Sarofsky

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a group account director at closerlook, a marketing agency that focuses on partnering with pharmaceutical clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sarofsky?

We partnered with Sarofsky for the production of a three-part documentary series.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One of our clients wanted to move forward with a short-format documentary series that was meant to connect deeply with people who have a rare autoimmune disease. We decided to bring Sarofsky in to work on all the production phases — contacting and recruiting people, film development, editing, actual production, and wrapping up the film itself.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Erin (Owner & Executive Creative Director), the creative visionary behind the film. We also worked closely with Steven (Executive Producer), Ben (Director), Joel (Senior Producer), and Karen (Freelance Producer).

How did you come to work with Sarofsky?

Our company had a longstanding relationship with Sarofsky — we partnered with them on a handful of projects over the years. They were the only team we chose for this project because we were certain of their capability to produce incredible videos. After speaking with them, they were able to assemble the right team of resources which we thought was the perfect fit for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a little over $1,500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked off this project in November 2019. It took their team a year to conceptualize and produce it, so we premiered the set of films in November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The series premiere was an incredible, enormous success — we exceeded our KPI goals by 60%.

How did Sarofsky perform from a project management standpoint?

Sarofsky communicated well with us. Their members were highly collaborative and just wonderful to work with. Erin and Stephen made sure to provide us with all the timelines, project plans, and overall oversight of the project and delivery. At the end of the day, it was us who worked together to produce deliverables for our clients —  they were good at taking feedback from our clients, and they worked harmoniously with us, too.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Overall, we had an incredible experience working with Sarofsky.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was one deadline that they didn’t meet over the course of our partnership. It didn’t really affect the entirety of our project, but they could work on that area more.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Bring their team in as early as you can. Establishing a collaborative relationship with Sarofsky would also benefit your project immensely — you’d get the best of your partnership when you actually collaborate with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for Highdive Advertising, an advertising agency in Chicago, Illinois. We work mostly in broadcast digital, social, and print campaigns. I manage a team of producers who execute the production of our campaigns.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sarofsky?

We use Sarofsky when we need high-end graphic treatments and motion graphics for our video productions. They also work on editing and coloring our videos.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We do many projects with Sarofsky over the course of a year, and they usually come in towards the second half or the end of a project. 

We initially hire a director to shoot the film, and then we edit it together. Once graphics are ready to be laid on top of the edit, Sarofsky designs what the type and treatments look like. They put together character generation (CG) elements when we need products that move. They assemble all of that, place them within the edit, and finish the spot out. Then, they ship it to the networks for us. 

In every project, we provide a creative brief, which shows them what the project is. It also contains the challenge we’re trying to solve with some direction from our creative team. After talking about that document, Sarofsky provides us a bid for the work; we negotiate a price before we get started. In terms of research, they explore graphical treatments and ways to take on a project. Then, they provide those options for us. 

What is the team composition?

I communicate with 1–2 producers and a creative director. However, there’s also a whole team of people that are working behind them. 

How did you come to work with Sarofsky?

I’ve worked with one of their producers in the past, and I had a good experience. Then, their work’s quality was proven through their partnership with Marvel — they’ve done some tile treatments for Marvel movies. As a result, the creative team I work with at Highdive became nterested in working with Sarofsky, thanks to their portfolio of work. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invest around $100,000–$200,000 per year.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2019, and it’s an ongoing relationship. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Sarofsky always elevates our work; they take our creative idea and bring a fresh perspective to them. The quality of their work execution is always top-notch, and we trust them with our creative direction — we know they’ll take it to a place that we’ll be really happy with. On top of that, our clients have always been happy with their work. 

How did Sarofsky perform from a project management standpoint?

Sarofsky’s producers are always very responsive. They stick to their timelines, they’re very honest, and they typically stay on budget. Our main communication tools are email and phone calls.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Sarofsky’s quality of work and their honest business sensibilities distinguish them from other providers. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If customers are looking for fresh, current, and high-quality tiles, graphics, and post-production work, then they should definitely consider Sarofsky — they’ve never let us down. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am an executive producer at Arnold Health. We are an ad agency that works specifically in the pharmaceutical industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sarofsky?

We needed a graphics package to be used as an end card for one of our big brand's TV commercials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sarofsky created a graphic that was to be shown as the end card on all of the brand’s TV spots. They started by doing exploratory research on asthma indication, nasal polyps indication, and eczema indication before moving on to the design process.

We gave them the logo of the brand and asked them to do something a bit different, so they came up with some creative ideas to present to us. In terms of the deliverable, it really was just the one graphic. We had also contracted another competitor to do the project so we had another option, but we ended up selecting Sarosky’s work. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Erin (Owner), Steven (Executive Producer), and Dillon (Producer). They all worked on the creative designs. 

