The results-driven video production company
We create impactful videos that help brands engage their audience and grow their business.
Our award-winning team of videographers, animators and editors create effective and affordable videos that will help put your brand streets ahead of the competition
Based in East London, our videos bring to life the unique story of every brand we work with - helping to drive engagement, deliver more sales and achieve maximum reach. We draw on 30+ years experience between the team to come up with the best creative video ideas for our clients and then deliver to the highest quality through our knowledge of the best camera kit, top studio locations and ultimate partner agencies. We’ve helped household names like Aldi and EDF Energy communicate better with their audience, whilst also supporting smaller brands in creating impactful video content that’s put their name on the map. Whether we’re creating product videos, branded content or web adverts, we always put your audience at the heart of everything we do, producing video content that is memorable, engaging and always delivers on your required objectives.
We can also amplify your video content through digital marketing techniques.
We don’t just make award-winning films, we also amplify those films to the right audience with digital marketing. We've helped Pots & Co to sell more puddings through a targeted Facebook and Instagram campaign, taken over billboards on the London underground for Upbeat Drinks and create a suite of video assets for dashcam brand Nextbase to run a global advertising campaign. We work with you to fully understand your objectives and your brand messaging, then ensure you reach the right people with a strategic media plan, using Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok ads, influencer marketing campaigns or programmatic media buying. We’ve helped our clients to get over 30 million video views which is why over 80% of our business comes through referral.
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Portfolio
Aldi Supermarket, Tilda Rice, Co-Op, Charlie Bigham, Lucky Saint, Mackie's Icecream, Everhot Cooker, Emily Crisps, Plenish, Upbeat Drinks, DashCams, Interactive Investor, EDF Energy, The Sock Shop
Everhot - Breathing life into a heritage brand
Everhot wanted a modern feeling film to tell the story of their brand with their heritage and commitment to British manufacturing.
OUR CREATIVE SOLUTION
After gaining a strong understanding of the company’s ethos and “DNA” we came to Everhot with a creative approach which we felt best reflected the fact that they have one toe in the past and another in the 21st century.
THE RESULT
Their brand film captures the essence of the brand, showing off the old water mill where the brand was born, their local workforce and their commitment to carbon neutrality. They are now working with us to amplify their voice through social media content.
Mous - Raising £2 million in pre-orders
THE BRIEF
Mous had designed an indestructible phone case and needed to launch it to the world. They asked us to create a video for the campaign.
OUR CREATIVE SOLUTION
We looked closely at Mous’s competitors, the customers they were trying to reach and the content they were engaging with and we worked closely with the client to understand who they were going to get the video content in front of their audience. We created a video that had strong storytelling to get buy in from the audience and was also packed full of stunts including dropping a brand new Iphone from a crane 40ft up!
THE RESULT
The video generated £2 million in sales in the first few months and has been watched over 20 million times across various platforms. Mous has grown exponentially in the last 2 years and were recently ranked by Forbes as being in the top 10 UK SMEs with fastest revenue growth.
Emily Crisps - Crowdfunding £1 Million
THE BRIEF
Emily Crisps came to us with a specific challenge; to create a video for a new Seedrs investment raise. They wanted us to capture the fun and excitement of the brand as well as showing their crisps are incredibly well received by anyone who tries them.
OUR CREATIVE SOLUTION
We created a film with video and motion graphics that was strongly on-brand in terms of colour and style. By bringing Emily and her team to a green screen studio we were able to create some fun footage that reflected their personality. By also filming a sampling session on the street in Kensington, we captured lots of footage of members of the public trying Emily Crisps for the first time.
THE RESULT
Emily Crisps campaign was fully funded in just a few days and ultimately raised over £1.1 million.
Upbeat Drinks - 140% uplift in online sales
Upbeat wanted to launch their new range of juicy protein waters to the world in a summer campaign. They were looking for maximum eyeballs on their product and an uplift in sales.
OUR CREATIVE SOLUTION
We teamed up with our partner agency Tipi Group to form a comprehensive digital strategy that would make maximum use of the video content we produced to reach the greatest number of people for the lowest possible cost. Through gaining a deep understanding of the client’s product, business / sales strategy, customers and the “occasions” that they would consume the product, we were able to come up with a creative approach that would resonate with their audience and drive the most traffic to retail stores where they could buy the product.
