Fog Coast Productions

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of marketing for a kitchen appliance company.

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions, and what were your goals?

We recently launched a new branch of our business and wanted to create an informal video to showcase what we do as a business to our customers. We wanted to take a high-level concept and condense it down to a simple and easy-to-understand video.

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

I searched the internet trying to find a company that is located in the Bay Area and produces the aesthetic for what I had in mind as well as fit within my budget. I interviewed a few video production companies before going with Fog Coast Productions.

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

I started with a preliminary video call with Andrew, I went over what I had in mind and he clearly explained the process, timelines, and what to expect with his team. He went over all of my questions and gave a great follow-up that I could easily present to my CEO to pitch this marketing cost.

I paid the deposit and easily booked a filming date that worked with multiple 3rd parties involved. Andrew and I worked on the script and he went over his vision of how production will look.

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

Andrew was very quick in his responses and easy to schedule with. We communicated via email, phone, and text.

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

Our company is very happy with the results of this project and are already scheduling a follow-up production with Fog Coast Productions.

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

Fog Coast uses google docs to share and edit scripts, which makes it very user-friendly. I was able to pick out a voice-over actor as well as the background music for the video. Everything was done in a very timely manner and met both my budget and deadline.

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

They have great work ethic and are very easy to work with. They take the headache out of producing a video.

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

Nope

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a Sr. Staff Communications Specialist for Renesas Electronics. We are a semiconductor company and I manage the company's internal communications and PR globally.

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions, and what were your goals?

We recently went through an acquisition of another company and we wanted to develop an internal corporate culture video to unite people with different backgrounds from both companies. We also wanted to develop an external video that explains the history of who we are and our vision going forward. 

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

Fog Coast was recommended by someone who has worked with them in the past. Fog Coast is known for its reputation as a solid video production company that develops high quality videos and specializes in visualization of abstract concepts using modern techniques.

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

We first kicked off the projects with a brainstorming session. We really wanted make sure the production team understands the messages we wanted to deliver and the goals we wanted to achieve. Then we developed scripts and storyboards and fine-tuned the content based on their feedback so that we can tell our story effectively.

The third stage is designing a mockup for the video. We went back and forth in this segment since one of our projects involved developing an original animation with a character. Once the character was completed, we had another round of reviews up to 3 versions. 

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

We mainly worked with Andrew and Steve. They were very good at responding to our questions and delivering updates on time. The feedback platform is interactive and easy to exchange comments.

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

One of our projects involved creating an original animation. We exchanged at least 4-5 versions while trying to define the character, and once that’s done, we moved to the animation part. We did not want to compromise and we kept exchanging feedback until everything was perfect.

The production team was very patient, listened to our detailed requests and delivered the character that met all of our requirements. Adding to the pressure were our tight deadline and an additional video which was in production simultaneously. Despite all the hurdles, the team delivered quality products on time. 

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

Andrew and his team worked on two of our corporate videos recently. The quality of their work and their professionalism throughout the projects simply exceeded our expectations. From the beginning, they were very methodical in preparing outlines with us and guiding us to the right direction, while accommodating our style and requests as much as possible. We were in touch frequently and they kept us updated with the latest status and the schedule of each deliverable. They understood our requirements and explained how to best visualize and incorporate our vision into the videos.

We had two videos in progress simultaneously and the deadlines were very tight, but despite these requirements, we are very pleased with the final products. The videos are truly a unique work and not a copy of typical corporate videos. We are looking forward to working with them on future projects. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

Home Owner looking to sell my Property and needed a Video presentation.

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

Drone and Gimbal Video content and editing.

What were your goals for this project?

To make as best a video promotion showcasing my home.

How did you select Fog Coast Productions?

I saw another Real Estate demo that they did, and was incredibly impressed with it.

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

Shot the Drone footage and then the Gimbal footage, and Fog Coast had a completed demo after I selected some songs to go along with it. It was a very inclusive process with Fog Coast.

