Multi Award Winning Video Production Company
At Slate and Mortar, we create video that is designed to inspire, captivate and attract new audiences to your company, product or service. With a huge variety of clients across the public and private sector, we’re an award-winning video production company that offers full-service video production; from TV and cinema adverts, promotional brand videos, right through to animation production and social media marketing.
We have a dedicated in-house team of multi-skilled video production specialists who offer creative solutions to whatever your video challenges may be; whether it’s commercial, educational, entertainment or marketing, we find new and exciting ways of using video production to drive engagement and bring focussed attention to your company's key messages.
We’re passionate about video and we love telling stories. We’ve been honing our filmmaking and video production craft for years, so we know how to grab an audience’s attention and we know how to get them to engage with your video. There’s simply no better way to show your potential customers what your company, product, or service can offer, than a bespoke, carefully crafted video or animation.
Video builds trust and loyalty, provokes a response, and gives a sense of who and what your company is. Video presents your brand in the way you want it to be seen and promotes the brand values that your company stands for. Video creates positive feelings. Video offers credibility and endorsement and shows how your company or product is changing lives for the better. Simply put, there's no better tool than video for creating audience engagement.
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Portfolio
Tourism Authority of Thailand - 'Phuket is now open'
We were recently invited back to the King Power Stadium in Leicester to produce another TV advert. This time working in collaboration with the King Power International Group and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, we began work on their latest marketing campaign, “Phuket is now open”, under the theme of ‘Amazing Thailand, Now even more Amazing’.
Mr. Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said, “The campaign forms part of the Royal Thai Government’s efforts to prepare the island ready to welcome back fully vaccinated visitors under the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ model from 1 July, 2021.”
Similar in approach to the previous ad we produced for King Power, this project required us to match our footage with pre-existing material provided by our partner agency. Our brief was to film short sequences with three Leicester City Football Club players who were all looking at Thailand Tourist Authority imagery, via phone, tablet and postcard.
The end of the Premier League season was fast approaching, so timescales were very tight. The one-day shoot date was fixed in advance, with a maximum of 60 minutes each with the players… so inevitably, we ended up filming on a wet and rainy day in May (don’t forget cloudy).
The shoot was a technical exercise for both our Director and Producer and required the film crew to put all of their know-how together to create shots that would both mask the rainfall, as well as recreating a glorious sunny day. We also needed to plan the post-production workflow well in advance, ensuring the editing team had everything they needed to skillfully composite the imagery onto the postcards and mobile phone screens, back in the edit suite.
Once again, the feedback we had for the content we produced was extremely positive, both from Leicester City Football Club and our partner agencies and clients.
King Power - Thailand smiles with you
King Power is Thailand's leading operator of airport duty-free stores and their `Thailand smiles with you’ campaign promotes international travel and encourages tourism back into the country.
KingPower commissioned Storyteller Bangkok to produce the adverts, who then selected Slate and Mortar to produce all UK based content.
Director: B-Bhakpong - https://www.b1filmsbkk.com
Creative Agency: Storyteller - http://www.storytellerbkk.com
All UK footage produced by Slate and Mortar Ltd - https://www.slateandmortar.com
Find Your Light - TV & Cinema Advert
Net Natives (an education marketing agency) were looking to commission a video production company to produce promotional video content for University of Hull’s student recruitment marketing strategy. We were delighted to be successful with our bid and immediately began working with their ‘Find Your Light’ creative concept; an idea that was about students finding their own place and spark during their time at university.
Their student recruitment marketing campaign needed us to produce an advertisement to be broadcast on E4, Channel 4 and Sky, as well as a full rollout in UK cinemas and across all the major social media platforms. With a turnaround time of just ten weeks, this required an extremely efficient approach to planning.
The university wanted to capture moments of inspiration, defining sparks, shared moments, new experiences… moments that affected that person directly and the world around them.
By showcasing the range and character of students in their natural environment and highlighting what a great opportunity it would be to study within the city, we would represent Hull and the City in its most distilled form – Culture, Energy and Diversity.
