How Amgen stole the show

Amgen Oncology Logo

One of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, based in the U.S. but operating globally.
Amgen exhibit at major trade shows and exhibitions, competing for attention with direct competitors.
High-value deals and healthcare budget spend can be the result of exhibiting.

The Problem

The tradeshows are crowded environments with flashy stands and gimmicks designed to entice visiting healthcare budget-holders into talking with the stand representitives.

To make matters more complicated, the pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated. Video content making product claims or demonstration must pass a lengthy approval process.

Free coffee and pens don't cut it. How do you grab attention?

The Answer

Strategic video. Whilst some exhibitors used video, they were playing product demos and detailed technical animations which weren't being watched as delegates walked past.

We know that the purpose of a display video on a stand in this context is to entice the visitor to talk to the Reps. Funny cartoons were carefully designed and worded to give impact headlines, with specific calls-to-action to discuss further with named Reps. This made the interaction personal, human and real, not a sales pitch.

The Result

An unexpected (but most welcome) problem :- Managing the queues of delegates waiting in line to talk to the Amgen Reps.
Competitor Reps were even leaving their own stands to investigate.

For over a decade, we have produced exhibition video and animation for Amgen.

Amgen Oncology Animation
Amgen Oncology Animation
Amgen Oncology Animation

Are you exhibiting at a trade show?

What a creation. In a short space of time we had a masterpiece on our hands, surpassing any of our expectations. To say we were happy is an understatement
Stuart Davies, Amala Software

Homebase Delivers The Goods On Time

Homebase Logo

Homebase is one of the UK’s leading home improvement and garden retailers. The company operates 249 stores across the UK and Ireland, employing 11,500 people throughout its store estate, distribution centres and support offices.

The Problem

An internal training event was scheduled, attended by staff from around the U.K. An existing video was due to be played, documenting a delivery team's typical day and the issues they would encounter. Last-minute difficulties with the production company meant the video was unavailable.

The video formed a core part of the training content and discussion material. Without it, the event was pointless. Cancelling the day would mean significant cost, inconvenience and distruption.

With just THREE days to go before the event, Homebase believed producing a replacement would be impossible.

The Answer

Intelligent multi-tasking.
With such a frighteningly short production time available, we separated into teams.
Cameramen were dispatched with Homebase's delivery drivers. Our understanding of how such productions are put together meant that work on scripting, storyboarding and graphics production could happen before any footage was returned.
Editing and post-production continued non-stop throughout the night, the following day and into the evening. Constant communication with cameramen in the field meant the footage was shot ready to be 'bolted in' as it arrived.

The Result

With a full 12 hours to spare, the finished production was completed and delivered.

Costly cancellation was avoided

None of the attendees at the training event were aware that anything unusual had happened, training discussions went ahead as intended. Our video is now used for Homebase's annual training events.

Homebase video still
Homebase video still
Homebase video still

Do you need the impossible?

We commissioned a corporate video for the Enterprise HUB... something fast paced and punchy and the brief was interpreted perfectly. We are absolutely delighted with the result. A fantastic piece of work!
Craig Peterson, Growthfunders

A Cup Of Tea with BNI

BNI Logo

BNI is 'the world's leading referral organisation' with over 220,000 members in more than 8000 groups worldwide. Membership includes training and education material designed to help small businesses improve general networking skills, and get the most out of their membership.

The Problem

Classroom-style training material is usually dull and time-consuming.

Not everyone absorbes information in the same way.

Training events are regularly held and encouraged, but some members find attending them inconvenient, with significant numbers avoiding them altogether. Important information was being missed which could make a difference to members.

How do you deliver a simple but bland message to a quarter of a million entrepreneurs across the globe?

The Answer

'A Cup Of Tea' - a short, meticulously scripted, humorous video demonstrating a specific meeting technique, using the same person to play different roles - the same split-screen technique used in movies such as Back To The Future II and III.

Dozens of additional videos were created, many using the same 'one person plays all parts' split-screen technique, all employing off-beat tongue-in-cheek humour and memory-hooks to deliver a serious message in a lighthearted way.

Senior figures in the organisation both in the UK and US lined up to take roles using precisely scripted humour to deliver their messages, even at their own expense by wearing drag!

The Result

The videos instantly became international hits, being circulated world wide, translated and subtitled into many languages.

