WAFILMS

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of The Brand Squad. We are a brand development company that operates throughout the US. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WAFILMS?

Typically, we do video and film production. But, recently we’ve tapped into how to utilize video and film to allow business platforms to communicate with their publics. For example, one of our clients is involved in a trade show, but the trade show is canceled. However, they still need to get their product in front of their customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, it was a traditional vendor relationship. But, now, we work as a creative and production team together. We bring them in early during the development process for additional ideation on how we can make the project better. 

Typically, one of our clients will need a marketing video of some type. That format may be a training video about products or a video about their manufacturing facilities to show their B2B customers. It has also been traditional television commercials or content for websites and digital applications.

We worked on a documentary together that’s on Amazon Prime right now. It’s about Holocaust survivors that ended up in Memphis and led incredible, successful lives. Also, we just finished a project with a client that had just re-outfitted their tractor-trailer fleet. They wanted to capture video of 10 tractor-trailers coming down the highway by utilizing a drone. We had to coordinate with the law enforcement to block off the highway for us and get permit permissions to fly the drone over the highway. 

What is the team composition?

He matches up the best-in-class talent for whatever our need is. For example, if we’re shooting a commercial that requires food, that will require a different photographer than somebody who is good at orchestrating a music video. In some shoots, we’ve had as many as 15–18 people depending on what talents we needed for it. He also has an assistant or two.

How did you come to work with WAFILMS?

The owner of our company came to talk with our firm. As luck would have it, we got a call from the state of Tennessee the next day. They needed a television commercial for their anti-drunk driving campaign. They only had one day available to film with the governor and highway patrol officers.

We called WAFILMS and said we had a project that we wanted to turnaround within the week. It was a large production. They had to shoot at night with a lot of logistics involved. They did an exceptional job. We’ve worked together ever since. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve probably invested close to one million dollars by now. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2006, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve never had a case where a client isn’t satisfied with the final result. Even if there is some inconsistency, he’ll take care of it in five minutes. 

He is my go-to person. Even if he didn’t direct the film, I’d pull him together to be the producer. He is extremely buttoned up. He’s the most organized person I’ve ever worked with in the film world. Plus, typically filmmakers are notorious for under-guessing the amount of time it will take to do a project. He has never under-estimated his time because he is so organized.

How did WAFILMS perform from a project management standpoint?

He’s very easy to get in touch with. We send each other notes at 4–5 a.m., and he usually responds within minutes. He is easy to get in touch with, passionate about his work, and very client-focused. When he’s on a set, he has a super-focused mentality. His crew knows what to do—he has everything under control.

My clients know that he is an artist. It’s more than just dollars and cents or knowing which camera lenses to use. Photography is art when he is shooting video. Even if it’s inside a manufacturing plant, you’re not just going to get a video that zooms in on a part and zooms back out. The film is going to have movement, and he’ll come up with a way to keep people focused on the product throughout it. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

There are many things I’ve found impressive about him, but his intelligence is at the top.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We can always improve what we’re working on. We’ve worked so long together that I know what to expect. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Since he is so organized, he’ll expect the people that work for him to have their act together. He’ll expect costumers to have their scripts approved and ready to go along with the client’s logistics. He will be buttoned up and ready to go. He’ll expect the client to be at the top of their game so that he can deliver what they’re asking for.