Definition

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital marketing officer at Foothold, a worldwide nonprofit. We’re known as a benevolence fund for the IT world. The company caters to engineers if they ever need legal help, well-being support, assistance with adapting to new living situations, etc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TopLine Film?

Our senior management team realized we needed to rebrand because we didn’t really connect with the people we were helping. The services were only reaching our existing membership. We wanted to open it up to more engineers. We needed a strategy that was punchy, lively and usable to consistently promote our new brand. Eventually, we decided to create a new video to tell people who we are.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They made our animated brand video. The marketing manager determined it had to be less than a minute and contain certain keywords. We didn’t use any still images or additional videos. It was created purely through graphic design elements, mainly consisting of kinetic typography and the inclusion of icons and graphics.

The video is intended for our website, which is currently under construction. We’re displaying it on our interim landing page.

What is the team composition?

I worked with 2–3 people. My primary contact went back and forth between our team and theirs I don’t know how many people worked on the video in total.

How did you come to work with TopLine Film?

TopLine Film was shortlisted before I joined the organization. We went with them because we saw their previous work and knew it was in line with what we wanted to do. When we spoke to them, they really listened to what we were saying.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May until October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video is being shown to a lot of our trustees and stakeholders on our website and on social media. We wanted it to showcase who we are, and it does that well.

It’s been very well received internally. There were a few people that weren’t really fond of the new identity, but they really got a sense of everything coming together once the video went live. The reviews have all been positive. The video had a big impact in convincing people the rebranding project was worth it.

We’ve shared it on different mediums so that when people find our pages, it's the first thing that they see. The video has been well-received on social media. It gives a concise snapshot of who we are and what we do. From our name alone, you wouldn’t understand who we are, but the video successfully conveys our message to the viewer.

How did TopLine Film perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was brilliant. Although we try to have firm deadlines, sometimes things can’t be accounted for. For example, there was one occasion where we needed an update and one of the team members was on holiday. They moved back the deadline from Friday to Monday.

However, for the most part, they were punctual, responsive, and understanding of what we wanted. Even when we got their drafts back and said we went something changed, they said it was brilliant. They’d also give us suggestions to consider. They’re really responsive and made the whole experience quite easy. We communicated by email in the latter stages. In the middle stages, we talked via phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re professional. They don’t sell you dreams and embellish. Their team won’t create scenarios for you that make your life a lot difficult. Tell them what you’re after and they’ll give you suggestions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they did exactly what we needed. They were brilliant.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as detailed as possible. The more detail you provide, the better the process will be.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive producer at Advancement Resources, a private company that focuses on the healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit sectors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TopLine Film?

I was looking for an agency to conduct video and audio support for an interview session we were doing with one of our clients based in the UK. The client was specific about having a professional crew that was dressed appropriately because there was a particular standard at the location we were filming.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The job was straightforward. We requested specifications for the camera work, audio delivery, and file format delivery. I discussed this with Jamie (Managing Director, TopLine Film), who provided information, availability, and pricing.

In regards to the dress code, Jamie was on board with upholding that standard for the client. After everything was discussed, we scheduled the shoot, which happened within a day.  

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of two.

How did you come to work with TopLine Film?

I researched companies in London. The team at TopLine Film was responsive to the details I provided and took them seriously. A month prior, I worked with another London company. It’s easy to tell when someone is engaged and paying attention to essential details. TopLine Film knows what goes into a successful interaction or experience.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around £2,000 (approximately $2,500 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The filming took place in October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From a technical standpoint, TopLine Film did their job very well. During the shoot, the team was excellent at listening and extremely professional. Not only did they have the technical expertise, but they also adjusted their style to meet the client’s needs.

Everything was wrapped within a day, but considering the importance of this client relationship, we invested a lot of time. It was critical because we had a small window for interviewing, so everything had to be right. TopLine Film delivered, and that’s what made the engagement a success. It’s not to be underestimated by the duration or the price because we have an important engagement with this client. We will definitely be working with TopLine Film again.

How did TopLine Film perform from a project management standpoint?

