Cat Around Films

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president of Crawford Group. We're a consultancy and management firm that specializes in strategic solutions. Our primary goal is to assist both individuals and organizations in enhancing their business performance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cat Around Films?

I hired Cat Around Films to produce a series of training and scalable videos I could use in my business. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

I collaborated with the Cat Around Films team to explore more effective ways of distributing and expanding upon my proprietary ideas, such as my business morals and focused approach.

At our company, we have a particular approach and protocol for conducting business that we impart to our clients. We've discovered that using videos is an effective method to introduce these concepts beforehand. This enables us to share our ideas even before we meet with the teams in their offices. 

Making change happen in an organization requires significant effort, but ensuring that others comprehend your perspective and goals can accelerate the process. It also helps those considering hiring us to understand our abilities and interests, which can enhance our sales pipeline. Ultimately, it ensures that potential customers are genuinely interested in our offerings when we meet with them. 

For this project, Justin (Co-Founder) and his team were great at speech writing, storytelling, and content generation for the videos. Not only did they film us, but they also assisted us in creating the message, which was highly beneficial. 

Cat Around Films handled all aspects of the project internally. The team managed the pre-production and scriptwriting while paying attention to my objectives, and making adjustments as necessary. 

The team produced a multiangle, talking head video with a beautiful background. They added additional information, overlays, and cutaways throughout the video to show dynamic images. I didn't have to make any decisions as the creators managed everything. 

They filmed the video at their office, with a studio set up with teleprompters, videos, and audio equipment. The whole process was seamless and enjoyable. Although they offered to film at a different location, I preferred to use their studio space as it offered more options for filming. They have a beautiful area with a lot of natural light.

Furthermore, the Cat Around Films team also handled video editing and audio mixing, which I valued because I preferred not to outsource to a third party due to privacy concerns. I provided feedback, and we collaborated to fine-tune certain aspects.

What is the team composition?

Justin is my main point of contact. On this project, I also worked with Mike (Co-Founder) and two videographers, who ensured the setup was accurate. One person took care of the filming during the sessions. 

How did you come to work with Cat Around Films?

Cat Around Films came highly recommended by a few people. People I trust said the team was consistent, reliable, trustworthy, and got the job done, but they also did it well. Moreover, they care about the work. 

I was looking for someone with more of a history. Cat Around Films has been in operation for several years and is well known in the Montreal market and beyond. Their influence has spread, and they have received no negative feedback, which is rare in today's world. I have also observed their innovative work in the real estate industry.

How much have you invested in them?

I've invested about $18,000–$20,000 CAD (approximately $13,600–$15,100 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in September 2022, and it's ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're currently pushing the videos out to our clients as part of the service they pay for. The videos are private, and intellectual property content of my company. We're seeing much more traction than I expected, and I'm pleasantly surprised. It's incredibly beneficial to be able to share my face, words, and ideas, along with those of my company, without physically attending events or meeting clients face-to-face. This allows me to increase my reach to a wider geographic area and distribute information through various channels, which is tremendously helpful.

Cat Around Films' guidance and work have been hugely valuable because they've reduced the time commitment I have to take out of my day to help produce the marketing content and the actual training programs. We now have an excellent video that we can send out indefinitely instead of constantly having to do it repeatedly. 

It usually takes a lot of time to develop a sincere interest in a consulting service. People typically need to have an inordinate amount of trust in you as an individual, or they need to believe in the mission you are trying to achieve and how you want to add value to companies that aren't your own. Justin and Cat Around Films helped me clarify the mission. They put it into a concrete video that elaborated on my thesis, how I do business, the added value, and other elements. Although I don't have a direct KPI for measuring the success, there has been a substantial reputational increase. People acknowledge me more as an industry subject matter expert in my field. That has added a stamp of professionalism and quality to the underlying service that I provide. 

From my observation, individuals with access to the videos move faster toward signing a contract, resulting in a shorter client generation process for me. 

I'm considering making some of these videos and lessons exclusive to paying members. It could become an online course for those who enroll, presenting a new potential vertical to capitalize on. 

As the ROI and the project continue, I look forward to doing a series of videos with Justin and the team. It's nice not to have to do all of it myself. I know I can call them and tell them about what I want to do, and they'll pitch ideas back to me about what sounds interesting and what we can focus on. 

How did Cat Around Films perform from a project management standpoint?

During the video production, the Cat Around Films team was very proactive. If I didn't respond promptly, they would follow up with me to ensure the project was progressing. 

The communication flowed naturally, and their urgency motivated me to act quickly. By avoiding delays, we were able to complete the first series of videos in a short amount of time. The team at Cat Around Films was dedicated to finishing the job. Unlike some suppliers who can easily brush you off, they prioritized and attended to our needs.

We utilized a project management platform where the team posted the initial story ideas, the framing they were talking about, and the inversions of the script, allowing me to have a live update of what was going on. We could tweak from there and determine our filming dates and time commitments. They also kindly prompted me when I was late in replying with comments. 

We primarily communicated through phone and in-person meetings for the coordination of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team got the job done, and it went better than I expected. I genuinely don't have any complaints. I got more value than what I was paying for. 

My main takeaway is not just Cat Around Films' ability to film what I tell them to but to help me craft a story that tells a better message than I originally planned. They aren't afraid of diving into it, and ensure my company is highlighted in the best possible way. 

