Author: Slow Clap

High-Impact Customer Testimonial Video for Glide Featuring The PGA

Posted on by Slow Clap

Background

In 2022, Glide, a no-code app-building platform, partnered with Slow Clap to help create a customer testimonial video to tell the story of their collaboration with the PGA, the largest nonprofit professional golfing organization in the country. 

The Ryder Cup tournament is a biennial golf tournament for European and American golfers to compete. The grandstands that spectators view per hole use a first come first serve system. The spectators are allowed to leave for 30 minutes to use the restroom and refill snacks and drinks. The Ryder Cup staff have to painstakingly write down ticket information along with in and out times to ensure no one accidentally gets their spot forfeit before their time runs out. This was a very manual and outdated process using pen and paper.

PGA used Glide to create a seat saver app based on their previous handwritten process. This allows staff to easily scan patrons in and out quickly. Now people can enjoy more of the tournament. 

 

“Glide partners with Slow Clap to tell high-end, niche stories to help them ramp up their growth potential and to show their potential clients that their solutions can fit into large enterprises and help solve real-world, major business problems.”

– Daniel Lichtenberg, Creative Director at Slow Clap

Ryder Cup worker scans ticket for spectator seating at the Ryder Cup tournament

Recreation of the new, faster check-in process the Ryder Cup used thanks to Glide’s app.

Challenge

This wasn’t our first rodeo with Glide, but this one did offer its own unique challenges for Slow Clap to overcome. 

 

By the time Glide wanted to make this video, the Ryder Cup had already ended! So the initial and most obvious approach was already off the table, since we couldn’t have a production team at the tournament to film the check-in/check-out process in real time. 

So, we were left with a big question that we had to answer before going into production: How were we going to tell this story without being able to be on the ground while it was happening?

Execution

Behind the scenes: Setting up the Glide app seat saver scan recreated at the Slow Clap studio.

Slow Clap worked closely with Glide while setting up product shots of the back-end editing process for the app to nail down its visual style. We also had to make props since we didn’t have access to the tickets that were used on-site for the Ryder Cup. We invested in a roll of turf so that we could stage checking people in and out at the tournament.

Once we had the product shots in the bag, we sent a camera crew out to film a couple of folks at the PGA office. Their on-camera interviews and b-roll lay the groundwork for the story.

Everything was shaping up well, but we had one final issue. We didn’t have any visuals of the actual Ryder Cup. We initially tried to use generic stock footage, but that didn’t elevate the visuals and came off looking well…generic. PGA licensed us a library of shots that we got to pick and choose from, so we were able to find the shots that best fit our video. This helped us sell our reenactment shots of the app in action.

 

“Without the broadcast footage given to us by the PGA, we wouldn’t have been able to visualize the hustle of the grandstands and the lines of people that form that need to be checked out.”

– Alexander Flores, Editor, Slow Clap Productions

 

Behind the scenes: Daniel Lichtenberg setting up the camera for laptop shots of the Glide App.

Result

The final product was a two-and-a-half-minute-long testimonial video that conveyed the PGA’s customer story with Glide for the Ryder Cup golf tournament. With the reenactment shots and original b-roll mixed in, could you tell that our team didn’t step foot at the Ryder’s Cup?

“We send the PGA video to our high-touch clients, who may be a bit skeptical that we can handle a large corporation. It sets them at ease, and that’s super valuable to us.”

– Jack Vaughan, Senior Video Producer, Glide

Reach out to Slow Clap for your next customer testimonial video.

 

Further Reading

https://www.glideapps.com/customers/pga

https://www.glideapps.com/customers/sarin-energy

Other Case studies blogs to read:

Imbue-ing B2B Video Production with Documentary Storytelling

Broadcast Commercial Video on a Budget for Beck’s Shoes

Freemark Abbey: A Study in Style

Venturing into Virtual Production with Mindful

The History of San Francisco’s Waterfront

Blue Shield of California: Oakland Headquarters

What is the Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment?

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Community Benefits Outreach

La Crema Winery’s 40th Anniversary

Imbue-ing B2B Video Production with Documentary Storytelling

Posted on by Slow Clap

Imbue is a San Francisco based, independent research company working to build AI systems that can reason and be deployed in the real world. In 2023, as the conversation around the emerging capabilities of artificial intelligence became mainstream, Imbue was at the receiving end of a $200 million Series B funding round, reaching a valuation of over $1 billion.


With the intention of boosting their market presence and creating something that would draw new talent to the company, Slow Clap collaborated with the team at Imbue to create a video that would tell the story of their brand through the eyes of their co-founder and CEO, Kanjun Qiu.  

 

“We wanted to create an updated narrative and tell our company’s story.  We also wanted to attract candidates with whom our story resonated. On top of that, we wanted to clarify our narrative to the broader public.”

– Nic Seo, Head of Product Experience at Imbue

 

Approach

Imbue wanted to convey a story that felt more authentic and personal than your average explainer video. Not only is AI a dense and highly technical subject matter, but the growing number of players in the artificial intelligence space meant we had to be very deliberate in how we would differentiate Imbue from the “big players” in the industry, all while telling a story that would generate interest and curiosity.

Working closely with the team at Imbue, we decided the best way to achieve this was through a series of anecdotes and metaphors that we would then bring to life visually through hand-drawn animations. Through extensive pre-interviews with our protagonist, Kanjun, multiple script revisions, and storyboarding, we were able to hone in on the perfect combination of parts needed to effectively communicate the company’s belief that AI can unlock human potential and creativity.

 

“We were able to go in knowing exactly the story we wanted to tell, but we still asked authentic interview questions that elicited authentic interview responses, without sticking exactly to the script.”

– Daniel Lichtenberg, Creative Director & Founder of Slow Clap

Daniel Lichtenberg directing the video crew on the set up.

Execution

Over the course of two days we filmed at Imbue’s office, a quaint Victorian house in San Francisco’s Eureka Valley neighborhood. We still wanted to inject some of the documentary storytelling spirit that we are known for bringing to all our projects at Slow Clap, so we went for a direct-to-camera style of interview, allowing us to feel like we were having an intimate conversation with Kanjun. We made the decision not to use a script on a teleprompter, allowing Kanjun to answer our questions freely and express her thoughts genuinely. We also spent some time hanging out with the rest of the team at Imbue, capturing b-roll footage of the group working together in their office. 

Ryan Yen and Gabriel de Cuba reviewing the set up through a small video monitor.

