Epipheo

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior security analyst for the Information Security department of a large pharmaceutical company. We manufacture drugs in and outside the US and have about 3,000 employees.

What challenge were you trying to address with Epipheo?

We needed help with video production.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epipheo did three animated two-and-a-half-minute videos, and they revamped our animation and created a new, updated, and colorful character that represented security in the company. The character allowed us to engage with the audience to explain security topics to all employees. It was an old black-and-white character, and they created a new image for it.

They also developed the scripts for the three videos in a rushed timeline. Additionally, Epipheo did the voiceover and provided different options. Then, they did the music and translations to seven other languages. It was a big internal project.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked directly with four people: the creative director, animator, sales account person, and the project manager, who is our point of contact. We don’t know the team that works on the video, but we’re sure they have many people working on that.

How did you come to work with Epipheo?

We were looking for a production company, so we researched online. We usually go internal, but it turned out that it was cheaper and better quality to outsource the project. We came down to three options, which were the best reviewed online. Then, we did a leading process and met with all the companies. Since day one, Epipheo felt like it was the one we should go with.

How much have you invested with them?

This new project is around $190,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our partnership in June 2021, and it’s ongoing. We just signed another contract to do three videos for the spring.

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

We launched the videos in October 2021 and had a cybersecurity awareness campaign for a month. We did it through SharePoint, workshops, and webinars and got feedback from surveys. Everyone loved the new image and topics we brought forward to increase awareness to the company; all the feedback around the videos was very positive. Also, we uploaded the videos and are able to see how many people view and open them, and we’ve been those metrics increase over the months.

In the end, there’ll always be challenges, but Epipheo’s team is really on top of the timelines. At some point, they estimated the cost, and even though they made a mistake, they didn’t increase it. Also, they’re very creative. Security isn’t a fun topic, and they incorporated real-life scenarios that we haven’t thought of before.

Overall, it’s easy to work with them. They go above and beyond to ensure we’re happy, and we have a good professional relationship. Oherwise, we wouldn’t have engaged with them again.

How did Epipheo perform from a project management standpoint?

They do really well. At the beginning, they sent a competition plan that was two months over our deadline. We were going crazy, but they made adjustments and changed their review cycles to make it work. In the end, they submitted every video in the day they’d say without complaints.

We do a little bit of everything to communicate with them, but we mostly use email. When we have ongoing project, we do a weekly call over Zoom or Google Meets.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re passionate about what they do. Some people do a good job and deliver, but we don’t see that passion anywhere. Everyone in the team loves their jobs, and it makes such a difference.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t have any issues with communication, but they need to be a bit more organized. However, we all have hiccups along the way, and it was a minor issue.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When you’re working with a big company, make sure that your deadlines are clear in the contract.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and managing director of a forensic accounting and insurance claim preparation firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with Epipheo?

The challenge we were trying to address was twofold. We wanted to differentiate ourselves from competitors but we also needed to articulate our business in a way that is concise and not overly exhaustive to describe. A lot of people don’t know what we do or that we even exist, and they usually don’t even need our services until something unfortunate happens to them. 

Epipeho’s goal was to develop a message that communicates what we do in a very succinct way.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epipheo produced a series of three videos for us. It was a lengthy process that began with them trying to learn about our business. Again, what we do is not widely known, so we expected to spend a decent amount of time educating them on our services. 

After the initial phase, we came up with a strategy to focus on one video at a time. We got the ball rolling with the flagship video. We developed a script, did a lot of back-and-forths to nail it down, then proceeded to do the storyboard before moving into production. 

What is the team composition?

We dealt with two specific individuals — the creative director and the production animator — on a day-to-day basis, but there were others who were involved in the background.

How did you come to work with Epipheo?

We did a bit of Google research, came up with a list of agencies, and narrowed it down based on the online portfolios that we saw. We actually engaged with one of Epipheo’s competitors first. About a month in, however, we got the sense that we weren't on the same page from a creative and strategic perspective. We terminated that agreement and went with Epipheo. 

