Rip Media Group

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a Graphic Designer for a 500 employee financial process automation business. My role is to enforce and maintain our corporate identity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Rip Media Group?

We have had several projects in the past with Rip Media, and felt compelled to return to them for a 60-90 second motion graphics video that was to highlight our new and improved UI. Due to our previous experience we were comfortable with them and knew exactly what we would get out of the project.

What were your goals for this project?

The ultimate goal was to blend our screen captures and screen recordings that feature our new UI in a motion graphics environment while pointing out the capabilities and features. We intend to use this video in multiple channels (web, social, tradeshow, etc.).

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We considered one other vendor that we've traditionally used on projects of a different nature in the past. Price and timeline were factors in the selection process. The Product Marketing Manager was involved in the selection process. Rip Media was chosen due to an existing relationship.

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

We provided a script and screen/video captures to Rip Media along with a rough idea of what we were looking to accomplish. From there we used their tool of choice, Podio, to outline the project's framework. This kept us all on track and managed expectations and subtasks. They worked from our brand guidelines to match our corporate identity. I helped to art direct and keep our brand integrity high. Rip Media is great at visualizing your story and understanding your audience. They're always helpful by giving us great suggestions before production even begins.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We worked with 3-4 people in total on the project, though we primarily worked with Andy who always does a phenomenal job producing and directing the video. There were several rounds of feedback involving the animator, VO, and project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Internal reception has been wonderful, we haven't launched it just yet to the outside world.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everything was exactly as outlined, if anyone held anyone up it was on our side, not theirs!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication and project management stands high on the list.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing that I can think of!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

AdColony provides in-app video and display inventory to advertisers who want to reach consumers on mobile devices. I am the Senior Director of Global Marketing & Communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Rip Media Group?

Explainer video to show ad agencies.

What were your goals for this project?

Something straightforward and simple for our brand and agency clients to be explained to what AdColony does.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Rip Media was recommended by our GM of NA Brand and based on our knowledge of explainer videos, their portfolio was strong enough for this to be a no brainer.

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

We were looking for a 1-2 minute explainer video showing what AdColony does. The Rip Media team clearly defined the scripting, design, animation, VO, and editing process and timeline. Keyframes were shown, many voice actor options, and Rip media was always receptive to feedback. The project did go over due to timliness issues on OUR end, but Rip was always flexible and a joy to work with.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Podio for planning and live video commenting via a second tool that allowed "on the frame" comments that was very helpful.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our sales team loves it. Everyone we've shown it to thinks it's amazing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Smooth as could be.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Professionalism and flexibility. Everything was above-board, there was no fudging dates or contracts, no "gotcha" moments I've experienced with other creative-type contractors. They were overall outstanding to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nope.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a partner in a video production company that occasionally does federal government video production contracts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Rip Media Group?

We partnered with them for a series of animated technical videos for a cabinet-level federal government agency.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to deliver the requisite number of videos to the agency, on time and on budget, and exceed their expectations in quality.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I've known the CEO of Rip Media Group and we had always wanted to work together on a project, so when this opportunity arose, they were our first choice.

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

They created a series of videos that covered mental health care and required a lot of technical explanation of potential treatments to a wide, non-medical consumer audience.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We worked very closely through all phases of the production process. Rip Media Group was very professional and transparent. We handled all feedback and management using technology to connect the two production companies, some freelancers, and the client in various locations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We delivered on time and within budget and we received a favorable rating from the client on our contract review.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective. There were no issues.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their creative thinking and quality work stand out.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the lead ergonomist and change agent for a data management company. We have about 17,000 employees globally with close to 10,000 in the Americas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rip Media Group?

We were trying to educate our employees about ergonomics and provide world-class, cutting-edge solutions to reduce injury risk and increase productivity. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They supported the creation of an interactive ergonomics educational wellness and exercise station for us to put in each break room at our sites. Their work included creating a screen interface and animated videos, which included storyboarding and voiceover services. They also produced our main global reach video which offers an overall perspective on our ergonomics approach.

In the beginning, our in-house team had multiple brainstorming sessions with their team. After we narrowed our ideas down, they scaled their team down to two members: Barry (Swiss Army Knife, Rip Media Group) and Dallas (Production Manager, Rip Media Group). Then, we began working on the solution interface. 