More details and full review: Recently I had the pleasure to use Fog Coast Productions Video Presentation for a recently renovated home I completed in Santa Cruz. I really can’t say enough about the team's commitment to excellence. They were extremely professional and exceeded every expectation I had in terms of quality and artistic presentation.

I was pleasantly surprised with the sheer number of video files they took with both the drone and gimbal shoots. Steve and Andrew explained their company philosophy about being better to have extra footage which may not be needed than to miss a good selling feature.

Another impressive interaction that stood out to me was their earnest desire to learn about what was important to me and my wishes for the intended audience after viewing the final reel. Well, these guys hit it out of the park in my opinion. Fog Coast Productions will certainly not disappoint you when it comes to their quality or commitment to professional excellence.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

2 Man team, very professional, and interviewed me to see what it was that I was looking to achieve.

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

After 2 days, I had a perfect video that I'm proud to showcase to my friends/family and potential buyers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very easy to communicate and get across what I was trying to achieve.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

That they knew about what would be the most artistic approach to creating the entire video in post production.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None

Please describe your company and your position there.

We're a global medical technology leader providing innovative cancer detection and therapy solutions. We work passionately to provide precise, powerful healthcare solutions expertly engineered to optimize operational efficiency, clinician confidence, and patient outcomes

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

Fog Coast was instrumental in helping us develop new video and animation content promoting the industry's first 3D AI deep learning breast cancer detection algorithm. Our goal was to develop testimonials and visual content that informed the viewer of the value of our company's ProFound AI technology.

What were your goals for this project?

To develop several video testimonials by early adopters; clinicians who were passionate about sharing their positive experience of using our company's ProFound AI during their reading of mammography studies.

The second goal was to generate educational animation visuals that could be used for tradeshows, videos, or presentations demonstrating enhanced cancer detection while reducing reading times and false positives.

How did you select Fog Coast Productions?

We evaluated several companies that offered similar services. We selected Fog Coast Productions for several reasons. Their ability to take our vision for what we were looking to accomplish and clearly articulate the steps, goals, timelines, and production costs that would result in a finalized product.

We also appreciated their strong organizational, and communication skills, as well as technical knowledge. Lastly, their flexibility to work with us, enabling us to pick and choose from a portfolio of services, those that best worked within our budget and timeline.

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

Fog Coast worked with us to define the process for interviewing several members of our team as well as KOLS. They flew, with equipment in hand, to one of our largest conferences where they captured interviews, booth activities, and other B-roll like content.

A second project required a trip to our main office where they interviewed members of our team and product demonstrations. Fog Coast worked with us during the editing process, providing us several revisions to help ensure the final product was exactly what we were looking to achieve.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided a two-person filming crew when on-site and one animator for post-production work. Each step of the way, our teams worked closely together, sharing ideas and recommendations.

The Fog Coast team was very accommodating and easy to work with, making those they interviewed feel comfortable during the process and after filming, provided us multiple rounds where we were able to fine-tune the final products.

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

The content Fog Coast Production generated has been used by our sales teams countless times over, helped substantially increase our web traffic, and is continues to be accessed via Social Media and Video platforms.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We enjoyed working with the Fog Coast team, they were professional throughout the process, flexible when it came to setting up meetings, and worked with us during the creative and post production process. We always felt confident that the final product would be a one we'd all be very proud of and looking back, I can say we exceeded expectations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The Fog Coast team, their understanding of the process, technology, best approach, and experience in helping ensure our success. They guided us as we moved forward, took the time to explain the benefits of considering one option over another, and shared their insights throughout the product development journey.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Our company didn't use a video conference tool at the time we worked with Fog Coast. I would add video conferencing to our meeting times, something that has become a standard post-COVID.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Penserra is an institutional financial services firm headquartered in Orinda, CA. I am the firm's director of marketing.

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

Penserra had a need to detail its business services and culture through video content. Having never done this before, and having no desire to do this ourselves, we interviewed over half-a-dozen video production companies before ultimately deciding to hire Fog Coast Production.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was simple. We wanted to tell Penserra's story through a series of short videos.

How did you select Fog Coast Productions?

