Lambda Films

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the media and public affairs manager for a nonprofit organization.

What challenge were you trying to address with Lambda Films?

We had two key events in 2021 and needed two videos to illustrate them.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lambda Films produced two animated videos for our company. They did the animation, along with the video editing and audio mixing. Once the videos were complete, we put them on our website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube. We also live-streamed the videos through the World Health Organization. 

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Lambda Films’ creative director. 

How did you come to work with Lambda Films?

We went through the pitch process with several firms, but Lambda Films actually reached out to us. I had an initial conversation with Lambda Films to get to know them and their offered services. Their team then came back with visual references and a comprehensive pitch, so we hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $40,000 on this project with Lambda Films. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership with Lambda Films was from February–November 2021.

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

We’ve had great feedback from our stakeholders at all levels. Another organization that saw the videos even reached out to ask for more details about the video. Overall, we’re really impressed with the quality of the videos and the positive feedback we’ve received. 

How did Lambda Films perform from a project management standpoint?

Lambda Films stayed within budget and kept a good schedule; they stuck to the timelines we discussed. We had Zoom meetings at the beginning of engagement but then communicated via email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with all the elements of our engagement with Lambda Films. Their visuals were distinctive and told the stories we wanted to tell in a compelling and easy-to-understand way. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing for Lambda Films to improve; I’m pleased with the work they did.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d advise customers to have a clear brief that includes their project goals and visual references.  

Please describe your company and your position there.

Smile International is a Christian International Development organisation operating in Africa, Asia and Europe and we are passionate about helping to relieve suffering and poverty around the world through our Feeding, Educating, Empowering and Developing programmes.

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

We wanted short promotional videos for some of our projects, the main one being for our new Face Mask Project which we started in the countries where we work, to help protect against COVID-19. We also wanted a video explaining the history of Smile International and how the organisation started.

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

They very kindly contacted us and asked if they could help us in any way and after doing some research, which we were very impressed by, we said yes. 

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

The project steps started off with emails, then some video calls, then a site visit to our office, then editing, checking footage, then we were quickly impressed with the final edit and signed it off. It was exactly what we wanted. 

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

Ryan (Creative Director), David (Director of Photography) and James (Carer assistant) who were all very professional, kind, courteous, hard-working, focussed and devoted.

We were extremely impressed with how professional they all were at all times, even in difficult circumstances – extreme heat for a long time with hardly any breaks.

Their genuine desire to help us was evident and we really appreciated their expert input. The dynamics between them all as a team was great to see too.

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

We have used this film to promote our organisation and have received an increase in funds and awareness, which is exactly what we had hoped for being an NGO. 

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

Very proficient in all areas, they kept us updated at all times and they are very easy to work with. They are very understanding and have a good idea of what we wanted to convey and their input in how we best communicate that was hugely appreciated. 

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

We were most impressed by how caring and dedicated they were to making something that suited our needs as an organisation. They were really conscious that they had a good understanding about us before they arrived and continued with that same passion throughout the whole process.

We were very impressed with how professional they were with exceptional attention to detail. They weren’t demanding in any way and were very easy to work with.

We were extremely pleased that they had done their research, made the necessary preparations and brought with them beneficial equipment to make sure the scene for our interviews had a good back drop.  This really just showed us that they had gone above and beyond and even how precise and careful they were with setting up the shot, we knew we were off to a good start.

It was so encouraging and rewarding to see how passionate and dedicated they were in their work, from the smallest little element right through to the larger scale things, it was a privilege to see them work and be involved in working together with them.

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

No, nothing. We would definitely use them again.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a program administrator at Lancaster University.

What challenge were you trying to address with Lambda Films?

Our university has a six-year research grant, and we wanted to produce a short, animated film that explains what the grant does in a way that’s easy to understand.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Lambda Films to produce a one-minute explainer video about our research grant for our service users and potential clients and funders. They wrote the script, created the animations, and provided us with clips from 14 different voiceover artists for us to choose from.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Alex (Commercial Director), Millie (Animator), and Ryan (Creative Director), who was our project manager.