Once in post-production, we worked with illustrator Rose Tully to create custom hand-drawn illustrations that were directly inspired by Kanjun’s personal sketch-work, working through several ideations to ensure the illustrations looked and felt like Kanjun’s. These illustrations were then animated by motion graphics artist Larry Brown, and served as a fun yet effective visual representation of the personal anecdotes Kanjun relates to us throughout the video. 

“Imbue was looking for a narrative animation film style where it’s very seamless and flowing. We were presented with Kanjun’s journal as a reference. It was very dreamy and untethered and very light. Imbue liked the pencil look and they just wanted it to go with a watercolor fill in.”

– Rose Tully, Illustrator

Water color sketches using the Imbue color palette of Kanjun.

Illustration of Kanjun doing different activities.

Results

The final product was a brand story video that felt inspiring, forward-thinking, and true to Imbue’s brand. As of the time of writing, our video has over 100,000 views across Imbue’s social media platforms. 

Illustration of Kanjun and friends watching fireworks on a hill in San Francisco.

“Slow Clap’s biggest strength was their collaborative spirit. They treated us as a thought partner instead of just asking for tasks and running off to do their own things. Their authenticity was also impressive. They cared about their clients and the story we were trying to tell; this came through in the final product. ”

– Nic Seo, Head of Product Experience at Imbue

 

Further Reading

Broadcast Commercial Video on a Budget for Beck’s Shoes

Posted on by Slow Clap

Background

Creating high-quality broadcast commercials on a budget is no easy feat, but it’s something we at Slow Clap thrive on.

When Beck’s Shoes wanted their first commercial to highlight their customer-centric brand and set them apart from big shoe retailers, they turned to Slow Clap for help. Beck’s Shoes is a footwear retailer primarily located in Northern California, with many stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is family-owned and operated by the 5th generation of the Beck Family.

Beck’s might not have the big commercial budgets of large retail chains, but we knew we had to deliver something special without breaking the bank. Here’s how we did it.

Approach

Slow Clap really got to know Beck’s Shoes as a brand, diving into their history, values, and what makes them special. As part of the research, our creative director, Daniel Lichtenberg, went into the store and ran through the full customer journey to get the feel of the great white-glove experience first-hand.

The commercial we created was all about showcasing Beck’s in-store experience, something you just can’t find at most shoe retailers anymore. The concept followed a customer’s journey from entering the store and being greeted by a salesperson, all the way through the personalized fitting process, including a 3D foot scan and expert shoe advice tailored to the customer’s needs.

“Beck’s wanted something that was more about trying to get people in the door to really highlight their differentiators. They wanted to make this video all about what makes them different, like an evergreen advertisement for the business.”

– Daniel Lichtenberg, Creative Director at Slow Clap

Throughout the project, we embraced creative problem-solving to stay within budget while still delivering a top-notch commercial. This included making strategic decisions about the shoot location, filming techniques, and post-production process.

One of our most significant cost-saving measures was casting Beck’s own staff as the talent and voice-over for the commercial. This not only saved on hiring professional actors but also added an authentic touch to the video. Beck’s employees already knew the brand inside out, which helped convey the genuine care and expertise customers can expect.

Beck’s Shoes employees (Matt Lopez, Steve Fox, and Shari Fox) acting in the commercial video.

Execution

A key aspect of keeping costs down was utilizing Slow Clap’s owned equipment, instead of renting a big truck full of lights. This decision not only saved money but also ensured we had the right tools on hand to capture high-quality footage without the added expense of rentals.

Filming took place at their newest and most beautiful store in Santa Rosa, CA. Shutting down the store for filming wasn’t an option due to potential revenue loss. Instead, we filmed during regular business hours, working closely with the store staff to minimize disruption. This approach requires careful planning and coordination, but it allowed Beck’s to continue serving customers while we captured the footage we needed.

We put together a small but highly skilled team. With just a director, producer, director of photography, camera operator, and production assistant, we were able to work efficiently and effectively in the active store environment.

“Working with Slow Clap is great because the team really knows their equipment. We used custom light modifiers, which was something Slow Clap came up with. So that was super useful when you don’t have a full grip truck. I also learned a lot from Dan and the team on still getting high quality work with what we had. I didn’t feel at any point restricted to being able to shape the light the way that we wanted to.”

– Jose Alfaro, Director of Photography

[Left] Jake Richard operating camera. [Right] Daniel Lichtenberg and Jose Alfaro reviewing footage on a monitor.

“We were very impressed with the planning and prep before the day of the shoot, and most impressed with the teamwork displayed with the team on the day of the shoot. They were focused from set up to tear down to assure that every shot was captured thoughtfully and kept great organization of their equipment the duration of the shoot.”

– Michell M. Lopez, Director of Development at Beck’s Shoes

With the money saved from casting, we allocated extra resources towards post production. We were able to create social media cuts of the full length video for Beck’s to use on social platforms and advertisements. This was not part of the original scope, but we found ways to add more value to this project as we were wrapping up production.

Drone shot of the Beck’s Shoes store in Santa Rosa, CA.

Result

In the end, Slow Clap delivered a high-quality broadcast commercial without exceeding the budget, plus delivering several social media versions of the video. Beck’s Shoes was thrilled with their first commercial video, which now lives on their website/YouTube, and is also featured in Beck’s Shoes stores across the region.

“I LOVE IT. It’s perfect!” – Adam A. Beck, CEO of Beck’s Shoes

Next time you’re looking for a way to make a big impact without a big budget, remember that resourcefulness can go a long way. And if you ever need help bringing your vision to life, Slow Clap is here to help.

 

Further Reading/Related Videos

Beck’s Shoes – Who are we and what can you expect?

How a 100-Year-Old Shoe Retailer Stays Current in Silicon Valley

What does it take to stay in business for a full century?

Beck’s Shoes Is Acquiring Stores and Aiming to Keep the Legacy of Small Independents Alive

 

Other Case studies blogs to read:

Freemark Abbey: A Study in Style

Venturing into Virtual Production with Mindful

The History of San Francisco’s Waterfront

Blue Shield of California: Oakland Headquarters

What is the Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment?

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Community Benefits Outreach

La Crema Winery’s 40th Anniversary

Freemark Abbey: A Study in Style

Posted on by Slow Clap

Background

Freemark Abbey is to California wine what Tiffany is to jewelry: timeless, classic, and synonymous with quality.

With roots dating back to the 1880s, Freemark Abbey is a storied Napa Valley winery with a storied history. It was founded by Josephine Tychson, the second woman in Napa Valley history to construct and operate a winery. It was also the only California winery to showcase two wines at the Judgment of Paris, the famous wine competition pitting California wines against French wines in 1976. Both of Freemark Abbey’s submissions placed in the top 10, catapulting the small vineyard onto the world winemaker stage. 


