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Corporate Promotional video for Beverages Direct, Speke, Liverpool.
Beverages Direct are one of the largest independent beverage distribution companies in the UK. We were asked to produce a promotional video which could be used to support their sales presentations to new and potential customers. The video would demonstrate the extent of the services that are offered by Beverages Direct. (more…)
We’ve just completed yet another of our amazing Whiteboard Animation videos!
Home Build Help are a company that provide expert advice and personal consultancy services to assist with home projects. They needed a company video to show new customers exactly what they do, how they do it and why they are good at what they do. (more…)
We are currently in the process of creating an audio and video compilation DVD for St Helen’s Concert Band to promote and celebrate their strong historical roots. As part of this project we were also asked to film the band playing a recent live show to represent the members in the present day line up.
The band were asked to play at Liverpool One Proms in the Park over the bank holiday, Jubilee weekend, so we went along to film.
The morning of the concert was glorious; the sun was out, there was a nice cool, slow breeze and the skies were blue -perfect! We got to Chavasse Park a little early to check out the stage and start setting up our equipment.
When we arrived it was already busy with people lounging on the grass and reclining in the special Liverpool One beach chairs. It was a great opportunity to test out our new Jib with remote pan and tilt head. We set this up just to the side of stage, allowing us to pan up and over the band getting some great shots looking down on them and from behind the conductor.
We also used our Canon DSLR and slider to get some establishing and general shots of the crowd and park. The band played for a total of 40 minutes, indulging in some of their favourite songs for the Liverpool crowd.
The entire set was filmed from a variety of angles and we managed to get some great footage!
Overall, it was a great day out! A big thanks to Liverpool One for putting on such a great concert!
Happy Birthday Kevin!
Campaign background
Our most recent video production project has just been completed for a company called Plastic Closures Ltd based in Warrington. They are specialists in the supply and manufacture of caps, closures, temper evident caps, snap caps, beverage caps, closures caps, cosmetic closures, flip top caps, screw caps, sports bottle cap and diary caps… phew; almost forgot to breathe there.
The Challenge
Studiowide was asked to produce a promotional video that would be used at an exhibition in early 2012, with the intention of gathering interest and giving potential customers an insight into what Plastic Closures Ltd do. The video would also be displayed in the reception area for customers to watch while they’re waiting.
The main objective for the video was to communicate a variety of key messages such as; ‘we do as we promise’, ‘develop the relationship – deliver the promise’, ’55 million closures produced annually’, ‘fast friendly service’ and that they have ‘eco credentials with the introduction of all electric machines’.
The Solution
To achieve this objective, we proposed to our client some suggestions for the video to have a slight narrative. Now, we’re not talking Coronation Street with the standard affair being followed by a bloody murder of the cheating partner with the aid of a rusty spoon; we’re talking more along the lines of a super simple ‘story’ (so to speak). One that follows the customer from the very beginning; starting with the introduction and initial meeting and ending with a shiny new plastic closure (lid). The client was excited with this angle and agreed to focus on the production journey of a Galaxy hot chocolate lid. With this brief in mind we then set about showing the viewer exactly what to expect when working with Plastic Closures Ltd.
After un-leashing my amazing drawing ability (Ha!) to storyboard the video, it was time to go to Plastic Closures Ltd and begin the filming. This is where it got really interesting; we crawled all over the production process with our HD cameras then John (the M.D. of Plastic Closures Ltd) asked if I wanted to see the robot. “Hell yeah! A robot!” I was over there before you could say ‘all electric injection moulding machine incorporating the LRX50 Linear Robot’. If you’ve ever seen ‘How It’s Made’ on the Discovery Channel – that’s exactly what it was like!
The Results
Following some hours of on-location-filming it was once again back to the nerd cave to begin the editing process. After liaising with the client with a few iterations we arrived, quite quickly I must say, with the final video.
The total process, from filming to final cut, agreed and signed off was 5 days. What! 5 days I hear you say! Yep – we don’t hang around. After this first video was finalised the client also requested two other specific videos to help promote the use of two machines which they are particularly proud of in the factory.
Overall, the client was very pleased with the end videos, and even sent us some nice feedback to brighten our lovely grey winter’s day.
“Superb, well delivered from story board to final cut, understood our intentions and developed them into a very professional video, we are happy to have found Studiowide and would not hesitate recommending to other businesses. The proof is in the pudding and they delivered on time and in a very courteous manner.” – John Hargreaves. M.D. Plastic Closures Ltd.
By Daniel Piercy
The past couple of days have been spent filming and editing our motion graphics to use as a promotional video for our homepage. We created our motion graphics promotional video mainly for visitors to our website so they can watch a video and get a better understanding of the services that we offer and what we can do.
The video briefly shows examples of the work that we do in Liverpool from each of the different areas that we specialise in; these are chartered marketing, graphic design, web design & development, video production and photography. The video runs for a total of 3 minutes, showing off each area for roughly 30 seconds. It’s comprised of a mixture of motion graphics and video footage to give it a real quirky look.
Hang on, what’s motion graphics!? Well, it’s exactly how it sounds; you take graphics and introduce motion and animation. Think of it as a billboard or an advert on a page in a magazine, but it’s animated; the text, photographs and graphics are all able to move around.
Before we could get to the fun part though, we had to story board and plan how the video was going to play and what was going to happen in each scene. It’s important to do this so that when you come to doing the actual filming, you don’t end up standing around like a lemon wasting time trying to figure out what you’re going to film.
