't need in-house counsel. I am the founding attorney the firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Grid?

We wanted to do a video series on choosing the best entity for starting a business.

What were your goals for this project?

Produce a professional looking (but still laid-back) video for us to push out to clients and potential clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Kyle and I have helped each other on various projects over the past several years.

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

Being a law firm with a non-traditional name we get alot of questions. The guys at the Grid first helped us with a one minute explainer video that turned out great. We had previously done some video content and handled the shoot ourselves. Even after alot of help from friends who do editing they were obviously DIY projects.

We still use DIY for very short informal content, but have started using the Grid for our video series. The difference in quality is stark to say the least. They are really easy to work with and go a long way to help you feel comfortable in front of the camera. it can be awkward the first few times you try it!

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They did a great job keeping us up to date on when to expect videos.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The videos look great and we send them to clients all the time.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to put you at ease hen you're not used to being in front of the camera.

Are there any areas for improvement?

nope