Slow Clap Productions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of collective design at Imbue, an AI research company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slow Clap Productions?

We hired Slow Clap Productions for a video production project. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially had introduction calls with Slow Clap Productions, exploring the project's scope and ensuring it was a good fit for both our teams. During the preproduction, we had a series of pre-interviews with the video's subjects to fully flesh out the story and ensure we focused on the right information. 

The actual shoot took two days. They visited us in the office and interviewed our CEO and CTO on camera. They came with a crew and all the necessary equipment and set them up. For the postproduction, we held a series of review meetings as we iterated on the video around four times. They gave us much control over the project; for instance, I created a paper edit of the video and handed it to them. They took care of everything from there, and we were given opportunities to give feedback.

The final deliverable was a brand story video. For context, we renamed the company and announced it after a round of funding. We wanted to create an updated narrative and tell our company’s story.  We also wanted to attract candidates with whom our story resonated. On top of that, we wanted to clarify our narrative to the broader public. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Alexander (Junior Editor), Beijo (Associate Producer), Dan (Creative Director), Darissa (Project Coordinator), and Jake (Postproduction Manager). We also looped in Katy (Producer) and Rose (Digital Illustrator). 

How did you come to work with Slow Clap Productions?

Slow Clap Productions was referred to us by our PR agency. They’d worked with the team on another project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from July–September 2023. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video had 106,000 views, 48 thumbs up, and no thumbs down — everyone seemed to love it. It received highly positive comments. Anecdotally, we showed the video at a career fair recently, and we received so much positive feedback about it. Viewers specifically praised the video’s vision, how it was told so well, and how beautiful it was. 

How did Slow Clap Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Dan was an extremely valued creative collaborator. He was agile, flexible, and open to our insights; he respected our vision and truly made an effort to understand us at a deeper level. This way, he could tell our story in a richer and more authentic way.

Apart from Dan, Beijo was great, too. She managed our timelines and set expectations in terms of outputs. We had a limited timeline; it was also fluid, so it required a lot of adjustments from the Slow Clap Productions team. They were up to the task and always adjusted their work, so there was always a guaranteed delivery by the deadline. As a result, I was never worried about timelines. The team was extremely clear in setting expectations. They also stayed on budget. 

For tools, we had a shared Slack channel where we communicated frequently. They were extremely accessible there. We also used Coda documents for other project management tasks. Overall, their project management skills were commendable. They had a great team behind every project. They kept everything on track and ensured things ran smoothly for their clients. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Slow Clap Productions’ biggest strength was their collaborative spirit. They treated us as a thought partner instead of just asking for tasks and running off to do their own things. Their authenticity was also impressive. They cared about their clients and the story we were trying to tell; this came through in the final product. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. It was a dream working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The more you give to Slow Clap Productions, the more you get. Provide more context and details about who you are as a company. They know how to work with such information and deliver an end product with the personality and character that make your business unique. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m in the product marketing and communications department at Ironclad, a digital contracting platform. We’re a quickly growing B2B software company that handles contract management. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slow Clap Productions?

We hired them for high-end video production. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For years, Slow Clap Productions has produced our live-action video content. They’ve created everything from short videos to customer testimonials to longer keynote event videos. The team has filmed at our office and in a dozen or more San Francisco Bay Area locations. We’ve also filmed in other places like New York and Texas. 

What is the team composition?

We primarily work with 2–3 teammates from Slow Clap Productions. They bring on freelancers and contractors for our bigger projects. 

How did you come to work with Slow Clap Productions?

Daniel (CEO & Creative Director) was a personal friend, so I found Slow Clap Productions through our relationship. 

How much have you invested with them?

Our video budget has been around $100,000–$200,000 a year. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2019, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have an incredibly successful launch program, have driven many marketing pipelines, and have become a leader in our space, largely due to the videos Slow Clap Productions has created for us. 

How did Slow Clap Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Daniel is great to work with. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

No matter how difficult a challenge they encounter, they always deliver projects on time and within the budget. Since we work towards important deadlines with many moving parts, their timeliness has been very important to our partnership. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The best part about working with Slow Clap Productions is their reliability 100% of the time. They’re a perfect partner when it comes to video production, particularly at the scale we’re working at. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they need to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Daniel is a great partner, so share your goals with him, and he’ll figure out how to make them happen. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Creative Director of Mindful

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Cloud-based callback software

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Slow Clap Productions to accomplish?

• Produce a quality produced product release video
• Make sure it is compelling to our target audience
• Make sure it meets our brand standards

SOLUTION

How did you find Slow Clap Productions?

