Reel Big Media

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Caeli Vascular, an early-stage company that develops technology and medical devices for treating intravascular blood clots.

What challenge were you trying to address with Reel Big Media?

Our company was trying to raise $5 million dollars for the continued development of our business. As such, we needed a high-quality animation to feature in our pitch deck, which we would then use to raise venture capital for our A-round of investments.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided Reel Big Media with a rough storyboard, but they supplemented that as well since they have experience in the space that we’re working in. We required a 90-second animation, but the final video came to about 127 seconds. 

Reel Big Media added in a voiceover as well as textual components, specifically the labels for the medical device that was being shown in the video. They submitted two final versions of the video to us, one with a professional soundtrack and the other without.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Ron (Owner & CEO) who acted as our project manager and project coordinator. He had an animator working with him, and this person had a background in animating devices similar to ours. 

How did you come to work with Reel Big Media?

I did a bit of networking within the industry to find people who were working on a similar project with medical device animators. I used to work with another provider, and it was with great success, but they had priced themselves out of the market for early-stage businesses like ours. I needed a new high-quality, capital-efficient, and cost-effective team to help me with this, and Reel Big Media was exactly that.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost was around $10,000–$12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them from August–November 2021.

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

We were able to raise $3.5 million of the $5 million that we need for the rollout of our medical devices. We’re well ahead of our curve in terms of raising capital, and Reel Big Media really aided us in that effort. The animation they created was critical in helping finance professionals understand our product and how it works. 

I also received a lot of favorable commentary from existing investors, prospective investors, and physicians regarding the quality of the animation. According to them, it’s aesthetically pleasing and an effective communication piece. 

How did Reel Big Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great at meeting deadlines and keeping us up to date. We arranged to communicate every other week to review the project’s progress, and everything was done as planned. I never doubted that we would achieve the end result on time and on budget. Their designation of an animator who had relevant experience in our space, particularly with intravascular medical devices, was part of what made the project so successful.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What really stood out to me was their responsiveness, their willingness to take feedback, and the overall cost-effective nature of the work that was done. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything that they need to improve. Their processes were efficient, timely, and ultimately successful. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a team that really wants to make their customer happy by meeting expectations and delivering on the agreed timelines. If you think about what your specific deliverables are and communicate that with the Reel Big Media team, I believe you’ll get a good outcome as well.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Strategic Biofuels is a project development company utilizing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in conjunction with conversion of forestry waste to produce carbon negative renewable transportation fuels.

For what projects/services did your company hire Reel Big Media, and what were your goals?

We hired Reel Big Media to create a video that explain how managed forestry in Louisiana generates the waste our company will use for fuel production and how the waste produces greenhouse gases if it is not used.

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

I interviewed several vendors and their work products. I was impressed both by the videos that Bog Reel Media created and the ease of communication with their owner.

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

The video integrated aerial video shot by Reel Big Media, stock footage, and video shot by our company. Reel Big Media provided a simple template to use to describe in sequence the shots to be used, the intent of the shots, and the script matching the shots. We selected the voice talent from auditions with our script. They provided a draft video where we could add comments at specific times.

We went through one iteration on the video footage and script. I involved a PR firm we had hired into the process and Reel Big Media worked seamlessly with them. Reel Big Media added background music we selected and they added call-outs from the script to the video.

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

I worked directly with Ron. He was exceptionally easy to work with. He made recommendations and easily incorporated my comments and edits into the material. It was done quickly and effectively.

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

We showed off the video to investors and project stakeholders. We have received many comments on the excellence of the video both in terms of the quality, clarity, and effectiveness of the message.

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

Big Reel Media discussed the project with me by phone with follow-ups by email. Once we agreed to price and timeline they kept me aware of progress and their needs for information primarily through email. Where needed they called me. When I made changes that were not in the scope of the project they were clear about the impact on time and cost and ensured my approval before proceeding. Their communication was outstanding.

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

I had never produced a video before. They were patient in walking me through the process and provided guidance when needed. They provided a very effective tool that was invaluable in coordinating the shots and script. The tool for commenting on the draft video was extremely easy to use. The quality of the product was impressive.

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

I cannot think of areas for improvement for them. They were outstanding across the board.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of sales operations at a small company that provides different types of temporary housing solutions that are furnished.

What challenge were you trying to address with Reel Big Media?

