LEFT

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

HAMAC has developed an innovative cloth diaper for babies. It’s ecological, economical, and healthy. Our customers are young parents who want to protect the environment and their babies’ health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Left Productions?

We have an innovative product that is difficult to explain. It's challenging to clarify the difference between our diapers and the nappies their grandmothers bought. Ours are less complicated, don’t require hand-washing, and address serious problems.

We wanted make the content fun for customers while increasing our brand awareness. Our main problem was that parents had a negative image of cloth diapers. We realized that making a video would help. That’s when Left Productions contacted us with an idea for a funny promotional song and video.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Left Productions created a live-action video in 2015, and two more in 2017. All three videos feature the same actress singing about our products. We gave them a set of important ideas to mention in the video. For instance, we wanted to talk about the environment and explain that our diapers contain no chemicals. They submitted a script based on our ideas.

They focused on making videos that went viral and created a buzz on social networks. Before production, Left Productions thought about making people click on and share our video.

We posted it on Facebook and YouTube, and we calculated a return on investment for the video in 2015, together with Left Productions. We wanted to see how many new customers were following the video on Facebook.

We worked with a marketing agency to put the video on Facebook and YouTube, so I can't say how good Left Productions is at that. They do offer this service now, since they know how to turn a video viral and calculate its impact and ROI.

What is the team composition?

We had three main contacts, and around 10 people worked on the video.

How did you come to work with Left Productions?

We were based in the same building. They knew we made diapers and found it funny. Left Productions approached us with a script and a song, which we loved.

How much have you invested with them?

They gave us a special price in 2015 because they were testing a new video style. For the rest, we paid $15,000 per video. We would have paid a bit more than $20,000 if we made two at the same time. The price depends on the number of actors used, and our videos are short.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Left Productions in 2015. We made two other videos in 2017, but couldn't launch them until March 2018. We’re still in contact with Left Productions about the results of those videos.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their first video was viewed two million times. The second and third ones were launched a few months ago, and each have a million views. They contributed to our brand awareness on social networks, but it’s difficult to quantify their impact on sales.

We have multiple concurrent communication efforts, so it’s hard to say where sales originate. Many people know us through our videos, since they’re quite specific and hard to forget. The number of views can turn a little company like ours into a success.

How did Left Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They completed everything on time, the price remained the same, and we didn’t have any bad surprises. That's why we decided to work with Left Productions again. They’re organized and conscientious.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their creativity. They had strange and funny ideas, and they did things differently than other agencies.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Work with them if you want to make something that stands out from the competition. Left Productions is expensive for more conventional work, but their best quality is their creativity. If you want to communicate about a specific subject, and you think Left Productions can add value, then try them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I do product marketing for a mobile marketing platform. We drive growth and brand awareness for mobile marketers by targeting new and existing users. We also have a monetization platform for publishers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Left Productions?

We were preparing for a large industry conference and needed to create a video that would showcase all our products. We also wanted a sizzle reel that encompassed who we are as a company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They produced a long video that was split into different product vignettes. We provided client video creatives and other content and they included some motion graphics and a little animation. They provided input and guidance with storyboarding and scriptwriting and we all contributed equally to the project.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Blase (Head of Business Development US, Left Productions). We had one or two other team members join our calls, but Blase was always our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Left Productions?

An internal team member referred them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from January­–March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I got great reviews from the conference. People liked the video and felt it had a good flow. It was long but not repetitive. Overall, it was a great production.

How did Left Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was one of their biggest strengths. They were willing to work on weekends and completed requests quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They definitely gave unique input into the overall design of the video. They were supportive and provided quick turnaround times. They were always willing to join a call or complete a task when we needed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This was my first exploration into video production and they were very helpful with storyboarding. We could have established a clearer internal timeline before we engaged them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an integration platform as a service vendor. We help our customers connect all the applications in their companies to boost their enterprise and achieve digital transformation. I am the product marketing manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Left Productions?

We wanted to create new educational videos to help elevate our brand. We wanted compelling videos with animation, music, the full works.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with them on four or five videos within a wide range. They helped create our company overview video that shows what we do and how we help our customers. They wrote the script, suggested visuals, and came up with animations.

They joined us at a conference we host to record keynote sessions, breakout sessions, and customer/partner videos. They also produced customer testimonial videos. We all flew to each customers’ sites for a full day of recording and interviewing. They would then edit the video and create a B-roll from the most essential dialog.

What is the team composition?

We have a team of about four or five people. There is a primary contact that we engage with on a daily basis, two people who work as the film crew, and another person to do the lights and any voice work.