Fog Coast's video portfolio as presented on their website initially caught our attention. I then followed that up with a phone call with Andrew at Fog Coast, who listened to what we wanted and then followed it up with a very detailed proposal.

After narrowing our search to three companies, we invited Andrew for an interview at our Orinda office. Andrew was professional and clearly knew what he was talking about. Our final decision to go with Fog Coast Productions was an easy one.

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

Andrew first helped us devise a script. Then he and his team came to our offices to set up production. The initial scenario called for a 90-minute interview with Penserra's CEO, followed by several rounds of editing. The entire process went off without a hitch, and the quality of the initial video was excellent.

Because of their fine work, we asked Andrew and his team to create a second video from the original 90-minute interview. They did, and once again delivered an excellent video.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The communication between me and Andrew was excellent. He responded quickly to every question and request.

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

Both videos will be prominently displayed on our website, and go a long way toward telling Penserra's story; exactly the reason why we hired Fog Coast Productions.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Because this was our first foray into video production, it was critical that expectations be manageable. Andrew was honest in what we could accomplish given our needs and budget, and he didn't make promises he couldn't deliver on. The timeline from the start of this project to the final deliverable far exceeded our expectations. Fog Coast does great work.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

1. Professionalism- Andrew knew what he was talking about.
2. Communication - Andrew asked all the right questions, and was prompt to respond to mine.
3. Quality - we are very satisfied with their deliverables.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Creative Producer & Project Manager for Mixpanel's Creative Marketing Team. Mixpanel, is the leader in product analytics, helping companies innovate faster and create better experiences for their customers.

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

Our team was launching a campaign for one of our newest features. We engaged the services of Fog Coast Productions to help us show potential customers how to use our features to drive results.

What were your goals for this project?

To increase Marketing Qualified Leads.

How did you select this vendor?

A former co-worker had used Fog Coast for a different kind of video on our website so that’s where we learned of the name. We then put Fog Coast in our list of 9 other production companies, many of which I have personally worked with at other companies. Our Creative Director and myself reached out and had numerous conversations with each of these companies. While there were many reputable companies on the list, the combination budget, turnaround time, and general good feeling we got from speaking with FogCoast, helped inform our decision.

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

The videos we created were a general overview of our product and how to "stack" features in order to get insights and answers to important questions.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Fully integrated Vimeo account that lets the client select a timecode and area of the video to provide feedback. The information is immediately shared with FogCoast and provides the most seamless and accurate method available.

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

We greatly surpassed our goals for this launch.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was key during these short-turnaround projects. We communicated by phone and via email. Emails were always returned in a timely manner. Their process for giving notes on the videos was also seamless. All I needed to do was click on the area of the video that needed adjustments and type in my notes.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication response time, accuracy, & creativity.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of at the moment! They were great to work with!

Please describe your company and your position there.

True to the mission Statement of Hillel SV, we create meaningful Jewish experiences for students at a time when they are making important decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.

Our staff create situations for Jewish students to interact socially, increasing the likelihood that they will meet Jewish life partners. We provide training and support for students to stand up against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism on campuses.

Additionally, we contribute to campus cultural life by presenting programs featuring Jewish/Israeli music, arts, holidays, customs and values. We are a multi-campus Hillel that actively supports Jewish student groups at five local campuses and welcome any college age students in Silicon Valley no matter which school they attend.

Submitted by: Sarita Bronstein, Executive Director and Mitch Reitman, Assistant Director

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

Pre-production, story-boarding, filming, adding background footage, post-production.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of the project was to create a micro-documentary to use in its fundraising activities, community and student engagement, and to build name recognition for Hillel of Silicon Valley.

We wanted a documentary that can be shown at Hillel SV’s primary fundraiser, L’Dor V’Dor in February, 2020, host on the organization’s website, and show at numerous presentations about Hillel SV throughout the year in order to:

1. Explain that Hillel of Silicon Valley (SV) serves the students at San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, Foothill College, De Anza College, and West Valley College, as well as any undergraduate or graduate student in Silicon Valley not served by another Hillel.