We needed someone to help us with video production.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Reel Big Media produced a brand video for us. First, we had a couple of meetings where we talked about what we were looking for. We had already worked with another marketing agency on our plan and vision, which the Reel Big Media team used as a guide.

They then conducted a one-day video shoot. The production crew first interviewed three of our teammates and then took some B-rolls in our office. Reel Big Media basically walked around and filmed various associates doing their day-to-day tasks. Finally, they captured some drone footage. The team also took some staged photos.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two teammates: a cinematographer and a secondary camera operator.

How did you come to work with Reel Big Media?

I found them through a Google search of agencies in the area. Additionally, I used a tool that notified vendors of our project. I interviewed 3–4 teams, but Reel Big Media was the most responsive and helpful, and it made me feel confident in them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $5,500. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from August–September 2021.

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

We don’t have any metrics yet because the video isn’t live, but the project was successful.

How did Reel Big Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was excellent. Reel Big Media was organized and managed the day of the shoot well, so I had no complaints. We communicated primarily through email, but we also had two in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Reel Big Media is a solid team that got the job done. They’re transparent and easy to work with. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We asked them to modify specific details like camera angles, but it was just a minor issue at the end of the day.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you’re looking for and make sure that you’re ready to go.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Vest Technical Solutions. We provide IT services such as hardware application and development.

What challenge were you trying to address with Reel Big Media?

We had done a lot of work for nonprofit organizations. We wanted to make a video that captured what we did with them so that we could attract more clients.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Reel Big Media was responsible for producing a live-action video. We provided them with a script and discussed our ideas for the video. After we came up with a very good idea, they gave us a price and started shooting it. We’d never done something like this, but their team was very nice throughout the process.

They shot the video on-site. They filmed interviews and the inside of the facilities. They also used a drone to get footage of the outside of the building. Then they edited the video, and we reviewed it and made some changes until it was exactly as we wanted it.

Currently, they’re working on different cuts of the video for other advertising purposes.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Ron (President and CEO).

How did you come to work with Reel Big Media?

I sent a request on Bark.com. They were one of the only companies that called us back.

How much have you invested with them?

The whole video production took place in November 2020.

What is the status of this engagement?

We spent $2,500.

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

The video perfectly portrayed our values and the work we do with nonprofits. It helped us get our message across. We pushed the video on social media, and several people liked it. At this point, it’s our biggest social drive.

We didn’t have any complaints — working with them was a great experience. They were very professional and laid back, which made them very easy to work with. Additionally, the quality of their work was exactly what we wanted and for a reasonable price.

How did Reel Big Media perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via email and had video conferences on Microsoft Teams.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very easy to work with and knew exactly what to do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Any delays were mostly on our side. They did everything we asked for — we had very good luck.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Follow their directions because they know what they’re doing. When it comes to the actual shooting, trust them to do the right thing. You can, of course, offer feedback and input, but you’ll be happy if you follow their directions.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re in the construction materials business, and we produce concrete and deliver it in trucks. We also have construction crews and we do a lot of asphalt paving on the highways. Moreover, we also have asphalt manufacturing facilities where we produce asphalt. I’m the general manager for the asphalt and construction division of the company. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Reel Big Media?

We hired them to create some media content for us.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team comes to our sites such as quarries and asphalt plants to take lots of pictures and videos. They also visit our high-profile projects. They utilize drone technology and other similar technologies to put together recruitment videos for us.

Sometimes they also capture testimonials and project highlights for our customer base. Moreover, they also craft internal communication videos for our existing employees in the company. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Ron (Owner), and he’s my lead person. He’s also supported by other folks. 

How did you come to work with Reel Big Media?

He was referred to us by a friend of a friend. At that time, we were trying to locate a company that could help us with our needs. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent just under $45,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began collaborating in June 2019, and it’s ongoing. The engagement has been on and off, but we always come back to them when we need something. 

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

We don’t have any hard KPIs, but we’ve managed to hire 15 people as a result of the video they created. Moreover, we’ve received a lot of good press internally and externally with our customer base. 

The team’s work has also served as a big morale boost for our employees. They’ve appreciated that they got some screen time and we highlighted them, particularly during COVID-19 when we can’t really meet face to face. Overall, we’ve received good feedback. 

How did Reel Big Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They have been spectacular when it comes to meeting deadlines. The team is super engaged, knowledgeable, and hands-on. 