How did you come to work with Left Productions?

They reached out to our head of content. I looked over their work and we opened a line of communication. We were working with another vendor at the time but Left Productions offered a higher level of service and a better price. They responded quickly and I liked their work. They gave me the confidence to partner with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $35,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2017. The first project finished in December, but several other projects ran into 2018. We’re still working together on various projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the videos they produced is the most watched video we’ve released within the past two years. Their concise, to-the-point style appeals to our audience.

How did Left Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

We have one key point of contact for various projects. They keep us informed about updates and new videos and provide constant feedback. With their level of project management, I can be as involved or as removed as I want.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of service is great and they’re very responsive. As a B2B startup, their cost effectiveness is very important to us, as is the high level and quality of their customer service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at this time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be upfront about your expectations. Projects run smoother and you won’t have to reengineer videos after they’re produced. Be sensitive of your vendors’ time, work, and efforts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We provide business email communication and collaboration tools. I head up marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Left Productions?

We asked Left Productions to produce a 90-second, live-action video for us. At the time, our company was two years old, and we really needed a simple way to communicate what we do for our website visitors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Because we were on a lower budget, we produced the script and Left Productions helped edit it, came up with a storyline, and provided actors and music. They gave us options to choose from, and then they went into production.

What is the team dynamic?

We interfaced with the main account person. I don’t know how many people were on the team, but I’d say it was three to five people.

How did you come to work with Left Productions?

Our founder knew their founder very well. We still had to get to know the team and get accustomed to working with them on a level with mutual knowledge and respect for each other’s businesses.

How much have you invested with them?

The amount we spent is unheard of in my experience.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started and completed the project in June 2016. We’ve engaged them again just recently to create an extension of this original video. We’re discussing some additional formats beyond video that they can produce for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Prior to this video, we didn’t have a live-action summary of how our product worked, which is critical for our business. We placed this video on our main home page and did a lot of A/B testing. We definitely saw a double-digit increase in conversion, with home page visitors going on to try our product.

How did Left Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very organized and efficient. Building trust is important to them, and they know what they need to do to keep the project moving forward. I appreciate the directness and transparency that they provide in their services in and their communication. They communicated deadlines and expectations very clearly. That’s an ideal relationship when you’re working with an outside firm.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What our team appreciated was that they were very effective in meeting our deadlines. Our timeline was three to four weeks from start to finish. They finished in three.

We really liked the fact that they were very direct. Often agencies and production companies tend to hold back, and that can waste a lot of cycles trying to get to the point. We built a trusting relationship from the beginning that allowed them to tell us what challenges and changes they were seeing. They were also flexible when we wanted to make changes and were really receptive to our feedback as well. We didn’t feel like we were wasting time trying to communicate with each other.

I’ve worked with many video production agencies in the past. Left Productions is extremely efficient— which is what I appreciate the most. The quality of the work for the price we pay is great. I would highly recommend them for live-action video.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They have great foresight into what challenges companies may run into in video production. They proactively help companies think through the entire project, including the underlying reason for producing the video, before they start production. I think that’s part of their success.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was working at Mobilize, which is a platform for community managers to manage their communities. I was tasked with the role of managing our community managers. That role extended to other marketing requirements as well, including social media and video production, which is how I ended up working with Left.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Left Productions?

Mobilize is a new company; it had only been around for a year at the point when I contract Left. We were struggling to increase conversions on our website homepage. People would get to the homepage and look around, but they didn't go deep into the site. As a result, were wanted to create a video to welcome people onto the site and to explain what Mobilize was in a succinct way. The video was one part of our multi-tiered strategy to accomplish that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted the video to be personable and real, so we went with a live action actor. We had a set, actors, a script, and scenarios. We had some animation in the live action video, but that wasn't the focus. One of the awesome things about Left is that they have animators, so you can make a video really great.

When we told Left that we wanted an explainer video, they sent me a question and answer deck. I answered a lot of questions about what I was looking for in about an hour and a half. They used that to handle everything else, including the storyboarding and the scripting.

We had a couple of back-and-forths with some elements, but they took full control after that.

The team filmed remotely. While they were filming in France, they were sending me updates and allowing me to make choices about settings and shirts that models would wear. That allowed me to be part of production even though I was so far away.

After Left compiled the footage, they gave me a first-cut. That was 3–5 days after shooting. I was really impressed with the tight turnaround they had. I reviewed the first-cut with my team and then sent them feedback. We then had a second cut, which really only had stand-ins for the animations they would do on the film.

How did you come to work with Left Productions?

