Synima

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I look after all the communications for a private equity fund.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You?

The task was to put together a video. We wanted to use content that already existed from our portfolio companies to create something which we could then show at our annual general meeting (AGM) which rounded up the year.

The task was to make whatever we produced look slick, and look like it was cohesive when it was actually created using lots of different content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Shoot You did a two-and-a-half-minute video that showed a little bit about the team and talked about some of the main achievements that we've had. We did that two years in a row. It was quite tricky because we wanted to blend existing video footage. 

They shot a video of us in the office, which was the only unique footage. For the rest of it, we blended existing video and photographs. We collected all of those and took the time to bring it under one umbrella. 

They managed to create a format that allowed us to use the content that we already had because we didn’t the cost to be high. It was the introduction at our AGM for our investors.

Shoot You was responsible for the creative concept and flows, and it was my job to ensure that the project managers had all of the content. They would then come back to us with their suggestions.

What is the team composition?

I had two different project managers. I also met the CEO when I first started talking to Shoot You, as well as Charlotte (Head of Production).

How did you come to work with Shoot You?

My sister worked for a company that had done quite a lot of videos with Shoot You. 

How much have you invested in them?

The first one was about £10,000 (approximately $12,900 USD) and the second one was around £6,000 (approximately $7,700 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in May 2018 and the last video was done in November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My experience with them was very good. The team highlighted the company over the years very well and everyone in the firm enjoyed looking at the videos. We were all quite surprised they turned out as well as they did.

We are very happy with Shoot You, and we won’t be looking for another partner if we do another video production project.

How did Shoot You perform from a project management standpoint?

I knew the CEO and met him when I first started talking to Shoot You alongside the project manager. He was involved in the outskirts of what we were doing, and he knew what was happening. If I had a specific issue that needed to be resolved, he was there.

There were a few hiccups along the way, but that was only because the first time we did it, we didn’t really know what we were looking for. They still did a really good job of managing that process. 

Last year, all of the content went to them and we were a bit late in delivering some of the content and slipped back a little bit. When they were asked to get things done and dusted, they managed to do that very well.

Both of the project managers involved were different and dealt with the project in different ways. One was communicative and very easy to talk to and reach, and he gave me the confidence that we knew where we were going. 

At the end of the day, they were both good project managers, but in different ways. Charlotte was also very communicative, and we knew exactly what was going on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I liked that Shoot You was prepared. We weren’t experienced but we had a clear idea of what we wanted to do, and what they managed to do with that was really good. We had a lot of comments during the AGM about the video. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing is that last year, it would have better to have firmer timelines. I am the middleman working on getting content from the portfolio companies we work with, and they aren’t always totally motivated to get it to me as quickly as I would like to have it. 

Understanding the timelines exactly and working backward with stricter timelines would perhaps be better. I think we had a little more in the first year.

I am quite pragmatic about most things and we got there in the end without too much hassle, but it probably would have been better if I had been pushed a little harder from their side.

This would’ve then pushed me to get some of the content a bit sooner. It also would have been nice to have the same project manager, but I am not sure if she was still there. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Shoot You is very professional, they do a good job. They did exactly what we wanted, and the outcome couldn’t have been better.

They took very diverse content and created something that was very cohesive. I wouldn’t change anything because they handled everything very well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief digital officer at an asset management company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You?

We wanted to do an internal corporate video for a worldwide audience talking about our digital transformation program. We also wanted to talk about our progress and what else was in the plan.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Shoot You produced a video that we shared online and played in a global town hall. They created a live-to-camera video that included people from all over the world, including Bangalore, London, Boston, and Connecticut.

The team created the script and helped us come up with the concept because we didn’t know what the right format was. We had a couple of conversations with them about getting the right messaging across.

They did everything, except for some of the videos in the US and the UK. They also interviewed a couple of individuals for the video and set up different backdrops. 

The final filming took a full day. Additionally, the team gave us good direction, such as telling us to be more animated. They hung around the whole day to get the best results.

