Epic Media Creative - Out of Business

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive assistant at The Title Girl, a car title and registration company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Epic Media Creative?

We needed help with video production.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epic Media Creative did video production for us for advertising purposes. They started by taking a script we created to make drafts and edits until we came up with an animated video that suited our requirements. In addition, they edited the video, mixed the audio, and exported the material in a format we could use on social media.

What was the team composition? 

We mainly worked with Kiri (Global Business Development Manager).

How did you come to work with Epic Media Creative?

Someone who had used them before referred them to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $7,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February–December 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to use Epic Media Creative’s video in a big event that we have every year, which was awesome. In addition, we put the video on YouTube and our emails and social media channels. Overall, it was phenomenal for us to have something to help us sell our services.

How did Epic Media Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

Epic Media Creative’s project management was great. They always gave us realistic timelines and were flexible with our change requests and additional requirements. Regarding communication and tools, we used Microsoft Teams, email, and Dropbox.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Epic Media Creative was able to deliver a great job despite the delays on our side.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn’t think there was anything they could improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be sure to know what you want and have a script ready to streamline the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative director at Intralinks, a software development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Epic Media Creative?

We needed to create a series of animated explainer videos for our products. We wanted to make our products look more dynamic and attractive to our audience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epic Media Creative has created animated videos to explain our products. We’ve posted the videos on our social media channels and website.

Initially, we briefed Epic Media Creative about our project and showed them a previous video we had created before so they could mimic its style.

Epic Media Creative has created the script and storyboard for each video. They've also designed the still shots to then build the full animations. 

Moreover, Epic Media Creative has managed video editing and audio mixing. For one of the videos, Epic Media Creative sourced their own audio outside of the scope of the project. 

What is the team composition?

We work with three teammates from Epic Media Creative, including a project manager, a video editor, and an animator.

How did you come to work with Epic Media Creative?

We found Epic Media Creative through Upwork. We were impressed with their proposal and interview process.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $5,000 with Epic Media Creative.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Epic Media Creative in May 2021, and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Epic Media Creative's videos are really high quality and accomplished our goal, which was to explain our products in a clear way.

Moreover, the videos serve as a sales tool. When our sales team meets with a client, they show the videos produced by Epic Media Creative. Our sales team has said that customers have responded really well to the videos. We’ve received positive feedback from customers and our staff. 

The biggest compliment for Epic Media Creative is that, as a small agency, they’ve created something that a larger agency would’ve produced in more time and with more money. 

How did Epic Media Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

Epic Media Creative is very professional and fast. They deliver on time or before the deadline, and they’ve never been late with a deliverable.

Moreover, Epic Media Creative is incredibly responsive. We use Slack for communication and Upwork for billing management. Epic Media Creative has been accommodating and patient.

Overall, we’ve had a seamless collaboration with Epic Media Creative. We don’t need to give them much direction.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with Epic Media Creative’s work quality. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like it if Epic Media Creative could have resources in different time zones. Other than that, I can’t think of anything for Epic Media Creative to improve. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Leosuva, a sound machine company. We develop new technologies to help enhance sleep and relaxation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Epic Media Creative?

I needed a product video with rolling stock footage, 3D renderings, and complex editing and development. We wanted to apply that material to our website pitch efforts and marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epic Media Creative did video production for us. I created all of the film content with another company and took that material to send it to Epic Media Creative. They set up an entire storyboard and sequence to tell the story of our product — the goals were to share the experience of the product while going through all its features. Their team also pulled external stock footage to help us tell the story better with 3D renders and studio shots that we didn’t have.

Overall, they did the editing, storyboarding, audio mixing, and everything regarding pre- and post-production.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Jaime (Co-Founder) and Carrie (Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Epic Media Creative?

I found them online, and I chose them over their competitors based on their communication and the work in their portfolio; they were super detailed and covered everything clearly.

How much have you invested in them?

We invested around $8,000 with them for this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February–March 2022, but I’ll hire them for future projects because we had the most phenomenal experience with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had amazing reactions to the videos they created; they were able to transmit the message I wanted, which was telling all the features and creating an experience. By the end of the clip, people could know everything about our product, and they felt like they were a part of the experience. The product hasn’t even launched yet, and we received tons of people reaching out to us for partnerships and promotions.

How did Epic Media Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They were the best at project management; they always met deadlines, led smooth communication, walked us through the entire process seamlessly, and worked extra hard to quickly adapt to our change requests. After finishing the project, they also reached out to us to see how the video was going to ensure that everything was good and answer my questions — Epic Media Creative had amazing customer service, and we became good friends.

