Stoked – the Wander Films team
at their Boho Five studios.
CREATIVE
POSITIVE
VIBES
BY
When government
guidance halted film
production, the team at
Wander weren’t fazed.
The Middlesbroughbased
company – shortlisted in four
categories in the inaugural Tees Tech
Awards (see page 19) – simply bounced
back with inventive ways in which to
work.
Anyone who has had the pleasure
of meeting the team at their Boho Five
offices is immediately struck by the
positivity and passion they share for
all things video marketing and despite
admitting that they find the Covid-19
crisis ‘scary’, it’s no surprise that they’ve
faced this fear head on.
“During lockdown we adjusted our
service offering to allow us to work with
our retained clients remotely, still giving
them great content without leaving our
homes,” says creative director Chloë
Clover.
“Some of these new services
included motion graphics, social video
distribution, editing clients’ selfie videos
and the increase of consultation and
strategy workshops.”
It was always going to be tricky for
a video marketing company which
relies on filming face to face with other
companies to fully work from home, but
Chloë reflects: “We’ve been lucky to
have amazing partners and clients who
have supported us.
“In this time of crisis, Tees Valley
businesses have really pulled together
JULIE BURNISTON
Innovation ensures that Wander Films
continues to create exciting video content
to help each other and the amount
of collaboration going on has been
incredible.”
Happily for Wander they are now
back in their office and raring to go.
“It’s great to be back,” says Chloë.
“The decision took time and processes
were put in place to make it a safe
transition. It’s super important to us that
our team and clients are safe.”
Following government advice, the
team of five – which also includes
managing director Lou Tonner, content
producer Simon Pettett, filmmaker Jack
Holmes and digital marketer Charlotte
Mitchell – will follow social distancing in
the office.
“The edit stations have been spread
out and face in different directions;
hand sanitising gel is available, there is
extra cleaning in the office and no hot
desking,” explains Lou.
“Additionally the office has been
‘fogged’ by Orca Cleaning Services
which disinfects the room, killing
bacteria and viruses including
coronavirus on surfaces for 28 days.
“When on shoots we keep the crew
to a minimum, we wear face masks,
while contractors and clients are asked
fill in a form to confirm they are well.”
Despite the Covid setback, Wander
is excited about the future. Having
worked with some major firms including
Tomahawk Steakhouse, Hampton by
Hilton and Stone Technical Services, the
books are filling with new clients, and
existing ones are waiting patiently for
already pencilled shoots.
“We’re working with clients to rebook
jobs that had to be postponed
and things are already moving fast, with
four shoots done in the first week back,”
says Chloë.
“One is for a national campaign which
will be great for the local economy.
We’re also in discussions with an
internationally recognised brand and
we’ve had heaps of enquiries coming in
about back-to-work safety videos.
“It’s really cool to see local companies
taking health and safety to the next
level.”
Never ones to rest on their laurels,
Wander plans to expand its team
despite the troubled times.
“We were planning on recruiting
before the pandemic,” adds Lou.
“This was put on hold during
lockdown, but now restrictions have
been lifted a bit more we will resume
our plans to expand our team to eight
by the end of 2020.
“We’re currently in the process of
hiring a filmmaker and a social media
manager, with the help of the incredible
HR Alchemy.
“It’s been a difficult time for most
businesses, including ours, but it’s so
important to be optimistic and look to
the future. Positive vibes!”
Find out more at
wander-films.co.uk
The voice of business in the Tees region | 61