Storyfarm

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Taharka Brothers Ice Cream Corporation.

What challenge were you trying to address with Storyfarm?

We transitioned to being a fully employee-owned company in 2020. There was a significant amount of legal work and energy that went into getting everyone ready for the transition. At the end of the day, one of the things we wanted to do over the winter was to market and promote the fact that we were now employee-owned. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

I reached out to John and told him what we were trying to do. We had a couple of conversations, and we ended up engaging them to do a series of promotional videos. We helped them meet all the different people from our company and we gave them the chance to get to know them so that they could produce amazing content for us.

Some of them were 30-second to one-minute videos. One of the purposes was to use it on our transfer of ownership event. We did the transfer of ownership ceremony on December 15th and since it could be a very boring thing — essentially six guys sitting around signing documents — we wanted to put a little flair on it. Since in-person events were not allowed due to COVID-19, we wanted our virtual event to ensure that everyone knew about it. 

What is the team composition?

At least 5–6 people were involved in the project, but I’m not sure if they had more people working. 

How did you come to work with Storyfarm?

I was a CEO of a company 10 years ago and I didn’t realize we had collaborated with them already. Then, when I was trying to figure out what video company to use for our project, Storyfarm was one of the ones we just naturally researched to know what we can do.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership ran from October–December 2020.

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

Our spending was a stretch for us since we are not a huge company, but we were happy we spent the money. Their outputs were really worth taking a look at. I think anybody would find them very compelling and certainly, our fans did.

They really listened to what we were trying to do and they executed a plan that really ended up having our employee-owners highlighted in a way that was not charitable, not condescending — but a real promotion of the different personalities and skills they were bringing to the company. 

How did Storyfarm perform from a project management standpoint?

I got the sense that they worked around the clock to make our deadline. We had a very tight deadline for this, and they were able to hit that deadline and create an output that was on point.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their listening skills to the overall direction of our project was phenomenal. Moreover, they took their time to know their subjects and they just did very well. The music, background, transition — there was never a person that watched our videos that didn’t say it was great. Ultimately, we really got what we paid for. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think they have any areas they could improve. I would be hard-pressed to say there was a hole in their service. They underpromised and over-delivered. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sit back and understand that they’re going to bring everything you need. You shouldn’t worry about it. 

There were a lot of things they brought to the table cost-wise. For instance, they brought backgrounds for a photoshoot, and at one point, they must have spent a couple of hundred bucks on hot pink background because they were doing some fun video shoots. The little things they did were really helpful and it was just interesting how much they put in the project without exactly billing those gestures. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

Blue Star Families is a military-affiliated nonprofit. Our mission is to supporting military families to improving our military readiness. We do this by keeping a pulse on their concerns through our Survey and then using the data to find solutions to their challenges by fostering collaborations, informing legislative change, and creating free events, programs, and resources.

Why? Because our nation is strongest when our service members and their families are thriving. I'm the Senior Cause Marketing Manager for Blue Star Families.

I help build strong communities of support for military families by partnering with corporate supporters -- we call them Blue Star Neighbors -- to execute creative campaigns that bring awareness to and support for military life challenges.

For what projects/services did your company hire Storyfarm?

We worked with Storyfarm on the Corporate Playbook. It was a video project designed to encourage businesses to support the people who keep America safe.

Our mission? To educate corporate supporters on the fact that military families live within every community in America and need corporate support to empower these families to thrive. Storyfarm helped us with scripts, interviews, and final creative. They did a phenomenal job pulling it together into a very professional product.

What were your goals for this project?

1. Explain why military families matter and the problem we're trying to solve.
2. Explain what would happen if military families don't get the support they need.
3. Explain why corporate partners are in a unique position to support.
4. Explain the different ways corporate partners can contribute and how.

How did you select Storyfarm?

Their project portfolio is outstanding and they came highly recommended.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

We started with prep-production and management where Storyfarm hosted several discovery calls to help shape the narrative. During this time, they helped us with scripts and asset collection.

Next we moved on tot he production phase where we went to several onsite locations to film the interviews. They provided high-quality equipment and creative direction. Lastly, we moved to post-production where they produced the first draft complete with footage, graphics, and music.

Together, went through two or three iterations before getting to the final product. It was a seamless process and they were 100 percent professional the entire time.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Storyfarm would provide us with a file to review and a timeline to provide feedback. In our contract we had a certain amount of revisions permitted which we were easily able to follow.

