Highline Studios

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director at a private equity firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Highline Studios?

We needed to create a video for our firm.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began working with Highline Studios on a two-month project, but it took six months due to COVID-19. Initially, we laid out what we were looking for; the goal was to create a video montage that featured our investment portfolio and video interviews and snippets of our clients, business partners, and other people in our firm’s network.

They created some animated intros and animations with our logos for the portfolio. The video lasted 12 minutes, and they handled all the production, video editing, and audio mixing.

What is the team composition?

We mainly worked with Damon (Founder & Producer). Additionally, we work with a graphic designer and around six people throughout the time on film shoots.

How did you come to work with Highline Studios?

People in my network referred them to me. I was looking for someone to create this, so I had a recommendation.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2021–May 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We used the video for an event, so it wasn’t published. However, we received a ton of feedback from the people featured in it, the team, our clients, and various people in the network. They were all really pleased.

How did Highline Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great from the beginning. They had a quick read on what we were trying to do. They knew even better than us, so the project landed right where it should. Moreover, they were responsible, flexible, and accommodating. Also, we worked with them on edits on Frame.io, and they were always quick to upload the material. We had back and forth feedback immediately after each shot, and they were very realistic with the timeline.

They usually don’t do in-person collaboration, but they did for us. Damon was willing to come in and have a creative editing session. For everything else, we used phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understood what we were trying to achieve. It was a significant video for the firm, so it needed a deep understanding of our whole network. They were able to learn about our firm and present it in the video.

On top of that, they were great about making recommendations to help us get there. We didn’t force-feed the whole strategy; it was a collaborative effort. Also, their attention to detail, flexibility, and focus were outstanding.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they were great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re receptive to feedback, so give feedback along the way. Also, we initially laid out what we were looking for, which was helpful because we could always go back to it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of Happy Returns. We’re a return software and reverse logistics company tackling the challenges of returning online purchases.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Highline Studios?

We needed someone to produce an explainer video that we could use for our sales and marketing efforts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Highline Studios created a video that detailed the step-by-step process and the value proposition of our services. The shoot took place over two days. One day involved an on-site shoot in one of our Return Hub facilities in Pennsylvania. Then, the team facilitated a shoot in California. They interviewed some of executives at our headquarters and also shot footage at a store that is part of our network of return drop off locations.

After the shoot, the team proceeded to edit the video according to our feedback. For example, the editors removed certain logos without creating a blur in the video. The end deliverable was a B2B marketing video that was about three and a half minutes long. Highline Studios also submitted some B-roll footage, including some aerial drone shots.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 teammates, including Damon (Founder & Producer) as our primary contact. There were also other teammates working during the shoots.

How did you come to work with Highline Studios?

Damon was referred to me by a creative director I previously worked with. They gave me 2–3 people in their network, and I called them all to see who I felt most comfortable with and could work with me to bring my vision to life. Highline Studios had the experience I was looking for and the look I wanted to capture.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $42,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from May–July 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too early to quantify its impact on our advertising and conversion. However, we just started using the deliverables to help us with PR and sales, and they got a lot of positive feedback from our sales team. In fact, I was able to use it as a primer for an interview I had with a top publication, and it was beneficial as a visual cue that helped people see how our process worked and the value proposition we offered. Overall, we got what we wanted.

How did Highline Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

Highline Studios did an excellent job. They were open to our feedback and provided high-quality revisions. We used Frame.io to look at drafts and provide feedback. Overall, it was a collaborative process, and everything moved at an appropriate pace that we were satisfied with. The cost was slightly higher than our original estimates, but it was due to some requested revisions outside the scope.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Highline Studios did a fantastic job of absorbing our feedback and collaborating with us towards our chosen direction. We felt that they listened to us and let us shape the end product, which we appreciated. It was second nature for Highline Studios to be receptive to our vision, allowing them to stand out from other agencies that tend to take over. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

These processes are always more efficient when both sides are organized with briefs, examples, etc. We probably lost some time by not being fully prepared in describing our end product, but I don’t necessarily fault Highline for that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want your end product to look like. Additionally, define its parameters in terms of length, storytelling, and so on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I worked for a technology company that created on-demand warehousing and logistics software. I was the former senior product marketing manager, and my job was to create storytelling around what our product could and couldn’t do. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Highline Studios?

