M-1 Studios

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the controller of North American operations for a global IT company that resells IT hardware. We’re located in 26 countries, providing IT services, resources, and solutions.

What challenge were you trying to address with M-1 Studio?

Our parent company in the UK was rebuilding their internal website as an employee recognition portal. They had five leaders from around the world tackle our five company values to put on the site, and I was assigned one of the values. M-1 Studio helped shoot the video for that value explanation.

What was the scope of their involvement? 

M-1 Studio filmed our value video with multiple cameras from multiple angles — all in HD and in 25 frames per second (FPS), of course. Once they delivered the video, we gave it to an external marketing firm to fit it into the employee recognition site.

What is the team composition? 

There were three individuals on site, including two videographers and the main editor. I also worked with two other individuals through email about pricing and scheduling.

How did you come to work with M-1 Studio?

My company had used them in the past for our marketing efforts and other videos, so they already had a good reputation within our company. That’s what made us choose them again.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $2,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project took place in July 2020, but my company has been working with them since 2017.

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

There were a couple of highlights for me while working with them. They were wonderful to work with and very patient. 

On the first day of the shoot, we were locked out of the filming site and had to stay in the rain for 45 minutes. Even though it wasn’t their fault, they comforted us that it wasn’t an issue and were understanding about the situation.

While filming, they were professional and brought a lot of creativity to it. I showed them a prior version of the video that we wanted them to redo, and they built off of it with their own ideas.

Finally, they delivered an end result that really achieved what we were going for well. When the video came out, there were some parts that I didn’t care for because I was judging myself on screen. I asked them to go back through and edit out some scenes, and they turned it around within a couple of hours. 

How did M-1 Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very accommodating with my schedule, especially considering that this was an urgent rush project. 

The team called me, in the beginning, to provide a personal quote, just to make sure we knew what we were going for and so that there weren’t any misunderstandings. They used this time to review some of the prior videos that we wanted to reference before delivering an easy-to-process quote.

During planning, M-1 Studio was quick to get us their vendor identification information so that we could get them set up in our system. They were just responsive and organized from A to Z.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Not only were they professional, but I also want to articulate how customer service-oriented they were. It was definitely important to them that we were happy with what they produced in the end.

I’m so passionate about that because I don’t make videos for a living, so this was very out of my comfort zone. M-1 Studios did a great job of explaining the process to me in simple terms to make sure we were on the same page, which helped.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was so pleased with everything from start to finish.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very detailed and communicate clearly on what you’re looking for in the beginning. That’s what we did, and it made for an easy process. Neither party was disappointed in terms of what I expected, and they were able to pick up on what their role needed to be to deliver the right end product. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of production and creative services at Belle Tire Distributors. Essentially, I’m responsible for the production of television, radio, digital content, social media, and other things of that nature.

What challenge were you trying to address with M-1 Studios?

The goal for the project was to get as high a production value as possible with the limited budget that we had to work with.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We shot a series of about ten instructional videos with M-1, ranging from 2–5 minutes. Each of the projects required casting, a film and sound crew, and needs to be executed relatively quickly. I knew from the beginning that I needed a team that was going to be able to maneuver to shoot in a tire store and work around guys doing their jobs.

One of the things we’re working on right now is a series of tire videos in which we provide a personal introduction and description of each tire from one of our employees, rather than making customers read product descriptions and decipher the specifications themselves. Those videos are then made available on our website through a link under each product.

Included in that process are the full production of the video, as well as graphic and title animation, editing and color correction in post, and anything else that we need before posting the videos.

What is the team composition?

The main folks that I work with are Matthew (Owner) and Mike (Vice-President).

How did you come to work with M-1 Studios?

I had originally reached out to a friend who had done freelance photography before, and he was busy but recommended I reach out to M-1. I had met with a few other production companies, but their team’s passion and ideas were clear from the start, so I decided to move forward from there.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2018 and our projects are ongoing.

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

Their people are extremely good at what they do. They have a great connection to the world of freelancers out there, and that allows them to deliver in a world where clients are continually wanting things faster and cheaper.

Their production planning and attention to detail are top-notch, and the questions they ask really demonstrate that they’re invested in the outcome of the project, not just finishing a job and getting paid. I’ve developed a lot of trust in them over the years, to the point where I know I don’t have to worry about being at the whole shoot or selecting every detail myself, because they will pick those things up and deliver no matter what.

