SPEAKER_01: 0:00

Welcome back to the deep dive. Today we're uh taking a stack of performance documents, essentially, and turning them into some real strategic intelligence. Our target is a focused look at Raffrey Weiss Media's creative service history, looking for, you know, hard proof of capability.

SPEAKER_02: 0:16

Trevor Burrus, Jr.: That's right. Essentially, we're looking at their report card, so to speak. When clients, especially big ones like federal agencies, corporations, or nonprofits, hand over a PWS. That's a performance work statement.

SPEAKER_01: 0:28

Aaron Powell, which is basically a strict checklist, right? Of what they need delivered.

SPEAKER_02: 0:31

Exactly, checklist of required materials. So what did RW Media actually deliver over, say, the last five years? We want to see not just the capability, but also the efficiency, maybe, and the editorial maturity they brought to some really complex subjects.

SPEAKER_01: 0:46

Okay, let's unpack this then. We've sort of organized this evidence into three key areas for you listening. First, projects that achieved massive reach and pretty high ROI. Second, technical skills and visual innovation think things like stop motion, advanced animation. And third, the uh the softer skills, maybe. Handling complex, sometimes sensitive documentary storytelling. That requires navigating multiple viewpoints, which isn't easy. We are ready to see exactly what they delivered and, frankly, why it matters.

SPEAKER_02: 1:15

Let's start with that massive reach category. Because the contrast, you know, between the budget and the audience size in this first one.

SPEAKER_01: 1:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 1:22

It's pretty staggering.

SPEAKER_01: 1:23

Yeah. The United Way Worldwide NFL COVID-19 TV PSA seems like a perfect example, almost the poster child for budget efficiency.

SPEAKER_02: 1:31

Aaron Powell, it really is a powerful 30-second PSA, right? Publicizing the United Way's COVID 19 relief efforts. And it was completed in just four weeks for$10,800.

SPEAKER_01: 1:41

Four weeks, 10 grand. Okay. And the audience.

SPEAKER_02: 1:43

That's the kicker. It aired during the 2020 virtual NFL draft, reached over 40 million people worldwide.

SPEAKER_01: 1:49

Wow. 40 million.

SPEAKER_02: 1:51

40 million. I mean, that is an almost unimaginable return on investment for a short piece of content like that.

SPEAKER_01: 1:56

Aaron Powell That combination, the low cost, the huge reach, it really speaks to a rapid deployment capability. And the documents confirm for that$10,800, RW Media provided like the full suite creative approach, scripting, graphics, voiceover casting, music search, editing, audio design. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_02: 2:14

Yeah, the whole package, they handle the entire creation process from the initial concept right through to broadcast clearance.

SPEAKER_01: 2:20

Okay, but I have to ask then if they can pull off 40 million views for about$11,000, why are the next examples we have, these CDC hepatitis C campaigns, costing$75,000 or$80,000? What's behind that huge jump in price?

SPEAKER_02: 2:34

Aaron Powell Well, that's where you hit the, let's call it, strategic cost of complexity.

SPEAKER_00: 2:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 2:39

And logistics, and crucially, federal compliance.

SPEAKER_00: 2:42

Okay, explain that. Take the$80,000 1945, 1965 PSA.

SPEAKER_02: 2:47

Aaron Powell, right. That money covers some pretty intense logistical complexity. We're talking shooting over two days across five different locations just in the DC metro area.

SPEAKER_01: 2:54

Aaron Ross Powell, Jr.: Five locations? That's a lot to coordinate.

SPEAKER_02: 2:57

It is. Plus, creating three separate timelinks: the standard 0.60, 0.30, 0.15 second versions, and making sure every single version met all the federal mandates.

SPEAKER_01: 3:08

Aaron Powell And the big mandate we keep seeing pop up for federal broadcast work is 508 compliancy.

SPEAKER_02: 3:14

Aaron Powell Exactly. And for those maybe less familiar, that's the really crucial legal requirement under Section 508. It means all federal electronic info and tech has to be fully accessible to people with disabilities.

SPEAKER_01: 3:25

Aaron Powell Correct. So every single one of those three versions needed perfect captioning, full compliance. That's just non-negotiable complexity layered on top of the creative stuff. That technical adherence is just as vital as the creative vision itself.

SPEAKER_02: 3:38

Aaron Powell And we see that kind of efficiency strategy expand even more with the$75,000 facing the fact CDC project.

SPEAKER_01: 3:44

Aaron Powell Yes. That's the one where they mix the talent pool, right? Using professional actors alongside real people in a two-day studio shoot. But the real strategic nugget there, I think, is how they leverage the assets across different platforms.

SPEAKER_02: 3:55

Aaron Powell Precisely. They captured still photography of the talent during the shoot, specifically for print advertising. And they developed what are called audio lists.

SPEAKER_01: 4:04

Aaron Powell Meaning they just took the audio tracks?