Part of my job was creating a case study video, which was why I hired Highline Studios. At that time, we were trying to shoot a video in California in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The video that Highline Studios shot was a testimonial about how we worked with a warehouse partner to execute e-commerce fulfillment operations. It was about our partnership with that warehouse and their experience working with our company.

We also shot in other locations, and we did interviews with people who were not in LA. Damon (Founder & Producer) took care of the LA shoot, and then he helped me schedule interviews in both Seattle and New York. He then created local teams in those cities to do the recordings. 

What is the team composition?

I only interacted with Damon, but there was a team of 4–5 people on site that worked with him. 

How did you come to work with Highline Studios?

We wanted to find a local production company in LA that had decent enough reviews and that we could trust to shoot a video without us. I talked to a few different vendors, but I was super impressed with Damon. He had shot industrial and warehouse-type videos before, so he was confident in going into a warehouse and getting shots that were authentic to the warehousing business.

His quote was also the most attractive — it wasn’t the cheapest, but it also wasn’t the most expensive — it felt like a good middle-of-the-road option. We could have bought something that was expensive, but we weren’t sure if we were going to love it.

I was also impressed with the portfolio that Damon had on their website. On top of that, he was willing to work with us and guide our creative direction to create a product that we were happy with. Overall, I thought Highline Studios would give us the best bang for our buck. 

How much have you invested with them?

Overall, we spent just above $30,000. We spent around $21,000 on the video, and each additional external interview in other cities cost $4,000. We ended up doing two external interviews, and we also added a few extra things to the scope. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from January–March 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When we received the first draft of the video, we were truly blown away; we didn’t think our money could go so far. In other words, we were pretty impressed with what we received. It was also wonderful that Damon was completely confident about going into the warehouse without us. 

Meanwhile, we don’t have any tangible metrics yet since the video hasn’t been launched. However, we’ve all been excited about it. Everyone’s really loving it, and they’re making their families watch it. 

How did Highline Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

We didn’t have any regular meetings. However, during the shoot, Damon Zoomed me frequently, so I was able to participate. Other than that, we communicated a lot via email and text whenever we needed anything. It was very casual and quick, which was how I liked to communicate. 

Since we were trying to move fast on the video and capture things quickly, Highline Studios was super responsive. Whatever question, doubt, or worry we had, they were able to communicate quickly and be on top of it.

Moreover, I initially wasn’t sure what to expect from them. I’d worked with many companies in the past that were very rigid and that weren’t always available. In contrast, Highline Studios was always available anytime we needed to talk. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

In general, Highline Studios was open to feedback, discussion, and iteration. It wasn’t complicated or rigid in any way; it was a really simple and easy process. Apart from that, Damon was super interested in hearing what we had to say. He listened well to the people that we brought in as references when thinking about how to shoot the video. 

We gave him a topic that he may not be very familiar with, but he listened to us and was empathetic to our needs in order to create something that was genuine and authentic for the situation — I was super impressed with that. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. The project has turned out pretty well despite the challenges we had, such as not being able to meet in person. It was a total leap of faith, but it worked out really well. Now, I’m hoping to use them again in my new company. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be super clear, concise, and organized, and know exactly what you want. In our engagement, I provided a brief and wrote out my expectations in exact order, including the storyline and how everything should flow. 

Damon will leave the expectations up to you, and he’ll provide feedback. However, coming prepared and having a direction for what you want is super helpful for him. He’ll execute the project a lot faster if you have everything in line and ready to go when you’re engaging him.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of investor relations for an asset management system.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Highline Studios?

We needed help creating content for our site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped produce a video that was like a testimonial with a CEO that we worked with. I wrote the script but they gave us some help around making sure that it was useful for the format that we were trying to achieve.

What is the team composition?

Damon (Producer) was our main point of contact and he had some people that helped him the day of shooting.

How did you come to work with Highline Studios?

They worked with our firm prior to my joining the company and they'd been very happy with it.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2019–March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

People internally were happy with it and the CEO who did the interview was happy with it as well, so I think it was a good outcome. We plan to use them again going forward.

