Wienot Films

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work as a marketing specialist at an ed-tech company that helps to place certified teachers virtually into classrooms in pursuit of greater educational equity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were looking to develop an animated explainer video with a tight turnaround to share at a conference. Our team was looking for something that was clear and engaging.

SOLUTION

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

We looked at local, national and international vendors and reached out via contact forms or emails. Wienot replied in a timely fashion and from the start made it clear that they knew exactly what they were doing and could meet our deadlines. They also had great examples that aligned with what we were looking for.

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

The process was very clear from the start. The team reviewed our script and provided feedback. They then shared some concepts on direction to get our sign off to move forward into sotryboarding. We were able to review the entire storyboard to make sure we were comfortable with the direction before the full animation started. We selected a voice actor and music then reviewed the entire video for small changes before it was finalized.

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

We worked directly with Marc. He was extremely communicative and helpful throughout the entire process! He also kept us on track since we had a quick turnaround.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our video was well received at the conference and from the entire organization! We will begin to put it on social channels and our website as well and look forward to more success from it.

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

We used email and google documents to lead us through the process. Marc was always quick to jump on a call as well if we wanted to talk through any feedback.

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

They knew what we wanted and needed and delivered so seamlessly. We were thrilled with everything from project management, communication, design, implementation... all of it!

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

We were extremely happy with our experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I manage creative production at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. This involves producing content, from magazines, to videos, to email newsletters, to articles, and social media posts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Wienot films to produce animated video content for our online channels. Our goal was to start a video series to make showcasing the academic experience more accessible. Faculty are often discussing abstract concepts that are difficult to provide visuals for, so the animations provided by Wienot films were a great solution.

SOLUTION

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

I searched online for whiteboard animators and was drawn to the visual style of Wienot films. After a few conversations with various production companies, I felt confident that Wienot films would be easy to collaborate with, and produce a great result within the budget we have.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

1. We discussed the project idea and development, working together to visualize the final product and iterate on the idea.
2. I provided branding guidelines, color palettes, project goals, etc.
3. We worked together to record zoom footage and guide the interview conversation with the professor.
4. The WieNot films team put together a rough cut of footage for review and suggested visuals.
5. The Stanford team reviewed this and gave feedback.
6. WieNot films incorporated feedback and produced visuals.
7. The teams both worked to iron out all small details, this took longer for this video because it was the first of a series and we wanted to make sure we were creating a system that could be replicated. 
8. Video published on Youtube and Stanford Website and was shared on social channels.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked solely with Marc Strong from WieNot films. He was great to work with and really listened to feedback and concerns. He provided great visual and auditory solutions to make the video feel complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The youtube video has had over 5000 views so far, and has been shared on the Stanford Business linkedin page. The faculty member featured, Rob Siegel is very pleased with the video and has shared it on his personal social media channels as well.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I think the workflow went well, it was helpful to connect via Zoom and discuss elements of the project as it developed. Marc was incredibly responsive and on top of it.

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

I really appreciated their effort into the project and attention to detail. With video, there are a million factors, and Marc really pushed for quality in every regard. I also appreciated the thought-partnership of working through the idea together, Marc had some great suggestions about the content as well as the execution.

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

Overall very satisfied with the outcome of the video. Our timeline was a bit extended, but this is largely due to delays on Stanford's end with our publishing schedule, and the fact that this was the start of a new series and getting it done right took priority over getting it done quickly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and owner of a new business that will launch in the spring of 2021. It’s a grocery store that’s looking to revolutionize the industry. We’ve added a drive-thru service that will take all the fluff out of a regular grocery store.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wienot Films?

There are several aspects of the grocery business that need improvement when it comes to the guest experience. These corporations have such huge overhead, so they don’t have the extra money to focus on the guest.

We discovered a new way to do something. The only way to revolutionize an industry is through coming out of the gate with something strong. With Wienot Films, we were able to describe in detail our approach and break it down into something consumable and entertaining.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Wienot Films created a simple, one-minute explainer video. They created animations designed from our logo. Our logo is a chalk drawing, and they turned it into a live character.