We were managing the project internally. Jamie was responsive throughout. We mainly communicated through email but had the occasional phone call. We scheduled a conference call to make sure there were no questions before our arrival in London.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their professionalism and responsiveness.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they were perfect and spot-on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Production is a team effort. Their team seemed happy with the amount of information we provided them. We minimized the guesswork. If you provide a detailed spec or brief upfront, it makes everything more efficient and limits the back-and-forth. When people don’t know what they want, things can take a longer time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Content Editor for the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. The Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors is the only professional association for internal auditors in the UK and Ireland.

I oversee our content delivery from a visual standpoint, which involves a mixture of editing, strategising and collaboration with different departments, as well content creation in the first instance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TopLine Film?

We hired TopLine Film to create an animation video to formally launch our new report, Risk in Focus 2020.

What were your goals for this project?

We sought a high-spec, visually exciting 2D animation video of around a minute and a half in length.

The video needed to be delivered quickly (in roughly 6-7 weeks) and against a maximum budget of £5,000 ($5,600,approximately). The video would serve as countdown piece that reeled off the top ten risks identified in the report.

Our primary aim was to use the video to sell the report by enticing people to read it. We wanted the video to tell a story, and, with Topline's help, decided on a space theme that was executed brilliantly.

The space theme married up wonderfully with the context of the report and our chosen colour scheme for it. The video needed to be evergreen, easy to follow and usable on social media.

Initially we only set out to do one video. But, later down the line, decided we'd need two extra exports - one for our Spanish Institute and another for our European Institutes in general.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Careful research went into identifying a vendor with the right vision and credentials. TopLine ticked all the right boxes, even down to the type of clients they'd worked with in the past.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

Production of the video took roughly 6 - 7 weeks and, for the most part, was seamless. TopLine provided a detailed production schedule from the get-go that ensured a timely delivery of the video, with few to no hiccups along the way.

This schedule was particularly helpful in managing our expectations as an Institute internally. Production of the video looked a little something like this: Stage one: Scripting Stage two: Storyboarding Stage three: Full animation Stage four: Video amendments Stage five: Deliver of final video

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Tim - TopLine's Producer - communicated with us on telephone and over email. He responded to emails quickly, rarely missed a call and, in his absence, dedicated project management of the video to his colleague Sian, for a period - who was equally friendly and responsive.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget. It was better than we'd anticipated and has, so far, received some excellent feedback internally and externally. All in all, a successful project.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

1. Their ability to delivery quickly and against a tight budget
2. Their excellent communication skills as creatives and project managers alike were impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Greater flexibility to their payment terms and invoicing procedure.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the lead course designer for the Online Learning Services unit at Cambridge University Press. We work with various bodies around the campus, putting parts of their courses online for students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TopLine Film?

When we first worked with TopLine Film, it was in conjunction with a branch of the Cambridge Judge Business School. They helped us create media assets for the course, including introduction videos and animations. We recently engaged them again on another course project, as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

TopLine Film worked with our unit and the corresponding academic departments to produce a set of introductory videos that would be shown on a weekly basis. 

In the first project, they filmed the lead academic explaining the different topics that the class would cover. The lead wrote the script himself, going over week’s tasks and setting up interesting questions to guide discussions.

Having a script worked well for our purposes, but we decided to modify the format for the second project. I had the academics prepare points ahead of time on larger questions that they sought to answer each unit—but, this time, the videos were unscripted. This resulted in a more natural presentation and helped us generate more interest with the audience.

TopLine Film also switched to EyeDirect to capture footage, which helped the academics feel more comfortable when looking at the camera lens. This gave viewers the sense that the instructor was talking to them directly.

For both projects, the team developed eight accompanying animations from scratch. In the first instance, I directed them on how things should be visualized. But the second time around, we had to reuse existing animations. TopLine Film took the challenge in stride, cleaning up our legacy assets before creating new ones using the same style.

What is the team composition? 

I worked with Sian (Senior Producer, TopLine Film), Jamie (Managing Director, TopLine Film), and an animator. Each time, there were always about 3–4 people, including the producer.

Everyone was super friendly and capable. I was particularly impressed with how Sian handled our academics, who are field-leading and well-renown. It was a pleasure to watch her guide them so that they would do what she needed them to do.

