BX Films

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing & Brand at Nucamp Coding Bootcamp. We provide affordable coding education at scale.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

As our business grew, we wanted to create a 60-second brand video that reflected our values and resonated with our audience. We hired BX Films to help us come up with concepts, write the script, and produce the video from start to finish.

SOLUTION

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

I researched a number of companies on the web and reached out to 3-4. I was specifically looking at production quality, stylistic diversity, and cost.

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

We started with a few initial meetings explaining our business, how we are unique in the industry, how our attitude is unique in the industry, and what our unique selling proposition is. BX Films took that and wrote 4 different script ideas, all of which were great. One of them stood out in particular. Music selection was probably the most challenging because of our personal tastes, but in the end we relied on Ben's expertise. He was very patient with us as we took our time trying to find the right piece. Since it was live action, from there they began outreach for actors. I was able to review every single actor by viewing their intros and readings of part of the script. After I chose actors, they planned the shoot and were able to squeeze in a few extra arcs in the story with no additional cost. This was huge.

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

I worked with Ben Sanders directly. He was super professional and consistently set realistic and accurate expectations with us. There were never any surprises, except the good kinds. He and his script writer, Jeremey, were able to integrate all the feedback we had throughout the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've showcased the video on our website and have run it in ads. It is one of our top performing pieces of content.

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

Everything was handled over email, which was ideal. The only tool used was to hand off the video as well as screen the actors. Everything worked seamlessly.

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

They had significant industry experience, yet still kept their pricing reasonable. Most other companies were quoting us well into 6-figures for a 60 second video.

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

Nothing really comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a wine app as the senior digital designer for the marketing and creative team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BX Films? 

They were brought on to help us produce two TV commercials. These were our first test of the US TV market, and we requested their support on the whole process, from creative concepting down to handoff.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began by telling BX Films what our company is about and what we’re trying to achieve from a brand perspective. This latter piece included the message we wanted to convey. BX came back with three concepts with different scripts to address those brand concerns. After a bit of back and forth, we decided on two concepts with their corresponding scripts and went into production.

BX rented out a house to serve as the set and brought in a crew and talent. My manager and I were on-set for filming to help direct the work. They also sourced talent that they submitted for our review. Finally, BX handled a lot of the wardrobe and props as well. 

Filming took one day, and then we went back and forth on editing and post-production tasks, including audio mixing. The deliverables were eight individual videos. There may have been more with different versions of our logos and different length cuts. 

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with the founder and a project manager. We also worked with a copywriter during the script presentation and refinement phase. The shoot itself required many different resources. 

How did you come to work with BX Films? 

I searched for local video production agencies and then made my decision based on price point and quality of work. It was clear that BX understood different brands very well; each ad in their portfolio had a different look and feel that was specific to the client. 

How much have you invested with them?

The project was originally scoped for $80,000 but certain costs accumulated throughout the process pushed the total to about $100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–June 2021, and our commercials are live. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s a bit too early to tell the impact because of the testing time required. Internally, our company was very excited about the deliverables. 

How did BX Films perform from a project management standpoint?

The work leading up to the shoot and the shoot itself was fine, but the post-production editing and back and forth became a bit rocky. 

BX didn’t quite pay enough attention to best practices for TV commercials so we ended up having last-minute edits that complicated the uploading process. The assets were finalized after the set date for completion in the scope of work. 

During the initial phase, we had video calls (on Zoom or Google Meet) with both our teams. Email served for communication during post-production. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attitude stands out. Their founder had a friendly manner that made me want to partner with him; he instilled confidence in the relationship. The communication was warm and desired to understand what we wanted.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Looking back, I wished there had been more transparency during the prop sourcing process. We showed up and hoped that they’d understood what we wanted. Timing might have been an issue, as we were on a tight deadline.   

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Womply is a B2B marketing software provider for small businesses. At the company, I help with the performance/growth marketing

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired BX Films to assist with our ongoing PPP Brand Awareness campaign and our goals were to walk away with a tv-ready video ad that could be used across TV, Streaming Platforms, and YouTube.

SOLUTION

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

We selected this vendor based off of research and the deciding factor came down to truly the ability to turn around the project in a very short timeframe.