2. Illustrate Hillel SV’s mission and purpose.

3. Convey Hillel SV’s urgent responsibility as a Jewish educational institution within a small window of opportunity to help students navigate anti-Semitism and anti-Israel activity so they will want to live safely, proudly, and confidently as Jews and supporters of Israel.

4. Convey Hillel SV’s program approach in deepening student’s connection to Jewish life by providing meaningful experiences to learn about Judaism and Jewish life; increasing the number of students who engage in exploration and experiences that connect them to Israel; integrating students into the greater Jewish community.

5. Show how Hillel SV educates Jewish and non-Jewish students about the history of Israel and its place in the complex political landscape of the Middle East and how we help students to effectively respond and advocate on behalf of Israel.

6. Use the documentary to help us in the raising of additional funding to counter drops in foundation and Jewish Federation support.

While our audience is very supportive of Hillel SV as an organization and understands our mission and the types of programs we provide, it is becoming more and more difficult to get across the urgency of securing the future of the Jewish community, willingness of young Jewish to express their Jewish identity and support of Israel in these times of increased anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment.

The funding challenge becomes more of an issue every year because we are serving more students and programming costs are rising, but our income is not increasing in proportion to our expenses.

7. Provide a definitive message into the community about the pluralistic nature of Hillel of Silicon Valley. Religious people may think our programs are not religious or “Jewish” enough; Israelis may think that we are too religious. Some may perceive us as too Zionist in focus.

The fact is that Hillel SV creates many points of entry for students to explore their identity and connection with Israel. We are very diverse (Jewish affiliation, family background, Jewish experiences, multi-cultural, interfaith, Israeli).

How did you select this vendor?

We considered two companies. We had one referral. We reviewed similar types of videos.

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

The pre-production phase of this project consisted of concept development, scheduling shoot dates, formulating interview questions based on the mission, scheduling crew, location scouting.

Production (August through December 2019): The production for this project took place over a four-month span and consisted of capturing interviews of Jewish professionals, community leaders, and additional/alternative footage to accompany soundbites.

Post-Production (January-February 2020): The post-production on this project will begin after all the necessary footage is captured. Post-Production consists of logging footage, editing, color grading, stabilization, music, lower thirds, export, upload, delivery and archiving.

Delivery of micro-documentary (Rough cut January 15, 2020; final version February 1, 2020)

Show documentary at L’Dor V’Dor Fundraiser (February 9, 2020)

Show documentary at other fundraising opportunities (February through December 2020)

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Andrew at FCF was the primary producer. The team worked with us on several rounds of feedback.

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

Hillel of Silicon Valley had the great pleasure of working with Andrew Klein and his team at Fog Coast Productions. We needed a mini-documentary presentation about the work of our non-profit in order to make the case about the realities, opportunities, challenges that our organization faces in our work with college students.

From the very exploratory stages, Andrew was very reassuring that he can create a story board that conveys both facts and emotions. We needed something that demonstrated the many programs our organization offers while at the same time expressing how we must overcome challenges. We wanted a video that would not only help us communicate the important work we do, but also to help us in our fundraising efforts.

Andrew and his team came several times to film footage of activities. On many occasions we conveyed concern that we didn’t know how they were going to convey the challenges we wanted to show. Andrew continued to reassure us that he had a good handle on the story board.

Ahead of schedule, the first version of the video was completed. We were pleasantly surprised that the video had the right tone, conveyed the story balance we were seeking. We were given the opportunity to spend a day with Andrew to fine tune the message, and make any adjustments.

We found Andrew flexible, accommodating, and open. The video was previewed to our community at our annual fundraiser to rave reviews. Our donors and leadership said that they learned new things about our programs and challenges.

We believe the video is a terrific vehicle to meet our goals of increased visibility and fundraising. We are delighted to review Fog Coast Productions to any organization seeking to consider a similar project.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was handled very effectively via phone calls and emails.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team was patient, understanding, reassuring, efficient, and helpful throughout our work together.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Senior Manager at a gig economy company headquartered in San Francisco. Our company has about 80K contractors across the US and parts of Canada.

