One of Tony Coll’s specialities is turning a corporate message into a memorable piece of communication. These examples are from corporate videos, but the same can apply in a speech or presentation, in print, in a live stage show, an interactive or web project.
Talking cranes – a building site safety video was enlivened by having, instead of a conventional commentary, a running, bickering conversation between the two tall cranes which towered over the site. As they moved their massive jibs, they pointed out the health and safety errors being made by the mortals down below. Too bad for the careless site workers that only cranes can hear other cranes talk! top
Consequences – a large national retailer wanted a creative video designed to deter staff theft. The programme dramatised three stories, unfolding in tandem, showing the consequences of staff theft to their relatives. As the culprits were caught, questioned and arrested, we saw what happened to their families, and the point was powerfully made that when employees steal, their loved ones suffer too. top
Treasure Island – a multinational telecommunications company asked for a fun way of helping employees to understand and apply their company values. We made a version of Treasure Island in which each value was personified by a character. They had to build and sail a raft co-operatively – so each character demonstrated a distinct approach, but conceded the need for them all to work together. top
Monster mail – a video about the speed and flexibility of a national courier began with a museum curator shipping a small piece of dinosaur bone to an exhibition. Then he got a phone call to say he’d left out a piece. The extra part was dispatched. And the payoff was that even though it was wrapped, it was obvious that the “missing piece” was an entire dinosaur - lacking only the last bone in its tail. And that, of course, was the first piece. top
Pizza man – staff induction videos are a useful way of introducing newcomers to an organisation and its values. However, office shots can get tedious. For one company, we had a delivery man endlessly trying to deliver a pizza that no one would admit to ordering. As he wandered between departments in increasing bewilderment, he (and we) we found out, as if by chance, what they all did.