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

It was a 30 second video ad with a 15 second version. Project steps included assistance in storyboarding, scripting, talent scouting, voice acting, production, and editing. Feedback was requested from our team at each major step of the process

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

We worked with Ben Sanders and the entire feedback process was phenomenal. We were in constant communication and never felt like we were left out

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video ad opened up the possibilities for our company to explore video-only ad platforms that were originally unavailable to us.

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

Used Google Drive primarily but communication tools ranged from email to text messages. Timeliness was excellent. No delays in responses

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

Small remote team but able to move fast without missing a step

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

No. We were very happy with their work. The amount of resources/manpower they allocated to us ensured our goals were met.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We make lighting devices for everything from cameras to drones. We also sell lights for video conferencing to help people look their best on video calls. I was brand and content marketing manager during our engagement. Now, I’m head of content marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BX Films?

They helped us create a video supporting our video conference lighting products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted to create a video about why video conferencing is an essential part of today’s world. They were responsible for creating a two-minute commercial for our product as well as develop related stories we could build around it. We shot 4–5 different scenes that required different locations and art direction.

Over the course of the three-day shoot, they brought in a full crew. The shoot took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they had protocols in place to prioritize a safe shoot. There was an officer there making sure we changed masks, stayed socially distant, and didn’t have a fever.

They’ve delivered the final video. Our team booked them for a three-video package, so we’ll be collaborating on two more videos with them in the near term.  

What is the team composition?

I worked most directly with Ben (Executive Producer) and Vanessa (Producer) on scripting and preparation. We knew each other pretty well by the time of the shoot. I met the rest of their crew during production. 

How did you come to work with BX Films?

Our president vetted various agencies, and I worked closely with him during that process. This was the biggest production we’d ever done, so we wanted a team that could knock it out of the park. Ben’s enthusiasm for the project really stood out. His openness to flexibility and willingness to involve us every step of the way encouraged us to hire them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $60,000–$80,000 with them on this project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re running the final video as a pre-arrival ad on YouTube, and it’s become our top-performing video asset on the platform. It’s also provided us with our highest ROI of our videos over the course of the last six months. 

The video is also present on our product detail and Amazon listing pages. That definitely elevates our brand and tells the story as to why our product is needed. Having that asset is a game-changer for us.  

How did BX Films perform from a project management standpoint?

We likely went through about 15 iterations of the video, and they were always willing to listen to and implement our feedback. They met all the deadlines they set for themselves. We appreciated their follow-through and timeliness.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were super open and responsive to all of our needs throughout the project. Whether it was scripting, planning, or even recommending places to stay during production, they were incredibly friendly and helpful. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have constructive criticism for them. Every challenge we ran into, such as COVID-19 restrictions or California forest fires, was completely out of control. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear goal for the video as well as your brand guidelines for their team to follow. That will help them best understand your vision. From there, they will absolutely knock it out of the park.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an e-commerce company that sells men’s leisure clothing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BX Films?

We’re launching on Kickstarter and needed a video for our profile. BX Films was instrumental in helping us put that together.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BX Films was involved with everything from ideation to storyboarding and filming. They took my feedback and crafted a storyline. From there, they created a storyboard so we knew what each scene would look like. Then they did the location scouting and hired actors for the project.

We’re trying to save a textile factory by selling shirts, so the video included shots of the shirt, the factory, and the workers.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Ben (Executive Producer), Vanessa (Bookkeeper), and a scriptwriter.

How did you come to work with BX Films?

I found them through a Google search. I looked through some videos I really liked and saw that BX Films worked on them. From there, I reached out to them directly.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from August–September 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video campaign is still ongoing on Kickstarter, but we’ve already surpassed our goal. When I show people the video, they understand what I’m trying to convey. It all came together very well. BX Films delivered a tasteful and cinematic video. The color grading is great, B-roll shots are amazing, the music fits extremely well. The narration is great, too. Ultimately, the person they cast as the narrator was great.

The storyline is cohesive and viewers can follow exactly what I’m trying to get across.

How did BX Films perform from a project management standpoint?

There was a lot of good back and forth. Whenever I conveyed what I wanted to happen, they relayed that message to the videographer or light person, to get a different shot and make those changes.