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost was between $50,0000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2020–August 2021.

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

It's hard to speak to the impact of their work because, though we've been in business for almost four years now, we don't have a website yet. We simply don't have a need for it; all of our leads are referral-based. However, we’re now in the process of developing one since the video series is out of the way. We do have the videos up on YouTube and we share them with people who are vetting us as potential service providers. 

What I think this video series has done for us is answer questions with the limited information we have out there right now. Our competitors don’t have videos like these, and it helps us create instant credibility. Whether it’s the 15-second version or the two-minute version that we send, potential clients are immediately assured that they’re talking to the right people. 

How did Epipheo perform from a project management standpoint?

What I really liked about working with Epipheo was that every time we spoke through video conference or email, they let us know what to expect and when. I found that extremely helpful. Editing the graphics of a video was an extremely long process, but we got through every step knowing where we were in terms of the timing. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had the flexibility to get on the right mindset, which was important, but Epihpeo’s creativity was, no doubt, what we really needed after the previous engagement. They came up with stuff we just never would have thought of and found a creative way to present our business. The message was very clear and, frankly, a little entertaining, which is what we were shooting for. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m a person who loves to meet with our partners but the COVID-19 pandemic didn't allow that. I hope to get the chance to brainstorm with Epipheo in person when we work with them again.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you think you can just fill out a questionnaire or send Epipheo to your website to get an awesome video, then you’re misunderstanding the process. It helps to invest a lot of time in letting them learn your business. Don’t take shortcuts because the little nuances and specific details are really important.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Marketing and Operations Coordinator at COPE CORRALES. We are a family office, wealth management, and business advisory firm in Washington, DC.

For what projects/services did your company hire Epipheo?

Investments and financial services in general always come across as very complex and hard to understand what you are getting into. With our investment philosophy, we wanted to make it clear and easy to understand exactly what makes COPE CORRALES unique. Additionally, these types of videos are not typically done by financial firms, and we wanted to immediately differentiate ourselves in the marketplace.

How did you select this vendor?

After searching for vendors, we chose Epipheo because -

1. They were quick to respond, set up calls, and walk us through the entire process
2. There was a level of professionalism throughout each call and email.
3. They proactively took an interest in understanding what it is we do and what we want to explain to clients.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The scope of work included an initial kick-off call to get acquainted and discuss the goals of the project, as well as the timeline. Following that, we went into scripting. After that, we dove into story plans which featured going through the visuals to accompany the script.

After that, we went into production planning which gave us more of the feel of the story with visuals and voice-overs. Finally, we finished with full style boards, playblast, and half rendering - building up to the final animated project.

What was the team composition?

After officially signing on, we were introduced to our Account Manager and a team of two others including a creative director and art director. We also were made aware of other individuals working behind the scene of our project.

Our Account Manager was our main point of contact to schedule calls and send revisions, while the creative and art director led meetings to discuss comments and revisions.

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

We have not launched our video yet, as that will come in the coming weeks, however we absolutely love it. The individuals that have seen it have been blown away by the quality, and the easiness to understand the concepts.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was incredible. Having one point of contact made it very clear from a communication standpoint. Everyone was on the same page. Feedback was taken well, and it did feel like we were a team, as opposed to clients.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their approach to wanting to understand exactly what we do so that the message can reflect that, was impressive. Additionally, I think the team atmosphere they created was very pleasant as a client to work with. Feedback was taken with open arms, timelines were met and we overall couldn't be happier.

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

I think getting a better idea of exactly what made up the animation process would have helped. As an outsider, I don't know what that all entailed and towards the end when we wanted to make changes we would be aware

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of a self-improvement app.

What challenge were you trying to address with Epipheo?

We needed help marketing our product and building awareness for the product in a way that’s attractive to millennial customers.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epipheo developed animated videos for ads and product promotion. I provided a brand script and what I wanted my product to do. First, we built storyboards and mood boards together. Once the script was completed, they moved onto animation.

What is the team composition?

