Vermillion Films

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Haybridge Alliance SCITT is a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training Institution based in the West Midlands. We offer an alternative, school-based route into the teaching profession, allowing our trainees to gain all the necessary qualifications to become fully qualified teachers whilst learning in the classroom. Whilst working for the SCITT, I acted as Social Media Manager and General Administrator.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, the recruitment of new teachers into the profession has seen a national decline with applications for ITT dropping 23% since 2021. We hired Vermillion to support our current recruitment drive, hoping to reach a wider audience through video rather than our traditional marketing strategies of posters, flyers and attendance at Train To Teach events.

Our goal was to make more people aware of the alternative routes into teaching as many don't realise there are school-based providers as well as the traditional university route. Vermillion supported in the creation of a main 2-minute video as well as 3 smaller edits which have been promoted via YouTube Ads and ITV Hub.

SOLUTION

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

As Haybridge Alliance SCITT are a small provider, we had no prior dealings with a production company. This meant, when searching for a provider, we wanted to work with a company that offered the maximum amount of support and guidance throughout the entire filming process. After meeting with four different production companies and presenting their offers to the school's Board of Trustees, it was apparent that Vermillion offered the highest-quality service, demonstrating the utmost professionalism and would be able to support us throughout the entire process.

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

Upon beginning the project, we met with Jen and Lee for an initial discovery meeting which was a way for us to determine the key messages we wanted to relay in our video. It also helped us to map out what we wanted the viewers' 'action' to be after watching (i.e. be directed to our website and submit an application.) After members of the SCITT team had created a storyboard and script questions, we met with Jen to discuss project logistics and schedules. Filming took place over 3 days with a timetable emailed out by Jen each evening to ensure the project ran to schedule.

Once the footage had been gathered, Vermillion began the editing process which was seamless. After initial edits were made, these were sent over to the SCITT for us to review and leave feedback on. Vermillion's prompt responses made this an easy process, allowing for the video edits to be altered until we were 100% happy with the final project. Vermillion then supported us by liaising with our chosen advertising company on file sharing and assisting in ITV Hub's ClearCast process. Overall, their service was exceptional.

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

We worked with a small team from Vermillion throughout the video's production: Jen (Project Manager), Dan (Camera Op), Jess (Production Assistant) and Peter (Video Editor). The team were very support and friendly, always making sure our trainees and teachers felt comfortable whilst being interviewed. Feedback was ongoing throughout filming and editing with all members of the team being receptive to the slight adjustments and additions we wanted to make to the videos.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the video was uploaded to the SCITT's website and our YouTube Ad began its 2-week broadcast cycle, the SCITT has received over 100 applications for Initial Teacher Training in less than 6 weeks! This is exponentially more than our recruitment drive over the past two years. On YouTube, Haybridge's promotional videos have gained over 1.3 million views which is a staggering amount for a small provider such as ourselves.

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

Vermillion Films was brilliant at maintaining communication throughout the production process. Video calls, emails and an app called 'Basecamp' were used to communicate with the team as well as share feedback and video edits. The team created detailed filming schedules which were sent across the evening before each day of filming so we knew exactly where to be at what time. This level of planning meant the video kept to schedule and feedback could be given/ amendments made with ease.

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

Vermillion really went above and beyond to learn about the courses and services Haybridge SCITT offer trainees which meant the interviews during filming felt natural and resulted in some lovely, unscripted content. Vermillion also offered support and guidance throughout every stage of production, right from our initial consultation to helping us with ITV Hub's ClearCast process.

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

I don't think there are any areas of improvement - the whole process was seamless and the support we received from Vermillion's team was amazing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Group Head of Marketing for Tenet Group, overseeing the marketing function, planning and execution for all Tenet's brands

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

For our 30 years anniversary video I wanted something punchy and exciting that would display well on the big screen at our annual conference. With 30 years to cover off, we wanted to focus on the big events that have shaped our world and industry.

SOLUTION

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

We have used Vermillion for a range of videos over the course of the past year and have been very impressed. They offer fantastic value for money, are responsive and very professional.

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

Having worked with Vermillion on various projects, they were already familiar with our brand and the style we wanted to achieve. We started with an overall idea and provided Vermillion with a script that they refined and proceeded to footage selection. Vermillion pulled together a short section to check quality and overall look and feel, then proceeded to full draft. Following sign off of the 'scenes' they proceeded to voiceover coordination.