In 2020, Freemark Abbey came full circle by hiring Kristy Melton as their winemaker, the first female winemaker since Josephine Tychson crushed her first grapes in the fall of 1886.

In an effort to honor its history while celebrating its future, Freemark Abbey’s parent company, Jackson Family Wines, reached out to Slow Clap, to produce a series of short documentaries highlighting the winery’s rich heritage and continued commitment to creating exceptional wines. Slow Clap had previously produced a brand story video for La Crema, another member of Jackson Family Wines’ impressive portfolio of wineries, and the team was excited for an opportunity to get out of San Francisco and engage in video production in Napa Valley.

 

“[Working with Slow Clap] was great – they were very professional, responsive, and open to ideas.”

– Nikita Kubiak, Digital Marketing Director at Jackson Family Wines

Approach

One of Freemark Abbey’s vineyards in Napa Valley.

Freemark Abbey wanted to focus on a number of topics spanning the entire history of the winery. In order to accomplish this without overwhelming their audience, they decided that five short videos would be the ideal approach. Slow Clap worked with the Freemark Abbey team to determine the five chapters of the story, starting with the founding of Freemark Abbey in 1886, to the fateful Judgment of Paris 100 years later, ending with present-day and female winemaker Kristy Melton at the helm. 

Challenges

Freemark Abbey has a distinctive style for its interior brand photography: dramatic, elegant, and cinematic. It is achieved with a soft, large light source that dramatically falls off the background, resulting in a high-contrast look and a background that fades to black. 


Freemark Abbey’s Distinctive Look

It was important that Slow Clap’s interior shots matched the distinct look and feel that had been carefully crafted by the Freemark Abbey team. 

This visual style is challenging to pull off in a documentary-style video production because it requires precision and control in a filming environment that is often more spontaneous, scrappy, and tends to utilize the available light in a subject’s natural surroundings.

“With a scripted piece, you have the full control and ability to do whatever you want. Maybe you’re working with actors on a stage; you can bring in as many lights as you want, you can take the time you need to get the shots you need. With a doc-style piece, controlling it with that much nuance can stifle the creatives and the story itself. You risk the authenticity of the footage. So you want to walk a fine line between getting that heightened visual feel, getting the right lights in there while using as few lights as possible and keeping the crew as small as possible in order to capture authentic, uninterrupted moments and performances.”

– Dan Lichtenberg, Creative Director, Slow Clap 

In order to achieve this nuanced lighting style with a small footprint of equipment and crew members, Slow Clap began by designing a detailed lighting plan that outlined the equipment, how it would be used, and its precise placement on set. 

A page from Slow Clap’s lighting plan detailing the lighting setup for one of the interview setups.


The view from behind the camera

Slow Clap’s production team determined the ideal lighting scheme for the interview shots would  entail a large, 600-watt light to illuminate the subject, a 200-watt rim light to cast light on the back of the subject and create separation from the background, and a 200-watt light to illuminate the wine barrels incorporated into the background. 


The resulting interview setup.

In addition to the lights, the production team utilized a variety of modifiers such as grids, snoots and flags to control and block the light, creating what is known as “negative fill.”



“Negative Fill is removing light or creating shadow in an image. When you light something,  it’s important to think about what you want to light and how you want to shape it. You won’t be able to shape light in a pleasing way without negative fill.”

– Jake Richard, Camera Operator, Slow Clap  

The fill side of the subject’s face is a dramatic falloff from bright to dark, which compliments Freemark Abbey’s visual brand identity – historic, elevated, and refined. 

Slow Clap also worked with Freemark Abbey to acquire the wine cellar as a filming location; a large space with a dearth of natural light. This location made it much easier for the team to control the surroundings and successfully pull off the lighting plan. 


The Freemark Abbey Wine Cellar

Just as a bottle of wine is only as good as the grapes used in its production, a series of wine videos aren’t complete without showcasing the bucolic vineyards where the grapes are produced. Instead of trying to replicate the dramatic interior lighting, Slow Clap took a page out of the book of Missy Elliott: they flipped it and reversed it:

“The visual style we came up with was sort of the inverse of what our interiors were. Our subjects were backlit, sort of silhouetted, whereas the interior is where the subjects were basically the only thing that was fully exposed and the background falls away. With the exteriors, the background was the main thing that was properly exposed and the subjects almost fall away into silhouette.”

– Dan Lichtenberg, Creative Director, Slow Clap

In order to achieve this look, Slow Clap filmed all of the outdoor scenes during golden hour, the last hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise, which ensured the sun was close to the horizon. The subjects were then placed with their backs to the sun to achieve the semi-silhouetted look. 


Filming on the grounds of Freemark Abbey

The result was an elegant contrasting image to complement the interior scenes.


An outdoor shoot featuring the well-lit background and semi-silhouetted subject

 

Result 

Thanks to careful planning and vision, Slow Clap was able to successfully deliver five docustyle vignettes that were visually and stylistically on brand for Freemark Abbey. The videos won Double Gold in the 2022 Barleycorn Award video category and a Gold Telly Award in the Short Documentary Branded Content category.

In addition to video accolades, the John Barleycorn Awards, which honor innovative work in the wine and spirits industry, tapped Slow Clap as the 2022 marketer of the year! 

 

“The videos were well received. They were very informative and high-quality, and they told the Freemark Abbey story well. We have the videos across our website and run paid ad campaigns utilizing cut-downs of the long-form video. These helped drive brand awareness and engagement.”

– Nikita Kubiak, Digital Marketing Director at Jackson Family Wines

Other Case studies blogs to read:

Venturing into Virtual Production with Mindful

The History of San Francisco’s Waterfront

Blue Shield of California: Oakland Headquarters

What is the Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment?

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Community Benefits Outreach

La Crema Winery’s 40th Anniversary

Slow Clap’s Selects: Our Top 5 Filming Locations in the San Francisco Bay Area for Corporate and Commercial Videos

Posted on by Slow Clap

Here at Slow Clap Productions, we are blessed with the opportunity to film in some amazing places with our corporate and commercial clients who like to think outside the box and venture forth from the office. Being in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are spoiled for choice! But there are some places so special that it’s worth giving them a shout out and, dare we say, a slow clap, for being over-the-top fantastic. 

In no particular order, here are some favorite filming locations in our stomping grounds.

