Storytelling has changed. And banks get it.

When it comes to reaching and retaining internal and external audiences, banks understand the power of video storytelling.

Two of our best clients, Bank of America and Santander, know just how engaging video can be. They know that video captures attention better than white papers and brochures, because people expect it – they consume video all day long. Snack-able video is the food of choice for both baby boomers and millennials, and at the end of the day, people will watch more video than they will read.

Santander is now ramping up their video production for brand and corporate messaging initiatives. From internal sales training, to consumer overdraft policies and HR recruitment videos, Santander has shifted its resources and energies to video. Internally and externally, video is becoming Santander’s storytelling platform of choice.

Bank of America may be the current “king” of financial services video, and if you’re a Bank of America customer, chances are you already know that. Yes, you’ll see their thirty second TV spots during the Superbowl or throughout Major League Baseball broadcasts, but those pale in comparison to their commitment to online video communication. Each year, Bank of America produces (with the help of MK3) over 250 internal and external videos, targeted at those who work for, or bank at, Bank of America.

From depositing a check with your phone to transferring money to your kid’s account…there’s a “how to” video for that, two minutes in length and on their website. Pay a bill. Send money. Get an alert. It’s now on video and there are more coming to a screen near you.

Video works, and the financial services industry understands this better than most. If you’re looking for your message to make an impact, look no further than video…or your local, neighborhood bank.

Because banks get it.

To view a ‘how to’ videos created by us check out: http://bit.ly/1U509ed

Ted is VP Sales/Business Development at MK3. To learn more about Ted, visit http://www.MK3Creative.com

We’ve all gone to the movies and seen unique opening movie credits that use large 3D text floating in actual environments and landscapes. The text is clearly not “real” but it looks natural in that space. And that’s the “trick”. What makes it look so real?

MK3 recently created a video for an insurance company. They needed an internal video to convey survey results…pretty mundane stuff – but important information for their employees.  Our challenge was to make text-based information and statistics visually interesting.  Our solution?  Movie credits!

We shot high resolution video of the open and spacious insurance office and used them as background “plates” or graphic environments.  We then brought the text and stats to life by creating them in 3D and placing them in the 3D environments, using Cinema 4D software.  The statistics now looked like they were floating down hallways, bar graphs were animating in the lobby, and images floated in dramatic stairwells.  But placing them there was only the first step.  How did we make them look real and belonged in that space? Here are 6 tips to make it real, and get it right…

1. Proportionally Correct: Make sure the size and shape of the objects seem relative to the background plate, or environment in which they are placed.
2. Perspective Match: The parallel lines of the objects need to converge in order to give the illusion of depth and distance.
3. Realistic Shadows: Make sure the placed objects cast shadows that match the ones in the background; in distance as well as texture (softness or hardness).
4. Accurate Lighting: Study the background lighting and match it – direction, color temperature & texture (soft/hard).
5. Match Lens Look: For our project, we used a wide angle lens to shoot the backgrounds (see photos – note how the table bends). Give the text and objects the same lens perspective so that they match (note how the letters bend as the table image does).
6. Camera Moves: If the camera moves on or in the background, make sure the camera moves with the text – and the moves match.  We used PFTrack software to match moves.

Adam Marx is a Director/Senior Producer and Partner at MK3 Creative. To learn more about Adam and MK3 visit https://www.mk3creative.com/.

As a Visual & Media Arts Student at Emerson College I have grown accustomed to describing my future career in vague terms. Phrases from “Media Maker” to “Storyteller” smatter both my vocabulary and LinkedIn profile. Creativity is a difficult thing to define on a resume.

When I articulate what inspires me, however, there is nothing unclear about it. I have a passion for learning about people and forging connections through stories. MK3 Creative is a place where my idealistic motives find a real world platform. The company claims that they are a place where “strategy drives story,” and I am hopeful that interning with the MK3 team this spring will allow me to see my skills transferred to a professional setting.

With the MK3 team I will have the opportunity to engage with clients including Bank of America, Santander, and Fuze and move me beyond the vague buzzwords.

MK3 occupies a unique space between film and marketing, and as this spring unfolds I will document my perception of how these fields mesh. Is the work grounded in human experiences? How are messages made meaningful? Finally, how is the value of creativity measured?

Already I can tell that MK3 is run on equal parts imagination and deliberation. It’s an engaging environment to be a part of and I can’t wait to find the answers to all of my questions.

Emilia is a sophomore at Emerson College where she is studying Visual & Media Arts.