Since we are running our business 24 hours a day and seven days a week, we’ve recorded videos at different times of the day. Despite that, they’ve been accomodating and flexible even with our changing requirements. Overall, we have a good partnership. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ron’s ideas have been really impressive, especially during times when we had no idea what we were looking for. He’s also organized and sets our shoots very well from start to finish. I can tell that he’s passionate about his craft and has the experience to back it up. 

Moreover, he has made our timeline productive and efficient. We’ve expected things to take a lot longer, but he just allowed things to be seamless. Most importantly, he also quickly learned what our business is all about. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t seen anything that they could improve. With us, Ron always comes back a little bit better than our last project. He consistently shows that he still has more ideas to show us. I believe we’re just going to continue to learn and grow together. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Engage them early and don’t wait for the last minute if you really want to hire them. The more notice you can give them, the more planning they can do.

If you’re going to put together something, Reel Big Media can react quickly. Above all, if you truly want to be successful and fair to all parties, think in advance as to what you’re trying to do. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a small soap and lotion company called LipidTAC.

What challenge were you trying to address with Reel Big Media?

I hired them to do a promotional video of one of our users. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Reel Big Media put forth a written proposal, including a stage background, some verbiage, and a speaking overlay. They filmed multiple takes of the video, and then professionally edited the footage. The lighting and contrast for the background was also handled by their team. They compiled the scenes to form a video of one of our clients using our products. They gave us voice options for the narration of the video, too. 

What is the team composition?

Two people from their company worked with me on the project. 

How did you come to work with Reel Big Media?

I found them online when looking for videographers. I interviewed several. Reel Big Media was local, which was a plus for me because I like to do business one-on-one, without a telephone or internet line between me and the person I do business with. That was predominantly the deciding factor for me. They also had good recommendations and were easy to work with. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together roughly between May–July 2020.

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

I was very pleased with the final outcome of their work. They produced a very professional, excellent video. The video is part of an e-commerce website, and we’re still reviewing our marketing plan for specific products since our sales on the site have still been low. However, the actual footage they took was excellent, along with how they edited and produced the final video. The video was a 10/10 — I was very happy with it and they were extremely professional. 

How did Reel Big Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They managed the work very well. From the beginning with the proposal, then to the drafts, and then to the actual takes, they were excellent. They did a good job with the editing and final production, too. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Other than how professional they were throughout the entire project, I was most impressed with the final product. The final video they provided was impressive, as opposed to the process itself. I intend to work with them again. They’re a strong company with good people on their team. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t say there would be anything to improve. They had their own way of doing things and it worked well for me. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want before you start. Be prepared to articulate it so they can do it for you and take it from there. As with anything in life, if you don’t know what you want, someone else can’t make up your mind for you. Most people aren’t sure and want ideas, but in life, the most success comes when you know what you want and can articulate it for someone else to do. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the senior marketing manager for an engineering company. We offer services and product diagnostic testing within the power and utility industry.

What challenge were you trying to address with Reel Big Media?

We’re trying to tell the story of our products, services, and solutions, so we wanted to share what our events are like with the public. We’re also using them for product photography and a celebratory event for our company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

On our most recent project with Reel Big Media, they’ve been collaborating with our marketing agency to develop a script and storyboard and then film a video for the story we’re trying to publicize.

In other cases, we have used them to help film and develop conference wrap videos for us to help tell the story of what actually happens at those events. They’ll identify good shots, produce text and animations, and then export the file to the web and make the b-reel available to us for other use. These videos range from around a minute to close to three minutes long.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Ron (CEO, Reel Big Media). He sometimes has one other person with him at events, but all of our communications flow directly through him.

How did you come to work with Reel Big Media?

He has been working with our company for some time now. I believe he had formerly worked with one of my colleagues before starting Reel Big Media, and we reached out to him when we needed video production work because of that existing relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We pay a daily rate for each day that we use him for capturing video at an event, and then we pay individually for the editing time that any given project takes, so there’s a lot of different calculations that go into the project costs. Overall, it’s a good model, so we’ve been satisfied.

What is the status of this engagement?

The most recent project has lasted about 6 months, from June 2019–ongoing, because he was involved in the early planning stages as well as the actual filming process.

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

We’ve gotten some really good traction on social media so far from the different conference wrap videos we’ve done, and the product demonstrations have gotten a lot of mileage on both our social pages and our website. We’ve received a lot of views and positive feedback.