Our CEO was really excited about doing this video. She was looking at a client that had previously worked with Left. She asked them who had produced their video, and we were referred that way. They put us in contact with Left directly, so it was great. It was good to see another successful company we knew using this company.

How much have you invested with them?

The video cost $17,500. That included a different version of the video so that we could test it on social media and website to see which version worked best.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work lasted from April to May of this year. We had a very aggressive time period. We had less than 30 days to get the video made. It was a three-week process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The company still has the video up on their homepage, even though they just did a full website redesign. It's probably still performing extremely, otherwise they would they would have removed it.

Internally, the team emphasized how much we needed the video. It is now included in every single e-mail that we send to potential clients or to customers. We also received feedback from other CEOs that it was really helpful in explaining what Mobilize does. In general, it has been shared several times to help explain Mobilize to a new customer, and it is extremely effective. We got what we wanted out of the video, which was a video that explains what Mobilize did in less than 1 minute. We totally nailed it. Left is awesome.

How did Left Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They were super awesome. They were very responsive. Their team was in France, and I was in San Francisco. Because of that, you would think the time difference could be a problem for effective communication. In the end, it wasn't a problem at all. I actually felt like we were communicating more than some people who live in the city.

They were just extremely effective at pointing out what could and could not be done. They also backed up their facts. They had a lot of expertise, so I trusted them to know what would be best and what would work. The process was extremely easy, and I would work with them again in a heartbeat. It was awesome.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to quality in a tight timeline was extraordinary. It is a quality video with great actors, and it met all our requirements. Looking at it, you would think it would have taken much longer than it did.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, no. Their only problem is that more people don't know about them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an incubator that manages startup companies. We brainstorm concepts and then launch one of our ideas. The project that we were working on when we when we teamed up with Left Productions was String Box. String Box is a door-to-door, on-demand racket restringing service for people who play string sports. We've developed a service that will make restringing more convenient for people by providing them with door-to-door delivery.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Left Productions?

We needed a way of clearly and quickly communicating what we offered. We didn't just want a textual "how it works" on our website. Instead, we needed something visual that would be gripping and engaging. That's why we enlisted Left Production to create an explainer video for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a really good idea of what we wanted to say in the script when we began, but Left Productions provided their recommendations for it as well. We dictated to them what the script should say, and we provided them with a detailed outlined. They then worked it into the video. We had to cut some things to make it all fit, but we provided the language and explanation for the service.

Left Productions enlisted their own voice actor for the video's voiceover. They also added sound effects to the video.

The team gave us a variety of different animation styles and allowed us to pick one that we that we liked the most. We gave them our feedback on that, and they proceeded from there.

How did you come to work with Left Productions

I discovered them through a mutual contact. They had done a video for a tool that we use. I came across their video and found out that it was made by Left Productions, and that company provided very glowing review. I reached out to the Left based on their referral.

How much have you invested with them?

It was a few thousand dollars.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work lasted from December to January of this past year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't used the video as a marketing tool or an advertisement, so we don't have metrics. However, we do have a lot of feedback from people who have found it to be a very helpful introduction to what we offer.

We've had some in-person interaction with people at events with sponsored booths. We use the video in those situations to bring new people up to speed on what we do and why we do it. Everybody found that is a very helpful tool in clearly and quickly communicating to new customers what we're all about.

Overall, we have found it very beneficial to have the video. We feature very prominently on the on the homepage of our website, and it's been very useful in our dialogue with potential customers.

How did Left Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great all the way through. They were responsive and willing to make changes when we had something that we needed to tweak. They got it done very quickly, and we were very pleased with the quality of it. It does exactly what we needed it to do.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have the resources to give you everything that you need in a video. They can make it look good and sound good. From what I've seen, they've put the best foot forward, and they represent their clients really well. That's what everyone looks for when they hire a company like Left - a way to communicate their message. Whether they're doing explanatory videos or advertising, Left is very, very good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't have any issues. Everybody always wants things cheaper right, and I'd love to be able to get videos produced at a lower cost. I'm just not sure that that's something that they would be able to do. You get what you pay for, and we were happy to pay what they charged us. I don't have any comments for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the VP of sales and marketing for MedicAnimal. We sell pet products including food, accessories, and all other segments related to pets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Left Productions?

We needed to create videos as part of our campaign for brand-building and acquisition. Our company was present in a few markets, and the YouTube video was aimed for 3 of them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Left Productions worked on our video, and also designed some creatives for our brand-building campaign, for our website and emails, all deriving from the video or with a few variations.

The objective of the video was both brand-building and acquisition of new customers. We have a large customer database, but wanted the brand to be more well-known. Left Productions was in charge of the full setup of the video, from the idea, tagline, brand motto, and actual production. The video was part of a campaign which lasted for one year.