How did you come to work with TopLine Film?

Another team at Cambridge University Press had used TopLine Film in the past and recommended them to us. We had them come to meet us with samples of their work along with a few other agencies, and, by far, TopLine Film’s portfolio was streets ahead of everyone else.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, we’ve spent below $50,000. The first project was between $25,000–$50,000, and the second was a bit less than that.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first project lasted from February–July 2017, and then we worked with them again from March–June 2019.
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received a substantial amount of feedback, and our partners have said that TopLine Film’s videos are among the best pieces of footage that our school has.

The second course is still ongoing, so our student feedback is limited, but users seem to be very happy in general. Students praised how clear the animations were, and people responded well to the format change, especially with how comfortable the academics looked in front of the camera. Looking at the bigger unit questions rather than just introducing topics was also popular.

How did TopLine Film perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was excellent, from start to finish. TopLine Film’s process was very clear—they had everything planned, scheduled their filming days, sorted out responsibilities, and organized travel from Cambridge to London. I appreciated that they always let us know what they needed from us.

As for communication, they were superb. The situation itself was a bit difficult because they were actually working with both our team and an additional academic department. That sort of three-way communication line made it difficult for their team to determine who had the authority to sign off on something.

However, TopLine Film managed communications well and always doubled checked with me, so nothing went awry. After filming on location, we mostly interacted online or by phone. They were respectful of our time and were fabulous to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their output is fantastic. We were right to choose them because they definitely outshone their competitors and have continued to prove themselves.

Process-wise, they made the whole production really easy. Sian took charge of the set, keeping a friendly but authoritative demeanor to guide the academics. It was a lovely balance, and people responded well to her.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, if we’d had anything constructive to say, it would’ve come up in the conversation already. Then, they’d resolve them. Their communication lines were just that clear.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have clarity on what you need and identify who has the final sign-off on your side. That will keep things running smoothly as you coordinate with them. Other than that, TopLine Film will lead you through the process nicely.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing services for Tilney, a financial services company. We’re a financial planning and investment firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TopLine Film?

We’ve used them to produce videos with a variety of messages for our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TopLine has created two videos for us so far, and they’re working on some animations. The videos were an opportunity for us to feature two people from the business who were experts in their field. Each video shows only one person talking about what it is they do and why it’s important. They’re called profile videos.

With one of the videos, we wanted to talk about financial planning expertise, particularly in the area of death, divorce, and dementia. The other video addressed family inheritance. They were both marketing opportunities to show our expertise in these areas, and we’ve used them within our larger campaigns.

We provided an initial outline to them, of the story we were trying to tell. TopLine had several meetings with the person being interviewed, to get an in-depth feel of what it was we were trying to achieve. The team grasped it really well. They really understood the importance of what we were trying to say. On the day, they sat with the person featured in the video and prompted them to talk about this or that subject, and edited it later on to make it look like a story. 

The videos weren’t scripted, and only had an outline of questions. They purposefully advised us not to script them, as that would’ve made them a bit stiff. The videos look top-quality, and the feedback’s been really good. TopLine was involved in the strategy, messaging, and, production, and delivery of the videos.

What is the team composition?

We had a main account manager during the process. We initially met with two of them, and there were several people there on the actual day of filming. I don’t know how many people were involved in the editing process behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with TopLine Film?

We’d used them earlier in 2018, for an internal sales-tool video, and we were very impressed with how they worked. Just prior to that, they’d written to our head of digital, telling us all about who they were. It was an impactful piece of direct mail, and I remember my colleague being quite impressed with what they sent to him. He suggested to some colleagues that they could use TopLine for an internal video.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of this particular project was $10,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with TopLine from November 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s still early, so we haven’t gotten any download figures yet, but the internal feedback was that it was a top-quality video. We were happy with the final result. We didn’t even ask for any editing changes. Our team also won an award, in which I’m sure the video helped.

