Flywheel Film

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Production Manager for Ancestral Medicine. We offer online programs & teachings for an international audience and steward a professional network of ancestral healing practitioners.

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

We hired Flywheel Film to do the post-production for our online course, Initiations, A Life of Ritual. We had 48 pre-recorded course videos for which we needed assistance with video editing and audio processing.

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

We found this vendor on Clutch and went with them based on price, their portfolio and expertise, as well as experience with educational content.

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

We first met with the FW team to go over ideal settings for the video recording, and to determine workflow, which we tracked in ClickUp. Initial videos were recorded and then transferred to FW for processing. We were able to work out how we wanted the final cuts to look, and FW was also able to work out an ideal process for clean sound as well.

Once all the initials were ironed out, it was a very smooth process of our company created the raw cuts, and transferring to FW for all post-production processing. Final videos were uploaded to Vimeo and passed for transcript & captioning. All assets were also saved to our local working drive.

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

I worked with Jason and Phillip. Once the initial workflow was created, videos were uploaded to Vimeo for initial review. Feedback would be conveyed via a collaborative google doc and edits revised and final cuts uploaded.

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

All our course videos look well polished and sound great!

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

I worked with Jason and Phillip and we met via Zoom in the beginning, and mostly communicated via email during the project. They were always courteous, professional, and generally had quick response time.

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

They were very responsive and willing to work through an issues to completion. They wanted to be sure we were totally happy with final cuts, and would revise as many times as was needed. They even found an improvement to the sound processing halfway through the project, and were willing to go back and re-edit completed cuts in order to maintain consistency across the entire video log.

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

They were great, I can't think of any improvements.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition. We’re the only statewide organization that provides policy advocacy and safety information to the public as well as to folks who want to ride.

What challenge were you trying to address with Flywheel Film?

The state contracts with our organization to provide public safety information, so we put out social media posts and other informative material. The challenge was to create a competent, educational piece of media that could make public safety more interesting and memorable, so we hired Flywheel.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flywheel had to stretch themselves a little bit, seeing as what we were asking them to do was atypical for their repertoire. Their previous works are more classically educational in nature, but we were looking to create something that had personality. We worked together to form a concept for the video and develop a message that was simple, memorable, and packageable in a limited number of seconds.

The first video that we did with them is one minute and 45 seconds long. It contained text boxes and live shots, which took the team two weekends to film. Flywheel was responsible for all the prior arrangements as well such as the casting of actors, scouting of filming locations, and securing of permits from the city. 

We have received the first video but have not yet posted it on any of our digital channels. We’re looking to do 6–7 more videos with the team in the coming year.

What is the team composition?

I worked mainly with Jason (Founder & Filmmaker) and Philip (Founder). They also enlisted a graphics person for the postproduction.

How did you come to work with Flywheel Film?

I made a post about this project on social media and received a lot of responses. Among all of the companies, Flywheel had the most competent and professional-looking proposal. When I found out that Flywheel was based in New York, I felt that I could collaborate with them even more. They very quickly understood what I was trying to achieve and it helped that they had a person on their team who rode a bicycle every day to go to work. 

How much have you invested with them?

We paid Flywheel $3,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from June–September 2021.

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

The quality of the video was exceptional. I don’t think we could’ve gotten that level of value for what we paid anywhere else. 

There’s widespread internal feedback about the video being extremely well-done and having a high production value. Board members and friends have told me that they find it entertaining and enjoyable to watch. In the span of one minute and 45 seconds, it was able to convey high points of the state’s new law on electric bikes and scooters, all while introducing an engaging character and narrative.

How did Flywheel Film perform from a project management standpoint?

The Flywheel team worked really closely with me. We went back and forth on our Zoom calls to make sure that every aspect of the video was correct and engaging. The team helped me understand not just the production process but also how we could best utilize the video. They advised me on how to get it out there and scale it to the level I wanted. 

We had regular and ad hoc meetings and developed a system to share notes. The team was just very professional and organized throughout. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Flywheel really listened to me. They accommodated my ideas but weren’t afraid to push back when needed. They were very scrupulous and constantly checked in with me about every detail.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there was nothing they could’ve done differently. It was truly a delight to collaborate with their team. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As much as you can, be prepared to engage in a creative process with the team. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) is a catalyst for smart and sustainable policies that reduce inequality, increase economic mobility, and grow the economy in New York City. I am a researcher and multimedia specialist. As part of my role, I produce digital content to promote our research.