THE RESULT
We created 3 separate adverts in both landscape and portrait aspect ratio to be used in a multichannel approach with ads running on Facebook/Instagram, Youtube and Digital Display billboards across the capital including outside key Sainsbury’s locations. In a campaign lasting 6 weeks helped them secure 2.2 million online views and 4.5 million impressions. Their online sales increased 140% and they saw a 30% increase in sales at Sainsburys.
Aldi Supermarket - Product Videos
THE BRIEF
We have partnered with Aldi to deliver a series of product films to supercharge their “Special Buys” e-commerce platform where they sell everything from toasters to bistro sets. Consistent high quality and fast-turnaround two of the most important factors in bringing these products to life.
OUR CREATIVE SOLUTION
By making the products to heroes of all these films, we have created a simple concept that shines a spotlight on the key selling points of each particular item. For shoppers looking to get a better feel for these products, we place them into a real-world scenario to showcase them properly.
THE RESULT
We continue to help Aldi to inform their customers and help them make better purchase decisions. Our video content breathes life into their existing range and enables their newer products to sell faster.
Tilda Rice - Getting nutritious meals to mothers in need
THE BRIEF
Tilda wanted an animation to highlight their collaboration with the World Food Programme, getting nutritious meals to mothers in developing countries. They wanted it to be striking, emotive and impart information with a strong narrative and call to action.
OUR CREATIVE SOLUTION
To bring this story to life, we chose a style that incorporated photo imagery, motion graphics and animation. Following discussions with the client, we wrote the script, then commissioned bespoke photography of a family in Bangladesh. We then brought this together in a unique film.
THE RESULT
This animation was extremely well received by key stakeholders within both Tilda and The World Food Programme. It has subsequently been used in broad marketing around this initiative including some TV advertising. We feel proud to have contributed in a small way towards Tilda’s work in providing 5.8 million nutritious meals to mothers in need.
Reviews
the project
Video Production for Marketing Communications Agency
“They’re really honest and trustworthy business partners.”
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 managing director of Quantock, a brand creative and marketing communications agency.
What challenge were you trying to address with Small Films?
We initially hired Small Films to create our headline proposition video.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The headline proposition video is animated and outlines what our business stands for, our purpose, and our promise.
Small Films also created another video that lets clients see our team environment. In addition to videography, they created unique GIFs for each of our team members’ bios and uploaded them to the team page on our website.
Over time, they’ve become our video marketing partner and so we’ve worked on several client-facing projects with them.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with 4–5 team members, including George (Founder & Creative Director), Anthony (Senior Producer), and a videographer.
How did you come to work with Small Films?
They work in the same sector as us, so we were familiar with their product. When we met with them, it felt like we had a natural synergy with them. Their business operates in a similar way as ours. They have the same attitude and outlook as our team.
How much have you invested with them?
Our project cost £8,000 (approximately $11,000 USD), but if we include the client projects we’ve worked on, we’ve probably spent £80,000–£100,000 (approximately $110,000–$140,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in March 2019 and the project is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’re incredibly pleased with the production quality of the videos they’ve created. We’ve been able to use the videos at many events and in several different circumstances.
How did Small Films perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re professional and organized. They always meet deadlines.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’re really honest and trustworthy business partners. They’re grounded and professional people.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There isn’t anything they need to improve on.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Spend time with them at the beginning of the project, don’t rush the process, and listen to their experience.
the project
Video Production for Private School
"Both crew members were very skilled and knowledgeable about what was needed on the film."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the Marketing Manager for The Oratory School, an independent co-educational Catholic boarding & day senior school in Oxfordshire.
For what projects/services did your company hire Small Films?
Lockdown meant that we were no longer able to offer virtual open mornings or personalised showrounds, therefore we needed a way of showing our school to prospective parents. Filming a virtual tour of our school and grounds became the obvious solution.
What were your goals for this project?
To provide a virtual tour of the school to prospective parents who were no longer able to attend open mornings or showrounds due to lockdown. An "online prospectus" that would boost interaction and engagement as an addition to our website in these virtual times.