What is the team composition?

I worked with six individuals in total. We had one lead, but we worked with more teammates when we did the video shoots, including lighting, camera, art direction, and equipment specialists.

How did you come to work with Shoot You?

I knew them from 10 years ago when they did a 3D animation video in 6–7 languages. They were on my list when I needed this video done.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them in Q4 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback from the CEO was fantastic. When he played the video, he commended the script and commented on how tight the communication was, given that it was only a two and a half minute video. 

The video was shared in a town hall and in several digital forums, and it showed the scale of the program. It was highly-regarded and conveyed a very important message. Shoot You helped us to calm the nerves of the individuals who weren’t confident in front of the camera.

How did Shoot You perform from a project management standpoint?

They were incredibly responsive; any delays were on our side. The team was efficient and polite. If our ideas weren’t great, they told us. It was a collaborative partnership. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Shoot You was professional, cost-effective, and proactive. They chased us down to make sure that timelines were met.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. If anything, they could’ve explained what the experience would’ve been like with a live crew. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s good to have a clear view of what you want to do, but make sure you’re open-minded because they’re the expert. Be prepared to be responsive and ask a lot of questions. Once you start the process, it’s very efficient, so if you don’t know what you’re doing, be aware of that upfront.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the marketing manager for a private equity fund that owned about 30 companies in different industries.   

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You?

Shoot You provided a series of videos for individual companies to showcase what we’ve been doing for investors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They guided us along the process. Together, we worked on the script and they laid out the logistics for us. They helped determine when and where we should shoot. They mapped out the production and filmed each video. Then they edited them and overlaid the soundtrack. Each video was about 6–7 minutes.

What is the team composition?

There was a crew of four for each shoot and our primary point of contact oversaw everything. He ensured everything was managed properly.

How did you come to work with Shoot You?

It was a recommendation from a friend of mine who worked at another private equity fund. I met with three different companies, but decided to choose Shoot You.

How much have you invested with them?

It was about $12,500 per video and we did four videos. So we spent about $50,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from March 2012–March 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback from investors was that it was a good finished product. It sold our story well, it was engaging, and it was exciting. They used some drones to get some shots, which in 2012, was very foreword thinking and modern. The quality of their work shined through. It went down well with all of our stakeholders.

How did Shoot You perform from a project management standpoint?

They were efficient, reasonably price, and most importantly, they delivered a good finished product. It was an easy process and they were efficient. They were great partners and they were very friendly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’d recommend them. They did a good job. They’re priced competitively and they provide great quality work.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I do not have any critiques. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a Global Brand Manager for Aggreko – a world-leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control, and energy services. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You?

As part of a global brand refresh and roll out of a new global website, we had an enormous content challenge to deliver upon in a short time frame.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Shoot You fully managed the production processes of a range of video and photographic content projects. During the first year of our engagement, they created 20–30 pieces of new video content for our website, including local case studies, live-action, animated, and global brand videos. They also supported scripts development, storyboard creation, and graphics using the new brand tone of voice and visual direction.

What is the team composition?

We always work with a single point of contact who makes the process streamlined and efficient. However, the type of partnership we have grown to has led me to also work closely with their wider team including, Quint (Sales & Marketing Director), Matthew Wright (Director), Jason Lowe (Producer), Charlotte Pugh (Head of Production), and Becky Hill (Producer).

How did you come to work with Shoot You Video?

Our company initially engaged Shoot You prior to my joining.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in March 2016, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I've been on an educational journey with Shoot You, which has helped me be successful in my role. They’re flexible, even with last-minute changes. Their team has full-spectrum video production expertise, and we trust their feedback. When they're with customers on-site without us, we have full confidence in their professionalism. 

How did Shoot You Video perform from a project management standpoint?

They're professional and flexible, and they deliver on time. Shoot You helps ensure our videos have the right level of engagement. Our communication's open and honest.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Throughout several projects, we've generally worked with the same team, which enables smoother interactions.