I had a vision in my head of what this video would look like from start to finish. I had to portray it to Marc (Founder & Creative Director) in one medium for him to transfer my vision into another.

What is the team composition?

I think Marc had a team behind him, but I only worked directly with him.

How did you come to work with Wienot Films?

I enjoy that you can take anything complicated and learn it through an explainer video. I was surfing YouTube and came across one of their videos. I think it was pretty cool and one of the better ones I’ve seen. I looked him up and called them. While their price was outside of my range, I was hooked.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, I spent $7,000 for the project. For Marc’s services, I spent $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2020, and we just wrapped up three days ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I had no idea what to expect, going into this. They went above and beyond, producing precisely what was in my head. Marc must’ve had 50 correspondences with me to ensure all of the details were right.

In the near future, we will be looking at anything measurable through social media and engagement. We’ll do business with them again on different marketing and advertising projects through commercials and videos.  

How did Wienot Films perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, they were excellent. Marc delegated my requests to his team. If we came across a roadblock, he would offer up different options.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I took the time to leave this review because it was one of the better experiences I’ve had with a professional artist. If I had to highlight one thing, the overall artistic ability is unmatched.

The overwhelming factor for me was the one-on-one attention I received. As soon as Marc knew this was a first-time project for me and outside of my area of comfortability, he took the time for me. We were in contact multiple times a week. It’s just rare for an agency to go that far above and beyond.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’ve been really pleased—no constructive feedback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My only suggestion would be to do your homework. I watched all of his videos first, so I knew what he was capable of. I familiarized myself with his brand and what his team could do.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the President and Chief Revenue Officer at Accelex with responsibility for our global sales and marketing function. We are a young Fintech firm serving the alternative investment industry with an AI/ML based data acquisition, analytics and reporting solution aimed at investors and asset servicers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

With the Coronavirus pandemic driving digital engagement in 2020 of all types, we decided to accelerate the development of an explainer video which was originally in our plans for later in the year. Having successfully worked with Marc and the team at Wienot Films on two previous occasions (at my previous company), it was a no-brainer to reach out to him for this project.

What were your goals for this project?

The video is being deployed in many ways; raising brand awareness, industry engagement and dialog, prospect education, and ultimately, lead generation. We have added the video to our website and have plans to undertake direct digital marketing and social media campaigns.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have worked with Wienot Films on two previous engagements, both explainer videos. I was confident they would quickly understand our problem/solution and would deliver a high-quality piece of work in a timely and cost effective manner.

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

Wienot took responsibility for the entire process; planning, scripting, storyboarding, animation, voiceover, music and production. They kept us engaged – and approving – at each step of the way to ensure we got exactly what we wanted from the process.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The engagement was project managed by Marc Strong who led a team delivering all the various components required for the finished product. Communication was managed via regular calls and the use of shared documents to review and comment on scripts, etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are in the early stages of deployment (website only) but the early external feedback has been very encouraging with a significant increase in web visitors. Internally, the team at Accelex is delighted with the results!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The overall project management was excellent with regular calls/updates and the use of shared documents to review and comment on different elements of the content being developed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Wienot have a tremendous ability to understand the business problem a vendor is solving, how that vendor solution works in adressing that problem and, most importantly, how to effectively 'tell a story' to reflect both.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of the College Athletic Trainers Society. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wienot Films?

We were looking to develop an educational video that we could share with members and the broader athletic community. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Wienot Films produced one animated four-minute video. We needed it to make critical points in an entertaining and hopefully memorable fashion. We had to develop a script from the outset, and they were extremely helpful in advising and editing it. 

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Mark (Founder) and his team, which included an illustrator, a narrator, and more. All my interaction was with Mark.

How did you come to work with Wienot Films?

