Hectic | Get Started Freelancing
In short, Hectic is the way freelancers just getting started…get started freelancing.
The Challenge
Hectic was given the opportunity to try out Hulu’s new ad platform and they needed a video FAST! Like, a couple of weeks fast. And we were able to pull off a video in record time too! But then Hectic’s brand positioning changed and well, everything sorta went out the window. It was no one’s fault really, stuff like this happens in the start-up world, but when you’re put in a position to recreate an entirely new video from scratch in even less time, what do you do?
The Approach
You get creative, that’s what you do. What you see above was pulled off in such record time that some of us don’t even know how it happened.
The Results
A part of our mission statement is to “Delight Great Clients.” This client is a “Great client.” And we can honestly say that they were “Delighted.”
Current | The Everything Lighting System
Current is a powerhouse in the realm of lighting and controls for indoor, outdoor, and everything in between.
The Challenge
Current had just completely refreshed their brand...so naturally, they needed a brand video. But not just your typical “oh I get it” ukulele background music explainer video, they wanted something bold, vibrant, colorful, and as unique as their new logo mark…oh and it had to be completely monochromatic.
The Approach
How in the world do you make a video “vibrant” and “colorful” when you can only use black, white, and grey? That was our task. The solution is what you see above. Enjoy :)
The Result
Onriva | Onboarding
Think of Onriva as the Amazon of flights, hotels, and cars.
The Challenge
Onriva was looking for something fresh, fun, and engaging to showcase their newly launched travel platform.
The Approach
In our opinion, the best way to create a video that is “fresh, fun, and engaging” is to showcase the personality and character of the brand itself. So, we asked a lot of questions like, “if your brand were an actor or actress, who would you be?” or “if your company played a sport, which one would that be and why?” It’s questions like these that really help a brand (especially a startup) find their identity. From there, our job was to find creative ways to bring those qualities to life through characterful VO and animation, visuals with personality, and sound design and music with just the right amount of drama.
The Result
After the final files were delivered, Onriva demanded a Zoom call with our entire team and their entire C-suite. We weren’t really sure what to expect, but then for like 10-15 minutes straight they did nothing but affirm and thank us for creating such a stellar video for their needs. We were absolutely blown away! Now that’s what we call a client for life!
Afiniti | AI Pairing
The Challenge:
Afiniti offers a unique solution to its customers that utilizes the power of AI technology that, at the end of the day, make their customers happier and make them more money. The challenge with this video was to communicate how that process happens without getting too in the weeds, but enough to educate the viewer on the value Afiniti brings to their customers.
The Approach:
In order to keep the video grounded in human interaction, we utilized the use of Cel Animation for a visual approach that felt personable and easy to follow - while keeping the messaging rather dense. With the juxtaposition of the two communication styles, we allow our viewer to follow along with the essence of what Afiniti offers, while building trust in the work that has gone into the science behind the technology.
In tandem with the How it Works video, we also created a full motion branding website for their team to have for further resources. We explored the rules of animation and movement, the color and design systems, as well as the philosophy of music and voiceover to ensure their brand had a solid and consistent way to tell visual stories moving forward.
The Results:
The video has launched and is accumulating hundreds of thousands of views! They are also submitting it into the Cannes Film Festival, and are implementing it on their sites and sales initiatives moving forward.
Product Features Video – QuantStudio Pro
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s line of qPCR products has helped scientists and researchers for decades by providing tools for real-time amplification and analysis of DNA samples. We had already made a series of videos for the launch of the QuantStudio Pro 6 & 7, but to round out the campaign, these instruments needed features-based videos to communicate how they could be used in a real lab setting.
The Challenge
Having already made the launch videos, we knew plenty about the product. The challenge instead came in how to create an engaging visual demonstration of the features. Some of the key features are based around connectivity that allows users to control or monitor the instrument remotely, so we needed a way to show that continuity across locations.
The Approach
Rather than actually go to the different locations of a lab, office and coffee shop, we decided to limit the set to a simple, focused scene that placed only the necessary environment cues around the product, on a white background. This allowed us to create compact versions of each location, and place them on a turntable. What started as a fortunate side-effect of that layout became a key visual concept: That the connectivity of this instrument allows you to practically be in two places at once.
We then used some clever editing and VFX to stitch multiple takes of the same turntable, with various set design elements and wardrobe changes, to create a subtly magic effect that keeps audiences looking closer to see what just happened.
We also created additional versions, included below, that focused in on the interaction features and remote workflow, respectively.
Interaction Features
Remote Workflow
Product Lifestyle Video – Smart Feeder
"I've worked with a lot of agencies and the collaboration with VeracityColab stands out. They are actively involved in every project that we work on. That makes them unique."
