Sparkhouse

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of Tortuga Del mar and our company sells women's beach cover ups and beach tote bags.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

We hired Sparkhouse to create a lifestyle video for us that we can use for marketing purposes!

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create a video that showcases our brand and product and explains to the consumer why our company is different and unique!

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team did research and ended up going with Sparkhouse as they seemed like the best fit for our needs!

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After we selected Sparkhouse, they took the time to understand our needs and go through the discovery process. They were very patient and professional. They also gave us good tips and advice along the way. They were a pleasure to work with!

What was the team composition?

I worked closely with the Sparkhouse team to get this video created.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We look forward to using this video across our social media platforms and spread brand awareness.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was very effective! They were quick to respond and everything was done easily over email communication and google spreadsheets.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They understood my vision from the start and were able to execute!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not at this time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am employed as the Health Communications Manager for the OC Health Care Agency. The Health Care Agency's ultimate client is the entire County population. While providing direct services to individual clients or patients, the Agency’s primary focus is to protect and promote the health and safety of the community as a whole.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

Sparkhouse was originally contracted to work on a training video to support the Environmental Health Department in communicating licensing and permitting process related to temporary food facilities. When the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, those plans were postponed and we used Sparkhouse to help communicate an important message to the public regarding resiliency.

What were your goals for this project?

The objective of our Resiliency video is to encourage the residents of Orange County to feel hopeful and empowered in an uncertain time by focus on strenghthening our resiliency and adapting to our new circumstances.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reviewed some of our prior partner agencies as well as specialized video production companies. We chose Sparkhouse because felt their approach to the project demonstrated they understood our business and knew how to breakdown the steps of a complex project into manageable parts.

They also showed work experience similar to the look and feel of what we envisioned for our project. The selection was made by the communications team in collaboration with the program leadership executives.

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

The Resiliency project Sparkhouse created for us wasn't the original ask. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, our agency's priorities have shifted to a singular goal of supporting public health.

We asked Sparkhouse if they could produce a supportive video to communicate hope to the population during challenging times. They were given top line objectives regarding the video project, after which they wrote the script, created the storyboard, sourced stock footage and voice talent, and producted and edited the video. All the work was done within seven days.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Sparkhouse used a solid management and feedback process, establishing iitial goals with the communications and program teams to set up timelines and understand our vision.

They kept us up to date on each step of the process, establishing reasonable time for feedback and responding with professional design consultations to keep the project on track for achieving objectives and not straying too far into details that might have detracted from the end product. They demonstrated agility when responding to revisions and still met the deadlines.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While this is still an ongoing situation in Orange County (and the World), the content Sparkhouse created has been well received with great comments and lots of sharing within social media platforms. It has also been shared by County providers and partners to their followers and clients.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our interactive workflow has been terrific. In VERY unusual and demanding times, Sparkhouse has kept us on track, giving appropriate prompting to help us meet our deadlines while allowing for executive approvals. Our ask for get this done asap, and they delivered on time, met objectives and delivered a beautifully created product.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Flexibility, professionalism, agility and in the face of lots of challenges, they created an excellent product for us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Next time, I hope we aren't creating something in a pandemic!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Founder and CEO of Eruditely (https://eruditely.com), a groundbreaking knowledge and networking platform for content creators, writers, artists, musicians, educators, learners, and more!

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

We hired Sparkhouse to produce a marketing video that would demonstrate our platform in detail to a variety of audiences, including new members, crowdfunding, investors, and the general public.

What were your goals for this project?

The main goal of our project was to produce an inspiring and informative video that would fully demonstrate our platform and its features using a variety of different use-cases. Knowing that we had a lot of information to convey, we wanted to tell a story for each set of features to keep the video interesting and the viewer engaged. This video had to be appealing and compelling to many audiences ranging from future members to potential investors.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I spent about two days researching and evaluating various video production companies that I found online. I ultimately found Clutch and started to review the top video companies there. I was trying to find a video company that had a wide degree of capabilities and styles. Eventually I found Sparkhouse and reviewed their portfolio which was very impressive. Ultimately I reached out to them and had an initial conversation with their CEO Torrey Tayenaka. That conversation went very well, and lead to me choosing them.