Samuel P. Taylor Redwood Forest

2,700 acres of Redwood trees. What’s not to love? This state park is located in Marin County and offers a quieter chance to commune with nature’s tallest trees than the more touristy Muir Woods. Also, you can camp there! 

In 2022, we filmed Chris Young, General Counsel for Ironclad in these woods, which he calls his “happy place,” when things in the world get a little too crazy. This shoot may appear peaceful and zen-like, but we pulled out all the stops including a 12-foot jib, to capture the majesty of these woods.

Take a look at the full project and the BTS below.

Ironclad State of Digital Contracting Spring 2022

Behind The Scenes

Salesforce Tower

This tower is one of the newest additions to make the list of iconic structures in San Francisco. The six-year-old tower is the tallest in the city and the 12th tallest in the United States. It’s also home to the highest public art installation in the country! 

You can catch sight of some of the interiors of the tower in this video we produced for the Asian Law Caucus. Gotta love those gorgeous windows and the view from the Covington and Burling office sees all of downtown San Francisco!

Asian Law Caucus: Covington and Burling

The San Francisco Waterfront via Heron’s Head Park

You can’t talk about the Bay Area without talking about the waterfront. It is the defining feature of the region, both geographically and in the name! While there are many breathtaking views to be had from all angles of the San Francisco Bay, one of our favorites is Heron’s Head Park. It’s a 22-acre, wetland park just south of Pier 96 that’s ideal for bird watching. It also features The EcoCenter, a 100-percent, off-the-grid, living classroom and visitor center. It’s a great place for kids and family to unplug from the hustle and bustle within the city limits. 

You can catch views of the park alongside other iconic waterfront spots in this video we produced for The Port of San Francisco, which manages the waterfront:

The History of San Francisco Waterfront

San Lorenzo High School (SLZHS)

This high school is the perfect place to channel your inner Molly Ringwald or Judd Nelson ala The Breakfast Club. This school was built in the 1950s and just oozes vintage vibes with wood paneling and green chalkboards. 

We filmed a 1980’s high school themed virtual event for Ironclad at SLZHS. We had an absolute blast getting our clients into character. Mary O’Carroll, Chief Community Officer for Ironclad, even got dropped off for “school” in a 1980s Porsche 911 and sported permed hair, a black leather jacket, and her Ironclad Academy “yearbook.” 

Ironclad State of Digital Contracting Summer 2022

Bernal Heights

Lea Loeb/ Golden Gate Xpress

  • 360, breathtaking views of San Francisco and the Bay? Check.
  • Wildflowers and wildlife (including coyotes)? Check.
  • Hidden staircases and a scenic tree swing for selfies and IG reels? Check.

If you’re looking for a picturesque spot that’s a little off-the-beaten path, check out Bernal Heights, a residential neighborhood on a hill in the southeast portion of San Francisco. We love the spectacular views that aren’t typically seen in videos. 

You can see what we mean in this video we made to showcase the San Francisco Treasury Kindergarten to College Program. 

A Future Worth Saving For 

In the Bay Area, there’s always more to explore. Here are a few spots on our filming wishlist.

Hiller Aviation Museum

Hiller Aviation Museum

This collection specializing in Northern California aircraft and helicopter history will delight children and adults alike. Located at the San Carlos airport, the Hiller Aviation Museum features more than 50 aircrafts, many of which you can climb inside. It also boasts a replica of the first privately-financed commercial spacecraft; and no, it wasn’t manufactured by SpaceX! This museum is chock-full of visual delights that would be a dream to film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlbAW7o0t7

Mama Dog Studios

Mama Dog Studios

Mama Dog Studios is to Bay Area filmmakers what Carnegie Hall is to musicians: a second-to-none venue to showcase your craft. This 5,000 square foot production space features a drool-worthy, 35’ x 55’ cyclorama soundstage that we would love to play in. We hope 2024 will be the year that we have the opportunity to collaborate with one of our clients in this special space. Also, did we mention that they are a locally-owned, dog-loving business in the heart of Oakland? Clearly, we have a lot in common! 

You can check out Mama Dog’s fabulous studio in this walkthrough video:

Mama Dog Studios Tour 2022 

Point Bonita Lighthouse

Al Greening/ National Park Service 

This historic lighthouse at the mouth of the San Francisco Bay is a beaut. At 306 feet above the sea, this picturesque watchtower in the middle of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area can only be accessed via a suspension bridge during fair weather. The half-mile trail to the lighthouse is also chock-full of spectacular sights, including views of the Golden Gate Bridge, paths through hand-carved tunnels, and observation points to spy marine life such as harbor seals, whales, and porpoises.

It may not be as famous as that lighthouse in Forrest Gump, but you can achieve a similar look at Point Bonita.  We think it’s still a beautiful (bonita means beautiful in Spanish!) place to film. 

Here’s a brief travel blog detailing the hike to Point Bonita:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRYgpvRVCbY

Got any spots we’ve missed? Or, are you dreaming of a video in a fabulous locale? We’d love to hear from you! We’re available to help you achieve your next project at hello@slowclap.com. 

Blogs to check out:

Tips for Great Video Production at any Budget

Why Your Company Needs Branded Content

How to Maximize Views for Your Video Content

These Five Case-Study Videos Earn Brand Recognition

Five Great Explainer Videos

Slow Clap’s 2023 Year in Review: A Year in the Fast Lane

Posted on by Slow Clap
As Slow Clap wraps up its first decade in business (we turned nine this past summer,) we look back and reflect on all the amazing things we’ve learned, and just how much things have changed… and how fast! Take a look at our year condensed into one minute:
 

2023 by the Numbers

Speaking of AI, we had yet another huge project for AI startup Imbue to announce their $200MM fundraising round, and to help with their hypergrowth hiring spree. You can see the Imbue brand story video we made here. It’s a really interesting blend of documentary storytelling and hand-drawn illustrations, animated to bring the CEO’s anecdotes to life.

August 2023


We had another blowout party for Slow Clap’s ninth birthday party in August. This is our favorite night of the year, as we get to celebrate all the big wins that we rarely have time to celebrate as they’re happening (on to the next deadline!) with our team, clients, and collaborators. 

We also welcomed Kiante Marron to the team as a camera and post-production assistant. Kiante’s Gen Z, everything-is-content mindset has been a great refresh to our creaky old Millennial brains!

September 2023


In September, our producer Katy went on maternity leave (more about that next year!), and we welcomed a new producer to the team, Sarah Nathan. Similar to Katy, Sarah brings a documentary and journalist eye to Slow Clap’s body of work, having formerly worked at AJ+, ESPN, as well as Washington State University.

