OTAKUS

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company focuses on testing and analyzing our customers’ vital data. We have developed a device that could capture the wearer’s ECG, HRV (Heart Rate Variability), and BPM and it is currently bound for market entry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OTAKUS?

We wanted to present our business in a special light and communicate to customers what challenges our system could address, so we coordinated with OTAKUS for a video production project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We kicked off the project with several meetings to discuss our concept and ideas. OTAKUS helped us center the video around how our product could help athletes analyze and improve their performance. Together, we developed a script that was informational but also had a level of emotional appeal

Their team managed the copyrighting, sound recording, and scouting for a location. They also coordinated with us in choosing an athlete to feature in the video. The actual shoot took two days in Davos, Switzerland. OTAKUS then took the raw videos and post-produced them into a presentable final version.

What is the team composition?

There were 3–4 people working on this project. We often communicated with Xaver (Director & Partner) and Axel (Producer).

How did you come to work with OTAKUS?

Our company already expressed their desire to work with OTAKUS when I came in. I think the former employees or one of the founders already knew of their agency. It’s very likely that they came across the video that OTAKUS did for a big brand here in Switzerland and that that is what caught their attention. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around 25,000 CHF (approximately $27,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our first discussion in April 2021. When we finalized our concept, the team began the production around May 2021 and we got the final version of the movie by the end of July 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video OTAKUS did for us came out really great. Even the athlete that we featured in it had good feedback for the final version. Their output has really helped us better communicate with investors. 

How did OTAKUS perform from a project management standpoint?

OTAKUS was really good at managing the project. They set a deadline, outlined a production schedule, and organized everything for the actual filming. Even though OTAKUS was busy with producing other videos for other clients, they were very flexible and accommodated us if we needed to discuss something. 

We communicated instantly through Microsoft Teams and shared more detailed plans via email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

What really stood out about OTAKUS was the quality of their output and the quality of their organization as a whole. Everything was so well-coordinated and the final product turned out very beautifully. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, the project went really well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

OTAKUS is really good at bringing in ideas, so you don’t necessarily have to know how your end product will look like. Even if you cannot define your needs that well, they will help you draw up a concept through joint brainstorming. You can truly rely on them to tackle all of the creative aspects of video production. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a producer at a broadcast media company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OTAKUS?

We needed someone to create a sequence for a documentary we were working on.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

OTAKUS filmed some content for us. First, we gave them a brief and detailed description of what we needed. Afterward, their team of filmmakers went out into the field and shot the sequence we needed using various cameras. OTAKUS had their own high-end equipment, so we didn’t need to provide that. Eventually, they sent us the raw footage, and we edited them into our documentary.

What is the team composition?

Our main points of contact were Axel (Producer & Client Relationship Manager) and Xaver (Director & Partner). We also had direct contact with the production team. 

How did you come to work with OTAKUS?

We were looking for production companies in Switzerland. We then found some of their work on Vimeo and decided they were a good fit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together in June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very impressed with the content they produced for us. The production value was high — OTAKUS had access to high-end equipment and knew how to use it.

How did OTAKUS perform from a project management standpoint?

OTAKUS did a fantastic job — they were very prompt and responsive. We used Zoom, WhatsApp, and email to communicate. Despite being in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, we knew what the team was doing because they gave us daily updates. Additionally, they were very flexible and understood our needs regarding contracts, insurance, and other logistical requirements.

What did you find most impressive about them?

OTAKUS made the process easy and enjoyable. The team was very skilled and professional — they were able to match our creative ambition. Overall, it was a very successful project, and we’d love to work with them again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, the whole process was very smooth.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate well with them and be open to their ideas.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and only employee of Sehfeld Film, and we’re a production company based in Zurich, Switzerland. Whenever I have projects for features of documentaries, I build a team and look for money, because we’re not a production company that works in the commercial sector. The way I work is independent and free.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OTAKUS?

I needed someone to help me with video production.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Xaver (CEO) was the director of the corporate movie for a client, meaning he was responsible for the concepts and ideas, as well as directing and cutting — he was the brains behind the entire operations. We worked on two films that were about 90 seconds long, for a company in Swiss tourism. We had to go to famous touristic locations in Switzerland, which was quite demanding.

He had an assistant who helped him edit the films, because they had to go through a lot of material. In addition, we also went to a studio to produce the soundtrack.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Xaver.

How did you come to work with OTAKUS?

Xaver presented himself when we got together for lunch one day. We got to know each other and then decided to try him out after two months. I started working with him when I was employed in another company, where he directed all the projects I was responsible for. He was very passionate and we, along with the other people that worked on that project, were a great team.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about 150,000 CHF (approximately $165,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2019, and our partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have debriefings with the client after every project. The client was very happy with the final outcome. We didn’t measure the success in numbers, but we did with the happiness and gratefulness of the client. They did a lot of film productions with different film companies in the past, but none of them delivered the level of service we did.

How did OTAKUS perform from a project management standpoint?

Back then, we weren’t really a big team, and our companies' distance was pretty short. This was before the COVID-19 pandemic so our communications were practically very private. We met up with each other, we communicated, and we never had any problems. We also had a cutting room and an editing suite where we could invite clients and the people involved, to see the first cut of the film and get their approval.

These kinds of things were handled by Xaver. He would come to our studios with the first cut to show the clients. The connection was direct and it was a very easy process for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Xavier is very professional and passionate about the work. He works very much like an agency. I book him as a director, but I get much more than just his directing skills.

The OTAKUS team has that passion for filmmaking and for always doing better. They are never happy, and I mean that in a positive way. They look at what they do and think about how they can do better and improve on it. This continuous drive is really good to work with because if you have people that are never satisfied, it keeps the motivation very high.

In addition, I’ve gotten to know them better in the past two years, so we became friends. We are two people who work perfectly together, so our work and cooperation are very good. I’m almost 60 years old now, and I've met a lot of people. However, my partnership with OTAKUS is rare and special.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re quite young and they’re still growing. They have a lot of innovative ideas for the future, which is a good thing since people move very slowly here in Switzerland. I can’t find something they can improve on at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

OTAKUS is filled with creative talents that are working within the company. If you have an idea for a film, they will sit with you, expand on your idea, and even write you a contract. If you have an overseas event that needs organizing and a production for a trailer, OTAKUS will give you their full range of services. You can expect more than what you will get with them.