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

CUF hired Flywheel to film and edit a video for our new report called Opportunity Costs: Affording the True Costs of College in NYC. We wanted them to film and edit a video 60-90 seconds long with narration, graphics, and interviews from both students quoted in the report and our editorial director.

Our goal was to produce a short, high-quality video that would succinctly explain our research in an engaging way. Our hope was the video would spark more interest in the report, and have more people engage with our work and click onto our website. We also wanted to stay within our budget.

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

This was our first time working with a video production company. We conducted research on companies that worked with nonprofits and developed our short list. Ultimately, after having brief consultation calls with a few companies, we chose Flywheel because they could accommodate our timeline turnaround and because of the quote they offered us that was within our budget. We also found the work they already showcased on their website to be high quality.

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

We set up a film date with Jason and Philip in Manhattan. Before the day of the shoot, we secured the space and the interviewees. We wrote the script and interview questions, created the graphics, and sent everything to Flywheel. On the day of the shoot, Jason and Philip arrived on time. Because of a mishap, we had to change the location of the shoot. Once Jason and Philip entered the space, they were speedy and professional in setting up their equipment. All of our filming ran smoothly.

After the shoot, Flywheel sent us selects, and through a planning document they sent us, we selected which shots we wanted and in what order we wanted them in. We went back and forth on a few versions, and we used the planning document to update them on our choices. Ultimately, we had to cut down the script to keep the video to the length we wanted. I had a call with Philip and Jason for the last big round of edits.

After that, they came back with a version that was very close, and we just asked for a few final tweaks. They also produced captions for us because we wanted to make the video as accessible as we could. Once we had a video we were happy with, Jason had a call with me leading me through all the steps of the uploading process to Youtube and Twitter. We brainstormed accessibility on Twitter, and also the best way to share with audiences.

At the end of the process, there was just one small change we wanted to make to one of the graphics, and Flywheel easily accommodated us and changed the slide the same day we asked for it. We worked with them from the end of May through June, and we got our video with plenty of time before our release date.

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

We worked with Jason and Philip, the founders of Flywheel. The feedback process was mostly done through email and Google Docs, although we had one phone call for feedback as well. After the shoot, they sent us a Vimeo video of the best selects from the shoot and a planning document where we should list the timestamps of the shots we wanted in order, the graphics or images we wanted to use, and any notes.

Once we filled it out, they sent us a rough version. We completed a second version of the planning doc and got a new rough cut. After giving some notes, we got another rough cut. We sent more notes, got an updated cut, and then we had a call together. Once we went over feedback on both sides on that call, they did one more big edit that was very close to what we wanted. Finally, we gave some notes to make small changes from there to get it to the finish line.

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

After we posted the video on Twitter, we got over 2k views within the first day.

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

We were impressed with Flywheel’s management style and timeliness. During filming, they stayed on task and on schedule. Their planning document they gave us was very professional and organized. They replied to our emails quickly as well. Their timeliness was impeccable. They always turned over another draft within a few days of our last feedback, and the next version was always much stronger. Also, they were helpful in figuring out an artistic direction for the video. We had our initial idea, but they emphasized the storytelling aspect.

Ultimately, they had our goals in mind and also how we could create the most engaging video possible for social media. At one point, they gave us an edit that was shot-for-shot what we asked for, but then made suggestions based on their own experiences producing on how we could strengthen the video. We're glad that they brought their own creativity to the table to produce a compelling end-product.

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

Flywheel had fast turnaround times. After giving them feedback, they would turn the next draft of the video around within a day or two, which was impressive! During our filming day,they also took charge of interviewing our subjects as well. They took our questions and asked them multiple times in multiple ways to our interviewees to get the best takes possible. We appreciated their skill in this and also their perseverance to get the best content. Also, they took a lot of interest in asking us what our project was about, and more about our organization. Ultimately, I believe having more of that context made the video better when they edited it.