Once all the planning was completed it was time to start the filming and motion graphics. There were also a few photographs in the video; so we filmed this in our studio which was perfect to capture the set-up of studio lights and backdrop. These photographs played a big role in the final video as they were going to be the background for the motion graphics, so we had to make sure they were placed exactly how we wanted them when shooting the footage in order to tie in the ‘real word’ to the motion graphics. After having taken the photographs, they were put into Adobe Photoshop CS5 and tweaked to get the desired look we were after.
They were then ready to become part of the motion graphics; to do this we use Adobe After Effects CS5. We then spent a few hours combining the photographs with graphics (all made by us of course!), adding animation and sound effects to get the motion graphics ready to be dropped into the final video.
At first it was a little difficult to get it looking just right as I had to try and make a seamless transition between real footage and a photograph. However, after a little while of being hung-up we managed to get it looking right. It was then plain sailing as we were able to apply the same techniques and principles to the other clips to get them looking perfect.
Alongside the motion graphics there is actual video, which we had to film with an actual video camera, surprising I know. However, rather than just straight up video, we were going to motion track some of the motion graphics into the real footage to give it a whole new depth and look, very similar to the effects used in the film ‘Zombie Land’. When you require this type of effect you have to film with the motion tracking in mind; you have to compose the shot differently and watch the way that you move the camera around, you can’t just decide to add it in as an after-thought into any old footage.
Combing the photographs, motion graphics, real footage, motion tracking and finally music, we feel gave us a real nice vibe to the video which we think represents us and the way that we work. Once the video was complete it was ready to hit the net and win us some Oscars. Having a promotional video to represent you or your company is great; you’re able to let people know what you’re all about without them having to read through pages of text. Read loads of text, or watch a video? Bit of a no-brainer really. Not only does it let people know what you do, it’s also a way of letting people see what you do, if they can see it, they’ll understand it better, which in turn is more likely to help your business as people aren’t going to buy something they don’t understand.
So, what are you waiting for, stop reading this and watch the video!
by Beki Reilly
If you didn’t know today is Star Wars day!
And although it’s not an official day (not yet anyway,) today is celebrated amongst myself and fellow geeks, due to the line ‘may the force be with you.’ Already ‘#maythe4thbewithyou’ is trending on twitter as thousands of fans pay homage to the film/s.
This is great media attention, as it is being blogged and tweeted about about multiple times (just like this one) and the official Facebook page boasts 1,578,262 ‘likes’. There is also a lot of hype around the official website that currently has a countdown clock. We are hoping for something big!
So in tribute of Star Wars and my all-time love of advertising I am looking back advertising that has used the iconic film as a platform for their own products or brands.
Volkswagen’s mini Darth Vader has been launched today in the UK following its success in America and on Youtube – boasting 37 million hits! (source – campaignlive.co.uk) In the advert we see a child trying to ‘use the force’ on objects around the house. Click the video below to play.
The advert is cheerful and enjoyable, and the link to Star Wars reinstates the USP (the unique selling point) of the car itself. The ad itself was featured in a trial spot on screens in Hyde Park last Friday so all those Royal Wedding spectators could catch their first glimpse of the advert. The ad is set to run for six weeks in total.
Also take a peek at R2 D2 and C-3PO in this Dixons advert created by M&C Saatchi. It’s a far cry from the excitement of space and battling an evil empire. Instead they are boldly going into a Currys/Dixons megastore, and finding themselves amazed at the technology the store has to offer.
Finally I’m going into the Adidas archives for this… Adidas has hijacked the cantina scene from the original 1977 Star Wars for its lavish World Cup advertisement, splicing stars including … Daft Punk, Noel Gallagher, David Beckham and a light saber-wielding Snoop Dogg into footage featuring Han Solo and Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is my favourite video from the Adidas campaign; click to watch on Youtube!
by Beki Reilly
Advertising has been accused of a lot of things… but ‘making the world a better place’ is never really one of them.
D&AD; the worldwide organisation that recognises excellence in design, advertising and the creative industry, has launched the white pencil award.
Each year D&AD will set a new live brief with a different partner or cause, and challenge the creative community to find a solution. An award goes to the best idea, campaign or concept that “changes the world for the better”. The first white pencil will be awarded at D&AD’s 2012 award ceremony, which will mark the awards 50th anniversary.
To celebrate this I wanted to pay homage to one of my favourite campaigns; created for Volkswagen by DDB Stockholm. The campaign focuses on the ideal that ‘fun is the easiest way to change’s people behaviour for the better’ which results in some great guerrilla advertising. and viral videos online.
…And how can the fun theory get people taking the stairs instead of the escalator?
Of course… a giant musical staircase! … 66% more people than normal chose the stairs over the escalator.
- Proving that ‘fun can obviously change behaviour for the better’!!
Take a peek at their website to see how they make recycling bottles and putting rubbish in the bin fun
The advertising industry is taking new approaches to appealing to customers… and being more respectful to the environment is just one of those changes. This year’s brief for D&AD is to raise the awareness of Peace day around the world (so that it’s as familiar as Mother’s day), and since anyone can enter it’s time to get our pencils out and get scamping!
This video (a bit grainy but content is good) demonstrates the importance and the impact that social networking can have on you and your business, and how the corporate image is being challenged by social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogs, YouTube and other online communities.
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