video Archives - Dead Ready

Capturing Culinary Chaos: Behind The Scenes Of An Explosive Cheesecake Video Shoot

Video Transcript:

At Dead Ready Productions, we work with a range of clients, on a variety of projects and some of those projects are more unusual than most.

Chris Tongue, Creative Director at Dead Ready Productions, takes us behind the scenes of one such client project that literally blew up! And explains why our creative approach to the brief led to it winning an award. The content of which can be found below.

Hello, today I thought I’d share with you one of the weirder briefs we received during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mainly because it was unusual, but also because our response to the brief resulted in our client being named Winner of Best B2B Campaign at the Independent Agency Awards 2022.

The brief came from our friends at Jellybean Creative who were looking to produce a disruptive campaign for their client, Mondelez International, who wanted to reignite the chef’s love of the Philadelphia Professional range.

Research had proven that Philadelphia was a well-respected and highly regarded product, but its versatility was generally overlooked by the target market, meaning it was only being used in a limited range of recipes – namely bagels and cheesecakes.

The client therefore set two principal goals – inspire chefs to use Philadelphia in more recipes and to do so by disrupting their scrolling on social platforms with something attention grabbing…

So, we blew up some cheesecakes!

We shot using a specialist Phantom camera to capture the action in super slow mo (call out 1/1000th of a second) and had to be careful to protect it, the studio and ourselves from the very real danger of explosive pyrotechnics.

But once our special effects team from ForceFX had given us the all clear, the small charges placed in the cakes from under the table were remotely triggered from outside of the room and things got messy

The final video combined the high speed footage with dynamic shots of Philadelphia being used in all sorts of different contexts to first challenge chefs to think beyond the product’s standard use and then inspire them with some examples.

Audiences were then funnelled towards downloading a Philly recipe book, helping them to find easy ways of using the product and encouraging sales.

The ‘You Don’t Know Philly’ campaign proved to be a huge success – it doubled foodservice sales and recruited a new audience of chefs across five key sectors.

The Independent Agency Awards judging panel also commented on the entry;

“The campaign was really grounded in insight, it was strategic, it was thoughtful. The creative was memorable.”

So it was a bit of an unusual one, but a really fun (messy) shoot with a fantastic end result for the client and their agency – and we’re proud to be a part of it.

See you next time!

If you have a project, no matter how unusual, and would like to discuss how Dead Ready Productions could help bring it to life, please get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

5 Video Content Marketing Ideas For Software Brands To Use

In the latest of our Marketing Tips vlog series, Chris Tongue, Creative Director at Dead Ready Productions, explains 5 video content ideas that software brands should implement into their marketing strategy.

The content of which can be found below.

Hi! This time we’re going to look at 5 video content ideas that suit software brands.

Software platforms are becoming more and more powerful, but with that comes complexity.

Video offers the opportunity to highlight the benefits of your offering without having to send a sales rep to do a demo.

So here are 5 ideas for demystifying the power of your software through video.

1. Promo

The promotional video for your product is the banner advert for your product. This video should offer a teaser of the power of your products and excite your audience.

Don’t worry about granular detail here, just make sure that your product looks impressive; consider representing key facets of your product through metaphor and don’t be afraid to swing for the fences – this really is an advert for your product, so make it look great!

2. Case Study

As is so often true in video marketing, case studies present a really compelling reason for your potential clients to buy your product.

Firstly, identify your evangelists from your existing client base and incentivise them to be involved by offering them something of value as a thank you.

Send your production team to their place of business and shoot an interview with your customer, plus loads of content of the software in action, helping your customer achieve their business goals.

Potential customers relate to these videos and they can be a massive sales driver.

3. Demos

These videos are often animated demonstrations of how your software works when addressing a common issue your clients face.

These videos should be seen as mini-showreels for different corners of the software so make sure you keep the production values

4. Tips

This is where the granular detail comes in. Help your customers see how easy it is to work with your programme by demonstrating how to use the software to complete common tasks.

These easily can be shown through screen capture videos recorded by your sales team – just make sure that they are recorded clearly using a professional microphone, not the mic on the laptop.

5. Update Vlogs

Make sure that your customers are informed and excited by any new developments or features by creating a regular vlog.

Your customers will always be interested in new features so humanise your brand by going on camera and talking to them directly.

So, there you are, 5 video ideas for software content campaigns.

For more helpful information, top tips and useful guides on video production, keep an eye out for our next vlog – coming soon!