Regarding tools and communication, we used Figma, a group chat, and we also had regular meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They took a lot of work from us and communicated great with us — that’s the biggest highlight of their involvement.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — everything was perfectly smooth.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear vision of what you want before engaging with them, and give them realistic expectations. Overall, communicating with them will help you achieve what you want.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the podcast manager of the SuperDataScience Podcast, the most listened-to podcast in the data science industry, which is helping people build a successful career in data science by bringing to them the latest and most important machine learning, artificial intelligence, and broader data-world topics from across both academia and industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Epic Media Creative, and what were your goals?

Epic Media Creative team take our raw recorded video interviews and edit them into podcast episodes with a high quality in both audio and video, including professional intros and outros that make the episodes stand out.

SOLUTION

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

I can't really answer that, because they were already employed by our director when I came in to manage the podcast. But from my experiences from previous companies I worked for, I can say that they definitely stand out from other vendors with their clear and professional communication and beautifully done project examples, which not only look modern and great, but also very professional.

Besides that, they also share some suggestions with us on how to improve the overall quality of the recordings in order to have even better end results. And, final point, they quickly grasp what we need and want, with such a little communication needed in between.

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

The whole project is created in a project management tool where each step is clearly indicated and described. The due dates are clearly communicated as well. Once our host records an interview with a guest and prepares the notes on important pauses and re-takes, the files are sent to the team.

Team member edits the audio first, taking into account the notes and the ads recorded to go with the specific episode. Once finished, he sends the audio to me for review. Once I check and confirm that all is good, he continues with editing the video and the rest of the materials, like short intro with best moments from the episode and thumbnail for YouTube.

The whole process goes very smoothly and in fact very fast.I know that I can always count on them to finish the whole episode in top-notch quality and on the agreed time.

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

I have worked with Jaime, the head of production, directly a few years ago, when I came in to take over the management of the podcast. After growing his team, Jaime assigned JP to be the main editor for the podcast. And even though I was a bit reluctant not having Jaime working on the podcast anymore, I was amazed by JP's work and dedication as well. Always professional, always caring, I have only the best to say about his work too.

Then after growing further, Mario took over the podcast and since then, we've been working together and I can only repeat myself, same high quality, same care, same dedication. He has proposed some changes in our recording setup to make the raw material even better for even higher quality editing. Like previously with Jaime and JP, I love working with Mario.

We use a tool for project management where we put all files and communicate all feedback, but we also use Slack for faster and more direct communication, so no item or note has ever been missed or missing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The podcast has grown a lot, becoming the most listened-to podcast in the data science industry! We also started receiving comments on YouTube on the high quality of the videos and started having sponsors as well. Overall, we can't be more satisfied!

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

We use Monday.com for the whole podcast project management process, from timelines to important notes, to links for edited material (we use Dropbox for storage) as well as feedback on each item. We also use Slack for communicating quickly and more easily when necessary. Deadlines are always met. In very very few cases when they needed a bit more time for an episode, I was informed way ahead and kept updated.

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

It is so easy to work with all team members, they truly show they care for the work they do for us, they go above and beyond to do each task right up to their standards, which are very high. It is so easy for me to review the edited files, because there are very very rarely any mistakes made, it can be felt they are dedicated to what they do, and I know each episode will be edited as best as it can be.

Another thing is that I don't need to spend a lot of time to explain what we need, they simply grasp the idea and wish we have so quickly and do it exactly like we wanted, with so minimal explanations, which is fascinating to me. And also, I trust them, I simply know they will deliver on time and I don't have to worry in the meantime, which gives me a big piece of mind.

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

Grow the team bigger, we have some new ideas for additional creative videos for the podcast and are waiting for the team's availability to work on them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Marketing Manager for an app-based culture, language, and travel community that offers trusted resources and services to specifically address each user’s personalized needs and evolving interests throughout each stage of their journey.

We do this by using matching algorithms and providing robust in-app storytelling tools where community members can share their authentic experiences through videos, groups, and direct one-on-one interactions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Epic Media Creative, and what were your goals?

We used Epic Media Creative's services for a brand awareness video and an explainer video. We wanted to create a series of videos to truly explain/show what our app is and how it can be beneficial to many different personas.

The goal was to ensure that people understand what the app is, why it matters to them (value proposition), how it works (showing the actual product) and how they can get engaged in the community.

SOLUTION

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

The first time we worked with Epic Media Creative, we posted an ad for what we were looking for on Upwork and received over 40 proposals. I reviewed all of those and chose a short list of 4 or 5 and sent to my team members to review and rank.

After reviewing prior work samples, reviews, and prices, we unanimously selected Epic Media Creative as our #1 candidate. We hired them for our second video because of the great experience we had with them the first time and to have a cohesive theme that carries over from one video to the next.