How did TopLine Film perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. We tended to have key meetings in person. The om-between checking of proofs was done by email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understood what we were trying to do, and helped us bring the project to life. When we first spoke to them, we spent a lot of time talking about what we were trying to achieve and why it was important to us. It took some skill to understand and interpret that. They proactively came up with great ideas based on other videos.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they did a great job.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s important to have face-to-face time with them and really explain the project. Sending bullet points and other documents and having telephone calls just doesn’t work as well.

If you really want to get what you want out of the project, you should spend time really explaining what you do, what you’re trying to achieve, who your clients are, what their trigger points are, and so on. It seems like little stuff but it makes a big difference.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a housing services manager for the Central Bedfordshire Council. We are a government agency and have about 5,500 properties with approximately 8,000–9,000 tenants.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TopLine Film?

We were looking for a company that could create multiple public information videos for our government agency.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We use videos as part of our communication with tenants, and TopLine Film has helped us create those videos. Like most organizations, we try to have our online content be descriptive enough so that people don’t have to call us with questions. The videos offer advice on solving conflicts with neighbors and how to join our housing register to have access to social housing, among many other topics.

For every video, we prepare a one-page outline of what we’d like the video to cover. TopLine Film then turns that brief into a scripted storyboard, which is where their art lies. Our topics tend to be bogged down with local government-speak, but they’ve helped make that information more easily understood. Each video is 2–3 minutes long.

By the time the current contract finishes, we will have around 20 videos—about 90% of which are animated. We wanted the videos to appeal to a mixed demographic, so we diversified the style of videos as much as we could. Two of the videos featured assisted living facilities, so TopLine Film went on-location and captured the atmosphere well. They are personable while interviewing people, and they have been able to subtly include all of the messages we want in the videos.

What is the team composition?

We have 4–6 people working on our videos. Jamie (Managing Director, TopLine Film) and Sian (Senior Producer, TopLine Films) lead their team and are our main points of contact. We can take questions to others on their team, but Jamie or Sian will reliably get back to us within a few hours.

How did you come to work with TopLine Film?

As a government agency, we have to go through a long tender and contract process. I identified about 20 companies through an internet search. I liked TopLine Film’s portfolio, so we invited them to bid. They, along with six other companies, came to our office to interview and give a presentation. Jamie, in particular, had a background in local government. That appealed to us because we knew he could bridge our local government-speak into something that would resonate with customers. TopLine Film sold us on their transparent processes and their mindfulness of our budget. We felt they were the company that understood our creative vision and could make sure we were spending our money well.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent around £80,000 pounds (approximately $97,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June 2017–August 2019. We can only have our contracts last for two years before we re-open the tender. The ending of the contract has nothing to do with their performance. I would love for them to win the next round of work as well.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback from 250 staff members has been positive, and the videos have always been well received. The videos are making a difference and helping to reduce the number of phone calls we get. They also educate our staff on one consistent message to give to our customers.

The videos have allowed us to increase our in-office knowledge because each of those videos represented, what we call, one version of the truth. They had to be factual about homelessness legislation or neighbor nuisances and similar topics. They are now a part of our education program for our offices.

How did TopLine Film perform from a project management standpoint?

One of our requirements was that we needed to see evidence of the process, and they produced that as part of the tender bid. We had confidence that they understood project management, that they had a system in place, and it was a system that we could share with them.

They are genuine people. From their end, I always felt that Jamie or Sian saw the product before it came to me. They consistently hit the mark on what I needed the videos to say.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have always delivered on our expectations, and the visuals were spot-on. We didn’t need flashy visuals because of the demographics of our audience, and they were aware of that. They made an effort to understand what social housing was and what we needed it to look like.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t pinpoint anything that needs improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We were fortunate that we could visit them in person. I spent a couple of hours sitting with the main people on the team explaining our background and discussing what our needs were. That initial investment in time allowed me to get to know them as people and share what I wanted.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m head of corporate marketing at Artificial Solutions. We’re a global vendor of enterprise conversational AI software.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TopLine Film? 

We initially hired them to create animations to help us explain our conversational AI software. It's quite a new technology, and we wanted to find a way to better communicate it to prospective customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

TopLine Film started by hosting a couple of workshops for us in London. They explained how the process would work and led brainstorming sessions. They provided useful advice and guidance in terms of video length, content, and style. We worked together to create storyboards, and then they went away and turned them into the final animations.

