World-class video production services for brands
Hello, we’re Story Machine. We create social media videos, TV commercials, and documentary style content for brands, agencies and publishers.
So far we’ve created over 3,000 videos for Australia’s leading brands and agencies. We pride ourselves on industry-leading creative execution, superior service and fast project turnarounds.
In 2017 AdNews named us as one of the top four production companies in Australia.
headquarters
other locations
Focus
Portfolio
Afterpay, Loreal, Software, TMGM, Microsoft, Tag Heuer, Nimble, Bumble, Pilot
YSL | Gift Gold Gift Bold
Working closely with the team at YSL Beaty, we created a full suite of video and photo assets for the Gift Gold Gift Bold campaign.
Dazey LA | Journey
Shot in Sydney, Los Angeles, and London, this video is one of 34 that we created for Afterpay's B2B marketing team. The campaign follows the journey of retail merchants from all over the world, chronicling the launch or their business to the moment they joined Afterpay.
Due to COVID the campaign was Produced and Directed remotely from Sydney, Australia working with local and internal crew abroad.
Finance Faster
Introducing Jack, a millennial disenfranchised from the traditional banking sector looking for a fast and simple lending solution.
Jack begins his journey like most people looking for a loan – at a bank. He is immediately faced by a man stuck in slow motion, another woman who gives him an insurmountable pile of contracts, and a third staff member who teases Jack the money only to pull it away at the last second.
Reaching a pinnacle of frustration with the system, Jack turns to his phone for a solution. Enter Nimble - the faster, smarter way to borrow money. After only a few simple clicks, he is boosted to maximum acceleration away from the bank and into the idyllic scenarios once the loan is approved – the car repair, the holiday, that new purchase.
TMGM Santa's little helper
We worked with TMGM to create Max, an anthorpomorphic globe that's so good at trading you'll want it to do everything. In this Christmas spot, Santa enlists Max's help to deliver Christmas presents. Take a look to see what happens.
Pilot | Ed Spot
Working with Pilot, we created a series of seven different direct response ads to promote their ED product.
Pilot TVC
We worked closely with the team at Pilot to craft a series of commerical's to promote their product range in Australia. Shot over one day, we created 8 versions of the commerical for use across different platforms.
Mosman Mums
Set in the high-flying Sydney suburb of Mosman, this spot ran as a parody to a local reality TV show that highlight some of the extreme skincare regimens of the rich and famous.
Didi | AFL Partnership
We created this True View commercial for Didi's Max rideshare launch in Melbourne. We managed all aspects of production from concept, script, production and post-production.
Pilot | Pole Vault
We created this campaign to align with the 2021 summer Olympics. It ran during the Olympic coverage on BVOD and TV nationally in Australia.
Taking a humerous approach to a series condition, we created a series of ads that were metaphors for male medical conditions. In this, erectile disfunction.
Microsoft | Hybrid Work
Working with Microsoft, we created a video to promote their TEDx event on Hybrid work. The piece is a carefully crafted narritive that explores some of the critical topics speakers at the event discussed.
Software | Anti-aging
Taking a direct response approach, this commerical focuses on Software's key selling points and why they are relevant to thier target audience.
Introducing Max
To align with TMGM's sport sponsorship approach to marketing, we created a comedic series about their Mascot, Max. Max just appeared when Tim, as TMGM user started using their App. He is the embodiment of good at trading, but unfortunately for Tim, he's not good at much else.
Be Confident Compare Agents
Introducing, Mike and Julia, a couple looking to sell their house but are a little intimidated about how to start.
Starting in a household kitchen, as most life changing conversations do, Mike announces his thoughts on selling the house. Suddenly, this brings an army of real estate agents – papers, cookies and ties flying through the air as they run to be the first one to meet Mike and Julia.
Luckily, Local Agent Finder allows them to choose the best match and provide a stress-free way of comparing and connecting with their preferred agent. This idea makes the message clear and at the end of the day, relatable to those who are a little lost on how to start the process of finding the right agent.
