Flywheel Film

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.