The Motion Grove

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and CEO at Full Circle Fine Art Services, located in Baltimore, MD. We are a leading resource in the creative community, offering professional fine art services to artists, galleries, museums, and corporate and private collections for over three decades by providing archival framing and printing, art reproduction, photography lab services, and customized presentation services throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

Full Circle provides strategic insights to enhance every project and to deliver with exceptional quality. Though we now serve the needs of an international customer base, we maintain the ethos of a boutique, artist run business, tailoring our work to the needs of each client, each step of the way. And as artists ourselves, we maintain a commitment to the Baltimore arts community.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Motion Grove, and what were your goals?

We hired Dan to tell a story, without advertising overtones, about our film services and lab. The narrative's aim was to connect with the wonder of film based photography and the demonstrate the modern methods for taking film images and producing them in print form. We wanted the short story to be moving, sensory, and paint a clear picture of the process.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Honestly, Dan was a film client. He took great photos so I reached out to him with ideas and he came back to me with a clear vision of the story and the how to get it done.

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

We had several conversations to start describing the vision and purpose. "Sell people on a brand without selling anything." "Show them what we do, how we do it...and what expect of the kind of people we are." We physically walked Dana and his assistant through each step of the technical processes so they could write the script. The script eventually encompassed the story before the film reached us as well extending the idea to a finished print product.

Dan's team gave us the more holistic ideas and pitched, ne, insisted we do the more comprehensive story to bring a true story-telling component to the finished piece. Dan presented us with a clear story board and scene description.

I believe we had 4 main shooting days. The initial day captured technical aspects in the lab, sounds, film being dropped off. Another day, we took our team off site for several hours to shoot a scene outside. There were two small subsequent shoots to fill in information and get sound recordings.

The first draft was fairly close to what we ended up with. I think we made a few cuts to get the time down to a shareable limit. And we had the audio modified to match the cuts and transitions. We received a full resolution Mpeg and a version for use on the web.

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

It was only Dan and an assistant. We did hire someone to create the original soundtrack to the piece.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The social media reach of that video release, including on Instagram Facebook and Youtube reached new audiences as helped build our customer base. We are the largest lab in Baltimore offering film processing and related services.

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

Well, I like a lot of control on projects like this.I typically have a strong sense of what I want but don't always know how to get there. But I am also collaborative. Dan and his team were collaborative as well: taking charge where necessary and taking direction when needed. When I would describe what I wanted. Dan explained in detail, and in terms I could understand, how to get there.

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

Flexibly. Adaptive nature. Able to match my vision to his technical capabilities.

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

They were very flexible and willing to accommodate our needs and schedule.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a marketing coordinator for Grosvenor based out of Vancouver. Grosvenor is an international organisation whose activities span urban property, food & agtech, rural estate management and support for philanthropic initiatives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Motion Grove, and what were your goals?

We hired The Motion Grove to produce a video for one of our development projects in DC. We wanted to create a video that highlighted the artists that were commissioned to create a series of works for our new Development, City Homes.

SOLUTION

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

I came into the project later on, and was not part of the selection process.

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

I was not involved in the full process so I cannot speak to this.

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

We worked with Dan and provided him a vision for what we wanted included in the video, and he worked to capture all of the elements that we were looking for. He provided numerous revisions until the we were happy with the final version.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video turned out exactly as we had hoped, and we worked with Dan further to create smaller clips to be used for marketing purposes as well.

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

Dan was incredibly responsive and was great at sticking to out agreed upon timelines. He would be able to get revisions back to us quickly and efficiently and was great about incorporating our feedback into the revisions.

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

Their timeliness and responsiveness were most appreciated.

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

Nothing to comment here, we were overall very happy with the final product and working together!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the managing director of a full-service marketing & advertising agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Motion Grove, and what were your goals?

We hired Dan to direct and produce a full-day, in-studio production shoot for a client of our firm. Dan was responsible for securing studio, casting talent, and securing the support team for the day of the shoot. Dan and his team were also responsible for post-production editing of multiple versions of TV commercials, as well as still photography for client usage.

SOLUTION

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

Dan was referred to us in advance of the project, as someone who could bring an elevated approach and deliverable to our client's project. He was able to propose a timeline for services and budget that met our demands.

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

Creative debrief took place with Dan, once our client approved our scripts & storyboards. Dan was able to scope our demands and in return provide a timeline & pricing. Once approved, Dan worked to secure location, talent, and support for the day of the shoot. Day of production consisted of 8.5 hours of work. From set up, which was done well in advance of the client showing up on set; to execution of filming and photography over the course of the day.

Post-production began immediately the day after, and our first round of edits was delivered within 3 days. After some back and forth on small, minute revisions, final deliverables were delivered on time and on budget.

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

Worked directly with Dan on all communications. The process was easy, smooth, and effective.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our agency and our client were thoroughly pleased with not just the outcome of the project, but the entire process.

