General
What is Early Bird Studios?
Early Bird Studios - or EBS - is the #1 crowdfunding video agency creating media content for Indiegogo & Kickstarter campaigns. This includes campaign pitch videos, prelaunch videos, product demos, lifestyle & product photography, renderings, and more. Send us a line and let's talk!
How long has EBS been around?
Our crew has been working together since 2010, with our first official crowdfunding campaign in 2012. We officially incorporated in 2016 and have been growing ever since.
Where is EBS located?
We are headquartered just outside of Hollywood in Los Angeles and primarily work in LA, Orange County, and Santa Barbara. Our production team has filmed on every continent but Antarctica, so we'll travel anywhere in the world to get the job done! And if it's Antarctica, we’re in!
Does EBS only work with clients launching on Indiegogo or Kickstarter?
No. While we specialize in crowdfunding, we've produced countless videos for brands. From RVCA, Nekter Juice, and American Heart Association to TrackR, Cobra Electronics, UpCart, and many more, our non-crowdfunding content has gone on to help sell over $50M in product via major ecommerce sites like Amazon and mainstream retailers like Best Buy.
Does EBS also manage or market crowdfunding campaigns?
No. We are a content agency that creates the raw assets for marketing. Luckily, we work closely with some of the best crowdfunding marketers around and would be happy to connect you.
Who owns and operates EBS?
Early Bird Studios is 100% independent and fully owned by its original founders.
What type of clients are EBS looking for?
We encourage you to contact us no matter what because even if we're not the best content partners for the requested scope-of-work, we probably know the team that are and we'll connect you.
For crowdfunding, our ideal partners are in tech, design, and film with a fundraising goal of at least $100K to $1M+ and contact us at least 10 to 12 weeks ahead of launch.
For branded videos, our ideal partners are any business that's ready to invest the time, energy, and budget into producing the highest-grade content for national or global marketing campaigns.
What other types of videos and photos can EBS create?
If it involves cameras, lights, and sound - then we can do it all. We specialize in producing product pitch videos, social media ads, and lifestyle + product photography, but we've also produced documentaries, comedy shorts, event coverage videos (like CES), and more.
Pricing
How much does EBS charge for creating videos and content?
Great question! But there's no quick and easy answer because every project is different.
From scope-of-work to product SKUs, there are too many unique variables with every production to give a flat rate or narrow range. Be cautious with any company that advertises flat-rates - it's a model best suited for animators and wedding videographers who do a high volume of formulaic work. We curate every collaboration to maximize your return on investment and we aim for long-term partnerships over short-term turnarounds. But, to get to the chase…
We have done quick video edits for $500 and nationally televised commercials for $40,000, but no matter what your budget is, get in touch with us and we will review everything in detail.
When do we pay EBS?
We require a non-refundable deposit up-front to lock in our services for the terms of our agreement. Once the initial video/photography is completed, we'll invoice your team for the remainder of the payment before releasing the master deliverables that are yours per our agreement.
Will EBS take equity in my company or my campaign in lieu of only cash?
Yes. We are always open to the possibility and, in some cases, have supplemented sizable portions of our production budgets in exchange for company equity or revenue-sharing from campaign and ecommerce sales. As a rule, we do not do equity-only productions - there must be some liquidity.
Does EBS work with philanthropic organizations, academic groups, or other non-profit entities?
Yes! We love to give back in any way that we can and are always looking to help progressive-minded entities reach their goals, whether they be financial, political, or publicity-based.
Please feel free to contact us and let us know more about your organization.
Process
Okay, we're interested. How do we get going?
Just fill out this short contact form and we'll follow-up with some brief questions and/or a request to connect further over a call. If we match your expectations, we'll discuss macro-level creative, pricing, and more. Then, we'll send over a proposal with our creative vision and, if your team likes what you see and hear, we'll send over a contract followed by our initial invoice. Once that's out of the way, we'll dive into our proprietary production process to get you content to disrupt.
