An HOP’s Secret Weapon
SYZYGY is best known for Finance and HR, and now our latest innovation addresses the personnel gaps and operational bottlenecks that so many production companies grapple with. Read on to learn how Production Services helped this live-action company maximize their people power and clear their hurdles.
The Client:
The client is a bicoastal studio working in live-action, post, and still photography. As the company became increasingly busy and successful, the HOP needed a new way of working that would allow him to use his time more strategically. He contacted SYZYGY, eager to find a solution to some of the company’s biggest pain points. With multiple jobs in production, Production Services was the right solve at the right time.
The Beginning:
“There are always these very small things that need to get done. And when you’re doing multiple jobs, these small things add up, and the majority of your time can be spent doing them instead of focusing on the bigger picture.”
The last few years have seen our industry face multiple obstacles including labor strikes, economic upheaval, and AI disruption. Among these uncertainties, the ebb and flow of work has become even more unpredictable. When work does come in, business needs to happen as usual in an environment that’s anything but. With a small team, the client knew he needed to be prepared for any eventuality, and so was looking for ways to update his organizational systems, streamline the freelancer onboarding and wrap processes, and clearly and consistently communicate company protocols and expectations. It was imperative to manage time wisely, and to focus on new business while offering an A-list experience for clients.
The Process:
“Each job is going to provide its own challenge. When you find those problems, you want to have someone to bounce ideas off of. Who is in it with you? It’s been so helpful to have Syzygy in it with us.”
SYZYGY’s Production Services got started by reviewing the client’s current production guidelines and understanding their internal processes. This set in motion a collaborative process in which we discovered their problem areas, made suggestions based on our vast industry experience, and found solutions to best communicate with freelancers. With fresh eyes on the guidelines, we were able to preemptively answer questions freelancers would typically direct to the production staff.
When working with a client, we approach production guidelines as living documents, as each job presents new opportunities for learnings. After working together on several jobs, we met again to discuss what worked, what information was still unclear, and how to best set up the freelance teams for success and continued to tweak from there.
“After a job wraps, we talk about what could have been improved for the next job. We talk about how we can simplify things, communicate things more clearly to freelancers, and essentially try to reduce the questions at the end of the day so our freelance team can hit the ground running. I found it really helpful to explore solutions with them.”
The Results:
“The biggest help has been onboarding our freelance producers and making sure they understand how we operate. There aren’t any other companies that offer what you offer. The service is unique because it is based on how each client operates.”
By establishing a strong line of communication and laying down the groundwork for clear and consistent operational practices, SYZYGY’s Production Services was able to work within the client’s processes, while offering valuable feedback and fresh ideas tailored to their specific needs. Having a production partner in the back office freed up the HOP to concentrate on business strategy, client relations, and company growth.