Vermillion Films

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of Future Foundry. We're a startup that helps some of the world's best companies to reveal, test and validate their biggest innovation opportunities.

For what projects/services did your company hire Vermillion Films?

We hired Vermillion to help us to create an explainer film. A short video that communicates our value proposition to prospective customers and moves them to booking a demo with us.

What were your goals for this project?

To get across our value proposition in a film that prospective customers could identify with, engage with and ultimately be moved to action by.

How did you select Vermillion Films?

We went out to a few different production companies but we were blown away by Vermillion's understanding of the brief, their creative approach, and pragmatism.

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

Once we selected Vermillion, they got to work pretty much straight away on high-level creative ideas for the film and presented them to us. We landed on an idea that we loved and they built out a superb script from there. Then, they helped us to find the most fantastic cast and involved us wonderfully in the shoot-day and in a really involved way throughout the edit. It's been a joy.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Everything was managed seamlessly on Basecamp. You'd think they'd run projects this way forever rather than remote feedback being a necessity of lockdown. It's like they were built to work this way.

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

We got from selecting Vermillion to a final version of the film in less than 4 weeks. I think for startups like us, where speed is key, we couldn't have chosen a better partner. All of the feedback we've had on the film has been amazing and we're driving leads as a result already.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It couldn't have been any slicker. We knew where we had to be, what was needed and when.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to work with startups like ours is second to none. They immediately understood our value proposition, knew from a brand perspective what we wanted to achieve and knocked it out of the park creatively in a timeframe that even we were impressed by!

Are there any areas for improvement?

None - we can't wait to need our next film already!

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior account director for an integrated creative agency.

What challenge were you trying to address with Vermillion Films?

We needed to produce a TV ad with a very tight turnaround, but our resources were at capacity. We hired Vermillion Films to take over some of the work to ensure that we met the client’s deadline.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They took over the production part of the project, so that included location scouting, casting, and director’s treatments. Organizing each of these elements, they handled the usage costs for talent. Before filming, they brought all of the teams together and provided a plan for the day.  Then they directed and shot the ad.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people.

How did you come to work with Vermillion Films?

Our head of production had an existing relationship with them and recommended them to me.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about £25,000 (approximately $34,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in September 2020 and ended in November.

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

The ad was very successful. Vermillion Films absolutely nailed it. Working with them reduced our stress and ensured that the ad was delivered on-time. We got exactly what we needed for a reasonable cost.

How did Vermillion Films perform from a project management standpoint?

They generally responded quickly to our needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was very easy to work with them. They integrated with our team very well; it felt like a natural partnership.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

They don’t need to change anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

New clients should try to facilitate a collaborative relationship with them.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We're a new early years childcare startup that combines all the benefits of childminding and larger nurseries in to a new third option for parents. Our goal  is to help home-based providers run exceptional, sustainable and profitable nurseries, whilst at the same time providing UK parents with a new supply of outstanding local childcare that’s backed by a great digital experience.

What we’re building is part-marketplace, part-community, part-app and is aimed squarely at some of the biggest problems in the childcare market today. I am Chief Product Officer and co-founder.

For what projects/services did your company hire Vermillion Films?

Creation of a series of home nursery case study videos and a brand/mission film.

What were your goals for this project?

Raise brand awareness, increase performance of paid ad media with video content and improve conversions through our funnel with richer content.

How did you select Vermillion Films?

I'd worked with Lee and the team before and they were my default choice for this sort of work.

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

We co-developed the concept with Vermillion and then worked with them to a tight production and editing schedule.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Client communication was excellent, the team was punctual during the shoot and everything was done to be fully covid compliant.

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

Excellent response from all audiences which has been reflected in increased engagement and conversion through the funnel.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were extremely efficient throughout the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Adaptability to get what we wanted during shooting restrictions (covid) and an extremely high quality product that was exactly to brief.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager at Glide Utilities. We are a utility company that provides utilities for houses of multiple occupancies. We’ve been operating for around 13 years now and are one of the leaders in what we do.

What challenge were you trying to address with Vermillion Films?

We needed to create videos for our B2C promotional campaign. Throughout the year, we run integrated campaigns through both an awareness and conversion phase depending on the time of year.

What was the scope of their involvement?

When Vermillion Films starts a project, we give the team a brief idea of what we’re looking for, and what the theme of the campaign will be. They then create a few ideas of how we can best portray our message through that theme and bring them back to us for discussion. Each of our videos is scripted, and they include animation work. Their concepts match the theme of the current campaign. When the filming is complete, Vermillion Films handles all of the post-production work, including editing and formatting. In the end, each main video is around roughly two minutes long, and we get small clips taken from the main video. 