How did Reel Big Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Ron is very responsive through email, both leading up to an event as well as during and after. He really owns the quality of the project overall and wants to make sure that it’s going to be successful. That commitment helps us focus on moving in the right direction.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It is great having such a transparent, amiable, and knowledgeable partner to work with on these projects. We enjoy the process of working on them much more because of that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’ve been very happy with his work so I have nothing negative to say.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Feel free to share whatever you’re thinking because you can count on Ron to give you honest feedback.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a 3rd generation family run mechanical contractor. Up until last year we were family owned. We operate primarily out of South Florida but our areas of work are the Southeast United States and the Caribbean. We are known for our healthcare work in the US and hospitality work in the Islands. We began as a plumbing company back in 1965 but now are a full service Mechanical and Plumbing company. I am the Marketing Communication Manager. I am in charge of all branding, marketing, and communication needs for the company.

For what projects/services did your company hire Reel Big Media?

We hired Reel Big Media to produce Recruiting Videos for us. But they are more than that. They are timeless company culture videos.

How did you select this vendor?

I did my research and found him through Bark.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We had several discovery emails so that he had a better idea of what I was looking for then he described the scope of the project to me: First day should be on-site at two ongoing projects. I say two because we don't want all the project footage to look like it came from just one site. We will get some amazing aerial shots, indoor aerial, etc. We can also get employees working as well as some on-site interviews of the Project Manager, Laborer, Engineer, etc. The second day we would shoot entirely at the corporate headquarters and the fabrication shop. We could spend a good part of the day with interviews of different employees, and then get some nice b-roll footage of the offices, lobby, entrance, conference room, etc.

What was the team composition?

I (Marketing Comm. Manager) worked closely with Ron and his videographer.

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

We've had engagement on social media and our website but no big hits. That is of no fault to Reel Big Media. They produced outstanding videos for us. The Market is very difficult right now in regards to finding qualified and "hungry" employees.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was spot on. Quick responses/feedback and the turn around on post production was extremely agreeable.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their commitment to learning our business and doing the necessary research to understand how our industry runs. Their general interest in our specific needs and delivering exactly what we were looking for!

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

The only feedback I would give is when they are filming within an office setting to let the bystanders be aware they will be capturing footage including them. Many felt snuck up on.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a construction company, and our parent company has five other companies underneath it. I’m a marketing specialist. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Reel Big Media?

They did a video for our company located in Boston.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have worked with Reel Big Media before, and we hired them again to do more videos. They shot video for this particular company that serves the Boston area. The team handled overall messaging about the services we provide and did some action shots on a construction site. We filmed at a project location and our office. They used a drone for some of the filming, and they did voice-overs. The team did some interviewing as well.

I did the script and storyboard, but they were certainly helpful in providing feedback and ideas. They handle the filming and production. The team also does post-production and editing — I just look at the video and make some edit suggestions. 

What is the team composition?

Ron (Owner) is my main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Reel Big Media?

They had done a really nice job on a couple of different videos for our other companies, so we thought they’d be a good candidate to use again. 

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around December 2020, and we are still working with them.

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

The general feedback from our internal teams and other companies has been very positive. 

How did Reel Big Media perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email and phone calls as needed. Reel Big Media has been fine with deadlines. They have adequate turnaround times — we’ve had no surprises from them. 

They are very helpful because they are familiar with the construction industry. They know some of the obstacles that you come into contact with as well as safety protocols, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic going on. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The number one thing that’s most impressive about them is their knowledge of the trade and the complications that could possibly come up. They are highly knowledgeable and responsive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, they’re a little bit pricey. They could increase the number of edits that are included in the cost.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Potential customers should discuss who is going to do the timeline, the voice-overs, and any kind of production for the video.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We own/operate two season hotels and a season restaurant in a Rhode Island beach community.

For what projects/services did your company hire Reel Big Media, and what were your goals?

Creating and producing a TV commercial to build brand awareness of our brand new hotel built in 2018.

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

We had been connected on Linkedin for a while; and I saw some of his licensed drone work.

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

Specifically our hotel is across the street from Misquamicut beach and I wanted to use drone footage to showcase this; along with the a day in the life our guest.

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

We worked with Ron and another producer. It was SO EASY! They helped with the scenes, took the footage in an efficient manner and did the post production for a :30, and two :15 second ads.

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

We have been airing the ad on local TV stations in Providence, Hartford and soon in Springfield, MA. We are full! So clearly something is working.

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

We did the shoot in an 8 hour day.

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

They were very easygoing and helpful during the process.

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

Nope!