CSG-Force
THE CHALLENGE
“CSG-FORCE” is a 15-minute short film created by The Why, for our client Cloud Software Group.
We produced the film, which we devised as a playful homage to the iconic “Top Gun” franchise, as a unique and creative approach to communicate the Senior Management Team’s objectives at CSG’s global kick-off event.
THE PROCESS
The objective was to foster unity between two teams in a fun and creative way and build an authentic message that not only addressed changes in the way the business operated but also ignited a shared sense of purpose among all CSG team members in Europe.
We worked closely with our client, incorporating inside jokes and casting employees in roles tailored to their positions and personalities, ensuring relatability and resonance for the target audience. We even helped the cast pick their own call-signs, which were integrated into the script and included on each of their costumes.
With an ambitious script and the necessity to stick to the budget, we were faced with the challenge of navigating how to shoot complicated flight sequences. So, we located an airfield that had a detached cockpit designed specifically for filming purposes and a towable Tornado jet. This, combined with a bit of movie magic and some carefully selected stock footage, meant we were able to achieve realistic, high production values.
THE RESULT
Every year I wonder if we have bitten off too much to accomplish, but you always manage to make us look like business super stars!
Area Vice President, Citrix.
The reception of ‘CSG-FORCE’ was overwhelmingly positive, earning praise from both the client and the wider CSG community. The screening during a global event successfully brought the teams together, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie and the film’s humorous approach resonated well.
And whilst we didn’t win big at the Oscars that year, we did pick up a trophy at the Internal Communications and Engagement Awards!
SHL Momentum - GKO 2024
THE CHALLENGE
Having delivered multiple annual Global Kick Offs and quarterly Town Halls together, Talent Insights company, SHL returned to The Why to produce the 2024 virtual Global Kick-Off event. The focus of the 2-hour event was the launch of a new initiative to reposition the company, which required presenting and explaining in an engaging and innovative style.
THE PROCESS
Through weekly project meetings, we worked with SHL to hone the content, agenda and scripts. With a team of directors and producers, we captured interviews, discussions and pieces to camera via remote records and a 2-day shoot at the client’s offices.
The launch of the new initiative needed to be both impactful and clear to the audience. We chose to use animated graphics to bring the new rationale to life. The process began with a storyboard of the key frames before these were animated and set alongside a film of the CEO talking through each scenario and step of the process.
A green screen studio close to SHL’s offices was sourced and virtual backdrops designed, inspired by the event logo and theme. Presentation and autocue training, as well as rigorous rehearsals allowed the host and 3 contributors from the leadership team to deliver live links, encourage interaction and engagement from the audience, and introduce pre-recorded content from the studio seamlessly.
To close the event, The Why was asked to create a short brand video to sell SHL’s new vision in a striking and inspirational way, stirring excitement and pride internally. We scripted and storyboarded using stock footage and animated graphics to music.
THE RESULT
The Why is an excellent partner that helps us raise the bar for delivering quality content and engaging broadcast experiences to our people. The team is a pleasure to work with and their ideas and creativity just keep getting better!
Head of Communications, SHL.
The Why delivered a 2 hour show with a mix of 70% pre-recorded content and 30% live. It was live streamed globally via a branded platform. The event saw the highest levels of positive engagement and feedback to date via Q&A and chat.
The new initiative graphics and the closing brand video have resonated so powerfully internally that both are being re-purposed for external use.
HSS Hire
THE CHALLENGE
For the 3rd consecutive year, HSS Hire briefed us to produce a Virtual Roadshow sharing key updates and achievements from across the year. We needed to ensure that the format and approach appealed to and engaged every level of the UK & ROI-wide workforce and didn’t exceed an optimum run time of 30 minutes.
THE PROCESS
With a 6-week turnaround, we scheduled 5 days of shooting at locations across the UK including depots, a training centre, and Head Office. With careful planning, our production team captured studio links and discussions, interviews on the go, cutaways and B-roll footage to tell the story of the 5 steps of the HSS Hire journey from supplier to customer.
THE RESULT
A fast moving, well-paced 30-minute virtual event was played out via an interactive platform, featuring a variety of segments including panel discussions, interviews, animated title sequences, and awards, hosted by the Senior Executives of the business which gave them an opportunity to connect directly with the wider team. We featured a variety of HSS colleagues across different roles in a show that presented HSS Hire as a modern, exciting organisation to work for. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive from the business and described as “the best one yet”.
Motivate your audience to pause, engage, and take action with inspiring events, films, and digital content that challenge the status quo and drive positive change.
Cloudera Drive 23
THE CHALLENGE
Cloud software company Cloudera came to us to help take their presentations to the next level for a ‘pedal to the metal’ event at Mercedes Benz World – where they’d be driving cars and driving sales.