School of PCI
The School of Performance and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds wanted a suite of videos for their 2021/22 student recruitment campaign that captured the true ethos of the Faculty and its BA and MA courses. They’d seen many examples of ‘traditional’ talking head videos but were looking for something a little different… something that captured the unique personalities and characters of its staff and student body. They wanted a video that was snappy, had plenty of energy, and would create curiosity and excitement, but also, very importantly, communicate the intersection of both Performance and the Cultural Industries.
For a project like this, it’s imperative to capture the project’s key messaging and objectives, but you also have to find a way to communicate the personality of the faculty. What is it that makes the School of Performance and Cultural Industries so different and unique?
Why would a student want to study there rather than somewhere else?
It became fairly obvious through conversations with the faculty that plenty of innovation and collaboration was already happening in teaching and research at the school, but what really stood out was the positive impact the department was having on the wider world, and on the individuals both studying and teaching at the school. This, we felt, was an essential through-line to draw out the film’s narrative.
We wanted the films to feel authentic, sincere and direct, but to avoid feeling too contrived or, excuse the pun, rehearsed. We decided very early on to approach the interviews in a much more conversational manner. We’d have an idea of where we wanted the conversations to go, but we wouldn’t force anything, or get our contributors to ‘build the question into the answer’, meaning their responses were more fluid, reactive and heartfelt, leading more to a sense of our contributor’s personalities.
Intelligent Vehicles
The story of intelligent vehicles has attracted great interest from government, industry, media and the general public, and with this in mind, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) commissioned Slate and Mortar for the production of a series of promotional case study videos that would help position them as a world-leading capability in the area of intelligent vehicles.
As the topic was largely about concepts and wider social impacts, we decided a primarily animated approach with a small number of live-action elements would be the best solution. Stylistically, the animation needed to have a futuristic and high-tech feel to it, whilst delivering complex ideas and concepts in an easy to understand format.
Primarily working within Adobe After Effects to create the animation, the production process made wide use of core After Effects features and tools, and incorporated 2D, 2.5D and 3D scenes to create one seamless final film. In addition to the 2D animation, we worked within Cinema 4D to create and adjust 3D models which were then brought into our editing software.
Filming took place over three days and involved location work in Coventry and Birmingham, which involved significant pre-planned scheduling to ensure that all of the required content was captured. Interviews were conducted with WMG staff and on-location at partner organisation’s premises, as well as the capturing of creative shots that demonstrated the current state of the UK West Midlands’ roads.
The entire production process from conceptualisation through to final delivery took approx. two months. The final output was three promotional videos, two of which were pure animation and another that was a combination of video and motion graphics. The suite of videos was launched on a staggered schedule to create and build momentum with its stakeholders.
Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA)
The Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) at the University of Leeds was looking to commission a series of videos that highlight the cutting edge data analytics expertise and infrastructure that was offered by the institute, and how, through collaboration and partnerships, LIDA could inform and support colleagues and external partners in research, education and training.
As the chosen video production company, we knew that the videos had to engage with a broad range of audience types (internal stakeholders, academic researchers, PGR Students, faculty staff across various departments), as well as raise attention and awareness to external parties, such as local council members, charitable organisations, private businesses and policymakers.
Alongside pointing out the benefits of the facilities and the security of its platforms, the films also had to highlight the potential of its collaborative efforts, showcasing examples of existing work and impact through case studies at a local, national and global level.
Due to the challenges and uncertainty around a post-lockdown filming landscape, it was decided early on that a traditional talking-heads film with complimentary b-roll cutaways was the most viable option to communicate these messages. To ensure that the visuals were as strong as they could be, our Director of Photography utilised a mixture of prime lenses and creative lighting to create striking interview shots. This was complemented by a mixture of gimble videography and existing video assets supplied by the University. Shot over a single day, we recorded four long-form interviews, and two sessions of cutaways.
Due to so much useful content being recorded during the interviews, we were able to provide not only the two-minute master copy as originally requested, but also a deep-dive five-minute version that covered the content in much more depth.
The videos were launched in October 2021 and can be seen across the University’s various owned channels.
Big Data Research
Slate and Mortar were asked to produce two videos that highlighted the Centre for Disciplinary Methodologies (CIM) research excellence and impact within and outside of the University of Warwick. Made primarily with the upcoming Research Excellence Framework (REF) in mind, but also with the aim of giving CIM’s research communications appropriate exposure to policy makers, industry partners and local & national government offices; essentially the non-academic, professional community.