How far in advance should my team or company contact EBS regarding a project or video?
We prefer to work with teams that have a content deadline at least 8 to 10 weeks out, but in some cases we've turned around quality productions in as little as 3 to 4 weeks. Not sure? Just ask!
How long does it take to create and send us finished videos or photography?
Our average is 5.5 weeks. In some cases, it may take 8 weeks or more for complex productions and a robust amount of deliverables. In other cases, it's taken 3 to 4 weeks if the scope is limited.
If it takes 5 to 6 weeks on average, why should we reach out 8 to 10 weeks before we launch?
In between delivery of our assets and the launch of your product or campaign, you'll want to test the assets thoroughly in a pre-launch marketing campaign for at least 3 to 8 weeks. You can do this by creating ads on Facebook, emailing interested parties, and getting some press outlets on your side. Not sure how to take care of all this? We'll introduce you to one of our partner agencies!
What if we finish all of the pre-production steps early, will EBS move up our production date and delivery date?
While it is a possibility, it is rarely done. Moving dates around after locked-in is usually cost-prohibitive.
Do I or my team have to be in the crowdfunding video?
No, but if you are comfortable on camera we would highly recommend participating in the pitch portion of your crowdfunding video as studies have shown this does increase trust with backers and thus more funding. At a minimum, we recommend that the inventor or an executive member of the team be featured in the video for at least 10 to 20 seconds to thank backers for their support.
We already have an idea or a script, can we still work together?
Absolutely! If you've already got a great idea or script, we'll use it as our foundation. If your idea or script needs work, and we don't feel confident in executing it to reach your goals, we'll let you know.
We already have a video, but we're not in love with it, can EBS help?
Yes. We've heard these horror stories before. Have no fear! We'll come in, take your raw footage, and make you a new video. We did this with the campaign videos for Itty Bitty City ($63K) and RippleBuds ($1.3M) and we can do it for you too. Want to learn how? Contact us!
Can we continue working together after the launch of our campaign or product?
Absolutely! Most of our campaign/product clients stick with us for years.
Does EBS do most of their work independent of their clients or is it closely-integrated?
We have worked extensively in both styles. If your team prefers to hand us the keys to the car, we'll take it from there while touching base on major milestones. If your team would like to be involved throughout the creative process, we're more than happy to collaborate.
Legal
Will my team and I own the rights to the videos and photos you send us?
Absolutely. All of our contracted clients own the rights to the deliverables. We do not resell, relicense, or otherwise distribute any work you've contracted with us. We only have two rules:
#1 We reserve the in-perpetuity right to use the deliverables to advertise our own services (in our demo reels, for general self-promotion, to feature on our website and social media, etc.).
#2 You cannot let another production studio, team, or agency claim credit for our work or use it in their reels and self-promotions.
Do we need to be incorporated in order for us to work together?
Not necessarily. If you're a sole proprietor or freelancer in need of content services, we can contract directly with you. For all entities with multiple partners involved - both for-profit and non-profit - we'll need the information for your LLC, Corporation, 401(c), 401(b), etc.
Do we have to sign a contract to work together?
Yes. We sign contracts for all scopes-of-work (whether $500 or $20,000). Our legal team features some of the most experienced content lawyers in the business.
Will EBS sign an NDA to help preserve our intellectual property or proprietary developments?
Yes. We have a mutual NDA (non-disclosure agreement) ready to go as soon as you reach out to us.
Are there any types of projects that EBS can't or won't work on?
Yes. While we will listen to any idea, we will never work on campaigns that promote the following:
Offensive material (e.g. hate speech, encouraging violence against others, etc.)
Offensive ideas (discrimination, bigotry, intolerance, racial and gender inequality, etc.)
Anti-scientific values or attempts to discredit publicly stated facts by the scientific community
Nicotine/tobacco usage and non-cannabis-related drugs or pharmaceuticals
Weapons, replicas of weapons, and firearms