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

It was evident from the very beginning that Sparkhouse had an extremely organized planning and production process. Before the project started they had me fill out a Creative Brief so that I could fully explain our goals and requirements. Their entire production team read that brief in preparation for our first conference call. At every phase of the project the team made sure they fully understood our requirements and feedback, and adjusted the plans accordingly. What I found most impressive about Sparkhouse was that they really stuck to their production phases. Some of those phases included a script outline, script copywriting, AV script, black and white storyboards, colored storyboards, animation production and many phases of corrections. By breaking down the process in this way and really following it forced us to clearly think out every step and detail, and ultimately resulted in better decisions and superior results.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Sparkhouse has an amazing team, and people who specialize in every part of the project. This includes a dedicated Account Manager, Producer, Creative Director, Copywriter, Voice-over Artist, and animation team, among others. Their Founder and CEO Torrey Tayenaka was very hands on, especially in the earlier phases of the project which I felt was very important. Their project management style is rooted in their well-organized production phases, but also complimented by their extremely fast response times. Earlier in the project we had a lot of conference calls with multiple team members so everyone was on the same page. Individual team members would often reach out via email for specific purposes, and their response times were extremely fast. Sparkhouse also uses Frame.io to help coordinate the entire team with the client during review phases. Our video in particular went through many phases of review and corrections, and using Frame.io really helped to keep that process efficient. I should also mention that the entire team at Sparkhouse is extremely patient, and is willing to go the extra mile to make the customer happy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We finished our video recently, so it's a little early to speak about overall success. But I can say with confidence that every single person who has seen our video thus far was blown away by it. We all had certain expectations of what this video would like when the project started, and the end results have far exceeded all those expectations. The video Sparkhouse made for us is visually stunning, captivating, and inspiring. It checks off all the boxes we needed to make a video for all audiences. I have no doubt that it will help us to bring attention to Eruditely for many years to come!

I think these results speak for themselves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzceBgnNn0U

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Over the months that we worked with Sparkhouse I got to know every single member of their team very well. Their Founder and CEO Torrey Tayenaka is extremely professional and easy to talk with. If there was ever a problem he quickly stepped in to remedy it. Our Account Manager, Spencer, was always there with lightning fast response times over email. Having those fast response times is so critical on a large production project. The Creative Director, John N, was really key to our video's success because he was willing to work on all the details and multiple phases of corrections. I pushed John hard to get every single detail right in our video, and he was always up to the challenge. I also enjoyed working with the Producer, Jonny, who was very helpful in the end phases of our project. Every single member of Sparkhouse has different responsibilities, but they all work together extremely well to produce superior results. I honestly enjoyed working with every single person!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

There are many things that I found impressive about Sparkhouse, but one thing stands out beyond all others. I'm not the easiest of customers to have. I'm a detail-oriented perfectionist who has very high standards. I expect the best out of everyone I work with, and I push people hard to achieve amazing goals. This kind of work ethic can produce great results when working with the right people. In the case of Sparkhouse they were always willing to go the extra mile for me. Our video was extremely detailed, and I wanted to really get it as perfect as possible. This meant going through many phases of review and corrections. There were times when I thought I'd drive the Sparkhouse team crazy, and I probably did. But despite this they always remained professional and were willing to put in the extra time to get every detail right. I have great respect for them because of this. The team at Sparkhouse is talented, capable, and diligent! They have exactly the right mix of qualities to produce incredible results. I'm so grateful that I found them and for all the time and hard work they put into making our video the best it could be!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Our video did take a lot longer to produce than originally planned, but that is not due to Sparkhouse. This is mainly because I pushed to make the video as perfect as possible, resulting in many extra phases of review and corrections. I think the only real issues we had with Sparkhouse were in the earlier phases of production while working on the script outline. There were definitely some miscommunications during that stage, but we were able to resolve those problems with the help of Torrey. While I can't say this entire project went flawlessly, the end results were flawless because Sparkhouse was always willing to go above and beyond.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Search Business Group in a marketing agency focusing on Search Engine Optimization, Web Design, and Branding. I'm the President

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

We hire Sparkhouse to make an introduction video of the services we provide to a specific niche we work with.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to generate traffic, create awareness and final goal to generate leads from our website and marketing campaigns

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I research local companies, I visit their websites and I could not find nothing like Sparkhouse. After checking their portfolio and the types of clients they have work in the past. I knew it was going to be the one.