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

We had a rough idea of script for the video, which we sent to Epic. They made script edits based on their expertise with those type of videos and to adjust for length. We provided screencast recordings and examples of what we were looking for, and they combined those with stock video/image footage, music, and voiceover.

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

We mostly worked with an account manager, but also with the co-founder/video production manager. Communication and providing was very easy and seamless.

After receiving a version of the video, we would consolidate our team's feedback and communicate that directly using frame.io, where we could comment directly on certain scenes/timestamps. Turnaround time was always very quick and addressed our feedback.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have used the videos for multiple purposes including social media, investor pitches, our newly redesigned website, and parties/virtual events. 

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

The communication was amazing—they were always prompt in responding to any questions, concerns, or feedback we had. We communicated through Upwork messaging for the most part, but moved to email for quicker communication.

With regards to tools used, after each revision of the videos, they would provide us with a frame.io link where we would be able to provide feedback directly on the video, which was definitely a timesaver and allowed more than one of our team members to review and provide feedback.

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

What we found most impressive about the Epic team was their dedication and how thoughtful they were when creating our videos. They went out of their way to review the script we had originally written and provided feedback based on their expertise for how we could improve.

Additionally, they accommodated our schedule when we had an unexpected delay on our end, which caused a shift in the timeline we had originally planned on. Working with the Epic team was a very professional experience, but it also felt like we were working with friends/family due to how much they cared about not only the projects they were working on for us, but our company and what we do.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the President of Laconic Film which is a full-service film and commercial production company with headquarters in Los Angeles and Düsseldorf, Germany.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Epic Media Creative?

I have hired EMC numerous times to oversee and produce VFX on high-profile music videos and corporate testimonial videos for our international clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was referred to EMC by one of my close colleagues in the film industry. I have been extremely satisfied with their level of technical knowledge, quick communication, and outstanding production value.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

EMC was responsible for video editing, VFX composition, sound design, and color correction ranging from full green screen composition replacement and light design to motion graphics.

What was the team composition?

EMC has a strong leadership foundation that is available for me and my team 24 hours a day. Since many of our projects our with international clients it is important that we have direct line communications with our vendors that respond in a timely fashion and EMC knocks this out of the park.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All of my clients have been extremely satisfied with the projects that I have hired the EMC team to work with me on.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective. EMC is available 24/7 and tackles client notes and questions quickly and efficiently.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

EMC had a strong desire to grow by delivering above and beyond production value. Their customer support is excellent only second to their work.

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

I look forward to throwing more challenging projects with high degrees of technical difficulty and creative problem-solving at EMC. I know they will be able to handle it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of Ligency - EdTech company delivering variety of educational products on Udemy and through our own programs

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Epic Media Creative, and what were your goals?

Epic Media Creative was our go-to video team! We’ve hired them for a number of projects; from promo videos to course content. EMC has been an exceptional video partner, ensuring we deliver the right message to our target audience.

As the education space is quite saturated we need to ensure our videos are engaging and captivating, EMC were not only highly skilled in post-production but in helping us script the videos, hiring and directing the voice over artists and coming up with innovative ideas.

Our promo video goals varied from creating course awareness around Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and BI topics to converting prospects into students. Paired with marketing spend and a great video, we saw a significant increase in enrollments, exceeding our goals!

SOLUTION

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

I’d worked with Jaime, the co-owner of EMC previously, and his work was always top-notch. There is no question for us who we are choosing as our video partner.

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

EMC spends a lot of time planning the project in detail and shared a timeline with me on when to expect each milestone. I found this exceptionally beneficia that increasing transparency, creating a robust working process that is easy to follow and maintain.

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

Previously I worked directly with Jaime and JP (both are editors) but as their team has been growing they assigned an Account Manager to me, Kiri, who handled the entire communication process with me. Despite working remotely, and the various time zones we’re all in, the team always ensured I was up-to-date, they met all deadlines, and spent time meeting with me to get feedback and present their recommendations for the projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our main goal was to increase the number of enrollments and conversion rate. Working with EMC we felt they immediately understood our needs and objectives and strategically developed creative solutions so that our KPIs were met - and they were! I have tried a few other video editors before but none quite like the EMC team. I’ll keep choosing them for years to come.

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

They shared a review link for me for every phase, using a tool called Frame.io. This was beneficial as I could leave feedback per timestamp. They always meet their delivery deadlines. If some changes take more time than expected they keep me updated in advance.

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

Their creative skills, attention to detail,s and input are unmatched. I love how easy it is to work with every team member, and that they take the time to understand my projects to execute them in one go with very few changes. This makes my job easier to review - when I brief them I know I can rely on EMC to execute it amazingly without any stressors to follow up and that production is always of the highest quality.