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

Jen and Jess provided their usual well organised coordination of the project and direction of the voice over artist. Peter did a sterling job, as usual, turning our very basic ideas into a work of art.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We showed the video at our annual conference and adapted it for our colleague conference. It really helped to set the scene for the celebrations and connected with everyone emotionally - we've been through a lot in the last 30 years!

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

vermillion use Basecamp for communication, which is very useful for keeping track of the project and saves inbox overload! The team are great at communicating and keeping us honest and on-track with the aspects we've promised to deliver. They never missed a deadline for me!

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

Fantastic quality, at a great price.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Executive Director of a nonprofit dedicated to supporting people with Myhre syndrome.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We had our team of doctors and professionals create their own video content for our virtual conference and needed Vermillion to help us edit the videos and also top and tail them with graphics.

SOLUTION

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

We are a repeat customer of Vermillion having worked with them for a number of years and are always extremely impressed by their quality and dedication to the client and our needs.

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

Vermillion created a project portal for us to upload the content and then they took the files and worked on them and returned them to the folder. It was a great system and worked well for us to have what we needed and all in a very timely manner.

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

We worked with a project manager, who was incredibly helpful and she checked in to keep us on track and communicated well when she needed our approval and when items were signed off.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The videos are often the only way our international community of patients and caregivers can view content from experts. Feedback has been excellent and Vermillion enabled us to present these videos in a professional way.

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

The project manager was very professional, set out the delivery timeline, always kept us informed on progress and made sure she kept the project on track, even when we were a little late with providing her the content. She would often work incredibly quickly to help us when the content hadn't come through from our side in a timely manner.

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

Vermillion always care, they put great care into the work they produce and take the time to understand the needs of the client. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone who needs any video content from storyboarding through to filming and post production.

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

No, everything was excellent.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm CEO of Invoice Ninja. https://www.invoiceninja.com/ Invoice Ninja is a leading source-code available platform for freelancers & SMB’s to invoice clients, accept payments, track expenses & time billable-tasks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We are launching a new marketing website, and wanted an original video produced for "above the fold" on our website homepage, to highlight our userbase as freelancers & SMB's.

SOLUTION

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

I contacted probably 20 companies. I chose Vermillion because the reply was professional & concise. It wasn't a boiler-plate reply, I saw that they read my inquiry and replied accordingly in detail.

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

Phone call with the owner Lee. Then Lee fine-tuned his proposal, which was well below my budget. He promised me that it was low because they have all the capabilities "in house", it was true! We discussed the application of the video, props to be uses (they had great ideas), and total tone of the finished product. Then they scheduled the video shoot date, and invited me to join via Zoom. The final product has several "versions" for me to choose from, they were very accommodating.

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

Lee connected me with "Jen" on his team. We emailed, used Basecamp, etc... easy communication. They also communicated directly with our web design firm to ensure they provided the finished video in the best size & format for easy use by the web design firm. I thought that was very professional.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

New video being implemented as our homepage header background.

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

Email, Zoom, Basecamp.

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

They had a fast turnaround and easy communication. Their pricing was much lower than expected.

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

I thought they were great!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Managing Director at Tandem Financial Ltd. We are independent financial planners. We help our clients make smart choices with money.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted Vermillion Films to create a new corporate video for Tandem to show off our brand, our service and our core offering. This was to replace the existing video which was 6 years out of date. We wanted to havw our clients speak mostly about their experience.

SOLUTION

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

I knew Lee the MD at Vermillion but the deciding factor to use them was their excellent website, approach, ideas and service levels. They really made it easy and understood our brief very well.

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

The video was one that would involve interviewing my clients and epitomising our service proposition and client experience.  The steps were logical.  I called and explained what I wanted, Lee and his team conducted a fact find and asked a lot of questions and we tee'd up a date for my clients to attend that was mutually convenient.  We used Base Camp, software to engage all parties and make sure everyone was in the loop.  Worked a treat.  The whole day went to plan and production  times afterwards were stuck to.

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

Largely with the production manager Jen and Lee.  Both are excellent at their job.  The process was smooth as they were organised, asked the right questions and did what they said they would.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Yes, everyone I have shown the final cut to has said it is excellent.  It gives a warm feeling to who Tandem is and what we stand for, how we make our clients feel and what the experience is. It encapsulates our service proposition.

