RaffertyWeiss Media

Please describe your organization.

The Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University is an academic research and teaching center dedicated to working on ethical issues, especially in bioethics.

What is your position?

I'm the director of the institute.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

The university decided we needed to move into what are called MOOCs – massive online open courses. Our institute was chosen as one of the academic units to give this concept a try.

We had a large team figuring out how to design an online course from the ground up that put the user experience at the center, something quite different from just putting a camera up in front of a traditional lecture. Along the way, we realized there were lots of areas that we needed input. Luckily, we found RaffertyWeiss, and they were fantastic.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

RaffertyWeiss consulted us on the look and feel of the videography that we would use for the MOOC. This was about what kind of vibe we wanted to have in our video presentation modules. They also designed the set, which was intentionally very sparse. They did basic training for all of our team, including the camera folks.

We had seven different faculty members participating, all of whom had to get used to teleprompters, lights, and makeup. They did the initial filming with Patrick Rafferty [managing partner at RaffertyWeiss Media] himself directing the first segments for each faculty member. He had great diplomatic skills to make a wide variety of professors feel comfortable in front of the camera.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

One of my team members found them on the Internet, just looking for websites whose designs we liked.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

We have spent somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000 working with RaffertyWeiss.

How did RaffertyWeiss perform from a project management standpoint?

RaffertyWeiss did great. They were super-professional, on time, and a pleasure to deal with. They could handle an ever-changing environment with real agility and patience.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

Patrick Rafferty is an incredibly personable and professional person.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

No. We had a wonderful time working with them.

Please describe your organization.

I work for a mortgage lending firm. We finance multifamily properties across the country.

What is your position?

I am the Vice President of Marketing & Communications.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

We were looking for assistance in design, creation, and implementation of various video vignettes and stories that could help us articulate our business message at our annual conference.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We were looking for them to do some scripting, general video production, and some casting. This year, we did some musical numbers and they found us some professional help to support us. This year, they helped us procure a third party graphic artist that we needed to produce some vignettes and other elements for our production. In the past, they've created comic commercials using existing photos and videos. They've helped us come up with ideas and design our program.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

They have done a lot of work with different parts of my company. We interviewed three or four different companies, and ultimately selected them because of their knowledge, full capabilities, and the personal touch.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The projects have been between $20,000 to just under $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our annual conference just finished up two weeks ago, so we're finishing up with RaffertyWeiss now. We worked with them on two different projects this year already, and so we'll be gearing up for our 2016 program in the next couple of months.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

The work that they produce is very high quality. The utilized a lot of our internal talent, and the feedback we got from them is that they've absolutely loved the way they were presented in the final outcome of the videos. The music videos they produced were all excellent. We get very high reviews from our customers because our annual meeting is a customer-oriented meeting, so these are external parties, and they get a chance to see the work in the final product. Everybody has been tremendously pleased.

How did RaffertyWeiss Media perform from a project management standpoint?

The things we look at most is that they deliver their product as requested, on time and on or under budget. Because RaffertyWeiss succeeded in that respect, I’d say they did a great job with project management.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

I would say the biggest thing for me in any of my business dealings is being able to deal with the owners and have people that have not only high professional skills and abilities but are also good honest people to work with. I've certainly found them to be absolutely that: creative, energetic, responsive, and just enjoyable to work with. That's important in any business.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

The biggest thing for all of us is managing overall timelines and expectations. Given that it's a creative process, you've also got to build in changes. I know even on my end of the partnership, we would ask for last minute changes that of course would necessitate changes to the overall schedule, but RaffertyWeiss were always very good about accommodating us.

Please describe your organization.

My company is Lucid Creative Partners LLC, a full-service branding, design, communications, and marketing agency.

What is your position?

I am one of the two principals.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

We've done a few projects with them over last 15 years. We go to them when our clients need video or animation work done. When we started looking we wanted a partner agency because we don't have in-house skills for creating video assets for clients.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

They write the script, interview people, set up for all the shoots, lighting, makeup, and locations. Additionally, they help with typography, give general feedback, color palettes, and fix small voice issues.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

My business partner initiated that relationship while working with American University on a fundraising campaign.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The projects are between $40,000 and $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

There are no current projects ongoing.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

For the American University, the Madeira School, and Digital Globe projects, people were brought to tears when they watched the videos. RaffertyWeiss is able to elicit the right emotional response with their videos, and for us, that's the only metric that we were looking for.

How did RaffertyWeiss Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a good job. They always come in on time and keep us apprised of any updates we need to know about.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

The founders of RaffertyWeiss, Patrick and Chris, have really good listening skills and a deeper connection with whatever we're trying to achieve. It is clear from the beginning that the team at RaffertyWeiss understands the goal and that they care, rather than just doing a job.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

No, I don't think so. I suppose there may be some video production firms that have a more traditional graphic designer on staff who might have a slightly higher level of sensitivity for those design-related aspects, like white space and typography. That would be a nice to have on.