How did you select Small Films?
Small Films were originally recommended to us by one of our Design Agencies. They had produced a fantastic drone video for The Oratory School a couple of years previously, so we knew they would be the right company for this particular project.
Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.
Small Films were already familiar with our school having filmed our drone footage. A selection of 1 minute videos were taken of key areas within The Oratory's 100-acre countryside estate. The final result was a selection of 20 videos (of up to 1 minute in length), which were then placed on an interactive campus map, which can be accessed at https://virtualtour.oratory.co.uk/
What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?
We had a 2 man crew, one to oversee the project alongside myself and one to do the actual filming. There were 3 video edits to get to the final approved versions.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The virtual tour videos have become one of the most viewed pages on our website. Prospective parents have commented on the ability to gain a feel for our school from just a few short videos, with leads that have become actual visitors as our gates become open to personal tours once more. The videos have also become a great resource for virtual events, such as our open mornings. They are played between speakers to provide smooth transition and natural breaks that are also engaging to watch.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Very. I provided an "ideal" list of what we would like to film and Small Films were able to accommodate that within a suitable time frame to suit our budget. The first draft of videos came through 1 week after filming and the completed third edit of videos were returned to us within 2 weeks of filming.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Both crew members were very skilled and knowledgeable about what was needed on the film. They understood the brief from the get-go and performed the project to a high standard in record time.
Are there any areas for improvement?
Small Films completed everything that was asked of them and we are very satisfied with the results. We would definitely like to use them again for our next video production - watch this space!
the project
Video Creation & Marketing for Sales Consultancy Company
“The way they hit the deadlines they set is magnificent.”
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 CEO and founder of Sales for Startups. We’re a sales consultancy company focused on building and optimizing sales operations for B2B companies to increase their revenue and secure further funding.
What challenge were you trying to address with Small Films?
Our engagement with Small Films is around brand and marketing awareness. We want to make our brand more visible in the marketplace as well as make it consistent across our channels, which include our social media, website, and YouTube channel.
One project they’ve done with us was around the promotion of an event through video, which we felt was one of the best ways to engage potential attendees. Previously, we suffered from low attendance rates. As a result, we enlisted Small Films to help us grow the attendance for our events.
What was the scope of their involvement?
George (Founder) is the advisor for everything that’s related to video content to help us get the most out of our marketing output.
In a specific project, we created a film for an event. The video showcased what it was like to go to a Sales for Startups event. Small Films’ work involved understanding our goals for the video, capturing the entire event, editing the film, and giving feedback. Then, we optimized the video to get the best reception and searchability on platforms like Google and LinkedIn.
They’ve also done quite a lot of discovery on us. They initially picked out a few of the video assets we already had. Then, they showed us the disparity between those existing assets and their recommendations. They explained how they wanted the videos to look like and how they’d rebrand them to achieve maximum results.
What is the team composition?
We work with around four people from Small Films. George’s role is to understand our requirements in terms of video creation and finding value therein. He also helps us optimize the video to achieve the greatest ROI we can make.
We also work with Anthony (Senior Producer), who is focused on the actual production of the video. He ensures the videos are on brand and help deliver our message. He makes sure that the video edit is of the highest quality.
There’s also a videographer, whose job is to help capture the footage on the day. Meanwhile, a coordinator helps us in terms of logistics, preparation time, and similar things. Basically, she was the scheduler of all the activities we do for the filming.
How did you come to work with Small Films?
I found Small Films through a referral by someone I like, know, and trust. Initially, we reviewed a few video agencies and checked out 2–3 quotes and pictures from various suppliers. Eventually, we found that Small Films truly understood our brand and what we were trying to achieve.
On top of that, they came in with an effective rate in relation to their work’s quality. They weren’t the cheapest, but the speed of production was more of a buying factor for us than the costs. They were very engaged in the process of understanding our needs, and they mapped out what should be done to achieve our goals, so we hired them.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested around £5,000 (approximately $7,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in September 2019, and we've worked with them since then on a couple of projects. The partnership is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Since the publication of that specific video they created, we’ve signed two clients, and the ROI from those clients has been around £50,000 (approximately $69,000 USD) — or 10 times our initial investment.