The stations consisted of 46-inch interactive screens and a stretching post that I designed. When touched, the interface opens into a beautiful “city of the future.” Various signs on the screen navigate users to different 30-second video offerings about how to manage computer-related pain. The animation storyboard focuses on school children on a field trip the Smithsonian in 2021. They observe an Office Turtle exhibit including a computer user sitting with a rounded spine. The central message is: when office workers round their spine, it causes a tremendous amount of pain, and the solution to the problem is stretching at our healthy worker’s station. 

What is the team composition?

Barry was the project manager, coordinating all the team members, including the art director, the videographer, and the animator. Dallas also helped with project management at times. 

How did you come to work with Rip Media Group?

There was a lot of research involved. We have an extensive request for proposal process where we have to get multiple bids and talk to many people before onboarding a team. We considered teams based on their creativity, animation, and ability to tell stories. Rip Media Group offered that.

I worked with Maury (CEO, Rip Media Group) for around six months before we even signed the contract. Rip Media Group had in-depth conversations with us before we even signed the contract. We went back and forth talking about various opportunities as well as our budget and goals. Even though they were aware of the high-end of our budget, they told us it would cost less than that to deliver everything we needed. Other companies I researched said the services would cost the most we were willing to pay, which I didn’t appreciate.

How much have you invested in them?

We invested between $10,000–$25,000 for the team.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them on this project from September 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Asking them to help us trigger a cultural change was a big request. Many employees weren’t initiated into any type of exercise regime, so inspiring them to start stretching was a big deal. While we don’t expect people to change their lifestyle overnight, we have been pleased to receive positive feedback from our employees. They said they love the video and want to use it more often.

Rip Media Group exceeded our expectations by taking our idea to the next level. Our team never could have imagined how great the solution would be, and our internal management is grateful for their services. Also, this project was an educational experience for me regarding the hardware and software they used.

How did Rip Media Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Rip Media Group is a world class team. They instantly reply to stakeholders, and their accessibility distinguishes them from other service providers. I would call Barry at all times any day of the week, and he would always pick up and have a great conversation with me. They pay attention to detail, and they’re willing to go above and beyond the original scope. It was a joy to collaborate with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity is off the charts, and they told our story in an interesting way. Rip Media provided more than we asked for, even working without pay at times. They spent a tremendous amount of time and energy on our project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I could not be happier with the whole process. Whenever I had feedback, I brought those things to their attention, and they immediately made a change to align with my mindset.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Future clients will enjoy working with them as they are really fantastic. Clients should detail their end goal so that the desired outcome is clear. Also, potential customers should be compassionate and not abuse Rip Media Group’s graciousness. They spend a lot of energy on their projects, and they will bend over backward to make clients happy. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m currently a VP at Emanate Health. This review is from when I worked as the director in strategy at Kaiser Permanente, a Los Angeles medical center.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rip Media Group?

We devised a new strategic plan for 3,000 employees and wanted an engaging way to share our vision with the entire workforce. The goal was to create a media message that was simple to understand. We hired Rip Media Group to create an engaging video for these purposes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We asked Maury (CEO & Creative Director, Rip Media Group) and his team to develop a piece of engaging media that was no more than two minutes and 30 seconds long. It needed to be mobile-friendly and appeal to different groups in our workforce. First, they helped us visualize the key elements we wanted to include in the video. Then, they created a storyboard and a wireframe. From there, the team created the video content with a voice actor and edited it. We ended up creating several different iterations of the video.

What is the team composition?

Maury was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Rip Media Group?

We saw one of their creations online and reached out. We chose Rip Media Group because Maury knew proper healthcare jargon, worked locally, and displayed the expertise necessary to complete the project. We also liked that he came in person to meet with us beforehand.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $25,000. This included story-boarding, editing the live product, and other collateral pieces.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from May–August 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Most of our executive staff and the rest of our team rated the video a four or five (on a five-point scale). They felt it conveyed the message and was engaging.  

How did Rip Media Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Maury and his team were organized and very responsive. They used an online project management tool that enabled us to pause the video and add comments directly. His whole team was able to see that feedback and I found it very efficient.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Maury and his team are great collaborators. They made our ideas better, which resulted in a stronger end product. Additionally, we liked that Maury is easy to work with and had a flexible style. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I thought that the final iterations of our video could’ve been produced a bit quicker. Other than that, the team was very good at accommodating our goals.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would admonish potential customers to spend extra time on storyboarding and planning. That way, there will be fewer surprises while executing the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the communications director for Action Engineering, a woman-owned engineering consulting firm that works with organizations of all sizes to achieve their Model-Based Definition/Enterprise (MBD/MBE) design and manufacturing goals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Rip Media Group?

