Vibrant Media Productions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an Assistant Director of Communications at a higher education consortium.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media Productions?

We organize a lot of public meetings and programs, but the information about those events is usually shared verbally. We were looking for a company to help us produce a video.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did two different projects for us. First, they produced and edited a video. We were having an event for a small group of faculty and administrators and we wanted to record some sessions and the key speakers in order to share this content later. In addition, they provided still photography services.

What is the team composition?

We had one main point of contact and we also worked with a team of 4–5 people.

How did you come to work with Vibrant Media Productions?

I found them through a Google search when I was looking for a local video production company. We interviewed one other company, but Vibrant Media was the best fit for our needs.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between August–October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're happy with their work and the feedback from other universities has been very positive.

How did Vibrant Media Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

We were making many changes at the last minute, but they were very flexible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They went above and beyond to meet our needs. They also made recommendations, which we didn’t expect, but found very helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Everything was great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a good sense of what you'd like to capture and document that. They will use their expertise to meet your needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a professional education coordinator at the Swanee River Area Health Education Center, where I manage conferences for healthcare providers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media?

We needed a video production team to record the conferences so they are available to those who weren’t able to attend and serve as learning material for the Department of Health.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They filmed interviews, speakers, and b-roll for our two and half-day conference. All video was in HD, and they provided a full light kit for our interviews, as well as an on-location audio package. They then edited the footage, adding each speaker’s PowerPoint slides as needed, and sent us the final product about a week and a half after the conference. They mailed us a hard drive of the conference’s raw footage, and they are also storing that footage with them for up to 60 days as a precaution.

What is the team dynamic? 

They provided us with four professional videographers to film speakers and interviews, handle audio, and assist during the program. There were also two other videographers present throughout the entirety of the conference to remain on-call if needed.

How did you come to work with Vibrant Media?

My supervisor found several companies through a Google search. After reaching out to each of them, she found that Vibrant was the most communicative, were willing to work with our constrained timeframe, and had the most cost-effective quote for our budget. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $12,400.

What is the status of this engagement?

We reached out to them in August 2017. The conference was from September 29 through October 1st. They sent us the final product in the second week of October.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While we have yet to upload the material to our website, they provided us with a high-quality final product that we’re pleased with.

How did Vibrant Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an excellent job. They’re very professional. If they had any questions or concerns, they communicated with me to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very customer-driven. They remained communicative before, during, and after the event. I didn’t have any questions because they answered them before I had to ask. 

Their video production team was also very knowledgable and did a wonderful job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate what you’re looking for with them. Be upfront and explain in detail what your expectations are. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a corporate events production company located in Los Angeles, California that serves high-level Fortune 500 companies and banks. Our core focus is in Los Angeles, but we travel with clients as well. We handle big productions, stage productions, lighting, decor, design, tours, and activities.

I’m a sales manager, but I also do quite a bit of operations as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media Productions?

A majority of our business is in southern California, but we had a client located in Orlando who wanted us to resubmit a proposal for a big program. We flew out to Orlando for our initial meeting, and I also did a lot of research regarding video production because it was a vital area within that particular program.

We needed someone who was really capable and trustworthy. We reached out to Vibrant Media because being so far away put us at a disadvantage.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They filmed on-site throughout the duration of the program, which was 4–5 days long. We had numerous calls leading up to the program once or twice a week regarding what the video was going to be about. The video they created is a compilation of what went on during the first 4 days. They conducted interviews, handled photography, and also filmed the event, in the plenary, and during the general sessions. They brought in their own equipment, including lighting for interviews.

They were personable in getting people comfortable with doing those interviews. They had to take all the footage they accumulated over the first 4 days, then completely turn it around within 12 hours. By the fifth day at 8AM, they had to have the video completely done, including editing, in order to get feedback from the end client. The end client had a team of 8 people, all with different opinions, but Vibrant Media was able to work with all of them.

