Sparkhouse

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Senior Graphic Designer and Production Manager for San Diego-based Optios, Inc., a tech startup in the Neuroscience space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

The goal of this project was to create a 3-5 minute video feature for the Optios Golf MasterMind Program and to aid sales and event staff in the product launch.

1. Explaining how the product works.
2. How the product is used and demonstrate how it is implemented to optimize golf putting performance.
3. Highlight key features and briefly explain the neuroscience behind the Optios Golf hardware and software solution.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Google search helped to locate Sparkhouse and the selection of their proposal fit our needs, objectives, and our budget.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

Torrey and his team helped us every step of the way. They were extremely professional and worked with us to keep our project on track for the product timeline and to realize all of our objectives.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

Worked with Torrey Tayenaka, and his team of project managers, video producers, animators, and editors.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Effective communication through zoom meetings, phone calls, and email.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The team worked efficiently together to help us realize our project and worked with us to bring our project to life.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Sparkhouse was amazing. I highly recommend their team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing analyst at a PR and marketing agency based in Beijing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sparkhouse?

We needed a video and photoshoot to be processed in the US, so we hired Sparkhouse.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sparkhouse helped us shoot a video for a governmental campaign. They interviewed the model we had selected. Due to the pandemic, we weren’t able to go to the US to oversee everything, so we communicated with Sparkhouse remotely using Zoom. They let us watch the shoot as it was happening, and they ended up producing a lot of video content for us.

What is the team composition?

There are around 10 people working with us, including the general crew. We mainly speak with the CEO and producer, but I’ve also communicated with the director and another producer from their team.

How did you come to work with Sparkhouse?

We saw their reviews on Clutch and reached out to them.

What is the status of this engagement?

I reached out to them in late May 2021, and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We can’t say what the deliverables look like as they are still in the process of being edited, but Sparkhouse has done an excellent job. It’s great that we were able to watch the shoot remotely. They were more than happy to provide the services.

How did Sparkhouse perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very good, especially in terms of communication. The preparation for the filming and the shoot itself were organized well. We use a very convenient storyboard application called Boords.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Sparkhouse is really good at communicating, responding, and handling feedback. When we were watching the shoot over Zoom and provided feedback through the chat, they were able to process that right away which I think is really impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate constantly with Sparkhouse.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Managing Director for The Living Plan, a private executive administration firm that provides services similar to those of a family office controller, often picking up where other services leave off. As the Managing Director, I am responsible for the day-to-day operations to serve current clients as well as networking and marketing opportunities to procure new clients and maintain the overall financial stability of our company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

We hired Sparkhouse to help us create a company intro / overview video that could simply communicate the vast array of services and value we provide our clients. We wanted the video to be informative of the services we can provide clients while also portraying the emotional resistance that some may face when thinking about working with a service like ours. We wanted to pack a big punch in a short amount of time to give viewers the best sense of who we are and what we can do for them.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We decided to work with Sparkhouse because their pricing, professionalism, and attention to detail and relationship was par none from the start. The owner, Torrey, responded to my inquiry immediately and was involved throughout the whole process. From our first inquiry meeting, I felt like I was working with a professional group that I could trust and the price was right!

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The entire process was very detailed and well documented. We received weekly emails to check-in and provide an overview of where the project stood throughout the process. At any time, we could reference an online portal that also outlined our place in the process. To start, we had an initial discovery meeting with Torrey and the team. We then worked with them to provide details of our company, visual elements, and general goals for the video. We then worked on a storyboard and script together and were given many opportunities to make edits and corrections as we went.

The team provided visual elements alongside our script, and we also reviewed a number of voiceover actors before choosing the one we wanted. We prepared interview questions for filming, and before production, the team met with our client that would be providing a testimonial to prep her for the types of questions we'd be asking on shoot day. We had a half day of filming, on-site, where we captured our planned shots and so many more! We then went through a few rounds of edits before finalizing everything. It was a detailed, quick, and thorough process that kept us well informed and included throughout.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with Torrey Tayenaka, the owner, and a team of professionals, including: Jay Mabunga, Project Manager; Tanner Love, Account Manager; Dane Liberatore, Production; and Micah Goldfarb, Production. The feedback process was continuous and immediate. I never had to wait for a response from the team and I received weekly updates at the beginning of each week outside of regular communications.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since finishing production, we've shared our video with a few current clients and professional partnered businesses. Past experience with our brand was not always positive, and all that we shared our video with said that it was beyond helpful in clearly communicating our services and potential for serving their clients' needs.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project manager and the entire team provided weekly emails on Mondays to give current status on the project and follow-up on any open items. At all times, I could access an online portal which showed exactly where we were in the process. I was also connected directly to all members of the team and never had to wait on a response. At one point in the process, I requested that we talk in more detail, and the team immediately scheduled a Zoom call with me. I really felt like the process was transparent and effective.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I was most impressed with the diversity in experience and expertise within Sparkhouse. I could tell that each team member provided a unique skill to the creative process, and everyone really took the time to understand our brand and services in order to best communicate them through our video. I was also very impressed with the quality of service we received, the timeliness of project completion, and the quality of finished video compared to the price that we paid. Well worth the money!