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

The corporate partner who sponsored the video was very pleased. Everyone involved was happy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Storyfarm kept the train moving and juggled all the moving pieces so that we had plenty of time to meet all deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Storyfarm is organized, creative, and professional. They are a joy to work with and bring amazing expertise to the table.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at Cookies United. We’re a large commercial bakery, and we have many branded and private label products that we make in New York. We have a brand called Cake Bites, and this is the brand we engaged Storyfarm with.

What challenge were you trying to address with Storyfarm?

Cake Bites is a very branded product in the marketplace. We brought Storyfarm to produce commercials for television, social media, and YouTube.

What was the scope of their involvement?

For two consecutive years, they’ve produced three commercials for us. They come up with creative techniques for camera usage in the commercials.

What is the team composition?

I work with five or six people including Andrew (CCO, CD, & Director In-House) and Dan (Partner, Client Development).

How did you come to work with Storyfarm?

We started looking for agencies to produce our commercials through Google. We found Storyfarm’s website and thought it looked nice. We gave them a call and found that they were down-to-earth and relatable. We formed a relationship right away.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $100,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement was from September 2018–December 2020.

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

We’ve had triple the amount of completion rate against our newest commercials we’ve done with Storyfarm as opposed to last year’s commercials. This an extremely impressive completion rate. Storyfarm is very easy and fun to work with. Their team members are a tight-knit group of people.

How did Storyfarm perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re extremely good at moving very fast and diligently. Their team met all my deadlines. They’re very responsive, even in these COVID-19 times. Usually, I’d be on set during the filming of the commercials but we couldn’t because of COVID-19. Storyfarm allowed me to Zoom in through the lens of the camera and watch the entire production happen remotely.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with their ability to get things done on a timely basis and within our outlined budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they were great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Enjoy the process. They’re very creative so anything you can think of, they can get it done.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director of account services for a full service digital agency

For what projects/services did your company hire Storyfarm?

Video shoot and light editing (we've also used them for production, onsite shoots around the country, etc)

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create a training video for an international medical device manufacturer. We needed beautiful and professional footage to implement into the final video.

How did you select Storyfarm?

We've worked with Storyfarm for years, they have been our go-to video production agency. They are always professional and flexible to work with and fairly priced so it was a no brainer.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

We set up a sales call to describe the project and obtained a quote within days. We agreed to move forward and set up a kickoff call at Storyfarm's office, where we met with the project manager, creative director and several crew members. Storyfarm then set up a scouting visit to the client site (which involved a lot of logistics with NDA's and paperwork).

They then wrote up shoot notes (and saved me a ton of time, even researched the products to create a really organized process). The shoot was two long days and the entire crew was incredibly patient and detail oriented, ensuring theh highest quality for every shot.

Finally they did some light post-production work and hand delivered the files for our team.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

See above - they were incredibly detail oriented, made the entire process a complete pleasure

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

The footage from our shoot has been incorporated into dozens of follow up projects. the client still refers to it as the most beautiful footage the exists within the entire organization. We could not be happier

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication was fabulous during the entire process. they understood roles and responsibilities of both our video team and theirs and fit into our workflow exactly where we needed them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Everything. We have worked on multiple projects with them, and that is for a reason. they're incredibly flexible, the price is fair, they are extremely professional and perfectionists, and it shows in the final product. They have a very friendly and easy going voice and culture and I think that is driven from the top down. I would highly recommend this agency to anyone.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Wish we could work together more often.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an account manager and specialize on our firms video production work, among many other things. We are a social marketing firm that focuses on supporting non-profits, associations and government agencies. Topic areas for our work include health, mental health, environmental issues, voting rights, legal justice and substance use prevention.

For what projects/services did your company hire Storyfarm?

We needed a production company that had the capacity to do animation work. Our firm can do a lot of video production work in-house, which meant we needed a production company that was flexible enough to "plug-in" to the work we were already doing. Storyfarm proved to be exactly who we were looking for.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to create two videos that promoted a voter registration website. One video needed to be in English and one video needed to be in Spanish. A key aspect of this promotion was to show the viewer the actual functionality of the website, which meant we needed to create an animation that demonstrated how a user could use this resource.

How did you select Storyfarm?

We discussed the project with Storyfarm, who demonstrated with previous work that they knew what we needed and how we needed it to look. We also liked their collaborative approach to the work, which was critical given the work we were already doing on these videos.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

Once Storyfarm was on board, we shared with them the creative brief for the promotion videos, scripts in English and Spanish, branding guide, media elements and graphic elements.