How did you come to work with Lambda Films?

Lambda Films was actually on our university’s preferred list of suppliers. We ultimately chose them to work on this project because of their collaborative approach.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around £10,000 (Approximately $14,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project from December 2020–June 2021.

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

We showed the video to our local teams, and they were very happy with it. The whole video was completely animated, and Lambda Films did a really fantastic job of explaining a complex concept involving big data in an easy-to-understand way through their animations.

How did Lambda Films perform from a project management standpoint?

Lambda Films performed exceptionally well in terms of project management — they checked in with us on a regular basis to make sure that the project was moving forward as planned. 

Although the project did go a bit longer than expected because of some issues on our side, Lambda Films remained flexible, accommodating of scope changes, and excellent at keeping us on top of our deadlines.

We primarily communicated through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The best thing about Lambda Films was their people. We asked to meet with the members of their team at different points of the project to discuss particular ideas, and they were always accessible, personable, helpful, and easy to work with.

I also appreciated how they gave us a lot of opportunities to provide input, which was really important to our academics. They encouraged us to provide feedback and make changes to the different aspects of the video.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you know what you want and that you have a clear plan of what you want to accomplish before you approach them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a communications officer for a local government organization in Norwich, UK.

What challenge were you trying to address with Lambda Films?

We needed to deliver a short film to guide the nighttime economy businesses (bars, restaurants, and pubs) in terms of COVID-19 safety measures currently in place in England. This would help people enjoy Christmas parties safely.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We went through the creative process with Lambda Films, and they did all the creative design, writing, filming, casting, editing, and delivery. There was a last-minute casting change, and Lambda’s team helped us out quickly. The location of the shoot was a local pub, which they sourced for us. We handled the rollout of the final film on our channels and social media such as YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people in total, I believe. Initially, we spoke to the commercial director of the company, and then we were handed over to other creative leads very smoothly.

We spoke directly to the creative director and the editor, which helped with the process and made things quicker by removing the need to go through lots of different people.

How did you come to work with Lambda Films?

We put together a very short brief and sent it out to 3–4 different companies — local and national — that we had worked with previously. We knew about Lambda through word of mouth and personal experience, working with them before on a partner basis. They are a local company as well, which we were very keen on using.

We asked for quotes and a creative brief back as to how these potential partners saw the film being produced. We got two response and chose to go with Lambda based on their meeting of our budget.

How much have you invested in them?

Our budget was £5,000 GBP (approximately $7,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We selected them on November 17th, 2021, and they delivered the video a month later in December 2021.

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

I think the video accomplished what we hoped it would. Through our own fault rather than Lambda’s, we didn’t give ourselves lots of time to use it, but it was our top tweet in December from our channel, which is really good. It received good engagement and was shared with local businesses, as well as our business improvement district organizations, who then shared it on their own channels. As COVID-19 is so fast-moving, we could only use it for a week before Christmas, but it did its job, and we were very happy with it. The National Health Service organizations we work with also shared it.

How did Lambda Films perform from a project management standpoint?

They were absolutely fantastic; I can’t fault them at all. The project was very well organized, and they managed our ambitious timescale superbly. We always knew who we were talking to.

Lambda’s team was very professional as well as personable. We communicated through emails and telephone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think their creativity and management stand out the most. We gave them a broad brief, and what they came up with was incredible in terms of creativity. The management in terms of the ambitious timescale was equally good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. Everything was positive.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We had an initial telephone conversation to get ideas out between ourselves, and then we communicated by email. I think the initial telephone conversation worked really well, but they do that with most of their clients. I found it to be particularly helpful to know people’s faces and names right at the beginning of the project as well.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the engagement and development coordinator at Antenatal Results and Choices, a small, UK-based charity supporting expectant and bereaving parents. I work on the helpline speaking to parents and train healthcare professionals to deliver difficult news to expectant parents. I also work with researchers trying to improve research in this area of care. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Lambda Films?