If you would like to discuss how Dead Ready Productions could help you to further enjoy the benefits of video for your business, please get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

Video Testimonials: The Ultimate Tool For Authentic Brand Promotion

When it comes to video marketing, there’s no better way to build trust and credibility with your audience, than by communicating the first-hand experiences of your satisfied customers in a video testimonial.

Video testimonials generally take the form of 1-2 minute videos that tell a compelling story about your product or service, and how it’s made a tangible difference to an individual or business.

As opposed to a written testimonial or case study, the video format allows people to hear directly from your existing customers, painting a full picture of who they are and the problems you’ve helped solve.

At Dead Ready Productions, we know just how powerful these testimonials can be and we’ve helped countless brands leverage them to connect with potential customers and drive sales.

So why are customer testimonials so effective?

People are naturally skeptical of marketing messages. But when they hear about a product or service from someone who has used it, their skepticism decreases.

They are more likely to trust what they’re hearing and view your brand in a positive light – a study by BrightLocal found that 72% of consumers say positive testimonials and reviews make them trust a business more.

By sharing these human interactions, you can create a sense of community that will keep your audience engaged and invested in your brand, whilst at the same time encouraging more people to join in.

Another benefit to video testimonials is they allow your advocates to show how your product or service can be used and the difference it can make. This helps potential customers put themselves in the shoes of your clients and visualise how they could incorporate your brand into their business.

The video below was produced for Deputy, a scheduling software platform that helps businesses to save both time and money in a variety of ways. One of their customers who has seen many benefits from the use of their software is hotel chain citizenM, and Deputy wanted to promote this by creating a video that showcased the impact their software has had on their client’s business.

But how do you go about leveraging customer testimonials in your video marketing?

Below are some simple steps you should follow to ensure you get the most out of your customer testimonials when applying them to your video marketing:

Choose the right customers

Not every customer is going to be a good fit for a video testimonial. Look for customers who are passionate about your brand and who have a compelling story to tell. But also consider how they’ll come across on camera – they need to be good communicators, and having a visually appealing premises will help bring the story to life.

You want to showcase the people who will resonate with your target market, so choose wisely the customers you feature.

Our client, Fortius Clinic, were looking to support the marketing of their orthopaedic services with a new video featuring a top flight athlete.

The video testimonial tells the story of how Fortius Clinic helped British diver and multi-Olympic medalist, Tom Daley, deal with an orthopaedic issue and how Fortius’ high standard of care allowed him to go on and achieve a number of top sporting accolades.

Keep it authentic

Don’t script your customer testimonials. Instead let your customers speak from the heart and share their genuine experiences. This approach will come across as more authentic and will resonate more strongly with your audience.

In the video testimonial below, our client, AirPlus International, arranged for their customer, NES Global Talent (now the NES Fircroft Group), to visit their offices for a video shoot.

Members of NES staff were interviewed about the benefits that AirPlus International had brought to their business and b-roll footage was also captured.

Video testimonials can either be shot on-site at a client’s office or a convenient filming location can be found. However, at Dead Ready Productions we would usually recommend filming on-site as this allows for relevant b-roll to be easily captured, which can then be included in the final edit.

Tell the story

It’s not just about listing the positive attributes of your product or service. A good testimonial is more than just a list of positive attributes. It’s a story that connects with your audience on an emotional level.

Focus on the benefits that your product or service can bring, whilst at the same time helping your customers talk about their personal experience with your company in a way that will engage and inspire your target market.

Video truly allows you to present a broad overview of who your customer is, for example by showing where they work, or by talking about their common challenges.

So, it’s important to feature them as much as your product or service – this allows potential customers to identify with your existing customers, to find common ground and understand how they themselves can benefit.

Use video strategically

Video is a powerful medium, but it is important to use it strategically. Consider where your audience is most likely to engage with your video content, such as which social media channels, and adapt your approach to your audience.

One other common way of using these videos is during face-to-face sales meetings, to help drive potential sales over the line.

In conclusion

By featuring the authentic experiences of satisfied customers, video customer testimonials are a powerful tool that can help businesses build trust and credibility with their audience, establish a sense of community with customers and provide a compelling story that showcases the benefits of a product or service.

Have you got happy customers? Would they be good on camera? Do you want to build trust with your audience and promote your brand?