Their team reviewed everything and provided us with a production timeline that aligned with the promotion timeline we had developed for the videos. Storyfarm then rendered a short animation of the website, which we used to get client approval before moving forward with production.

Storyfarm also helped select voiceover talent in English and Spanish for the videos, which was important in setting the tone for the videos. Storyfarm remained in constant contact throughout the process, including emails and conference calls to review our feedback, client feedback and make adjustments to the videos as needed.

Once completed, Storyfarm retained the project files used to develop the videos. This turned out to be key, as we returned to Storyfarm to make updates specific to the Spanish version of the promotion video several months later.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Storyfarm is very organized. For the project they provided us with a producer and an animator. The producer was responsive, communicative and diligent in ensuring production stayed on schedule. The animator was responsive, collaborative and flexible in making changes based on our feedback.

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

The videos paired with the promotion plan developed by our firm performed very well. Evaluation for the video is currently still underway, but preliminary results from social media have revealed the following:

• 81K views and 6.2K engagements on Facebook
• 17K impressions, 111K views and 2.7K engagements on Twitter, including retweets by notable political influencers.
• 4K impression and 2.3K views on YouTube -4.5K impressions
• and 100+ engagements on Instagram

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Both our teams worked very well. Storyfarm ensured their production plan aligned with our promotion plan. In fact, many times they delivered on key milestones ahead of deadline (such as animation drafts, voiceover talent acquisition and video drafts).

Because of their collaborative approach to the work, Storyfarm's team felt like an extension of our in-house team rather than an outside vendor.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were organized, created high-quality work quickly, and are proactive in learning about the project they have. Once we brought them on for this project, they understood what we needed right away and were able to deliver what we needed almost immediately.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of!

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the Executive Producer for 186 Advertising Ltd., a full service advertising agency representing the Central Atlantic Toyota Dealers.

For what projects/services did your company hire Storyfarm?

In the creation of monthly creative campaigns, the goal was to use drone footage to show off the features of Toyota vehicles. 186 hired StoryFarm due to the quality of footage they could provide, combined with the ability to capture the unique selling features of each vehicle, all at an achievable budget, which was constrained on the agency side due to other end of year priorities.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal for this campaign, if selected for implementation, was to shoot 5 vehicle specific :30 sec spots, based on the proto type spot used for the selection process, for a total of 6 spots ready for final finishing and broadcast in less than 9 working weeks, in winter.

How did you select this vendor?

StoryFarm was a vendor that 186 already had a good working relationship with. After describing the scope of the project, and getting an approved budget, StoryFarm went right to work on settling the logistics of the shoot required for the campaign.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

The biggest technical challenge for each shoot was to seam the drone footage with the interiors of the vehicles. The most expensive option would have been to use a jib or crane, in order to get the budget to work StoryFarm had a steadycam operator work the transition for each vehicle. I was able to direct the shoot so the cuts were not noticeable, and it looked to the audience like the "drone" had entered each vehicle.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

StoryFarm provided all the shooting crew, and managed all the footage into cuts for broadcast. Even when several rough cuts were rejected by the client, StoryFarm added addl. personnel to the project for a tight three day edit turnaround for revisions to the rough cuts.

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

The campaign was immediately successful, and was extended for an addl. four weeks than originally scheduled. Additionally, the footage was recut into many addl. campaigns for as long as the footage was current.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

StoryFarm has a very adaptive workflow, and was able to roll with all the punches given them. All the basic project management necessities are done with a goal of getting you what you need - communication, scheduling, data/footage management - if you have a need they figure out a way to fill it.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing about StoryFarm was their willingness to solve the problems as they came down the pike. Instead of showing frustration about all the really challenging parameters and shifting goal posts, they just figured out a way to deliver.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There was a memorable crew lunch moment, but they've already replaced the person responsible for that! They are quick to address issues.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP of Marketing at a credit union in Baltimore, MD.

For what projects/services did your company hire Storyfarm?

We wanted to hire a company that could express our brand with compelling video. Storyfarm was hired for their creative and production expertise.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase our brand awareness and connect to the communities we serve by differentiating our company from others that offer similar products in the area.

How did you select this vendor?

