Sparkhouse

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for CorVel Corporation, a third-party administrator for worker’s compensation claims. I am the vice president of marketing in our corporate office in Irvine, California.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sparkhouse?

I believe we first started working with them on a video animation project to help educate our clients on a new service we provide, which is a 24/7 nurse triage hotline. We wanted to create an animation that could be played for our clients in presentations to educate them quickly and briefly on how the service worked. At the time, it was a new and innovative way of reporting injuries in the field.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve worked on at least 20 different projects with Sparkhouse. We’ve done real videos, animation, conference reels, and interactive presentation tools. Sometimes, they start with a blank slate, and then we brainstorm together. Sometimes, we have a goal or an idea in mind, and they execute it. It’s been a long-term relationship, and the projects have been quite varied.

Outside of video production, they also do some interactive sales presentation tools for us. Our sales team can customize these to help close a sale.

How did you come to work with Sparkhouse?

I was introduced to them through networking. I believe we considered other companies at the time. Sparkhouse has many ideas and a lot of drive and passion for what they do.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February of 2013, and the relationship is ongoing. 

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?

There aren’t any quantifiable metrics; however, we continue to use the original animation project from four years ago and customize it for almost every single presentation. It’s been greatly received in the marketplace. The response to Sparkhouse’s work has been great, both internally and externally. That’s why we continue to use them.

How did Sparkhouse perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform very well. They keep things on track. Their communication and adherence to deadlines are good. We use various online collaboration tools for editing and commenting on video or animation projects, but no specific project management tools. They respond very well to feedback.

What did you find most impressive about Sparkhouse?

They can pivot very well in terms of changing project scope. They are very good at receiving feedback and changing direction. They don’t take things personally, and they’re able to take a different approach if the original isn’t well-received.

Are there any areas Sparkhouse could improve?

No.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Devise Interactive, a brand digital agency. We focus a lot on building brands and technology.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sparkhouse?

I thought it would be hard to tell our story to clients via a conversation because it would be hard to translate the emotion involved. We wanted to show our clients our process, why we’re valuable, and how we differ from other agencies. A video would be the perfect way to capture that story and its emotional component, so we reached out to Sparkhouse.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sparkhouse helped us with everything. When we engaged them, they helped us write the script. The video needs to show what our company is about, why partners should choose us, who our creative team is, etc. Then they did a live shoot at our office and brought a whole crew—camera guys, lighting guys, sound guys—I honestly didn't know there were going to be so many people. Filming pretty much took a whole day. After that, we went into post-production, which lasted another 1 ½  to two weeks. That seemed like the easiest part of the whole process. They produced about seven or eight videos that we are now starting to implement into our marketing material.

Since we are also a creative studio, we definitely took a more collaborative approach to working with Sparkhouse on the project. My team had some ideas, so we kind of had a brain dump on what we liked. Sparkhouse took those ideas to come up with some of their own, and then my team would challenge their suggestions and so forth. Because we had a lot of cooks in the kitchen, writing the script probably was the longest step in the process. It took us a few weeks to a month to block out the script, and then after that, it was a smooth production.

How did you come to work with Sparkhouse?

I’ve known about Sparkhouse because we’re in the same networking groups, so reaching out to them wasn’t a straight cold call. It took our agency some time to build up enough capital to hire Sparkhouse. We’ve been wanting them to do a video with them for a few years now, so it was exciting when we realized we had enough capital to give Sparkhouse a call.

How much have you invested with Sparkhouse?

After everything was said and done, we invested $55,000 with Sparkhouse. There were a couple of little add-ons to the project, but the guys at Sparkhouse were pretty accommodating.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2016, and we ended the project in January 2017.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We haven't implemented our marketing materials yet; we’re keeping those videos in our back pocket for now. We moved offices at the beginning of 2017, so things have been all over the place. I’m hoping I can update our profile in a couple of months. I know we haven't started using the videos in a public-facing format, but they have helped me with pitches to clients. Rather than me trying to explain to someone why they should choose us, I have a one-minute clip to show them on the spot. I think that’s helped with perception.