Will Hansen, Principal Designer
Intuit
Healthy pets. Happy owners. Petnet brings convenience to hectic and on-the-go lifestyles. Knowing your pet is taken care of is a wonderful feeling.
We produced three videos for Petnet, showing how their product integrates with their users' lifestyles. Watch the combined edit above or the two individual lifestyle videos below.
The Masons' Lifestyle
Megan's Lifestyle
Product Campaign – Sensor Can
A New Kind of Trash
Ever heard Cinderella’s, “You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone?” Because that’s basically the challenge we faced with this project. When simplehuman came to us looking to make their voice-control and sensor can video, they described the benefit of their product as, “one of those things that you don’t fully realize how great it is, until you go back to using a regular trash can.” In other words, our challenge was to create a video that enabled people to completely visualize this can in their everyday life, so they could instantly recognize their need for this product. Challenge accepted.
The Approach
One week. That’s how long we sat with their sensor can. And man did we look at it and test it from every angle. The more we pored over it, the more we realized that it was actually the invisible qualities that made it so beautiful. Most products on the market these days are all about the bells and whistles, but simplehuman intentionally designed this can to be sleek, minimal, yet stunning and bold.
So, we decided to create a series of videos in two completely different contexts. The first approach was all about putting this product in an everyday lifestyle context. The second was to put their product in a completely agnostic space where we could solely focus in on each feature at a time.
We also made sure to shoot as much footage as the day allowed. That way, we could rework the story a million different ways to accommodate for a number of different mediums and CTA’s.
“The VeracityColab team was a pleasure to work with.
They listened carefully to our goals and delivered a wide range of valuable assets.
They’re great collaborators and exceptional communicators.”
Feature Videos
Behind the Scenes
Results
When everything was said and done, we created over 20 video assets to be deployed on simplehuman’s sensor can product pages, their social properties, and more. Thus far, we are seeing really positive reception, and to be honest, it’s really hard to walk past a trash can without saying, “open can.”
“The project management was flawless. Their client liaison transported me through the process like an A-lister in a Las Vegas resort. :)”
Product Tour Video – Everlaw
Everlaw offers a modern approach to ediscovery for law firms and corporations, enabling them to discover relevant information, reveal details hidden in huge document troves, and collaboratively act on the information to prepare for trial.
The Challenge
It wasn’t long after we finished creating this Brand & Product video for Everlaw when they realized they needed a video that walked people through the different aspects of the product.
The Approach
Aside from needing to learn a bit of legalease, this project was super seamless. Everlaw provided us with the necessary steps of usage for their software, so it was really up to us to design them in a way that was both flattering and fun. And we think we did just that! On top of that, we were able to extend the usage of their same assets for little cost by reworking them into a paid ad video for their storybuilder product seen below.
The Result
Everlaw. Was. Pumped! Great client. Great video. Can’t wait for the next one :)
Case Study Video – Azure Batch
Microsoft Azure Batch is a tool for scheduling and automating high performance computing processes on Microsoft Azure.
The Challenge
Microsoft came to us with a truly unique storytelling opportunity. In most case studies, the hero of the story is bringing their solution to an external client. Here, Microsoft was not only providing the solution in the form of high performance computing, but they were actually using it for their own stores, to display fresh content across their massive in-store displays. While the allure of these screens and the content designed for them could easily take the spotlight, we had a clear objective: to demonstrate the power of Azure Batch, the software used to manage and schedule the massive render needs for these screens. We distilled that objective into a Key Persuasion, which became the guiding statement for this video...
“When technology executives at media and retail companies watch this video, they should be excited by and informed about Azure Batch, so that they’re compelled to consider using it in their business.”
The Approach
In order to properly communicate all the benefits of Azure Batch in the way Microsoft needed, we quickly learned that the video would have to be driven by a voice over. However, it was important to keep the feel of the video as personal as possible. We landed on creating a script and picking a voice that felt like it could be a Microsoft project manager telling the story first-hand.
Visually, we utilized the incredible scale of the screens by shooting at Microsoft’s flagship retail store in New York. We paired that with footage of the design team at work in Microsoft’s Seattle headquarters, as well as additional views of the screens in Microsoft’s test store. The combination of those environments gave the video an expansive and universal feeling that didn’t feel pinned down to one store.
We also created a three-minute version of the video, which takes a deeper dive into how the technology works.
Behind the Scenes
The Result
This video was a huge hit. It was featured on Microsoft’s website, used in sales communications, and played at their annual Ignite conference.
