The Ghent-based video production company helps businesses and organisations up their communications game with videos, whether animated or live action. Every video starts with a well-thought-out strategy and ends with SEO-proof distribution.
Win-win networking
It was Pieter-Paulus at Aaltra who put Stef at Blue Lines in touch with Jakob from Well Played at a new year’s reception in early 2015. That chance meeting was the beginning of a wonderful new collaboration between Well Played – still known as Seeq back then – and Blue Lines.
Translating for video: it’s all about subtle nuance
Freya Schits, project manager at Well Played: “We develop videos for a very broad range of target groups: B2B and B2C, multinationals and start-ups. Our clients include Ghent University Hospital, the Flemish government, Runners’ Lab, VRT and Partena. So they are a really diverse bunch. Their aims and target groups determine the way we communicate. We expect any nuances present in the original script to be reflected in the translation. We mainly need translations into English, French and German, but on occasions we’ve also had scripts translated into Japanese or Brazilian Portuguese. From time to time, we’re asked to add regional accents or localise a British English message to make it work in an Australian context, for example. As a project manager, my responsibilities include ordering and following up on the translations of our scripts and text-on-screen messages. I know I can always count on Blue Lines for a quick response, including a clear overview of how much things will cost and when everything will be ready. You also always plan ahead, coming up with expert solutions to potential challenges or problems.”
The best is yet to come
Video Killed the Radio Star. Forty years ago, The Buggles were already waxing nostalgic about radio having to make way for video. But fast forward to 2020, and video is still far from reaching its peak.
Freya: “Increasingly, companies are starting to see video as an important part of their content strategy. Even during the coronavirus crisis, demand did not drop off. Of course, proper communication is everything in times of crisis. Short but powerful videos are often ideal in such cases. Luckily, there’s no need for people to meet face to face when producing (animated) video ;-).”
Context matters
Freya: “It’s obvious really, but to be able to translate a video’s message well, you need the see the actual footage. If a video isn’t finished yet, we’ll send the translator a draft version instead. People have limited time and attention spans, so the main message and the right feeling need to be conveyed as concisely and clearly as possible. Explaining complex issues in a smart video, with a powerful message regardless of the target language: that’s the challenge we face every day.”
The proof is in the pudding! Just take a look at the explainer video Well Played has developed for Bakeronline. With a translation into Spanish courtesy of Blue Lines, ¡por supuesto! 😉