We saw some of the other work they were doing in the area, and after a few discussions, they provided a estimate that was within our budgeted range.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

After a few conversations on our vision for the video, the team at Storyfarm shared their creative ideas and went to work. They handled everything from production to hiring the right actors and finding the right locations. They allowed us to be as involved or un-involved as we liked.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The team we worked directly with included 2 or 3 people at most to get our ideas into production. I'm sure there were a lot more people working behind the scenes.

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

We loved the final products from the overall project. They really helped us achieve our vision and tell our story. We've received nothing but positive feedback on the videos. Everyone that sees them notices them and recognizes who we are.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow between our team and theirs was extremely effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by their talent to take our ideas and bring them to life. They were easy to work with!

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very satisfied with their work!

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the executive director of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center. We are a nationally accredited children’s advocacy center. We work with law enforcement, social services, prosecutors, and medical and mental health professionals to be able to provide a 24-hour response.

In particular, we provide a coordinated response to children that are victims of sexual abuse and other trauma such as witnessing a homicide or living with domestic violence. 

We give medical exams, provide mental health services, and case management advocacy. We also have a training and outreach program to help educate the community on how to prevent these things from happening in the first place.

What challenge were you trying to address with Storyfarm?

We recognized that video is a powerful medium, and we wanted to take advantage of the widespread ability to get media out through social networks to tell our story.

It’s a difficult story to tell, and it’s a difficult topic that people don’t want to talk about because if it hasn’t happened to them, they don’t want to believe that it happens to kids. But, when dealing with child abuse, you need to find helpful, receptive people who are ready to listen to the conversation.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They have been our long-term video partner. They’ve worked with us to help us tell our story for over 10 years. Storyfarm has employed a variety of methods, including animation and live video.

Storyfarm has very effectively worked with us to share that story, conveying a very private and personal journey. They’ve made it something that people can wrap their heads around and begin to understand.

Some videos are about our program, some are about public service and public awareness campaigns, and some were specifically about education. Video topics included child sexual abuse, facets of the criminal justice and child welfare process, and the risks of teen sexting as well as the impact of homicide on children.

Typically, most of our sessions start with a brainstorming session to think about what we are trying to get across and how we can do it in the most impactful, effective, and even creative way. 

We give them an idea of our vision and they facilitate those brainstorming sessions. They will come back with different storyboards and options. 

From there, we work on an agreement with them. Storyboards and scripts are created, and the video production process goes from there. After a video is shot, they’ll go through a couple of editing rounds, and there is dialogue back and forth.

What is the team composition?

It depends on the production. For one of the huge productions, the whole Storyfarm team was there which was about 10 to 20 people. In a lot of the creative meetings, there are five people. 

They want to get as many voices involved as they can in the creative process. Everyone doesn’t just look to Beau (Partner & Director of Photography, Storyfarm) and John (Partner & CEO, Storyfarm) for guidance and direction. 

As leaders of an organization, they are open to other people’s suggestions and input. John cares about this issue wants to get it right. Even when other people are leading the project, he is almost always included in the email and gives creative input.

How did you come to work with Storyfarm?

I’m a former prosecutor, and I prosecuted sex crimes in Baltimore City for about 10 years. During that time, we had a lot of high profile cases, and I met John who covered a lot of our stories and was working with our local NBC affiliate. I respected his work, and I think he respected my work. 

Flash forward a couple of years: I had left the prosecutor’s office, and he had started his own company. I started as the leader of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center, and there was an article in the Baltimore Business Journal about John’s new company.

I called him and told him we should start a project together. I think we were one of his first clients. It’s been exciting to watch his organization grow, and I think he’s liked watching us grow, too. 

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent over $150,000 on the videos. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2009, and we have ongoing projects with them.

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

In our latest project, we invested in social media. They have a good command of SEO and how to place the videos. We’ve already had a million impressions on some of our videos. These are things that nonprofits crave. 

For a nominal investment in terms of placement, they deliver a high-quality product. Our sexting public service announcement was placed before an Avengers Endgame this past spring. We’ve had a lot of eyeballs on it.

We were lucky enough to get grant funding to do these projects. In the last big project that we had a massive grant for, they maximized the money we had. The film production included actors and sets, and they did an amazing job. There is little that can’t be done if they put their mind to it. 

They know how to work with us, and they share our vision of not wanting to do cookie-cutter videos. They take the time to understand and appreciate who we are. We feel special, and we get their A-game every time, which I think is rare in this field. 

