FLUID

Please describe your company and your position there.

Head of Communication in the Danish Association of Architects

For what projects/services did your company hire FLUID, and what were your goals?

We had made a call for an idea competition for architects based on the the question: How the building industri can be rethinked and make sure that we build absolutely sustainable in the future. The winning project was rather simple but the story behind was quite complex. Therefor we decided to make a video about the project. And we wanted to collaborate with somebody who could deliver a high quality product for a very visual audience: Architects and designers.

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

We looked for a video producing company, that can deliver everything from the script/sparring on the script to filming, editing and color grading - in a high quality. We also wanted a company who knows how to tell a story so it becomes interesting both in pictures and words. We found it all in Fluid TV and they did an excellent job.

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

We started with a discovery meeting and they came up with some very good ideas. They made a plan for us and followed that punctually. We felt at once that he is not just another video-maker. He is a very professional director - and we felt that from the beginning.

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

We worked with the owner, Alonso, and everything went very smoothly and professionally.

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

We showed the video on our social media channels and got a lot of positive feedback. The competition winner, who was portrayed was also very fond of the product and the whole process. It was his first time in front of the camera, and he was very good taken care of.

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

Every phase was handled very professionally and timely. We had a very good collaboration with the company and we would recommend them anytime. The communication was very clear. Even though the interview was made in Danish they managed to create a very confident room, and edit the video very fast and precisely.

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

They understood the scope very quickly, came up with good ideas, and delivered a high-quality product on time. They have a very good price - far to low compared to the quality of their products and level of expertise.

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

I see absolutely no areas for improvement!

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO of Hindenburg Systems - a Danish software company specialising in intuitive, portable solutions for professional and consumer audio narrative producers.  We provide innovative technological features that allow audio raconteurs to focus on telling a great story, while our software ensures broadcast-quality results. 

For what projects/services did your company hire Fluid, and what were your goals?

We needed to illustrate that our users are storytellers without technical training, in order to help prospective customers understand how easy it is to use our products.

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

We have a long history of working with Fluid. They have always provided invaluable input from the idea phase to the final execution. They always understand the essence of our message and are able to help us formulate an appropriate approach.

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

We contacted Fluid with a basic idea that we would like to create portraits of users that we could use on our website, at conferences as well as on social and other media. With Fluid driving the process, we developed the basic language and format of the portraits and described the user profiles we were looking to portray. We went through our catalogue of users and identified several candidates. From there Fluid handled all the logistics and produced the videos.

After the recordings were completed, one of the users portrayed changed their mind. Fluid were quick to help us find and record an alternative. After draft edits were produced, we reviewed them with Fluid, and the few adjustments we agreed to were made.

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

We worked with the CEO Alonso. The feedback process was as previously described.

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

It is too early for measuring outcomes, but the videos have received positive comments.

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

Well-structured meetings and all deadlines were met.

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

They took the time to understand our needs and products, and were very flexible during the process as many things are difficult to plan in detail when working with customers who volunteer their time.

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

Nope.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the public relations manager for the Division of Physical Sciences at UCLA. It’s my responsibility to promote the achievements and offerings of six departments within the division. That involves all of the scientific research and academics that are offered by our world-class organization.

What challenge were you trying to address with FLUID?

We wanted to make a short video that encompassed the quality of our education, research, and community service. It was important to make the sciences feel human and accessible, rather than cold or unapproachable.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They started by providing us with a proposal that detailed how they visioned the video based on our initial conversations and RFP. From there, they came up with a schedule and plan for shooting. They assisted with some casting decisions but didn’t take that responsibility entirely. Then, they took care of all the filming and editing of the project. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with about four of their teammates, including a project manager.

How did you come to work with FLUID?

I put a call out to my colleagues within the film industry. We wanted to engage with a creative partner to approach the sciences in a new, interesting way. I received recommendations for several companies that would be able to achieve our vision, and their team was one of them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $40,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and our teams are still collaborating.

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

I’d recommend them without reservation. All of their work was conducted with the highest level of professionalism. Additionally, I greatly valued the creative offerings the main filmmaker brought to the project. The level of quality that was delivered blew our internal staff away.  

How did FLUID perform from a project management standpoint?

We needed to film with a very should turnaround time in mind, and they were willing to work hard to collect all the footage on our deadline. They were communicative, professional, and hard-working. I never felt that I had to worry about any logistics because they were on top of project management. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The creativity in their shooting and interviewing was remarkable. They were fantastic at conducting conversations with our interviewees. That resulted in amazing stories that came out on camera. I knew his portfolio was beautiful, but watching him conversationally connect with very senior scientists was a joy and surprise. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We encountered a few snags along the way, but they were always able to pivot and respond to the situation. So, I can’t think of anything constructive for them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t hold back your questions, comments, and concerns. They’re very responsive to feedback and feel that it helps them do a better job. From there, just trust that they’ll do a good job.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive producer at Warner Bros in Denmark. I work in the factual documentaries and entertainment, for example, travel documentaries and domestic stories in Denmark. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Fluid?