How did M-1 Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve been really satisfied with their communication. Mike is the main communicator on their team, and whether that takes place over email, text, or phone conversations, we’re pretty much in lockstep from the moment we kick off any given project. We haven’t had any issues with deadlines, and even when we’ve run into snags or issues, they’ve done a great job of reacting and coming up with solutions on the fly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to provide a good production aesthetic on a low budget really exceeds that of almost any other company out there.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everyone has some room to improve. I suppose there could be a little more follow up on things sometimes. I know it’s very easy for things to occasionally slip through the cracks, but we could all probably do a better job of being a little bit more proactive.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as clear as you can about what your expectations are from the start.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the curriculum development manager of a swim school. We have 108 swim schools in the US and Canada. The age group we work with is children between the ages of 3–4 months all the way to 12 years of age.

What challenge were you trying to address with M-1 Studios?

We hired them to create swim lesson quality videos we use internally for training purposes.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created roughly 40 videos in the first run. The videos range from three minutes to ten or fifteen minutes. They were designed specifically to help teachers in our system learn how to instruct every single level we teach.

We also approach things skill-by-skill so the videos break down different kinds of mistakes, what to avoid, how to perform correct swim techniques, and things of that nature. They came into our office with all the technology and equipment they needed.

What is the team composition?

They have internal staff, and I believe they work with contractors as well. However, we mainly worked with three people. Matthew (President & Producer) runs the show in terms of mission, goals, and objectives. Mike (VP & Producer) handled the day-to-day facilitation of the videos and communication. Stephanie (Senior Editor & Videographer) does our editing.

How did you come to work with M-1 Studios?

We had worked with several vendors in the past and were looking for something different this time in efforts to go down a new avenue. Our team wanted to find a partner who had extensive experience in training videos specifically. They also needed to have the right technology and equipment.

We found M-1 Studios through a coworker or online research. Our team considered and interviewed three different companies. We had two or three meetings and they seemed best suited to help us with the capabilities we wanted.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in August 2019. The project has ended, but we’re looking to do more with them in the future.

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

They’ve been phenomenal to work with and delivered the product we hoped to create. Working with M-1 Studios was a completely different process, in a positive way, than we’ve experienced with other agencies. Their process is very streamlined, and they’re very professional. They were exceptional in terms of what they provided with underwater camera work, lighting, and things of that nature.

How did M-1 Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They remained on top of every deadline and their communication was excellent. Their team was proactive about relaying any issues with deadlines. They never overcommitted to something they couldn’t deliver on. They’ve even helped us during this pandemic time with some additional videos.

We had a weekly phone call and also communicated through emails. There was a schedule in place that relayed where we were in filming. We handled the editing through Wipster. It was a huge game-changer for us and made the editing process very seamless. They’d reply within 24 hours of us leaving a comment.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were professional in terms of communication, process, and product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. We learned collaboratively together.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have your goals, objectives, schedule, budget, and expectations outlined ahead of time because it’ll make the process run smoother. What’s more, be sure to know your business so you can give details about what you want to shoot. M-1 Studios can be experts in anything if you can communicate your vision to them.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP/Marketing for a $1B Michigan credit union. Community Financial Credit Union is a not-for-profit, full-service financial institution headquartered in Plymouth, MI, with 13 branches in southeast and northern Michigan. We are committed to the financial well-being of our members and our communities.

For what projects/services did your company hire M-1 Studios?

M-1 has assisted us with several video production projects. They have created short educational videos for our website, a recruiting video and most recently pre-roll videos for our digital channels.

What were your goals for this project?

Create videos that reflect Community Financial's brand. We were looking for assets that would help educate our members and help create awareness of the products/services that the credit union offers our communities.

How did you select this vendor?

A search of local video production companies. We interviewed 4 companies and choose M-1. We felt their style and portfolio matched what we were looking for.

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

Once selected, we worked with M-1 to create scripts, storyboard and videos. For our recruiting video, the M-1 team came out to our Plymouth location to film location video and team member interviews.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

M-1 used Whipster to provide updates and solicit feedback and/or changes.

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

We continue to see click thru and completion rates that are higher than expected. Comments from members are positive as well.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

M-1 is a great team to work with. They are responsive and are great with their follow up.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our most recent project was updating our pre-roll videos to showcase our commitment to our communities & members, and to promote our loan offerings. In the middle of the project, COVID happened.

We had to create new videos without the ability to get updated photos/video in our branches. We also needed to update the messaging to reflect banking in these current times. M-1 took my very general idea and created the perfect videos for us. It took a few more revisions, but the team was responsive and did a great job taking a vague idea and making it real.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are very satisfied with the work M-1 does for us!

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the marketing manager at a small start up

For what projects/services did your company hire M-1 Studios?

We hired M-1 Studios for video work in our shop, and then to edit three final videos together for promotional uses. We then also took the footage after to make it into our own clips as well.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have three promotional videos created, as well as an arsenal of photo and videos to add to our asset library.

How did you select this vendor?

