DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Ashley Avis, I am the writer & director of Disney's BLACK BEAUTY starring Oscar winner Kate Winslet, as well as the Founder & President of 501c3 nonprofit organization The Wild Beauty Foundation.

For what projects/services did your company hire DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

We are based in Los Angeles, and hired DCV to help us film elements of a historic wild horse conference in Washington D.C. in 2022 for a PSA; but to also capture elements that may be included in our upcoming feature length wild horse documentary WILD BEAUTY: MUSTANG SPIRIT OF THE WEST.

How did you select this vendor?

We put together a short list of ten companies companies based in Washington D.C. and combed through each of them to find with whom we identified as - first and foremost - the best visual collaborator in terms of aesthetic and elevated visual language.

DCV was without question the best alignment. They were willing to work with our budget to achieve the filming we needed to do, but were clearly passionate about our mission. When we met the team in D.C., we were floored by how easy to work with and genuinely awesome they were as human beings. We also had a ton of fun.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The challenges for this project were that we needed excellent production value on a small nonprofit budget, and elevated visuals that could potentially be included in the larger documentary.

Further, we had very little time to plan this shoot, and had to be very nimble on the day as we awaited whether or not, for example, we would be able to meet and film with Members of Congress. A very tall order for a vendor or team we have never worked with before, in a city we have never filmed in!

We met up with Shane and his crew in the morning and canvased the most iconic buildings in D.C. for b-roll, then filmed several interviews with key experts along with a fourteen-year-old advocate who delivered an impactful speech on behalf of the next generation who wish to see our wild world protected.

Following that, we had a meeting with a member of Congress, so we transitioned quickly from our handheld exteriors to an interior setup - and concluded the day with visuals and our young advocate's speech at sunset. We packed several days of production into one. It was extraordinary. And again, also a lot of fun.

Those days can be very challenging when you aren't working with nice, lighthearted people who genuinely love what they do. It's a camaraderie. And the EXCEPTIONAL and emotive visuals reflect that.

What was the team composition?

The team composition included DCV's CEO, cinematographer Shane and his crew.

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

The resulting movement for our issue could be absolutely historic. The gorgeous, elevated visuals and aesthetic have now driven a massive amount of awareness toward the plight of wild horses and burros. This ripple effect is happening as I write this. Watch the media!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Fantastic. Shane went above and beyond to help us with elements of post production following the shoot.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The elevated visuals and wonderful personalities. We created something impactful for our wild world, as well as having plenty of laughs and having fun. I couldn't recommend this team more highly.

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

I have to say, no, there honestly is not! A+++

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP, Employee Services Manager of Sandy Spring Bank. We have about 1,200 employees. Sandy Spring Bank is headquartered in Olney, MD, has over 65 locations across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We offer a broad range of commercial banking, retail banking, mortgage and trust services. Through our subsidiaries, Rembert Pendleton Jackson, West Financial Services and Sandy Spring Insurance, we also offer a comprehensive menu of insurance and wealth management services.

For what projects/services did your company hire DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

We had outdated videos on our careers page and wanted a fresh and appealing way to attract candidates to our organization. In 2019 we completed a project with an outside consulting firm to identify the employee value proposition here at our organization and what are our targeted profiles. DCV took that information, along with interviews and created exactly what we were looking for.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted collateral to use on our various recruiting platforms that would be appealing to our candidates. We wanted our employees to tell their story and why they work at SSB.

How did you select DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

DCV was a local and boutique firm that is attractive to us as we want to support local small businesses.

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

Once we selected DCV they came on site to meet with us and ask us a series of questions to gauge the project and get to know us. They also did research on the company, on our industry and visited some local sites. Then they got to work and created storyboards for us. Then the unexpected happened - COVID. DCV did a great job keeping the project going for 2020 and adjusting to our needs. Finally in Q3 we were able to safely have a limited crew onsite to record the videos. It was a challenging process and DCV did a great job.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We used a project site to follow the scope of work. In addition, we emailed as needed.

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

We just completed the project so there are no metrics available.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project team was great and easy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to adapt to the unexpected environment and continue to help us complete the project was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No one predicted COVID and the wrench it would throw at your well planned and thought out project. Things would have been changed if more employees were onsite and schedules weren't as restricted but that was out of their control.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work at a PR Agency, LaunchSquad –– one of my clients is SafeAI. I lead all communications and content for the startup.