Referral

Why did you select Slow Clap Productions over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Slow Clap Productions were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

This was a 30 min product release video aimed at our customer and prospect base. We wanted to make sure we structured and filmed it in a way were we could have easy shorter segments. We also filmed 4 short promo videos as well. Slow Clap was not only tasked with direction and production and all post production, but they also helped design a 3D world for our backdrop.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

High viewing engagement during webinar, high performance on social and youtube, high attendance at conference (promos)

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

I can't say enough great things here. We were heard and understood throughout the entire process. Everything and everyone stayed really tight and I think the proof is in the video itself -- it was a very tight timeline with an ambitious set, we probably won't be using any other agency for this type of work. Dan and his team not only are great partners, but I think our teams compliment one another really well.

What was your primary form of communication with Slow Clap Productions?

Email or Messaging App

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

I was impressed by their communication, collaboration, and quality.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Slow Clap Productions could have done differently?

The only thing I would say is better talent in motion graphics, but that could have been a budget tightening thing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Development for Beck's Shoes, and we are a 104 year old family owned and operated full service shoe company that provides comfortable footwear for all walks in life.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Slow Clap Productions, and what were your goals?

Our goal was to create a 60-70 second branding video to use on our website and social channels that showcased our consumer experience when shopping at Beck's Shoes.

SOLUTION

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

We reviewed lots of companies and ultimately chose Slow Clap based on the style of videos they created highlighted on their website.

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

Slow Clap made the process seamless. From contract negotiations, to gathering information, script draft and edits, to what to expect the day of the shoot, and all editing of footage. There was a 2 part edit/revise/edit/revise system they used with a video conference during review to assure our needs were met and we were happy with the direction the video was headed.

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

We mostly worked with Daniel and Katy during the preparation/planning, editing and review. They were very receptive and professional the duration of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We absolutely love the final product and it is already in use on our website.

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

Slow Clap's project management was fantastic. The communication was always followed up in writing, everything was on time if not early and their ability to capture our vision was impeccable.

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

We were very impressed with the planning and prep before the day of the shoot, and most impressed with the teamwork displayed with the team on the day of the shoot. They were focused from set up to tear down to assure that every shot was captured thoughtfully and kept great organization of their equipment the duration of the shoot.

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

We are 100% satisfied with the process and final outcome. :) A job VERY well done!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of communications at a public interest law firm that does both litigation and advocacy around education, housing, transportation, and climate justice. Given that I’m retiring at the end of this year, we’ve hired another director of communications, so I’m now working as the special communications advisor for the organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slow Clap Productions?

We needed help with producing video content to celebrate our company’s 50th anniversary. Originally, we had envisioned creating two different videos. We wanted the first video to tell the history of our organization over those five decades and summarize the significance and impact of our work. As for the second one, we wanted to create a short video that encapsulated our organization’s vision for the future.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Slow Clap to help us produce the two videos we had envisioned. However, when we were working on the history video, we realized that dividing our storytelling into two separate chapters wouldn't be beneficial. That decision was taken when we realized that we wanted to end the history video with a sense of where we were going in the future.

Taking this into consideration, Slow Clap helped us create a 17-minute video that incorporated our whole story. As this was a film video, creating it involved working closely with us to collect information about our organization and its history. We also provided them with photos and documents, and they filmed interviews with some of our staff members. Additionally, we provided them with an old video so that they could pull clips that were relevant to the story we were telling.

The videos with our staff were done in our office in San Francisco, for which Slow Clap brought their own equipment. After filming the video, they were in charge of editing and post-production. Although they’ve already finished the video, they’re currently working on small details, such as adding subtitles so that everyone in the audience can capture its information.

What is the team composition?

We first worked with Daniel (CEO & Creative Director) and another staff member for support. As things progressed, we worked with more people, including a video editor, people in charge of the interviews, people in charge of collecting the materials, and various other staff members who helped shape the video itself.

How did you come to work with Slow Clap Productions?

When we were looking for a company to work with, we had a competitive vetting process where we reviewed a number of proposals from various companies. We had some experience working with video production companies in the past, so these companies included some of the ones we already knew, others that were recommended to us, and others we found doing a Google search.

From those companies, we shortlisted five and looked carefully at what they had produced and who they had worked with. Eventually, we chose Slow Clap due to their experience, their past work, and the reference check we did on them.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We engaged with them in June 2021. At the time, we had planned to have the ceremony at the end of 2021, but we were unsure about it and ended up postponing it until 2022. Still, we had a check-in in September 2021 to ensure we were still on board for the project, and we officially started working together in February 2022. The video was completed in October 2022, just in time for our 50th-anniversary gala.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very happy with the video produced by Slow Clap. We even had a review team look at it, and they were also very satisfied with its overall structure and how the storytelling was done.

How did Slow Clap Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Slow Clap was very good at keeping everything on schedule, and they constantly let us know the status of the project. Throughout the engagement, we also had several revision sessions to evaluate their work. First, they provided me with a paper edit, which needed a lot of work and changes to take it to where we wanted it to be.