You’ve created a lot of great content to drive your marketing efforts – videos, white papers, webinars, infographics and more. But there’s an awful lot of it, and it’s scattered all over the place. Some is on your website, some is on your Youtube channel, some is in social media, and some is in your marketing intranet for the sales team. That makes it hard for your customers and prospects to experience a coherent multimedia story on their own. And it makes it hard for your sales team to present a consolidated, consistent and compelling multimedia story to their contacts.

UptoDate, a clinical decision-making resource that’s part of global information giant Wolters Kluwer, had this challenge in spades. They have extensive data, in many forms, showcasing how their treatment recommendations raise the quality of medical care worldwide. To organize and structure their best content for the UK market, in a way that was easy to share and easy to use, we helped them design and build an interactive pdf.

The content order in the interactive pdf created a clear storyline. An opening UK map had pins linked to studies done in each location. The following infographic presented key facts about UpToDate’s use and impact in the UK. Then the videos, webinars and studies followed in a logical order, with executive summaries for each that linked to full versions (some within the pdf, some on their website, some in Youtube, and some in social media). The reader could page forward and back, and use the map as a table of contents.

Why a pdf and not a microsite? A pdf can be used offline, is easily shared in its entirety, structures the story flow, and allows controlled, quality printing. It’s a perfect, individual information package for a sales contact. In fact, it’s the perfect way to take too much information, and consolidate it, structure it, and make it easy to deliver and consume. Contact us and we’ll show you what we’re talking about.

Mo Effron is the VP, Interactive Strategy & Development at MK3. To learn more about Mo visit https://www.mk3creative.com/

Thanks to industry/consumer trends video is the top tool for B2B marketers to warm and influence their prospects buying decisions. Even 50% are using video for their email marketing campaigns.  75% of marketers are using video content to optimize their SEO with 73% saying that video has positively impacted their marketing results.

Companies now more than ever are using video to tell their story in an interesting and powerful way because it’s the quickest, most memorable, and impactful way to get a desired message across. Is your organization optimizing its video strategy in 2016 to keep up with the competition? See videos that drive business at mk3creative.com.

This generic blog post is a test to see who & if you’re reading our blog. We want to know if you’re reading our posts so the first 3 people to email me at twhaley@test-mk3.local with the subject line “I Read Your Blog” will get $10 gift cards to Amazon!

Tim is Account Executive at MK3. To learn more about Tim, visit https://www.mk3creative.com/.

Sources: http://www.reelseo.com/b2b-marketers-video-roi/

Show and Tell.  It was always a stressful day in grade school. When it was your turn, you had to get up and show the class something…and then tell everyone what it was or why it was interesting.

Show and Tell is all about storytelling, and now that we’ve grown up, it doesn’t have to be so stressful. Video is a great communication tool because it allows you to show as well as tell.  It’s a visual medium, and while a picture may be worth a thousand words, let’s not forget the “tell” part of the equation.

The written script is the blueprint for a video – it tells you how to build it and where everything goes. Words give your brand or message a “voice”, and help put your visuals in context. When used properly, words can paint a picture as well as the best cameras and the brightest designers.

Whether delivered by a voiceover or edited together from sound bites and testimonials, words have power and shouldn’t be overlooked in the rush to “show” everything.

So when it’s Show and Tell time at your company, don’t be afraid to raise your hand and volunteer to produce a video. MK3 Creative can help – and we’d start by helping you think about what you want to say as much as what you want to show.

Whether you end up with a script that uses 15 words or 215, it’s the ones you choose and how you use them that make the difference.

Jonathan Markella is a Senior Creative Director at MK3. Learn more about Jonathan at https://www.mk3creative.com/

MK3 understands the importance of philanthropy. Two of our employees sit on the Board of Directors for charities and we all work to give donations and time to causes that are close to our hearts. Recently, one of our favorite clients asked to help produce a fundraising and awareness video for the Interfaith Hospitality Network; a family homeless shelter located in the Greater Worcester area. We were thrilled to be able to help, and humbled by the day spent with beautiful families who have fallen on tough times, and the volunteers and staff who are helping to change their lives.
The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester is a homeless shelter for families in need. In 2012 they purchased a home, which has provided much needed stability and the opportunity for a loving environment for the area’s homeless families.
As I drove the hour and a half from my home to Worcester, I tried to prepare myself for the day that lay ahead. We had a lot to accomplish in interviewing the staff, volunteers, and local Congressman; but most importantly we wanted to capture a story from someone who lived at the home.
As the first to arrive, I knocked on the door and introduced myself to the Director of the program. In her handshake, I could feel her energy and in her smile, I could see her optimism. Unexpectedly, the sound that resonated through the house behind her was the sound of small children’s voices and laughter.
As a mother, it was impossible not to be drawn to these children. I got to read a book to a beautiful little blonde girl and play Barbie’s with another. The children were well dressed, happy and very polite. What does their future hold, and how did these perfect little faces end up homeless? Surprisingly, I learned, it is far more common than you would think.
The shoot day went very well and ultimately our client was very happy with the finished project. I hope that the video can become the fundraising tool it is meant to be, for this more than worthy cause. Many times since that day I have found myself thinking about those children. This holiday season I will remember them, and remember that giving feels so much better than getting.
More information on IHN can be found on their website at: http://ihnworcester.org/

Kate Quigley is a Senior Producer at MK3 Creative.