If you’re looking to create a customer testimonial video that truly captures the essence of your brand and resonates with your customers, simply get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

Experience The Wonder Of 3D Animation With Our New Showreel

The Dead Ready animation team have taken a moment away from client work to pull together some of our favourite 3D animation examples and have produced this mini showreel to show them off.

3D animation in motion graphics refers to the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) to create animated content that simulates the appearance of three-dimensional space.

Put simply, 3D animation is a cutting-edge technology that has revolutionised the way we experience visual storytelling.

We use this type of animation to create lifelike characters, fantastical worlds and immersive environments that can be used in various applications such as explainer videos, product videos or as visual effects to add a little extra to live action video.

As our showreel demonstrates, 3D animation has been incorporated into a variety of our client projects, including and not limited to, a package redesign for Maldon Salt, a brand refresh for Pom-Bear crisps product videos for pharmaceutical clients.

At Dead Ready Productions, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of 3D animation, so if you have an idea for a project that might benefit from 3D magic, we’d love to hear about it!

Alternatively, if you would like to find out more about the animation, video, photography and graphic design services Dead Ready Productions can offer your business, please feel free to get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

5 Video Content Marketing Ideas For Pharmaceutical Brands To Apply

In the latest of our marketing tips vlog series, Chris Tongue, Creative Director at Dead Ready Productions, explains 5 video content ideas that pharmaceutical brands should apply to their marketing strategy. The content of which can be found below.

Hi, this month I’m suggesting 5 effective video approaches to support content campaigns for pharmaceutical brands.

So, if you’re an in-house marketeer for a pharmaceutical brand or working at an agency for pharmaceutical clients, I’d hope this content is useful to you.

It’s worth saying that often your most useful resource will be your Key Opinion Leaders (KOL), so be prepared to get them on-side for filming.

Many KOLs take it upon themselves to get some media training, but it’ll really help the quality of your content if your KOL’s are good on camera.

Number 1: Communicating Study Findings

Traditionally, study findings are reported to audiences via PowerPoint presentations, but you can more powerfully connect the KOL to the content through video.

The simplest way to enliven these findings is the classic talking head in a box approach, where the heavy data can take up most of the screen. However, if you involve a greenscreen, there is a whole world of ways that we can enliven the environment and content.

Feel free to add as much imagination as you feel is appropriate for your audience.

We’ve brought pop up green screen studios to locations worldwide, so it’s easy to bring the production to a location that’s convenient for your KOL.

Number 2: Case Studies

In almost any market, video case studies are a great way to highlight the efficacy of a product. When it comes to pharma, case studies are usually led by a KOL discussing how well treatment is going with a particular patient or group of patients.

These can be effectively communicated through a simple interview-style video, shot at the KOLs institute or place of work. Adding testimonial interview quotes from patients can present an even more compelling case study.

Number 3: Update Vlogs

Consider creating a channel for a particular product in development and have a specialist on the development team deliver regular updates on progress.

These thought leadership videos should only be a couple of minutes long and delivered regularly – providing a touch point for your KOLs and any other interested parties.

Number 4: News

Become a resource for a specific therapy area by attending congresses and organise the filming of update videos from a range of key speakers.

These can easily be shot by a single camera operator and provided they are scheduled in advance, you can shoot and even edit up to fifty 2-3 minute update videos a day!

Number 5: Interactive Video

Your e-learning resources become more engaging, impactful and effective when presented as an interactive video.

In one example, we were asked to help teach GPs how to recognise the right symptom profile to apply certain treatments.

We therefore created a video putting the audience in the shoes of a doctor as patient characters described their symptoms.

Audiences were given options as to what steps to take and guided to a resolution that benefited the patient. Requiring your audience to actively engage with the content in this way dramatically increases the likelihood that the learning objectives are fully absorbed.

So that’s it, 5 simple ideas for pharmaceutical campaigns. But before I go, a useful compliance tip is to use an autocue.

It seems strange to script interviews or other natural interactions but allowing the messaging to be signed off in advance drastically reduces the risk of projects being cancelled in post production – we’ve even held up a script on an iPad before and used post production to make it feel natural, so we’re big advocates of this approach.

As always, put yourself in the shoes of your audience and create videos that solve problems or inspire.

Thanks for watching.

For more helpful information, top tips and useful guides on video production, keep an eye out for our next 60 second marketing tips vlog – coming soon!

In the meantime, if you have a filming brief, or you would like to find out more about the animation, photography and graphic design services Dead Ready Productions can offer your business, simply get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.