What is the team composition?

We have two main contacts, though we interact with many people. Generally, we work with Alan (Creative Producer) who is our point person. We also work with Lee (Managing Director). The size of the rest of the team varies depending on what part of the project we’re in, though during shoots there are runners, cameramen, scriptwriters, and sound people involved.

How did you come to work with Vermillion Films?

One of our colleagues had worked with them in a previous role, and they referred Vermillion Films to us. After meeting with a few other production companies, we decided they were the best fit for us. 

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent about £100,000 (approximately $124,000 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in 2017, and our relationship is ongoing.

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

After our first campaign went extremely well, we decided to continue our relationship with Vermillion Films. The team was professional and easy to work with, and they produced an end result that was exactly what we wanted, which made the decision to continue collaborating easy. 

All of the videos Vermillion Films produce receive excellent feedback. One of the videos, that we launched in January, has over 1,000,000 100% video views, which means people are watching it from start to end. Generally speaking, we see high engagement rates, which speaks volumes to the concept and audience interacting with it. We’re really pleased with the results we see from the team’s work. We’re consistently impressed with Vermillion Film’s ability to take our concepts and bring them to life.

How did Vermillion Films perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re always really clear. Having worked with them for the third year, they understand us, how we work, and what we want. They’re also really quick in terms of how quickly they come back with their proposal and, in turn, bring that proposal to fruition. I guess they have a good team behind the scenes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have clear communication, quick turnaround, and deliver quality work. We also appreciate that Vermillion Films allows us to get as involved as we want and invites us to the shoots so we can be there on production day.

In general, we’re really pleased with the quality and end result, and we’ve really enjoyed working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any feedback on what they can do to improve because they have been really good for us.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would definitely recommend Vermillion Films, and I have recommended them to other companies. They’re easy to work with and are extremely personable. They can talk to you on your level without having to talk about all the technical jargon behind video production.

Be really clear with the brief. The clearer you are, the better the proposal, and the better the interpretation that Vermillion Films can deliver.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a distillery that makes single malt whiskey and gin.

What challenge were you trying to address with Vermillion Films?

I had been looking for someone to be the video voice of our company. We were doing great print and social media work, but we didn’t have enough video content to support our marketing efforts.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve produced several videos for us so far, but we’re working on forming a long term partnership with them. I shared my ideas with them and they came back with several fun and unique video concepts. 

He’s produced three videos. One for our single malt whiskey, one for our gin, and one for a new product we haven’t launched yet. Our producer filmed the videos at his home since it was done during the COVID-19 shelter in place period. 

What is the team composition?

Lee (Director) was my main point of contact. He has a larger team including voiceover artists, filmers, and editors. 

How did you come to work with Vermillion Films?

I found them online and saw that they were located in the same area as us. I liked the idea of working with another local business. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested several thousand British pounds. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our ongoing engagement with them at the end of March 2020.

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

It’s really important that we drive up online sales since our distilleries and brick-and-mortar stores are closed. We don’t have any specific success metrics yet, but we’re really happy with their work. The videos are exactly what we were looking for. I’m happy that I found the right team for me and I’m excited to continue our relationship. 

How did Vermillion Films perform from a project management standpoint?

They have an excellent turnaround time. It took them less than a week to produce our first video. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're the answer to what we were lacking as a firm. I feel that we’re going to have a great relationship with them for years to come. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

I haven’t found anything that’s been lacking in the slightest. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

I would tell other people not to settle for less when it comes to finding a vendor. This team is proof that there are amazing vendors out there.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the head of a university.

What challenge were you trying to address with Vermillion Films?

It was around trying to engage with students that were applying to University but hadn’t made their minds up about which institution they wanted to go to. We wanted to engage with those students by selling them on the experience through a video.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We focused on what our mission and vision. We have strong beliefs, and we knew exactly what we wanted our students to be like. We do things differently, we break things and put them together in a new way, we’re unique, and the film was about capturing that experience.

We took that to Vermillion Films, and they created an experience. It was all live action, and it was about two minutes long. They also handled all the post-production.

Some of our media students were able to help as well , which was a great experience for them. That was a big positive.

What is the team composition?

From Vermillion Films, there were about 5–6 team members.

How did you come to work with Vermillion Films?

