1) Quality video content and “cause” marketing is particularly relevant today. Brands are starting to understand that in order to connect with people, they must stand for something and be involved in a positive cause. On the other hand, as marketers continue to increase their spend on mobile video, there is a desire for increasing the quality and production value of the content in a way that remains engaging, organic but impactful.
2) The Story Room’s American Girl doll stop-motion animation web series on YouTube for Mattel (Season 1) was a particular phenomenon because the young fans of the doll became obsessed with our content that essentially was a tutorial for young girls to produce their own stop motion animation. We then referred to the influencers who were already driving a significant audience with their own stop-motion animation in our series, which made it all a circular and inclusive program. You can watch a preview here: http://agzcrew.com/webby/short-form/
4) We believe there will be a surge of VR content in the industry for the next few years. It is going to raise the bar in terms of producing and delivering accessible content to audiences in the VR world.
5) Storytelling is the driver, regardless of the medium. Despite digital efforts to saturate audiences with brands, those few select creatives who understand the basics of a story – characters, tension, resolution—will succeed. It is not easy with certain brands, but if you try hard enough, you can deliver a quality craft to build brands.
6) Today, our investment is in talented storytellers more than in technology. Yes we are creating bots for clients and new platforms for others, but the north star is always that evasive narrative that is interesting, compelling and intriguing enough to lure savvy consumers today to actually stop and pay attention to your story. Be interesting. It’s all you’ve got.