I interviewed four different vendors and I connected well with the chief videographer for our shoots. He was able to listen to what I wanted, and help craft the final versions of the scripts/edits. They were also on par for pricing.

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

When we selected this partner, they came to our headquarters for a tour and an overview of what I wanted to accomplish. We went back and forth a few times on what the videos would be about, and I was admittedly pretty demanding on how I wanted the videos to turn out. They then came and did a two-day shoot, showed me some footage on the spot, and then took the next couple weeks to start editing together some final videos.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They used frame.io to provide updates to each video. We also chatted through the edits quite a bit via telephone and in person.

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

A few of the clips we captured were so successful, they have garnered over 2 million views on various streaming platforms with little to no dollars spent on promoting the clips. The best outcome of this project was the quality of the footage M-1 was able to capture for us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I think the workflow went really well. I appreciated the open channel of communication we had throughout the entirety of the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to creatively figure out how to capture the quality footage. Our industry is very hard to capture a video that tells a good story. These guys knew the camera to come equipped with and the end result was great.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We ended up with a great product. There were a few areas I wish they took more lead on with the scripting of the videos. But I admit I had a pretty clear vision in mind as well.

I was hoping to give a vision, and have some creativity based on the vision, but it wasn't working as much as I would have hoped that way. That being said, we were able to work together and make some awesome products and I really enjoyed the team I worked with at M-1.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an automotive supplier that produces pedals and dashboards in our four manufacturing facilities. I’m the president of the organization.

What challenge were you trying to address with M-1 Studios?

We wanted to give our customers the opportunity to visit our facilities without physically making the trip. Oftentimes, our customers can’t travel to see our operations, so we were looking to produce a video tour of each of our technical processes to improve the marketing of our company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were looking to get our name better known in the industry and show our customers a series of video clips that give insight into our processes across the organization. The scope of work involved defining all of our processes and selecting the ones we would highlight in each of our locations. From there, we developed summaries of each facility for an overview video for each of our locations. After we selected the 10 processes we were intending to film, we scheduled days for production. From there, they produced each video.  

What is the team composition?

We worked with three key people, including Eric (Director of Development), Matthew (Owner & Producer), and another teammate. 

How did you come to work with M-1 Studios?

We found them online through a Google search and found them to be a good fit for us after viewing their past work and customer portfolio. They were also a smaller, more responsive organization, which we liked as well.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $30,000, which we found competitive.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the project between February–July 2019.

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

While we don’t track metrics, we’ve received very positive feedback both internally and from customers on the quality of the videos. By putting cameras inside of some of our equipment, our company was able to see things about our process that we don’t normally get to observe. 

The customers have really appreciated the videos and how they can locate footage for each of our individual processes.  

How did M-1 Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They facilitate a very collaborative editing process. We ended up with a final product that we enjoyed without a ton of back-and-forth. They were flexible when we had to delay the project as well, always meeting deadlines. We ended up with more content than we bargained for.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re not trained in marketing or video production. They were able to take general concepts and produce excellent content with that minimal input. We didn’t have the time to get super involved, and they were able to handle that. This wasn’t time-consuming on our end at all, which was key for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. Pricing, content, and responsiveness were highlights.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Matthew built a great team. Work with them.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Community Engagement for a midsize, economic mobility nonprofit in Detroit, MI.

For what projects/services did your company hire M-1 Studios?

For our annual fundraising gala, we asked them to produce several video components- one a longer video to set the stage for our fundraising ask for the evening, several others shot on location featuring our honorees and clients.

What were your goals for this project?

For attendees to feel a connection to our work; to bring the mission alive and to motivate them to support it with a compelling, succinct message.

How did you select this vendor?

I have worked with M-1 previously at other organizations. There is no one else in this market I would want to work with.

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

I usually provide an overall vision or idea and M-1 works with their clients to fill in the details, holding your hand as much or as little as you like. They make the entire process seamless and easy.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Each of their staff are responsive and communicative.

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

We raised a record amount at our event- exceeding the prior year's record by 49%.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was great- they meet or exceed every deadline.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They way they get to know their clients and what makes their work special. Then they spin it back around and present it to the intended audience in meaningful ways.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the development director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, where we create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

For what projects/services did your company hire M-1 Studios?

We hired M-1 Studios to create a video for our signature fundraising event, as well as a shorter version of the video to be used for ongoing promotions.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goal was to encourage the guests at our event to understand exactly what our organization does and to feel compelled to donate more so that we can further serve the youth in our community. Secondly, we wanted to have a video that we could use throughout the year at various events and put on the website as well as all our social media channels.

How did you select this vendor?

I had worked with M-1 Studios at a previous nonprofit and they were my first, and honestly, my only choice to work with. The fact that they have an in-house studio and can also film on location made it very easy for us when scheduling our interviews.