I’ve been in media for a while, and I’ve always known good teams in the area.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent just under 10,000

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in January 2019 and we got the final product in March that year.

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

I’ve been working in universities for about ten years now, and the first time I shared a film at an opening day and the audience clapped afterwards. I was a little bit shocked by that, but obviously it resonates with the message we were trying to sell. So, it went quite well.  

How did Vermillion Films perform from a project management standpoint?

It was very smooth. We had no major problems. The team worked really well with the students—of course, that can pose challenges, but the arrangement went smoothly. We had a lot to do, but they got it all done.

We initially communicated over email throughout production, but then we had a viewing and we gave them a few comments. Then they did a final edit.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They listened to who we are and understood the message we wanted to get across. That was quite important. We had a clear view of what we wanted, and they knew that. The results were authentic, and I think that’s why the project was so well-received.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The one day of filming was very long. We just had so much to do. I could have said that we could leave things here and there, but I didn’t want to compromise on anything. So, I guess we can’t change too much.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Get them in really early at the start of that process. Communicate who you are, so if you can work with them, you can ensure that the film is authentic. That’s a great bonus.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am responsible for the digital marketing of after-sales for AGCO, a global manufacturer of agricultural machinery, in the Europe and Middle East regions.

What challenge were you trying to address with Vermillion Films?

The central marketing team for one of our tractor brands is going around Europe for one to two weeks at a time where they will invite customers and dealers to try the machines. This will hopefully convert some of the competitor’s customers.

After-sales, as it is in the car industry, is very important to the customer when they are purchasing a machine. The backup and support they receive after making their purchase are incredibly important. It’s our job to get the message across to the customer about the services they will receive once they have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on new machinery.

I was tasked with coming up with a 20-minute presentation that will be presented to a relatively small group of customers, four times a day, five days a week across Europe in multiple languages in the middle of a field. We needed help with creating the video and presentation, which is why we hired Vermillion Films.

What was the scope of their involvement?

After giving them a brief, Vermillion Films came up with some great ideas for the project. They then filmed the entire service offering from after-sales in one journey. I gave the team a list of 2–3 farms that they could visit, and they contacted the farm managers themselves and organized the visits. Sometimes I accompanied them and other times, I didn’t. That’s because they had a very good understanding of what they needed from a visual point of view, whereas I have expertise in the brand.

On top of coming up with a great location, they liaised with our local dealers and organized the machinery, film crew, and scenery. They also recruited people to come and build elements when needed. The video covered the training of our apprentices and our technicians, extended warranty contracts and renovation of slightly older machines. The team also included information such as the dispatch, availability, and delivery of parts, as well as logistical aspects such as overnight delivery across Europe. 

They split the film up into segments so that it would fit well into the PowerPoint presentation. In addition to creating the live-action film, Vermillion designed the presentation. They were able to develop a script and a storyboard because they knew our business very well. Our team then reviewed the materials and made suggestions, tweaking them to our liking it a little bit. 

What is the team composition?

In addition to Lee (Managing Director), we worked with other directors, set builders, sound engineers, makeup artists, wardrobe specialists, editors, designers, and actors. All in all, there were about 40 people.

How did you come to work with Vermillion Films?

I’ve been working with them for so long that I can’t even remember. We’ve used Vermillion Films for quite a few years now for a multitude of projects. 

How much have you invested in them?

We spent about $77,750 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them on this project from March–May 2019.

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

Vermillion Films conveyed everything we needed to get across to potential customers in the film they created, and we've received great verbal feedback. Our local, German, and French sales teams, who’ve all presented the video to customers, have all been really appreciative of the material because it has made their job so much easier. 

They have all come back and said that it was very good. The quality of both the presentation and film is fantastic, and the information contained within the film is second to none. Our team has given presentations several times each day over the course of a week without any negative feedback whatsoever.

How did Vermillion Films perform from a project management standpoint?

Lee and I have a very good working relationship. We’ve traveled and filmed together, and he’s a practical guy. He is commanding and runs the team well. They are all very friendly and approachable. I know I can be difficult to work with sometimes, but they never let it show. Vermillion Films is a team of very professional people. After this year, we can all go down into a bar and have a beer together and have a good laugh. It’s a kind of “work hard, play hard” relationship.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The amount of effort they go through to get the job done professionally, accurately, and within budget is impressive. Unlike other agencies who are concerned with money, Vermillion Films’ main focus is quality. They are always willing to charge me a reasonable price 

We had a shoot in France a couple of years ago where the camera equipment got stolen out of the back of the car the morning of the shoot. Lee spent hours on the phone and ran around for miles, picking up gear and making sure the shoot went on as if nothing had happened. The team’s flexibility and the way they react to incidents just makes them stand out from a lot of other companies that I have dealt with.