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

Everything started after I click the red button on their website "Get Started", this form was very effective, they ask me specific questions about my project. Right after I receive a phone call from Torrey, where he explains the video process in detail. Areas where their team needs to involve to create the impact I was looking for.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

These guys know exactly what they are doing. My main point of contact was Torrey and he was extremely responsive over the phone and email. The round of revisions was simple and they were open to making the necessary changes to accomplish our goal.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After launching the video we start seeing our website traffic increase, we generate interest and we use the same video to promote it in other marketing channels.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very smooth. I'm particularly very picky for the creative world and my team knows also how I operate. Working with Sparkhouse was a perfect match, their team cares about the final result and that's the type of video marketing agency I love to work with

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What impressed the most was the video production process and the attention to the smallest details.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I did not find areas where I can make a recommendation to improve. They know exactly what they are doing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Teracube is the only phone you'll ever need for the next 4 years and beyond. Better for your pocket, better for the planet. My name is Anthony Tsim, I am the co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

We have hired Sparkhouse on several occasions. Sparkhouse helped us developed our grand Kickstarter video and that was a wild success. It contributed to our overall success in our crowdfunding campaign in 2019.

What were your goals for this project?

To create several short videos for social media and digital marketing use.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were referred to Sparkhouse by our marketing trusted advisor.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

For this project, we wanted to create a shorter version of the videos for social media and digital marketing purposes.

What was the team composition?

We worked closely with the account manager and producer as the main point of contact, which is great it is always good to work with a single point of contact. Communication is super crisp with quick responsiveness. I can't praise enough for this kind of customer service.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As usual, Sparkhouse delivered the videos on budget, on time, and with great quality.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow with Sparkhouse was very effective. Their communication and responsiveness is second to none.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Everything!! Everyone in the team are friendly, professional, patient and most importantly, understands what the clients are looking for. They listen to our request and then turnaround and produced a very effective script to convey our message. They work very hard within our budget and scope. They delivered above and beyond what we expected.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None other than please keep up the good work and continue to be adaptive and flexible working with small businesses like us.

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was updated by the client on October 12, 2020. New content is below:

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

We hired them to do a video for us to promote a new phone release.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted an engaging 3-minute video to help establish the brand and introduce the new product.

SOLUTION

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

This was a rush project done during the Coronavirus pandemic. They were able to pull this off in less than 2 months with social distancing and remote management. They did everything from storyboarding to hiring the actress, to shooting and editing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Last year's video won a marketing award. This year we received another compelling video that definitely awards worthy. So far the video has been well received by the public.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

This was a rush project done during the Coronavirus pandemic. They were able to pull this off in less than 2 months with social distancing and remote management. They did everything from storyboarding to hiring the actress, to shooting and editing. Very effective collaboration, regular meetings.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They've got a great creative vision for any project. All around the best video production company we've ever worked with. Their attention to detail, their level of effort, and professionalism are second to none.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

New start up dietary supplement company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

Promo Videos

What were your goals for this project?

Brand awareness

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Through word of mouth

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

We brought our own director on board and they accepted working with him on the project.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They made many insightful suggestions while working well within our budget for everything, from initial designs to actors and voice-overs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Video well received (just launched)

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They graciously accommodated all the numerous requested changes and we made plenty, down to the very last minute. There was clear communication at all times with everyone on both teams. Everyone who was involved throughout the entire process communicated by email and they were available to conference call when needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They asked important questions that showed a clear interest in our product and made sure it was communicated well in the final outcome. Most importantly, they made our vision a reality!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Delivery timeline could be improved.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Program Coordinator for the Merage Institute, an education-focused non-profit which aims to stimulate the establishment and growth of Israeli technology-based startup companies. The Merage Institute is committed to promoting trade as a vehicle to economic growth between Israel and the United States.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

We looked to Sparkhouse for support building an introductory video on this year's participating startup companies, and looked for Sparkhouse to take ownership of the project from start to finish.