I worked with four people, including Amy (Account Manager) and an executive producer.

How did you come to work with Epipheo?

I looked at some of the other companies Epipheo has experience working with, and I  wanted to be a part of that group.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2020, and we wrapped up in April 2021.

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

They were very patient with me since I didn’t know a lot about the process. They were also very creative in filling in the gaps for things that I don’t have the mind for. Epipheo was able to bridge the gap between my vision and the end goal.

How did Epipheo perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great. Everything took a bit longer than planned because I didn’t fully understand some aspects of my product. The team was patient and organized. When I set a date to meet, everyone on their end was ready to move forward. We used Google Drive, Google Meet, and email for project management and communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to create stands out. I came in with a vision that I couldn’t articulate well. Epipheo was able to bring my vision to life so I can attract my ideal customer.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. The extra time it took was my fault.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you know your product and goals well. The project will go smoother and faster if you’re able to answer all of their questions.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Events Manager at REST.

What challenge were you trying to address with Epipheo?

We needed to pivot our in-person gala to the virtual space. Part of that involved having an animated explainer video open our event. 

What was the scope of their involvement? 

I hired Epipheo to create that video, both for the premiere at our gala and to be a piece of content that we could use throughout the years. They produced an explainer animation that showed people the basics of what human trafficking looks like. 

What is the team composition? 

I had initial conversations with one person, and then I worked with two people on the actual project.

How much have you invested with them?

It was $17,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project between July–October 2020. 

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

We were very happy with the work received. It was an extremely tight turnaround — once we signed the contract, they had to hit the ground running. Despite that, I never felt like the quality was compromised. Even if we’d had more time, I believe we would’ve received the same excellent product.

I didn’t even know if Epipheo could take me on as a client, but they did. They gave me the same amount of attention that I’d expected and knew what we were trying to accomplish. To keep on track, we had checkpoints along the way that helped ensure we told the story we wanted to tell. If needed, they were quick to make any adjustments.

How did Epipheo perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed strongly here. We worked so closely together. The team moved us along, giving us clear expectations so that we could meet their deadlines. I also liked that they communicated clearly so that we could accomplish our goals.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ultimately, we had a product that we were really proud of. We were creating a video about an extremely sensitive topic, and I appreciated that they took the time to learn about who we were as an organization. They didn’t come in with preconceived notions.

Even though they’d done work for other anti-trafficking companies, they didn’t say, “We get what you’re trying to do.” Instead, they said, “Tell us your story. What is it about your organization that sets you apart so that we can help you tell that story?” The time spent getting to know us was reflected in the final product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The price point was a huge barrier for us. We made it happen, but it would’ve been beneficial if they had a price break for nonprofits vs big tech companies. That is to say, I paid the same as if I were at Google or Amazon. 

My entire budget for the event was $20,000, but $17,000 had to go to the video. If they really want to help nonprofits, then they should try to make that work more accessible to those organizations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do the work with your team first so that you know what you want before you pitch the project to them. We did that work in advance, so they were able to expedite the project. I’d also add that you should be open to making adjustments to your vision. Epipheo did give us some feedback on our idea to fine-tune it, and I’m so glad that we took their advice.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing for Genesis Archery. We produce introductory level archery equipment.

What challenge were you trying to address with Epipheo?

We wanted to build up our nonprofit partners. This has given me room to work on internal projects. We want to educate others on archery and, hopefully, encourage them to get into the sport.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created videos and material that would attract new sponsors and boost credibility for our existing nonprofit partners.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with three touchpoints and one salesperson.

How did you come to work with Epipheo?

I was familiar with one of their sister studios, and they referred us to Epipheo.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $10,000–$15,000 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked off the project in January 2020 and we continue to work together.

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

The caliber of their work is just unparalleled. They only produce top-notch content, and, as a result, we’re able to increase our content standards.

Our nonprofit partners have received more support from their boards as well because they’re able to demonstrate their message. It has caused growth already, and we still have room to grow. After our first few projects went so well, we decided to keep them on retainer.