We've worked with TopLine Film several times since that first project. They've created multi-language videos and filmed content in a studio. They've also taken several of our existing videos and rebranded them for us after we went through a corporate rebrand. That included adding new corporate colors and re-coloring animations to reflect the new corporate brand. 

What is the team composition?

We work directly with 3–5 members of their team on the production side. There may well be others working behind the scenes that I don't see. 

How did you come to work with TopLine Film?

They contacted us. We spoke to them a few times and really liked their approach and their people. They seemed like a good fit for our organization because of their experience in technology. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent upwards of £10,000–£15,000 (approximately $12,150–$18,225 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We've worked with them several times since 2015. The rebranding project was just a couple of months ago, and we certainly plan to use them again in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve used certain videos for campaigns that filter into our lead generation funnel. We’ve heard nothing but praise from internal stakeholders about the quality of the work. I'm delighted with the way TopLine Film uses their previous experience to help us to better communicate our concepts.

How did TopLine Film perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their team is brilliant. I’ve recommended them to other professionals I know because of their approach to solving problems. It’s so helpful that I don't have to keep chasing them or constantly reminding them. TopLine Film takes each job as a challenge and comes back to me with a solution.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

They really get what we do, which is super helpful. TopLine Film understands our proposition and our audience, as well as how to sell our software effectively.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

A very minor issue is that sometimes it takes a bit long for videos to come back. Our company wants everything yesterday, but obviously, we're not their only customers. It’s definitely more my problem than theirs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The initial workshop was incredibly useful. Make the effort to sit in a room and talk to them about who your company is and your business proposition. It's easier and more effective to do that face-to-face rather than over email or phone. TopLine Film makes a point of understanding what you want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior communications manager at Xero, an accounting software company. We have nearly two million subscribers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TopLine Film?

We hired them to create case study videos that we could use for marketing and PR purposes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TopLine Film did a lot of the preliminary interviews, scripting, and organization of the shoot. They did some onsite interviews during the shoot, which my team couldn’t attend because we’re in the UK.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Jamie (Managing Director, TopLine Film).

How did you come to work with TopLine Film?

We initially hired TopLine Film for their PR services, and they were really efficient. When we needed to create video content, I got in touch with the team lead we’d worked with. She introduced me to Jamie (Managing Director, TopLine Film). After I looked at some of their previous video work, we agreed on a budget and made the videos.

How much have you invested with them?

My company spent $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from 2016–2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got really good feedback from our marketing team and other team members. The videos were well-received on social media and at some of our roadshows, which are huge events that host around 1,000 accounting partners.

How did TopLine Film perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was really good, and we didn’t have any issues. The team was very efficient and helpful, and they delivered promptly. It felt like a relatively easy relationship from the start. My company doesn’t typically outsource video production because we have a really strong in-house video team, but I had confidence in TopLine Film. We communicated via phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

TopLine Film understood our style. Their general communication wasn’t too much; they didn’t email me about every single thing, and they only contacted me when they needed my feedback, input, or signoff. The project was very efficient and clean.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I liked that they were independent and didn't burden me. This worked really well for me, but I suppose some clients would want more engagement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure whatever you’re investing in has interesting and compelling content. Think about what you want to capture before you engage TopLine Film. They’re really good, and they will deliver.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing, communications, and event manager at Pacific Life Re, a life reinsurance company that insures life insurance companies. We have offices located all over the world, mainly in London, Asia, Australia, and North America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TopLine Film?

We wanted to create a global recruitment video to promote our company. We wanted to showcase the fact that we employ people all over the world, as well as promote our company as a great place to work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TopLine Film created a global recruitment video, helping with the storyline and scheduling. At the start, we gave their team a brief about our vision and what we wanted to create. They came back with suggestions about who we should be interviewing and feedback on our ideas.