The underlying objective of the research film was twofold; to promote the vast array and range of world-class expertise on the science of Big Data at CIM; and for the audience to feel compelled to contact CIM as their first port of call when it came to Big Data research.
Through the use of striking imagery, voice over and informative motion graphics, Slate and Mortar scripted an aspirational narrative for the film that looked at what Big Data actually is, and how CIM looks at it from a number of different perspectives; such as exploring human behaviour; power and politics; and as a future resource for social policy.
To stay relevant and to engage with its target audience, the aesthetics of the video need to be ‘on-trend’ but also be appropriate for the subject matter. Therefore, a mix of contemporary music and graphics were utilised alongside the highest production values possible within the parameters of the budget.
The video was released in a number of edited formats across the CIM’s online channels and social media platforms, alongside being utilised for the centre’s Research Excellence Framework submission and at a number of conferences and presentations.
The client was extremely pleased with the final result.
Explainer animation
Warwick Manufacturing Group were looking to recruit prospective apprentices onto its Academy for Young Engineers. However, the academy was still in the development and building stage and no actual physical assets existed at that point. Therefore, the challenge we faced was how do we promote something that has yet to be fully built and developed?
When producing moving image content for a new idea or concept, animation or motion graphics can quite often be the perfect solution. It was decided in this case, that a fully bespoke, explainer animation that offered a dynamic glimpse into what the Academy for Young Engineers would offer would be the best solution.
Primarily we needed to engage with an audience that was aged between 12 and 14 years old, generating interest for something that didn’t fully exist at that point, which is what led to the character animation and typography concept.
As with all our explainer animation projects, there was a scoping-out meeting that helped us to refine the project brief so we could best meet our client’s objectives. This meeting helped us to clearly understand the tone and feel for the animation and It became clear through these meetings that, as a new brand, it was important for the client that the explainer animation sat very comfortably within their brand identity.
We went through a number of rounds of amendments, setting ‘gate posts’ along the way so that we would only move onto the next stage of development until the client was satisfied with what was currently being produced. This ensured the client was extremely pleased with the final output.
Behind the Scenes – Let’s get on with it!
This behind the scenes video gives a little insight into some of the creative processes and technical challenges involved in a large-scale video production, and a peek into all of the planning and logistics that go on behind the scenes when creating content for broadcast, online and social media marketing campaigns.
The advert was the centrepiece of University of Hull’s student recruitment marketing campaign for 2018 and was broadcast across TV, cinema, and the universities social media platforms.
The production was filmed at sea and required close collaboration with the university’s Marine Biology Department, and a specialist on-water filming crew. Our talent (and University of Hull alumni) Adan, even had to learn to dive specifically for this shoot!
Filming at sea presents some unique challenges – schedules are dictated by the tide, cameras have to be kept very still (and dry) for filming and our actors could only go into the sea a few times on the day, so everything had to be organised extremely efficiently. This behind the scenes video probably shows our producer’s finest hour!
Leicester City Football Club - Adidas Kit Launch
For the launch of Leicester City Football Club’s 2019/20 football kit, the club wanted to move away from the traditional studio-based kit-launch photoshoot and work with a video production company to produce a creative, brand promotion film that had contemporary and urban elements to match the club’s and Adidas’ brand values.
Working with Leicester City Football Club’s in-house Head of Creative, Slate and Mortar offered their video production services and provided a Director of Photography who filmed ‘run & gun’ style, in and around the streets of Leicester, to capture all the creative video footage for film.
Alongside a selection of the club’s leading players, the shoot also made use of the club’s newest female football stars, academy recruits, local school children and footballing freestylers, all wearing a combination of street clothes and the new Leicester City FC launch kit.
The talent was filmed playing five-a-side matches, performing ‘keepy-ups’ and showing off their football tricks whilst walking through recognisable local areas within Leicester. The brand promotion film was shot in a very ‘loose’ high-energy filming style, with a fast paced, jump-cut and retro-stylised edit to create a very authentic marketing video.