SPEAKER_02: 4:06

Yeah, basically extracted the high-quality audio tracks from the video production and then repurposed them into standalone radio PSAs. Same lengths, 0.60, 0.30.15. So the client essentially paid for one core video shoot, but walked away with video campaigns, print ad materials, and radio campaigns.

SPEAKER_01: 4:24

Hmm. That's maximum ROI right there through really strategic material development.

SPEAKER_02: 4:29

Definitely. So you're looking at a single source creative solution moving efficiently from broadcast TV right down to radio spots and print ads.

SPEAKER_01: 4:37

So they aren't just like video production specialists in that sense, they're integrated material developers, especially for these specific, often regulated campaigns.

SPEAKER_02: 4:45

Exactly right.

SPEAKER_01: 4:46

Okay. That brings us nicely to projects that really showcase technical skill, maybe technical finesse. If Section One proved they can maximize reach and material efficiency, let's look at projects needing more specialized niche skills. The Pepco What's in your bag campaign seems like a great example of flexing a different kind of creative muscle.

SPEAKER_02: 5:06

Yeah, Pepco used this one for a$15,000 social media digital campaign. The focus was storm preparedness. And instead of just a standard talking head or something, RW used stop motion photography.

SPEAKER_01: 5:18

Stop motion, interesting.

SPEAKER_02: 5:20

It really shows, I think, a commitment to platform-specific visual strategy, understanding what kind of content actually stops people scrolling on social media.

SPEAKER_01: 5:28

Aaron Powell That's fascinating. It feels almost old school, a difficult technique in today's digital world. Can you describe that process a bit?

SPEAKER_02: 5:35

Well, it requires immense patience and precision, very analog, really. They use the studio tabletop setup. They're taking potentially hundreds of still photos of everyday objects like flashlights, batteries, water bottles, moving them just slightly, frame by frame, then animating all those frames together in the editing phase.

SPEAKER_01: 5:50

Wow. Sounds painstaking.

SPEAKER_02: 5:52

It is. But it creates a very engaging, unique look. It requires highly specialized skill and frankly a lot of patience to get right. But the result is visually distinct.

SPEAKER_01: 6:03

Okay, so contrast that very analog frame-by-frame effort with the uh fully digital work they did for the Federal Reserve Board, the Welcome to the Federal Reserve Board video that was a two-minute piece, used entirely original art, sophisticated motion graphics, all for new higher onboarding and benefits info.

SPEAKER_02: 6:21

Right. This involved creating all the graphics completely from scratch. They started, as you often do, with detailed storyboards, just still frame images before combining and animating them. That project was$18,000, took about two months. It really showcases their ability to handle quite sophisticated custom animation, especially for internal communications that need to convey complex information clearly.

SPEAKER_01: 6:41

And connecting that kind of technical complexity to specialized environments, look at the Lockheed Martin Schilnet video. This sounds like it needed a really high-energy tech-focused style for a competition entry, the 2019 Ergo Cup.

SPEAKER_02: 6:53

Yeah, they shot that one on location at the Lockheed Martin Virtual Reality Lab in Denver.

SPEAKER_01: 6:58

A VR lab? Okay, that sounds like a challenging place to shoot.

SPEAKER_02: 7:01

Absolutely. Shooting in specialized, technically sensitive environments, like a live VR lab, that requires a unique set of skills. You've got to manage lighting carefully, get the right facility access, understand the complex tech you're filming without interfering with their actual operations.

SPEAKER_01: 7:19

And the fact that this was the second year in a row, Lockheed Martin hired RW for this specific high-stakes competition entry. Well, that signals real confidence, doesn't it? Confidence in their ability to handle that complex location and deliver the required high-energy visual style. It proves trust in a technical setting.

SPEAKER_02: 7:37

Aaron Powell It certainly demonstrates their technical chops, yeah. Dealing with advanced settings, making sure the video itself actually matches the high-tech subject matter.

SPEAKER_01: 7:45

Okay. Now let's pivot a bit. Away from the technical specs, and let's talk about the um the soft skills, the editorial maturity needed for documentary storytelling. Especially when you're dealing with topics that might be emotionally charged or, frankly, politically sensitive. This is where I guess competence meets compassion.

SPEAKER_02: 8:03

That's a good way to put it. The Fannie made Disaster Relief Fund video, a three-minute piece, really shows the logistical and human challenges involved, documenting how employees help their colleagues after catastrophic events. I mean, this wasn't just a quick clip, it was real field documentary work.

SPEAKER_01: 8:19

Definitely not. The notes say it required in-depth research just to understand the story, then contacting the key people featured, scouting locations, and recording over two full days in really diverse locations, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. The$24,000 cost seems to reflect managing those multi-state logistics and that sensitive outreach, probably on a fairly quick turnaround, too.

SPEAKER_02: 8:41

And the Merck, my HPV cancer story piece that further highlights the need for a really delicate touch. This was an educational video featuring real people, Bridget and Jacob, talking about their family's cancer journey. Very personal stuff.

