Miller/Datri Entertainment

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP of Content Strategy & Operations for Growth Team at Forbes Media. Our goal is to produce inspirational, aspirational and educational content that reflects and supports entrepreneurs of all walks of life.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Miller/Datri Entertainment?

We hired Miller/Datri Entertainment to produce several original content series.

What were your goals for this project?

To produce high-quality content that would attract new viewers while also inspiring and educating our entrepreneurial audience

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After considering upwards of 10 other production companies, we unanimously selected Miller/Datri Entertainment, due to the strength of their proposed ideas, their creative approach to storytelling and their clear sense of true partnership.

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

The Miller/Datri team started by working with us to better understand our business and our goals for the content they would be producing. We then collaborated on potential talent for each of the series and details of the creative style and format. Once the format and shooting style was agreed to, The Miller/Datri Entertainment team handled all talent outreach, pre-production planning, scheduling and running shoots, post-production editing and revisions, through to delivery of the finished products.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We had one lead contact at Miller/Datri Entertainment, who we worked with throughout the duration of the project. He took a consultative approach to the project, which we very much appreciated, and would liaise with the production crews to ensure that each individual series stayed on track and adhered to the creative vision that we had agreed to. We were kept apprised of the status on a regular basis and were provided multiple rounds of feedback.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While I'm not able to share specific metrics, I can say that our entire team, as well as members of our larger organization, have been extremely impressed and proud of the content we produced in partnership with Miller/Datri Entertainment. We have seen very strong engagement with the content on social media and very positive feedback from our partners and stakeholders.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication between our team and Miller/Datri Entertainment was always very clear and transparent. We appreciated the consultative approach they took to our project and always felt they were a true partner and not just a vendor.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We have consistently been blown away by the Miller/Datri Entertainment team's creativity, lush storytelling and sense of true partnership. They have approached each project with strong vision, clear communication, thoughtful strategies and out of the box recommendations for cross-promotion. They have consistently gone above and beyond expectations to deliver an amazing product, across the board.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We have been very pleased! Some of the rights clearances took a bit longer than anyone expected, but they handled it with great diligence and transparent communication.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

WeatherBug is a 20 year old weather media company that reaches 14 million users a month. As SVP of Revenue I manage monetization, sales, partnerships, and growth for the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Miller/Datri Entertainment?

We hired MDE to produce a co-branded video with our partners, GORE-TEX.

What were your goals for this project?

They delivered brand-focused short videos that represented both our brands as integrated content.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were excellent teachers and allowed us to participate in a transparent process with the client.

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

We produced 3 short videos describing the role of the Great outdoors, GORE-TEX and WeatherBug in people's lives.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Very thorough. MDE held our hand and we were grateful for it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We delivered client approved and fantastic creative on deadline!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Incredibly close. They joined us for any meeting we needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They executed top tier production that delighted the brands for a fraction of the cost.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We can improve the copywriting feedback process so we don't make the MDE team do as much work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP and head of marketing for IRIS.TV, a video intelligence and programming platform for broadcasters and publishers. We’re a B2B SaaS provider offering machine learning and AI recommendations to inform the production of companies wanting to engage their customers with relevant content and data. I’m in charge of product marketing, sales enablement, media communications, and more on the marketing end.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Miller:Datri Entertainment?

When dealing with a complicated, elongated sales cycle, there are many constituents in various organizations that could be influential to sales. We needed to identify personas and create messaging relevant to those individuals. Video has been taking off lately, so we wanted a high-quality production showcasing clients discussing how our solution has helped them to use in our marketing efforts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In our initial discussions, we determined that we wanted three videos touching on the experiences of various clients and personas within their organizations. Their work started with an interview with me, so they could better understand the company and our marketing challenges. Then, they created a brief based on their interpretation of our conversation and shared it with me. I reviewed it and gave feedback before receiving an edited version less than 24 hours later. That version hit the bull’s eye, accurately reflecting my vision.

From there, they got together several senior-level executives to appear in the videos, alleviating me from having to coordinate the shoot. They were able to get everyone together on the same day for the shoot and make the on-camera clients feel completely at ease. It didn’t even require any scripting because the clients were comfortable sharing genuine thoughts in the environment they created.

In the post-production phase, they quickly turned a rough cut around. I didn’t have to make any substantive edits, expediting the process and giving us finished products to leverage right off the bat.

What is the team composition?

I worked mainly with Colby (CEO & Co-Founder, Miller:Datri Entertainment), discussing the scope of the work and project plans. Someone else on the team handled scheduling and logistics. On the day of the shoot, we had a director of photography, a lighting professional, and Colby was acting as a producer, guiding subjects through interviews and managing the onsite location. There may also have been a creative director involved on their end.

How did you come to work with Miller:Datri Entertainment?

Colby used to work at one of our client companies, so we connected tangentially years ago. He and his partner started this business about a year ago, so we approached them with our idea and started a conversation organically. 

How much have you invested with them?

The project started in September 2018, and we’re still planning potential future work with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve invested under $10,000 with them and plan on continuing our work together. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of brand equity, it’s great that we can connect our brand to the clients we’re working with. It makes our credentials and values clear to prospective clients. We’ve put the videos on our website, social media, and plan to use them for more robust content in the future. The assets themselves have the potential to be activated in a variety of ways. However, we’re not measuring views or shares because we just released the videos. That’s also not how we’re valuing success. Having a tangible product dictating our value will go a long way for our sales process. 

How did Miller:Datri Entertainment perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve invested a lot in prioritizing strategy and vision over merely trying to capture the logistics. In coordinating the shoot, they took a lot off my shoulders. Their team captured both the business and narrative objectives in their work, and I think that made them very strong. Some creative project managers will put style over substance, but Miller:Datri Entertainment was right with us the whole time. Their consistent email and phone updates were more than good enough for my satisfaction.

What did you find most impressive about them?

There’s a low barrier of entry for high-quality looking video, but a very high barrier for producers who are masters at storytelling. They’re true producers and storytellers, not just a collection of cameramen and editors. That’s a rare find. Their team provides great feedback because they understand my vision and know what my best intentions are, even when I can’t express it myself.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

From the start, be clear about your objectives. Their understanding of the project will be a great foundation for building the relationship. When working with any creative group, particularly very talented people, it’s important to be prepared and disciplined in your own work. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the co-founder / CEO of LUPEX which is a cryptocurrency exchange.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Miller/Datri Entertainment?

We hired Miller / Datri Entertainment to produce a promotional video for LUPEX.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to have MDE produce a video that would drive customers to LUPEX and also serve as a good explainer video for investors.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Came recommended by a business contact.

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

The video explained the ins and outs of our LUPEX offering in an engaging manner, both verbally and visually.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Miller Datri Entertainment's product management process was impressive. They accommodated all our requests and needs, and went above and beyond.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Upon completion of the project we saw demonstrable growth in traffic to LUPEX. We will be working with MDE again based on how successful this project was.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They accommodated all our requests and needs and went above and beyond.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to execute and deliver better results than expected.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can tell.