I'm impressed with the level of clarity that Cat Around Films provides regarding their deliverables. They clarify everything upfront and follow through with everything they promise to deliver. When the bill comes, there aren't any surprises. This level of clarity and communication gives me confidence in their services. I'm also so impressed by their professionalism which is why I reached out to leave a review for the team. They truly deserve the recognition.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'm delighted with the outcome. I'm trying to think of a negative, but it's been an effortless engagement. The team listens, improves, and produces the content. Cat Around Films has done everything I have asked for. 

They are the type of company that needs to be out there. Working with them makes my life easier for an extremely appropriate cost. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Instead of just considering them as videographers, view them as individuals who will assist in narrating your story and communicating your message. Approach the collaboration with an open mindset and be receptive to their recommendations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Master Your Rush or MYR POS, a POS for the quick service restaurant space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cat Around Films?

We wanted to demonstrate the number of features and how our POS worked inside a busy, quick-service restaurant so people could get a feel of how simple and efficient our system could be during rush hours.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, Cat Around Films took the time to understand what was a quick-service restaurant space, our features, and how we handled things in general. Then, they looked at reference videos to understand the mood we were trying to create. The team presented us with the references and a storyboard, and we moved on to standard preproduction tasks, such as going on location and assessing the lighting, shooting, editing, and post-production.

Cat Around Films shot on location and edited the video in their studio. They did all the editing and audio mixing.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two filmmakers, one of the producers, and an editor.

How did you come to work with Cat Around Films?

I knew one of the owners. They took the time to understand what we wanted and gave us fair pricing. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $15,000 CAD (approximately $11,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the project from March–April 2020, but our partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got many leads when we posted the video online. People were immediately interested in what we offered, so it was an improvement.

How did Cat Around Films perform from a project management standpoint?

They stuck to our budget. Moreover, they’d tell us in advance if there would be a budget change. We communicated via phone calls and emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really paid attention to what we were doing. The team took the time to understand what we wanted to achieve as a message.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were satisfied with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t come in and expect them to handle it all. Cat Around Films isn’t a creative agency, so you have to come in knowing what you want. They can provide feedback, but they’re not there to create the communication style.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Access Signs Inc. is a full service, national electricl sign company building and installing signage for some of North America's largest brands, including Tim Horton's, Structube, La Vie en Rose, Bikini Village, Frank and Oak, etc.

Established in 1987, Access Signs won sign company of the year in 2020. I am the director of business development, having worked in the industry for the last 16 years and sit on multiple industry boards.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Cat Around Films to do a personal video set, promoting both the industry and why a client should consider working with both Access Signs and specifically Lee. We wanted to drive awareness to the company and our industry.

SOLUTION

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

I knew of others who had used their services including Rosefellow and their production quality seen on prior projects for other clients was our deciding factor.

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

We had an intial meeting to discuss strategy, then a follow up list of discussion topics. We were given plenty of time to prepare and then had a follow up meeting to go over the topics selected and responses. Once on set, Mike did an excellent job of calming my nerves and making the process seamless.

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

I worked with Mike directly both beforehand and during production. I had minimal interaction with the technical assistants who were adjusting microphones, lighting and camera angles. I preferred it that way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The organic reach of the video series far surpassed any of our other prior social media efforts and was actually shared by other competing sign companies as one of the videos portrayed our indrustry and not our company. I believe that was a testament to the message and production value.

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

Initially it was a laid back, no pressure environment. Once we decided to proceed they were structured in setting up a timeline, going over each step and accomodating my busy schedule.

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

The personal touch put into the process from start to finish was amazing. I am normally quite comfortable in front of a camera on zoom or giving a webinar but seeing TV quality cameras and sound equipment was overwhelming. They somehow made a very nerve racking situation very easy, constantly reassuring me along the session. I was amazed.

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

I do not believe I could offer any constructive criticism, as my experience was top noth from start to completion.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a real estate and property developer. I was in charge of business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cat Around Films?

To develop our presentation at the Montreal Real Estate Forum.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals were to build brand awareness and inspire the audience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have been working with them for years. It was an easy choice.

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

We created videos to play during my presentation. Cat Around Films wrote, scripted, designed, developed, filmed, edited, implemented and delivered. They even helped me practice my lines before I went on stage.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They were very organized. They used Basecamp to keep the project on track. Excellent process, we completed the project a couple days a head of schedule.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The outcome was easily quantifiable. The company received a lot of new leads, a noticeable amount of new job applications came in for our recruiting, we became a favorable company in the bidding process. It increased, our sales, business development efforts, brand recognition and reputation within our community.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless. They take the lead from the moment we assigned the mandate. They pride themselves on delivering ahead of schedule, and they always do.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

That they are extremely fast and never compromise on quality.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I think they are on top of this as they are always improving their offering to bring their clients better value.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Consultant

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Cat Around was hired for video and editing work as well as branding.

SOLUTION

How did you select Cat Around Films?

We found they had the best quotes, service and details surround our project. Very specific and supportive team which walked us through A-Z and provided excellent follow-up

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

The scope of the work was doing branding work as well as content creation. Photos and Filming on our sites, creating good solid film content for clients and brand awareness.

How many people from the Cat Around Films team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The vendors team had about 3-5 people on the project from start to end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project outcome was a success, has helped with brand awareness to the public and other businesses. Excellent branding ideas, content creation surpassed all of our expectations.

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

All timelines were transparent, detailed and explained. Any challenges were resolved quickly as well as great ideas to help reach positive outcomes. I would rate tools and timeliness as A+.

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

They were supportive and innovative in the workflow. The ideas and branding was outstanding. We felt part of a collaborative team vs it being a client, supplier relationship. We strongly recomend this company.

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

None