Especially during COVID-19, they handled the project really well. I had to send them the props and shirts, but coordinating with Vanessa was really easy. She requested anything they needed for certain shots. She was able to organize different options as well, whether that was for talent, narration, or music.

We talked many times a day, either by email, text, or Google Docs. They were really responsive, and, because we had such a tight timeline, we were constantly in communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their attention to detail. They’re able to block out a scene and make something come to life. It’s one thing to write something down on paper, and it’s another thing to see it take form on film. The results were even better than we expected.

One of their biggest strengths is their ability to interpret the idea that the client provided and bring that to life on film.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At first, I was really surprised by the price they quoted me. In the grand scheme of things, after seeing what went into it and what their competitors were charging, I realized it was actually a really reasonable price.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

New clients have to be extremely diligent when putting together their briefs. It’s not enough to have a storyboard and a script. You need to dig deep into every scene and B-roll you want to shoot because you only have 1–3 days of shooting with certain lighting conditions, and you still want to get all the shots that you can. In order to do that, you have to have a very concise idea of what you want. The more detailed you are, the closer the final product will be to what you want and the higher quality you will get.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and co-founder of GREVIN Products. We produce stall-mates wipes, which are flushable wipes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BX Films?

We recently contracted BX Films to produce a commercial for us this past summer.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BX Films scouted locations and eventually, we decided to use a public restroom in a recreation center. I wrote an initial script and then their team helped to edit it. The commercial initially ran for a little over two minutes, but then BX Films edited it to be roughly 1-minute and 30 seconds.

We hired one actress to be the spokesperson for the brand. During the commercial, she sat inside a public bathroom stall and talked about the advantages of using stall-mates wipes. While she talked, there was a voice-over from the stall next to her. The lead actress described the wipe and then passed one to the person next to her.

What is the team composition?

I directly worked with three people from BX Films including Ben (Director & Founder), a story editor, and one other person.

How did you come to work with BX Films?

I extensively searched Google for production companies in the US. I found myself coming back to BX Films as I narrowed my list of companies. BX Films understood what we wanted to accomplish. Ben listened, and I felt that was the most important part of the introduction. By the time our initial phone call ended, we almost had an awesome idea for a commercial.

What is the status of this engagement?

We contracted BX Films in July, and then we shot the commercial in August. It all wrapped in September 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There’s an overall positive impression of the video. People spoke highly of the video’s professional look, sound, and actress. We tweak the demographics weekly to boast the video, which already produces sales. The video works, and I expect to break even at the very minimum.

How did BX Films perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was extremely communicative, listened to our suggestions, and delivered on time. It was a great experience from start to finish. I would definitely work with BX Films given our relationship with Ben. To be honest, it felt like I was working with one of my friends. We grabbed onto each other’s ideas and grew them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their experience showed throughout every part of the project, from scriptwriting to directing. They’re a professional and experienced team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they delivered on everything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open-minded to edits. I had an idea for a line that I wrote into the script. When we started to film the commercial, it was clear that the line didn’t fit. They provided guidance, and the more I watched the scene, the more I realized that their team was right.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I lead Marketing for LARQ, a company that combines innovative technology with beautiful design to help people drink pure water easily and sustainably. Our proprietary PureVis technology purifies water by eradicating bio-contaminants at the molecular level.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Video production for a new product launch.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create an engaging video that would present a problem and the solution we're trying to provide consumers with this new product. The video will be used in our Kickstarter campaign as the main driver to provide education through entertaining dialogue.

SOLUTION

How did you select BX Films?

I spoke with several production agencies before selecting BX. The team liked the creative concepts proposed by BX and felt that they were the most in line with our brand style and our objective for the video.

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

We worked with BX on the strategy and scripting. We provided BX with the important user selling points that we had to include in the script and BX worked on the creative idea on the storytelling side.

Since this is a tech product, we had to work in 3D renders to show what the product looks like and why our product is different from the rest on the market.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

On LARQ's side, we have 3 people included in the feedback process but I mainly spoke with Ben directly to provide feedback all at once.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We heard feedback that the video was entertaining and having the 3D renders helped to understand what the product actually does. A few comments that the video did take a little too long to get to the product but that's something minor where we could just edit the beginning of the video.