Their team members have different expertise that comes into play at different times, such as multilingual capabilities, creative writing expertise, and a range of international production experience, which is helpful for the global nature of our business.

They’re proactive with ideas and feedback. Shoot You feels like part of our team; I trust their ability to deliver, and they make working with them a positive and personal experience.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of areas for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s helpful to work with an agency that operates the way Shoot You do: it always feels like they want to work with you. Their team will learn your brand and remain consistent in their skills, expertise, and delivery. You know that their passion is to deliver what is right for the customer. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing and communications for an international trade association. We work in the oil and gas industry as well as the marine renewables industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You?

We planned a large conference that would take place over three days. I wanted to create a short video to play when people entered the room to capture everyone’s attention at the event.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I initially explained what I wanted to the Shoot You team, telling them that I needed impact, power, and scale. We developed a couple of ideas together then their team came back with a product. 

They animated our logo, which was featured at the beginning and the end of the video. Our members approved of our use of their content for the video. Their team edited the footage, pairing it with a soundtrack. We had low-resolution footage that was taken underwater. Shoot You found a creative way to implement the content in a way that ensured it wasn't out of sync with the rest of the video. The video didn’t feature a script. Rather, it focused on our brand and image.

Currently, their team’s working to reshape the original piece. They’re updating the video and making the content available for an introduction to an online training session.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people from Shoot You.

How did you come to work with Shoot You?

I worked for another company that engaged Shoot You to create a year-end video. When I needed an agency in this role, I went back to a colleague from that company. It was based on that conversation that I contacted Clint (Sales & Marketing Director).

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between £7,000–£8,000 (approximately $8,800–$10,000 USD) on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started this project in August 2018, and they took about 10–14 days to complete the video. We have an ongoing relationship with Shoot You. I could happily pick up the phone anytime and ask them to do anything.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone who watches the video loves it. Our industry’s all about scale and our members involve themselves with ships and oil platforms offshore, which the video brought together. We show the video at every single conference. It always makes an impact even when people have seen it a couple of times before.

They selected music that fit the footage, which Shoot You edited well to make the video more dynamic. From our board to our members, everybody loved it.

How did Shoot You perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a couple of calls, and I went to their studio. Shoot You was open and collaborative. It was easy to work with their team. These projects can feel like a chore, but this was a pleasant experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team was helpful and creative. While I was surprised by a few of their teammates’ ages, they certainly were experienced and knowledgeable. The process was collaborative and open.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're experts who come up with great ideas, so listen to their input. Be open and see what they have to say. Often, you’ll get a better product through collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former video production manager for a luxury hotel group. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You?

We needed a company to meet the video production needs of our three brands.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Shoot You created promotional videos for all three brands over the course of our partnership. While I provided sheet lists and scripts, their team advised us on the videos’ storyboards. Their team consulted on the crew, equipment, and shots for the videos.

They supplied crew including a director for each of the videos. They filmed each of the promotional pieces at our various locations and showcased key features such as the beaches, entertainment, and accommodations.  

Their team also handled the entire video production process. Although, we sometimes edited collaboratively. Once fully edited, we made the videos available on our website.

What is the team composition?

On every project, we worked with Matt (CEO) as the producer. While the crew varied in size, Shoot You tried to assign the same people for each project. Over the years, we worked with about 15 people in total.

How did you come to work with Shoot You?

I found them through Google searches. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $200,000–$999,999 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between June 2007 – August 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Shoot You was extremely helpful and lifted stress off of my shoulders, making my job more enjoyable. We also received positive feedback on the videos, internally and externally.

How did Shoot You perform from a project management standpoint?

They brilliantly managed the projects. Year after year, the productions ran smoothly. Their team was on the ball with their communication, which was timely and positive. They worked long hours, both early mornings and late nights, to capture the necessary shots for the videos.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team was friendly and professional with everyone they encountered. They made us feel at ease. Shoot You was knowledgeable and taught us a lot. Their team gave us their opinions on our ideas, which I loved. I looked forward to summers because I enjoyed working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Meet with them in person because video production involves collaboration. It’s important for your teams to mesh well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior digital manager at a marketing and communications agency that specializes in financial services, technology, and associated industries. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You?