Buble Bizz
To promote the launch of Bumble Bizz, their professional networking extension, we created a series of videos that show how networking is key to professional growth and success.
To ensure the videos stood out, we created a custom built and painted set as well as visually impactful motion graphic elements.
Perth WA!!!
Working with globally acclaimed comedian Arj Barker, we created a simple yet impactful commercial for Didi to annouce their launch in Perth, Western Australia (WA).
So Good Frozen Deserts
We created this spot to promote the launch of So Good's new Frozen Deserts.
Strength Within
Directed by Arthur Chan, and written by Ezra Auperle, this commercial spot for Musashi uses an inspiring voice over to drive impactful visuals of professional athletes pushing their bodies to the limit during training.
You the man, man.
Our story takes place in a familiar yet nondescript changing room where our lead talent, AFL super star Max Gawn is getting ready to go out after a game or training session.
As he goes through his normal routine of getting ready, he’s surprised to see that his reflection abruptly stops mirroring him and starts speaking to him. His reflection is a cooler, more confident version of himself, and he has a single objective in mind - to hype Max up so much that he convinces him to shave his balls.
Unbeknown to the audience, the music and dialogue that accompanies Max’s reflection is only heard by Max. As the commercial reaches it’s climax, Max is so hyped up that he yells an inappropriate punch line in a mic drop moment where it’s revealed that he’s not alone.
Reviews
the project
Video Production for Event Management Company
"Their editing and delivery process was fantastic, as well as the tech they used."
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 co-founder and director of Avant. We are a sponsorship, activation, and events company located in Sydney, Australia.
What challenge were you trying to address with Story Machine?
We needed help with video production.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We had created a partnership with two very large organizations. As part of our agency, we also have an activation arm, and we were bringing the sponsorship to light via an online event, and a number of shorter online events — one lasted for an hour and there were three 30-minute events. Story Machine did our promo videos, and they also did one of the pre-recordings for a 30-minute event.
Story Machine was deeply involved in the creative direction, organizing the scripts and interviewing talents to recording, directing, producing, and editing. They did the filming, and they also did some of the titles in terms of graphics.
What is the team composition?
We worked with Ezra (Founder & Managing Director), Ben (Director), and the rest of their production team.
How did you come to work with Story Machine?
They were recommended to me by the head of marketing at one of our organizations who worked with them before. We went through a procurement process and met with two or three different agencies to see how they would treat the brief.
One of the main reasons we hired them was because of their ability to deliver despite the ongoing pandemic. The two organizations we partnered with followed strict protocols around health and safety and Story Machine was able to reassure us that the filming was going to be done safely.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked with them from June–December 2021.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The online event was a huge success. We had thousands of people register for the online event and 60% of them were part of our target audience. There was also the fact that our content really resonated with our target market, which led to so many registrations. There were a lot of other factors feeding into that, including the initial calling card that Story Machine created.
How did Story Machine perform from a project management standpoint?
They did an excellent job with the first project despite being under an aggressive timeline. They were maybe a little less sharp in the second project, but to be fair, Ezra basically ran the first project and then handed the second one to a junior account manager. Still, everything we needed was delivered.
The product that was delivered was excellent in terms of quality, especially for the first project. Their editing and delivery process was fantastic, as well as the tech they used. They also have a very clear pathway for deadlines and processes in terms of giving feedback.
Their team used Excel to track tasks, and we communicated mainly via email and Microsoft Teams.
What did you find most impressive about them?
We were most impressed with their ability to listen to the brief and then elevate it through their storytelling and video production skills. In a nutshell, they executed the brief seamlessly.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There was a little bit missing in the frontend production. They were very good at the payment and contracting side of things, but in terms of the scheduling, they could improve a little bit. These were just small hiccups and barely affected the outcome — their team still did a very good job overall.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Giving them the complete brief worked really well because they were great at answering it. Their feedback process was excellent, too. As a client, you should stick to their feedback guidelines and schedule so the project will run really smoothly.
the project
Video Production for Payments Platform
"We worked with different agencies in the past, but they were the only team that creatively brought our vision to life."