It was a recommendation from Gatorade Sports Science Institute. We saw some online things they’d done, reached out, and asked for the resource they used.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our initial conversation was in October 2019, and the video was completed yesterday. What I thought was going to be a six-week project became an eight-month project. However, that was because of my timetable, not because of Mark or his company. I truly appreciate their patience throughout the process. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just pushed out the video today through our emails; it will move to social media soon. Our early feedback is limited, but we’ve had all positive comments so far. People are already looking for more ways to share it as an educational tool within their program.

How did Wienot Films perform from a project management standpoint?

They did great. They gained an early appreciation for what we wanted to do and gave us some options out of the bag. I appreciate their information, openness to our goals, and their patience with our timetable. It was a pretty easy process. I couldn’t be more pleased with the interactions and the outcome of the video.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was the first time I’ve ever been involved in anything like this so I don’t have anything to compare to. But we had a concept of what we wanted to do, and what Wienot Films produced is virtually identical to our vision.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I certainly have no criticisms or anything. If I were to do it over again, I’d change how I did things rather than anything on their side.

Any advice for potential customers?

It’s been a simple engagement and a very workable, open relationship. Wienot Films is extremely patient as well. If I had another project, I’d absolutely go back to them and recommend them to anyone looking for something similar. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a Health and Wellness Specialist at BrainKey, a neurology health organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wienot Films?

We needed help with video production.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created our explainer video. It was one-minute that explains our product to possible users.

What is the team composition?

Marc (Founder) was our main point of contact. We worked with two other people.

How did you come to work with Wienot Films?

We heard about them through an affiliate organization of ours.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in February 2020, and we wrapped up in April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was a great product. We worked together very closely and it felt like we were their priority client. They were very fast and responsive. They guided us through the whole process and our customers are really happy with it.

How did Wienot Films perform from a project management standpoint?

Marc couldn’t have been better. He was responsive, understanding, and wanted to get us the best project possible. It was amazing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very responsive and open to feedback. Even with all of our requests, they were helpful and understanding.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have nothing but great things to say.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to work with them. They were fast and delivered a good result.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a law firm. I practice employment law exclusively on behalf of employees.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wienot Films?

Video has become a lot more prevalent in our industry, so we hired Wienot Films to work together on videos for my website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve worked with Wienot Films on several videos around the services we provide. A lot of our claims involve unlawful discrimination, so they helped us create videos around sexual harassment, age discrimination, gender discrimination, arbitration, and currently, on race discrimination.

For each, they’re very involved, working on the scripts, graphics, and animations to produce the final version. They’ve also created a general video about our firm’s practice areas. Additionally, they’ve provided picture-editing services for our website. 

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Marc (Founder, Wienot Films) and he has a team working behind him. 

How did you come to work with Wienot Films?

I came across the work Marc had done for another firm and was really impressed with them. I got in touch with him, he gave me information on his services, and I decided to use his team for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$20,000 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2018 and our engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve seen a rise in engagement on our website since we’ve started uploading the videos. When people see the videos, we receive compliments about the quality of the work. We also use the videos to send to potential clients, if it’s relevant. Internally, we’re very satisfied with the work and several teammates weigh in on the work throughout the process. 

How did Wienot Films perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been great. Marc is really responsive and great at following up with us, even if he has to wait to hear back from our team. He has the right balance between being attentive and keeping us on track. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s easy to trust their recommendations because it’s worked out very well for us. It’s sometimes difficult to put into words what we want, but Marc does a good job understanding what we need and asking the right questions. He also has a very matter-of-fact approach and isn’t trying to upsell his services, which I appreciate. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

 I honestly can’t think of anything for them to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d definitely recommend using them; you’d be in good hands with their team. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a professor of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. UT Austin has 50,000 students from 125 countries, and is consistently ranked at the top of U.S. and global university rankings.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Wienot Films to create an animated explainer video for a book that I published with Cambridge University Press. I later hired Wienot Films to create a live-action introductory video for a research lab I run at UT Austin.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted a video that would take complex academic material and communicate it to a non-scientific audience. The book material is pretty sophisticated and I wanted something to make the findings fully accessible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I searched in the Austin area for companies in this space and saw some of the past work from Wienot Films and was quite impressed so I reached out and began working with them.