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

Excellent.  Use of Basecamp, video chats and direct emails.  Punctual timings.  No delays.

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

Courtesy and professionalism.  They had excellent knowledge and were pushing the boundaries to get the best result. Thinking outside the box and asking thought provoking questions to my clients, my team and I.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m Chief Marketing Officer for the agency and but also take a lead on many of our high profile accounts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vermillion Films?

We were working with a large global client to increase brand awareness in the UK. As part of this broader campaign we needed a production company to execute a TV campaign.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our relationship with Vermillion Films goes back a number of years and they were our first port of call for this. We like that they always bring a high level of creativity and ambition to any production but we know it’s grounded in solid project management skills so this was an easy choice for us to make.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The project kicked off with a collaborative creative session with the client team to agree potential creative directions. We briefed the team at Vermillion at an early stage and invited their creative input at this concept stage. The result was a concept that the client loved.

We developed it together until it hit all the client’s touchpoints before heading fully into pre-production. Casting and locations were vitally important, and the Vermillion team had people scouting evenings and weekends to find the right location following a last-minute change.

The shoot itself went brilliantly. We received amazing feedback from the client and were impressed with the contingency planning in place that became needed due to poor weather.

What was the team composition?

• Lee - Exec Producer
• Jennah - Producer
• Peter - Editor/Motion Graphics

Total team: 6 people

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This was a multichannel brand awareness campaign, comprising TV, Radio, Outdoor and digital. Reach exceeded expectations and all KPI's delighted the client team, so we are now running the campaign across Europe and having a second burst later this year.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

A complex project like this needs a robust management style and we found them to be across all of the areas we needed them to be, keeping us up to date as much as we needed. It’s clear they have systems and processes in place to ensure nothing gets forgotten in the mad rush of production.

They were happy to take guidance from us in areas that are our strong point such as accommodating brand and strategic requirements and were happy to lead in areas that don’t usually fall to us.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Vermillion brought a lot of very wide-ranging expertise to projects in a range of sectors and always seemed to use their experience to make each project creative and well-managed.

This project required an intensely complicated set of usage options and the way they approached this was a particular highlight, but ultimately the finished ad is really good and the client loves it.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

We’ve been using Vermillion for years now and have no intention of changing, so we’re very happy with the service we get.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a producer in the film and photography department at the agency that I work for. I produce film projects and will source and commission appropriate suppliers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We had a short turn around brief to get a highly effective TV advert produced and on aire within six weeks. The advert had to have a strong call to action to encourage Membership Sign ups and App downloads. We needed to work with a super efficient and super effective team to bring our advert concept to life.

SOLUTION

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

We have worked with Vermillion before and we trust their creativity, their efficiency and professionalism and their quaility. We knew they were the right team to work with on this project.

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

We had to produce a 30 second TV advert for broadcast in the UK. Not only did the advert have to meet strong creative requirements and production values it also needed to be done very quickly without a loss of quality and also the final deliverable needed to be delviered to a strict deadline and rigorous technical specification.

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

We worked with Lee the director, Pam the producer and Peter the editor and the associated shoot crew on the shoot day. We have a good relationship with the team as they are great to work with, friendly, responsive, helpful and professional at all times.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The advert has first aired in mid Sept 2021 and will run until the end of Oct 2021. The full results are not in but at this stage the client is delighted as the targets set are currently being exceeded in membership sign ups and app downloads.

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

The director, producer and editor were very easy to deal with. We primarily used BaseCamp as a project management tool so all aspects of the project can be monitored by all stakeholders in a straightforward and transparent way. This was supplemented by regular phone calls and teams meeting. Vermillion were always on the calls whenever they were put into the appropriate calendars.

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

Vermillion are willing to take on a brief with a strict timing to hit and budget to work with. This never means a drop in quality or delivery processes. The guys are super switched on and will never let you down. And they are really nice guys to work with - no egos in a pressured time frame.

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

Not really - they just need to keep on what they are doing as they do it very well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Sotic is the UK's no.1 sports digital agency who produce digital web and mobile portals for some of the world's most prestigious sports federations. I am the Head of Business responsible for the company's global sales, marketing and commercial activities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I wanted to create a world-class video showreel to highlight some of the company's strengths and be able to emanate the ideal image for the business.