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 global SMB marketing lead at Afterpay, an international payments platform.
What challenge were you trying to address with Story Machine?
We wanted to highlight our merchants’ journey and the diversity of our platform through a promotional video.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Story Machine devised scripts and storyboards based on our case studies. They interviewed our merchants across three locations and compiled all the clips for post-processing. They applied creative edits and audio mixing and collated everything into a full-length promotional video.
Apart from their primary deliverable, Story Machine also crafted a product video for one of our offerings, including short clips highlighting the deals that come with our package.
What is the team composition?
I worked with Ezra (Founder & Managing Director) and Ash (Senior Creative Producer).
How did you come to work with Story Machine?
Another provider recommended Story Machine’s team to us. We went with them because we found their concepts creative and detailed.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project ran from September 2021–January 2022.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve yet to launch the videos on our platform, so I couldn’t speak of any quantitative metrics at this point. From our team’s perspective, Story Machine produced compelling and high-quality videos that well represented our merchants’ journey and vividly captured our creative requirements.
How did Story Machine perform from a project management standpoint?
We communicated via email and Zoom meetings. Story Machine diligently met our deadlines and coordinated well with our team to overcome time constraints due to merchant-related issues.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Story Machine was a professional and quality-oriented partner that took our business goals seriously. We worked with different agencies in the past, but they were the only team that creatively brought our vision to life.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They could experiment more on their production style by making their videos seem more candid than scripted.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Prepare a clear brief with defined objectives and allow Story Machine to work as creatively as possible.
the project
TV Commercial Production for Healthcare Brand
"They have a really strong understanding of our requirements and the ability to create direct response efforts."
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 at Eucalyptus, a house of healthcare brands.
What challenge were you trying to address with Story Machine?
We needed TV commercials (TVCs) produced, so we turned to Story Machine.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Story Machine created two 30 second TVC commercials. They also edited those into 15-second cut-down versions. Their team did the full end-to-end production process from storyboarding, scouting talents, and casting to direction, editing, and sound mixing.
What is the team composition?
We primarily worked with the executive producer and the owner. There’s a wider range of people that were on the production team like the director of photography, on-set producer, director, and sound engineer.
How did you come to work with Story Machine?
I did a bunch of general research to find a production company that specialized in direct response efforts. I had initial calls with about eight companies and Story Machine had the best portfolio out of all of them. They were very competent at putting together a production plan and were able to work within our budget and timeline.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent $250,000–$300,000 AUD (approximately $178,000–$214,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
Each production lasted a month, and we worked together from June–October 2021.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
There were different business metrics for each commercial based on which specific brand or project it was for, but across the board, the videos Story Machine produced were of good quality and high-level craftsmanship.
How did Story Machine perform from a project management standpoint?
Their project management and communications were really strong throughout. They set really clear deadlines for each production. They integrated into our Slack channel and used Dropbox to share any and all files. We also used a program for getting reviews and feedback on the videos.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They have a really strong understanding of our requirements and the ability to create direct response efforts.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, they were pretty capable and really good to work with.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Have a clear plan of what you want to achieve upfront. Work out the best way to engage Story Machine. For example, it really worked well for us that we brought the concept and the script to them and had their team flesh out those scripts and bring them to life.
the project
Video Production for Media Publisher
“They don’t feel like a supplier; they really act as an extension of my brand.”
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.
We are a publishing house. I'm the senior marketing manager, and I look after two health brands.
What challenge were you trying to address with SIXTYFOUR FILMS?
I've hired them for a range of things. They work on event videos for us, and we've also done tv commercials and video content for digital and social.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The event videos have a formula that they follow. For the tv segments, they worked with me on ideation, scripting, storyboarding, locations, and casting. We've also hired them for photography, model casting, and scriptwriting for other projects. They are our go-to for full-service video production.