For what projects/services did your company hire DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

SafeAI has a very visual story –– they are automating heavy equipment on construction and mining sites. Think dump trucks, bulldozers and trucks all working on a jobsite to haul dirt and materials. We needed DCV to help us tell that story, both to broadcast media (needed clips to use in a segment) and a more produced clip to convey via video what SafeAI is setting out to do.

What were your goals for this project?

A series of clips capturing the technology at work, and a produced video that captured SafeAI's central mission, visually.

How did you select DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

Heard about them through the grapevine, I believe!

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

Shane and his team were great, they visited us on site and worked over the course of two days both sunrise and sunset to capture beautiful footage both by drone and on the ground.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We shared feedback over email that was quickly implemented

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

The videos are beautiful! They have been used and featured in CNBC and on Fox 5 New York

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Great!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They produced a lot of sharp content and made the worksite look very dynamic, even on an off day.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No!

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a speciality pharma company wit over 25 years of experience focused on developing and commercializing products. I am the Assistant Director of Meeting Planning, Sales Operations and I plan over 100 meeting a year. This year for the first time we did a virtual meeting and I was in charge of creating a corporate video

For what projects/services did your company hire DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

We hired them to create and design a corporate video for our company to use for various things but the immediate need was for a virtual meeting for Investigators

What were your goals for this project?

My goal was to have them create a video that made the audience connect with our company and understand who we are and also to feel the culture we have at the company

How did you select DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

I found them via the internet

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

The video starts off with a drone shot of approaching the building with our logo on it and goes into the labs of videos of experiments/real lab work being completed. It goes on to interview 5-6 videos of employees talking about supernus and our culture. We also had separate videos created for the virtual presenters for the virtual meeting. Everyone loved the video went way beyond our expectations and they created and designed it.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The vendor amazingly sent us the data the next day for us to start looking through everything. The stayed in daily communication until the project was completed.

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

The outcome of this project was a very big success. As a company we needed a corporate video and we had nothing so they created this from scratch without knowing our company yet presented our company exactly as who we are. This went way beyond our expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team was very professional and knew exactly what they needed as soon as they arrived. They got to work immediately and was able to have everything go smoothly from start to finish. There was no time wasted during the entire day they spent with us. Everyone involved in this project from our company raved about everyone on the team and how organized the shoot went.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Gosh, just about everything but the customer service level was beyond exceptional and the quality of the work was top notch. They were all very professional. Just everything about the company was amazing. I feel very fortunate I was able to find them and will defintely use them for all of my video future projects. Our IT team will be using them as well for some social media projects.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything was right on point and honestly I can't think of anything that would have made this shoot any better. The entire team was amazing!!!!

Please describe your company and your position there.

Community Change Action aims to build the power and capacity of low-income people, especially low-income people of color, to change their communities and public policies for the better. I am the video producer on the Communications team that helps develop and create visual storytelling products for our organization.

For what projects/services did your company hire DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

We had a big vision with a short turnaround time. We had already obtained the licensing rights and re-envisioned a song, but needed a team to help us capture the visual story of a woman and her son getting involved in being a voter and being part of local organizing. We had worked with DCV earlier in the year, and were so glad they were available again to help us with a day of filming.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to create a story, carried by a song with moving lyrics, that would inspire people to see being a Voter as somewhere to begin. We wanted our videos to help get out the vote ahead of the 2018 midterms.

How did you select this vendor?

I initially connected with DCV through Women in Film and Video as I put out a call for videographers in in the Washington, D.C. area. They were so great to collaborate with on that first project, they were our first call when this get out the vote video was brainstormed.

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

Once we described our vision for the videos (2 videos: one version was folk and one version with cumbia song – for our different audiences. The protagonist in the piece was the lead singer of the music, and we had to coordinate with a partner organization in Maryland for a couple of scenes as well). Shane and his team helped us with the list of equipment for the shoot, including an FS7ii and Red, plus a Movi, motorized slider, and huge softlight.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We worked through a full filming day with team of 2 shooters. I received all footage on site.

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

Viewers appreciated the dynamic new approach to our organization's video storytelling. We have reused the footage in other promotional pieces since this original project.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Shane and his team were easy to communicate with, quoted us quickly to move our contract process through, and were great collaborators in the field. Before we filmed, DCV sent an example video of the "look" that matched our vision.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

This vendor is not only technically minded, but also creative and pleasant to work with in a scrappy team environment.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

Please describe your company and your position there.