SOLUTION

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

We went out to tender and were most impressed by Vermillion's response and work to date.

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

To start a basic script was created and shared as part of the tender process with available budget. After a rigorous selection process and Vermillion were appointed, we discussed and brainstormed what it needed to look like, the emotions I wanted to portray and the type of 'stature' that I wanted to gain from it. As I wanted to include staff and client interviews, as well as ensure we were perceived as being a "people's business", this included a full day's shoot at our offices, plus zoom recordings of some customer leadership.

Lee the Director and team were incredibly professional, friendly and patient to get what was needed. From there we went into post-production and editing with Lee and his team making good progress and sharing ongoing links to ensure we were happy with what was being produced. Here too, nothing short of highly professional, patient and accommodating.

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

I personally worked with and engaged with Lee, the MD and Director, Pam the Producer, Cameraman and Peter the Editor.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Despite being so incredibly professional and experienced, they remained humble and understanding, doing everything possible to accommodate our requirements. What's more, is that they were to produce a world-class product which in some instances even exceeded our expectations.

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

Their communication, project management, and engagement were amazing.

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

They were a professional, talented, and friendly group of people. They are all approachable and understanding. Good listeners and delivery are what ultimately matters which they nailed!!

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Project Manager in the Marketing Department of a European Medical Association.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Vermillion Films to produce a series of videos shot on location for the Opening Ceremony of our annual flagship congress.

SOLUTION

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

We chose to work with Vermillion Films based on the excellent quality of their production work in their portfolio, as well as their ability to shoot on location in Birmingham, UK while meeting our budget requirements.

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

We started with a kick-off Teams call to go over the video concept and requirements in terms of on-location filming, covid restrictions, assets and animations. We used Basecamp regularly to discuss logistics and ideas. After a successful day of filming on location, Vermillion Films worked on version 1 of the Opening Ceremony video and sent us the link on Vimeo. After a few rounds of revisions we had the final version which was sent to us in high resolution to be broadcast during our live digital event.

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

We worked with Lee and Peter directly. They were highly organised and kept things running on time. They used Vimeo to show us the videos and it worked really well because we were able to easily add comments at any point which was directly linked to the timestamp and made it easier for the editor to make the change.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The final video was shown to over 8, 200 participants at the Opening Ceremony of our digital event and was warmly praised by many delegates for the professional high grade look and feel.

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

Lee was our main point of contact and made sure that everything was ready for filming on location (authorisations, covid guidelines, etc...). We used a combination of Basecamp and emails to stay on track and follow up on logistical needs or missing photos/assets to be included in the video.

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

This was our second time working with Vermillion Films and will not be our last. They had been highly professional and had provided excellent video production that had met our needs. Always a pleasure to work with them.

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

It would have been nice to meet in person, but given the current covid restrictions it wasn't possible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of Future Foundry. We're a startup that helps some of the world's best companies to reveal, test and validate their biggest innovation opportunities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vermillion Films?

We hired Vermillion to help us to create an explainer film. A short video that communicates our value proposition to prospective customers and moves them to booking a demo with us.

What were your goals for this project?

To get across our value proposition in a film that prospective customers could identify with, engage with and ultimately be moved to action by.

SOLUTION

How did you select Vermillion Films?

We went out to a few different production companies but we were blown away by Vermillion's understanding of the brief, their creative approach, and pragmatism.

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

Once we selected Vermillion, they got to work pretty much straight away on high-level creative ideas for the film and presented them to us. We landed on an idea that we loved and they built out a superb script from there. Then, they helped us to find the most fantastic cast and involved us wonderfully in the shoot-day and in a really involved way throughout the edit. It's been a joy.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Everything was managed seamlessly on Basecamp. You'd think they'd run projects this way forever rather than remote feedback being a necessity of lockdown. It's like they were built to work this way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got from selecting Vermillion to a final version of the film in less than 4 weeks. I think for startups like us, where speed is key, we couldn't have chosen a better partner. All of the feedback we've had on the film has been amazing and we're driving leads as a result already.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It couldn't have been any slicker. We knew where we had to be, what was needed and when.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to work with startups like ours is second to none. They immediately understood our value proposition, knew from a brand perspective what we wanted to achieve and knocked it out of the park creatively in a timeframe that even we were impressed by!

Are there any areas for improvement?

None - we can't wait to need our next film already!