How did you come to work with SIXTYFOUR FILMS?
I used to work with one of their founders. He knew my brand really well, and I felt comfortable with the whole team. They're quick, agile, and efficient, and they're great problem solvers.
How much have you invested with them?
I've spent between $200,000-$300,000 over the course of our relationship.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together around 2014. We've done six or seven projects with them each year, and they're still the only video supplier I use.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I still use a commercial they made four and a half years ago. It's not at all dated, and those assets are still very fresh and timeless. That's rare. Every project receives positive client feedback, and we hardly have to make any changes. They deliver to a high standard right from the beginning.
How did SIXTYFOUR FILMS perform from a project management standpoint?
They perform fantastically. I often don't have a lot of time to brief them, and they know exactly what to do after a short meeting or phone call. It's great to know they understand exactly what we need. If they think there is something we should do, they take the initiative and go ahead with things that will help us.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They're collaborative, and we feel like one cohesive team. They take feedback, and they're happy to share ideas that might be better than ours. When we work together, it's very much a team environment. They don’t feel like a supplier; they really act as an extension of my brand.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don't have any feedback or improvements. They do everything I need them to do.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Trust their direction. They understand brands, and their vision is always on point.
the project
Video Production for Personal Care Company
"We were impressed with the team's creativity, vision, and the high quality of the content they produced."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
Communications Manager
For what projects/services did your company hire Story Machine, and what were your goals?
We partnered with Story Machine to produce video and stills content for our local media campaign across social and digital platforms. The team developed the creative concept and managed the entire production process.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
Our events agency referred us to Story Machine.
Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.
We connected with Ezra and his team to share our concept and objectives and the team reverted back with their response to brief and vision. We had to make several adjustments to the plan due to COVID-related restrictions along the way, and the team were able to adapt and respond quickly.
Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?
Ezra, Ash, Arthur and Kiera. All team members were highly receptive and open to our feedback, and were able to pivot quickly to changes.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The local content we produced in partnership with Story Machine was well-received by both our consumers and internal stakeholders.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Project management and communication was to a high standard throughout the entire project. We were collectively working to a tight timeline, and so it was helpful that the team made themselves available to us and communication was always clear.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
We were impressed with the team's creativity, vision, and the high quality of the content they produced.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
A deeper understanding of our brand DNA and identity to ensure local content is aligned with global brand image.
the project
Awards Video Production for Mass Media Agency
"They really consider and deliver all types of content, despite having little knowledge about the general consumer."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm the marketing & partnership manager across Food & Travel at News Corp. I manage the delivery of tent pole commercial campaigns & partnerships across the brands
For what projects/services did your company hire Story Machine, and what were your goals?
To help us bring our delicious produce awards content to life through narrative and story telling. Ensuring the content is always kept fresh and engaging year on year despite the campaign running for 16 years.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We've worked with Ezra and his team for years not only across NewsCorp but also through my time at Pacific Magazines. His team completely understand the commercial lense of a campaign, but can also give value from an editorial stand point. I have complete faith in the team and know they will always deliver.
Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.
We'd reach out to ezra with a topline concept, and his team will help bring the concept to life. Through that, we together further bring it to life ensuring all key objectives and messages are met.
Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?
Ezra, Arthur and Turei are incredible.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
In 2020, the DPA video content generated a total of +247K video views organically amplified across social & digital. An incredible result.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Very easy to work with, always available to chat through. All documents from storyboard, scripts, timelines etc were really clear and easy to follow.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
They really consider and deliver all types of content, despite having little knowledge about the general consumer. They know how to ask the right questions to bring out emotion and storytelling.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
No.
Story Machines’ efforts helped ensure a successful online event, which had thousands of attendees. The team fully understood the given brief, allowing them to maximize their storytelling and video production skills to its fullest. They also did a solid job in managing and executing various tasks.