let's get philosophical.
How We
Approach
The Work.
When dealing with production, it can be so easy to just grab a camera and go for it. But it makes a huge difference when your strategic goals can be achieved in a way that actually is interesting to watch.
Start with the audience, not the legal department
Smart creative direction focuses on who the target audience is and what’s the best way to reach them. We’ve gotten creative comments from the lawyers and let’s just say… no thanks. When it’s someone’s job to ensure that people don’t get sued they tend to lean towards wishy washy and risk averse - not exactly the style that leads to better sales or brand awareness. If you find your script saying something like, “Our product might possibly be almost nearly as good as our competition, but it also might not,” then you’re not doing it right. Let’s put it this way, you wouldn’t hire a lawyer to unclog your drain or deliver a baby, so why should you trust them to write your creative.
Find the human story inside the business story
Every corporate message has a human element, let’s discover what that is and show it off. Remember that your target audience is made of real, living people who have thoughts and feelings that don’t just reflect what their job title is. The Dean of a University might play Pokemon with their grandson, not just sit around and think about admissions statistics all day. Now that doesn’t mean incorporating Pikachu into your script, just means that we contain multitudes and we shouldn't get too wrapped up in living inside the echo chamber of any given corporate category when creating videos and documentaries to reach people.
Abstract need not apply
Whether it’s through visuals or voice, back away from the jargon and turn vague concepts like "innovation" or "synergy" into clear, understandable language that people actually use. We’ve seen too many videos be hijacked by language that is only meant for those on the inside, which isolates rather than impresses viewers. The point of any video you're making for an audience is to show them how you can help them in the quickest, easiest to understand way.
Balance information with emotion
Corporate videos need to inform and maybe even sell, but great videos can do that while tugging at the ol’ heart strings. People are excited to buy something new, or use a new service because of how it will make them feel. Maybe it makes life easier, maybe it brings them actual joy. In our years of producing videos we’ve learned how to find the heart of the matter, no matter who’s speaking or what the subject is, and apply it to the video for better results.
DOING GREAT WORK AND BEING GREAT TO WORK WITH SHOULD ALWAYS GO HAND IN HAND.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA TALK ABOUT MONEY.
YES. OUR PROJECTS START AT $15K. (AND HERE'S WHY THAT'S LEGIT.)
There's a well-known saying in video production: "Cheap, Fast, Good… pick two." We've found that even getting two is optimistic. Quality video production services need real investment because there's a lot of factors that go into high quality videos that not only look good, but do the job you want them to.
Our $15K starting point isn't arbitrary. It reflects what it actually takes to create something that works:
We build relationships, not just deliverables.We dig deep into your brand until we understand it better than Einstein understands relativity.
The math adds up. Even our simplest shoots require 4-5 skilled professionals with professional equipment. Before anyone yells "ACTION!" we're already at $5-6K in crew and gear costs.
Post-production isn't a magic filter. Our editors, sound designers, and color specialists transform raw footage into content that makes your audience stop scrolling and start caring.
You get way more than you ordered. That brand film for your website? We'll show you how to turn it into social snippets, sales tools, and paid media assets. One production becomes a content library.
Could we make videos for less than $15K?
Sure, and you could cut your own hair.
But some things are worth doing right.
HOW IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS
FROM BRIEF
TO BRILLIANCE.
Project management isn't sexy, but if you've ever worked with a vendor or partner that went quiet mid-project or came back with surprise costs, you already know why we take this stuff seriously.
With both live-action and animation we've built workflows from discovery and concept development through production and post. There may be some similarities but a brand film shoot has crew, casting, locations and animation has styleframes, storyboards, sound design… like siblings, they're different but both need mom and dad's love. Every production company in Chicago has a "process," ours just happens to work without the usual headaches.
did we just become best friends?
WHO We WORK BEST WITH
Not to be picky, but we've found our magic works best with certain kinds of collaborators. If you recognize yourself here, we might just be soulmates:
Marketing Directors & Brand Managers
The Purpose-Driven Nonprofit Champion
The Small to Mid Size Agency
Let's start a beautiful friendship that spans multiple projects, years, and maybe even a coffee mug exchange.
What All These Wonderful Humans Share
partnership over transactions.
You want a creative team that sticks around, not a one-video stand.
YOU WANT US TO tell it like it is.
"Here's what we think you should do next" beats "What do you want us to do next?" every time.
remove the video burden off you.
You're crazy busy and want less stress in your life, not more.
quality plus consideration wins.
You get why "cheap and fast" usually equals "forgettable and ineffective."
We set some goals, did they work?
You get excited about results, not just deliverables.
"The final product is always, without question, better than what we asked for and we are still sharing videos they produced for us years ago."
Jessica Olive
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advancement Communications
University of Illinois Chicago
don't take our word for it.
Judge Us By the Company We Keep