Alex [CEO & Founder, Vibrant Media Production] and his dad were amazing, and they loved the video. They stayed up all night in a hotel room in order to put everything together. We had a couple of meetings with Alex before they showed it on the fifth day, and he took directions from everyone. The music and every little detail were ran by the end client’s team and also by us. It was an amazing video. They used a drone and also provided headshots, time-lapse, and 3-D graphics.

What is the team dynamic?

Vibrant Media consists of Alex and his father.

How did you come to work with Vibrant Media Productions?

We met with other companies, but Vibrant media was our ultimate choice. We chose them because of their responsiveness and quality of work, and we also felt we could trust them. Their team dynamic and portfolio were both great. We read reviews, and also looked at their samples, which were both such high quality and exactly what the client was looking for.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $20,000–$30,000. They’re very fair and reasonable in their price.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the project in February 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The end client may use it to promote this coming year, but I’m not sure. I do know that the CEO was very happy, and said it’s the best video they’ve had in the 10–20 years that they’ve been running the program. The end client also told me that they had worked with a vendor last year, and thought that it would be impossible to make a better video than what they provided. Vibrant Media helped us prove them wrong.

How did Vibrant Media Production perform from a project management standpoint?

They were really great, and I had no issues. We’re hiring them again for next year. The client loved them, and they’re representing us. As an events production company, it helps to be working with people who are local and also talented. We’re all excited to work with them again.

They were our right-hand, and such a big part of this program. Alex would send anything we needed at any time, even while he was outside of the U.S. working on other things. They were responsive and helpful throughout.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everything about them was impressive, but especially their demeanor. Alex and his dad complement each other very well. They’re calm even when put under stress, and never complained. A lot of people are shy on camera, so Vibrant Media’s ability to make people comfortable allowed them to always get the right shot. They’re also creative, and their quality of work was outstanding.

We had to work in a boring hotel, but they did some interviews outside and also incorporated some cool shots from inside the hallway and outside near the fountain. They were able to take such a small, bland setting and make it shine in a video. Alex managed to finish the video basically overnight, and he really went the extra mile to deliver a perfect product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no complaints.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Rosco Vision Systems is an engineering and manufacturing company based out of New York. We were founded in 1907 and keep growing every year. We engineer and manufacture vision safety systems for commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses, school buses, and paratransit vehicles. Mirrors, sun visors, and backup and recording cameras are just a few of our products. I'm the marketing manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media Productions?

We were launching a new product for the commercial buses collisions avoidance system during an event at the Disney raceway in Florida. We had partnered with another company and wanted to showcase their diversity.

We were looking for someone to document the event and our live demos, and then produce general promotional and education videos afterward.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we explained our company and what we do. Our products can be a little difficult to wrap your head around and very technical. Vibrant got it right away. They had great insight on what would look best and what people would be looking for. During the editing process, it was the same thing.

Vibrant came to our headquarters in New York at least twice to film a few things, including our offices, manufacturing facilities, and other products. The videos involved graphics work, special effects, voiceovers, music, and editing of the raw footage. For scripting, I gave them an outline of what I wanted, and they helped with video flow as far as what was said, and I chimed in with the technical aspects. They also used a drone, which was great because it showed aerial footage and looked cool on the video.

How did you come to work with Vibrant?

My coordinator researched a few different production companies in the Orlando area. Vibrant seemed to be the easiest to work with and the best fit for us.

For the New York video, we considered other firms, but in the end, it made sense to stick with Vibrant because they already knew our company and were familiar with our products, which was more important than finding somebody locally.

How much have you invested in them?

$10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2014 and worked with them until January 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We use the videos for the 100+ trade shows we exhibit at every year, and we also put them up on YouTube. The educational videos we have done as far as driver training are on heavy rotation for our customers, and we've received many compliments from the trainers. It's easier to watch an educational video than read a manual, and we definitely get comments about that.  

How did Vibrant perform from a project management standpoint?

They did pretty well. Being so busy, I'm bad with getting back to people through email, but Vibrant were good at keeping on top of the schedule and making sure everything was done by the deadline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They got to know the product they were shooting, as well as our company. They did research to back some of the content we had on the video, which was above and beyond what they needed to do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If they moved to New York, it would be better for me.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a software and hardware company with a parent based out of Germany. Our US headquarters are in San Francisco. I am the Director of Operations for North America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media Productions?