Our team traveled to Orange County to produce this customer story video for a new client,  InterPayments, as well as another virtual event video for our longtime client, Ironclad, in Dallas,TX.

October 2023


In October, we were thrilled to receive the Fast 100 award from the San Francisco Business Times, as one of the 100 fastest growing private companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. And on top of that, we were ranked #23.

We also continued our longtime partnership with the nonprofit Asian Law Caucus, producing three videos for their 2023 gala. We’ve produced these stories for ALC every year since our founding.

November 2023

In November, we produced multiple equity training modules for our partners at The National Equity Project (NEP). We’re happy to continuously support this non-profit and to create content that educates and supports DEIB work in the community. The Slow Clap team had a great 4-day shoot at the NEP office in downtown Oakland and the collaboration was seamless.

On a side note, we got another Slow Clap baby on the way! Our founder, Dan, left for paternity leave in mid-November. Wish him congratulations on his baby girl!

December 2023


Wrapping up this year, we were all hands on deck (or all legos on deck) for our Slow Clap holiday card video. We couldn’t resist the opportunity to live our childhood LEGO® dreams. When it came time to decide on a theme for our annual card, we were inspired by 90’s toy commercials. As it was also our first take on stop-motion animation, we were glad to have Kiante lead the way. Check it out here if you haven’t already.

Looking ahead to 2024, we’re excited to take on new adventures with our amazing team and partners.

Cheers,

The Slow Clap Team

  • 59 video projects completed for our clients, from product launches to client success stories to brand stories and branded content
  • 14 clients, including cause-based non-profits like Asian Law Caucus, startups like Imbue and The Yield, and Fortune 500 companies like eBay and Apple
  • 23rd fastest-growing company in the Bay Area, according to the SF Business Times’ Fast 100 list
  • 10+ different cities filmed including New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and (of course) San Francisco & Oakland 
  • 100+ videos delivered; from long-form virtual event videos to 15-second social media videos
  • 100% NPS (net promoter score) on Clutch
  • 9 Industry Awards
  • 2 new team members
  • 2 Slow Clap babies
  • 1 virtual production shot on an LED volume

2023 by Month

January 2023


We got 2023 started on a light note, making a series of social media video skits for startup Ironclad. The videos were produced in a DIY style to feel more like organic social content, and featured the lawyer influencer (yes, those exist,) Alex Su making fun of all things business contracts.

February 2023

2023 was year nine of our continuing relationship with healthcare insurance company Blue Shield of California. One highlight was continuing our series of ERG (employee resource group) video profiles. In each mini-documentary, we tell the powerful stories of employees who have gone through their careers facing adversity because of who they are. In February, we filmed interviews for the Black Employee Network, Elevating Women, and the Unidos (Latinx) ERG. All videos have since been released. 

March 2023

In March, the Slow Clap team learned about the fascinating world of low and moderate income housing development and lending as we produced a video about the Golden State Acquisition Fund (aka GSAF). GSAF is an innovative fund created by the State of California and administered by Low Income Investment Fund (aka LIIF) that, to date, has been responsible for more than 10,000 new units of affordable housing.

April 2023


In April 2023, we got a repeat of April 2022. We love when our clients come back for more, and the San Francisco Treasurer did just that when we produced this video about the Kindergarten to College (K2C) program’s success. It gives us a chance to be part of something bigger, something that affects our community. This video features four students in San Francisco schools that have taken advantage of the program to save for college throughout their entire schooling, starting in Kindergarten.

May 2023


Slow Clap produced a fully-virtual production from start to finish for the first time. For those who don’t know, a “virtual production” is a new technique of producing video content that was first developed by Industrial Light and Magic for The Mandalorian. In May, we wrapped and delivered this product launch video for Mindful.

Mindful was releasing an entirely new UI for their product, with design that was accessible and “kind by design.” And to announce it, they reached out to us to build an entire virtual world from scratch. We built the world in Unreal Engine, rigged it on the large volume LED wall with Disguise, and used active camera tracking to bring the whole thing to life. This is a technology that will become standard industry practice in the near future, and the Slow Clap team is so excited to get to be on the bleeding edge of it. Check out a behind-the-scenes video about the making of this.

June 2023


2023 was the year of AI… from ChatGPT to labor strikes to deep fakes to AI Drake songs. 2023 was the year of AI for Slow Clap as well. We adopted some amazing AI tools like Descript for our workflow, and we got to produce video projects for some leading AI companies, like Sana, a leader in the TechEd space. Here, you can see Sana’s CEO talking with the CEO of Nvidia, which is now the sixth-largest company in the world due to its all-in play on AI hardware.

July 2023

Speaking of AI, we had yet another huge project for AI startup Imbue to announce their $200MM fundraising round, and to help with their hypergrowth hiring spree. You can see the Imbue brand story video we made here. It’s a really interesting blend of documentary storytelling and hand-drawn illustrations, animated to bring the CEO’s anecdotes to life.

August 2023


We had another blowout party for Slow Clap’s ninth birthday party in August. This is our favorite night of the year, as we get to celebrate all the big wins that we rarely have time to celebrate as they’re happening (on to the next deadline!) with our team, clients, and collaborators. 

We also welcomed Kiante Marron to the team as a camera and post-production assistant. Kiante’s Gen Z, everything-is-content mindset has been a great refresh to our creaky old Millennial brains!

September 2023


In September, our producer Katy went on maternity leave (more about that next year!), and we welcomed a new producer to the team, Sarah Nathan. Similar to Katy, Sarah brings a documentary and journalist eye to Slow Clap’s body of work, having formerly worked at AJ+, ESPN, as well as Washington State University.

Our team traveled to Orange County to produce this customer story video for a new client,  InterPayments, as well as another virtual event video for our longtime client, Ironclad, in Dallas,TX.

October 2023


In October, we were thrilled to receive the Fast 100 award from the San Francisco Business Times, as one of the 100 fastest growing private companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. And on top of that, we were ranked #23.

We also continued our longtime partnership with the nonprofit Asian Law Caucus, producing three videos for their 2023 gala. We’ve produced these stories for ALC every year since our founding.

November 2023

In November, we produced multiple equity training modules for our partners at The National Equity Project (NEP). We’re happy to continuously support this non-profit and to create content that educates and supports DEIB work in the community. The Slow Clap team had a great 4-day shoot at the NEP office in downtown Oakland and the collaboration was seamless.

