story

PROJECT: Cyclone

CLIENT: Tansu Yachts

BRIEF: The aim of this project was to create film and photographic content to support the clients campaign of promoting the Tansu Yacht brand to the emerging millennial market.  

CHALLENGE: The weather was by far the biggest challenge of this shoot. Cloudy skies, rain and rough seas limited the shooting dramatically. 

CREATIVE STRATEGY:  To appeal to the millennial market we chose an edgier style of music. We also created a brand association by incorporating a customised Land Rover Defender from Ares Design. When these elements are combined together with the iconic Tansu Yacht the film takes on a youthful,  adventurous edge.   

OUTCOME:  A film with a captivating start drawing the audience into a journey to the yacht then continues onboard and from the air. Along with the film we also supplied over 600 photos. This shoot was featured by Boat International on their July cover and we hope to see it featured on other covers soon. 

 

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MARKETING: 5 benefits of using models on shoots

Superyacht Marketing

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5 BENEFITS OF USING MODELS IN A SUPERYACHT PHOTO AND FILM SHOOT

Those who embark on superyacht photo and film shoots will find themselves evaluating the use of models. Here we look at the top five benefits.

 

1.    Bring a yacht to life and engage the viewer

Thanks to their design and craftmanship, film and photography of a superyacht is impressive even without models. But, when you add models you not only capture the beauty of the yacht you also bring it to life. A life the viewer can begin to see themselves as part of. What’s more, if the models have been carefully selected to identify with the target market demographics then the viewer begins to engage their imagination even more and starts to live the experience. This engagement can be a powerful tool in helping achieve your marketing goals.   

 

2.    Broaden the message and deliver a higher value proposition

You are selling both a beautifully designed yacht, and also the lifestyle. Both of these elements affect the purchasing decision. By adding models to a shoot, you are combining each element and appealing to the audience on multiple levels, this delivers a much stronger value proposition to your target market.

Models also allow you to capture the attention of a wider audience. Some audiences are more captivated by the yacht design, some by the lifestyle and some by both. 

 

3.    Gain more media exposure

Good quality superyacht photo and film content are always in high demand by the media especially by the ‘all you can eat’social media channels. Lifestyle images and film featuring professional models will increase your chances of being featured because the content appeals to a wider audience. Perhaps more importantly, it provides you opportunities to gain exposure to new markets via luxury lifestyle media and social channels with their millions of followers.

You can also benefit from exposure by suppliers. organisations and trade events who often require media with models to promote both their product and the superyacht lifestyle. Many such companies will ask permission to use your media content for this purpose and credit you as well. This again increases the promotion of your brand.

 

4.    Trigger an emotional response

The use of models always engages an emotional response from the audience. We are emotional beings and use both rational and emotional thinking during the purchase decision making process. The superyacht purchase or charter is especially driven by emotion so the more you connect with your market on an emotional level the higher the chance they will contact you.  

 

5.    Use storytelling to cut through the marketing clutter

The use of models can go further than simply bringing life to a yacht and brand. It can also create the opportunity for storytelling. Storytelling has become one of the most effective way to cut through the marketing clutter, communicate you brand story and differentiate yourself from your competitors. When your brand story is about people and the way your brand and product deliver what they are looking for, then the use of models will introduce a strong engaging element that strengthens the message through human connection. 

 

Ultimately whether you choose to incorporate models on a superyacht film and photo shoot comes down to: 

1.     What is the aim of the content you are creating and does the use of models benefit the overall goal of this marketing material? 

2.     Is the use of models likely to bring a significant, and therefore justifiable, return on investment? 

We hope the above benefits help you to answer these questions.

 

 

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MARKETING: 5 steps to an effective film production

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5 steps to an effective film production

Here are a few elements worth considering for those who may have limited experience with film projects.

Set your goals and provide a good brief

The biggest gift you can give to a production team is a solid brief. You can work with them to develop one if you need guidance. As long as the brief is set before production starts you give yourself the best opportunity to get the film that you would like, at the budget you would like.

Choose your production team carefully

Employ the right team for the job. Check their previous work, especially the work they have produced to a similar budget as yours. Most importantly, make sure the team understand your industry and your audience, so they can fully grasp the strategy and outputs required to achieve the desired results. If you simply employ a camera operator, you may have a lovely looking film, but it may not speak to your audience, which will reduce your return on investment.

Realise you are part of the team

From pre-production through to post-production, you are a valuable film team member and need to act like one. The production team will require your assistance throughout the process, including the prompt supply of resources such as logos, on location insight and prompt/thorough feedback during post production. Delays in any part of this can increase the cost.

Evaluate expenses in light of their benefit

Big decision such as whether to incorporate models need solid consideration. You may be instantly put off by the cost, but when you evaluate the benefits, especially the return on investment, then you put yourself in the best position to make a decision that fits your desired goals.

Be bold were it is needed

Some films may simply be educational and have less need to stand out, so set an appropriate budget for this. Generally, companies in the superyacht industry benefit from being bold. We operate in an increasingly clustered market with thousands of yachts that perform the majority of the same functions. Superiorly creative and bold film concepts will ensure you create more awareness than your competitors. More work on a creative strategy and dynamic film ideas can increase the budget but also deliver best investment return in both brand positioning and awareness.

Our final piece of advice is to make sure you enjoy the process; film projects should be fun. We hope the above helps. We wish you the best for your future film projects and please don’t hesitate to call us if you think we can assist.

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MARKETING: How much to spend on film?