We have a very large conference and a tradeshow, which includes executive, analyst, partner, and customer events. It’s one of our larger events of the year, and it is based out of Florida. We wanted some customer and partner testimonials, and executive interviews, and we needed to locate someone who could make this happen.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vibrant Media worked on-site with us for 3 days during the event. Depending on how the event was going, we sometimes had to change things on-the-fly; we could go in a different direction, or maybe someone else had a new suggestion. One of our requirements for a video partner was flexibility, which Vibrant Media was fantastic at.

We wanted to capture customer testimonials, as well as executive messaging. We intended to circulate this executive messaging internally, in order to get everyone in our company up-to-speed on what we’re doing across the company as a whole.

The other videos produced were intended for marketing on our website, as well as general notifications to circulate within our partner community. There was a lot of PR meant to get the word out about our company, which is growing. We’re a large company overseas, but we are still growing in the US. These videos would be a good way out get the word out about us. After our initial event, we used Vibrant Media again at another event last week, for which they flew out to Vegas.

Our CEO is selective on what he likes to view, so Vibrant Media had to alter a lot of the footage before sending it to us. They’ve done a lot for us in terms of meeting our needs and specifications for particular videos. There was a lot of editing involved.

On top of these videos, we also did some livestreaming on our website at the most recent event, where we had a car giveaway. We wanted it streamed globally for all customers and partners. Vibrant Media was willing to do this, and they were instrumental in the process.

What is the team dynamic?

They had a team of four people for the Florida event, and flew out their leadership to Vegas, to spend time with us for the week.

How did you come to work with Vibrant Media Productions?

I searched for video companies in Florida because we needed something local for the event since it was one of our largest shows. I came across several companies, did some research and read some of their customer testimonials. Vibrant Media had worked a lot with IT companies, which can be complicated and challenging in terms of getting the message across. People can dive too deep into technical aspects, so the messaging will be less effective. I felt that Vibrant Media had worked well in this area.

After we received the footage from our first event, we needed to replicate it at the second, so we asked Vibrant Media to travel with us.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost was between $8,000 to $10,000 per show.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Vibrant Media in May 2017. We’re currently getting the footage for the latest event for review. They’re editing it and providing copy, which usually goes on for a few weeks. We have an upcoming event in Germany, in January 2018, and will probably invite Vibrant Media. The current footage will provide enough to carry us through to January.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have created the signage for our tradeshow booth based on the interviews and imaging Vibrant Media created. The quality is amazing; we launch a new customer testimonial on LinkedIn once a week, in order to trickle them out and let them circulate.

We’ve enjoyed working with Vibrant Media in terms of their personalities and flexibility.

How did Vibrant Media Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

We have put them in some interesting situations. At the second event, the interviews were done in hotel suites; we needed a quiet place for Vibrant Media to film the video, so they ended up in one of the bedrooms, setting up green screens and so on. It made for a funny situation.

At the first event, Vibrant Media was on the show floor in a floating office. The sound was not that great for them to work with, but they made it happen, and it sounded great.

We have invited Vibrant Media to a final dinner immediately after the car giveaway. They provided us an immediate stream which we could circulate of the contest winner. I couldn’t understand how they managed it.

Everyone has a lot on their plates, but Vibrant Media is very quick, and they manage us. We will have much of the footage ready by the end of this week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As flexible as they are, I warned them that our CEO is an idea person. Vibrant Media was responsive to his ideas and made things work in such strange situations. It put a smile on my face every time. We’ve had to change layouts quickly, but they were great and flexible about it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. We’ve had a lot of great luck with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the corporate marketing manager for Huttig Building Products, a 135-year-old company that provides building products and millwork. We’re a distributor out of St. Louis with 27 branches around the nation.

I’ve been with the company for 15 years. I’m responsible for advertising, videos, customer events, promotions, collaterals—pretty much anything that has to do with sales product management and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media Productions?