How did Highline Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

Our focus can shift very quickly and they did a good job of managing that and keeping us on task. Everything was completed in a timeframe that was exceedingly reasonable and worked for us, which was great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Damon was really good at getting the results that we wanted, which included coaching the CEO a little bit. It can be tricky because a lot of times the people we’re interviewing for this type of video are doing it as a favor and sometimes you have to be sensitive about it, and he did a great job.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The clearer you are about what you’re looking for is very helpful in this type of work. It’s hard for a service provider like that to read minds and not have the right guidance. I would encourage anyone who is doing this type of producing to just be clear about the outcome you’re looking for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of global brand at AECOM, the largest civil engineering firm in the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Highline Studios?

We were having a sign of the company's name placed on a building in Los Angeles over 50 feet high, which involved helicopter transportation of the 16-foot-tall letters. We wanted to capture both stagnant video content of the sign itself, as well as drone footage of the letters as they were being transported over the city skyline.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Highline captured stationary video of our sign, along with drone footage of the letters as they were installed via helicopter and a crane. They also hired the helicopter, got FAA approval to film the installation, and provided editing of the final video.

What is the team composition? 

Damon (Producer, Highline Studios) was our main point of contact, but he had a team of others involved in filming and editing. 

How did you come to work with Highline Studios?

They were introduced to me about five years ago by a former colleague. We considered a few other firms, but ultimately liked that Highline was willing to work with us and understood our goals. They weren't just yes-men; they provided a lot of creative ideas and feedback off the bat. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $50,000–$100,000. We've also worked with them on other projects, ranging in price from $20,000–$100,000 depending on the scope of involvement. 

What is the status of this engagement?

This particular project took place between April–May 2016. We didn't come to them with a lot of forewarning, but they were extremely flexible and willing to do what it took to make it happen.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video they produced helped put our company on the map in Los Angeles. We used to joke about being the largest company and employer in the city that no one knew about. When we played the video at our unveiling event, it significantly boosted awareness of our name and attracted a lot of new hires. It's also helped boost morale and employee retention. A lot of employees were proud of the video and shared it on their own social network profiles.

How did Highline Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very proactive, responsive, and quick to turn around deliverables. During the latest project, we held multiple creative calls with their team to storyboard the video.

They were also realistic about what was doable and what wasn't, avoiding making any empty promises to us. They've been very flexible in working with us over the years as well, despite the complexity of work we often give them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creative point of view sets them apart. They captured beautiful, unique content and provided a lot of great ideas throughout the engagement.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would love for them to grow and expand to other cities, so we're able to do even more work with them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of investor relations and corporate communications for Tutor Perini Corporation. We primarily work on large, civil-infrastructure construction projects. Our company also does specialty contracting projects, including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation services.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Highline Studios?

We hired Highline Studios to create a corporate video to showcase several projects we’re involved in. Our goal was to display the scale and breadth of work we’ve done and continue to do.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We spent quite a bit of time planning with Damon (Founder & CEO, Highline Studios) before beginning filming. We showed their team a few of our major projects so they could gain a sense of who we were. From there, Damon and his team went to several locations and captured footage of the work we were doing. They consolidated the content into one video that displayed key information, such as price, highlights of each project, and other aspects of the fieldwork.

What is the team composition?

Damon was our primary point of contact, though he had a full team working behind him. I only had to communicate with one person throughout the engagement, which streamlined the process for me.

How did you come to work with Highline Studios?

We researched a few companies that produce corporate videos and commercials. We saw the work Highline Studios had done for not only our competitors but also for others outside of our industry. We were impressed with their portfolio, so we began a dialogue with Damon and continued from there.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took roughly six months, running from February–August 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We now have the video on our website and YouTube channel, meaning more people can see the work we do. We’ve received a great amount of feedback from customers, shareholders, and people within our company who are impressed with the final product. Instead of a simple five-minute presentation, we’re able to show the video to potential clients and they’ll see what we’re capable of.