We partnered with Shoot You for a project for one of our clients in the management consulting industry. We're helping this client build a strong digital presence, leverage social channels more effectively, and communicate what it’s like to work with them as a firm.

One of the ways we wanted to do this was through a series of animated videos that would tell the stories of some of their client case studies, including the problem, solution, and impact.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After we provided the core brand guidelines and the case study content, we worked collaboratively with Shoot You to determine the structure of the videos. The team then created two 90 second videos. 

They did the storyboarding, and they implemented simple white space, clever animated imagery, and typography. We plan to complete about 10 videos in total with them. Although our work has been disrupted due to the current global situation, the team has suggested additional ideas. 

We’ve been able to pitch a couple of alternatives, such as using the non-case study content while keeping the original animated style. Another example is that we’ve worked on filming their consultants while they’re working remotely.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Matt (MD/Director), who is our main point of contact, and Constance (Producer), who serves as our account manager.

How did you come to work with Shoot You?

They were recommended to me by a colleague.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $12,000 for the two videos so far. The original estimate is about $6,000 per video. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our team had worked with them previously for one-off animated video projects. We began working on this particular project in November 2019, and this engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our client has been thrilled. They’ve even presented one of the videos as a feature in one of their global board meeting, and all of the feedback was positive. 

We’ve also used one of the videos in one of our paid digital campaigns, and the engagement rate and click-through rate (CTR) were above our benchmarks, which was great. We had a 0.5 engagement rate on the video, which is on the upper end of the average for financial services. Additionally, we also saw a 0.2% CTR. 

How did Shoot You perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s been great working with the team. Matt and his team have been fantastic in terms of being flexible and agile, especially since we’re beholden to our client’s content pipeline, which has been helpful. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Shoot You is a partner to us, rather than just being a video supplier. It’s that partnership that stands out to me. They are always willing to suggest new and creative ideas and partner with us in this kind of thinking. They’ve been a pleasure to work with. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of off the top of my head.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate and be transparent with Shoot You. You will get the best creativity out of their team if you treat them as an extension of yours.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a video producer for a mobile apps company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You Video & Animation Production?

We needed to outsource some animation editing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They managed all of our resizing and localization of video assets. The animations will be view on various devices and in several languages.
For example, if we created a 30-second animated video, they would resize and reanimate it to fit other durations. It may get reduced to 15 seconds or be prolonged to 45 seconds, requiring editing in extra footage. They also created new videos via 2D motion graphics. 

What is the team composition?

We work with three people: Quint (Sales & Marketing Director) is the main contact, Becky (Producer) is project manager, and Lucien (Creative Director) was the creative director. There are a few other animators working as well. 

How did you come to work with Shoot You Video & Animation Production?

I did an online search. There were a few companies we considered, but this team felt like the best choice.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $160,000, including the retainer and monthly invoices. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around October 2018, and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They always deliver on time, and we couldn’t have done this so quickly without them. I haven't needed to correct anything they’ve delivered. They are extremely valuable to us. 

How did Shoot You Video & Animation Production perform from a project management standpoint?

They adapted to our way of working, and I was impressed at how natural our collaboration felt. Quickly, they understood problems and were solution-oriented in resolving it. Initially, we had weekly meetings but migrated to email communication. We also used some online tools, such as shared drives.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're friendly, collaborative, and enjoyable to work with. When we've needed flexibility on our timeline and budget, they've always provided it. The quality of their work is very high, and communication is casual and friendly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're trustworthy and easy to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the talent director for an HR services group. We are located in various countries, and I am in the UK. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You Video & Animation Production?