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

Before getting to a contract, the Wienot Films leadership team worked with me to learn more about the project and spin out possible ideas. They were not pushy on contractual issues, but rather wanted to be sure it was the right fit. Once I was sure, we worked through the contract and then began the process of developing the video. They took the ideas previously generated and started an iterative process in which they developed storyboards and then we went back and forth until we had the right set up. And then they went to production and continued to share for feedback.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

I was extremely impressed with the team's ability to do substantial work on their own, but know when to check in to get feedback. Perfectly struck the balance of not burdening me with too much work, but ensuring that I had a say at all key points. Tricky to know how to do this in a technical area such as this, but they were outstanding here.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video has been extremely helpful. I have been told by individuals in the university system, in industry, and in the policy community that they have found the video integral to their own understanding as well as their ability to discuss the work with others.

The book itself has been responsible for national and international policy changes and, while it is tough to know what made the difference, I think the video has become a key entrée into the groups we needed to reach. This is exactly what we aimed to do with the video. Also, I've had numerous other academics ask me who I used for the video. There are some companies positioning themselves for the academic market and frankly I have not been impressed, nor have many of my colleagues. But Wienot Films has really caught peoples' eye.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I commented above on this point, but to reiterate the workflow was just right. Tough to nail this, and I've had some really horrible working relationships with individuals in the industry who can't wrap their minds around the university way of thinking. But Wienot Films has a real knack for getting up to speed and engaging on all the right fronts.

I should have noted earlier that one of the first things Wienot Films did was to ask for all the background scholarship so they could read and understand the area. I provided it and they read it, and this is pretty technical material. It was clear that they were committed to understanding the substance they needed to communicate, and it showed in all of our later interactions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

When I started thinking about doing an explainer video, I really worried that this whole process was going to be a huge time suck and that I wouldn't get much payoff. Wienot Films completely defied that misguided notion. They were the perfect partner, taking on most of the burden and yet checking in at all the right times, adapting as needed, and otherwise producing an exceptional product. I'm just impressed with the company top to bottom.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I suppose there is always room for improvement, but Wienot Films so completely exceeded my expectations that I am hard pressed to find much to complain about.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief marketing officer of Fassforward Consulting Group, a firm that specializes in leadership communication and customer experience.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wienot Films?

Currently, our company engages with two major clients, one of which is a global credit card company. My work with Wienot Films has largely been on that particular account.

The first challenge was to help build a brand narrative for this third-party client. We decided to create a video—with evergreen qualities—to tell the brand’s story. The success of the first video led to a series of other videos which focused on different levels of that company’s organization.

In addition, we wanted to provide our client with a basic narrative about their brand to be able to relay it to others. We sought to establish a common language to describe their goals and story. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Weinot Films delivered frame-by-frame animation. I initially developed an outline or base script, and provided them with some artistic direction. They took and refined those ideas, steering me towards things that are better visually articulated. Their refinery process is outstanding where they’ll continue to cut unnecessary content until only the critical core of the content remains.

We then collaborated to establish the feel of the characters and scenery, as well as the tonality of the piece in general. Mark (Founder, Wienot Films) also assisted me with the initial character study for the videos. To emphasize the globality of the brand, we integrated iconic architecture from around the world that reflected the different places that the brand operates. We ended up doing 6–7 videos that all together tell the bigger brand story.

We went on to create videos that aren’t animated, but instead use stock footage and diagrams. I think it really demonstrates that Weinot Films’ has an expansive production offering. I now channel every video-related project we receive from clients through Mark. It’s more of a partnership than a vendor-client relationship.

What is the team composition?

I recall working directly with 4–5 different people. The team consisted of editors and animators. Mark oversees the project management, but he’s engaged with all aspects of the project.

How did you come to work with Weinot Films?