Then, Slow Clap shared the first and second cuts, which our review team reviewed. We were very happy with how things were looking thus far, but we still proposed some changes and edits to get the video to where it now is.

Our meetings initially took place on a video conference platform that Slow Clap set up. After that, we used Zoom and Google Meet occasionally. Additionally, we set up Slack channels devoted to communicating about the project's different parts, and we used Vimeo to review the video cuts. We also used Dropbox to share files, photos, and documents, as well as Google Drive to keep track of timelines, transcripts, and more.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Slow Clap was very knowledgeable and responsive to our requests.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When I started this project, I didn’t have experience with these types of projects, so it would have been great if the timeline and expectations were clearer from the beginning. For example, at one point, I was expecting to see a big-picture outline of what the video would include, but that didn’t happen.

However, Slow Clap then sent me the paper edit, which in a sense, was what I was looking for. It made me realize that I was asking for it very early in the process. Still, they always let us know what was happening.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Spend time thinking about the frontend of the project and the needs you will have towards its deadline so that you can consider those needs from the beginning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a creative director at a health insurance company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slow Clap Productions?

We wanted to ensure that we communicated our company’s story, mission, and vision to our employees and clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slow Clap Productions does video production work for us. They help us with storyboarding, presenting ideas, and taking the lead depending on the scope of the current project. To jumpstart every task, we have brainstorming sessions to share with them the story we want to tell. Regarding technologies and equipment, they use Adobe Premiere and high-end video cameras with professional lighting and audio.

In addition to that, they’ve done other photography tasks for us.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 3–5 members of their team, including Dan (Creative Director), Beijo (Associate Producer), Naomi (Junior Creative Director), and Jake (Post-Production Manager).

How did you come to work with Slow Clap Productions?

They were already working with us when I took my current position.

How much money have you invested in this partnership?

We’ve spent $100,000–$250,000 with them in the last two and a half years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. We use them at least 3–4 times a year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their team has been professional and easy to work with. Moreover, thanks to their quality videos, we’ve also noticed increased clicks, views, and overall engagement.

How did Slow Clap Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is great; I don’t have to worry about them not meeting a deadline. They’re always on top of everything and constantly communicate with us about our feedback on the videos and other situations. Regarding tools, we use email and calendar invites — they’re great at staying in contact.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m constantly impressed by their time management skills. They’ve taken on challenging tasks where they’ve had to film people all over California and coordinate recording times, which I’m glad they did because it would’ve been a nightmare for me to do it alone. Overall, I’m thankful for our partnership.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I recommend they eventually upgrade their gear to shoot in 8K so they can future-proof their deliverables.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend people working with them. We’ve had a great experience with them, and they have reasonable pricing and professional quality compared to other providers.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a producer at an event company that does large-scale corporate events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slow Clap Productions?

We needed help with our video production needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slow Clap supports our video production needs, and their scope ranges from storyboarding and shooting to audio mixing, video editing, and postproduction — they do it all. The videos they’ve produced for us are both animated and film, for which they provide their own studios and equipment.

Whenever we have a new project on hand, we call them and provide them with rough outlines. Then, they take charge of creating the concepts and storyboard, although we occasionally collaborate closely with them on that side of the project. After that, they handle the rest of the video production, using a variety of high-end video-editing tools to accomplish what we need.

What is the team composition?

Whenever we have a new project, I reach out to Dan (Creative Director), and he connects us with different producers from his team. Depending on the project, we work with 5–10 people from their team.

How did you come to work with Slow Clap Productions?

They were already working for us before I joined the company.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve worked together on a lot of projects, and the budget of each project has varied.

What is the status of this engagement?

Slow Clap has been working with us for longer than I’ve been in the company, and the partnership has lasted for at least 10 years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Every video that Slow Clap has produced for us has been really good. They can tackle a large variety of projects, from small to large ones, and they’re always very fun to work with.

How did Slow Clap Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Slow Clap is always on time, and we work very closely with everyone on their team. Additionally, they’re great communicators. We communicate over Slack and Zoom, and they’re always very responsive. We also use different trackers to get each project done, and we communicate daily throughout the projects.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Slow Clap is a very talented, flexible, and creative video production partner, so we work with them whenever we need them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re very good.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior analyst at an administrative agency for a government branch. I’m in charge of our jury improvement program. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slow Claps Productions? 

We hired Slow Clap Productions to produce a new juror orientation video. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slow Clap Productions produced the video using real people, although it did have some animation that featured the courtroom layout. The team did the storyboarding, scriptwriting, conceptualization, and art production using their own equipment and studio.

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with 3–4 members of their team, including their CEO, one of their assistant producers, and one of their regular producers. On occasion, somebody helped us master and produce the DVD copies of the video. 