The final output included four brand films (one for each kit and an overarching combined edit) with a suite of short videos to complement their social media marketing strategy. The outcome was so successful that the initial run of the film was extended throughout the entire footballing season and went from being an online-only marketing campaign to be heavily featured on its stadium and club shop screens.
Human Geography (Barcelona)
Authenticity is an important part of any student recruitment marketing strategy, and getting peer to peer endorsements from existing students (or alumni) is a vital part of building trust with potential applicants.
We’re now seeing more and more Higher Education marketing content coming from official institute channels that reflects this, with user-generated content (UGC), campus tours and virtual open days all being filmed in a more ‘reactive’ approach and within a more mobile-accessible format.
However, quite often the UGC creator may not have a strong understanding of the communication techniques needed to maintain sustained engagement, or, how to build a cohesive narrative; which unfortunately means that viewer engagement can often drop off quite quickly.
On the flip-side – a more traditional approach to a student recruitment strategy (normally one created via a Higher Education marketing agency) would be to produce a video with much higher production values, and crafted around a strong creative concept. It is true to say that this would offer a better chance of retaining engagement, however, it would face an uphill battle to build the trust from its audience of potential students, as this age range tends to naturally be a little wary of anything with too much of a corporate sheen to it.
So, is there a way to combine the best of both? Authenticity with strong aesthetic values? Cohesive narration that builds trust and sustains engagement?
Well, we think that yes, there is a way.
In this student recruitment video that we created for University of Hull, we combined UGC footage shot by undergraduates, with complementary broadcast-quality footage shot by our video production crew. By keeping our film crew small and mobile it meant that the team were able to accompany and build good relationships with the undergraduates, allowing for a very natural ‘fly-on the wall’ style to develop.
Modelling Future Tempos for Complex Policy
Dr Emma Uprichard from The Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies was looking for a way to demonstrate research impact and raise awareness of the social science research project that she was working on. Her aim was to provoke questions and open a dialogue to other academics in the field of social sciences and utilise a video as part of her research excellence framework (REF) submission.
For this project, we were tasked with producing two university research communications videos. However, due to Covid-19 filming restrictions, there was no possibility of any on-location filming or interviews taking place. We therefore needed a creative solution that enabled us to deliver the client’s objectives and show research impact, whilst remaining fully compliant with the university’s filming guidelines during the pandemic. Our solution was to put the production budget to best use by sourcing all video clips from online stock-footage libraries and to combine this with our creative editing techniques to produce two engaging, contemporary-looking research films.
The research topic was around developing data science methods that capture multiple and complex temporalities (e.g. speed, shape, direction, momentum of change) that are necessary to design successful social policy planning and decision-making; so with a topic as complex as this, the first step was for our copywriter to work hand-in-hand with the client to fully understand these concepts and their implications so that he could then begin working on creating two voice-over scripts; one titled ‘Layers of Change’ and another titled ‘Multiple Rhythms’.
Once both scripts were signed off, we began conceptualising the research themes and noted down any potential buzz-words that best visualised the concepts within the scripts. These buzz words were then used as a basis for searching for online stock footage until we had a bank of shots that we could take into the edit and begin crafting our films.
Reviews
the project
Promotional video for University of Leeds
"As previously mentioned, the project delivery exceeded expectations in both quality and timeliness."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm a marketing executive for the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds.
For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?
Slate and Mortar were hired for the production of a short video aimed at attracting prospective students to the undergraduate programme at the School of Performance and Cultural Industries for the University of Leeds. There was a need to refresh the content for the School and provide a more modern style of video.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We received several responses to the brief we sent out and eventually decided on Slate & Mortar due to their clear understanding of the brief and attention to detail made in their pitch. We felt they understood the school's needs the most and were also impressed with their previous work.
Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.
We had an initial video meeting to confirm a schedule and methods for delivery of the project. The video was to be a series of interviews with students and academics cut with b-roll of seminars and footage of campus. We arranged two dates for filming and blocked in a week for pre-filming telephone interviews with the contributors, this was something Slate & Mortar suggested as it had worked well for them in the past to get to know the contributors before filming starts. We also agreed on the post production timeline and the number of edits, including several shorter edits for social media and the required dimensions for these.
Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?
My main contacts were Jon (Creative Director) and Stuart (Co-Founder) and we also worked with Adam as director of photography. All were great to work with and very easy to get on with, which made the whole process very enjoyable. The feedback process was primarily through Jon who was very attentive to our needs and schedules, while also being very thorough and timely with the edits, often exceeding expectations.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
While it is still too soon too measure any impact within this recruitment cycle, anecdotally we have heard glowing reviews from students about the video as part of the interview process. The video has also been highly praised by management and senior members of the marketing functions within the University.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Our project lead, Jon, was always very attentive and on-hand if we had any questions or needed to contact him for any reason. We spoke mostly over email and video chats. As previously mentioned, the project delivery exceeded expectations in both quality and timeliness.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
I was most impressed with the post-production process and the level of detail given to edits and the speed of delivery.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
Overall I was extremely happy with Slate & Mortar and the final outcomes of the project, we felt very involved throughout the partnership and had a great experience working together.
the project
Testimonial Footage & Video Production for University
“I always feel that I’m in good hands and that I’m going to get great results from our collaboration.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the head of marketing and communications at the University of Warwick’s Medical School department in Coventry, England.
What challenge were you trying to address with Slate and Mortar Ltd?
We’ve worked with Slate and Mortar on a number of projects. Our objectives are generally around raising awareness for our courses and profiling students and lecturers on specific courses.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Slate and Mortar has produced various videos for us, and our most recent project is focused on student testimonials. The university has a process called “clearing”, in which students who haven’t gotten the courses they want can look for other courses. Given this, we want to raise the profile of two courses using testimonials from students and get more enrollees by September 2021. We’ll use these testimonials on social media and across a number of platforms.
For our recent effort, Slate and Mortar hasn’t had to storyboard since it isn't relevant to the project — our team has been clear about our objective and the questions we have for students. Moreover, since they have plenty of experience in video production within the education sector, we've included one of their suggested questions in our questionnaire. Overall, the process is straightforward: we write a brief in the beginning, and they take videos around the campus.
Meanwhile, their team also handles all the video edits to produce different video versions. Footage can be transformed into a longer video incorporating a number of students and B-roll clips. It can also include shorter snippets for social media. We can even add our branding to it as well as some music, making it a full video production project.
Back in 2018, we produced a postgraduate video where we profiled some of our courses. Later that year, we produced another video that was related to our undergraduate studies in health and medical sciences. At the beginning of 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we produced another video as part of our anatomy course within our trainee doctor program.
What is the team composition?
I work with Jon (Company Director), and he brings with him a freelance cameraman. We’ve also worked with Stuart (Co-Founder & Head of Production).
How did you come to work with Slate and Mortar Ltd?
Prior to our engagement, we’d known Slate and Mortar for a few years because both Jon and Stuart worked for the University of Warwick as in-house video makers. When they left and set up their own company, we maintained a good relationship. As a result, when they offered their services and talked about targeting the education sector, it was sensible for us to give them a go.
How much have you invested with them?
The postgraduate project in 2018 was worth £10,000 (approximately $14,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in June 2018, and our partnership is ongoing. We’ve done around five projects since then.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The course directors and our bosses have been positive about Slate and Mortar’s work, which is why we’ve used their services again and again. Meanwhile, instead of looking at metrics like CTRs, our team has focused on the advertising message that we have as a whole. We also check whether the videos they create actually send people to our intended landing page or course application.
Overall, the Slate and Mortar team is highly creative. They won’t simply stick to the process; if they have a better idea, they’ll put it forward. Likewise, if our team has a better idea, they listen to us and take it into consideration. All of this makes our relationship highly collaborative.
How did Slate and Mortar Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?
Slate and Mortar is efficient. They stick to deadlines and manage expectations well. Meanwhile, we don’t use any project management tools since we’ve done well with using phone, email, and Microsoft Teams. This is particularly helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also provide a template that we can use for creating project briefs, so we just fill that out and send it over to them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I always feel that I’m in good hands and that I’m going to get great results from our collaboration. Not only that; they’re also highly responsive. They understand me and my business, so I trust that they’re always doing a good job for us.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there aren’t any. Everything has been satisfactory.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Slate and Mortar works using a collaborative approach. Given that, if you don’t know much about video production, they’ll guide you through it. Give them a go; they’re truly good and have a lot of experience. More importantly, they’re not stuck in their ways. They’re prepared to listen and look at other industries to provide great results.
the project
Promotional Video Production for Higher Education Institution
"They delivered really good quality outputs, were reliable, and were fun and easy to work with."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the former international marketing manager at the University of Kent.