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

We hired Fog Coast Production to help us create a video that shares why people have joined our platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking to create an authentic video featuring real people sharing their experiences on the platform. A big goal of the project was to have people share their experiences with others who may be interested in joining the platform.

How did you select this vendor?

My team searched online for a video production company in the San Francisco area and identified 3 possibilities. We contacted each company and narrowed it down to Fog Coast after speaking with them on the phone and receiving their proposal. We selected Fog Coast based on their promptness, ability to give direct feedback and provide direction on best practices.

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

Once we selected Fog Coast Productions they started working with us to get to know our business and ultimate goals. We worked with them on casting, location scouting and concept development in order to ensure our final product was what we wanted. The end product is one 2 min video featuring 4 people shot across multiple locations.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided a three person filming crew for the on sight/ day of shooting. They were all professional, flexible and efficient at completing the shoot and managing various complexities that come from being on site. After filming we received multiple rough drafts that we provided feedback on. Fog Coast turned the edits around very quickly and we were able to within our timeline.

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

We have not posted the video yet, however the internal team loved the final product and we are looking forward to sharing on a broader scale.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow and process with the team was great. Their overall timeliness and ability to interpret our vision to reality was fantastic.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team has been amazing throughout the process. Fog Coast is responsive, able to provide input and feedback on what has worked or not worked in the past to keep us on track and have listened to our needs to ensure the final product was exactly what we wanted.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very satisfied with their work.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Human Resources Director for a full service, small city in the Bay Area.

For what projects/services did your company hire Fog Coast Productions?

We hired Fog Coast Productions to create a short video of the city, showcasing employees and why it's a great place to work.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to include all the employees who volunteered to be a part of the project, show some of the city, and create something fun that can be used as a recruitment tool to attract potential hires to the city.

How did you select this vendor?

We considered several companies before choosing this one.

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

We asked for volunteers to be a part of the video. We created a set of questions to interview current employees and showed Fog Coast Productions around the city so they could see some places they might like to shoot. We selected a couple of locations for shooting, and Fog Coast Productions obtained a permit to use a drone to shoot some aerial shots. We chose the music last.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We had several rounds of feedback, using a very simple online tool to provide feedback and suggested edits.

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

The project has just been finished and shared with employees, who all loved it! It has not been used for the intended purpose yet.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was quick and effective. They were responsive to our feedback.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The final product is fantastic! I couldn't be happier.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would have spent more time selecting music with the providers, to understand their vision and ours, but we have an amazing final product and I am very happy!

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Luma Therapeutics is a healthcare startup that specializes in home-based psoriasis treatments. As the senior director of marketing, I oversee the company’s physician and patient marketing.

What challenge were you trying to address with Fog Coast Productions?

We wanted to make a product demo video to accompany our latest product release.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fog Coast Productions was required to develop an animated video that demonstrated the functionality and convenience of our products. We also wanted the videos to highlight the differences between similar treatments that are on the market. They began by drafting visual storyboards, which were later converted into full animations. To complete the final edits, their team provided voiceovers and visual effects.

How did you come to work with Fog Coast Productions?

I was referred to them by a colleague who had experienced success with them in the past. During our initial meeting, we were instantly impressed by their thoroughness and eagerness to work at all hours to assist us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $10,000 for their video production services.

What is the status of this engagement?

They worked on the video from December 2018–January 2019.

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

Although it’s too early to measure the impact that the video has had on our business, we can verify that Fog Coast Productions has improved the way that we tell our story. The animation is featured on our corporate and patient websites, and we plan to show the video at the next industry conference. We have also added their work to our investor pitch deck and webinars for prospective patients.

How did Fog Coast Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

The project was highly successful because both of our teams were committed to creating the best product that we could make. Fog Coast Productions encouraged us to give feedback during every stage, which made the process remarkably smooth.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Fog Coast Productions delivered an amazing asset in a very short timeframe. We were also delighted by their customer-first approach to business; their dedication to the project was unwavering, despite our exhaustive list of requirements and strict deadlines.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We did not experience any issues while working with them.