We wanted to do several video clips for different target audiences. We’re in the middle of the channel, so our customer base is varied. As a distributor, we work with manufacturers as well as pro-dealers. Our other targets are contractors and architects. End users can’t directly buy the products that we distribute, but they can buy from our customers—84 Lumber, Home Depot, Lowes, or co-ops that provide building products.

We don’t really make anything, although there are exceptions. For example, if people want a specific Sherman-William color for their exterior doors, we have a factory-finish program that can do that. It’s like a huge Easy-Bake oven for doors. The exterior doors come from our central Florida location, which services about 7 branches in the Southeast. We’re able to provide this service for most Lowes and Home Depot locations.

My CFO also wanted a more general video for the investors. Since we are a publicly traded company, we were trying to find a way for our investors to see the machine running and what it did without bringing everybody to the facility.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vibrant Media created a general video for this fall. It shows what our company does, all the products that we sell, and who we sell them to. The video also highlights what pro-dealers and lumberyards need to build homes and commercial buildings. We asked for a long version and a short version of the video. We also opened a new division for fasteners called Huttig-Grip that’s out of Chicago, which we included in a short video.

Vibrant used a drone to take some footage above our warehouse and truck facility. They set up an area in our conference room for interviews. Since they were not familiar with our industry, I came up with questions to help them, with different sets for new employees and experienced employees. We also took extra still photos and recorded interviews from our employees at the central Florida location. Vibrant did all the editing and the voiceovers.

What is the team dynamic?

For the first videos, we worked with 1 professional photographer and 2 video staff from Vibrant.

How did you come to work with Vibrant Media Productions?

Initially, I looked around at different companies and got quotes. I reached out to Vibrant because they’re local. I live in Orlando, which is where they’re at. I checked out Vibrant’s website, and they sent me some links. I liked what they’ve done for other clients. I also had a phone discussion with Vibrant.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent less than $100,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working together since December 2016. The bulk of the project was completed in February 2017. The general investor video was the most recent project, and it was just completed. I’m waiting for approval before launching it to our board next month.

When we got the raw footage, we talked about expanding the project beyond the factory-finish program. We’re hoping to use Vibrant for the rest of this year and next year. We just hired the new VP of HR, and I’m working with him on the training portal for all employees and what he needs for that. It probably won’t happen until the first quarter of next year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched the Endocote factory-finish program in February or March, and the video was broadcast via e-blast. It was also added to our website and YouTube site. Thousands of people have opened it and looked at it. They’re still viewing it because it’s still active on all of our social media accounts.

The video has received good feedback. Initially, we made the video so that few people would want to see the machine itself. Surprisingly, the owners wanted to come see the machine and how it ran because of what Vibrant did.  

It’s an amazing video that shows what the program encompasses. Vibrant was able to run the camera through the heating process. Originally, I thought they’d say no, but they were able to pull it off with a specific camera. We adjusted it as well as we could so that their cameras didn’t melt.  

How did Vibrant Media Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a great timeline. They understand our budget and when we needed things done. We are able to jump on a call if we couldn’t meet face-to-face.

They are also very flexible, which is good since a lot of people are looking at the videos. If there are any tweaks needed, they are able to fix it pretty quickly. It is mostly my company saying, “We have to make sure the wording is correct. Does it pass our lawyer’s wording and our CFO’s wording?”

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a family-owned business, a father-and-son team that’s very personable and professional. I like their personalities. They travel around the nation and the world. I told them I didn’t know much about the technology that they were working with, and they laughed and helped me learn what they could do and could not do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. Not at this point.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

GES is a full-service events group. My division does mostly consumer events, as well as some B2B events. Vibrant worked with us on the consumer events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media Productions?

We were taking part in a big event in Orlando and I needed a crew on the ground to film for three days.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They documented the event onsite and provided a photographer. They also cut a post-event video for us and handled testimonials from the attendees. Chris and Alex from their team both have a lot of experience in editing and were able to talk me through the best way to set the shot and how to make it work. If we had an idea at the last second, they were able to make it work.