How did Storyfarm perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is exemplary, and they're very client-focused. 

Also, they recognize that we’re a nonprofit and have given us a good rate. They’ve done projects that would have cost up to 10 times more for much less money. This is because they believe in the cause, which is really important to both of us.

We communicate a lot by email, sometimes by phone call, as well as face to face. We don’t have excessive meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are creative visionaries, and they are a true partner. They really believe in our mission and work with us. We aren’t just a paycheck for them — they want to see this work out well.

They are willing to try new things, which brings a creative fresh edge. For all of our videos, they’ve been able to remain succinct. They understand people’s attention spans, and so they get to the point as quickly as possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. I am confident that if they don’t get something right, they’ll redo it and try to make it meet our standards. They’re willing to bring new technology, techniques, and ideas into our equation, so it doesn’t get stale at all.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Future customers should share an equal investment with the team. What you put into it is what you get out of it. You need to be able to share what your vision is without holding back. 

You should trust the process and trust them. There have been times where I wasn’t sure about one of John’s ideas, but I have trusted them, and they’ve never been wrong. Once you develop a relationship with them, they will deliver what you are looking for.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work on brand marketing and operations for the oldest online psychic service offering intuitive, caring advice to people looking for answers, guidance and hope. Our vision is to redefine how people achieve lifelong happiness and growth through metaphysically-based guidance.

For what projects/services did your company hire Storyfarm?

We've hired Storyfarm every year to create short introductory videos of our top Advisors and the subjects that resonate with our customers. These videos need to feel warm, approachable and informative, as customers will base who they want to seek advice from based on how they connect with that Advisors information. Storyfarm understands our Advisors, our customers and the brand that we put forward.

What were your goals for this project?

Our video program is first and foremost a tool for advisor promotion and customer engagement. We see these videos playing a conversion role in the sales funnel, as well as a means to drive traffic and engagement with the brand.

How did you select this vendor?

Back in 2011 we went through an RFP process to select a vendor. We've been so impressed with Storyfarm that we continue to use them as our long term, trusted partner for our brand video needs.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

We hold an annual video shoot to which about a dozen of our Advisors are invited to participate. After 2-3 days of shooting, we work with Storyfarm to create the content and we promote it through the remainder of the year, as well as re-promoting specific pieces that tie into our editorial and promotional calendar.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We've worked a number of different ways with Storyfarm. We've done the traditional edit>feedback cycle, but what what's worked best over the years is a collaborative real time edit either in person or virtually. We've been doing this for so long, it's faster and easier to work this way, plus it's a lot of fun.

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

Our videos are cited by customers as a key asset in their decision making about who to speak with. Our oldest videos continue to get thousands of views, as the content is evergreen.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I can't say enough about it. It's a pleasure to work with Storyfarm. They understand us and they understand our business. They deliver an excellent product.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They really understand our business and our goals with the project. They'e creative, professional and highly skilled. They're super easy and fun to work with, and our teams have become friends.

Are there any areas for improvement?

none

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of sales and marketing for Youngstown Glove Company. We provide flame-resistant, cut-resistant products within the electric utility space.

What challenge were you trying to address with Storyfarm?

We hired Storyfarm to create a video for our company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Storyfarm handled both pre- and postproduction for the video. Together, we came up with the ideas and narrative. From there, they had a video shoot that we attended and participated in. Their team then managed all of the edits and gave us the final product. 

What is the team composition?

About six people worked with us on the project and John (CEO, Storyfarm) was my main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Storyfarm?

Even though our previous video project with a different vendor went well, I knew I wanted to reach out to a friend for the project. I’d known John for a number of years and I felt confident in the work he’d done previously, so I contacted his team. 

How much have you invested with them?

This project cost around $25,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together in June 2017 and we received the final files within the month. However, we’ve just started a new project with them this year. 

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

Everyone we’ve shown the video to has been impressed. The quality of the work is unique in our space. There’s such an art to producing video and Storyfarm brought a magic touch to the work. 

How did Storyfarm perform from a project management standpoint?

Storyfarm was great to work with and very informative. Their team kept me in the loop and were on the ball. They fully met our needs. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Storyfarm brought a magical visual quality to the work. It's very professional. We’ve seen this type of quality in movies and commercials, but now it’s in our own videos, too. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I had to think of anything they could do better, there could always be more communication in every project. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend Storyfarm if you want to tell a quality visual story. They will bring your vision to life and you’ll be happy with the final product.