It’s rare to find a public speaker with terrific content and a performance like a great actor in a great movie. However, there are many things a public speaker can do to improve their performance.
The biggest is to not impart just information but to tell a story. Many speakers try to emulate other speakers and that’s OK but its best to be you and tell a story about your product, service or epiphany. Tell them how you came up with the idea, why it’s important and what’s in it for them. If the audience understands the “why” they will more likely remember your story. Facts and figures are good if they help back up a story.
Next is performance… a joke is good if it is relative to the main story you are telling. A joke for a jokes sake is not good. What I mean by being yourself is talk to them the way you talk to friends and family. People will like the real you, even if you are dork. Dorks are fun to watch.

Check out the other speaker tips- Speaker Coaching Suggestions.

Try them, I promise you will see a difference.

Adam Marx is a Director and Speaker Coach at MK3. He has directed TV shows on all the major networks. His clients include Bank of America, Fidelity Investments and Liberty Mutual. Learn more about Adam, and MK3 at MK3Creative.com.

To move people, describing what your product or service does, or how it does it, is not enough. You have to get to why it matters. We recently helped a drug company organize their first national sales meeting to launch a new drug to treat ADHD. Among the many creative elements we needed to develop (e.g. speeches, videos, PowerPoint templates), first and foremost was a theme for the event.

Now we’re all familiar with the typical rah-rah sales meeting themes designed to incent salesreps to “Go Beyond” or “Reach For The Stars.” And certainly one goal of any sales meeting is to energize and inspire attendees to make a dent in the marketplace. But finding a message that is specific to the products or services to be sold, and to the mission of the company, demands more than clichés. To be real, it needs to speak to what’s in it for the customer, for the salesrep, and for the company.

One of the best places to start is with a personal story. We asked the CEO why this drug mattered. He explained its unique features and the existing market gaps it filled. Then we asked him why it mattered to him. He told us that his teenage children had close friends struggling with ADHD. He knew those kids well, and saw first-hand their daily battle for stability, focus and acceptance. He knew the toll the illness took on their families as well. He believed this new drug could make their daily lives better.

That promise resonated with the drug’s essential action: a time-release formula that better balanced the child’s experience every day. And together, the company and its reps could bring this better day to the ADHD community, and in so doing create a bright future for themselves as well.

“Building a Better Day.” Not just another sales cheer, but an aspirational statement that asserts the goal for the salesreps, the opportunity for ADHD sufferers, the mission of the company and the nature of the drug. It all starts with a story that tells us why, not simply what or how.

While Bostonians were still digging out of the snow, a few lucky members of the MK3 team escaped the cold and flew down to sunny Miami Florida for a Bank of America shoot!

A few members of the MK3 team got to take a look at Boston from the 35th floor of the State Street building today. It was a great view and another successful day behind the lens!

ABOUT MK3

MK3 is an idea-driven, unapologetically original marketing agency that specializes in turning facts and feelings into great stories.  We combine the storytelling ability of an ad agency with the in-house capabilities of a production company, providing a seamless transition from concept to completion. Our company is sized to match expertise with execution, creating collaborative teams that are talented and lean, made up of only the people who do the work.

DESCRIPTION

At MK3, we like our interns to get hands-on experience in the marketing and production industry. We strive to give interns the opportunity to grow and learn under the guidance of senior-level mentors. Our interns are integral to our company, working side-by-side with the creative and project management teams to complete multi-media projects.

We are looking for current undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional communication and organizational skills. Ideal candidates will be confident in tackling multiple projects and will possess the ability to multi-task and prioritize work.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A keen sense of curiosity
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Confidence to take initiative on projects
• Proficiency with Mac and Windows
• Strong understanding of social media platforms
• Must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student
• Video production experience is a plus.

HOW TO APPLY

Please note that this internship is unpaid. All candidates must be eligible to receive school credit.

If you think MK3’s internship program sounds like a perfect fit, please email a cover letter and resume to Amanda Haselton at ahaselton@test-mk3.local.

Creativity is encouraged!