Technical Lead - Mobile/VR Gaming Studio

For what projects/services did your company hire DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

Consult with and create promotional video of a mobile gaming title.

What were your goals for this project?

DCV’s expertise and near flawless execution created a promotional video that helped us reach our funding goals and aided subsequent marketing efforts for increased exposure.

How did you select this vendor?

Digital Creative Visionaries has made a name for itself in Washington DC. We didn’t have to look far before we found this creative, passionate and energetic group of highly skilled videographers and marketing experts.

In short, we found their website. It sold us on DCV because it showed us who they were on a professional level but also a very personal level. They are truly the most unique and authentic team I’ve ever worked with.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Scope of work included storyboarding, video and audio recording, editing with special effects. They provided all equipment and manpower

What was the team composition?

DCV showed up to meetings and on set with between 4-6 staff including the primary contact who was brilliant and could articulate what became a shared vision for the production. Other members included operations, video, lighting, audio, and assistants. Very professional and always delivered.

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

Working with DCV we had 100% success. Our project ended up being fully funded thanks our vision being clearly communicated in the promotional video they produced. That meant our team could continue doing operating and would be able to deliver to customers as promised. A big win for us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I’d say their workflow was extremely effective, even above average for such a results-driven city. They showed up on time, told us what we needed to bring with us to the set and what to expect. Little waisted time on their end.

I personally liked how their main contact prepped us for shots which was necessary for our technically inclined team. Their great, positive energy made our jobs easier no matter what we were doing.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What you’ll find is most impressive about DCV is their passion. They not only love creating experiences but they love creating the experience that you want. They are very amenable and will go above and beyond to make sure they’ve held up their side of the agreement. A tough find in Washington DC.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I personally believe there are always areas for improvement. For DCV, their weakness is that they are not as well known as they should be. What I mean is, I believe that DCV is a fortune 100 company. if you work with DCV sooner than later you’ll be able to get a fortune 100 company now for a Fortune 500 cost and that is a game-changer.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Deputy Director of Video at the Human Rights Campaign.

For what projects/services did your company hire DCV - Digital Creative Visionaries?

I was working on a 20 minutes short documentary and my team need it support filming the interviews and some of the scenes. We need it somebody with a deep sound and lighting background.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to produce an emotional and beautifully shot documentary to reach people's hearts.

How did you select this vendor?

I selected DCV out of many video production companies in this area, because I knew they will get the job done. I had worked with DCV in the past and I can only say great things about the work they do.

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

DCV helped us from the pre-planning of the shots to the end. They went above and beyond and delivered beautiful interviews and footage.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We were very satisfied with the process and result. We will definitely hire DCV again in the future.

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

DCV delivered outstanding and beautiful footage that made a big difference in our documentary.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were extremely responsive to any kind of communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Because we were filming a documentary, we found many obstacles, they were above and beyond to support us to get the job done. The film involved characters who have been through a lot in their lives, and they did not have it easy. DCV team created a great environment between them and the characters, making them feel comfortable during the interviews and the filming of the different scenes.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the COO and Producer at Daybreaker, an event company that throws morning dance events. We produce about 200 events a year that feature DJs, performers, and live musicians with anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand attendees.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Creative Visionaries?

We wanted some high-quality and rapid response filmmaking for some of our events.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Digital Creative Visionaries captured footage from a landmark event we held at the Smithsonian, the National Building Museum, and the Kennedy Center. They shot and produced a commercial video recapping our event and our partnerships with those institutions. Their team was responsible for capturing the footage and editing it.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three members of the Digital Creative Visionaries team, including Shane (Founder, Digital Creative Visionaries). 

How did you come to work with Digital Creative Visionaries?

I found Digital Creative Visionaries through a trusted professional reference. I was impressed by their previous work so we had an introductory call. After they shared their capabilities, we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested between $7,000-$12,000 per project.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Digital Creative Visionaries began in January 2018.

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

Digital Creative Visionaries were able to turn around a video same day and it received 200,000 views in the past month. That was impressive and important to us. We get only the best feedback on their work. Our partners at the National Building Museum and other artist partners appreciated the videos as well. 