We hired Lambda Films to complete projects to help visualize the work we did with a research group. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lambda Films completed two animation projects for us. For both of these projects, we provided Lambda Films with specific imagery because our antenatal care area is very complicated. Once we provided the framework, Lambda Films worked with my team to develop a script and storyboard for the animation. Their team handled all of the designing and voiceover recordings. 

The first project grew from a collaboration we did with a large research project based out of big teaching hospitals in London and a few in the Netherlands and Sweden. Lambda Films produced an animated video that showcased our organization’s research, which we hadn't highlighted before. They added that animation to our website. 

The second video animation Lambda Films produced highlighted the support we provide as an organization. It is a two-minute video introducing our work featured on the front page of our website. 
 

What is the team composition?

There were four teammates from Lambda Films on our initial call, including Alex (Commercial Director). After the first call, we worked closely with Ryan (Creative Director), Millie (Lead Animator), and another animator. 

How did you come to work with Lambda Films?

We sent out a brief to several different animation companies for the first project we wanted to do. Lambda Films’ suggestion was more refined than the other organizations — we got a lot of clear visual direction relating to how the animation would look. Their team took the time to put together a short film for us, which came across as very professional. 

Lambda Films’ presented a comprehensive proposal and had a better understanding of the sensitivities around our industry because they’d done healthcare animations before. Even though Lambda Films had the most expensive proposal, it was the best. So, we decided to hire them. 

How much have you invested with them?

The research project paid for the first animation we did with Lambda Films, but the cost was around £10,000 (approximately $14,000 USD). The second animation cost £12,000 (approximately $16,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership with Lambda Films was from March–December 2021. 

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

Since both projects were informational videos, we don’t have specific metrics. However, we did get overwhelmingly positive feedback from a workshop with our partners from the first project. The second video has just gone up on our website, so it is still too early to try and measure the impact it’s had on our organization. 

As an organization, we feel that both videos really capture important parts of our work beautifully, carefully, and sensitively. The videos turned out so well we’re now using stills from both videos on our social media accounts. Our partnership with Lambda Films was a great success. 

How did Lambda Films perform from a project management standpoint?

Lambda Films had great project management. We always felt very supported, and there was always someone from Lambda Films to contact if we needed anything. They were quick to respond via email and communicated staffing changes as needed. We met all the deadlines we needed to. 

Their team was very accommodating on the first project considering we had to get feedback from multiple sources, which took more time than expected. Everything was done on time on the second project; we collaborated closely to get exactly what we wanted. 

We used Google Drive and Google Sheets to share each piece of the project, including the script and storyboards. We also had Zoom meetings to discuss the project. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Lambda Films went into great detail to ensure our projects were scientifically accurate while still being sensitive. Ryan and the entire Lambda Films team were very accommodating during the entire partnership — the project management was very smooth. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I sat in on the voiceover recording session during the first project and significant technical issues arose. It’s not necessarily a critique of Lambda Films. Still, they would benefit from checking that the equipment being used to do voiceovers works properly before involving a client in the process. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d advise potential clients to spend a lot of time on the project with Lambda Films; it’s essential to be as clear as possible with directives because Lambda Films are not experts in a client’s industry. Clients also shouldn’t be afraid to provide feedback or ask questions. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of AromaStick, a Switzerland-based manufacturer of aromatherapy nasal inhalers. We’ve designed a patented inhaler filled with essential oils and marketed it as an inhaler product for everyday use. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Lambda Films?

We did a lot of research for our product, including 12 peer-reviewed scientific papers. We wanted to have various explainer videos for our product. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lambda produced a consumer animation video for our website and two videos explaining the research behind our product and how it works. We started by meeting in person, and we explained to them the project, our goals, and our vision. They suggested a mix of animation and live-action interviews for the project.