How did you come to work with Sarofsky?

The creative directors in the agency had worked with them before and really liked them — they always came through with fresh ideas and were just fabulous. I did hire them, but I also decided to engage another vendor so we could have a competitive bid. I wanted to see who would come up with a better, more creative idea and I ended up choosing Sarofsky.  

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from November 2020–February 2021. We still work with them on other minor projects with graphics, but their work for this engagement is finished.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was very successful — the design had to go through about 25 people and everybody approved it, which is just impressive especially because we were on such a low budget.

For a project like this, she normally would’ve charged $50,000–$75,000. At such a reduced rate, they came back with some incredibly creative solutions. I don't even like to say the budget because their work was worth much more than what we paid her; they were right up there with their bigger competitors. They really hit the mark on what we were looking for. 

How did Sarofsky perform from a project management standpoint?

They finished their work in an impressively short time, especially in the middle of COVID-19. The agency had been working with them for a while, but I've only been with them for six months, and I discovered what a great vendor they really were. They were amazing; everything was always done with a smile and an assurance. They really did understand the creative process and the multiple revisions required for such a project.

We primarily used Zoom and email to collaborate. Working with them was just unbelievable. They’re one of the best agencies I've worked with — they seemed to work nonstop because anytime I asked for something at a certain time, they’d deliver it promptly. There were times where I’d send them an email in the evening and they’d deliver it in the morning. It was really jaw-dropping, especially for the low cost.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by how understated they are — I loved their sensibility, style, and creativity. Erin brought such a unique viewpoint and her team was able to do incredible things on a short timeline. They made sure that our money went a long way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think it’s possible for them to improve on what they did for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Write a brief synopsis or give them a deck of what your expectations are. There should always be a starting point that the client should have. They will run with your ideas and come back with uniquely creative work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive creative director of Cult, a brand engagement agency based in Calgary. Over the last year and a half, I've been helping the business come up with engagement, creative ideas, and brand-building visions for other companies all across North America. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sarofsky?

We were helping UCLA Health reimagine the way their brand came to life when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As a result, we had to come up with a way to let the world know that UCLA Health was there amid the pandemic. Over the span of 48 hours, we came up with a concept and pitched it, and then we suddenly had a multi-million dollar media campaign to execute in the midst of a health crisis.

The challenge was to figure out how to produce video content that could work across multiple platforms — such as digital broadcast, social media channels, and mobile devices — extremely fast without being able to shoot. There were many other limitations, too. We could only use two typefaces that UCLA Health approved and the brand’s royal yellow and blue colors. We had to make these work in a 30-second broadcast spot. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We leaned on Sarofsky to do the heavy lifting on the visual conceptualization, versioning, and production of seven videos across at least half a dozen different platforms.

We first interviewed each other to figure out what the brand needed to achieve. I knew they do beautiful motion content, so I initially wanted to hear what they had to say and know what references made sense to them; we wanted to hear from them how we could make this project special. 

When we came to Sarofsky, scripts were already written for two out of seven videos. We knew we needed to use animation, so our concept leaned into kinetic typography. We came up with a visual treatment that needed a level of sophistication, typography, and color that we simply didn’t have the time nor the scale to do. 

The Sarofsky team then came up with three approaches for how that could work, and then they gave us style tiles to share with the client. From there, we raced into the storyboards. They took different settings and came up with ways to bring them to life. At this stage, they produced four versions of six-framed style tiles, which showed us what the final output could look like. 

What is the team composition?

We were working with Erin (President, Owner & Executive Creative Director), one art director, and an executive producer. We talked to them around 3–4 times a day to figure out exactly what needs to be done in moving the projects along. There were more people working behind the scenes

How did you come to work with Sarofsky?

I’ve known Erin for 22 years. She and I went to university together in New York, and we were also close friends when I lived in Chicago. When this assignment landed on my desk, Erin was the first person I called. I knew that she and her company would make this project happen. At the very least, I thought Erin could point us in a direction that would work to bring the content to life.

We interviewed other agencies, too. However, at the end of the day, Sarofsky’s calmness, reassurance, and track record made them the standout choice, given that we had to produce so many things within short timelines and under the conditions that we had. 

How much have you invested with them?

Our budget for the project was between $100,000–$250,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–June 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

UCLA loved the work that Sarofsky did, and it had a profound impact on the project. Our work with UCLA Health has grown tremendously because of their involvement. They were fantastic, and we wouldn’t have done it without them. 