We were launching a leadership program for my business line. It was a three-day, face-to-face event in London, and we wanted them to record the event and create a short video at the end of it. We wanted to capture the emotional element of the event. We also wanted candid photos and headshots of participants.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was quite collaborative. I had a vision in mind, but Shoot You helped me articulate it. They understood what my need was. They came and tested the venue, which was on an old docked ship. They were able to determine where they could take headshots. The team also helped me script what they would be doing day-by-day for the three days of the event so that we could set expectations with everyone in the room.

In addition, very senior stakeholders were attending the event, and we wanted to do interviews with them. Shoot You helped identify where on the ship we could conduct those interviews. In addition to the stakeholder interviews, we wanted to be able to pull in random guests for quick interviews to talk about their experience and how they felt about it. Shoot You helped with makeup and background settings. 

This was a global event that we had in three different locations: North America, the UK, and India. It was more cost-effective to have an Indian company handle the post-production element of the video. Shoot You provided all of the collateral in a digital form so that the team in India could access it and create the post-production output. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people. I had one main point of contact, but he brought in two other people: a photographer/cameraman for the video part of the work, as well as a sound person to help with the recording. The sound person also helped lead some of the discussions with guests.

How did you come to work with Shoot You Video & Animation Production?

I had worked with them previously at another firm to produce an animated introduction video. I really enjoyed working with them, as they were very down to earth and professional.

They came with ideas and helped us translate what was in our head to reality. They provided a very personalized touch, and so I asked them to work on this project with us.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $4,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project was in February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very impressed. Everything was very well executed by the team. I would have leveraged them for postproduction as well, but it was more cost-effective to work with a company in India. 

Some participants of the program were so impressed by their professionalism that they have engaged with them for other events.

How did Shoot You Video & Animation Production perform from a project management standpoint?

I am very happy with them and only have good things to say about them. I didn’t have to chase them or drive things. They were very proactive, and they came to me directly. They also sent me messages on WhatsApp.

I was busy with other things, and they didn’t mind me calling them at later hours. They are very approachable and very understanding. They set expectations of when and how they would be able to deliver.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very professional as an organization, and we were totally impressed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really. I have nothing bad to say.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They are very forthcoming, understanding, and accommodating, even when we were discussing prices.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a consultant at Achieving for Children. I work in children’s services and education for all of our young people under the age of 11, but we are particularly focusing on children with special needs and disabilities. 

We contextually work with about a thousand providers of education across our two boroughs who provide some sort of childcare whether it is private nurseries, local schools, after school clubs, etc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shoot You Video & Animation Production?

We had some central government money awarded to us to participate in a project. We had applied to this funding and were successful. Then we were given this funding for the financial year of 2018–2019. 

Part of the remit from the government was that in some way we filmed or recorded the project we were doing. In short, we partnered with 12 local schools across the two boroughs and the idea was that they got a free year’s training from us of professional development.

They had to apply to be part of the scheme. The best 12 local schools were chosen to take part, and within the Department for Education’s funding for the project, there was a separate allocated budget for filming. 

From the Department for Education’s point of view, that was just to capture some of the learning in a slightly more interesting way rather than just presenting them with fixed data. It was to capture some of the qualitative aspects coming back from children themselves, young people, the families, and the school.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had some initial meetings via email. We then commissioned six short films at the start that captured some of the training sessions, the work going on in the schools, the voice of the children, the voice of the families, and the voices of the professionals involved. 

From the start, Shoot You was very involved. They held our hand through all of that. They identified the schools and the settings that we wanted to take part in and helped us identify the professionals. Over time, we made six short videos that are now on our website.

There was flexibility in postproduction in terms of editing. There were quite a few times when we went back to them, not because of the quality of their work but more so because of how we wanted to capture our message.

What is the team composition?

We probably had 4–5 teammates on shoot days. We also interacted with Quint (MD/Sales & Marketing Director).

How did you come to work with Shoot You Video & Animation Production?

We Googled local film companies in this area. Shoot You is based about 10–15 miles away from here. I hadn’t heard of them before, but it was based on locality. We also looked at their website. We had to be careful because it was government money and we couldn’t just point to who we wanted. 