How did Epipheo perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re good at managing touchpoints in order to keep up the schedule. The process has been repeatable and consistent across at least 10 projects so far.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They clearly care about what they’re doing and it shows in their work. They come to work with a winning mindset and always want to ensure we have a strong collaboration.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing stands out to me.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take your time to explore potential animation styles. It’s really easy to start working on something, and then discover a new style that you prefer, in which case you’ve missed an opportunity. So do your due diligence and explore every option, even if you need to pay for a few extra hours.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of The Salvation Poem Foundation. We’re a nonprofit ministry devoted to sharing the gospel.

What challenge were you trying to address with Epipheo?

We hired Epipheo to produce a video series based on a book that we have.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epipheo did an initial three-minute video, the first in a series of 10 three-minute videos. They’re 2D animated videos that take the content of the book that we have and distill it down into easily consumable chunks for a broad audience. We’re in the middle of the project with them.

My team handled the scripting and the voice acting. They did the music production, the animation, and all of the mixing and rendering.

What is the team composition?

We work with six people from their team.

How did you come to work with Epipheo?

We had reached out to the BibleProject, the nonprofit ministry that makes videos about the Bible for free. We asked if they’d be willing to partner on this video project, but they said they didn’t have the capacity. They suggested that we reach out to Epipheo, because the founder of the BibleProject actually founded Epipheo as well. We took a look at their portfolio and decided we wanted to try doing the project with them.

How much have you invested with them?

The total project is over $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2020, and it’s ongoing.

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

They’ve done great work, and the pricing is very fair. We’re very pleased with the quality of the animation. 

How did Epipheo perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very timely. They clearly communicated what was expected of us and what they were going to deliver, so there were no surprises. We knew what we were going to get, and we got exactly what they said we’d get. We primarily communicate through video conference calls and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What sets them apart from other video production companies is that they offered their own artistic take on what we were doing and yet still made it ours. They made the video better than it would have been had we been producing it ourselves. Instead of just a simple work-for-hire, they’ve actually added quality to the project. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I’ve been pleased with everything: the timing, the speed, the quality of the work, and the communication. It’s all top-notch.

Any advice for potential customers?

They’re good to work with.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a manager for a Fortune 500 facilities services company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Epipheo?

We engaged Epipheo to create an end-of-year video to share all our accomplishments with our employees.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epipheo created the recap video using mostly animation. It was an internal video that we uploaded to a private Vimeo account to share at our 500 locations.

We had collected a lot of images and tech that we handed over to Epipheo. They then created a storyboard that summed up our achievements within three minutes. They kept each event distinct and with a good pace that was easy to follow.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3-4 people from Epipheo.

How did you come to work with Epipheo?

Our company constantly produces videos. We have in-house video services, but we’re always looking for third-party firms and freelancers to up our capacity and to make sure we’re keeping up with the latest trends and technologies. Some of my marketing colleagues had worked with Epipheo before and recommended them to me for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $16,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in May 2019 and ended in August of the same year.

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

The video was well-received by our internal team. Any criticisms were about the ideas that we came up, not anything of Epipheo’s doing.

We measured the project’s success by how well Epipheo could complete it independently—in other words, with minimal handholding from our end. Once we gave Epipheo the assets and our approval on their storyboard, they took the project and ran with it—which was exactly what we wanted. I would definitely use their team again for future projects.

How did Epipheo perform from a project management standpoint?

Epipheo did a good job of keeping us on task. We had a couple of starts and stops, which caused us to need a more accelerated timeline. Epipheo reached that deadline for us no problem. They communicated what they needed by what date to maintain that timeline. This kept everyone honest and on the same page. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Epipheo sent us a few video messages to convey where we were with the project and what they were thinking. I’ve not had a vendor do that before, and it was nice not to have to read it all via e-mail. It also makes sense because video production is what they do. That method helped them stand out. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Since we’re a large company, we have a cumbersome invoicing and billing process that is multi-layered and takes a while. Typically, vendors who work with large companies understand the process, but Epipheo wanted extra assurance that they would be paid within their requested timeline. I don’t handle billing with the projects; I hand it off to someone else who takes care of it. This created a bit of challenge from my end to get them paid as quickly as they asked.