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None! I was very pleased.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the co-founder of a company which designs and distributes products for the home and develops apps to help users stay organized in their daily lives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

We are launching a flip-top food storage container along with a partner app on Kickstarter, so we needed an introduction video explaining our products to potential backers. We also planned to post clips to our social media accounts.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We found this company by searching on google for video production companies which specialized in product launch videos. We reached out to around 5 different agencies and we chose this one due to a combination of a few factors including strong examples of work done for other companies, clear explanations regarding the costs of production, and a personable attitude.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The video was hosted by an office worker who goes about her day introducing the various features of Sulagan and how they help her throughout her workday. The production process started with a team meeting where we went over the product features and clarified the purpose of the video. After that, they provided a creative brief based on this and the onboarding document we filled out. Then they gave us a choice of two concepts and moved onto the mood board based on our decision. They then wrote the script and upon approval fleshed it out more in the audiovisual script. We could then choose our actress from around 10 different auditions. They then moved on to filming and editing which spanned many different versions and edits.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We mostly were in contact with the owner of the company. But depending on the which stage we were at we worked directly with who was managing that section. For example, during the script- writing stage we emailed with the writer, during the shooting stage we emailed with the director etc. I found it easy to give feedback via an online document that was viewed by the relevant person.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far the video has helped us show our product to potential customers in a fun way and has helped us gain subscribers to prepare for our product launch.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They are very organized and were easy to keep track of and communicate with.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

When we weren't 100% sold on the footage from the first round of filming, they found a great solution and we ended up loving the final product.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I think it would be great if the shot list was shared with the clients, but other than that it was a smooth process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Manager of Business Development at Fry Steel. We are a leading metal supplier in the southern California region.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

We worked with Sparkhouse to develop a Marketing video to help expand our reach. It was also to highlight the vast amount of processing equipment Fry Steel has to offer our Customers and Next Day Delivery service.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We researched for a video production team in the southern California area. After meeting Torrey and his team, we felt they were the best company to help us create our marketing video.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started with a discovery meeting. We collaborated on a storyboard and script. Once the script was finalized, we picked out the voiceover actors and set a date for filming. The Sparkhouse team came to our facility and filmed everything in one day. After filming we reviewed different versions and made edits were needed. The overall process was painless and the sparkhouse team helped us along the way.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with the project manager who helped to keep us on track and assisted us along the way throughout the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We shared the video with our corporate team and fellow subsidiaries. Everyone was pleased with the end result. Since releasing the brand video, we have received several positive feedback form vendors and customers.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project manager was easy to work with and provided weekly updates.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They took the time to learn about our business and incorporated key parts of our business in our brand video.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Working with them was very easy. I can't think of any areas to improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My boutique firm handles the social media and marketing for Callahan & Blaine, a top law firm in Orange County, CA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

The firm's founding partner wanted to build out a YouTube channel. However, we asked for an introduction to the videos that had some humor in it. We wanted the founding partner to appear approachable and speak to his sense of humor - so we decided on a "spoof" video of Magnum PI.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I interviewed three different vendors, and it was my meeting with Torrey that made me decide to use their services over the other vendors. Torrey seemed to "get it" and had an "up for anything" attitude - while the other vendors seemed quite reluctant to do anything out-of-the-box.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The team was very forthcoming and had some great ideas that really added to the video. They were very responsive and the shoot day was actually really fun. They have been very communicative through post-production and the intro video is exactly what we wanted... actually, it's turned out even better!

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

Mainly Torrey and Tanner, but the rest of the team has been in copy. They have been very amenable to making changes and updates based on feedback. We really appreciate that.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't released the final intro on YouTube just yet as there are still a couple of tweaks to be made, but the people who HAVE seen it, absolutely love it!

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

It's been great and super transparent. I'm aware of where they are at in the process every step of the way.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They came to the production day armed with some ideas of their own. They know how to get just the right shots and reactions out of our main client.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nope - they have been great!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

theidlekid is a video production house and I, Ankit Singh am the CEO/Executive producer there.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

my associate came up to me with Sparkhouse through LinkedIn and we felt that our working style was compatible to theirs after a meeting which is what led us to work together.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

The project included post-production work such as creating animations and VFX.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

Feedback was provided to us by Torrey & Jay on a weekly basis as we sent our drafts through

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to meet deadlines prior to the last date which boosted our morale as creators, I believe that was progress for us that would help in the long term.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The managers were easy to get in touch and they've been very patient and kind around the whole scenario which we really appreciate.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What stood out for me was that members of the team were very polite and professional and they made it easy for us to get through the whole process.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not really. We were overall satisfied working with Sparkhouse and it was a great experience for us

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Vice President of a Marketing Agency in Irvine, CA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

We've worked with them on a number of TV Spots and videos. This project, in particular was producing over 50 versions of :60 and :30 TV spots in both English and Spanish and another 6 in Vietnamese.

What were your goals for this project?