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

Plans were laid out in advance and executed efficiently and successfully over the course of the project. Phone, email & text were mainly used up until post-production efforts. Frame.io was used in reviewing the edits and providing feedback for revisions.

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

Dan's ability to move quickly but accurately. Their communication throughout was better than most experiences we've had in the past. Dan was the difference!

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

Not based on this experience!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Instrumental Peace, an organization that assists people at the end of life and their caretakers to improve communication and quality of life using music as a tool.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Motion Grove?

We needed help with video production.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired production camera, LED lighting, and audio packages from The Motion Grove to create a short film. During my initial contact with Daniel (Director), I stated that I just wanted a 2–3-minute video, but he ultimately provided me with eight minutes at no additional cost because he believed very much in the value of our mission.

We communicated with Dallastown’s long-term care facility, where we gained permission and consent to film on location. After getting their permission, we spent a full day filming at the Dallastown Nursing Center.

Additionally, we got permission to film at a really interesting old silk mill with excellent ambiance and upstairs at a warehouse, an amazing resort. Daniel had to carry all his equipment around, but he was happy to do it.

After filming the video, Daniel took care of the postproduction, which included editing, color correction, minimal motion graphics, and sound mixing. In addition to that, he provided me with an incredibly personable service regarding revisions to satisfy the perfectionism I hoped to achieve with this video.

After delivering the video, Daniel contributed hugely in distributing and marketing the film through social media, including Facebook and YouTube. Additionally, he gave me a lifetime license to use the content of the video on my website.

What is the team composition?

I only worked with Daniel. He was in charge of everything.

How did you come to work with The Motion Grove?

I knew about The Motion Grove through Daniel’s stellar reputation as a cinematographer. I had been following his work, and when this project came, I reached out to him. I was very pleased when I found out that he was available to work with me.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $2,000. As I’m a single musician, The Motion Grove offered me a great deal.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2019, and they have already delivered the video. However, Daniel and I continue to talk, and I’m sure that I will hire his services again in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a musician dealing with the pandemic, I wouldn’t have the leverage I’m having without that short documentary. The Motion Grove’s work exceeded my expectations.

When we posted the video on social media, it gained the attention of an award-winning novelist who had been following my work. At the time, he was also advocating palliative care all over the country, so when he saw my video, he posted it on his social media, where he had thousands of followers. Thanks to this, we gained a tremendous amount of views and positive feedback.

It’s really hard to put a numerical value on what Daniel accomplished due to his expertise and what I gained as a result. For example, there’s an age difference between Daniel and me. When we launched the video, I only had a presence on Facebook. However, I expanded my knowledge of social media thanks to Daniel's tech-savviness and my experience working with him.

How did The Motion Grove perform from a project management standpoint?

The Motion Grove’s efficiency at project management exceeded my expectations. Daniel was very hands-on — he was in charge of absolutely everything. Additionally, he communicated extraordinarily effectively with me before starting the project because this was my first experience with a short documentary.

We still communicate via emails and Instagram. Whenever I reach out to them, they reach back immediately or at least within a day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Motion Grove is gifted in storytelling, and they have a truly intuitive understanding of their clients’ needs. I never felt that there was the need for an in-depth explanation of the end product because Daniel was very intuitive. He just asked the very important questions for the product to effectively represent our mission and vision. This required a tremendous amount of skill.

Additionally, I can’t emphasize enough Daniel’s integrity, patience, sincerity, and quality of craftsmanship. He went above and beyond the call of duty for me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. The Motion Grove’s integrity, attention to detail, expertise, and willingness to meet and exceed my expectations were all perfect. I wouldn’t change anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I only can highly recommend working with The Motion Grove. Working with them, you can expect a very personable and professional engagement, as well as a quality product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm Carey, owner of Lucky Penny Floral, an easy online ordering platform for completely custom wedding and event flowers in the Baltimore, DC area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Motion Grove, and what were your goals?

We hired Daniel to create and execute a marketing video debuting the company, our process and our products. It has been used across our website and social media platforms.

SOLUTION

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

word of mouth in Baltimore, MD.

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

Shooting over 2 days, we visited a local flower farm so to feature the flower fields and capture the farmer in his element. Additionally we shot at our studio and at a local industrial complex that is used as an event space, as well as at a Starbucks and a private residence.

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

Daniel is exceptionally talented, totally game to work in a variety of settings, hitting 2-3 locations per day over 2 days. That required stamina, patience and creativity and major vision on his part.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our video is so rad. we love it, it graces our home page on our website and is one of the best investments we made as far as promotional materials. Especially b/c he made the video available to us formatted to fit a variety of social media requirements.

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

Their team was very easy to work with — they were super talented, patient, and creative.

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

The product.

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

No, it was all awesome soup to nuts.