The final product was a video documenting the event that we could use in our sales pitches to show to our executives. I was responsible for the event and was comfortable leaving them to work. That event went well so we had them come to the National Geographic Family Day in Washington D.C. a few weeks later.

They were also supposed to film an event that got postponed, but it will happen later this year. They were super great about that. They understood that sometimes things happen and they gave me the credit for their services in the future. I was very appreciative of their time and flexibility.

What is the team dynamic? 

On the day of the event, Chris and Alex were there along with two other camera operators and a photographer.

How did you come to work with Vibrant Media Productions?

I did some research on firms in the Orlando area, and they came up a lot. I spoke to them on the phone, and liked their energy and past work.  

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $10,000 and $12,000 on the four-day Orlando event and $7,500 on the D.C. event.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first event was in January 2017, and the second was in February 2017. We plan to work with them in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both events went very well and the sales teams loved the videos. The Orlando event was more internal, while the D.C. event went public and we got lots of incredible feedback. National Geographic loved it, as did the clients we sell to, and the people who attended. There was also a very quick turnaround, as the event was on February 20 and need the video by March 7, which they achieved.

How did Vibrant Media Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Alex and Chris are super responsive and the edits are always done very quickly. Sometimes I get confused on my editing terms but Alex understands me even when I’m not sure that I make sense. I’ve been very happy with their project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to work with, and they’re very good at what they do. They don’t need me to hold their hand. They can take a creative brief that’s very general and understand what I’m looking for. They have a lot of experience, and their camera work is excellent. When they conduct the interviews for the testimonials, they make the interviewee feel comfortable with being on camera.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). We are a not-for-profit society with several segments of membership. Primarily, we have researchers, health and fitness professionals, clinicians, and worksite health promotion professionals. I serve as the Managing Editor for two of our five journals. I manage Current Sports Medicine Reports & ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal. The work that I did with vibrant relates to that last journal.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media Productions?

With all of our five journals, we've been working to grow our digital content offerings. It made sense from our perspective to start with ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal because the content is very practical, and the journal goes directly to the health and fitness professional.

Each year we have a health and fitness summit. The idea came about that we could pull in several of our members, authors, and editors that are already going to be at this meeting for video interviews to help build that digital content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial call that lasted about a half hour, and I explained to them the types of footage that we wanted to get at the summit. I also sent them links to our website so they could take a look at it and see what it looked like, the feel for it, and the type of print content we had.

When we decided to go with them and signed the contract, I had a follow-up call with the Vibrant team. This was the first time we had done anything like this in our organization. We worked with Vibrant on how to make interviewees comfortable when they're in front of a camera and that red light comes on.

I didn't know what to expect. You can set somebody in front of the camera, and they can either really shine or they can freeze. Vibrant Media did a really great job of giving me pointers and ideas on how to avoid that. We created a list of questions for each interviewee, which were sent prior to the actual video interviews. That was the suggestion from vibrant, and it worked out really well. Everybody was on point.

As soon as the cameras started rolling, they were able to answer the questions without too many takes. The most we had to do a take was two times, and really most of the people nailed it on the first try. The prep work that we did prior to going into the event really paid off.

On-site, if something wasn't working or if a question didn't elicit an answer we needed, Vibrant was really good on the fly at adapting to make it work to capture the content that we wanted to get.

We have done this twice so far – in March 2016 at our summit meeting in Orlando and then in April 2017 in San Diego. I foresee using them again in the future.

The production is very efficient. In 2016, we interviewed 12 people, and it was an all day event. We started at 7:30 a.m. and went to 5 p.m. When I left that session, Alex handed me a drive with all of the raw footage. Within a week, he started sending me edited videos. From there, because it was the first attempt, we went back and forth. We wanted to have short video clips, so sometimes he would combine questions together and we asked to separate those questions. Around an hour later I would have the finalized file that I could use right then and there. So, I would say the production was very efficient.

How did you come to work with Vibrant Media Productions?

I contacted several people at the time (this would have been in 2016) in Orlando. I came across vibrant via a Google search. I had an initial call with Chris and Alex and felt very comfortable with what they could offer for our needs.