On a side note, we got another Slow Clap baby on the way! Our founder, Dan, left for paternity leave in mid-November. Wish him congratulations on his baby girl!

December 2023


Wrapping up this year, we were all hands on deck (or all legos on deck) for our Slow Clap holiday card video. We couldn’t resist the opportunity to live our childhood LEGO® dreams. When it came time to decide on a theme for our annual card, we were inspired by 90’s toy commercials. As it was also our first take on stop-motion animation, we were glad to have Kiante lead the way. Check it out here if you haven’t already.

Looking ahead to 2024, we’re excited to take on new adventures with our amazing team and partners.

Cheers,

The Slow Clap Team

Meet Slow Clap’s Camera & Post Production Assistant: Kiante Marron

Posted on by Slow Clap

Get to know Kiante a bit better with our quick Q&A interview.

Introduce yourself!

Hi! My name is Kiante. I was born and raised in Oakland. As a kid, I dreamed of being a pro-wrestler, but now I’m a filmmaker. At the age of 12, I started making Pro-Wrestling Stop Motion on Youtube. I wrestled throughout high school and continued my stop-motion animations. I decided to major in cinema at San Francisco State University. I made a short film during my last semester of my sophomore year and that is what inspired me to be a filmmaker today.

 

What made you interested in joining Slow Clap?

As a new filmmaker, my experience has mainly been short films. The process has been very fun and rewarding but definitely challenging. I’ve been a one-man band, working on a few music videos and weddings for a few friends and family. I’ve also filmed for a fitness competition, an episodic hunting video, and for the real estate industry. These experiences have helped me with producing videos for people. I was interested in Slow Clap because I wanted to join fellow filmmakers and learn the process of production. Slow Clap was a great fit for my goals because of the company’s authentic, docustyle storytelling approach.

What’s your role? What made you gravitate towards this craft?

I am the Camera & Post Production Assistant and right-hand man to Jake Richards! Working with Slow Clap, I’ve learned the importance of transitioning from working solo to a team. I really enjoy interacting with the team as well as the clients. I especially enjoy making clients feel comfortable and at ease during the interview process. Sitting in front of the camera isn’t as easy as it seems!

 

Favorite Film? What am I watching?

My favorite film so far is Scarface because of Tony Montana’s character development. I loved  the character arc of leaving Cuba, going through from literal “rags to riches” which then takes an epic turn, leading to one of the greatest lines of all time: “Say hello to my little friend.” I recently watched, The Killer, from one of my favorite directors, David Fincher. I will say it’s another banger from him.

 

I take a lot of inspiration from my favorite directors and writers: David Fincher, Aaron Sorkin, Bong Joon Ho, Ryan Coogler, and Donald Glover. Thanks to my part-time job as an usher at the Grand Lake Theater, I recently saw Oppeheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon; two films from two of the greatest directors in cinema history. Experiencing these films on the big screen was amazing! 

Also, I’m writing a feature film script that spans various genres: Drama, Thriller, and Crime. 

 

Any Hobbies?

I love to read fiction and self-help. A must-read is ‘Psycho-Cybernetics,’ as it changed my whole perspective on achieving life goals. I also enjoy bowling with friends, writing, and directing my short films.

Here is one of my short films inspired by the bipping of cars that’s rampant in the Bay Area. I even submitted it to a horror short film contest!

Lastly, favorite projects you’ve worked on/seen from Slow Clap?

My favorite project so far is the client testimonial for InterPayments, which involved a trip to Orange County.  I enjoyed getting to know the crew that helped make the projects so eventful and professional. 

One of my favorite videos on the website is “The Story of Freemark Abbey” as the story and cinematography is amazing. 

 



I was also heavily involved in the creation of this year’s Slow Clap Holiday card. I have a lot of experience in stop motion, so the team let me flex my creative muscles. A lot went into the creation of the project and I love the way it turned out.  

 

 

Meet the rest of the Slow Clap team, if you haven’t already!



Dan Lichtenberg, Founder & Creative Director




Sarah Nathan, Producer





Katy Bailes, Producer





Beijo Lee Wang, Associate Producer





Jake Richard, Post-Production and Camera Manager





Alexander Flores, Junior Editor





Darissa Hicks, Production Coordinator

Tips for Great Video Production at any Budget

Posted on by Slow Clap

“Every budget tells a story. If you want a good ending, you have to plan and make smart choices along the way.” – Some wise person 

According to a recent report by HubSpot, 54% of consumers claim they want to see more video content from their favorite brands, which is no surprise with video marketing being at an all-time high. A whopping 91% of businesses use video as a primary marketing tool. What’s more, 92% of video marketers say that their video has given them a positive return on their investment. In other words— online video consumption isn’t just #trending, it’s profitable!

Yet many businesses may not have the kind of video marketing budget it takes to make a show-stopping blockbuster.

In this blog, we’ll go over how to produce high-quality and engaging video content without going broke. Here are some insider tips on how to create compelling videos that will yield results— regardless of your budget.

Plan Meticulously 

There’s a lot that goes into a successful shoot, so working with like, say… Slow Clap means having a professional guiding hand to lay all this out with you. Yet big budget or not, planning is your best friend when it comes to video production— because every minute costs money.  

It helps to plan out as much as possible of what it is that you hope to achieve with your video in advance. Start with a project brief for the video where you identify your target audience, key marketing messages, goals, and a call to action. From there, you could either pass the brief over to a few video agencies and compare prices, or, if that’s not quite in budget, you can handle the creative in-house.

From a detailed script to a storyboard of your scenes, having the groundwork laid out minimizes your overall video shooting time and ensures maximum efficiency of your resources. 

 

Embrace Stock Footage and Archival Media

Stock footage is a great way to increase your overall production value and fill gaps in your narrative.

As an alternative to stock footage, consider using your company’s archival images and videos that could be repurposed for your video. Does your company already have an archival library of past video projects or photos? If so, repurpose it!

Another option is personal photos and videos. While this depends on the story that you’re telling, it can be a budget-friendly option to get your story across. 

Take this video, which relied almost entirely on personal images, archival footage, and stock footage. It’s an example of how it’s possible to make an elegant, engaging, and effective video without lots of additional filming days for b-roll. 

https://slowclap.com/work/ucsf-diabetes-academy-joanne-kagle/

It’s important to note that while we managed to tell a story, the con is that the quality of the images don’t match across the entire video. Ideally, if you have the time and budget, shooting b-roll promises consistent high-quality video. 

 

Limit Filming Locations

When mapping out the idea for your story, try to create a storyline that doesn’t require filming in various locations, especially if you only have one day of production budgeted. Filming in multiple locations means more time lost to travel and equipment setup. 