We were fully funded during the first 3 minutes when we launched Kickstarter. It's a bit hard to track to see if the video provided success to that but we do believe that it has helped.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Overall the communication was easy throughout the process. One feedback was that the 3D portion communication wasn't great. Because we had something so specific in mind, it was best to speak to the 3D artist directly than through BX.

We found success after connecting with the 3D artist directly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I like working with Ben and his team because we were able to achieve what we were looking for within our budget but we still kept the quality of the video and content high. They understood what we were looking for and it was easy to work with a team that has a similar vision as the brand.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We do wish that the storyboard provided more details in terms of motion graphic and 3D renders that we wanted to include. I think if we had more details or examples in the beginning, it would've helped us visualize and provide better feedback during the editing phase.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior broadcast producer at Duncan Channon.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BX Films?

We had a consumer-packaged goods ad that we needed to cost-effectively shoot for our client. The ad was part of a year-long ad campaign.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BX produced our client’s ad, which was primarily one scene. They leaned on their production knowledge and found a location that worked for our setup.

Their team captured one shot of two product bags staged in a natural forest. To enhance the products, they provided art direction. Their team started with a close view of the products and then pulled out via camera zoom and a crane. This revealed the products in a lush, vast forest.

Their team then edited the content. We also worked with a colorist.

What is the team composition?

During pre-production, I was mostly in contact with two people. Their team consisted of a location specialist, 2–3 production assistants, a light specialist, a jib operator, a jib operator’s assistant, and an art department. There were around 20 people on set.

How did you come to work with BX Films?

They’re local to the Bay Area, and I make an effort to give local agencies opportunities. As a result of their salesman’s persistence, I met with him. Their reel was professional and demonstrated strong cinematography skills. I discussed projects with Ben (Founder & Executive Producer) and Beau (Creative Director & Content Creator) who then sent content that displayed their capabilities. It was impressive and cemented them as an option for future shoots.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a total of $20,000 on their services. Their team did a lot of pencil sharpening to get to that number.

What is the status of this engagement?

I reached out to them in February 2020 and the shoot was in early March. We delivered in early April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The campaign raised brand awareness by a decent percentage. It was successful.

BX executed the brief better than we thought was posible. Our client was extremely pleased with their team’s work. They thought that the ad was beautifully shot and showcased their product well.

How did BX Films perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was extremely efficient and organized. As we had a tight budget, I appreciate BX staying as lean as possible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was truly impressed by their ability to balance quality and cost. There are plenty of production companies in the Bay Area; some deliver quality work at a high cost.; others offer a low cost but sacrifice quality. BX effectively balanced our cost requirements with quality. Their team’s also personable and pleasant.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have anything to offer.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Defend as much budget as you can because BX already brings so much to the table on a restricted budget. They could bring much more with any incremental funds that you could offer.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a vice president at a global communications firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BX Films?

One of our clients, an investment firm, was looking to create content to help showcase how the portfolio companies that they invest in think about sustainability, how their product portfolio fits into sustainability, and why this investment firm is a good partner to help them meet their goals. 

So, we wanted to humanize, personalize, and bring to life the portfolio companies that the venture firm works with. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I worked with Beau (Producer) and Ben (Executive Producer) to sketch out what we were looking for, which was short videos od about 2–3 minutes in length that would live on the investment firm's website as well as be shared on social media. 

I had a pretty tight budget for the project, so there wasn’t a lot of storyboarding or creative process that was needed on their end. However, the team worked with me to understand the look and feel and to make sure that the video helped to explain to potential future portfolio companies why the investment firm was a good partner.

They then helped me script some of the questions for the interview and assisted with offering the companies details on what to wear, what to be aware of, and other logistics involved in the shoots. BX Films managed the whole process without anybody from my firm on site.

The team hosted the videos on their site, which allowed us to upload them onto the final client-facing deliverable.

What is the team composition?

Beau and Ben were my main points of contact, but I did work briefly with one of their editors as well. 

How did you come to work with BX Films?

I was introduced to them through a colleague at my agency who said that they were a young, passionate team who would really get behind the mission of what we were trying to do.