Superyacht Marketing

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How much to spend on film? The BIG three production costs explained

Film is becoming the most effective way to engage with an audience. The big question all companies are asking is: how much should we spend on film? This is a difficult question to answer for companies who have never invested in this medium. Cost of film production varies dramatically. The below contains some insight into what drives production costs, as well as providing tips to achieve an effective and cost friendly film process.

Production costs – the BIG three

Many elements drive the cost of film production, below are the main three:

Time: A lot of time is taken up in preproduction, production and post production. Time is money in film production and the amount of time allowed for directly impacts the quality of the output.Team: There are many options for the production team selected as well as the models/actors.  The level of professionalism is strongly linked the budget and the desired quality of output.Location: The more remote the shoot location, the higher the cost.

Explaining the BIG three

Time

Preproduction:
Preproduction is all about taking the time to evaluate what you want to achieve and how best to achieve this. Taking time to evaluate the brand strategy and then develop a film concept that compliments this is invaluable. The creative strategy takes time but gives you the best chance to develop a concept that is unique and truly captivates your audience.
Note: Different types of films require different levels of preproduction. Some need very little.
There are many elements to evaluate and organise for a superyacht shoot, including location, helicopter, models, styling, dressing of the yacht etc. Again, the more time you allow the better the final output. For example, allowing a good amount of time for location scouting means you will have the best areas and best shots possible for the film.

On Location Shooting:
Allowing an appropriate amount of days to shoot is very important. If you reduce the amount of days, you limit the amount that can be shot - it’s as simple as that. You also risk limiting the quality as there will be less time available for setting up each shot.  Less shooting time often either requires reducing content expectations, increasing the size of the team or both.

Post Production:
It is important to allow enough time for post-production of the media. The biggest opportunities for saving time come in the form of the initial brief and feedback. If a solid brief is provided as well as quick/collative feedback, then the postproduction is smooth and timely.
 Team 

An experienced film crew and experienced models/actors will significantly benefit the final output. Saving money on both of these will be reflected in your final outputs.

The more professional the film team the more certainty and peace of mind you have regarding quality of output as well as making entire process easier. Professional teams come with the best equipment for the job, market knowledge and production experience to ensure a high-quality film that communicates the right message.

Despite what some think, modelling/acting is not an easy business. It is well worth spending money on professional models to ensure you get the level of professionalism that will deliver high quality results with as few re-takes as possible.
 Location

Generally speaking the further you travel, and more remote the location, the higher the cost. Beautiful, different and remote locations can increase the chance of a visually amazing film and will also help widen its audience, but that comes at cost.  If aerials are needed, then the cost of the helicopter with an experienced pilot can be significant the more remote the location. The wrong helicopter and inexperienced pilots can limit what can be achieved. So, while remote locations are great and produce impressive backgrounds, they need to be evaluated carefully.

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PROJECT: Khalilah - Be Legendary

CLIENT: Camper & Nicholsons International

BRIEF: To create a film showcasing the unique superyacht lifestyle for an owner or a charter guest. To concentrate less on the actual yacht, and emphasise that life aboard is fun and relaxing. A place where guests can chill out in a unique environment. 

CHALLENGE: The biggest challenge was to achieve the brief with only one model. We also wanted to move away from the often static use of a single person onboard.

CREATIVE STRATEGYTo overcome the challenge we focused on two elements. One: the music. We chose a powerful track that is unconventional for this industry. It commands attention. Two: we had the model work with the camera as if she was looking at another guest, and enjoying the company. The viewers feel involved in the film, like they are present with her. This instantly helps engage the audience. 

OUTCOME: Film: A flirty and fun film that appeals to the lifestyle of being aboard a superyacht. For our client this film is a great success with over 100,000 views across four social media channels and the website within the first month. Photos: Over 300 lifestyle photos were produced for the client. These are being used throughout their communication strategy.  

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PROJECT: Yalikavak Marina

ONE MARINA WITH SO MUCH TO SHOOT

CLIENT: Palmarina, Bodrum Turkey. (Recently changed to Yalikavak Marina)

BRIEF: The objective was to create video and photo content to help communicate the experience superyacht owners can enjoy while staying at the marina. To achieve this, we needed to show a couple experiencing the benefits of the marina’s location, guest amenities, and attractions. The results would be for use across digital, print and social media platforms.

CHALLENGE: This marina has a plethora of amenities. There are 620 berths, a beach hotel, a boutique hotel and eight restaurants and bars. There is also a mall with 102 shops, a museum and gallery, nightclub, morning health clubs a gym and a spa. Not only that, there is a lot to do in the surrounding area. So, the challenge was how to incorporate so many locations and elements into one shoot. It required a huge amount of pre-production planning including model selection, storyline development, and developing a shoot sequence. Palmarina had many guests and staff at each location so we had to ensure that we only had the right people in the shot and did not disturb the guests.

CREATIVE STRATEGY: We worked with the client to develop a story involving a romantic couple. The story was to showcase the marina’s resort lifestyle in an interesting and engaging way. There were so many elements to incorporate and we needed to be mindful of keeping the audience's attention. For this reason, we aimed to only give a taste of each location. The shots needed to convey the experience of Palmarina, be artistic and captivate the audience.

OUTCOME: Film: The film shows three days in Palmarina condensed into four minutes. The film is ideal for web and reception use. We also produced numerous short films for their social strategy.

Photos: The client received over 350 photos of the location and the couple enjoying the services provided.

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