Lex Beckett, Creative Director, Squashed Robot Films

Have you ever considered what goes into great videography? how do you use the moving images to tell your story and add value to your business?

For this LIVEtalk discussion, we went to meet Lex Beckett who's business, Squashed Robot Films has been making great content for businesses across the UK and internationally for a number of years now and in 2014 picked up a BAFTA nomination for his work on a short film.

Squashed Robot is a Film, Photography and Animation agency based in the heart of Cheltenham.

They are passionate about producing content which delivers results for their clients - no matter what their sector, industry or market share, the creative team at Squashed Robot has the talent, experience and creativity to manage and aim to exceed client expectations at every stage of the project.

GBS: Lex, Why do you think video so expensive when cameras (and mobile phones) are so cheap/accessible?

Lex: We firmly believe that the quality, effectiveness and ultimate success of any videography or animation campaign is directly related to the creativity, strategy and execution of the whole project NOT (Lex emphasises) the technology used to bring it to life.

For example the artist creates the artwork not the brush.

Industry pricing reflects the experience and skill which goes into everything that we do - you may be able to acquire services cheaper elsewhere but we believe that value is more important than cost.

GBS: OK, so if I’m not very good on camera and the staff are nervous about filming, what should I do?

Lex: We always say there is no such thing as a bad interviewee, just a bad interviewer… This basically means that it is our job to ensure that the whole process runs smoothly - working with all individuals to create the best overall content for you. We have worked on Documentary projects around the world with people from all walks of life and can confidently say that we have never had a ‘failed’ interview and in fact often the less confident people are on camera, the better content they ultimately deliver.

GBS: So What if a business hasn’t budgeted for video?

Lex: The idea of cost is an interesting one - for example a simple video may cost the same as a print advert with the main difference being the shelf life and cost per impression. Once the paper or magazine has gone out that’s it, it’s gone whereas video can go on being used in different ways and on different platforms meaning that the cost per view of an advert or piece of content is vastly lower than many conventional advertising channels.

GBS: Why do I need a professional photographer? I have an iPhone

Lex: If you’ve seen the Apple ‘shot on iphone’ marketing you’ll know how stunning the quality of iphone photos and video can be - that’s because they work with experienced creatives to produce content with high production value utilising advanced lighting and art direction techniques to make the best images possible.

For example our photographers don’t simply ‘snap’ a photo but instead invest time and preparation into creating the image of a quality level that best represents your business through lighting, setups and even camera and lens selection to ensure that you or your product come across in the best possible way.

GBS: How does a business figure out what content will work best for them?

Lex: In simple terms - you don’t have to - we do! Following an initial consultation we’ll get to the heart of your marketing challenges and business USP’s and then propose an approach which is targeted at achieving your business objectives (while being mindful of your available budget).

GBS: How do you make exciting/interesting content about a ‘boring’ industry?

Lex: We don’t believe any industry is boring to the people they help - for example think about the impact of your business rather than the day to day operation. An estate agent takes a pivotal role in the most challenging time of most peoples’ lives - buying a house. An accountant can save a CEO from many sleepless nights and if data or administration isn’t handled correctly the effects can be far reaching - it is the impact of these businesses that we like to focus on and celebrate.

GBS: Thanks Lex, it's great food for thought and some interesting advice there about how to tell the story of a business in a way that will last.

Lex and his co-director Lisa Cullis are sponsors of #GBS20 and produce the key video content for us both previewing the show and also bringing you the highlights afterwards. They have also been working on a "Stories of Growth" series of films for gthis year taht will be released in the coming months and then featured at the show with some live interviews with the businesses involved.

You can see more about the business and what they do at: www.squashedrobot.co.uk

and you can contact the team directly on 01242 222037 or [email protected]

At #GBS20 on 10th & 11th June at Cheltenham Town Hall they will be out and about with the cameras, or you can call at their exhibition stand Me5 in the main hall.