I ultimately chose them because I liked their video reel. They were also very flexible and willing to support the limited budget that I had because they believed in the goals we were trying to achieve.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $16,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from October 2019–January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The clients were incredibly pleased with the production quality and thought the videos matched the look and feel that they were trying to achieve. Additionally, they commented on the team’s professionalism and highlighted the positive feedback they received from their portfolio companies.

After the shoot happened, I heard nothing but stellar reports from other individuals about how great BX Films was and how seamless the process was.

How did BX Films perform from a project management standpoint?

I communicated with them mostly via email and a couple of short phone calls. They were always very responsive whenever I or the end-client had questions. Beau and Ben were really easy to talk to and I felt comfortable enough to let them manage the process. 

We went through a couple of edit cycles from both my team and my end-client, and they were very open to splicing certain pieces of the interview and changing some of the imagery and b-roll. Additionally, since the product also went through the end-client as well, BX Films was very open to receiving feedback from multiple places

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very flexible, efficient, and easy to deal with, making the process extremely simple. I didn’t feel like I had to have a ton of knowledge about video production at all.

Are there any areas they could improve?

My only comment is that there were a couple of times when the review cycle took a little longer. I don’t fault them for this because we were a lower budget project. Other than that, I would work with them in a heartbeat the next time we have to do some more video work for clients, and I would try to do it at the budget they deserve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Share examples of the elements you like, to give a reference point even if you don’t know how to explain verbally. As long as you can share some visuals of what you like and don’t like, it’ll give the team direction. 

They’re easy to work with, so you don’t need to be intimidated by being tasked with producing videos.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former VP of creative at a personalized nutrition company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BX Films?

We hired them for a few projects. One was a brand essence video that we created through another agency. We were looking for additional creative influences to push its quality over the top. Our team also worked with them on customer testimonials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The branding essence video was the first project they completed with us. For the testimonials, we brought three different customers onto a set that looked like a home environment. There, the production crew asked them various questions about their experiences with our company and product. Afterward, they edited them for distribution on the web and television. 

In our third project together, they created an explainer video for our home test kit. The kit can be used to send our company blood or DNA that we could use to put together a personalized nutrition plan. The video takes users through the various steps in the process. For instance, there was an intro screen to put the consumer’s mind at ease and detailed instructions on how to prick their finger. In that effort, their team helped us brainstorm how we could shoot the video so that it could be easily edited and changed as we made modifications to the kit itself. 

In all of the projects, they handled everything from pre- to post-production. They helped us form ideas an execute them. That involved editing and formatting the content to be distributed to various channels. 

What is the team composition?

There are typically three people assigned to our account: Ben (Executive Producer), Beau (Producer), and another team member. Otherwise, we worked with contractors as needed. 

How did you come to work with BX Films?

I knew been and his character personally. Based on my knowledge of him, I felt that they would be an ideal team to collaborate with. They seemed nimble while bringing laughter and joy to their work. When problems come up, they generally keep their cool and move quickly to make adjustments. Overall, they had a good attitude, so we hired them.   

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $10,000–$25,000 on their services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I appreciated their ability to balance tone in their videos. Particularly in the test kit video, they kept the video light and hopeful while still addressing that having clients prick their fingers can be a serious topic. The way they brought users into the journey was well-received. They also made the product pretty modular, which will allow us to make changes to it down the line. 

How did BX Films perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management went well for me. They provided a pretty detailed proposal regarding how the project would break down into timelines. As tasks needed to shift, we were always able to see how it would affect us. We communicated often over email and check-in calls. I was never uncertain of the status of the project or their team’s ability to accomplish tasks according to our specifications. When issues came up, they’d bring them to our attention. That’s why they became such a trusted partner.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

The initial creative ideation phase is something that this team really excels at. They have a passion and drive to produce great work. Their team was invested in our project and made sure that they delivered something they were proud to share with us. They felt like part of our team because they were invested in our success. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything was great. There isn’t anything that comes to mind.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

With creative projects, it’s natural to want to take responsibility for creative yourself instead of truly bringing your partner into the process. Their team is eager to do great work, so I’d recommend bringing them into your brainstorming sessions. You’ll be surprised and delighted by what they bring to the table.