THE PROCESS
With ambitious goals set, these couldn’t be any ordinary presentations – we really needed to accelerate the audience into action. We led scripting clinics with each of the presenters, taking their essential messaging and transforming it into an engaging narrative, suggesting visual cues, music, and props that could really bring it to life as well as tie into the overall theme of the event. We worked collaboratively with each of the presenters in the design stage to turn their core content into visually impressive slides.
We devised a fun game to kick start the event and produced supporting video content – including a promotional teaser and a fun ‘top-gear’ style video to introduce executive leaders in a creative way – as well as providing all the technical support to ensure everything ran smoothly.
THE RESULT
Careful what you say in a brainstorming session with a creative team, you risk turning up in a boiler suit with a glass jar full of gold coins. WHY... because it becomes memorable.
Field CTO, Cloudera.
The first day of the event was a hit, captivating and energising the delegates with a mix of fun and inspiring presentations. The engaging content, combined with interactive elements and creative visuals, kept the audience fully immersed. And off the back of such memorable and motivating presentations, Cloudera’s sales teams actually surpassed their initial pipeline goal.
IDEXX Event
THE CHALLENGE
IDEXX, a global leader in pet healthcare innovation, asked for our help in creating an event to communicate their plans for the coming year across Europe. The event would run twice in different locations.
THE PROCESS
We worked closely with the IDEXX team over an extended pre-production period to ensure we delivered exactly what was needed to land all the messages and leave the audience highly motivated and ready for a new sales year.
We always know to expect the unexpected, and when a freak storm destroyed the planned awards venue we had to turn on our paws, changing venue overnight which meant finding new suppliers, sourcing themed elements, and essentially starting from scratch.
THE RESULT
You did an excellent job during the meetings last year, and I cannot wait for the debrief and learnings.
Live Event Manager, Europe, Idexx.
Against the odds, we delivered the event in a TV-show style, with the host as the “TV presenter”. A variety of contributors and styles kept audiences engaged in the auditorium and cleverly designed breakout areas in the style of science labs, brought the event to life.
Citrix EMEA Field Kick Off
THE CHALLENGE
Cloud computing company, Citrix, asked us to organise an inspiring 90 minute event to celebrate resilience, teamwork, and to build solid foundations for the year ahead. This event was also to be the launch of their new Senior Vice President of EMEA, whose values of ‘belief’ and ‘refusal to lose’ needed to be at the core of the content.
THE PROCESS
Originally planned as a Live event in Nashville, the Omicron variant forced us to pivot from a live event to a virtual broadcast. We turned the UK HQ canteen into a fully functioning TV studio for a magazine style show.
We strategised closely with the new SVP to really understand the purpose of this event and what he wanted his audience to get out of it. He wanted it to feel authentic, inspiring, and to positively represent his leadership approach, incorporating a bit of his humour too. We consulted on how this could be best brought to life for an audience expecting a more technical presentation.
THE RESULT
Every year I wonder if we have bitten off too much to accomplish, but you always manage to make us look like business super stars!
Area Vice President, Citrix.
The approach was to balance comedy, serious business messaging, and emotive content – using snappy segments, live interviews and a two-part Ted Lasso inspired comedy sketch, which brought the value of ‘Belief’ to life. We handed out awards (virtually and with genuine surprises!) and created short documentaries about the team going above-and-beyond to help their customers get through various challenges.
Viewing figures actually rose during the broadcast as word-of-mouth spread, and 742 employees tuned in for a powerful, fun, and award winning event.
SHL: Transform
THE CHALLENGE
SHL was launching a new strategy and needed to communicate its strategy and vision to a worldwide audience of 1400 employees. With the Covid-19 lockdown in full force, these events were too important to hold off until restrictions eased, so we helped SHL transition from a live to a virtual format.
THE PROCESS
Working with members of the leadership team, we created a series of 5 virtual events, structuring the content into logical episodes that would take people on a journey over a three-month period to win over hearts and minds and drive change across the organisation. The events were streamed on a bespoke platform with on-demand viewings available for audiences in Asia-Pacific. We conceived the concept, came up with a style and structure, and coached presenters to help the strategy land with clarity.
THE RESULT
I just want to round it out by extending a heartfelt thank you for your support, patience and (very) hard work… I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you’re holding our hands through this...and finding ways to have a chuckle!
Head of Communications, SHL.
With over 10 hours of live content, 50% was pre-recorded, including montage videos, animated stings, interviews and customer videos to keep the audience engaged and production values high. The events needed to feel leadership-led, but also consultative, with feedback and reaction from the audience playing a key part. Average viewing time was over 100 minutes with a peak audience of 2254 viewers. And all within four months – from conception to completion.