CDI Filmworks

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of creative design and production at Children’s Literacy Initiative. We’re an educational nonprofit organization that provides cultural coaching jobs to teachers from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Our mission is to provide equitable education for the success of Black and Latino children. I manage the organization’s marketing, including digital and printed materials. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CDI Filmworks?

We needed an ongoing video production partner. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CDI Filmworks has produced different videos for us. They’ve filmed our classes inside classrooms and also created interview videos for media spots. The vast majority of our work is educational videos to help teachers see practice in action. 

We work with our school partners to design training, then define each video's production requirements. We pick a location, and CDI Filmworks ensures the production requirements are complete and we’re prepared for the shooting. Together we go over camera angles, equipment requirements, and storyboard. 

CDI Filmworks provides the required equipment and filming crew. For a long time, as my company was growing, CDI Filmworks managed the complete videos production and postproduction, including around 3–5 rounds of content editing. As our organization grew, we now manage some of the postproduction editing process in-house.

CDI Filmworks has produced videos of different lengths. Some are training videos for our seminars and learning website. Other productions are short videos for our social media. 

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Sean (Creative Director & Video Producer). He usually brings a crew of three professionals to the shooting, including an artistic director, a camera operator, and an audio expert. 

How did you come to work with CDI Filmworks?

I met Sean from a different film company that he worked with in the past. When he started CDI Filmowrks, he reached out to let me know. We partnered for our first project and have been working together since then.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend around $20,000 yearly with CDI Filmworks. We usually have about five shootings annually.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with CDI Filmworks in September 2013, and our engagement is ongoing. Although we don’t have an active project with them, we plan to keep working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen a better response from users when they attend seminars with videos produced by CDI Filmworks. We also receive positive feedback when we share the videos with teachers. The videos have helped us increase our website traffic and inquiries about our services.

Moreover, when we film in classrooms, we try to be as non-invasive as possible. Children love filming with CDI Filmworks, and their crew is great with children of different ages.

How did CDI Filmworks perform from a project management standpoint?

CDI Filmworks’ project management is excellent. They stick to the initial timelines, and when we’ve experienced delays, they’ve explained the reasons. CDI Filmworks also keeps me informed about the video’s editing progress. We use Vimeo for project management. 

We have excellent communication through email, and CDI Filmworks reaches back for additional feedback if they don’t hear from us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with the personalized attention that CDI Filmworks gives — they make us feel as if we were their only client. CDI Filmworks is very communicative, and we consider them part of our organization. They’re always willing to go the extra mile to ensure we’re satisfied with the product. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d love it if CDI Filmworks could share the new things they create as an organization to have more ideas and inspiration for future videos.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust CDI Filmworks’ expertise. They’ll enrich your vision and execute your requirements.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Athletic Performance Academy. We train youth athletes for the sports they play to help them be faster and more agile.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CDI Filmworks?

I needed help with digital marketing and video production.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CDI Filmworks has helped me with my digital marketing efforts by creating some social media posts to send out to my audience. Additionally, they’ve produced multiple instructional videos for the athletes to view and learn from.

To produce those videos, I first meet with Sean (Creative Director & Video Producer), who helps me create a plan and workflow. This plan includes defining the dialogs for the video, the setting, the lighting, the production process, and the editing process — he walks me through every stage.

From there, we work side by side on creating those videos. Throughout the process, CDI Filmworks takes my thoughts and expertise to deliver the videos and digital marketing content I need. Moreover, they provide all the equipment necessary to film those videos in a professional manner. Their scope also includes editing and audio mixing.

The videos that CDI Filmworks has produced are both filmed and animated videos. However, the bulk of the project has been creating filmed instructional videos for the kids that see them. These videos feature athletes that walk the kids through certain key movements to help them become faster and more agile in the sports they play.

These videos are posted on YouTube and our social media channels and hosted on Vimeo. As for the social media marketing (SMM) efforts, CDI Filmworks has produced content for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, on which they also help me post the content they produce.

In addition to those projects, I’m currently working with CDI Filmworks on creating a website that will house my library of the videos they’ve created for me. By using this website, I’ll be able to send videos out on demand.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Sean and one assistant from CDI Filmworks.

How did you come to work with CDI Filmworks?

A mutual friend recommended them. At the time, I was looking for help with creating instructional videos, and my friend told me that Sean was responsible for those types of projects. Thus, I reached out to him.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent around $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked together since around May 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to CDI Filmworks’ videos and content, I’ve seen an increase in post views, shares, and followers on my social media accounts. Over our engagement, I’ve seen a 500%–600% increase in followers.

Moreover, I get a lot of my business through referrals, which come from various means. One of the ways I get referrals is through the social media impact that we cause, and a lot of that impact is attributable to the great work CDI Filmworks has done.

How did CDI Filmworks perform from a project management standpoint?

CDI Filmworks performs well. I’ve had to reschedule some things on several occasions due to other professional duties, and they’ve always been adept at finding another time for me. Additionally, they’re very punctual and deliver on time; every deliverable has been done within a professional timeframe.

Budget-wise, what CDI Filmworks has quoted matches what the projects have encompassed. Sean’s input has been incredibly helpful for me in understanding how the production process works. Additionally, he’s very helpful in managing that process with me.

Sean is also readily available to answer questions and is very knowledgeable. On top of that, he has great positive energy, so he has held my hand throughout our different projects.

What did you find most impressive about them?

CDI Filmworks’ timeliness, cost-effectiveness, and professionalism are impressive. Additionally, they’re very genuine and easy to get along with. We’ve had fun creating these videos, and everything has been professionally done. I’ve enjoyed working with them, so we’ve kept collaborating for over five years.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any suggestions on how CDI Filmworks could improve on. The way they handle themselves is perfect for me.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hire them! They’re very good at what they do.