Since we wanted the video to be personalized, we flew their team out to our offices to film some of our staff. TopLine Film gave us guidance on interviewee questions. We sent them the questions beforehand, so they had a rough idea of the areas we wanted to cover. We didn’t want the interviews to seem scripted, so we figured out ways to structure what was asked. Their team also figured out where in the offices we should shoot, determining what locations had the best light. They also filmed a few generic shots of the offices and key city landmarks.

Their team has done a recap of that video, editing a few people out and adding clips in. Additionally, we hosted the first Women In Protection conference at our office last year. We had their team come along and film the event, putting together a promotional video that focused on the conference and committee behind it.

What is the team composition?

Sian (Senior Producer, TopLine Film) was our main point of contact. There were three or four people working on our projects.

How did you come to work with TopLine Film?

A few years ago, I saw TopLine Film at a conference and was impressed with their presentation. We really liked the content that they showed. When we went up to their stand, we saw a few of their videos. After taking a look at their website, we decided that TopLine Film would be a good fit for us in terms of their previous work. I got in touch with them and found them easy to work with. They were also responsive.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with TopLine Film sometime in 2017, and the engagement ended in November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been pleased with how everything has turned out. Internally, the global recruitment video was shown to our staff, and we received positive feedback from various members, including our CEO. Our Head of Legal and Chief Writing Officer enjoyed it as well. We also received great feedback from our parent company. The Women In Protection committee and event attendees were happy with the conference video as well.

How did TopLine Film perform from a project management standpoint?

TopLine Film’s responsive team was helpful in every stage. I really enjoyed working with TopLine Film. We’re looking at them to assist with more videos in the near future. For communication, we used phone and email. We had a few face-to-face meetings when they came to our office.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attitude was impressive. They were quick to come back, always friendly and approachable. Their team took the time to provide guidance on what would work best. We tended to give them a fairly vague brief and let them run with it. Our team was always impressed with the final product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We do find them a tad on the pricy side. Historically, we’ve always have been happy with it because of their work, but it’s something I struggle with when it comes to working with their team on future projects.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’ve always been pleased working with them. They’ve always been happy to run with whatever brief we gave them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the project officer at Confucius Institute, part of the Institute of Education that is at University College London (UCL). Our main aim is to encourage students in the UK to learn Mandarin Chinese in school. We also teaching of Chinese educators and operate the Mandarin Excellence Program, which is trying to have 5,000 more students learning Mandarin across five years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TopLine Film?

Many teachers don’t have access to in-person student teaching to prepare them for the job. Particularly, if we have teachers coming from China to work in the UK, they’re often not able to practice their skills in a UK classroom before starting. We wanted to provide a resource for Mandarin teachers that gives a real-life insight into the experience of teaching in a classroom.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Starting out, they'd visit our office to discuss our plans for the project. Once we were confident in our ideas, we recruited teachers for a live-action lesson. TopLine Film explained the process and production of the film before going into schools and filming teachers educating in the classroom.

Following the shoot, they did all the editing and post-production for us. Their team hosted it on Wistia and helped us to put it on our website as well. They also gave us plenty of advice about hosting on our website. We had some issues running Wistia on our site, but TopLine Film worked very closely with Wistia to overcome all those challenges.

What is the team composition?

Our first point of contact was Jamie (Managing Director, TopLine Film). Him and Sian (Senior Producer, TopLine Film) helped us visualize and plan the project, Jamie handled the financial aspects of the project and the Sian took over the production of the project. Jamie was copied into all the emails, so I could contact him if Sian was away. On the days of the shoot, five crew members were present.

How did you come to work with TopLine Film?

We created a brief of what we wanted for the project and invited six production companies to tender for the project. After meeting each of them, we narrowed it down to three companies and went further with our questions. In the end, TopLine Film understood what we needed and fell within our budget.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between February 2018–July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received great feedback on the videos from teachers. The live-action videos allowed them to get a sense of what it’s like to teach a UK classroom, despite never having been in one.

How did TopLine Film perform from a project management standpoint?

TopLine Film performed really well, meeting all deadlines. We usually communicated via email, but we initially had more in-person meetings in the ideation phase. When we needed to be in contact immediately, we used the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re really well organized and great to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t had any negative experiences with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sit down with them and tell them what you’re looking for.