What challenge were you trying to address with Slate and Mortar Ltd?
We needed to create promotional videos for the university so we hired Slate and Mortar.
What was the scope of their involvement?
I worked with Slate and Mortar on a range of promotional videos. The main area of work was on a series of lecture videos, similar to TED Talks in format, where university lecturers talked about their area of work as a promotional tool. We initially did a trial of about eight videos, but because it proved to be successful, we expanded and did about 130 in total over the course of two years.
The team helped with the planning of the project. It was quite straightforward, and during the actual production, they did all the filming and editing. Where necessary, they helped out with coaching the speakers to make sure that they got the best performance from them.
They kept us up to date on what was going on. They quickly produced the first edit and I replied with any amends that were needed. That was usually sufficient, and we could pretty much sign off on it by the second edit. If needed, they made some last-minute changes at the second edit.
What is the team composition?
I was in contact with two main people from Slate and Mortar, but they also contracted other camera people and editors. In total, there were about four people that I worked with.
How did you come to work with Slate and Mortar Ltd?
Slate and Mortar emailed us. I looked at their showreel and work, and it was really impressive. I liked the visual look of what they did, so I asked them to give us a quote. It was very competitive pricing, so we got them down to do this project.
How much have you invested with them?
We did it in phases and paid £25,000–£50,000 (approximately $36,000–$71,000 USD) in total.
What is the status of this engagement?
The core period was from January 2015–January 2017.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Anecdotally, we had received lots of positive feedback from people within the organization. We got the sense that some post-graduate students decided to apply after having seen the videos. Obviously, I think that was due to a mix of the quality of Slate and Mortar’s videos and the content provided by the lecturers.
We also did some additional promotional videos and some more straightforward promos with Slate and Mortar. Again, these were very well received and had good viewing figures on YouTube. We received positive internal feedback on these as well.
How did Slate and Mortar Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?
I thought their project management was excellent. They kept us informed and updated every step of the way. They were always very professional and efficient, and you always felt confident that you would get what you want on time.
If there were any issues, they were always very open to suggestions and discussing ideas. Slate and Mortar would come up with their own approach whether it was on ways to organize the production to save time and money, or on more aesthetic ideas in terms of the look and feel of the videos.
What did you find most impressive about them?
For me, their professionalism and the whole visual style and quality of what they produced were impressive. Certainly, that had been my initial motivation for hiring them. They were very easy to work with and were really good fun. We got on well, which made the whole process more enjoyable.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I don’t think so. The only reason I haven’t worked with them more recently has partly to do with COVID-19 and the limited need for promotional videos, and there have also been some newer, more local companies that have been able to offer the same services at a cheaper rate. Certainly, with my budget being scaled back, I have gone with the others. I would like to work with Slate and Mortar again, though. They delivered really good quality outputs, were reliable, and were fun and easy to work with.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
View it as a partnership. Be open to suggesting different things to Slate and Mortar, question what they have in mind, and be open to their suggestions as well. They have a lot of experience and are very creative. Certainly, I have found that that is what worked. By the very end, it felt like they were an extension of our department and not a separate company.
the project
Video Production for Advertising Agency
“They organize very efficiently, hit deadlines, and get everything in on time and with good quality.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the creative director of Net Natives.
What challenge were you trying to address with Slate and Mortar Ltd?
I've worked with Slate and Mortar quite a few times. They help us create video content for advertising and marketing campaigns for universities.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We’ve worked with them in different ways. Starting with a brief, they’ve managed production and post-production. In their work, they provide various different edits and include set graphics. We've also worked with them in a more creative context where we collaborated and co-created creative concepts for video campaigns. They do work for digital, TV, and cinema.
What is the team composition?