Moreover, we saw 20% more views than what we paid for because the content was so good. People watched the videos longer than they normally would, and it meant more people saw the ads. Crazily enough, the longer the campaign went on, the higher our view rates became. 

Normally, view rates go down over time because of ad fatigue. However, with Sarofsky, the content’s message, artwork, and production were so strong that the view rates increased over the three months that the content was live — this doesn’t usually happen. Overall, it was awesome for people who poured so much of their hearts and souls into the content to see the videos get so much positive response.

How did Sarofsky perform from a project management standpoint?

In terms of project management, their executive producer was absolutely essential for our success. He kept everything organized, managed the timelines, and gave us the list of things that they needed from us; he kept the ship moving. 

Everything was extraordinarily clear in terms of communication, and they never put more burden on us than what was necessary. Some partners would overcomplicate processes, but Sarofsky’s project management process made my life simple. They only asked me what they needed to know, and they kept things organized and moving along, allowing us to collaborate on substance rather than on process.

While the artwork in the animation was amazing, the way they handled the project as consummate professionals would be the reason why I’d go back to them again on any number of productions. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their designs were better than anyone else’s. They understood how to get an emotional reaction from viewers using animation and design. On top of that, the way they collaborated with us was great and exceptional, and they made the engagement as easy as possible. 

Moreover, they were wonderfully calming, reassuring, and egoless, and some of these were driven by Erin’s personality. We worked hard and took creative risks to come up with these campaign concepts, and it was nice to work in a place where we immediately felt safe. Erin and her team were as excited as us at that moment. They had calm personalities and demeanor, which made it possible for us to be vulnerable and create great things.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. I can’t think of anything they could have done better. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust that Sarofsky will put your interest ahead of their own. Then, be vulnerable. If you only defend your work, then your partner has no opportunity to make it better and surprise you with something you haven’t thought of. 

Lastly, make sure you start the engagement with a collaborative mindset. You should create a space to hear new ideas and not simply defend what you’ve already done. Otherwise, there’s no point in collaborating with someone.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior producer for The Marketing Arm, an advertising agency based in Dallas that also has offices in Chicago.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sarofsky?

We were producing a series of insurance-related videos and social media content for our client. We already had the scripts and other creative elements but needed help in executing them. Sarofsky came in to produce the videos and improve their quality.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We called Sarofsky to present all our creative ideas since there were videos that we needed to do a little differently. Some required a shoot of the actual content, while others only needed the assembly of graphics, stock images, and stock footage.

After they came back with suggestions of how to approach the project, we collaborated with them by watching remotely as they shot some footage in Texas. The team then proceeded to do all post-production.

What is the team composition?

There were countless people behind the scenes that I didn’t meet but I worked with two producers, Erin (President, Owner & Executive Creative Director) and Duarte (Creative Lead).

How did you come to work with Sarofsky?

I’ve worked with Sarofsky many times before and their reputation was great. I’ve always had a good experience with their team because they could make things many times better than what we had planned. I thought they would be perfect for this project so I contacted them.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested under $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership ran from September–December 2020. We haven’t released all of the videos yet but we finished the work right before the holidays.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My agency was always happy with what we had, thanks to Sarofsky. We never had to make any changes and always agreed to everything they sent us. Our clients were extremely happy as well with the videos they saw, which was our ultimate guide aside from viewer success.

How did Sarofsky perform from a project management standpoint?

Everybody was working remotely and communicated in different ways. We had video conference calls when we needed to have an actual conversation. There were times when my entire team, including the creative team, would be present in a video chat to talk with Sarofsky. Otherwise, I would be the one talking to the producers via email or phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team’s talent was, first and foremost, what we wanted to work with. Their creativity, how they collaborated with us, and how they pushed everything upward was great, which is why we like them. 

There was also the ease of working with Sarosfky. They were always calm; nothing ever rattled them. The team simply helped us execute what we want without creating conflict.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This project went perfectly so I don’t have any complaints at all. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be sure to reach out and consider Sarofsky because they’re nice people that are always willing to help produce an idea. The team is honest and will tell you if a project is possible. You’ll never have to worry if your budget is too small for their talent because they will always find a way to work around it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a freelance producer, and I work with multiple agencies. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sarofsky?

I worked with Sarosfky on many projects. On one project, I needed a partner who could bring an animated series to life, which I hadn’t done prior to that. We also worked on a project where I needed help with VFX-related tasks. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the first project, our target audience was young viewers. The video we created was about how a garden grows, showing different types of scents as characters. We needed to create characters and give each of them a personality through animation. 

Sarofsky took our script, sat down with the writer and the director, and learned about the emotions and personalities of each character. They also helped us bring forward what the characters were going to look like. Overall, I leaned into Sarofsky’s design and storytelling skills for this project. 

