Mike Beech Film

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Revival, a rug company that designs, manufactures, and refurbishes handmade rugs. We sell them online through our website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mike Beech Film?

We were looking to produce promotional videos to tell our brand’s story and showcase a particular set of products. We produce rugs in different countries, so we wanted to communicate how our rugs are made, the history of our designs, and our aesthetic. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mike Beech Film designed the storyline and general vision of the videos. They produced three 1–3-minute-long videos and traveled with us to India, Morocco, and Turkey to shoot them. We visited rug makers and historical sites to capture the process that goes into the rugs' fabrication. 

Mike Beech Film brought their production crew along with professional filming equipment to the countries we shot in. The videos didn't have a lot of voiceovers; they mostly consisted of visual elements, and Mike Beech Film was also in charge of the postproduction.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a crew of 5–6 team members from Mike Beech Film. Mike (Filmmaker) was the leader and was in charge of planning the shootings. 

How did you come to work with Mike Beech Film?

Our co-founder had an existing business relationship with Mike Beech Film and recommended them. I checked their portfolio and was impressed with their previous work with other brands. We discussed our project with Mike Beech Film, and they met us in Turkey, where we shot the first video. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $15,000–$20,000 with Mike Beech Film.

What is the status of this engagement?

Mike Beech Film produced the videos from February 2017–November 2019. We've had other engagements since then; they adapted the footage from the videos for different social media channels, like Facebook. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The videos that Mike Beech Film produced have been the centerpiece of our brand’s advertising for at least three years. We’ve used them in all of our video ads and incorporated them into our website. 

Mike Beech Film was very thoughtful and talented, and the quality of their work was second to none. They knew how to put together a storyline and used different video techniques to get the desired outcome. Mike Beech Film was an incredibly talented artist — any brand would be lucky to work with them.

How did Mike Beech Film perform from a project management standpoint?

Mike Beech Film was very responsive and met deadlines. Although Mike had a busy schedule and was based in Korea at the time, he was great at communicating with his crew and us. We communicated through email and Google Meet. We also used Google Sheets and Google Slides to share information about the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with Mike Beech Film’s technical abilities and artistic vision. They were great at crafting a story and bringing it to life.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Mike Beech Film to improve — they were excellent. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend you come to Mike Beech Film with clear goals and an open mind. Try to understand Mike Beech Film perspective because they have good judgment.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a producer at Compass Production, a documentary production company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Mike Beech Film?

Mike Beech has worked with us as the director of photography for different projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Last year, we worked with Mike (Freelance Filmmaker) on two documentary films, and we’ll work with him this year as well. For every project, we first give him information about the project, and he provides us with ideas. He also aligns with our director and producer on expectations and ideas, as well as provides suggestions on the best gear to execute the project. Then, he collaborates with us as the camera person during production.

What was the team composition? 

We’ve worked with Mike and a camera assistant he brings in.

How did you come to work with  Mike Beech Film?

We’re based in South Korea, so we were looking for someone with a very good understanding of the country. Mike had been living in South Korea for a while, so he was the perfect fit for the project. Moreover, he was recommended by many people, so we decided to reach out to him.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent around $10 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project started in September 2022, and our collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our current documentary is still in process, but everything is going well. It’ll be released via online streaming once it’s done. Thus far, we’ve received very positive feedback from our company’s main investor, so we’re pleased with the results.

How did Mike Beech Film perform from a project management standpoint?

When we first contacted Mike, he provided us with a precise schedule so that we knew if we could count on him. We also provided him with a budget, and the whole process was very smooth. In addition to that, Mike has been a very good communicator. We communicate via email and phone calls, and we’ve never had any issues in that regard.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Mike has worked in numerous documentary films in the past, so he has a very good creative vision and comprehension of the process. Moreover, he has been living in South Korea for 10 years, so he has a very good understanding of the country. Sometimes, it’s hard to find people with a good understanding of different cultures, but Mike is great at that. Additionally, he is very hard working.

