Powers Video

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Program Assistant at the AHA Foundation. We are a small non-profit that works to end female genital mutilation, child and forced marriage, and honor violence in the U.S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Nathan Lee Bush Video?

I have worked with Nathan on multiple projects but this was the first time we met in person for the filming of this video. He directed and helped film for two separate days, one in the city and one day in the studio. Additionally he provided visual editing, sound mixing, color editing, to supply us with a finished product.

What were your goals for this project?

This short documentary was meant to raise awareness of female genital mutilation in the U.S. through our social media and press coverage. We wanted to have a hard-hitting emotional appeal style video that showed the truth behind this practice. In addition, we wanted to inspire people to take action in their own states to end this practice.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Nathan has an extensive history and portfolio of excellent work. Initially we were impressed with his past videos and editing. Additionally, he had worked in the state that we were traveling to film in and had connections with a crew in the area.

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

We had two days of filming. One day was more focused on b-roll, where we walked around different parts of the city and captured footage.

The next day we filmed in the studio, and focused on the survivors story. Nathan and his crew set up the studio in the morning while the subjects had their hair and makeup done for filming. Next, we filmed the first video segment which was an interview. Nathan directed his crew the whole time, and we ended up with a beautiful end product.

We also filmed two additional videos which were single subject, direct to camera videos. He did a wonderful job of explaining different tips and tricks to get the best video quality to the subjects.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Nathan and I corresponded for about a month and a half before we met up for filming. I wrote out a script and what I wanted accomplished, and sent it to him for him to review.

The night before we began filming, we met up and talked over the script. He gave me his ideas and creative feedback to make sure we accomplished our goal for the video. Nathan is extremely creative and talented, and it showed in the final product. I really trust his creative opinion and was grateful for the expertise he brought to this project.

The next day he had a crew of three people to help with sound and different camera angles. In terms of editing and feedback, I worked directly with Nathan and I passed on the feedback to the rest of our team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Many of our stakeholders have commented on how beautifully done the video is, and how empowering it feels. Some supporters have said it inspired them to take action in their state, to protect women and girls from female genital mutilation.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Nathan and I texted mostly to plan because we live in different states. I never had an issue reaching him or scheduling the shoot.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Nathan is determined to make your final product the best work possible. He is extremely talented with a camera and just has an eye for seeing the best shots.

I appreciated that he wasn't afraid to ask for exactly what he needed, he is highly organized and extremely professional and experienced in regard to planning out the shoot. The end product was better than I ever could have imagined.

Are there any areas for improvement?

NA

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own Mark Mann Photography. I’m a photographer and director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nathan Lee Bush Video?

We needed help shooting a short commercial.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nathan (Filmmaker & Photographer, Nathan Lee Bush Video) was the commercial’s director of photography (DP). We told him what we were trying to do, and he assessed the situation and told us what he could realistically do given our time, space, and budget restrictions. He provided graded finals for us to edit, and he also did some editing. The result was a one-minute video for internet advertising.

I’ve engaged Nathan for a few other projects, including one with Tiffany’s for Mother’s Day.

What is the team composition?

We just worked with Nathan.

How did you come to work with Nathan Lee Bush Video?

I can’t remember how I found Nathan Lee Bush Video, but we’ve done a few projects together.

What is the status of this engagement?

The commercial project was in June 2017. It took about a month to shoot, edit, and deliver.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Nathan did very well as the DP. He took a very difficult situation and made it easy for me, and that’s all I could ever ask for. He was a great guy to work with.

How did Nathan Lee Bush Video perform from a project management standpoint?

Nathan had great ideas and was very good at managing client expectations. He understood that although what the client demanded wasn’t always the best creative answer, he needed to listen and work with them. He tried to understand client needs rather than enforcing his own creative vision, which is sometimes a struggle with DPs. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We had all sorts of tight restrictions, like time and budget, and Nathan was a great partner to work with because he got the job done. His work was very satisfactory.

Nathan was also conscientious; he responded to us quickly and had answers. If he didn’t have an answer, he got back to us with one. He’s somebody you can feel comfortable will get the job done.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I never ran into a situation where I had to ask him to do something differently, so I’m not sure.

Any advice for potential customers?

Just be honest. Be upfront with your budget and your client needs, and Nathan will get back to you with the same honesty.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a former producer at a studio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nathan Lee Bush Video?

We were working with a large team of creatives to launch a mini-series project and we had quite a bit of output needed. We hired Nathan (Filmmaker, Nathan Lee Bush Video) to support this project as one of the lead editors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nathan primarily supported us by providing video editorial work, including animation and design. For the most part, he helped us piece together clips to create compelling trailers for the weekly episodes. The trailers were between 15–60 seconds long, condensing footage from the full episodes. 

Once we launched the series, the work focused on creating weekly assets that we’d use across all social media channels. We also did some paid media campaigns to promote the content, which Nathan also helped with. 

What is the team composition?

Nathan was our only point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Nathan Lee Bush Video?

I wasn’t involved in the project when Nathan Lee Bush Video was hired to support the work, so I’m unsure of the process. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent in the $50,000–$200,000 range, but it’s hard to tell how much as it was on a freelance day-rate scale. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We roughly worked with Nathan from March 2017–March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As far as Nathan’s performance, he did a great job. He was very creative and incorporated great ideas into the work. He was successfully able to implement the content we needed while also utilizing his own vision. Nathan positively influenced the project and his creativity helped us produce strong work. 

How did Nathan Lee Bush Video perform from a project management standpoint?

Nathan was very easy to work with. We have a pretty tight system in place and he was very well-versed in how to handle the workflow. In addition to following the protocol well and being organized, Nathan was also able to lead himself creatively. He was open to feedback and receptive to our needs, but also able to do the work independently. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Nathan’s autonomy and creativity stood out to us. He meshed well with our team but was also self-sufficient. Recently, I brought Nathan onto a project at my new job, and we had an easy integration with the existing team. He has an eye for the creative and technical work. 

Whereas some editors can skew work to match their own ideas, Nathan was great at looking at the work holistically and strategically. In a digital world where people are bombarded by visual stimulation, Nathan is aware of how to create strong, practical final products. He was one of the better editors I’ve ever worked with and I appreciated his influence on the project. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I had to think of something to improve, it’d be beneficial for Nathan to continue improving his animation abilities. In the current landscape, it’s important for editors to continuously strengthen their skill sets. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give Nathan enough direction to get him going, but don’t be so prescriptive that he doesn’t have any creative freedom. The sweet spot is finding the right balance and flexibility.