Over the course of a year, we work on a lot of projects at Key West Video and 2018 was particularly busy. We worked locally with cities and regions. Clients such as Ornge, Bain & Company and Sun Life Financial were regulars on our roster. There were music videos shot in our studio and we supported more than one crowdfunding campaign. Cars, kids and colleges all had starring roles in our productions. We promoted apps, animated beer taps and even got into the international film scene. In short, it was one heck of a year! Here are some of the projects that left a lasting impression.
Local Heroes
Grant Thornton has been a client for years and they bring us a lot of interesting work. In the summer, the accounting and business advisory firm asked us to produce something they called Five Stories. We were given twenty-five biographies and asked to think about which would translate best to brand stories. Our DOP had the first look and he chose candidates that represented his visual interests. After he made suggestions, the client had the final say and we narrowed the group down to five. We were asked to flesh out a story for each that ran sixty to ninety seconds. The theme was human connection. It was our job to show how each Grant Thornton employee was connecting with their client while also contributing to the community. We shot in Nova Scotia and B.C. for the videos that now live on the client’s careers website.
This project was a top pick for many of us here at Key West Video. The owner liked that we were asked to do something different. It was up to us to pitch ideas, shoot in a more cinematic way and step outside the corporate box. Our DOP sunk his teeth into a dramatization that illustrates how these employees are involved with their community and have a real impact on their client’s lives. He saw firsthand how services are tailored to specialized industries in different parts of the country. The resident writer loved the challenge of telling each story in a way that satisfied stakeholder goals and connected with the viewer.
Here’s the story of Josh, Orchard Hill Farm and one of the cutest babies we’ve ever seen.
Talking Beer Taps
Many of our videos are created to be used internally. Sometimes these are training videos or CEO addresses shared with the entire company. Other times, they’re lip-synced music videos and spoofs that bring some levity to a meeting or seminar. Last winter, we produced a series of videos for Labatt Breweries to be used at their National Commercial Conference. There were videos that showcased branded swag, employees throwing out pitches for the Blue Jays, GIFs, and one video in particular that featured animated characters. The editor who worked on this project dug deep to bring some recognizable bar staff to life. Some other Key West Video employees pitched in with voice work.
Keep on Truckin’
Our DOP loves assignments for creative advertising agency Tattoo Projects. Based in North Carolina, Tattoo has clients all over the USA. That means our shooters get to travel and are often working with artists. It’s fun to shoot colourful visuals and capture the passion so many of these subjects have for their work.
In the fall, we worked with Tattoo Projects to help promote their client, convenience store chain Sheetz. These stores are well-known and well-loved with 500 locations across six states. Our DOP liked that this promotion was tied to artists working on pieces that represent their regions. He enjoyed learning about local features and the pride people took in their hometowns. The editor who worked on the video below had fun with all the footage our shooter gathered and liked cutting with music that isn’t the norm around here.
Small Business, Big Impact
Key West Video understands what it’s like to be a small business. We may work for some pretty big companies, but we also like to feature the little guys. Client Copper Marketing hired us to produce a series of videos featuring small businesses for Toronto Finance International. One of our shooters said the video for Paul’s Boutique was one his favourite jobs this year. He liked the opportunity to move away from an office environment and shoot in a visually stimulating setting. We think you’ll see what he means when you watch this video.
Learning and Growing
Animation is a big part of what we do at Key West Video. Our animator is always busy with explainer videos for new apps, promotional pieces for benefits, and all sorts of other projects. She’s currently working with some line art and iconography animation, which she likes because it’s different from the usual story-based projects.
Our writer enjoyed scripting an animated piece for the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario. From the first meeting with LDAO staff, she felt connected to this project. Part of working in corporate video is learning about new businesses and services. This project taught our writer about the language used in this field and challenged her to consider the perspective of the characters being represented in the video. It’s the writer’s job to get inside the head of the target market and write in a way that connects with the audience. On top of all that, she loved what the animator did to bring the script to life.
Fun, Fun, Fun
We have one word to describe working with the City of Vaughan on their part-time recreational jobs video: fun! This client was accommodating, full of ideas and really excited about their program. When we shot with the workers featured in the video, it wasn’t hard to sell the idea that this would be a great place to work. We pitched an idea that showed the employees in action and paired that with an animated white card to punctuate their job titles and why they loved their work. The writer had a vision for this project and the editor was challenged by the technique used with the cards. Do you know which tv show we’re paying homage to with the introductory sequence?
Key West Video Final Thoughts
Thanks to all our clients for bringing us another great year of projects. In 2019, we hope to stretch our minds and flex our video muscle even more. Regardless of the message you want to deliver, Key West Video is up for the challenge. Call us today and let’s see if we can get you on our best of list next year.