We hired them to develop a short informational video. Many design and manufacturing firms still use inefficient paper drawings throughout their supply chain. We wanted to explain why adopting and implementing MBD/MBE with Action Engineering could benefit their company. 

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to articulate how investment in MBD/MBE can improve manufacturing quality, increase profitability, and retain employee satisfaction for a company.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

In 2016, we came across an animated or whiteboard video Rip Media had produced that piqued our interest. Though the timing was not conducive to our budget cycle then, an opportunity presented itself in 2017 for us to move forward. Video was a fairly non-traditional messaging vehicle for us, so we considered a variety of vendors and DIY tools. After subscribing to marketing updates from Rip Media, among other companies, we chose them based on their own brand messaging and output quality.

Describe the project in detail.

We held several initial phone calls with them, during which we defined our company’s marketing objectives and client industry segments (with one client in particular as the focus for phase 1 of the animated video project), as well as the scope of MBD/MBE in any manufacturing process. We also explained the industry challenges associated with adopting MBD/MBE in the workplace and the best way to convey the benefits. Rip Media came back to us with sketched storyboards that we had a chance to review and comment on for industry-specific adjustments crucial to us and our prospective audience. The artist refined and presented updates to the storyboard and introduced light animation to give us a visual of the video’s flow.

Due to time constraints in phase 1, we decided to proceed with a live-draw, which worked perfectly for us, and we used our audio recording capabilities to record our CEO telling the story. We quickly set to work on phase 2, a full animated video that contains a broader call-to-action and is now a permanent part of our marketing tool kit.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with the CEO/creative director and an artist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The phase 1 product, which completely met our expectations, was directly deliverable to an interested client to help them with internal explanations of MBD/MBE. While we have not been privy to their internal conversations, their engagement with our firm on MBD/MBE consulting has continued to move forward.

Phase 2 was completed within the last three weeks, and we are preparing to launch this promotional video on our website and platform after the Memorial Day holiday.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The workflow was very effective. The 1-2 weekly live shared-screen meetings were engaging and productive; we often received a link in advance of the meeting that allowed us to view their progress. Communication was good through phase 1 and exceptional in phase 2, as we had already established a good frame of reference and objectives. Both the CEO and the artist actively listened to our comments, and their professional recommendations and suggestions were helpful in guiding us toward alternative options when necessary.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Not only were they willing to listen to and digest any questions or concerns we had throughout the process, but their solutions were quick, decisive, and well executed.

Are there any areas for improvement?

From the very beginning of both phases, we prioritized discussing everyone’s ability and availability to meet deadlines and deliverables. By doing this, we were able to balance a variety of schedules.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an administrative database coordinator for the Growing Spine Foundation. We’re a nonprofit group of physicians dedicated to improving care for patients with early onset scoliosis. We lead research and provide educational materials for families and healthcare providers. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Rip Media Group?

We engaged Rip Media Group to create an animated video to explain a scoliosis diagnosis and treatments to young patients and their families.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted family-friendly content that provides clear yet age-appropriate information to our patients, whose ages range from 6 months to 8 years old.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After searching online, I found a video created by Maury (CEO & Creative Director, Rip Media Group) and his team for young patients receiving open heart surgery. The video matched our vision and needs precisely.

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

The process was highly detailed and professional from start to finish. Rip Media Group created an outline of each stage and stuck to it exactly as described. We selected the style of the content and the voice of the main character; Rip Media Group took care of the rest.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We had weekly conference calls and regular email contact, which we found extremely effective. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video is hosted on our website as well as the Scoliosis Research Society and Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America websites. We’ve received positive feedback from patients and families about how helpful the video is for patient education. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project ran smoothly from start to finish. We have no complaints.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The finished products blew us away. Rip Media Group made a difficult topic relatable and accessible to young patients.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re thrilled with their work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a leader in perishables supply chain management. We provide an end-to-end supply chain solution suite that tackles the complexities that occur at all waypoints of the perishables supply chain, from procurement and quality to traceability and spend management. I am the program manager for our digital marketing component.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rip Media Group?

We wanted to create a high-class video to represent our organization in the best light possible.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They took some existing voiceover work we provided and created a two-minute video that incorporated both animation and live-action stock footage to tell our story. We’re a field-to-fork company, so the video explains our methods and supply chain.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with two team members.

How did you come to work with Rip Media Group?

We found them on Clutch. We used the various categories that Clutch breaks down, including their price and the fact that they did a combination of video and animation. I looked at their portfolio and their ratings, and felt their materials set them apart. They provided everything I needed, so decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $10,000–$50,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from approximately October 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We used internal checkpoints during development. The timeline and feedback from our senior management were important to the process, so we had periodic touch points to make sure we were on track. Our senior team was pleased with their work, and they stuck to our timeline.

