The debate about using a post-production agency for awesome retouching and CGI versus an in-house agency is one that has been raging for years.
In that time there has surely been every derivative imaginable – we have in-house, out-house, on-site, off-site, traditional, hybrid, full-service, boutique, offshore; we're sure that even virtual-traditional-hybrid-offshore has existed somewhere!
So, with all that ambiguousness it should come as no surprise that the long list of pros and cons for each model will be debated for many years to come, but for now, let’s leave that for another time.
Instead, we’d like to tell you the story of how we support our agency clients and the crucial role we play as part of a unified team, delivering project after project in absolute harmony.
Sounds blissful, so what do we do specifically? Well, to put it simply, we just kick.
Let’s kick this off with a slightly tongue in cheek sports analogy.
Aside from all the people who work hard behind the scenes, an American Football team consists of attack and defence and as a comparison, let’s say in this case an agency has creatives and artworkers.
These guys get the most game time and they are the coach’s regular players – the first picks, the go-to-guys – but ask any fan and they would agree that for those big game-defining moments, putting the ball between the posts from 50 yards requires a different type of player.
Enter ‘The Kicker.’
The Kicker has a different build, the Kicker has different talents, the Kicker has a different way of doing things but don’t forget, despite these differences the Kicker always knows the team’s playbook.
In short, The Kicker is the specialist. The Kicker is The Bunker.
Unlike the Dallas Cowboys or Miami Dolphins, most agencies or clients cannot afford to have a Kicker just sat on the bench waiting for that big moment to perform, it simply makes no commercial sense.
So, when that big moment arrives, the coach thinks, "Well we don’t have a kicker, let’s give the creative a go" or "What about the artworker? Maybe they could give it a shot".
And guess what... despite all the hard work and effort of the team’s regulars, the ball hangs agonisingly in the air before ricocheting off the outside of the post... the crowd gasp and that potentially award-winning piece of work sent wide of the target and the moment has gone, forever.
It’s a clever coach that knows the impact the Kicker will have on this moment. Knowing what’s at stake and knowing that only perfection will win the game, he waves The Bunker onto the field.
So Coach, if your team needs a Kicker, now you know where to find one.