We had to award and subject it to the rigors of receiving government money. We had to be pretty careful in our choice and we didn’t just want to go for the lowest bid. Our organization had three bids from local firms. Shoot You was neither the most expensive nor the cheapest; they were in the middle. 

How much have you invested in them?

We spent just under  £10,000 (approximately $12,500 USD)  for the six films. That roughly includes four people at every shoot.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in April 2018, and prior to the lockdown, the plan was to revisit those settings and those schools that took part during the first year and get filming on the impact that it has had 15 months later.

The next set of videos will be more of a recap and reflection session bringing all those that took part in just one video to see where they are now. The wider company has now used Shoot You for several other projects since initially doing our piece of work which has been really exciting as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the first year of this project, we got government money, and in the second year, because the first year was so successful, I was able to go to my own local authority and get funding for a second year since there wasn’t continuous funding from the government. 

It actually got bigger because we had 12 schools involved in the first year, and 18 schools involved this year. I think part of that was the quality of those videos that Shoot You made. It is slightly in limbo at the moment, but we are supposed to start a third year in September.

What is hard about the school sector is that it isn’t like walking into a company. You have to be mindful of people having appropriate permission to be in schools and so on and so forth. The team was always very respectful of that and understood that we had to make sure they had the appropriate clearances to be filming in schools.

Everyone involved found the engagement very enjoyable. It really opened up another way of demonstrating some of the work we have been doing. We have submitted a couple of reports beyond our organization. 

The University of London in Roehampton is doing research and they have been very interested in the project. We have written for a couple of national magazines about the impact of the project. 

Although it wasn’t directly referencing Shoot You, we obviously signposted that into our website where all that information would have been housed and you can see the videos there. It just gave an edge to it that we wouldn’t have had otherwise without the quality of the videos. 

We would’ve had data, but it wouldn’t have quite captured the voice in the same way that the videos do. One of the biggest impacts was when we had a conference in May 2019 which would have been a year after we did the first filming with them. 

It was a conference attended by about 170 delegates. We hadn’t filmed that conference before, so it was a different branch at Achieving for Children that hired Shoot You to do that and they captured that day in a way that we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

How did Shoot You Video & Animation Production perform from a project management standpoint?

We had regular contact throughout the project. We went to their offices 3–4 times as well just to check-in and we had email and phone contact during all of that as well. Sometimes when things were in production, the team still shared them via Vimeo to demonstrate the progress.

In a way, they just understood where we were coming from at the start. They have done a lot of work in banking and other fields and this was quite a different field for them to get involved in. From the get-go they understood it and they were also able to roll with the punches.

It was a sector they didn’t know, so I was surprised by the attention they were willing to give us. Shoot You was really adaptable at the start and really keen to get involved and to listen. At the start, they were looking to do a bit more animation, but the cost was more than we could afford. So, they thought of another way of doing it.

We have our own internal media department that wanted to have a look at the videos. There wasn’t so much work that needed to be redone to any great degree, but Shoot You was always happy to go back if we had noticed something that wasn’t quite clear. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Right from the start, even though they are not education-focused in any way, what shocked me about Quint and other teammates was their willingness and adaptability. No matter who we worked with in terms of the team, it was the same quality of work, the same interaction, and the same level of understanding of what we were trying to do.

I never felt like we were bothering them when we went back to them for edits. During the lifetime of the project, we added another element and added on a filming day, but it wasn’t a problem. They were pretty flexible. They were equally enthusiastic and professional.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I really can’t think of anything off the top of my head. The team got everything right in terms of our message and the look and feel of it. The quality was fantastic.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Open and honest conversations and relationships were key from the start. We got them to understand the industry even if it wasn’t their focus so that they could be familiar with what we were trying to do. 

We weren’t afraid to push back if we felt it wasn’t quite going where we wanted it to. They are a very flexible company, and they were very happy to meet us in the middle as well.