My main contacts are Jon (Creative Director) and Stuart (Co-Founder), and, depending on the project, we work with larger crews.
How did you come to work with Slate and Mortar Ltd?
Slate and Mortar had an existing relationship with the CEO of my agency, so when I joined as a director he gave me a few different references of people that they had worked with.
During my first job as a director, they were part of the crew. I really enjoyed working with Slate and Mortar because I found them super easy to work with, so we continued to use their services.
How much have you invested with them?
Some of the smallest projects we've worked on have been around £4,000–£5,000 (approximately $6,000–$7,000 USD). Our biggest project together was a TV commercial in 2018 and the cost was around £50,000 (approximately $70,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve been working together since the beginning of 2016. We haven't had any projects recently because the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to any video projects since our clients are universities and campuses have been closed for a long time. However, we worked on various projects in 2019, and I consider it an ongoing relationship.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The performance of the campaigns where we've worked with Slate and Mortar have consistently performed really well, particularly with universities. We've worked on a lot of projects together and the clients have always been really pleased with the quality of production.
They have done production management work as well, liaising with clients directly, and I've always had very good feedback in terms of their personal skills.
How did Slate and Mortar Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?
They organize very efficiently, hit deadlines, and get everything in on time and with good quality. They have always been very fast to respond and make changes, amends, or updates which are inevitable since things always come up at the last minute.
They've also been very good at taking care of awkward requests for access to working files, reel footage, and demands that have been outside the initial scope.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They are on par with my favorite production companies to work with. We expect a certain quality, and they will provide it. In terms of managing and planning projects, they’re very responsive.
With both Stuart and Jon, I've always found that we can have a good creative conversation and kind of bounce off each other. I don't always have to come to them with a finished scope that defines what the output should be. They always add value, even if it's just a production job.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can't really think of anything to improve — the only problem that we’ve had was when we wanted to get together and work on editing. We had troubles because we're located in the south of the UK, and they're in the Midlands and North part, so it was a little difficult to get together.
Any advice for potential customers?
If you've got a clear idea of what you want to achieve, they’ll definitely help you achieve it. If you are in an earlier stage of putting your brief together, they'll help you with that and make sure that you're planning things in the right way. They'll bring in ideas and opportunities that you probably haven't considered, so go in with an open mind.
the project
Video Production for Research University
"They took the time to understand our research thoroughly."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am a project engineer who was in charge of managing the creation of the video. We have created a system to provide cooperative perception to help an autonomous vehicle traverse a roundabout using 2 specific use cases.
For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?
We wanted to create a video to explain and showcase our research into cooperative perception for autonomous vehicles and the benefits this can achieve
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We selected based upon quotes along with an initial meetings where we asked multiple companies how they would bring our vision to fruition
Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.
We started with discovery meetings to describe what it was that we were going to try and explain and do in the video. This was followed by generation of script and story board. The VO was then recorded before the 1 day of filming to capture all of the necessary footage of the demonstration as well as the interviews. After this there was many drafts that we provided feedback on and worked very closely with to ensure all details were correct and to our liking
Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?
We worked closely with the head of production and had a very open and regular feedback prosses ensuring that we saw early drafts to be able to provide feedback at every step of the process.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We showed the video off at the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress and had very positive feedback throuhght the week that we were there. The video has also been used to show off the work that the intelligent vehicles group carry out at WMG through many other events helping to secure further research funding for the team.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
The project manager was very easy to get hold of and was more than happy to take on feedback whilst also providing creative direction for the video. There was always quick responses to emails and calls and meetings where necessary were promptly organised.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
They took the time to understand our research thoroughly. This enabled them to effectively come up with creative methods to best show off the technology we had developed.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
No issues at all.
the project
Video Production for International Trading Company
"They showed great results even though we worked remotely."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the partnership marketing manager at FBS, an international trading company.
For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?
The team produced the film in 15 different formats with the Leicester City football players to bring awareness to the brands and their partnership's opportunities to people worldwide. The main challenge was the tight deadline, and Slate and Mortar Ltd. overcame it perfectly.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
Slate and Mortar Ltd. have already worked with Leicester City, and the club recommended the team.
Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.