How did Digital Creative Visionaries perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management skills were excellent. We interacted with them by email but mostly over the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism and timeliness blew us away. We were also impressed by the quality of their cameras and equipment.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing they could do better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a busy company and have a lot of big projects coming up, so the sooner you book the better! They’re in high demand.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the executive director of Pi Lambda Phi, which is a nationwide men's fraternity with about 45 chapters across the country. 

What challenge were you trying to address with DCV?

Students were coming from all over the country to attend our inaugural leadership institute. We hired DCV to film our event and make a promotional video of sorts that could be used for other students to see, along with our alumni.

What was the scope of their involvement?

DCV filmed both large and small group sessions over several days. They also collected footage of the students participating in outdoor activities like high ropes or obstacle courses.

We also had the film crew conduct brief interviews with select students to discuss their experience at the institute. Shane (CEO, DCV) helped the students articulate their answers to make the most of their time on camera, so the interviews turned out really well.

We gave Shane minimal direction for the editing process. We trusted him and his team to make the video look good because they’re professionals. In that regard, we were pleasantly surprised when Shane incorporated some drone footage and other visual elements that we hadn’t discussed but were included in the package. Those efforts added some pop to the video.

What is the team composition?

Shane was our primary point of contact, but he also worked with an assistant.

How did you come to work with DCV?

We’ve known Shane for several years because he is an alumnus of our fraternity. He completed a project for us about a year ago, so we gave him the first opportunity to work on this video, as well. He gave us a rundown of what he could offer, and the price point made sense.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a few thousand dollars on the latest video.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our project began and ended in June 2019.

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

Our video has been viewed many times on YouTube. We’ve also received a lot of positive feedback from our members about its quality.

How did DCV perform from a project management standpoint?

We don’t do a lot of videography work, so I don’t have a lot to compare this experience to. That said, Shane took the time to learn about our goals before committing to the work and promising certain things. He asked smart questions to learn about what we were looking for and what would make us happy.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to work with. They’ve impressed us enough that we’ll continue to give them a first look for future videography projects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t pinpoint any areas for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about your expectations but also be open to their advice. I’m glad we opted for some of their suggestions because they were better than what we would have envisioned on our own.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a chairperson of a volunteer group that focuses on empowering the youth.

What challenge were you trying to address with DCV – Digital Creative Visionaries?

We are the largest volunteer group within our organization, but we didn’t have the visibility that we deserved. Our goal was to bring more awareness to all of the impactful programs that we have internally and externally. In our opinion, the best way to gain exposure was to create an engaging audiovisual experience.

What was the scope of their involvement?

DCV – Digital Creative Visionaries helped us make a promotional video that showcased our volunteer group and its purpose in a new light. Our team was responsible for creating a narrative for the video, but DCV was in charge of writing the actual script.

Once the story was finalized, they began filming content for the video. Post-production was the final stage, where they edited several different versions for us to choose from.

What is the team composition?

We only interacted with two people within their organization, but I’m sure they had more people working in the background.

How did you come to work with DCV – Digital Creative Visionaries?

They were recommended to us by a colleague who had done some work with them in the past. We did some research online before getting in touch with them.

One of the first things that we noticed in our initial meeting was that their positive energy. This, coupled with their transparency and conciseness, influenced our hiring decision.

How much have you invested with them?

The project was in the range of $30,000 or so.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our initial conversations started in March 2019, and they were finished with the project by June 2019.

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

DCV – Digital Creative Visionaries was everything that we hoped for in a partner. They helped us narrow our focus and create a message that was engaging and to-the-point. When we shared the video with people within our institution and our network, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Many people became eager to learn more about our group after watching the clip.

The moment we shared the video with a broader audience, our membership base increased by 10 percent. We've also secured meeting and events with high-level executives within our organization. Our goal was to raise awareness, and DCV helped us achieve that. From a quality perspective, they exceeded our expectations.

How did DCV – Digital Creative Visionaries perform from a project management standpoint?

They managed to complete the video within three months, which was incredible. Their punctuality, coupled with their streamlined procedures, made the entire engagement effortless. When our team had trouble focusing on the message, they scheduled a lot of meetings and phone calls to reconcile our issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

DCV has an infectious energy that carries over into every aspect of their business. Their ability to connect with us on a personal allowed them to deliver high-quality content that met our specific needs. We look forward to working with them again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

For us, our initial meeting with DCV set the tone for the entire project. Using the onboarding stage to discuss our goals and refine our vision contributed significantly to our success.