DMV productions

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the development director for Reading Partners. We’re a nonprofit organization that provides literacy tutoring to elementary school students.

What challenge were you trying to address with DMV productions?

We needed a production company to help us create a video that could showcase our program. The video would be displayed at an upcoming fundraising event.

What was the scope of their involvement?

DMV productions assisted the creation of two videos. The first video required them to supplement existing footage with additional filming and do the editing as well. We wanted an 8-minute video that told three distinct stories. They worked with one of our board members to brainstorm each story and plan out how they would look. They also implemented cinematic text effects as part of the post-production effort. We’re a part of a national organization, so they edited the video into slightly different versions by including information from different cities. The second video project was near competition, so we only contracted them to edit it.

What is the team composition?

Patrick (Co-founder, DMV productions) was our primary point of contact. Another person operated the camera during the filming portion of the engagement.

How did you come to work with DMV productions?

I knew Patrick through a colleague. We reached out to a few different firms but ultimately selected DMV productions.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $7,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first project took place in June 2015. We hired them again to work on the second video in June 2016.

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

Both videos were extraordinarily well-received and raised quite a bit of money over the course of two fundraising events. We were given almost $500,000 in gifts and pledges. It seems like everyone loves the videos they’ve helped us produce.

How did DMV productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Another board member was involved in the day-to-day editing process. However, it’s my understanding that everything went smoothly. They quickly provided contract information and invoices whenever necessary.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Patrick saw our program in action and understood why it's important. He connected with what we were doing that was evident in the work he produced. I could tell how much attention and care went into the final product.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It helps to start a project with a detailed vision, but also approach the situation with an open mind. Additionally, having a working knowledge of video production is useful. It can be tricky if both parties don’t start the engagement with a mutual understanding of the task at hand.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a producer for a producing office that focuses on special event programming. This includes galas, award shows, TV specials, fashion shows, and concerts. These events often happen in one night and require a quick turnaround.

What challenge were you trying to address with DMV productions?

We filmed an awards ceremony lead by a prestigious non-profit organization. The event was taped live and scheduled to air on television shortly after. We needed a vendor to handle the post-production work.

What was the scope of their involvement?

DMV productions had under two weeks to edit 90-minute program down to an hour-long television broadcast. This effort included audio and visual editing of musical performances to create smooth transitions and cover segments that were cut for time. Patrick (Co-owner, DMV productions) worked with me to make timeline edits. We shared the drafts with the client and television network for feedback and he’d continue to edit the footage for approval. We also required them to edit portions of the acceptance speeches and concerts into digestible web content that could be posted online and to social media. They used Adobe After Effects to create the network’s specific credit slides.

What is the team composition?

Patrick was our primary point of contact. Another person from their team worked on the audio while an additional resource handled the graphical elements.

How did you come to work with DMV productions?

They came as a recommendation from our production supervisor. They had the availability to work within our budget and timeline, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $17,000–$18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We hired them in September 2017. Post-production took about a week to complete.

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

They delivered the final edit early and within budget. I’m pleased they did because the network requested additional edits for things like disclaimer language. DMV productions quickly responded and performed the edits needed.

How did DMV productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They were professional and honest about what they could do within the strict timeline. This informed my decisions regarding how to work my list of priorities into the program. They made it easy to accomplish what we needed to in the allotted amount of time. If something couldn’t be done, they worked with us to come up with solutions without charging additional time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They offer a laid-back, yet professional atmosphere. Patrick always knew what needed to be down and how to do it. Questions regarding feedback often evolved into conversations about creating the best product possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like to see them utilize top-of-the-line equipment and software. Their computers made several errors that ended up costing us time. However, I’m genuinely pleased with how they executed the project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you what to achieve with the editing process and don’t be afraid if you don’t know how to accomplish it. Phrase your requirements in a way that the editor understands. If a directive isn’t clear the first time, don’t just repeat continuously. I’ve seen many producers waste time with that approach.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Marketing specialist Vo Tuan Hai is a famous Vietnamese marketing expert in the field of Digital Marketing in Vietnam, who guides the marketing strategy for businesses with effective communication and advertising tools such as Facebook, Google, Zalo, and Tiktok.

For what projects/services did your company hire DMV productions?

DMV productions helped create two videos for fundraising events. They planned shots and did some filming, but mainly led post-production.

What were your goals for this project?

helped raise $800,000 in pledges and donations.

How did you select DMV productions?

DMV productions seamlessly combined a variety of audio and visual content into a fluid production that’s ready for TV. They delivered a complete product ahead of schedule. This enabled them to adhere to previously undisclosed requirements within the deadline. They utilize a relaxed approach.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

DMV productions worked hard to support a valuable cause. Some elements took longer to develop than expected, but they proactively approached every challenge. They’re easy to manage.

What was the team composition?

I've worked closely with the team DMV

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

DMV is incredibly patient, professional, and helpful every step of the way.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team kept everything flowing smoothly in order to meet our extremely tight deadlines.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There was a bit of confusion regarding the initial scope of work, so perhaps providing a bit more detail in the proposal. This was cleared up during a follow up conversation and really didn't deter from the great experience I had working with them.

Please describe your company and your position there.

The company is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving women’s health through science, policy, and education. I served as the communications director, responsible for managing the organization’s brand and reputation.

For what projects/services did your company hire DMV productions?

We hired DMV productions to film and take photos of the company's 26th Gala--a three-hour event that brings together more than 400 attendees, including members of Congress; researchers and clinicians; advocacy groups and disease awareness organizations; professional, scientific and medical associations; and individuals interested in the advancement of women’s health. This event took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

What were your goals for this project?

We intended to share the video and photos with speakers, attendees, and sponsors. Additionally, we planned to use the video as a fundraising tool for the rest of the year.

How did you select this vendor?

I had previously collaborated with a few staff members at this company and thought they would be a great fit for this project, given their experience working with nonprofits that have limited budgets.

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

As soon as we signed the contract with DMV productions, they set up several meetings with members at the organization to learn more about our work and the event; better understand our objectives; and how we intended to use these materials following the event. They worked quickly to develop a project timeline, video brief, and a shot-list. We ended up with a video that beautifully captured the impact of the organization.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided a two-person filming crew and one photographer for the event. They were reliable, professional, and most importantly dedicated to finding creative solutions that exceeded our expectations.

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

I don’t have any quantitative data, but the video was well-received by attendees, speakers, sponsors, and other members in our community.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team kept everything flowing smoothly in order to meet our extremely tight deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team is incredibly patient, professional, and helpful every step of the way.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There was a bit of confusion regarding the initial scope of work, so perhaps providing a bit more detail in the proposal. This was cleared up during a follow up conversation and really didn't deter from the great experience I had working with them.