Please describe your organization.

I work for The National Board for Certification and Occupational Therapy. In order to become an occupational therapist, you have to pass our test. After you pass your test, you're eligible to renew your certification every three years after that.

What is your position?

I am the Communications Director.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

Initially, when we reached out to them, we were looking to produce a video that marketed our study tools that we sell to help students prepare for the exam.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We wanted to create an animated video that showed a student using our study tools to prepare for their exam. They were extraordinarily helpful with us in developing the scenes for the script. Since this was all new to us, they walked us through the process and gave us guidance where we needed it. They took our script and created their own animations from it, and did a fabulous job with that. They gave us multiple voice overs to choose from.

We had a very short deadline when we first contacted them. I called them up, got a good feeling from the team at RaffertyWeiss, and decided to go with them. They delivered the video on time and did a great job with it. We were very happy with the final product.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

We knew that we had a short deadline for this video. I googled the area and found several different companies. Because of the detail that was given to me in terms of cost, time frame, how they could manage that time frame, RaffertyWeiss came out on top. Patrick [co-founder] was great, and I got a really good feeling from him.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

That project cost was $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We just finished a project a couple weeks ago. We've got a couple of conferences coming up that they've prepared videos for as well. As far as future plans go, when it comes to doing video, they're the first and only call I make.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Internal feedback has been tremendous. The second video we did was on our competency assessment program. That video has had a tremendous impact on state regulators who are working to accept the Navigator toward licensure renewal. Right now Navigator products are only used toward certification renewal. Each state has their own individual licensure, and people credited RaffertyWeiss' video to providing a greater understanding of how our Navigator program works. Their video helped us to win a huge award in competency assessment development.

How did RaffertyWeiss Media perform from a project management standpoint?

RaffertyWeiss has been great, just tremendous. They've never altered their deadlines at all. I never felt that they weren't in control of the project.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

They're very detail-oriented. We tell them what we want, and they deliver first time every time. They really do a great job.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

No, they did everything very well. I have no complaints.

Please describe your organization.

I work for a management consulting firm.

What is your position?

I am the vice president.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

We needed video production services.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They did the whole production. From beginning to end, they were involved and engaged everyone. They worked well with everyone and never acted as if they knew more than us. RaffertyWeiss was capable of scripting, shooting, and all the post-production work, which made us feel like we were in good hands.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

I knew them previously and had seen the work that they were able to do. I was confident that they would be able to meet my requirements.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It was about $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

All the projects are completed now.

How did RaffertyWeiss Media perform from a project management standpoint?

RaffertyWeiss did a great job with project management. All of the deadlines were met, and we were kept in the loop about everything.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

The thing about Patrick [one of the founders of RaffertyWeiss] is that he really cares about the work he is doing. He not only has the talent but the attention to detail and to the client necessary to make for a great experience.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

Not that I can think of – no. They did a wonderful job.

Please describe your organization.

I work for a non-profit.

What is your position?

I’m the Director of Diversity and Inclusion.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

We wanted to highlight the recipients of some of the awards we offer. We thought creating a video would be a great way to do that. We wanted to make sure that the provider we chose would understand the honoree completely and tell their story well.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

RaffertyWeiss was really there from start to finish. They developed the script all the way to delivering a final product that was seen on the screen. They went out to film the award recipients on-location and then edited, sweetened the audio, and delivered the end product.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

During the time that I was on our national conferences team, Patrick [one of RaffertyWeiss Media’s founders] was involved with my organization. I believe we met there. He had an existing relationship with the organization, so it made sense to continue working with them. He knew us so well that he was basically an extension of our staff. This made it much easier to be able to work with RaffertyWeiss since they understood the mission and culture of the organization.

What is the status of this engagement?

All the projects are completed.

How did RaffertyWeiss Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an outstanding job. They’re fantastic at brainstorming new ideas, troubleshooting when things just didn’t work the way we expected them to, and then getting the project completed on time.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

Patrick’s [one of the founders of RaffertyWeiss] ability to understand the mission of the organization and what needs to be done, while simultaneously personally investing himself, is what stuck out most to me.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

No, not at all. I wish I had more opportunities to work with them. I would certainly recommend them to anyone in need of video production services.

Please describe your organization.

I work for a digital communications and technology company.

What is your position?

My position is Vice President of Programs.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

We’ve worked with RaffertyWeiss on a number of projects. One of the first few were for recruiting and orientation videos for the Navy. We worked with them onsite at naval bases in Norfolk and Washington, D.C.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We worked with them on developing the scripts, client interface, strategies, and the storyboards. RaffertyWeiss did the production and post-production.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

I was referred to them a long time ago. We’ve had a longstanding relationship with them.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It was between $20,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The projects are all completed.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We’ve received anecdotal and client satisfaction feedback which has all been great. Additionally, we got a CPARS [Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System] rating, which is our official review from the client. This was outstanding as well.