I spoke with three or four different companies. Vibrant put me at ease right away, and the other companies didn't. They were very down-to-earth and practical. I could tell that they had a lot of experience at putting people at ease. That was the primary reason that I selected them.

How much have you invested with them?

In 2016, we were in Orlando which is where they are based and we spent $6,500, and that included filming and editing. In 2017, the event was in San Diego, and it was $8,850, and that included filming editing and travel.

In 2017, I did search to see what price comparisons were in San Diego. I didn't feel as comfortable with other vendors, and they also charged more.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first engagement was in March of 2016, and our second was in April of 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our goal was to drive traffic to our website and to the print content and also to boost our social media traffic. I know that our social media sites have gained more followers since we've been adding the video content on the Journal website. Within the past couple of years, traffic to the journal site has increased as well.

Generally, people like that we're moving in the video direction, and we have heard positive feedback from editors, authors, and readers of the journal.

How did Vibrant Media Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Prior to the interviews, I sent the interview packets out. To put the editors at ease in the first year, I was the one asking the questions. Vibrant was there to coach me and guide me. In the second year, Vibrant served in that role and asked the questions. Everybody remembered the videographers from the year prior. That speaks to how Vibrant Media deals with people. It takes a lot for me to trust putting my volunteers into the hands of somebody that I'm not comfortable with.

Generally, they were very organized. They know what they're doing, they're experienced, and they were willing to help coach and direct things in a way that was positive for me, the person coordinating the product, and the people being interviewed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very down to earth. They realize that not everybody has experience with video, and they can speak in a way that is easily understandable. They don't make you feel stupid.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I do the marketing for Shoot Straight. We’re the largest firearms retailer in the southeast.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media Productions?

We needed to revamp our television commercial that we were running when we were revamping our marketing and advertising. We made some space in our budget to take a new approach with our commercial. The goal of the commercial was to increase sales and retail.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a 30-second television commercial to play all around the state of Florida. They also created a longer commercial to play on our website and on YouTube. They provided scripting and storyboarding. We only needed to have a few meetings before we started filming because we also exchanged ideas via email. As far as music goes, he knew exactly what I wanted. Alex [CEO, Vibrant Media Productions] understood the vision well and put it together super quickly.

The project was completed in July 2015, but we added a new store last year in Sarasota so he edited the commercials and added that location. We stay in touch as needed.

How did you come to work with Vibrant Media Productions?

I’ve known Alex [CEO, Vibrant Media Productions] for years. He’s had great reviews from people I know so we reached out to Vibrant Media. This was the first project that I had done with him personally.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2015 until July 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A lot of people came in or called us saying that they noticed our new commercial. It definitely brought good feedback and helped with sales.

How did Vibrant Media Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They were awesome. They understood our vision right away. They made everything happen super quickly, easily and professionally. They’re really great guys to work with. They gave me a lot of options in regards to what to promote for this project as well as for down the road.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are professional in every aspect. They’re extremely personable and their work is fantastic with quick turnaround. I refer him to everyone I know that needs a videographer or anything media wise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, no. I’m more than satisfied working with them and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a software and services provider for higher-education colleges and universities. We specialize in making software and providing solutions to customers, and we hold an annual tradeshow event which brings our vendor partners together, as well as the community of users, to see the different service offerings we have. During that event, users and partners can talk directly with experts about our software. We also have dynamic keynote speakers who can really keep us positioned as a leading-edge software company.

I work within the marketing department, where I am a part of the creative services team. My official title is Digital Content Producer, which means that I am the in-house video specialist and in charge of photography. I primarily focus on the video editing of client testimonials, as well as motion-graphics animations and demo pieces.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vibrant Media Productions?

For our event, every year we like to create a highlights video, which is then run at the opening keynote during the last day. Usually, the event will kick off on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and feature different activities, workshops, speakers and demo sessions. We like to capture those through a video production agency, and have them work on editing together a highlights video which we can then run on the morning of the last day. It’s really a key piece of the experience—being able to have a summary video and make everyone excited about what they’ve just experienced. It’s also something which we push out on social media to show what the event was like and what they can look forward to if they come next year.