Lambda then sent us their product ideas and script. After we approved, they handled all aspects of production, including animation, sound editing, and final editing. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Ryan (Creative Director) and their whole video and animation team of 5–6 teammates. 

How did you come to work with Lambda Films?

We looked around on Google and Fiverr to find a suitable partner. We had a list of 3–4 production companies in the UK that we found interesting. We looked at their websites, and Lambda’s work spoke to us. The quality of their work was extremely high — we liked their animation style, which matched our packaging.  

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around £10,000–£12,000 (approximately $13,500–$16,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from July 2018–April 2020.  

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

We uploaded Lambda’s work on our website and YouTube account, and we also sent it to our distribution partners around the world. In fact, the videos had been translated into 10 different languages. All the feedback we heard had been extremely positive. 

Lambda was on the ball and had clever ideas. They produced top-quality work which we are happy to use and share.

How did Lambda Films perform from a project management standpoint?

Lambda’s project management was brilliant. They communicated clearly every step of the way, and we didn’t encounter any delays. We spoke through emails and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were impressed with Lambda’s extremely high-quality work. In addition, we became friends with their team, and we felt really comfortable working with them. They knew what they were talking about and placed a strong emphasis on the quality of their work. Their team was highly competent. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. It was our first time working with a video production company, and we were happy with how things turned out.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a strong idea of what you want and how you want to present it. Lambda will have their ideas, and they’re able to develop something good from your ideas. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

Chelmsford College is a small to medium sized general Further Education College which attracts students from across Essex, including Braintree in the north and Basildon and Brentwood in the south of the county. We serve the learning needs of mid-Essex and the wider community.

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

We wanted to create a high quality, visually excellent television advert, suitable for advertising on Sky TV, on our website and for use in our social media campaigns.

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

We were impressed by Lambda Film's portfolio, approach and creativity. Alex and team were easy to talk with about our ideas and very accommodating with our timeframe.

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

We discussed our aspirations and potential ideas, culminating in a strong brief. Lambda Films presented a number of options which they felt would hit the mark and once in agreement we arranged the location, actors, props and equipment required. We scheduled a date for filming. The production crew was highly efficient and knew what they needed to capture and produce our TV advertisement.

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

We worked with Alex originally and then the Production Team. We were able to discuss every detail at every stage and were asked for our feedback throughout the process.

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

We received positive feedback on our Showcase film from our stakeholders and received a record number of visitors to our Open Evenings that year.

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

Great communication style and project management, friendly and approachable but helped keep us on track.

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

Chelmsford College commissioned Lambda Films to create a TV advert to promote College Open Evenings. From the outset Alex and his team offered up highly creative ideas to convey the spirit of our College and the range of our subjects beautifully. The film had impact; appealed to our youth audience and increased attendance at our events. Lambda Films were a pleasure to work with, communicated brilliantly throughout and delivered to high standards. Their professional expertise, planning, production and delivery shines through.

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

There really isn't anything we feel Lambda Films could have done differently.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Renew Medical is a medical device company specialising in bowel management products, I'm the Product Development Director.

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

We have a range of products that all needed animated guides to be created to support the written materials supplied with the products. We aim to create user-friendly, easy to use products and wanted that approach to be reflected in the animations.

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

I'd worked with Lambda previously in one of my other companies. I had always been impressed with the quality of their process and deliverables.

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

We had initial briefing to describe the function of our products to ensure they understood exactly how they worked. We then prepared a simple voiceover script which they used to prepare a number of samples for us to choose from. They understood that the type of voiceover artist was really important as it reflects the brand.

Following this we started working with them in conjunction with an illustrator to define the visual style of the images. This was then rolled into several drafts of the various animations before the final version was created and the voice-over added. This process has been followed for several products.

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

I worked with Ryan and Alex on these projects. The communication was excellent with most of the feedback and review done remotely.