How did RaffertyWeiss Media perform from a project management standpoint?

RaffertyWeiss performed very professionally. They’re easy to work with and very organized.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

Patrick and Chris, the founders of RaffertyWeiss, are so personable and easy to work with. We felt like we were their only client because of the way they treated us. The service is super personalized and the outcome very professional. When something didn't turn out as expected, RaffertyWeiss bent over backwards to accommodate. We’ve been so happy with them.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

I can’t think of anything.

Please describe your organization.

I work for the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health. We're a research organization, and my office disseminates the information resulting from the research.

What is your position?

I am the director of communications.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

We needed video production done for informational videos on tai chi and the science of yoga. We worked with RaffertyWeiss on a few videos.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They provided creative direction, production, and editing.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

They came to us through another contractor that we working with.

What is the status of this engagement?

All of the projects have been completed.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We got very good feedback in general. People thought that the videos were nicely done, and very professional.

How did RaffertyWeiss Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They're great to work with, nice people, and very responsive. Overall, RaffertyWeiss did well with project management.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

There have been a few times where we've asked RaffertyWeiss to help us on a very short turnaround. They've been able to make that work, which has been very helpful.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

I can't think of anything.

Please describe your organization.

I used to work for the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area from 2006 to 2009.

What is your position?

I was the Communications Director.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

We needed video production for a campaign film.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We hired them to create the campaign film, local DC campaign film, and the national campaign film. The purpose of the film was to build awareness to potential federal donors about the combined federal campaign and the good that it does for non-profits. They provided the treatment for the film, script, actual production, all the way through post-production.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

When I used to work at United Way of America, we hired both Chris and Patrick (RaffertyWeiss Founders), so I've been aware of them for over 20 years.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The campaign films were between $60,000 and $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

They are all completed.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Each year, for the 2006-2009 campaign, giving increased and with each increase, it created a record amount. Their work definitely helped the overall giving.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

Their ability to relate to not only to the client but the talent and crew was wonderful. RaffertyWeiss was with us the whole way and developed a partnership of understanding. Their people skills were outstanding.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

No, I've no complaints. They're fantastic to work with.

Please describe your organization.

I run the advertising practice of Weber Shandwick called Sawmill.

What is your position?

I’m the General Manager.

What business challenge were you trying to address with RaffertyWeiss Media?

One of the challenges we faced was that we wanted really high-quality video production. We had tight deadlines and a client who didn’t want to pay a lot of money, that being the federal government. We reached out to Patrick and Chris (co-founders of RaffertyWeiss). We had a triple bid, and because their bid was very competitive, and they were able to shoot locally so the clients could come, we chose them.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

They are a full-service production company. Patrick and Chris have the production capabilities to be the directors and do the entire production for a television shoot in terms of location scouting, working with talent agencies, editing, and music mixing. Their creative ability allowed us to tell the story we needed to tell.

We were also working for the DC Health Link, and that’s the one where we had literally no time or money for. We won the award in August, and for the first year, all the exchanges had to go live October 1st. We had less than two months to produce our television ads.

How did you come to work with RaffertyWeiss Media?

We met through a friend although we didn’t work together for about two years. We stayed in touch until the opportunity presented itself. It turned out they were great for one of our projects - the CMS [Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services] Medicare assignment. For the next project with DC Health Link, we produced three full television spots. They suggested that we delve deeper into the life of each person in the video. That creative personal investment into the project was something we really appreciated.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It was $150,000 to $500,000, with a couple projects that we worked on.

What is the status of this engagement?

We just completed a project with them for two spots about hepatitis C for the Centers for Disease Control. Both of them were really well-done.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We had successful open enrollments for Medicare, and the DC Health Link. I don’t have any results back from the CDC because we just shot them, except that the client was really happy.

How did RaffertyWeiss Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a great job. They’re calm under pressure and aren’t afraid to have frank conversations about any cost increase. They managed the projects really well. No client likes surprises, and they did their best to minimize them, which we realize sometimes happen on shoots. On the spots for the DC Health Link, they acted in a greater creative role. They were acting as de facto creative directors for those productions and did a wonderful job.

What distinguishes RaffertyWeiss Media from other providers?

I have worked for several big clients with RaffertyWeiss. RaffertyWeiss has the experience to handle big projects and is generally great to work with. They listen and understand the project which is crucial. They are creative, solutions-oriented, and clearly know their business. They're willing to have conversations about possible cost increases and whether you (the client) want to move forward. Their collaborative efforts made everything run smooth.

RaffertyWeiss Media’s creative contributions were enormous. It goes far beyond just their ability to produce a wonderful high-quality product; their creative input has made the end result that much better. They’re not aloof or petulant creative guys; they’re personable and great at what they do.

Is there anything RaffertyWeiss Media could have improved or done differently?

No, not anything that I can think of.