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

Availability calendar on their website would be good to see.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the former General Manager (Data Science Events Company), founded in 2017. My role was to coordinate the different areas of the business to ensure project (events) delivery and company growth.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Epic Media Creative, and what were your goals?

Our company started as an in-person events producer. We did three conferences in San Diego, CA (2017-2019) that grew from 150 to 650+ attendees. With the pandemic in 2020, we had to migrate our whole business model to virtual events, and this huge change posed many challenges to us.

We had to acquire the know-how to deliver virtual events, ensure our brand positioning and event essence could be delivered online, and guarantee business sustainability under the new global and event industry rules. At that point, we decided to hire EMC to help us overcome the first two challenges I just mentioned.

SOLUTION

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

I had worked with Jaime Trujillo (EMC's Co-Founder) and the team on previous projects and therefore felt extremely confident about the quality of video production they could deliver and their fantastic work ethic. Another deciding factor is that we needed more than an agency, but an ally that could come on board and support us in all the project's phases.

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

First off, EMC helped us research and determine the technical needs and capabilities to carry out our virtual events the way we wanted: a highly interactive live show with HD audiovisual quality, that flows seamlessly from the logistics and audience standpoint. With their guidance, we made important decisions such as the virtual event platform, streaming tool, and hardware procurement.

Second, EMC supported us to create and align the internal processes needed to execute the event, which included testing software and hardware, rehearsals, and internal logistics and queues when going LIVE.

Third, they ideated and produced ALL the video assets needed for the conference, including promo videos, speaker intro videos, transitions, backgrounds, sponsor loops, and animation loops.

Fourth, EMC took full ownership of the AV execution during the event days, being responsible for delivering the event production schedule as planned and troubleshooting. Finally, they edited our event recordings and sent them back to us on time and ready to share with our audience.

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

My POC was Jaime EMC's Co-Founder). We both aligned the project's reach and expectations and had regular catch-ups to check on the progress and provide feedback on the video assets. As we approached the conference, we scheduled rehearsals and planning meetings to ensure everything was clear before going LIVE.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We seamlessly executed 5 live virtual events from June 2020-October 2021 and developed a close relationship with the EMC team. Also, we managed to connect the global Data Science community through our virtual conferences, gathering more than 14,500 data professionals representing 120+ countries.

Finally, together we managed to impact the lives and careers of many people, receiving an average NPS per event of 9 and feedback from attendees such as "I learned a lot and was happy to find out that I'm not that lost" or "Very impressive event and a close second to San Diego."

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

EMC is an extremely organized and responsive team. We tracked our projects on Monday, communicated constantly on Slack and met via Zoom. We also used Frame.io for submitting feedback on video assets. Also, I respect their honesty and resourcefulness. If something is not possible, they will tell you, but also will help you find an alternative solution. Our communication was always very respectful and friendly. They are very opened to receive feedback and give suggestions based on their vast experience.

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

With EMC you don’t get an agency, you get a partner. They get the project, understand your needs, and use their creativity to provide solutions and get the work done.

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

Nothing remarkably relevant that could have affected the projects' development or our work relationship.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm part of REMOJO team, a startup with a mission to lead men to get a lust for life and quit porn. I am looking for an experienced video editor/producer to create/improve our ad campaign.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Epic Media Creative, and what were your goals?

Deliverables: 2 Advertorial videos:

• An improved version of the 6 seconds video animation
• A new up to 60sec video for our ad campaign (I have a briefing in place to be discussed/brainstormed)

SOLUTION

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

The quality of the portfólio showed in Jaime's profile was similar to what I had in mind for the project.

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

• Briefing call
• quote and timing plan
• materials sent and approved
• project kickoff
• storyboard, frames, music and V0 samples sent and approved
• revisions
• final Versions
• final approval

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

I worked with Kiri and Jaime and the feedback process was clear and easy. The project was managed well and the feedback was done by Upwork messager or Frame.io comments.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are starting to use the ads created now.

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

Clear and easy communication process. And Frame.io as a feedback tool when the video was ready. The project deadlines were nicely managed and all steps of the process were clear.

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

Jaime and Kiri are amazing to work with, great energy and excellence in all touchpoints from our first meeting until the work was delivered. They were really fast and made everything possible to accomplish the short deadline.

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

No, everything was done perfectly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CMO, WordAgents.com

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Epic Media Creative, and what were your goals?

These guys created an amazing documentary series about SEOs that we are using to market our business! Our goal was to create something that was useful, fun, and informative. They crushed it.

SOLUTION

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

They presented themselves very well and we hired them direct.

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

Discovery meeting, interview and video production.

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

PM and director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Amazing success and outcome.

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

They're very creative and on point.

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

They really took the time to make something really high quality.

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

Honestly no feedback here, they blew me away!