How did Sparkhouse perform from a project management standpoint?

Our team is similar to Sparkhouse’s team. We already knew them, and so we worked well to a certain extent. The project management has been super easy, especially since my team had a high interest in providing creative direction. There has been a lot of collaboration between the two teams, and we haven't had any problems with missed deadlines. The scripting took a lot longer than I imagined, but they were up-front about the process. There was a lot of give and take, and we added another week to the project to adjust the script. We usually met in each other’s offices, but we also used Word and Excel documents on the day we were shooting. During post-production, we used a web platform for video editing that allowed you to add comments at specific times in the video.

What did you find most impressive about Sparkhouse?

Everyone was nice. Sparkhouse’s crew is young like us, so we got to jive and feed off of each other’s energy. I liked that. I mainly worked with the director and CEO, but everyone we met while shooting—the gaffer guy, the sound guy, whoever—they were all nice. The whole experience was exciting and exhilarating. They got me and my team excited and involved in the work. My team was talking about the project every day. Sparkhouse has served a lot of my clients and other people I know, so I have a high respect for them and what they’re aspiring to be.

Are there any areas Sparkhouse could improve?

I don't think I have any critical feedback.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

RESSAC Climate Control is an air conditioning contractor that provides commercial air conditioning service throughout California. I’m the CEO.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sparkhouse?

We needed someone to redesign our website to make it more responsive on smaller devices like phones and iPads. We also needed to improve our search rankings with video content.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided a video which is an introduction to our firm and is featured on the home page of our website. They also created a reel that spools through until you click on it and actually play the video. It was one shoot that was made into two pieces. I came up with a script and some concepts for the video and they made suggestions along the way. The video is a series of interviews with our top management talking about the firm, overlaid with pictures of employees working. The shoot was performed over two days and was very organized.

How did you come to work with Sparkhouse?

I’ve had the same web design firm for 10 years and when I wanted this video added, they recommended three different companies to me. I talked to those firms and chose Sparkhouse because they stood out in terms of the attention they gave me. The other firms sounded like they were too busy to help me. I also felt their price was affordable for the value I would get out of the end product.

How much have you invested with Sparkhouse?

We spent between $10,000 and $50,000 with them on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2016, and the project was completed the same month.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We do very little marketing because we deal with very large retail clients. I’ve received positive comments on the video and our new customer sales have increased.

How did Sparkhouse perform from a project management standpoint?

They had software to keep the project organized and it also allowed me to give feedback. They were able to meet all the deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about Sparkhouse?

I like Torrey, the founder, a lot. He’s very passionate about his work. It’s cool to see someone who loves the work they do.

Are there any areas Sparkhouse could improve?

Since it was the first time we were doing a project like this, it would have been nice to have more information about what the day of the shoot was going to be like. But overall, I was very happy.

Please describe your company and your position there.

ATEL is an OEM manufacture that designs, produces, certifies then launches in the market devices such as; Mobile Hotspots, Fixed Wireless Access Broadband terminals, Phones, Tablets, Trackers, IoT and other Smart Connected Devices.

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

Video production for sales, marketing and informational materials for our devices

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Past experience with Sparkhouse

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The projects were managed to perfection and outcome is higher than anticpated

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I was able to work with many team members and everyone is a stand out in their positions. Torrey is a subject matter expert in this field and is always a pleasure to work with

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Both devices that the Sparkhouse videos have been released have SOLD OUT and user reviews have been great. Even the devices are recommended by Verizon

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Excellent project management in all ways, Written, emails, SOW, scripts, text, alerts and day of details

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They turned all of my ideas to reality.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Any tips to get more exposure on YouTube with the videos

Please describe your company and your position there.

Maelys creates clinically proven body reshaping products for women. We are not afraid to tackle issues that no one else has tackled before, and we work hard to produce results-driven products that will give you unstoppable curves and unstoppable confidence.