Brand Video – Uqual
Uqual helps people get loan ready so they can get to their dream faster.
The Challenge
Uqual is brand new. So, naturally, they needed a brand video.
The Approach
The best way to approach a brand video is to ask yourself, who is the Hero of this story, and who is the Guide? The Hero of this story is the person who needs the loan. And the Guide is the Uqual Rep who helps that person get the loan. These may seem like basic things, but too often brand videos can get this wrong. Companies often think their brand should be the Hero. This is incorrect. And this is why so often people walk away disinterested in a brand. People need to see how your brand can help THEM…because THEY are the Hero of their own story. They need a Guide. So that’s exactly what we did. We told a story about Uqual’s target audience as the Hero, and Uqual as the Guide.
The Result
The Uqual team LOVED. this. video! In fact, see below…
“This is great! Great work by everyone involved!”
“Wow. Great video!”
“I LOVE the part on having coaches motivate members throughout the process. Had an interaction with a member yesterday that just needed to be motivated.”
Product Launch Campaign – QuantStudio Pro
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s line of qPCR products has helped scientists and researchers for decades by providing tools for real-time amplification and analysis of DNA samples.
The Challenge
The QuantStudio 6 & 7 Pro systems are the latest instruments in Thermo Fisher’s qPCR family. These new models represent a complete rethinking of the user-facing features available in this type of product. They needed a set of videos to call attention to these monumental updates, but they also needed to do it in a way that built interest before the full launch.
The Approach
We knew that these videos would need vary widely in style and content, to properly capture the full story of the new product. We started by creating three teaser videos that progressively disclosed more and more about the product.
The Background
The first video (shown above) sets the stage for the new innovation by presenting the 25-year heritage of devices that this instrument follows. While we didn’t want to show the new device quite yet, we also didn’t want to leave it out completely. We came up with the creative solution of projecting previous devices on the sides of the new one. This kept the new device in the abstract, while still teasing at its existence.
The Attributes
Now that the background was set, we needed to start describing the instruments. As they weren’t launched yet, it was important we still didn’t fully reveal the product or specify its features. With that in mind, we created a video that built anticipation by describing the high-level attributes that were improved. We kept the product shrouded and mysterious by approaching the visuals with macro shots and edge lighting, achieved by sweeping color-controlled tube lights across the product. The result is a visual style similar to the opening credits from a TV drama… which we embraced by composing original music with a half-time 80s vibe, indulgent Phil Collins drums and all.
The Innovations
Finally, it was time to unveil the product and specify the amazing new features in detail. We used a more traditional lighting setup to bring the product into focus. But it wasn’t enough to just see the product itself… we depicted the many smart features with graphical call-outs and overlays, conveying the rich technology that powers a smart workflow. We also introduced the human element, as these features are ultimately in place to increase usability. We used close up footage of our talent, emphasizing how this product sees and hears the user through the facial identification or voice commands.
The Reveal Film
With the teaser videos complete, it was time to launch the product. We gathered voices from the leadership in the real-time PCR team at Thermo Fisher to present the innovation and heart behind these instruments. Central to how they approached these updates was the opportunity to bring features that are commonplace in the consumer electronics industry into the lab. Following suit, we approached this video like a reveal film from a consumer device company. Our goal was to create something that wouldn’t feel out of place in an Apple keynote event. What helped us achieve this was the fact we had already created the teasers above. The reveal film’s production was able to focus on gathering interviews and some targeted product use shots, while the aspirational, emotional story could be driven by footage we already gathered. This allowed us to be really smart with budget, and deliver something compelling and beautiful on a quick turnaround.
The Results
Thermo Fisher received over 100 qualified leads requesting a demo within the first week of posting the reveal film. For a very high-value instrument like this, that represents significant business, driven by a strong marketing launch and compelling video. The reveal film lives on the product page for the QuantStudio Pro, as well as being used directly by the sales team to introduce leads to the new product.
“Over 100 qualified leads requested a demo within the first week”
The QuantStudio Pro went on to win a Life Science Industry Award for "Most innovative product in genomics." The Thermo Fisher team has been thrilled with this product’s success, and we are proud to have taken part in launching it. After the success of this video, we knew we had to follow it up with more content. We followed up this launch by working with Thermo Fisher Scientific to create a more features-oriented video, which you can watch here!
Product Video – In-App Messaging
The more we thought about customer service, the more we realized the importance of delight. Customer service isn’t just about solving someone’s problem. It’s about solving their problem, putting a smile on their face, and getting them to come back time and time again. It’s a tough business! Luckily, there’s In-App Messaging from Sparkcentral.