The right video production agency can help you choose a versatile location that can be made to look like various places.  By using different angles and backdrops, a smart video producer can create the illusion that your video was filmed in various locations without the hassle of it, ultimately saving time and money.

Pro-Tip: 

To save on location fees like renting a studio, consider shooting at your own office. If you’re creating a corporate video or a video specifically about your company, using your own office space means no need to rent furniture or props, you’ve got a ready-made set! Alternatively, you could even consider shooting in someone’s home if it’s appropriate for your video.
 

Here’s a great example of how Slow Clap was able to turn their client’s office into a studio with a backdrop. This reduces the hassle and cost of renting a studio space and the film team comes to you!


 

https://slowclap.com/work/imbue-brand-story/

Emphasize Content Over Aesthetics 

While a highly curated, scripted, and glossy approach can look great, it’s the content that truly draws viewers in. In other words, an engaging story that’s well presented can overshadow any holes in your budget. By creating a captivating narrative that connects with your audience, your viewers won’t even notice less polished visuals and production values.

Focus on presenting a story that resonates with your viewers and encourages them to watch until the end— not just because it has special effects or snazzy visuals, but because it facilitates meaningful engagement and stirs emotions. Viewers are more likely to remember, share, and act on videos that make them feel something, and evoking feeling is totally possible on any budget.

That’s where Slow Clap shines; we specialize in authentic storytelling that strikes an emotional chord with viewers.

Here’s a compelling example of authentic storytelling in a video by Slow Clap and Blue Shield of California with a simple, one-day shoot.

 

https://slowclap.com/work/joses-story/

Never Underestimate the Power of Post-Production

What if we were to tell you that you could create a video without needing to film at all? You can create a perfectly engaging video with stock footage, motion graphic text, animation and a voice over. Here are some examples of videos that didn’t require any shoot days, yet still tell a good story.

 

 

 

 

https://slowclap.com/work/lattice-the-era-of-people-success/

 

 

 

 

https://slowclap.com/work/workato-the-new-era-of-automation/

 

 

 

 

https://slowclap.com/work/oaaa-awards-kick-off/

 

Turn Budget Constraints Into Creative Triumphs

Obviously, a higher budget yields higher production value. To give you a better idea, in Slow Clap’s case, we filmed a virtual event over three days using intricate props, an LED video wall, and Unreal Engine, creating realistic virtual backgrounds for Mindful, a cloud-based contact center. 

 

Kind by Design: A Special Mindful Event

Take a look at the behind the scenes of this production below.

Needless to say, this video was not created with a modest budget. However, that’s not to say that a low budget means you have to skimp on quality. It’s all about getting creative with your storytelling and optimizing your resources.  

A great example of this principle is the film Searching (2018), a thriller that had a small budget of only $880,000, but managed to gross over $75 million worldwide. The entire movie was shot from the perspective of computer and smartphone screens, which was a fresh and unique approach to storytelling. It’s a testament to the power of creativity and proving that a modest budget doesn’t have to mean modest results. 

And while your tech company or corporate marketing strategy may not necessarily be looking to make a low-budget thriller film, you get the idea.

Here at Slow Clap, we’re committed to creating authentic stores that captivate. We’re deeply rooted in the belief that genuine storytelling is the backbone of every outstanding video—not necessarily production value.

In a world where audiences have no shortage of brands to choose from, let us help make your brand the obvious choice.  From explainer videos, to testimonials, to motion graphics, we’re here to tell your brand’s story. 

Are you ready to see how Slow Clap can help you create high quality and engaging video content regardless of your budget? Get in touch today.

 

Further reading:

 Why Your Company Needs Branded Content

 Video Trends Proven to Work for Your 2023 Marketing Strategy

 How to Maximize Views for Your Video Content

 These Five Case-Study Videos Earn Brand Recognition

Meet Slow Clap’s Producer: Sarah Nathan

Posted on by Slow Clap

Get to know Sarah a bit better with our quick Q&A interview.

Introduce yourself!

Howdy! I’m Sarah and I’m the latest lucky duck to join Team Slow Clap. I recently moved to the Bay Area from Charleston, South Carolina with my fiancé and our dog, but I’m originally from New Jersey. Prior to Slow Clap, I was a producer/shooter with AJ+, a digital channel of Al Jazeera. My background is visual journalism and documentary but I also have experience in educational marketing and communications.

What’s your role? What made you gravitate towards this craft?

I’m a producer, which means I’m involved in the storytelling process from start to finish. I gravitated towards video production because I love to connect with people and tell stories. As a kid, I explored storytelling through theater and music, but I had the good fortune to take a photojournalism/multimedia class in college and I was hooked.

What’s your prior experience? What made you interested in joining Slow Clap?

I often describe myself as a visual storyteller because my prior experience is diverse. In addition to being a producer, I’m also a photographer, cinematographer, camera operator, and editor, so I have a lot of experience in most aspects of video and visual production. 

 

 

I joined Slow Clap because I want to expand my skill set to include more scripted, commercial work while still having the opportunity to pursue docustyle projects. I was impressed that Slow Clap has attracted a diverse client base that allows them to produce a wide range of visual work. One of my favorite things about video production is learning new things every day with every project. I love that I will have the opportunity to connect with clients who work in corporate, tech and nonprofit industries during my time at Slow Clap. 

 

 

I was also excited about the opportunity at Slow Clap because of its seamless blending of a casual, approachable demeanor with utter professionalism. The company culture deeply resonates with my personal work ethos.

Favorite Film? What am I watching?

I’m a documentary nut, but Amélie, O Brother Where Art Thou?, and Singing in the Rain are on the list of all-time favorite narrative films. You can count on me for a good documentary recommendation, usually in the cult-genre. This summer, my fiancé and I have been binge-watching M.A.S.H, a childhood favorite of his. We’re on Season 7 and I’m still upset that they killed off Colonel Blake at the end of Season 3. 

Any Hobbies?

I love hiking with my dog Ollie, so please send your favorite Bay Area trails my way! I can often be found at farmers markets laden with local produce or at a vintage/thrift store. I enjoy baking bread and exploring a variety of craft projects that allow me to create something with my hands. My current interest is bundle dyeing; think tie-dyeing but with natural plant materials. I also love working up a good sweat in a hot yoga class or on a dance floor. I’m also always down for a good pub trivia.

Lastly, favorite projects you’ve worked on/seen from Slow Clap?