They researched our participating companies, condensed company mission statements, scripted and recorded voiceovers, added graphics and audio, and in the end gave us a finished product that wove together 18 different startup companies into one cohesive video.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to introduce each startup company, and simplify each company's mission down to the core basics. We wanted the video to be attention-grabbing, informative, and visually appealing/memorable for the audience. We wanted our startup executives to feel proud when seeing their company's mission on sceen.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Sparkhouse was recommended to us by trusted branding and production experts. They were an easy choice.

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

I was most impressed by Sparkhouse's communication throughout the entire video production process. We were kept in the loop at every step, and were given the opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions at every stage.

We could choose the voice that would be our voiceover, choose the background music and transitions, edit the scripting and switch around the visuals. Sparkhouse was very collaborative throughout, and worked with us to meet a very tight deadline.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Extremely open. I thought Frameio worked great for group suggestions and edits to the video drafts, and shared Google docs kept us all on the same page at the same time (literally). Weekly emails were sent with milestones, so there was never a point where I felt like we didn't know what was going on with the project. The entire team was great to work with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our CEO and Founder thought this was one of the best videos we'd put together in years. Now that we know the general workflow, we're excited to work with Sparkhouse again in the future!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely - Sparkhouse was always quick to respond, and never left us hanging for an answer.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their professionalism and responsiveness. Even after the project ended, Sparkhouse went out of their way (above and beyond) to make one last edit for us, and it was extremely appreciated. It's those kinds of personal touches and small details that let you know how much the Sparkhouse team cares about their work, and their relationship with customers.

Are there any areas for improvement?

For our next video, WE will come to the project more prepared with audio-visuals and media to bring more to the collaborative process. I think Sparkhouse did a great job - wouldn't change a thing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Zupo is a SEO consulting agency helping construct powerful long term SEO strategies for our clients. We develop close relationships with our clients to leverage their industry experience with our own intimate knowledge of the search landscape to create truly competitive SEO strategies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

We needed a video marketing strategy to start kicking off the company's launch. We knew SEO, we knew written content, but we did not understand video. Sparkhouse came in and gave us a clearer direction with incorporating video into the ultimate goals we had set for the business.

What were your goals for this project?

Wanted evergreen videos that would help convert prospects and leads who were interacting with the business. Wanted a video that stood out and represented the quality and characteristics of the brand.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Sparkhouse came very heavily recommended. Many agencies and owners of those agencies talked about Sparkhouse before. Ultimately I chose them due to their work in the community. I worked alongside them, saw their work and pulled the trigger.

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

I had the idea, Sparkhouse did everything else. They helped come up with the script, storyboard and the ultimate production. I honestly came in a little unprepared, but Sparkhouse took care of the entire production process. They kept me in line with updates and scheduling. Ultimately they really quarterbacked the project well.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Updated on a weekly basis and hopped on calls for major updates. Worked with their producer and their CEO. Both were involved throughout the process and really facilitated the structure of the engagaement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The marketing for Zupo is just launching and with the videos we have received we have the assets to really go all out with our marketing. The videos have become the central point of our funnels and have really carried the rest of our marketing efforts.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

These guys are productive and efficient. It made me really take a step back and look at my own workflow. Their communication was quick and always responsive.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

You'd think that someone of Sparkhouse's level would only care about ginormous Fortune 500 budgets, but I really felt treated like a big time client with them. They understood my budget, worked with it and treated the budget like it was their own money. Coming into these engagements you are always a little nervous about how the agency will deal with budgets. Sparkhouse really has that empathy and their processes and results really show it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nope, they are awesome!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the global marketing and public relations manager for IBS Electronics, Inc. An international electronic component distributor and supply chain solution provider. We focus on reducing our customers supply chain complexity while delivering the most innovative products and services on time, every time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

We hired Sparkhouse to produce and shoot 8 different videos for a few of our team members so our customers and partners could get to know us better.