How did you come to work with Slow Claps Productions?

As a government agency, we were required to do a competitive solicitation. We sent out an RFP, and Slow Clap Productions was one of the three vendors that sent their proposals. Through the selection process, they were ultimately the team that acquired the contract. 

How much have you invested with them?

Originally, the contract cost $200,000, but we bumped it up a little bit for inflation because the project got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the investment was around $280,000, give or take some extra dollars. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from December 2019–May 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a soft premiere where I streamed the digital copy of the video to my internal staff and other people from the court system. The wide release was done on our agency’s YouTube channel, which was where a lot of people could stream the video. Our team also sent out DVDs to courts that requested them. We then made digital copies available for them to download directly from our website.

In terms of viewer feedback, we had an overwhelmingly positive response from everybody who watched the video, including our justice partners. I didn’t receive any negative comments about the video at all, so it was universally liked. It was used by all 58 trial courts in the country. 

Meanwhile, Slow Clap Productions delivered on all the key things we needed for this contract. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to shoot and do things remotely except for those tasks that they needed to do in person. Ultimately, we got a couple of weeks’ worth of filming done in just about one week, which was truly impressive. 

How did Slow Claps Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Slow Clap Productions met our deadline. We did have to revise it because of the pandemic, however — for instance, we couldn’t do any filming at all in 2020. On top of that, they met our budget, though we had to raise it a little bit because we had to pay for some precautionary measures in 2021 against COVID-19.

In terms of tools, we had a spreadsheet of timelines where we tracked the phases of the project. The phases were color-coded, and key deliverables were listed within each phase. To communicate, we used emails, Outlook, phone calls, Zoom, Google Meet, and in-person interactions. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Slow Clap Productions was a small company in the larger scheme of video production companies, but they were fierce. They were good at their job; we did this project during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the team was adaptable, flexible, innovative, creative, and open to new ideas and solutions. On top of that, they took every dollar as fast as it could possibly go. Overall, because they believed in our project so much, they went above and beyond for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the future, as they work with more government entities, they’ll have to get used to the red tape that occurs in state agencies. We have a lot of red tape and requirements, and they need a lot of documentation work — that’s the nature of how we work. 

Slow Clap Productions will have to provide a lot more documentation than may be necessary for their other clients. Specifically, they’ll need more documentation in terms of costs and expense benchmarks to see whether or not those costs are reasonable. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust Slow Clap Productions with the video production aspects of your project. They’re experts at that, and that’s where they truly shine. Tell them what you want, like, or dislike — let them know your vision, and they’ll do their best to execute it. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a content strategist at a national healthcare insurance company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slow Clap Productions?

We needed a company that could help us produce a video that highlighted our new product, which we found a bit more difficult to describe and sell.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve done a number of videos with Slow Clap Productions in the past. They’re in charge of shooting footage, writing the scripts, creating the storyboards, taking photographs, and handling all pre- and post-production efforts.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with two people from Slow Clap Productions.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did Slow Clap Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Slow Clap Productions has performed well in terms of project management. They usually respond to all of our inquiries very quickly. In fact, their follow-up is better than ours, and we’re already pretty good at that. Not one request or inquiry felt like it was dismissed ever. I also like how whenever we provide them feedback, whether it’s on the creative brief of the videos, they actually take everything in.

We typically communicate through email or phone. We also have Zoom meetings as needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

With Slow Clap, we feel like we're connecting with people who genuinely understand our project, concerns, feedback, and questions. They make us feel like we’re their only client, and we never have to follow up on anything with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to engage with them and to ask questions. If you're not getting something that you want, say so.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior communications manager at a full-service public engagement, communications, and marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slow Clap Productions?

We needed help with producing a brand awareness video for our client.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We kicked off our engagement with Slow Clap Productions through a series of introductory calls, wherein we discussed our goals, developed the script, and refined our projected storyboard. Upon securing our client’s approval, we kicked off the production process. Slow Clap Productions spearheaded the logistics, motion graphics production, and post-production stages. They also applied edits based on client feedback.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Dan (Founder & Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Slow Clap Productions?

They were a long-time partner that our company onboarded before I joined.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent more than $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from August–December 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our client was highly satisfied with what Slow Clap Productions delivered. They were a talented team that brought creative ideas and reliable production solutions to the table, resulting in a well-crafted brand awareness video.

How did Slow Clap Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via email and Zoom. Slow Clap Productions remained on top of their project management game throughout the engagement, and they collaborated well with our team to meet our client’s exact requirements.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were most impressed with their top-notch storytelling and logistics skills. Slow Clap Productions had what it took to be a creative and organized provider, which solidified their placement within the industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Slow Clap Productions was great from the beginning.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Prepare a creative brief and motivate them to be as innovative and successful as possible.