The choice to work with an agency was a matter of scale. I am the only in-house video professional, and, while I did assist Vibrant Media with content capturing and a bit of editing, the ability to capture different things in parallel was the important part. Another big part of working with a vendor is that they bring all their own equipment. We also like to use groups who are local to the area, as opposed to us taking equipment and paying to have it shipped to wherever we are. We’re based in northern Virginia, outside of Washington DC, while Vibrant Media is based in Orlando, Florida, where our event took place.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Using someone with a larger team allows the content to be captured in parallel. The producer and main videographer will be capturing client testimonials, short man-on-the-street-style interviews. The other videographers and photographer will be out in other parts of the event, capturing b-roll content and keynote speakers on the stage. Their main photographer canceled, but the other person handled this. The photography they provided was used real-time for social media posts, helping our community keep up with what was going on.

Another part of why we like to use vendors is on-site editing. It needs to occur on a longer timescale, while our own team is dealing with other things at the event. Video editing for something like this is an ongoing process, which Vibrant Media provided. They ultimately produced a single video for us.

What is the team dynamic?

Vibrant Media assigned 2 dedicated videographers, a producer and an editor (who also did some shooting). The producer and videographers were responsible for capturing client testimonials and put together a lighting setup.

How did you come to work with Vibrant Media Productions?

I wasn’t a part of the selection process, so I can’t say if they responded to an RFP bid or not. I believe Vibrant Media offered competitive pricing, had the knowledge, and were local to the Orlando area. The reel on their website was well-received.

How much have you invested with them?

I didn’t have insight into this.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Vibrant Media in March 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our marketing team was happy with how it came together, and the video was well-received at the event. It has 2,656 views, which is a lot for our YouTube channel.

The level of videography was professional—it was HD, well lit, with good quality. Vibrant Media was able to provide an almost Steadicam shooting style, using a camera they introduced me to, and which I ended up getting for us to use. We were impressed with how tactical they were in getting shots and looks, on a smaller budget.

We were happy with their editing workflow. The ability to keep pace with the content coming in, and keep working on it as the event was progressing. We liked their selection of music, and the energy of the overall piece was exactly what we wanted. It served to energize the closing session, and showed the true energy of the event for our viewers on social media.

How did Vibrant Media Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

There were many moving pieces, but I was able to keep in contact with almost everyone on Vibrant Media’s team directly, as well as with their producer, who offered good insight into what everyone was doing at every point. The communication was great throughout the shoot, and Vibrant Media went above and beyond timewise. We ended up editing the last bits of the highlight video at a little outdoor seating bar, with a laptop, in order to enter the last piece of footage from the client-appreciation event.

One of the issues with working on video content for this event is that there is a hard deadline. In order to meet this time requirement, we were up to the eleventh hour. Vibrant Media stayed with us, which was great. They also provided me with the raw media for archival use, after the fact, and have been responsive to emails after the event. I’m happy with the level of service, in that regard.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really did go above and beyond. We had discussions about pushing the time limits agreed to in our contract. I wasn’t really privy to these, and I didn’t have a full understanding of how much Vibrant Media was contracted for, but they did put in more than 8-hour days for us, which was really appreciated.

The level of professionalism of the videography was great. Working directly with me and allowing me to check that the video footage was up to our standards was important. Vibrant Media was open and receptive to this, and treated me as a client throughout the process.

They have general professionalism and expertise and deliver a good final product. Vibrant Media’s members are also good-natured. They were easy to talk to, personable and down-to-earth, and had good rapport. In a time-crunch, stressful production schedule, this is really important.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The follow-up from the event could be improved. I did need to reach out to them to get the footage. Once I did, Vibrant Media was quick to meet that request and mailed it out to me.

They were also a bit equipment-heavy, for what we needed, and actually brought a desktop computer for editing, but didn’t have a dolly cart to move it. This didn’t affect me or our output, but it was a lesson learned for Vibrant Media—when working at one of these big convention centers, there’s a lot of walking, so mobility is required for the equipment.