There was another occasion where I wasn’t getting on personally with one of their directors. We were working on a project and we had a bit of a clash because he wanted to do things one way, whereas I would've preferred to do them another way. We weren’t gelling so Lee stepped in, adjusted the process, and sorted the problem out for me. I couldn’t have asked for more than that.

This project was so last-minute because we didn’t have the budget signed off. They had to work very quickly to get everything organized, find the location, work on the script — everything that goes into making this type of project happen with very little notice. In spite of this, Lee and his team really pulled out all the stops. They worked overnight and on weekends, doing whatever needed to be done to complete the project on time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I can think of. We’ve worked together for a long time, and when there have been issues, we’ve talked about it. I’ve always been able to go to them and voice my opinion. Right now, there really isn’t anything to improve on because we’ve already been through that process over time. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice to anyone considering Vermillion Films is to not even consider them; just work with them because they’re great.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the director of CJM Associates, Accountants and Business Advisors.

For what projects/services did your company hire Vermillion Films?

We needed to record a marketing video

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create some content that our target audience could connect with

How did you select Vermillion Films?

I became aware of Vermillion via local networking

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

The whole process was made extremely efficient and streamlined by the team at Vermillion

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The management of the project was spot on. Communication was great throughout the project and they delivered exactly what they said they would

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

The video hasn't been utilised fully as yet, but we're extremely happy with the work that was undertaken by the guys at Vermillion and wouldn't hesitate in recommending them

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between teams was seamless.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I'm not someone who's naturally comfortable in front of the camera and they were so easy to work with the end result was a thousand times better than the previous version. I can't recommend them enough for their creativity, cost and how they build the relationship with you.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the head of film and photography services for teamitg, a technology-led marketing business

For what projects/services did your company hire Vermillion Films?

We partnered with Vermillion to help us deliver an engaging internal use film to launch a new piece of software within a client environment.

What were your goals for this project?

To make a dynamic and engaging film that set the scene for the new launch, and introduced to software in an informative and inspiring way.

How did you select Vermillion Films?

We have worked with them before

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

The team worked closely with our creatives to develop the storyboard and script, select the talent and plan the shoot. Lee's direction and energy were key in bringing the performance to life and finessing the edit.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The team kept in regular contact throughout the whole process via Basecamp. This meant we had group notifications of activity, files on hand and quick and easy coversations.

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

We were really happy with the process and the end result. Our client was very excited and quick to share throughout their organisation.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Due to the nature of the project we worked together quickly and efficiently.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their vision, experience, agility and openness to collaboration.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Chairman of Hollywood Monster, wide format digital print and signage

For what projects/services did your company hire Vermillion Films?

Vermillion provided film production to Hollywood Monster

What were your goals for this project?

To produce video production suitable for all platforms.

How did you select Vermillion Films?

Past successes

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

Vermillion have worked with our business for many years. They collected our challenge and provided us with solutions

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided us with mock ups and a facility to communicate the feedback/amends

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

The video is currently being built into our new website

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Perfect

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Vermillion do what they say they’re going to do, each time sticking to the agreed timelines

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

This review was updated by PSimon Mckenzie (Managing Director, Hollywood Monster) on September 8, 2020. New content is below:

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Managing Director of Hollywood Monster a large format printing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vermillion Films?

After the recent pandemic, we wanted to do a video to Thank all of our staff, clients and suppliers for their support during a very difficult time.

What were your goals for this project?

We have used this video on our social media websites and will be adding this to our brand new website once the website is complete.

SOLUTION

How did you select Vermillion Films?

We have used Vermillion before and they are very professional, it's like they looked into my head and saw exactly what I wanted from the video.

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

They worked with us to achieve exactly what we wanted to show, during the times we are now in we couldn’t meet face to face but managed to still recreate what we envisioned just from speaking with them over the phone.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They gave us lots of ideas of the angles to capture videos from, what type of thing to shoot to achieve the best results for our video.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had lots of positive feedback from our staff members, clients and our suppliers that appreciated the thought of the video and the thank you.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We dealt with Lee and Alan and they were both very helpful, always available to talk and quickly answered any questions we had.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The video turned out even better than we had imagined, during the time we were in (not long out of lockdown) they were very responsive and created everything we wanted.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No