Are there any areas they could improve?

So far, I haven’t found anything Mike could improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend working with Mike on documentary and commercial films.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the Marketing Director for a technology company called Meltwater: a software as a service organization that provides media intelligence services for PR and Marketing professionals. I oversee all demand generation and brand development responsibilities for the organization, which entails video case studies and physical events, trade shows and expos.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mike Beech Film, and what were your goals?

We’ve hired Mike for multiple projects over the years, one of which was a video case study capturing the working relationship between Meltwater and one of our most valuable clients, The Economist. We needed to tell the story of what it means to be a Meltwater client in a very human way, without jargon or being cliche.

SOLUTION

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

I had seen some of Mike’s work via his showreel and also had a mutual acquaintance. I was impressed by not only his editing but also his fresh take on visual storytelling.

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

We started by sharing the vision we had for the video with Mike. He went away and created a full storyboard and briefing document that outlined his vision shot by shot and also gave context to some of the editing techniques we could incorporate into the feature to make it stand out. He also helped us source a venue to shoot the video that was in line with what he believed the aesthetic should be.

We agreed on a location, venue and time and then Mike explained the details around what would be needed on the day in terms of time from each person to be included in the video. Mike shortlisted several sound tracks we could use for the film, one of which we chose.

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

We worked with Mike himself and every step of the way he was a consummate professional and quick to provide a response when we needed one. I preferred this over working with a larger agency where responsibility is sometimes diffused.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Economist case study was heralded by our CEO as the best video we’d ever produced and even featured on the homepage for a full year. It remains the most watched Meltwater video ever made and is still relied on heavily when communicating the investment Meltwater makes into client relationships.

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

Mike takes on board the vision the client has and present ideas of how to bring that to reality. He does a fantastic job of turning abstract ideas into practical outcomes. We communicated via email and instant messenger throughout the process and he was always available to discuss questions we might have. The timelines provided were swift and quicker than the larger agencies we used.

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

Mike’s creativity is astounding. He doesn’t simply take what you say and deliver on it, he proposes ideas and helps guide the project to a place that it wouldn’t otherwise have been able to reach without his input. His editing is still the best I’ve ever come across and beyond that, he’s just a lovely person to work with too.

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

Nothing at all. I would recommend Mike to anyone needing a high-quality videographer / Director.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Production Manager for Create, CNN's in-house brand studio. We produce television commercials and social films for our public and private sector clients that air on our television channels and digital platforms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mike Beech Film, and what were your goals?

We hired Mike Beech to direct advertisement films for our client, Korea Tourism Organisation. Our goals were to produce five separate films, each one focusing on a different city in Korea.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our Creative Producer did some research on acclaimed film directors in Seoul and chanced upon Mike's portfolio, which the rest of our team found very impressive. We then interviewed him and decided to hire him.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

To start with, our Creative Producer ran through our creative treatment with Mike and took his input where needed. Mike's team then created a shooting schedule for us, which was shared with the client.

The client's feedback was incorporated into the final schedule and Mike and his team set out for shoot. During the shoot, they managed our client's representatives present on location. Following the shoot, they delivered both online proxies as well as raw footage to our in-house editors.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Mike Beech: Film Director & Cinematographer Keith Keunhyung Park: Line Producer First Assistant Camera

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We managed to successfully produce 5 advertisement films for our client, Korea Tourism Organisation, that left them very impressed. Based on the effectiveness of the campaign, we are looking to renew another deal with them for this year.

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

We communicated regularly via Zoom calls, emails and WhatsApp. Mike was very responsive and provided us with regular updates during the shoot.

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

Mike's flexibility around scheduling helped us navigate some key challenges during this shoot. He was able to schedule two pick-up shoots within our tight timeline, which definitely sets him apart from other vendors we have worked with.

It goes without saying that he is also an incredibly talented cinematographer and has a great eye for lighting.

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

We would have appreciated if the online proxies could have been delivered faster, however, they tend to be very large files and so uploading is an issue that most of our vendors face.