SPEAKER_01: 8:56

Yeah, the source summary specifically flags this one. It says it was a very emotional piece that took a delicate directing touch. That's a crucial insight, isn't it? They aren't just technically proficient shooters, they seem to have the soft skills needed to handle these deeply personal human stories with respect and care, which is vital when you're representing, say, pharmaceutical clients or dealing with public health issues.

SPEAKER_02: 9:18

And here's where their editorial decision making, I think, gets really high level. The US Department of Justice SPCP program in action video. This was a five-minute piece, and it tackled the inherently polarizing issue of law enforcement and community relations.

SPEAKER_01: 9:33

Wait, hold on. So they successfully managed a narrative about law enforcement and community relations, which is, you know, intensely scrutinized these days, and they did it without appearing biased. That sounds like a massive editorial challenge and a potential political minefield they had to navigate.

SPEAKER_02: 9:49

It absolutely is. And their solution was, well, strategic impartiality. RW developed a storyline that explicitly featured parties on all sides of the issue, articulated how the program actually works. They filmed in Topeka, Kansas, and Erie, Pennsylvania, making sure the message felt balanced across different places, different contexts, probably different political viewpoints too. That demonstrates some pretty sophisticated public affairs messaging competence and definitely risk mitigation.

SPEAKER_01: 10:16

That's a really complex task to manage within a documentary structure. It proves competency in like impartial reporting, balancing potentially conflicting viewpoints within one single cohesive piece.

SPEAKER_02: 10:29

Absolutely. The goal clearly wasn't to argue one side over the other, but simply to articulate how the specific program functions from all the different vantage points involved.

SPEAKER_01: 10:38

Okay, let's pull back for a second and look at the overall versatility, the versatility and material development. Our listener needs to know this capability isn't just about video, right? It ties directly back to that PWS requirement developing various communication materials. Print, audio, photo, the works.

SPEAKER_02: 10:53

Yeah, the documents confirm that scope. It covers print, online electronic formats, audio, still photography, and video. And this wide format range is matched by their client base. It's pretty diverse. Federal like DOL, DOJ, CDC, state clients like Maryland 529 plan, large corporates like Fannie Mae, and global nonprofits like United Way worldwide.

SPEAKER_01: 11:16

What seems crucial here is the synchronization. It's not just that they can do photography, it's that the still photography was consistently used to complement national TV and radio PSA campaigns. For multiple major clients, too, including the Department of Labor and Fannie Mae. It sounds like a production house that thinks about integrated campaigns from a single resource-efficient base.

SPEAKER_02: 11:35

And that integration, especially for government work, must always include accessibility compliance. That's a huge factor. We already talked about the 508 compliant captions, but the Campaign for Disability Employments Meet Chanel Cass video is a perfect example of going further. It included both open captions, meaning they're always visible, and a dedicated audio introduction.

SPEAKER_01: 11:58

Okay, that shows specialized experience and enhanced accessibility features, particularly important for disability employment messaging, obviously. This isn't just basic subtitling. This sounds like engineering the content for maximum usability across different platforms and for different audiences.

SPEAKER_02: 12:13

Exactly. And that commitment seems reaffirmed by their work for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. They produced both 60 and 30-second PSAs there, plus interview videos. So clearly they have pretty extensive experience tailoring audio and visual content specifically for audiences with distinct accessibility needs.

SPEAKER_01: 12:31

So wrapping this up, what does this all mean when we synthesize this performance history? The documents seem to show a pretty comprehensive mastery of the creative PWS tasks. They handle budget levels from that really low$10,800 rapid deployment piece right up to the complex$80,000 federal logistics project.

SPEAKER_02: 12:51

Aaron Powell Yeah, I think the strategic takeaway is that ability to manage highly technical requirements, you know, from stop-motion photography to high-end animation, while at the same time maintaining the editorial maturity and human sensitivity needed for the most complex human stories, like the cancer journeys or those law enforcement relations pieces.

SPEAKER_01: 13:10

Aaron Powell If I zoom out, the biggest strategic insight for me is that combination of maybe efficiency and dexterity, the skill needed to turn an$11,000 investment into 40 million views, juxtapose with the editorial control and political neutrality needed for that$20,000 DOJ piece, where they had to deliberately feature parties on all sides of a really tricky debate. That's quite a range. Okay, here's a final provocative thought for you, the listener, to maybe explore on your own. Given this portfolio we just discussed, where they successfully managed everything from disease awareness to employee relief funds to these complex law enforcement partnerships, which creative strategy would you prioritize if you were approaching a brand new, extremely sensitive, multifaceted topic? Would it be the high reach efficiency model, like the PSA, or the carefully balanced editorial structure of the documentary? Something to think about that delicate balance between technical production quality and really nuanced human storytelling. Thanks for diving in with us today.