When we produce a travel show, we do the initial research preface here in Copenhagen. This show was in the U.S. so we needed a diligent, local person who could be our extended arm there. In the process of initial research, there are so many questions that we need to have answers to. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

They met up with people in the U.S. and conducted interviews. They filmed and took photographs so we could stay in Copenhagen and judge which stories and people to follow. They did the on-ground paid scouting. 

They’re also very good at looking into and understanding what kind of show we were aiming at. I was happy to send our script to them. They were also a creative partner at the same time. They weren’t just doing the research; they understood the creative product we were looking for. Every time we had a creative idea, we would involve them and they would check whether or not it’d be possible or not.

When we came to the U.S. and starting shooting, they were still assisting us. They also helped with the filming credits and the insurance. They had the role of production assistant in the films, which was handy and helpful.

What is the team composition? 

I worked with one person who involved her partner occasionally.

How did you come to work with Fluid?

Someone who I trust very much had been working with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

Around $12,500. It was a fair price and saved us a lot of trouble and money.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started worked together from September until November 2014. 

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

The project was handy and saved us a lot of time, money, and travel. We’re very happy with them; in fact, we’ll be working with them again for another research project the year after. 

How did Fluid perform from a project management standpoint?

It was really easy. They quickly got a clear idea of the project we were working on and what we were aiming for. I never had any trouble with communication. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were clever and understood what we were looking for. They were honest if they felt one of our ideas wouldn’t work and never withheld important information from us: they were fair in underlining the good and the bad things about a location or a character. We were never disappointed when we met up. I’d definitely be happy to work with them again. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would like them to be stronger on the East Coast. They’re based in L.A. and they know about that are in detail. They do cover almost the whole country though. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a film director and the CEO of Danish Documentary. We are in Copenhagen, Denmark. We do international, feature-length documentaries for theater, TV, and film festivals.

What challenge were you trying to address with Fluid?

We needed help with video production.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve been collaborating for a few years. They produce the films that I direct. They do the line production and production of the film. We’ve worked on 2–3 films together. Now, we’re working on 2 more with another one possible in the pipeline.

On the line producing side, they set up the production, both in financing and keeping budgets. They make sure we have permits, insurance, and releases to make the film possible, and they also research the areas that we’re going to shoot. They set up the whole production side of the shoot. It’s also creative dialogue about the story on how we need to approach it. We discuss how to get the story told in the best possible way in terms of setting up the production. This is an important part of the collaboration we have with them.

We’ve collaborated on scriptwriting for films. We’ve not collaborated on the shooting yet. It’s still a collaboration about the shooting though. We have a cinematographer with us, but Fluid is still a big part of setting things up.

We currently have 1 film in production and 1 in development. These are films that we produce from Denmark, but Fluid handles our production in the U.S. because a lot of the film is shot there.

How did you come to work with Fluid?

My producer who knew Nina [Producer, Fluid], who is head of Fluid. I was at the Sundance Film Festival with a film I made called, “The Monastery.” My producer introduced me to Nina. I got in her car and said hello, and the rest is history. It was a very good collaboration from the beginning.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2010, and the work is ongoing.

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

Doing documentaries is a very difficult task because it involves real people. There has to be to an understanding from the production side to be able to manage the difficult task, as well as have an understanding what it’s like to work with real people. This is a very delicate matter. Fluid has a great understanding of this and their role on the team. It’s a very comfortable environment. Things get done in a great, collaborative way with respect to both the director’s wishes and also to all the circumstances there are around doing a film project. They’re a valuable team and a good team for us to work with.

How did Fluid perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m very happy with the way that they go about things. They’re very good at understanding what the project is about. They’re interested in understanding what our ambition, goal, or vision is to do the best job possible in production. They have a great understanding of the vision of the projects. It’s paramount when you make films. It’s not just a production or a practical thing to solve; it’s a vision to carry out.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are absolutely outstanding at understanding the vision of a project. They understand what good filmmaking is and what it takes to get there. That’s really strong in the collaboration with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m really happy.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open with your project. Let Fluid get involved in the project and in the vision of the project. That’s important. It’s not just a company that completes a task. It’s a company that wants to understand your project so that they can do the best job possible. It’s a visionary company.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a founding principal at Citizens of the World, a charter school system.  

For what projects/services did your company hire Fluid?

We needed to create a video to highlight a specific educational program at our school.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to share the unique learning opportunities students at our schools have with an outside audience.

How did you select this vendor?

Fluid responded quickly to our request, and assured us that they could complete the project on time.

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

We provided them with our specifications and then they shot, edited, and produced the video.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They were responsive and open to suggestions.

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

Fluid’s video is one of our most viewed videos to date. Visitors to our school often mention it.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was very effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were able to replicate our vision of the project just from hearing a description; it came to life.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can’t think of any.