As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact the world, our thoughts and support remain with everyone feeling its effects. We want everyone in our sphere of influence to know just how deeply we care about the safety and well-being of our artists, clients, families, and communities in the face of the outbreak. Towards that end, we’ve listed below just a few of the measures we’re taking to secure the safety of our employees and clients:
- We’ve implemented a seamless remote working strategy and stayed in close contact with all of our valuable clients throughout, sending 90% of our workforce to the safety of their own homes and continuing to meet deadlines just as efficiently as before.
- Leadership has sent out regular safety updates to emphasize workplace sanitizing and other safety practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC).
- We’re adjusting our creative focus and educating clients on the power of animation, motion graphics, and existing client footage—all are types of videos that our remote workforce can produce to perfection while remaining at home.
How can video communications help?
Despite the severity of the world’s struggles with this outbreak, we’ve seen the medium of video helping foster strong human bonds: in a time of extreme social distancing, digital video has filled a void and provided viewers with information, encouragement, and hope. The world has watched—safely, from behind a screen—as the WHO classified the outbreak as a pandemic, as the president of the United States declared a national emergency, and as quarantined citizens of Italy sang with each other from balconies to quell sadness and fear.
This is an unprecedented moment of global concern, but at the same time, it’s a moment that has been met with technological vitality and swift digital media responses. Internet traffic has surged to uncommonly high levels at unexpected times of the day, proving our self-isolated community’s hunger for entertainment and information. Marketers and communication experts are being encouraged more than ever to tell digital stories, deploy meaningful content, and reach out to others using digital platforms. As high-profile events are cancelled and postponed in droves, brands are allocating much of their live-event budgets to digital marketing. And the numbers prove that people all over are turning to the internet and digital media for communication about important services, such as telemedicine, ecommerce, and video conferencing. Video can provide a salve right now in a saddening time—and people know it.
How exactly does video production work remotely?
We’re glad you asked.
Right now, it’s crucial that businesses communicate well. Their people need them, their clients need them, and their communities need them to share content that both educates and instills hope. As ever, when communicating, it’s important for your brand to stay close to customers and demonstrate clear purpose in the face of concern—something that’s more than possible if you know your audience and speak wisely. Towards that end, our creative process remains unchanged. Ours is an adaptable ideation process, one that’s rooted in years of experience, and one where we always strive to meet the needs of the audience first and foremost.
Our client communications, as well, remain unchanged. Our production managers and sales team always stay in close contact with our clients through email, phone, and our powerful work conferencing software, and they continue to do so now. Additionally, we provide custom workflow management updates to our clients through our digital workspace, hosted by monday.com. These processes—available online, through mobile apps, and accessible anywhere there’s internet access—have been embedded in the DVI workflow for a long time, ensuring a smooth transition to today’s remote-working world.
As ever, the DVI team is made of strong relationships with each other and strong relationships with clients that transcend periods of social distancing. This is a moment for something deeper than “business as usual”: this is a moment for us all to be there for one another. DVI remains committed to helping its clients and partners in any way possible as we all work to make it through this time. So stay in touch—we’re only a click or tap away.
But we still have to implement changes to keep everyone safe.
Our production pipeline, unlike other processes, has been adjusted to ensure the safety of all our artists and clients. We’re placing a major focus on the skills of our talented animation and motion graphics team, encouraging video concepts that draw on the strengths the animation pipeline provides: adaptability, quality remote work, and much more creative freedom than live-action filming allows.
Several studios are already rolling out beautiful pieces of communication that share direct information about COVID-19 and its effects, such as The Infographic Show’s well-researched animated explainer video or Vox’s new mini documentary about the disease. In the first video, animation is used exclusively to provide a freeing and informative atmosphere; in the second, editors use a combination of animation, motion graphics, public news conference footage, and a remote interview with an expert—all techniques that DVI and other video agencies can easily employ from behind the screen.
As always, we’re here to “Make it easier,” so if a client does approach us with a request for an on-location film shoot during this time, we’d follow CDC recommendations to ensure a safe and healthy process. Our talent and crew would not exceed 10 people, we would select only crew members and talent who are feeling healthy and strong, and we would implement a strict hand washing and equipment sanitization policy for everyone present on set.
You probably have a lot to say right now. But communication really does help calm fears.
Rather than rushing into a hasty release, now is the time for careful, thoughtful communication with your workforce and customers. Use this time to explain changes in your supply chain moving forward, introduce financial changes or important restructuring, or explain to your employees and customers how to complete vital processes.
This is the time for information—for communication that calms people’s fears and answers their questions. Stay mindful of tone, don’t cheapen the tragedy, and stay true to your brand as you move forward with confidence.
This is a trying time.
But part of our commitment to our clients is that we work to “Make it matter.” The way we see it, this is a time to truly make things matter. It’s our time to work hard and share professional, timely communication with the world…and it’s also our time to be there for each other and safeguard our communities.
Reach out to us at (404) 873-6283 x111.
You can also get familiar with our sales and client relations team by clicking on their pictures below.