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

We wanted to produce high quality, performance-driven ads for our e-commerce website.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We looked for a company that can deliver ideation, casting, production and editing in a tight schedule, while not harming the quality of the end result.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We created 4 short video ads for each of our best selling products.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I worked with Torrey and his team, they sent me all things that needed approval via email, and I replied within 24 hrs.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Most of the ads delivered great results, and bought positive ROAS.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project was well managed, with easy communication, and high quality deliverables under tight schedule.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The quality of production.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No

Please describe your company and your position there.

Senior Producer for Activision Blizzard Esports

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

We brought Sparkhouse in for a video interview shoot for upcoming product announcements. Our goals were to find a reputable company that could set up an advanced video shoot on short notice.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

An internal referral with high praise! Deciding factors were presenting the creative pitch and making sure they were able to meet this demand under a short deadline and on budget.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We worked with Sparkhouse over several meetings to talk through creative, logistics,

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

Torrey, Aman 

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The video is currently in post-production and the results from the shoot were excellent! Quality work was delivered.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The team at Sparkhouse was very easy to work with and stayed in constant communication regarding setup and pre-production.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were very quick to get on the same page with us regarding what we needed creatively. Didn't need to explain much regarding setup.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

N/A

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO and creative lead of Gangbustrs Marketing Agency.

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

Our client, a well known consumer electronics Brand needed to create and test 8 spots in 6 weeks.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

The challenge was daunting, but Torrey's team worked closely on concepting and ideas as well as production to meet the deadlines.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We ended up with 8 unique spots that that each aligned to a persona's needs. We did both :30 and :06 cut downs.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

The editors we all very responsive and well versed in creative process.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our clients were very pleased. We hope we could continue to work together.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

always available by phone and fast to respond

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Fast, friendly and REALLY GOOD!

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the foundering partner of Callahan & Blaine, a top Southern California law firm based in Santa Ana, CA, and the owner of Callahan Consulting.

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse?

Creative marketing videos for my new venture, Callahan Consulting.

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed three video companies in the Orange County area and Sparkhouse was the most creative and willing to execute our vision.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The videos are thought-leader videos on various legal topics, as well as one intro Mission Impossible parody video.

What was the team composition?

A full video production team - post and pre-production. All excellent people to work with.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our latest video immediately got almost 1,000 views on my LinkedIn page and over 40 comments (so far!)

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Great - they had some constraints with working at a rather quiet law office and did their utmost not to impose on the work environment.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their own comedic touches really made the marketing video stand out. Everyone I've shared the video with absolutely loves it.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

No.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own SEO agency Net Site Marketing.

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

Video Promotion

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I had worked with this vendor before and it was an excellent experience.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The video had already been produced, and this job I'm reviewing is about the promotion of the video.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I worked with the owner of the company, and he was delightful to work with.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The video, which was published at my client's Youtube Channel, had only received 22 views when I hired Sparkhouse. Once Sparkhouse had finished promoting the video, it has received 20,000+ views!

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project management went very smoothly, the project was delivered on time, and the communications were outstanding as well.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The people at Sparkhouse are extremely knowledgeable, experienced and friendly. Working with them has been one of the best experiences of my career.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Every step along the way, Sparkhouse did an excellent job. No need for improvement anywhere.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the president of a marketing company.

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

Hired Sparkhouse for on going marketing projects that include video production, creative, marketing, photography and animations. Goals were to help clients grow their business with video marketing.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I knew they were the best for the job and offered everything I needed.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

They helped plan everything including all creative, scheduling and any details needed to finish the projects.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I worked with Torrey Tayenaka and the communication was excellent!

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our clients have been incredibly happy and have mentioned that the quality is always the biggest feedback they receive.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Whether communicating via email, text or cell, there was never a time that my questions weren't answered quickly.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

That they really care about their clients. They've become my friends.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No