Then, we needed to create a “through the years” type of video for another client. Specifically, we needed drone footage that had double-exposure effects. We didn’t want it to look like a gimmick, so it had to be beautiful and seamless. Sarofsky helped us choose the colors, transitions, and other elements built into the video. They worked with the director to marry the production and film to the VFX. 

What is the team composition?

We usually worked with Erin (President, Owner & Executive Creative Director), Joel (Senior Producer), and Steven (Executive Producer). Erin and Steven oversaw everything, and there was usually a creative lead for each project. 

How did you come to work with Sarofsky?

In 2014, we needed someone who had great design and type skills. I heard about Sarofsky from another friend of mine. She pitched in a couple of New York design companies, and no one else got the job but her. She understood how to bring type to life. From there, we started working with her. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The first job that I specifically brought to her was in October 2016, and the end of our last project together was around November 2018. However, the first time I ever worked with her was back in 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

On both projects, the client themselves were extremely happy. There weren’t any revisions, and Erin did the projects within schedule. 

How did Sarofsky perform from a project management standpoint?

The Sarofsky team was proactive in letting me know the projects’ status. Joel was always on top of everything, and he kept me up to date if something was going to be late. 

The team always let me know ahead of time if the project was coming up against any wall so that we could manage the team in terms of schedules and communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In our projects together, Erin had her opinions, and she fought for them. Some people would only do what customers wanted from them or from the agency. Erin would do what the customers wanted, but she would also do what she thought was right for the project. 

Overall, she would go the extra mile to make sure that the clients could see her vision. She stood behind her ideas, and that was what I liked about working with her.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. Everyone could do things in a more inexpensive way, but I actually appreciated the fact that Erin would simply say no if she didn’t think the project was a right fit for her. She was either going to do it or not, so I appreciated her integrity.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate well and let the Sarofsky team see the broader scope of the project. 

For instance, if they’re working on a total design concept (TDC), it’s important to let them know all information about the project. If it has some social aspects, they should know that. Then, the team can give suggestions for the project’s social aspects or make sure that what they're doing works well within the other components of the project. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative director of a marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sarofsky?

I brought in Erin (President, Owner & Executive Creative Director) time and time again to help with creative solutions, including motion graphics and production. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We've worked on multiple projects over the years, although my last time officially working with Erin was for General Motors and their bank rewards card. Our collaborations always started with a brief from me and our client. Erin would then come back to us with boards, animatics, production schedules, and quotes. More often than not, she joined our team on set. 

As we grew together, she became a director herself and produced multiple projects for us from concept to delivery at her studio. Over the course of the projects, she became our creative partner and helped us out with the whole creative process. 

What is the team composition?

Erin worked as my creative partner, and she was the leader of her own team. Beyond her was a scalable team of all kinds of artists. She also had a set of executive producers with her, and she could bring in a full crew for productions.  

How did you come to work with Sarofsky?

Back in 2008, we were looking for motion graphics vendors for some challenging projects. We had burned some other people out because of our rigorous schedule and demands. I then found Erin through another trusted producer, and she became our go-to person from that project on — she became the person that we couldn't scare away. 

How much have you invested with them?

Sarofsky was responsible for millions of dollars worth of projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2008–December 2016. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The pleasure in working with Erin came from the sense of partnership that we experienced. She was there with me as the perfect collaborator. At the best of times, it was like we were in school together. She brought the studio back, and we were all together in there and putting things on the wall. That experience is rare in these times. 

Our clients’ reactions were so good that they and other creatives constantly referred Erin to others who needed creative solutions. She became a go-to vendor for us and them. Being able to recommend Erin to other people wasn't a reflection of my abilities. It was her great work and quality that helped her grow her business.

Moreover, Erin was an easy person to work with and to tell other people about. I passed her along to multiple people because I knew she’d do a great job. It wasn’t easy to recommend people because we might get into trouble, but Erin delivered for me and for the people I referred her to.

How did Sarofsky perform from a project management standpoint?

She had a great project management style. More importantly, she knew how to adapt to what clients needed. She also had a deep and wide pool of resources. She was great, so people wanted to work with her.

Moreover, she was an innovator in all of today’s technology, and she evolved as all editorial programs evolved. She’s very involved in Adobe Suite now, with projects for Apple, Marvel, and other national companies. She’s versed in any software that clients need.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They brought us innovative solutions and a style that we could own. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be ready to collaborate. Come to Erin when you need someone you can depend on and when you want a creative partner. She’s not just the executor of your idea; she’s also a creative collaborator. Come to her and know that she’s going to make your idea better, and be ready to have fun.