Left Productions also helped us create some internal videos explaining how our loyalty program worked.

What is the team dynamic?

At the beginning of our collaboration, they came up with the idea for the video. Augustin de Belloy, their CEO, talked to us about how the company started, what we do, what we want to achieve, and where we want to go. He came up with a few ideas for a brief as well as how to brand the campaign in terms of strategy. He also helped us with YouTube placements, referring another company who managed our ads on the site.

How did you come to work with Left Productions?

A colleague of mine knew someone who’d worked with them in France.

How much have you invested with them?

I don’t remember the exact cost, but it was reasonable, relative to the work done by Left Productions and the help they provided. The whole campaign cost between $50,000 and $200,000, including the YouTube video.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Left Productions in March 2016, and finished the project in April. We came to them with a tight deadline, but they moved quickly, and were very reactive in getting the strategy in place, determining what our business was about, shooting the video, and making creatives.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, the video was useful. In terms of brand awareness, everyone came to know about our company, especially with the creatives on YouTube. We also saw more organic traffic, and had a very good cost/benefit ratio.

How did Left Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was reactive and helpful. Left Productions managed the delivery of the campaign in quite a short time. Anytime we had a question or issue, they were quick to respond and happy to help. I was happy with them in terms of cost, project mapping, and management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by their energy. Before working with Left Productions, we had talked with a couple of companies, and they were either very creative, but didn’t have a precise notion of how e-commerce worked, or the creative side wasn’t very impressive. The good thing about Left Productions is that they have both sides. They know what’s important in e-commerce, how to adapt creatives to several channels, and to create formats which are efficient in the online commerce space. They also have a lot of energy and are a young team. The ideas Left Productions briefed us on were creative and amazing—they quickly understood what our brand was about, who our customers were, where we wanted to go, and how we could achieve that. This combination was unique to their company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything significant. I was happy with Left Productions’ work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of productions of MESDAMES Productions

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mesdames Production is a TV production company that produces fiction, non-fictional and media campaigns.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire LEFT to accomplish?

• production
• post-production

SOLUTION

How did you find LEFT?

Referral

Why did you select LEFT over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from LEFT were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

LEFT is a key partner for Mesdames Productions. We've been working together for 3 years on several projects : 

• web-series RESOTUTO (20x6') 
• multi campaigns for non-profit Pink Ribbon association, including video and audio post-production. 

Those works include motion design, video and audio-editing, sound-design, post-production...

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our customer's happiness, for every projects LEFT has worked on.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Communication with LEFT teams is smooth. Planning are respected. Works are delivered on time.

What was your primary form of communication with LEFT?

In-Person Meeting

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

They have a great way to communicate. A great team with young and competent people. Reliability. Reactivity.

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

LEFT is a great partner, we are hoping to go on making great projects together.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Freelance Brand Manager of Warner Music France

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Music production / Publidhing / Tour

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire LEFT to accomplish?

• Music videoclip production

SOLUTION

How did you find LEFT?

By a friend

Why did you select LEFT over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Best artistic proposal

How many teammates from LEFT were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Left found the best director possible for this music video. They gathered all the best skills and talent to deliver the video within a very short period.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

I needed a music video for one the main french actresses' new single, a star famous worldwide, who's very careful when it comes to image and video shooting. LEFT found a really talented director, whose proposal immediately influenced everyone. We've had a unique and massive media coverage when we've launched this video.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Left made the most interesting artistic proposal. We needed the video to be delivered in a very short timeframe. Every step of the production and postproduction process was just perfect. They made the impossible possible, without compromising quality.

What was your primary form of communication with LEFT?

In-Person Meeting

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

The human experience is incredible with Left. They're always doing their best to help you reach your goals. I share their values, and I particularly value their involvement. They make your project theirs. Teamwork is unique.

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

I loved every step of this collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

microqlima is a french music label, producer of bands such as L'Impératrice, Isaac Delusion, Pépite and Fils Cara. I'm production manager in the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Left Productions?

For a videoclip for the band L'Impératrice called "peur des filles".

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to make it big and have the greatest image for our artist for a track that came out in January 2021.

SOLUTION

How did you select Left Productions?

We proposed them the project and they were up for it with a great idea.

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

Once we chose to work with Left and Aube Perrie, the director, we made a few meetings with he band in order to pre-produce the video.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Phone and emails

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a lot of press reviews and festivals are starting to get great interest for the videoclip!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Really good!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communication, professionalism, and level on set were amazing.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No