Creative collaboration is the key to lean entrepreneurship. Doers know that it takes a village to build a brand or business—which is why we love seeing teams and studios work together as Fiverr sellers. So when we headed north for Doers Across Canada this summer, Metro Creative's Montreal studio was our second stop (right after poutine, of course). Check out the video below to see this Fiverr Pro video production company in action, then read on to learn what drives them as doers, tips on how to buy the right Live Action Explainers and Short Video Ads for your brand, and what gives their work that certain je ne sais quoi. Tell us a little about you. Who you are, where you’re from, what you do on Fiverr Pro.We are the Metro Creative Productions team, aka MetroCreative on Fiverr Pro. We are based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. We’re a video production company and Fiverr Pro video sellers in the Live Action Explainers and Short Video Ads categories.How did you get your start freelancing? Is Fiverr your full-time Gig, or more of a side hustle?Our core team consists of three people. Walid, our creative director and videographer actually started his career as a freelance videographer. Eventually, he co-founded Metro Creative Productions with Michelle, who serves as the main producer. When we moved into our new office, Liem joined the team—he is our Project Coordinator. He introduced us to Fiverr and handles most of the communications through the platform.Since the company is still young, Fiverr Pro Gigs are a great platform to help us extend our reach globally. So for us, Fiverr fits somewhere between a side hustle and freelancing work for our team. So, what exactly is cinematography? Who needs it, and who watches it? Cinematography is the science or art of making moving pictures. It is the actual action of recording the images onto a physical (film) or digital medium. More and more, we’re seeing video everywhere, especially on social media. It’s more accessible and affordable than ever for small businesses or artists to advertise their products, services, or art. Video is the most efficient way to get your message out. So on Fiverr, typically our buyers are small businesses, and the consumers of the videos are their potential or current clients. Walk us through your creative process. What information do you need from a buyer to set them up for success?To start a video project we need a topic for the video. Is it a product video? A recipe video? What’s the outcome the client is looking for? To sell more? To advertise a service? To entertain their users? There are a series of questions we will ask to best determine what the client needs. And sometimes what the client wants is different from what they need. So there’s a bit of back and forth that goes into launching a project. Of course, the more resources we’re given, the easier it will be to get the final result the client wants. How long does the process take, from start to finish? The length of time it takes to finish a project can vary depending on the complexity. Typically we set the project for a week because we have other projects happening at the same time and want to be sure each gets the attention it needs. On average, each video takes a day to shoot and a day to edit. How should a buyer determine their budget? A buyer should have an idea of what they want to create. Two big factors that will determine the price is how long the video will be, and how many elements will be added. Elements such as the number of actors, voice actors, or locations needed will impact the price. What are the key elements of good cinematography? Obviously image quality and actors are one of the first things that people notice when looking at a video. But behind the camera, components such as lighting, sound, and editing play a huge role in separating a good video from a mediocre one.How have your skills grown since joining Fiverr Pro?Our skills have grown immensely since joining Fiverr Pro. Normally, we would do a lot of our communication through phone and in-person, but the messenger system has forced us to develop written communication skills. Also, since clients can come in from anywhere in the world at any time, we have adjusted to working quickly, and switch focus between multiple projects at once. Fiverr helps us keep track of all our ongoing projects, so that helps us stay organized.What are some of your favorite projects or buyers you've worked with? We’ve worked on so many great projects, but there are two projects that really stood out for us. One was a cinematic product video our team and we created for a minimalist men’s wallet. This project was great because it was very dynamic and the buyer and we have similar tastes to what we wanted to create. Artistically, it was a great project that actually has led to an ongoing relationship.Another favorite was for an Australian buyer who works in a center for adults with disabilities. The adults at the center had developed a beautiful recipe book together and were having a book launch party. As a surprise, this buyer wanted a video of one of the recipes to play during the launch. This was a great project because we knew it would be a surprise for everyone who worked so hard on the project. We heard afterwards that the video was a big success! Has working on Fiverr Pro changed the way you think about your profession and/or freelancing?Before Fiverr most of our work came from local connections, with occasional projects internationally. After joining Fiverr we have been completing projects from clients around the world on a regular basis, without ever leaving the studio. We are also impressed with how Fiverr Pro instills confidence in our buyers. They can see our work and reviews, which increases their confidence that their project will be well done. What is the value of Fiverr Pro for buyers? For buyers, buying a Pro Gig indicates that they will receive a superior product. Not only in quality but also in customer service. Seeing a Pro seller is a quick way for a buyer to filter Gigs to find sellers that are hand-picked by the Fiverr team. Some buyers have more complicated projects or require more hand-holding to help make their creative decisions. This could overwhelm some sellers. But Fiverr Pro sellers have the resources to ensure the buyer is satisfied and confident in the product they will receive. What can we expect next from you? What are your business goals? For 2018 we aim to grow our online presence for both our Fiverr Gigs and our business. We have a few plans brewing. We hosted a Fiverr event back in June here in Montreal as part of the #DoersAcrossTheGlobe campaign. We also produced a short film, which will be the first for Metro Creative Productions, which we expect to debut at film festivals this year. What drives you as an entrepreneur? Why do you do what you do? We are driven by our desire to create and tell a story using moving pictures. We also love the freedom of working for ourselves. We wouldn’t have it any other way. What do you think makes doers in Canada (and Montreal in particular) special? Montreal is by nature a very creative city. Many well-known artists, creators, and doers hail from Montreal. Just walk around the city in the summer and you will see the cultural emphasis on the arts, it’s in the fabric of the city. Many creative individuals across Canada and the world are attracted to Montreal for this reason. The city is multicultural and multilingual, and also has a rich cinema culture. What do you love about the Montreal entrepreneurial community? The Montreal entrepreneurial community is very active and vibrant. Montreal is a hub for many industries, cinema, technology, and AI. This vibrancy brings a lot of talent to the area. Also, with four universities, many colleges and technical schools on the island, it’s a bit of a university town. This helps keep living expenses down so a lot of young talent and artists are attracted here. What advice do you have for first-time Fiverr buyers?It’s great when a buyer has an idea of what they want to create. References and examples are a great help to the seller. Besides that, stay open and flexible, the process should be fun for both the buyer and the seller! What are your business goals?Our business goals in 2018 are to expand our business, increase our exposure and reach a bigger audience. We also hope we can inspire more young “doers” to reach their goals!Want to know more about working as a Fiverr Pro? Ask the Metro Creative team in the comments below!