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

Our CEO AND I met M-1 Studios first to brainstorm and come up with a general direction for the video. Then, we worked on our end to recruit some members to be in the video and coordinate all of the schedules. M-1 Studios went above and beyond in making sure that all of the participants were scheduled and prepared for the questions they would be asked on camera. Prior to filming, M-1 Studios, also worked with us to make sure they had access to our brand guidelines and photos.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

M-1 Studios gave us a timeline for the filming, editing, and final production. Each step of the process was communicated to us via email or phone, and sometimes in person. We never felt out of the loop or left wondering what step they were working on. When we suggested changes or edits, they were received professionally and handled in a timely manner.

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

Our revenue goal the night of the event was exceeded. Besides money being raised, we’ve had a number of people become mentors based off of the video. We’ve also gotten countless compliments of the video and have used it in another small campaign that helped us raised over $9,000. The people featured in the video continue to share it today and are so proud of their involvement.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was amazing. M-1 Studios’ work is always great, timely, and done in a friendly but professional manner. I love working with them, especially when I need to hit a scheduled date, as I know they will meet every deadline.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their creativity is impressive. We come to them thinking that we had it all figured out and they come back to us with a few tweaks and ideas. We were blown away. They fully understand how to create great videos but shine at making said videos truly impactful. They do extra research to find the right music, lighting, and pictures to make it better. I love working with M-1 Studios.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. I’m always satisfied with M-1 Studios and would recommend them to anyone looking for video production.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We provide a welcoming space where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities & expressions, and cultures can find support and unconditional acceptance, and where they can learn, grow, socialize and feel safe! I've worked in Development at the Center for the past three years.

For what projects/services did your company hire M-1 Studios?

Each year, M-1 Studios partners with us to produce a video about the work that our Center does for the LGBTQ+ Community of Metro Detroit. This year they completed a 30th Anniversary Video to mark the occasion for our organization.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals for the project was to create a video piece that encapsulates what we've done for the LGBTQ+ Community of Metro Detroit during the past 30 Years and why it's so important to continue to have a safe space like the Center.

How did you select this vendor?

We selected this vendor by scoping out Video Production companies in the local area of Ferndale and M-1 Studios were generous enough to help us with this project.

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

The team from M-1 sat down and had an initial meeting about how we wanted the 30th Anniversary Video to look. We chatted about potential times that they could come film at the Center with guests who would make powerful statements. They also utilized footage that had been shot throughout the years to be edited into the video. In addition, they shot some extra B-Roll to assure that the shots that were used reflected the updated space.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided a crew and after the filming of the individual interviews was complete, they sent over the film electronically so that we could make appropriate edits where needed.

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

We now have a very powerful video that is shown during our Volunteer Trainings, Diversity and Inclusion Trainings with various companies throughout the Metro Detroit area and has been posted on our Social Media channels. This video was also shown at our Spring Bash 2019 Gala Celebration back in March, where it helped to show attendees exactly why they bought tickets to the event and what their contributions were going towards.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective. The entire M-1 Team is always very friendly and extremely easy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

M-1 Studios truly dedicates themselves to creating wonderful pieces of work. We are eternally grateful for their commitment of helping Non-Profit Organizations in the Metro Detroit area!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing should have been done differently. M-1 did an outstanding job.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Associate Executive Director for the March of Dimes. March of Dimes is a Non-Profit dedicated to fighting for the health of all moms and babies.

For what projects/services did your company hire M-1 Studios?

M-1 Studios has helped us by creating multiple videos which highlight impacted families, medical honorees and others for us to use during our events to help explain the mission of the March of Dimes and to truly bring our mission to life.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to use the creative pieces to increase fundraising for March of Dimes at our events.

How did you select this vendor?

I had been researching local video production companies with great reviews on google that I could potentially partner with on this project. We needed someone who worked with organizations similar to ours so that we knew they would understand the level of passion we needed to come through.

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

Ambassador families are families who have been through the birth of a premature baby. These families are met with, interviewed, video of the kids and parents are taken if able and their stories are shared in great detail. It can be very emotional and taxing on the parents to relive all of these memories so the person conducting the interview needs to be very patient, kind and understanding.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

M-1 was in touch all the time, letting me know where we were in their editing line and when I could expect my first cut - then following up to make sure we were satisfied with the results.

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

The stories told through the videos by M-1 have increased funding at our events and have brought the families some closure and support.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team is incredibly attentive and responsive. Once I share the stories and get the times set for filming they have taken over and owned the project. I have loved the final products and any feedback I have given has been very well received and changes made.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The kindness and compassion that all employees I have worked with have shown to myself and all of our volunteers we have put them in contact with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None, this is a top-notch company.