We asked Annika Yerushalmy – Marketing Communication Manager at Minerva Education:
“What are the advantages of producing
a promotional film for your school(s)?”
The Background:
We’ve been working with School Reel for a few years now and the five films they’ve produced for us in that time have been really successful. We have schools all over London, Cambridge and the Home Counties and when we met Andrew (School Reel) we were looking for something to compliment and use alongside the hard copy prospectuses we create for our schools.
Hard Copy versus Video:
I think there will always be a place for a hard copy prospectus in schools, however with increasing interest from overseas, video is a great way to show people from all over the world exactly what your school is like. A video shows so much more than a prospectus, it really shows you a snapshot of school life in a way a prospectus never can. One issue the films do overcome in respect to the hard copy prospectus is the language barrier; some families considering one of our schools may not have English as their first language and the films are able to showcase visually what the prospectus can only describe through words.
“..it is a one-off cost that can then be used to promote the school for some years to come.”
Longevity and Price:
As long as there are no big changes I see our videos being used for two-three years. I think a video is a great solution for schools with tight budgets, as it is a one-off cost that can then be used to promote the school for some years to come. It’s actually very cost-effective, especially when you see what else is out there and how much more you can pay – School Reel are extremely reasonable and have pitched the film’s cost according to their experience, equipment and expertise.
The Process and Feedback:
The whole process from beginning to end, which can take as little as two weeks from the last day of filming, is an absolute breeze. Because he used to be a teacher, Andrew and his team are so knowledgeable about schools and how they function that they’re always able to recommend what will work and what to avoid. As long as you provide the info about what’s going on in the school during the days they’re there, you can basically leave them to it! Once the film is delivered I’ve only ever had incredible feedback from everyone, parents and teachers alike, who has seen them. One of my directors liked it so much he’s using it as a showcase at a seminar entitled ‘what makes our schools special?’!
“They seem to have an incredible knack of uncovering what lies at the heart of every school…”
One Final Thought from Annika:
If you are considering making a school video I cannot recommend School Reel enough. They make the whole process fun and enjoyable and I’m always overwhelmed with the final result. They seem to have an incredible knack of uncovering what lies at the heart of every school, what makes them tick, what makes each school special and highlighting those elements in the best possible way.