We also gained a strategic partnership with one of our attendees after the video was published. We’ve worked with them to publicize our brand as one of the top tech communities in the UK. Off the back of this partnership, we’ve signed another business opportunity, which can be another £25,000 (approximately $35,000 USD) in revenue.
In total, we’ve gained around £75,000 (approximately $103,500 USD) ROI from our modest investment in Small Films.
How did Small Films perform from a project management standpoint?
Adhering to the timelines and providing timely feedback are a large part of the video editing. Small Films coordinate the timelines of when the drafts will be received, so they meet all deadlines. I know when things are coming and, more importantly, when they need my feedback.
We use a couple of technologies for video production and editing, and we see the evolution of videos as we go along. As a result, the projects are quite easy to navigate and manage — I know what’s going on, when it’s happening, and where it needs to be done. Apart from that, they’re one of the first video agencies to actually hit the timelines we’ve discussed from signing the contract to the point of YouTube publication.
What did you find most impressive about them?
First and foremost, if we’re creating a video, we need to understand what we’re trying to achieve and what our ROI is. George gives us a good explanation on what we can do with the video and how we can make that ROI really count. This is really impressive because videographers often focus on capturing the video rather than knowing how we can make our investment multiply in terms of ROI.
Secondly, the way they hit the deadlines they set is magnificent. I haven’t witnessed anything like that in any other video agency.
Thirdly, in terms of the financial reward our business gets, I’m impressed with our ROI. We’ve had a fairly small project, but it clearly counts toward our revenue — it’s made a big impact on our business. We still reap rewards from the customers and partnerships that we acquired as a result of Small Film’s work.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They have the opportunity to review our other existing assets and improve them as well. This isn’t a part of the original brief, but they probably can start a secondary or tertiary project off the back of our initial engagements. They’ve already done a great job, but they can still step up a gear. They can provide more valuable service to us to make sure that all of our video assets are in line with the ones we’ve created with them so far.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
First, they should ask the Small Films team how to gain the greatest ROI when investing in video. They should listen to the team’s strategies and advice. Then, they should understand when things need to be done; the timing of the video release and marketing also contribute to the ROI. In other words, if they can hit deadlines, they can get a greater ROI.
Thirdly, they should ask Small Films for their advice on how to improve the other areas of their business, marketing, or video strategy. They should ask them to scope out what that will look like for future engagements or projects.
the project
Video Production for Advertising Agency
"The team bent over backwards to deliver the project within a very short period of time."
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 managing director and founder of MCH London - The Responsible Advertising Agency. We are a full-service digital agency based in London.
What challenge were you trying to address with Small Films?
At the height of COVID-19, we had a project for a virtual boat race. We needed to stitch together several video assets of rowers rowing home along with a virtual course that represented the famous Oxford vs. Cambridge boat race. We hired Small Films to help us stay within budget and meet the short, four-week turnaround time.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We had a five-step approach: briefing, discovery, production, post-production, and distribution.
At the beginning of our conversation, we introduced Small Films to our preferred video provider for the briefing. We entered the discovery phase with the production team and the rowers to finalize the project plan. Three weeks were allocated for the rowers to film themselves individually, after which we proceeded to put the videos together in the post-production phase.
Small Films’ final video was then published through a fundraising website, various broadcast media channels, and social media platforms. The project was meant to improve the interface and online reputation of our client.
What is the team composition?
There were between 4–6 people working with us.
How did you come to work with Small Films?
We went through a briefing process that included known and unknown suppliers. We had to make a quick decision due to the short turnaround time, so I chose Small Films because I knew George (Founder) through the International Advertising Association. He had become a trusted supplier because of that link.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve given between $15,000–$20,000 to Small Films.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project was first spoken about at the beginning of May 2020. The brief was undertaken mid-May, and the video was released on June 13, 2020. We are still engaged for the long-term and I’m thinking of working with them again this year.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The initial target of the fundraising was £10,000 (approximately $14,000 USD). Since the virtual boat race generated an excess of £25,000 (approximately $34,000 USD) in donations, this allowed the organizing charity to deliver 30 powerhouse games which will directly benefit 2,250 children.