During the Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare, our agency kicks our marketing efforts into high-gear with media buys across California. To personalize the TV spots for each market, and because we wanted to track to results of the buy, we developed similar, yet customized spots per county/market.

There were also 3 different endings per spot, and we produced them in 3 languages, resulting in several different versions. The timeline was short, and Sparkhouse was able to complete them all on time and on budget.

SOLUTION

How did you select Sparkhouse?

Sparkhouse was referred to us by another Marketing agency, and we've worked with them on a number of projects. Because we had successes with their team and the spots and videos they've produced, we knew they would be a good fit for this project.

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

We provided a majority of the custom illustrations and the scripts, and Sparkhouse handled storyboarding, the animation, VO, Music, additional graphics and editing.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

After a kick off meeting with the entire team, they hit the ground running. They used google sheets to keep track of the 50+ versions, and fram.io for easy review and feedback for both our agency and the client. The project manager kept us on task and edits were completed in a timely manner.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client was very happy with the TV spots, and we received great results.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

After a kick off meeting with the entire team, they hit the ground running. They used google sheets to keep track of the 50+ versions, and fram.io for easy review and feedback for both our agency and the client. The project manager kept us on task and edits were completed in a timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Sparkhouse makes things easy. They understand that as an agency, we have tight deadlines and that the approval process is layered because there are multiple people involved in the approval process.They deliver.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only hang ups really came from Sparkhouse not being able to get the Voice Overs done as quickly as we had wanted, because of the lack of response from some of the VO Artists. We understand that - and we were able to work through those issues and they were able to get them resolved.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CPO and co-founder of Plumedot, a digital signing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sparkhouse?

We were trying to create a video to raise funds from investors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The goal was to create a video that conveys our message and what we’re offering to investors. We couldn’t meet in person because of COVID restrictions, so Sparkhouse set up recording days virtually. They brought all the actors we wanted to hire and sent us the voiceovers. They took care of everything.

What is the team composition?

We worked with quite a few people. The head of Sparkhouse was involved, as well as a team of about five or six. We felt like we were getting more than adequate support on the project.

How did you come to work with Sparkhouse?

We did some research online and found Sparkhouse had some great reviews. We watched the videos on their website and really loved their style. We thought they had an eye for what we wanted to accomplish and that they seemed superior to the other video production vendors we were looking at.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost was between $10,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2020–February 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t deployed the video yet, so we don’t have any metrics. From a qualitative standpoint, we’ve shown the video to some members of our target audience, and they all loved it. They thought it was phenomenal and engaging. It’s a huge plus for Sparkhouse that they were able to pull off such a compelling video.

How did Sparkhouse perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Frame.io to make comments directly on the video. We also used Google Docs to collaborate back and forth on the progress of the project, the script, the action items, and other things like that. We went back and forth over email. 

Overall, Sparkhouse was extremely prompt in delivery. There weren’t any delays on their side. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were really impressed with their patience in working with us. Midway through the process, we realized we wanted to change our message, which took us about a month. The team figured out how to fit different video clips together, solving the problem with a lot of patience.  Sparkhouse went above and beyond any video production company I’ve ever come across. They’re one of a kind.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of. I don’t think there’s anything Sparkhouse could have done better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Engage with them. The experience speaks for itself. They’re definitely worth the price they charge, and they’ll do a fantastic job. We have no regrets working with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company, Refinery Pass, develops safety orientations for the petroleum industry and serves these orientations on an online platform. I am an owner and creative director of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

Sparkhouse helped Refinery Pass dig us out of a projected hole! We had an influx in projects due to COVID and they helped dig us out of a hole.

What were your goals for this project?

Out goals was to lighten the load on the animators internally by hiring outside help.

SOLUTION

How did you select Sparkhouse?

Looking at many companies online, I could tell by Sparkhouses portfolio that they were able to deliver quality work. What sealed the deal was their ability to communicate.

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

Refinery Pass would hand over a marked up script of what the animations would look like, along with audio and a graphical library for their animators to work with. Once an animator would give the animations their first pass, we'd review internally using a platform called Frame.io which worked nicely.

Due to our planning and Sparkhosues performance, the animators would usually only need to make another pass and the videos would be green-lit to hand over. There was only a couple of times where the video would need a 2nd or 3rd pass, but that was generally in the beginning when Sparkhouse and Refinery Pass were learning to work together.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We used Frame.io to makeup the videos and make comments at specific timestamps. It worked so well that Refinery Pass adopted it for our internal and client reviews.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Sparkhouse nailed everything subsequently allowing us to expand as a company and take on more simultaneous projects without having to hire more animators. An owner couldn't have asked for more.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was highly effective. Most of the kinks were on Refinery Pass's side, learning to teach someone else how to animate in our style. Once we got over that hurdle with better preparation, we were a well-oiled machine!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found their communication and project management to be impressive. It's hard to find companies that communicate well, everyone is on the same page, and we as the client have good visibility on where things are at! They knocked that out of the park.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I don't think there are any areas for improvement. Sparkhouse, just keep doing what you're doing. We appreciate everyone and all the help in 2020!