What were your goals for this project?

To produce high quality professional videos for each team member which Sparkhouse executed perfectly!

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found this vendor online researching local video production companies. We met with them and determined it was a perfect match - appreciated the kind professionalism from their team.

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

We started with an idea and they helped us develop a story and engaging video content that viewers would find interesting and fun to watch. They were very prompt to reply to any questions and always provided excellent feedback. Additionally, on the day of the shoot they were very hospitable to those waiting their turn and were very quick to shoot and complete the project, thank you!

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Weekly goals for them to achieve as milestones and updates along the way, quick response time within hours always. The use of their online video portal that allows us to provide feedback on the clips was excellent and extremely efficient.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All 8 videos were completed within under 2 weeks from the date we filmed them. They were always providing ideas and solutions to improve the video.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective, essentially seamless operations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Quick and professional response time, and dedication to making us comfortable and ensure quality production.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of an early-stage startup. We’re in the first quarter of operations with only five people on staff.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sparkhouse?

We hired Sparkhouse to create a video presentation that would help us pitch to potential investors, partners, and market players. We needed a short video that would articulate what our startup and product would look like in the future. They say a picture tells a thousand words, but a video can tell a million.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We engaged with Sparkhouse from start to finish to create our video. We had initial sketches and PowerPoints that documented our story. Their team was involved in storyboarding, scriptwriting, and then developing the video itself. They made an animated video that was a little over two minutes.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Spencer (Account Manager & Producer, Sparkhouse), and to some degree, we engaged with Torrey (Founder, Sparkhouse). Directly, I would say between 4–5 people were working on the project.

How did you come to work with Sparkhouse?

We’re tied to an incubator here in Irvine that recommended Sparkhouse. They had worked with them a long time ago, but we selected them because of their proximity. When it comes to creative engagements, I don’t want to work with a company across the country. It’s challenging to meet with them and go over work when there is a significant distance.

How much have you invested with them?

Roughly, we spent between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked off at the end of August 2019. The video was finished within the first week of October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The animation turned out great. Some areas need improvement, but that’s out of their control. We’re thinking about adding voiceovers. The execution and story they created were spot-on. Early on, we didn’t see a lot because of storyboarding and script work. When we saw the first version of the video, we were impressed that Sparkhouse was able to capture the essence of what we intended to do.

Their team put in a lot of effort. I was pleased with the deliverable. Torrey and Spencer’s level of attentiveness and detail were excellent. I’ve worked with other firms where I’ve spent a lot of money, and they didn’t get anywhere close to the work that Sparkhouse delivered.

How did Sparkhouse perform from a project management standpoint?

I much appreciate Sparkhouse’s team. Compared to other firms, they’re top-tier when it comes to the level of transparency and attentiveness.

We had regular communications. Spencer checked in multiple times a week, pushing our end for logo and branding assets, our initial storyboard, and feedback. Even though our offices are 10 miles from each other, we only met once in person for the kickoff meeting. Frequent meetings weren’t necessary because they delivered work and communicated well enough.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was constantly impressed with their ability to execute and their attention to transparency. I also appreciated the frequent communication. As an operations guy, I like timelines. The team at Sparkhouse kept them tight, keeping the project moving. Typically, a lot of firms don’t chase down their clients because they don’t want to bother them. I felt Spencer displayed the perfect balance. Because of that, the deliverable was finished on time and within budget. The results are just great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really can’t see anything. Their communication style is excellent. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with them again in the near future. Ideally, we will work with them next year for the next round of video production. Overall, Sparkhouse did an excellent job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients need to be prepared and have a vision of what they want. We did a lot of homework on our end, mocking and sketching things out quite a bit. We put in the proper level of investment, and their team responded accordingly, delivering a great product.