Small Films’ video gained 505,000 views on the fundraising website, which led to a great uptake on the event. It was covered by a huge variety of media including Radio 5 Live and BBC Local News. Write-ups were present in UK national papers like The Times, Evening Standard, Metro, and Time Out. The event even made the BBC Sport website.
The estimated global reach of the PR was over 700 million people.
How did Small Films perform from a project management standpoint?
The Small Films team is incredibly good to work with. They’re also highly responsive. We communicate with Small Films via phone, Zoom, and WhatsApp.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’re a very collaborative agency, which is why we love working with them. The team bent over backwards to deliver the project within a very short period of time. The level of their work was phenomenal.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Honestly, there is nothing for them to improve on. There was nothing they could’ve done better.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Go in with a creative, open mind and trust Small Films’ judgment and process. Always consider the content, the strategy, and the amplification or distribution.
the project
Promotional Videos & Ad Clips for Private School
"Small Films delivered personal yet professional services, which set them apart from other service providers."
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 marketing secretary at Dumpton School, a UK-based independent day school for children aged 2–13.
What challenge were you trying to address with Small Films?
We needed their expertise in video production.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Small Films produced promotional videos to help boost our school’s digital presence. The package we availed of consisted of three two-minute short films and some 15-second video advertisements. Our headmaster relayed our goals to Small Films, and they were responsible for conceptualizing and executing those ideas into videos.
Their team handled the entire process, including the pre-production phases that involved script writing and location scouting. They filmed all the videos onsite, featuring our facilities, staff, and students. Once they concluded the production phase, they moved forward with the editing process.
What is the team composition?
We worked with about three members from Small Films.
How did you come to work with Small Films?
Small Films made it to our shortlist along with a few other production companies. I reached out to their previous clients and heard great things about their work. Additionally, they were a small dedicated group, and we thought it was advantageous to hire a team that could focus solely on our needs.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about £15,000 (approximately $20,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
The project ran from September 2020–September 2021.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our videos evidently improved our web traffic and social media reach, particularly on Facebook and Instagram. Small Films kept our school’s image at the forefront of our target audience’s attention — that was our main success metric for their work.
How did Small Films perform from a project management standpoint?
Small Films was on top of their project management game — they met all our deadlines and promptly addressed our requests. Overall, we were happy to have worked with such an accessible and responsive team.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They were a highly genuine and accommodating team that respected our deadlines and budget. Small Films delivered personal yet professional services, which set them apart from other service providers.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They met all our expectations — there wasn’t any area that needed improvement.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be honest in relaying your goals and needs and prepare your project brief ahead of time. If you allow Small Films to showcase their creativity through their ideas and deliverables, you’ll surely achieve what you want.
the project
Animated Video production for Investment Company
"The project management was excellent from start to finish."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
I am head of multimedia at the UK's second-largest direct-to-consumer investment platform, Interactive Investor. I oversee strategy and production across video, audio and graphics.
To create a series of three short animations to explain how SIPPs (self-invested personal pensions) and ISAs (individual savings accounts) work to a beginner audience. Previous animations failed in that they took too long to get to the point. We wanted to rectify that this time with direct answers to these direct questions: What is a SIPP? What is an ISA? ISA vs SIPP: which is best? We wanted to improve the searchability of the relevant product pages on ii.co.uk, enhance the customer journey, and fill gaps in our educational content.
Former colleagues recommended Small Films to me, and this was the perfect project for them to pitch for. Each video was 40-50-seconds long (including necessary legal disclaimers) and presented answers to the above questions in a visually compelling way. The project management was excellent from start to finish. Each stage was clear, including script work, feedback, edits, voiceover etc, and any changes were discussed and implemented to ensure the purpose of the animations was at the heart of every tweak.
The subject of the animations were selected with a wider SEO project in mind and have contributed to improved Google search results, page sessions and bounce rate for the company website. All three videos have average view durations of +80% - a ringing endorsement considering the patience of viewers. Outside of the finished animations, the workflow and project management were standouts with Small Films. The communication was excellent, edits prompt and we settled into a rhythm very quickly.