We started with a discovery meeting. The team was well-organized, responsive, meeting the deadlines, and providing the best possible output. They sent the brief and proper concepts and contacted the club to plan the filming. Stuart and Jon prepared the storyboard reflecting the main idea, and we made a couple of amends to the script together.
Slate and Mortar Ltd. handled all the necessary preparations before filming by themselves and were very proactive on set, working with the crew and the Leicester City managers who assisted. During post-production, they understood the changes, were always ready to jump into a call to discuss essentials and delivered the materials on time.
Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?
We worked closely with Stuart, Head of Production, and Jonothon, Head of Creative. Both of them were extraordinarily proactive and available at any stage of the process.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The campaign met the initial goals of increasing brand awareness by more than 20% in the primary target regions. Moreover, we never heard of any negative feedback on the video either from the customers or co-workers.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Both Stuart and Jon were easy to communicate with. They kept me posted with any updates regularly, sent the materials for review without reminders, and were passionate about waiting for the final approvals from our management. All the issues were discussed honestly along the process.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
After the quick discovery meeting, Stuart and Jon clearly understood the campaign's main goal and the brand in general. They prepared suitable concepts for a reasonable price shortly. Moreover, we needed to make the voice-over in 19 languages in-house.
They suggested assistance in the English version preparations and created a draft voice-over for an actor to emphasize necessary points correctly.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
I do not think that Slate and Mortar Ltd. need anything to improve. They showed great results even though we worked remotely.
the project
Video Production for Medical School
"They were all easy to work with because they thoroughly understood the requirements."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the Marketing and Student Engagement Manager at the University of Liverpool School of Medicine. I look after our external marketing websites and all internal student engagement channels.
For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?
We want to reach prospective and current students with an accurate depiction of studying medicine now, in one of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the UK. We needed to show the locations and the broad range of places to study we offer for medical placements in our network of NHS partners for the modern student, without just blending in to the crowd.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We looked at a range of vendors and found many offered the same style of product which didn't capture the energy and enthusiasm we were looking for, whereas Slate and Mortar did, at a reasonable price.
Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.
We worked together on a storyboard and schedule that would provide the maximum output on a tight few days of filming. I sourced the best available students and agreed the best locations to shoot with Slate and Mortar. We booked a date and the team arrived promptly. Working with them on filming was extremely easy and they were able to adapt on the go as needed.
Once the film was captured, I worked remotely with the company to get sign-off. They were very understanding of the need to meet the requirements of several layers of stakeholders within our school and our NHS sites.
Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?
We worked with a director/project manager, a cameraman, and an editor. They were all easy to work with because they thoroughly understood the requirements we had and the delicacy of filming in sensitive medical locations.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We received the increase in social media clicks we had been looking for and positive feedback from applicants with whom we shared the content.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
The timeline was managed well with easy-to-understand updates and the ability to approach the company both online and on the phone. Sign-off was complex at our end and they were understanding and supportive in our approach to achieve that.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Flexibility, ease of communication, and lack of pretention.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
No.
the project
Online Video Production for University
"They listened to all of our ideas and provided excellent suggestions throughout the process."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am Senior Research Fellow in the Clinical Trials Unit at The University of Warwick. The Unit specialises in the design, development and implementation of clinical trials.
For what projects/services did your company hire Slate and Mortar Ltd, and what were your goals?
The creation of online videos for use in a mental health and wellbeing trial.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
University of Warwick approved provider.
Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.
We met with S&M on several occasions to discuss the trial and the importance of 'fit' for the PIPA Trial. The videos were focused on families and young people, specifically how families deal with the mental health and wellbeing of their children. We were keen to ensure the videos were accessible and 'realistic' in terms of scenarios.
Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?
Worked with Stuart Whitehouse and Jonothon Lees who were both extremely responsive to our ideas and worked alongside us in ensuring our remit was met.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The videos were extremely professional and we were included at every stage of their development. They listened to all of our ideas and provided excellent suggestions throughout the process.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Both Stuart and Jonothon were extremely approachable and willing to take on board our ideas. Easy communication and swift response to queries. Professional but friendly.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Organisation, production style, end product.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
Overall we were very pleased with S&M. The only thing we would have liked would have been involved in the casting of actors for the videos However, we were satisfied with those we used.