I’m brand spanking new, so I haven’t worked on any projects yet, but I can’t wait to dive in! Some of the projects that drew me to Slow Clap were The GitHub Building the Future video, an elegant scripted project, as well as the short documentary featuring the story of Daniel Maher for the Asian Law Caucus. It’s a powerful story that humanizes the struggle many immigrants face in this country while highlighting the important work of a local civil rights organization. 

 

 

 

 

Meet the rest of the Slow Clap team, if you haven’t already!

Dan Lichtenberg, Founder & Creative Director

Katy Bailes, Producer

Beijo Lee Wang, Associate Producer

Jake Richard, Post-Production and Camera Manager

Alexander Flores, Junior Editor

Darissa Hicks, Production Coordinator

Why Your Company Needs Branded Content

Posted on by Slow Clap

With more and more things clamoring for our attention in the digital age, and even less attention to devote to them, the competition for those precious seconds of customer engagement is fierce. And in those few seconds, brands have to communicate their message in a way that’s compelling, interesting and impactful to their customers.

 

That’s a pretty tall order to fill for just a few seconds isn’t it?

 

Fortunately, video gives you a way to not only attract attention, but build brand awareness in a way that encourages the customer to learn more. Here’s why video is the best option to connect with new customers and how to do it right: 

 

Why Use Video to Create Branded Content? 

Whether you’re creating a corporate or non-profit video, your chosen “brand content vehicle” matters. And with online video viewing on the rise globally, there’s no better time to share your story visually than right now. Here’s why: 

Video is Engaging and Memorable

Great video has the ability to connect with viewers in ways that plain text or images can’t. Through a combination of sound and visuals, video has the potential to plant a seed in our mind. 

 

Whether through a quirky slogan, a catchy beat, or an awe-inspiring moment, we often find ourselves sharing it with friends, who share it with friends of friends, and so on. In the very best cases, a video is so good that it goes viral.

 

 

Here’s one such example from LG promoting their HD TVs. Nearly everyone can identify with the stress of a job interview. Now add the end of the world to that moment and you’ve got a video that people can’t help but talk about—to the tune of 33 million views.

 

 

Video Forges an Emotional Connection

Great branded content isn’t just about presenting a product. It’s about presenting a product as part of a larger, more intricate and more compelling story. Through visual cues, music, speech, body language, and tone, branded content can evoke everything from joy to empathy, excitement to inspiration. Done right, these very same emotions can nurture and create a positive association with the brand they’re promoting. 

 

This Coca-Cola commercial, will tug at your heartstrings even though the people involved are thousands of miles away. If nothing else, it most certainly gives you a new perspective on the holiday season.

 

 

Video Demonstrates Value – Quickly

Even though our attention is often being pulled in a thousand different directions at once, there’s still a spark of an opportunity to create value, and video is the best way to get that message across succinctly. 

 

Video directly answers the question at the forefront of the viewer’s mind: “What’s in it for me?” Nobody wants to sit through a minute and a half product pitch droning on and on. But they will watch a captivating video showing just how far we’ve come in our quest to do things not just faster, but also better. 

 

Branded content allows brands the freedom to showcase their values, mission, and personality in a way that is authentic and real. Have a look at the video we created for GitHub to see just how quickly value can be shared in a way that’s powerful and impactful. 

 

Video Lets You Tell a Compelling Story

Last, but certainly not least is the very heart of what video and branded content is all about: storytelling. We’ve been sharing stories around a campfire for generations and even with the advent of new technology, there’s something about a captivating story that speaks to us on a different level.

 

This video from Dove tells the story, not of Dove the brand, but of women who, for years, have been told by society, television, and even by their parents, how they look. So during the video, you can hear them share these bits of self with the artist by saying things like “My mom told me I have a big jaw.” or “I would say I have a pretty big forehead.”

 

When they see how the forensic artist has drawn them, their natural beauty surprises them, leading one woman to add “I should be more grateful of my natural beauty. It impacts the choices in friends we make, the jobs we apply for, how we treat our children.” Dove doesn’t even mention its products, it merely creates this association of real beauty with its brand.

Can I Use a Branded Content for Marketing? 

So far, we’ve talked a lot about building brand awareness using video, but what about the next step and using branded video content for marketing? Here are seven steps you’ll need to take to ensure your branded content resonates well with your target audience: 

Step 1: Define Your Marketing Goals

Are you aiming to drive website traffic? Promote brand recognition, generate leads, or introduce a certain product? The clearer your goals, the better your video will be at reaching them. By defining your goals before the video production gets underway, you’ll also give your video production team room to get creative and make your marketing vision happen. 

Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience

Knowing your ideal customer’s demographics is a key step in video creation. The more you can be “in tune” with your target audience, the more your video will stand out and get watched. 

Step 3: Weave Your Narrative

The key to a successful branded content piece is a compelling narrative: a mission, story, or piece of content that attracts attention and helps people to see themselves in the story. What kind of emotions or messages do you want to share? Look at the examples above for several ideas to help inspire you. 

Step 4: Create a Powerful Script

The best video scripts communicate your brand in as few words as possible. Keep your script clear, concise, and compelling and look for ways to connect with your viewers through the power of emotional storytelling.

Pro tip: Work with a video agency like Slow Clap on this step, if you don’t have the capabilities in-house.

Step 5: Plan for Your Shoot

What sort of visual style, tone, and mood will your video evoke? High quality video, animation, graphics, and music that all align with your brand each work like pillars to prop up the message you’re promoting and the words and feelings you want to be associated with your brand. 

Step 6: Optimize for Different Platforms

Once your video is complete, you’ll want to ensure that it’s optimized for different platforms and devices. Depending on your marketing goals, your video may be broadcast at a conference or showcased on Instagram or anything in between. Make sure it’s designed to work flawlessly on the platforms you’re targeting, including on mobile devices. 

Step 7: Promote and Share Your Video

Even after the production work is done, you still have to promote your video. Add it to your website, your social media accounts, relevant video sharing platforms, and encourage viewers to do the same. You have a wide range of options for marketing your video, including partnerships with influencers, email marketing, and paid advertising to help boost your video’s reach. 

 

Conclusion

That’s a considerable number of steps, and for brands that are just starting out—or even more established brands—you may not have the time or the team to do it all yourself. That’s where a great video agency partner like Slow Clap comes in.

 

Leveraging our experience working with Fortune 500 brands like Sony PlayStation, eBay, Adobe, and Capital One, as well as startups like Slack, Ironclad, and Stampli, our creative team is ready to help you make a powerful impression through video content.