Ursa Major

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager for Pilot.com, a financial back office provider for startups and small to medium-sized businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ursa Major?

We needed someone to provide us with video production.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ursa Major produced three 30-minute videos marketing Pilot’s various services, as well as a 30 second and 1 minute cut down for ad campaigns. We did the pre-production for a month with them where we provided them with content and discussed timelines, schedules, and set pieces.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Madeleine (Creative Director) and we also worked with around 6–7 members of their team.

How did you come to work with Ursa Major?

I’ve already worked with them when I was still working at my previous company.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July–October 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their production was very professional and high-quality. The videos were also well-received on social media, and it felt like they improved how our business is perceived.

How did Ursa Major perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great from a project management standpoint because all their tasks were delivered on time and they were always on budget.

We checked on the progress on a weekly basis mostly through Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We liked their fair pricing and how they’re extremely easy to work with. They also produced high-quality work and we always felt like we were in good hands with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could do differently. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would suggest being very clear with your objectives so that Ursa Major can help you achieve your expectations for your film.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an independent contractor, but I work under a business pseudonym called Brewing Happiness. I've been a photographer and videographer for a long time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ursa Major?

I worked with Ursa Major to create a set of courses to teach people videography. I decided to hire them because I knew that there were a lot of courses online, and I wanted to stand out and ensure that I deliver quality courses to my audience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Madeleine (Creative Director) helped me a lot with the production aspect of the project. Meanwhile, I focused on the content of the courses we were going to offer. 

I flew them to Brooklyn and we ended up shooting the course over three days in an Airbnb. We shot the videos in February 2018, and Alan was in charge of filming. The Ursa Major team also ensured that we were comfortable in front of the camera. After that, they took care of the editing process.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Madeleine and Alan (Director of Photography & Editor).

How did you come to work with Ursa Major?

I contacted Madeleine at the end of 2017, and we talked about my ideas. I wanted to get her thoughts on the scope and range of possibilities of my project. After our conversation, we confirmed the timeline and budget for it. I also knew Alan, and I was confident I could trust him with this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $20,000, and that included flying them to New York and the rental for cameras and other equipment.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2017–April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It could be hard for people to be in front of a camera, but they made the process easier. I was happy with everything that Alan and the team recorded. Overall, Ursa Major quickly and efficiently finished the project.

The course had done very well, and we liked how visually appealing it was. Our stakeholders’ response was positive, and they liked the aesthetics of our courses too. In that sense, it was a lot easier to sell something that looked good.

I couldn’t have done the project without Ursa Major. Their work was incredibly beneficial and immensely successful.  

How did Ursa Major perform from a project management standpoint?

They always delivered on time and within budget. We communicated through email and phone. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The skill level and ease that they brought to the set were impressive. Madeleine and Alan were very proficient in the capacities they offered. That gave us a sense of security when we were working with them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, nothing comes to mind on areas they could improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ursa Major is a collaborative and helpful company. Put your trust in them because they’re capable of producing your project’s vision. Whatever expectations you have, it can turn into something even better than you expect.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an artist and a musician. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ursa Major?

I was looking for someone to produce music videos for me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ursa Major made three music videos for me throughout our engagement. Ursa Major shot, produced, directed, and edited the first video that we did. For the second video, they did everything from start to finish, and I wasn't even involved. They conducted the hiring, casting, directing, post-production, editing, coloring, and everything else. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Madeleine (Creative Director) and Alan (Director of Photography).

How did you come to work with Ursa Major?

I've known them for quite some time. They’re my friends.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent less than $10,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working around January 2014 and we finished our most recent collaboration in December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Ursa Major has been great! Their works receive positive feedback. One of the music videos they did was for my single, which received significant press attention and a big premiere. The video that we put together was beautiful and very good. People loved it. 

How did Ursa Major perform from a project management standpoint?

They were amazing at project management. They have a beautiful artistic vision and are super creative, but they're also professional. They're my friends, although that didn’t compromise our collaboration. They could have slacked off or maintained a more relaxed environment. Instead, they were honest, communicative, on time, thorough, and detailed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ursa Major provided clear communication and expectations. They're just incredibly artistic and flexible people. They were able to work with me and be creative in how they approached the project, despite my relatively small budget.  

For the most recent video that we did, I just let them know my budget and asked them to create a concept and film it on their own, without me being involved at all. I let them be as creative as they wanted and put something together. They were able to come up with something so beautiful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I loved working with them, and I would recommend them to anybody. I don't really feel like they have anything to improve on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ursa Major is super flexible. While I’m an artist, they also do video work for companies and different brands. They can do a wide range of projects, and it's just up to the client to communicate what their needs are. They're so fluid and creative in every aspect, and Madeleine and Alan can deliver on anything a client wants. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Nonprofit organization

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ursa Major?

Mission video

What were your goals for this project?

Create a compelling expaliner/ mission video

SOLUTION

How did you select Ursa Major?

Personal relationship

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

https://vimeo.com/334030149

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

I have nothing but positive things to say about Ursa Major. The team created a compelling narrative and script for our explainer video, and worked diligently with our team to produce this incredible mission video.

They elicited beautiful reflections on our work from participants and staff. They also were sensitive to the strong emotions that arose from participants with a history of eating disorders. I so enjoyed working with the team and would highly recommend them!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

https://vimeo.com/334030149

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Highly

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed with their communication and collaboration.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No