How did Highline Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They were a very organized, attentive team. Throughout the engagement, Damon effectively managed all the schedules and deadlines, while keeping us involved. All of the right resources were allocated to the project and required little oversight from our team. The coordination between our teams was smooth and all of the expectations were clear.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their approach to video production resulted in a high-quality, creative final product. Everything from the pre-production, filming, editing was handled with strong attention to detail. Damon moved through the process with a great flow and had clear ideas that translated into the work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They excelled in supporting us, so there’s nothing I can suggest they improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared to provide the key information you want to convey in the videos, and be as specific as possible. The better Highline Studios understands your company and vision, the more likely they’ll produce something great for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the event coordinator at The Raine Group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Highline Studios?

We needed to create a video for an event that highlights some of the work we're doing for our investors. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Highline Studios creates a 5-10 minute video showcasing our portfolio each year for an event, incorporating music, transitions, and some animation. 

What is the team composition? 

I work with Damon (Producer, Highline Studios) each time.

How did you come to work with Highline Studios?

We were already working with Highline Studios when I came into this role, but we always go back to working with them based on the quality of their work and the ease of our relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We invest $15,000–$20,000 per video each year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since March 2015. We try to give them as much time as possible to work on the project, but they've turned it around for us as quickly as six weeks when needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Highline Studios has done a great job of getting our investors excited about the work we're doing. They've been very open to our suggestions for ways to spice things up and added elements of their own creativity as well.

How did Highline Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They've always been very flexible with our timelines, accommodating last minute requests and edits as needed. They're also easy to reach, responsive to our feedback, and very collaborative overall. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Damon is very responsive and a pleasure to work with; we can always count on him.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Reach out to their team early in the planning process to give them as much time as possible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We do LED lighting product design, manufacturing and distribution and I am the VP of the company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

a 30s video ads to enhance our brand image

SOLUTION

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

the production samples of Highline shows they are a professional studio

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

After a quick kickoff call with Damon, we moved into the agreement. We then held a conference meeting with the producer and sent all the product samples to Damon. The shooting took place roughly 3 weeks after we signed the contract and took about 12-14 hours with several very efficient and professional teams.

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

Damon Hoydysh, very prompt in response, professional and talent

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not yet. The video came out very impressive and our teams love it, but we haven't received any feedback from the market.

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

prompt and brief communication.

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

Damon knows who to work with to achieve the final result.

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

I wish all the possible fees can be explained better ahead of time, instead of surprising me during the process. The budget control could be done better.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP of Andersen Industries. We are a manufacturer of welding equipment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Highline Studios?

We manufacturer a welding boom for companies to improve production along with providing a safer work space. The welding industry as a whole has struggled to understand how this product can work in their facility.

What were your goals for this project?

Demonstrate how the boom works, and how easy it is to operate.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Contacted 3 companies off of the search of the internet. High line studios was very responsive and put a proposal together within 24 hours. we felt that they would do the best job for our product.

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

We asked them to come out to our plant and view the product in action so they could see and understand how it works

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

while at our facility we were able to develop an outline and direction of what we were looking for.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The week after we finished the project we used the video at a trade show. I had a customer comment of the video and said " The video really show how easy it is to move around the welding area" We had people stopping to watch the video, which was engaging enough to hold their interest for the 1 minute and 48-second video.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They listened to what our needs were and then delivered.

Are there any areas for improvement?

very satisfied

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a partner at a Los Angeles Real Estate firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Highline Studios?

We had a need for a high quality video production in effort to tell a story to a city municipality.

What were your goals for this project?

Intelligent, clean and precise story telling. Cinematography, production design and sound to tell our story.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were introduced by another vendor. And thank goodness we were!

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

Highline co wrote, produced, and edited this piece. They paid great attention to detail and worked tirelessly to deliver. It seemed not job was too small for their team.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Highline worked with our teams to make sure everyone was happy with the work. Again, they never said NO to a request.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video came out perfect. There are a bunch of personalities with great taste and opinions. Highline was great in balancing all.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless. Working with the Highline team felt like they worked at my company.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The quality of the work is magnificent. At first, to myself, I said, "these people are so calm and wonderful, I wonder how the end product will look." They killed it. I am beyond happy.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I think everyone has the opportunity to improve, always. I can say with ease, and I (rarely) write reviews, Highline was a good choice. They are professional, courteous and really pay attention to the details.