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

After we filled out the planning document the first time, they did come back to us with an edit that was very different from what we asked for in the document. That was okay, because ultimately we liked some of the creative choices they made, which informed our future feedback, but we wish they would have told us they were going to do that. Also when we had to schedule a few meetings, it was touch-and-go. They usually asked to schedule a meeting on the same day, but we usually had to push it because it’s hard for our team to be able to make room in our schedule if we have other meetings.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founder of Ashville Creative Arts a nonprofit theatre company

For what projects/services did your company hire Flywheel Film?

For the production of new work, ACA wanted to create a video of the development of our newest production including rehearsals, interviews with the cast, and other behind-the-scenes content.

What were your goals for this project?

We used this video to create awareness of our brand and generate funding from private and government sources.

How did you select Flywheel Film?

Flywheel Film came highly recommended by another non-profit organization ACA had worked with in the past.

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

During an initial consultation by phone, Flywheel asked meaningful questions to help us define our needs for the project, our target audience, and our budget. In additional meetings, we planned shooting schedules and set benchmarks for deliverables (which were always met), and finally, Flywheel worked with us to refine a finished product that we used on the web and social media, and for grant proposal requirements.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Flywheel used collaborative documents that helped keep everyone on the same page; once shooting was complete they created an editing schedule with a clear process for submitting feedback and making revisions.

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

ACA was awarded funding and we believe the video product to be a significant part of helping us to illustrate our artistic merit - major criteria for the application- Flywheel helped us to reach our funding goals.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our contacts at Flywheel were good communicators, they defined a standard process at the beginning which was adhered to and helped avoid miscommunication. They were responsive and thorough.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They understood our needs and executed them by clearly conveying the message we needed; They help us understand the more technical aspects of the process so that we were effective collaborators.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, it was a pleasure to work with them!

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the principal of a school called Pathways to Graduation in Queens.

What challenge were you trying to address with Flywheel Film?

We wanted to create a video to address student recruitment issues by helping us to recruit students in the community.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flywheel Film helped us with the creative process. We collaborated to come up with questions for interviews.  While the school wasn’t conducive to filming, their team worked for hours to set up the perfect environment. Then, their team executed and filmed interviews with staff and students. They managed to turn the interviews into a narrative of how the school helps people. Their team decided after two, ten-hour days, how to cut that footage into a 4-minute video. They were incredible, working with me to pick the sound bites that told the narrative.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two guys. One of their team members had a background in education, so he was well-versed in the video's message and the questions we could ask in interviews.

How did you come to work with Flywheel Film?

A colleague sent me a video that Flywheel Film created. I was impressed with the content and they had good prices, so I went with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $5,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in December 2018 and ended around May of that same year.

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

We’ve gotten a tremendous amount of positive feedback on the video. The visual quality's excellent, incorporating a diversity of shots. It’s been great to have go-to content when we’re presenting to prospective students. People are impressed with the video. In fact, other people in the district are interested in creating their own videos with Flywheel Film.

How did Flywheel Film perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicated via e-mail. They also had a Google sheet where we collaborated on questions and provided feedback. Their team was accessible and open to new ideas. They were definitely doing everything they could to turn it into a high-quality product. The project was done professionally.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were always open to feedback and willing to make modifications no matter how late in the game it was. Their team was flexible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing that I can think of.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you know exactly where you’re going with the project before you start filming so you don’t waste any time.

Please describe your company and your position there.

AAUW is a Washington D.C. nonprofit whose mission is to provide education, research and advocacy in support of equity for women and girls. I am the senior director of communicatoins.

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

We needed a short promotional video for the organization's 140th Anniversary, highlighting AAUW's main accomplishments.

How did you select Flywheel Film and what were the deciding factors?

Referred by a former colleague.

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

We provided a draft script and photo/video assets and worked with Flywheel to produce a 90-second video.

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

We worked with Jason, who was extremely flexible, responsive and helpful. He delivered exactly what we wanted -- and brought a lot of creativity and energy to the process.We s

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

We debuted our video at our internal anniversary celebration and have begun using as a marketing tool

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

Jason was a great partner. He delivered what we wanted, when we wanted it and helped to guide us in what was a new endeavor for the organization. He stuck to the schedule he created and responded to our email promptly.

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

It was impressive how easy they made the whole endeavor.

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

Nope. Everything worked out super well!