How did Rip Media Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great project managers. We had formal weekly meetings and multiple status updates throughout the week. They were always absolutely professional and friendly to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their leadership and the team were excellent. They were very hands-on, and they listened to our vision and our messaging. Even though they’re not an expert in our field, they knew exactly what messaging would best engage our end consumers. They took our ideas and transformed them into a very real product and message for this video.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of a single thing they should improve; we had a very positive experience. They met our timeline and budget, and they were very clear about their process and open to our feedback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use them. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone interested in any form of video creation.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the product manager in the Transceiver Modules Group at Cisco Systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rip Media Group?

We were trying to create a set of tutorial videos because we are in the networking industry and we manage the optics. While people in this industry know a lot about networking, sometimes the optics knowledge base gets overlooked. So we wanted to create a set of simple videos to help introduce some basic optics ideas to our customer base.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They basically created these animated explainer videos for us. We created the basic content, and then they provided the skillset to visualize the concepts and helped create a narrative. Then they produced the videos with graphic designers and audio editors. So, they provided the talent base to take our concepts and make it into an animated video that we could post online. It would be our responsibility to create the technical content, because it is a very technical topic by nature, and I worked with them to create the script and the storyboards for about 10 videos.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 6–7 different people who got involved at different points in the process.

How did you come to work with Rip Media Group?

I found them through a Google search. I submitted an inquiry on their Web site and I got a call from their CEO within minutes.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from 2016–2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They're up on YouTube right now. I haven't looked lately but they were getting a fair set of hits. I don't remember the numbers but they were definitely getting lots of views.

At Cisco, in product marketing, we work with Cisco sales teams quite a bit. I sent these videos to a few sales teams because I thought that they would be able to leverage them when they discuss our product with our customers. I wanted to get some of their feedback and it was all very positive.

How did Rip Media Group perform from a project management standpoint?

There was somebody doing that role as well as writing. We had weekly meetings and they engaged very closely with me. I was the main point of contact at Cisco and pretty much anything that was happening I was made aware of.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It's hard to compare, but I would say working with their CEO was very easy. He was just very easy to get along with and whenever something would come up, it was just a matter of talking to him and we'd figure out some kind of a solution. We had a lot of internal Cisco restrictions on things like colors and the style of the graphics and they worked with us quite a bit to make sure that we weren't breaking any of these rules. They were very good about being flexible like that and providing whatever it was that our team within Cisco required.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't remember anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for Vistage Worldwide. We provide advice for CEOs, business owners, and key executives on improving their leadership and optimizing their businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rip Media Group?

We wanted videos to showcase the value Vistage can bring to clients through growing their businesses and leadership skills.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Rip Media Group oversaw the creation of live-action videos. We found members willing to talk about their experiences working with us. One video showcased a family business, while another project captured how a company used Vistage at every level of their organization and what a difference it made. Rip Media Group’s team ran through interviews and b-roll to stitch together a compelling story.

My colleague worked with them on an animation project from the script stage to storyboarding, but I had no involvement in that.

From the upfront setup, the execution, and final product, it was a professional, high-touch experience working with Rip Media Group.

What is the team composition?

Maury (CEO, Rip Media Group) was heavily involved, along with various team members in different production roles.

How did you come to work with Rip Media Group?

I saw that the animation project went well. Not only the final product but working with Maury and his team was positive. I was excited to work with them based on that.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in 2017, and the engagement ended in March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The response we’ve received has been tremendous. We posted the videos on our website and use them for email outreach in recruiting potential candidates. The videos are an asset in our digital marketing efforts.

How did Rip Media Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Rip Media Group exhibited top-notch project management. To create a video, you need people working with sound, lighting, shooting, directing, editing. Their production team was terrific and responsive in each of their roles. They did a fantastic job in understanding the story and splicing it together.

Their team was highly communicative. I enjoyed using the collaboration tools to share comments we had. They were readily available to talk on the phone and discuss any feedback or ideas. Rip Media Group’s effectiveness helped move the project along in a positive way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think what makes Rip Media Group unique is a combination of talent and responsiveness. Not only are they timely in their response, but their team also gave quality feedback and helped us shape the best story possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing, I don’t have anything to add on that.

Any advice for potential customers?

If you want the best results, be clear in your goals. Rip Media Group puts excellent ideas and suggestions on the table. Make sure you are open to them.