Route Eleven

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was as an Art Director at a PR and advertising agency specialising in digital.

For what projects/services did your company hire Route Eleven, and what were your goals?

For Canadian Club Whisky, we had to create a series of videos to showcase how the brand's upper skews elevate at-home cocktail making.

How did you select Route Eleven and what were the deciding factors?

Route 11 approached my agency and we were impressed with their portfolio.

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

I created the concept and storyboards. Route 11 took what I created and pieced a plan together. This plan included doing the hiring for the production team, organising the props and shot list, ordering food for the team, time management, and post production editing .

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

We worked with Sam and Peter. During the shoot, I was able to give feedback directly to the team as we went. For post production, Peter sent through edits based on my storyboards. I gave feedback to them over email and he was very accommodating. I also appreciated Peter and Sam's ideas for making the videos better with their creative ideas, especially in the editing process.

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

Our clients were thrilled. They had very little feedback and felt that we hit the ball out of the park. The videos also performed well on social.

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

I provided a work back schedule which Route 11 stuck to. They also were good at giving me clear deadlines when they required my feedback to make sure we kept on schedule. We communicated over email and by phone. Sam and Peter always replied very quickly.

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

The team seemed very passionate about the project and really wanted to see it be as successful as possible. There was such great efficiency while still crafting high quality work.

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

No feedback at this time.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative director for the top electronic music label in the US. I handle all of the visual and content production needs. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Route Eleven?

Route Eleven is one of the companies we work with regularly to create music videos for our YouTube channel and affiliate content that comes from it. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

They support the entire production of our music videos. They direct and execute them, handling all of the logistics, and serving as a one-stop-shop. This includes shooting, editing, and delivering the requested files. They help discuss the creative or work off of the proposal from the artist. 

What is the team composition?

Throughout the years, I’ve worked with a number of people. My point people are Sam (Producer) and Peter (Producer). 

How did you come to work with Route Eleven?

I believe I came across Mac (Director & Writer) and I really loved his work. We teamed up for a few projects and then I continued using the team on a number of videos since then.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since around October 2016.

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

I’d give them a 10/10. They are by far one of the best companies we work with and I love working with them. They are a crucial part of building the brand of the artists we work with and our music label as a whole. Every video we’ve done with them has been pretty much a home run. 

How did Route Eleven perform from a project management standpoint?

I like one-to-one communication. They send us emails every now and then, giving us updates on what they’re doing. When I reach out to them I have a pretty clear idea of what I want and know that they’re a great fit, so the project management is flawless. They offer a very low-surprise rate, which is somewhat unusual for music videos. They’re very on point. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re genuinely caring and attentive to the quality. I have great personal relationships with all of them. They are dedicated to problem-solving before a problem even happens. They’re very proactive instead of reactive, which is very important in production work. They think ahead about everything. 

They work really hard and it shows. Their pricing and the way they budget the money is very fair. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Being honest, I can’t think of any pointers for them specifically. They should keep doing everything the way they’re doing it and they’ll keep growing. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Generally speaking, make sure they’re who you’re looking for. Part of our success is that they are the right fit and have a clear direction of intent. Know what you want and they’ll help you get it. Hire them for what they can deliver.