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

It's difficult to show direct results as these are used as part of the overall product offering. But healthcare professionals always compliment us on the quality and clarity of our materials.

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

Projects were managed in a very professional manner but communications were very relaxed and meetings always enjoyable. We used video calls and telephone calls as well as emails to communicate, they also made use of and online system for viewing and commenting directly into the timeline of the video, this was very useful in explaining where any changes needed to be made. All projects have been delivered on schedule.

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

They were genuinely engaged in the projects which involved subject matter which is very intimate to the users. I always enjoyed the style of the way they work, professional but relaxed, they are also local to us which can be very useful.

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

We were very happy with everything about the project, I just wish we had more projects for them!

Please describe your company and your position there.

Marketing Manager for Morgan Sindall Construction

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

We were delivering a high profile construction project which had a thrilling story that underpinned its purpose - we hired Lambda to help amplify that via a film

How did you select Lambda Films and what were the deciding factors?

I'd worked with Lambda before, and knew their ability to story tell in the right way would fit this project perfectly.

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

It started with a discovery session in person back in 2019 in the Lambda offices, where I was able to be very specific to the whole team about how we wanted to tell the story. After that, we had meetings to develop storyboards, narrative, poetry, voice over auditions, and then different passes at the edits, along with a phased filming and production plan schedule.

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

I mainly worked with Ryan who led the whole project, but also with the film editor James as well. Both, as usual, were outstanding.

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

The film is amazing and we are genuinely so happy. We also had other contributing stakeholders financially so it was important all parties were included and happy. We are yet to launch the film, but the feedback from our contributing partners has been excellent!

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

Excellent, they were often the ones to be chasing me! We almost wholly communicated via phone and email and everything was in a timely manner.

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

Their unshakeable confidence to get the job done, despite huge barriers with COVID and program was impressive. They know how to tell a great story and the quality of the filming is second to none.

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

None. The process has been the best, and most enjoyable, I've been involved in, in my career so far.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm Global Design manager responsible for photo and video production with main focus on marketing assets.

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

Lambda films supported production of the brand video where main goal was to highlight our clients who we are and specifics of our product.

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

One of the main reason why we decide to use Lambda ware their impresive portfolio with amazing examples of their previous work. As well as, how good they understood our needs.

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

We started with kick-of meeting where we aligned on the vision and goal. Based on that Lambda shared estimated time frame and "to do" list that we and they will follow in order to deliver project on time and within budget. This has been followed by the storyboard, modoboard, proposition of the location, talents and another allegiant call. Once all the key stakeholder from our side approved the proposal they go they go ahead with booking.

Although, pre-production stage was challenging due to the amount of the stakeholders Lambda done amazing job by bringing everyone on one page. During the production, we had a chance to be present on the set. All crew ware very friendly and respectful. All 3 days of the filming went accordingly to plan despite last moment changes from our side. During post-production, we changed the concept of the video slightly and again Lambda have been very understanding and followed our suggestions.

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

During the pre-production and production staged we worked really closely with Commercial Director and Creative Director. During post production we have been linked with their amazing video editor to shorten the communication time. Whole communication during project was really smooth, team was really responsive and respectful to any feedback.

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

Lambda done great job delivering project on time and within estimated budget. Also, they done amazing job during the localisation proces where they supported translations, voice over and footage sourcing for the English version of the video.

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

Lambda crew was very flexible in terms of communication methods and they adjusted it to get best and quicker results. As a example I can say that they choose zoom call to talk about the brief, expectation and idea shaping stage to help stakeholders freely expressed goal of the project. All contracts, agreements has been send vie emails to make that we got trace of it. During review process they used Vimeo tool that allowed us to leave comments directly on the draft that again speeded up the process.

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

The whole crew's professionalism, flexibility, and quality of work were impeccable.

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

Do not see any, and I will definitely come back to the team with next project