I worked with Weinot Films to create whiteboard explainer videos when I was previously running a startup. For Fassforward Consulting, we’ve been using a more sophisticated version of animation instead.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere between $250,000–$300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in late March 2019, and our collaboration is ongoing. I can foresee that it’ll continue for a long time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While client satisfaction isn’t an empirical measure, our client feedback has been stellar. They were completely enthralled by the videos we created for them—going as far to say that they’re magical. They even asked us how we’d managed to make something so beautiful. We were able to perfectly capture their brand in words and pictures, which went beyond customer satisfaction.

How did Wienot Films perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management has been truly superb, and Mark has been a joy to work with. He has the perfect mindset for the service business because he puts a great deal of emphasis on the quality of his output. He also understands the true importance of timetables and has been agile about adjusting things on the way.

Clients seeking creative work don’t often know exactly what to ask for, so I frequently had to find ways to fully understand the brand’s standards. If I missed something, Mark’s turnaround on it would be spotless, so that’s been terrific. Mark has been exceptionally flexible and accommodating about doing videos for a client who is unfamiliar with that sort of work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Wienot Films strikes the delicate balance of creating art and understanding commercial enterprise: the reality that you’re conducting commerce. Wienot Films is notable for their ease of use compared to other creative agencies I’ve worked with in the past. It’s common for creative types to be precious or pretentious about their work, but Mark and his team aren’t that way at all.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. When you work with Mark, you know the work will be good. The fact that I’ve never met Mark in person—and that our partnership has endured over that geographic separation—is a testament to Wienot Film’s prowess.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

There’s a confluence between the advice I would give for working with Wienot and with working with any creative enterprise. It’s critical to be precise with your language, clear on your feedback, and articulate about your vision. To be communicative about your exact goals is extremely important.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Producer in the International Social Impact division of Sesame Workshop. My team is responsible for growing Sesame’s global presence and initiating, implementing and strategically sustaining local brand adaptations to drive reach and impact. The Production unit collaborates with local partners, producers, writers and talent to deliver educationally targeted, high-quality media content through broadcast and community-based distribution.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Sesame's "Play Every Day" initiative aims to help parents in Mexico, India, and South Africa understand the link between play and the cognitive development of children. Video content is one component of a large, community-based implementation.

What were your goals for this project?

In order to change parent and caregiver perceptions about the value of learning through play, we wanted to employ a unique video technique that would "show" rather than "tell," as we were working in a variety of country contexts and didn't want to rely on text or word. The whiteboard animation style was perfect.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After a closed, competitive RFP process, I was able to award Wienot the animation portion of the "Play Every Day" initiative. This was based on criteria including a creative pitch for one animation, a cost estimate for the project, proposed work schedule, samples, and references.

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

Sesame Workshop provided the project background, messaging, and story beats for five animations. We also provided character art for reference, project logos, fonts, and color palette, and an instrumental music track. Wienot was responsible for all artistic elements, detailed storyboards, an animatic for testing, and all completed whiteboard animations. They also produced a whiteboard "intro" clip to be used on several video assets.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The Wienot team consisted of four incredibly talented and enthusiastic individuals. They were all present from the very first conference call and generously shared their expertise and ideas throughout the process. Wienot handled all feedback from Sesame with style, making creative, efficient, and smart suggestions along the way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The whiteboard animations produced by Wienot were integrated with Muppet inserts, leading to a robust series of caregiver-facing videos that were released to the public in Mexico, India, and South Africa in early 2019. Distribution included social media, movie theaters, conferences, events, and other public spaces. Based on summative evaluation of the entire "Play Every Day" initiative, caregivers in all three geographies reported increased knowledge of the importance of play in a child's development, and, better yet, parents also reported an increased frequency of play with their children.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Wienot Films was one of the best vendors I have worked with, hands down. Every step of the process was creative, productive, and fun. The team asked the right questions and had no problem working with our IP. I can and have recommended them to other producers.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

From the first request for an introductory phone call, to the thoughtfulness of their proposal submission, all the way through to their support of the initiative as a whole, I could tell that this team had not only a professional interest in the content, but a personal interest as well. Their hearts were in this and it showed.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Honestly, I can't think of a thing. It was a wonderful partnership and I'd work with this team again in a heartbeat.