The series continues to be used constantly throughout the whole organisation in small and large training events and at conferences - with 'Cup Of Tea' being the most-watched video in BNI's 30 year history by a large margin.

Most importantly, the videos are watched and understood by almost every member at some point during their membership.

A surprising secondary result was that the phrase 'A cup of tea?' has become synonymous with a BNI 1-2-1 meeting in particular but has entered common use in most networking environments.

Do you want your message to be remembered?

I just watched your latest video and all I can say is: YOU ARE AMAZING!! You have out-done yourself again. This is a fantastic piece of work which I will promote to the whole organisation.
Ivan Misner, Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, BNI

Cleveland Bridge Over Troubled International Waters

Cleveland Bridge Logo

Cleveland Bridge are a relatively small regional company with satellite facilities overseas. They have an extraordinarily long and illustrious history and are responsible for many iconic constructions around the world.

The company behind Sydney Opera House, Canary Wharf, Wembly Stadium and the Thames Flood Barrier has, almost uniquely, operated continuously across three centuries.

The Problem

Perception is everything. The remarkably long history and list of achievements had become a double-edged sword.

Cleveland Bridge had become seen as old-fashioned, staid, dusty, establishment, slow, and no-longer relevant.

Business was being lost to over-seas competitors who were seen as more modern, faster-moving, responsive and better positioned in a global economy.

These days, you need more than ring-bound documents and books filled with photos to deliver prestige and confidence in your design team.

The Answer

A modern showcase of the company's work and facilities was created. Filming was done within the UK, but stock footage of Cleveland Bridge's buildings around the world used.

This meant the feeling of a truly global business was achieved, at a fraction of the cost of filming in several countries.

A number of subtle visual and audio tricks were used in the production to emphasise positive keywords such as reliability, strength, capability

Highly emotive audio and scripting, chunky on-screen-text, pacing and subtle shot framing combine to deliver the positive feelings of reliability and modernity

The Result

The video is used at board-level to set the emotional tone of presentation meetings. It also runs on continuous loop in the company's reception area. Cleveland Bridge is once again seen as a relevant competitor.

The production has been revised more than once since its original creation to reflect changes within the business, ensuring the company maintains its relevance.

Cleveland Bridge video still
Cleveland Bridge video still
Cleveland Bridge video still

Credibility and Perception are everything

Car Dealership's Not-So-Unlucky Sit-Com

S.G.Petch Logo

S.G.Petch are a well-known, long-established regional franchise car and van dealership with a number of showrooms around the North East of England.

The Problem

Keen to make use of Video to enhance their social media presence, SGPetch had made several previous attempts at showcaseing new vehicles, often in the form of new-car reviews. The problem was that these videos were automatically compared, unfavourably, with the high production values of shows like BBC's Top Gear.

Videos had been too long, dull, poorly produced and remained unwatched. Strict budget limitations, together with the franchise nature of the business, meant that achieving high production value was impossible.

The business needed a whole new way to use video.

The Answer

Don't compete, innovate.

An entire short-form Sit-Com was devised, centered around the fictional 'Unlucky Salesman' character who although likeable, consistently failed to sell cars for one reason or another.

Each bi-weekly episode was scripted and filmed for a bare-minimum budget, following the feedback from the previous one.

Side-Of-Bus, radio and newspaper adverts were placed, asking 'Who is the Unlucky Salesman?', and life-size cardboard cutouts placed in the showrooms.

It quickly became apparent that the series was gaining as much attention from the car industry itself, as from the public.

A total of 8 episodes were produced, including special episodes for Christmas and Valentines Day

The Result

People were arriving at showrooms hoping to meet 'The Unlucky Salesman'. Footfall increased dramatically.

The series concept (along with several scripts!) was quickly copied by a counterpart dealership in Canada who ran it for over a year.

So much media attention was achieved, S.G.Petch was able to re-negotiate their deal with Fiat - a renegotiation worth a 6-figure sum.

Do you need to take your business up a gear?

'I am writing to thank you for the fantastic service you have given us with regard to the Unlucky Salesman series.
This is a brand new concept of marketing for us... and it already causing quite a reaction
You followed the brief to the letter and most importantly, kept within our tight financial budgets'
Simon Rees, Financial Director, S.G.Petch