Client Success Story: Solstice Video Production

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Hear about the project, in a fun Q&A style, that video production studio Solstice Productions produced in collaboration with a major utility company.

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Could you give us a brief overview of a standout project recently completed?

We recently partnered with a major utility company to create a virtual reality experience about working as a helicopter lineman.

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What specific challenges did your client face that led them to seek your services?

The talent pipeline for the construction trades is drying up. With pressures to go to college, lack of understanding of how important and fulfilling a career in the trades can be, and other external and societal forces at play, the need for talented, engaged, and technologically savvy tradesmen and women is high, and supply is dwindling.

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How did your agency's approach or methodology uniquely address these challenges?

We were approached by Junior Achievement, a non-for-profit organization that focuses on career development for elementary, middle, and high school students. JA in St. Louis is building a 10,000 square foot experience that will travel across the midwest, introducing 11-23 year olds to careers in the trades through a number of immersive experiences. They were looking for a partner to fulfill a Virtual Reality experience.

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Did your team implement any innovative strategies or technologies in this project? How did these contribute to the outcome?

We used 360 cameras and helmet mounts to film this experience, and delivered via META ready files. Due to the complexity of the environment (the cameras were mounted to lineman who were being lifted by a helicopter), our team tested multiple equipment and mounting options before finding the solution that would deliver the awe-inspiring, heart racing experience while meeting needs for personal protective and safety gear.

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Were there any significant obstacles or unexpected turns during the project, and how did your team overcome them?

The biggest challenge faced is that we had one opportunity to capture the footage. With the complexity of the job site itself, it was vital that all of our tests and prep be completed offsite, and we come ready to the job site ready to capture.

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How did you collaborate with the client throughout the project? Were there any notable synergies or learning experiences?

Much of the collaboration occurred through a back and forth with the utility company. Each equipment test was run by their safety team to ensure it could meet the conditions of the job.

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What measurable results or tangible benefits did the client experience as a result of your work?

The experience is in beta-testing right now, and garnering incredible feedback. One of my favorite moments from the project was when we put the VR headset on our client and let her review the finished experience. She looked all around, and starting rolling her chair down the hall because she was so engaged!! We literally had to pull her back in the room.

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How do you anticipate this project will impact the client's success going forward?

We've already started our second project with this client, an Augmented Reality Experience that showcases dozens of ways that tradesmen and women impact our communities every day.

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How did the client respond to the completed project? Do you have any client testimonials you could share?

"I continue to be impressed by you. Huge compliment in my world."

"What a day. It went very well. The students’ reception of the experience and activity was excellent."

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How does this project exemplify your agency's core strengths or unique selling points?

The competition for video production is very high - with the lowering standards of audience expectations (see: TikTok) and the low cost of entry (see: SmartPhone), it's becoming so much more important to be a solutions provider as opposed to an order taker.

The equipment and environment challenges on this project perfectly exemplify our desire to be a true partner to our clients, and to design each project to meet the needs of our clients.

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Looking back, what aspects of the project are you most proud of, and why?

The adaptiveness of my team - we went into this project with a clear idea of how to approach it, and then as we worked with the utilities provider that idea was shattered and we went back to the drawing board to configure our plan while still meeting client budget and deadline.

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What were the key learnings from this project? How has this experience enhanced your agency's capabilities?

Design, test, then refine, then test again. It's ok to get feedback that what you thought would be best approach isn't - get back up and go again.

I think we've done this well for years now, but this project was outside our everyday norm, and was a great reminder.

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Based on your experience with this project, what advice would you give to other companies facing similar challenges?

It is time to start thinking beyond the video. We've been creating a handful of immersive experiences each year for the past several years now, and the engagement level is incredible. This is the next wave of visual storytelling - and it can leverage and showcase video beautifully.

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Are there any upcoming projects or new directions your agency is excited about?

We are adding a lot of new offerings, including live training and experiences, ROI tracking and metrics, social media engagement support, continued interactive and new technology experiences. It's an exciting time to be a storyteller!