Any advice for potential customers?

Communicate with Epipheo about the intended project deadline and payment timeline. Make sure you’re on the same page about who would handle invoicing and how quickly you’ll pay them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO and founder of Exodus Cry. We're an anti-trafficking organization that works in the realm of intervention and outreach as well as prevention of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

What challenge were you trying to address with Epipheo?

We've been working on some longer feature films that will take years to produce. In the meantime, we wanted to have some short videos that we could use to push our message out. We needed a vendor to help us produce those short videos.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epipheo created a number of short animated videos on the topic of prostitution. People often see human trafficking and prostitution as two separate things, whereas we see human trafficking as one way people enter into a larger system of exploitation that is prostitution. In these videos, we wanted to tackle some of the myths about prostitution being thought of as empowering or liberating. We also wanted to expand people's understanding of the issue. Epipheo helped us accomplish our goal and we continue working with them on other projects.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 8–10 people including our project manager.

How did you come to work with Epipheo?

I saw a video from one of their founders in which they were trying to help people discover their history through visual media. I liked their approach, so I reached out to them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

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

We shared the videos on our YouTube channel and our social media, and we got over a million views. We're also using the videos in some of our campaigns. We received a lot of feedback and people often say the videos helped them change their perspective. We can also use the videos for fundraising and to target lawmakers and donors.

How did Epipheo perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly use email and phone to communicate and they've been very accommodating. They always try to push us in the right direction, while still making sure we get exactly what we want. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a rare ability to pull out of people exactly what they need to accomplish the goal. We shared our ideas with them and they told us what they were hearing and how they thought we needed to package that. Also, they're kind and down-to-earth. They completely understand our vision and have a passion for what we do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

There is no better place you can go to if you really care about expressing your vision in a clear, precise, and impactful way. Epipheo will build the team around your project and walk you through the whole process. They're not the cheapest, but you get what you've paid for.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of marketing at Easterns Automotive Group, a large family-owned used car dealership group.

What challenge were you trying to address with Epipheo?

We wanted to develop unique messaging to separate our company from the other local car dealerships.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Epipheo helped us establish our distinct brand voice by producing a series of video commercials for TV and digital mediums. For longevity, we agreed to use animation instead of live-action shots. We gave them a basic concept of what we wanted to achieve, but their team had creative control over the storyline and animation style. They prepared an initial script with an accompanying storyboard, and our team reviewed their work and made edits; we repeated this process until the product met our expectations. Their team provided the voiceover work in English, but they sent copies without audio so that we could record in Spanish. Ultimately, they produced four 14-second videos and two 30-second commercials.

What is the team composition?

They assigned one point of contact to our account, but we interacted with all four members of their production team.

How did you come to work with Epipheo?

We worked with them four years ago on a similar project, so we knew that they were capable of bringing our vision to life.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $26,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

Production began in January 2019 and ended in March 2019.

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

Epipheo delivered incredible content that is unlike anything else on the market. The messaging was clear and concise, the animation was innovative and aesthetically pleasing, and the sound mixing was phenomenal. They truly captured the essence of our brand.

How did Epipheo perform from a project management standpoint?

The timeline was clearly defined, which allowed them to navigate the project with ease. Instead of scheduling phone calls, they prepared videos for each milestone that showed their progress and highlighted areas that needed our review. Email was our main channel of correspondence. Their team was so transparent that we had no doubts about their success. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Epipheo exceeded our expectations for quality and creativity. Whether drafting the storyboard or executing the final product, their team always gave their full effort. It was nice to work with a partner who was on the same page.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Although they were not the most cost-effective option, Epipheo offered outstanding quality that will last us several years.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Working with a full-service video production company like Epipheo was an excellent investment because they had the resources to deliver a ton of original content at no extra cost.