How Hanzo Film Production Company Drove ROI for a Regional Brand
Every brand wants a return on their investment. When it comes to video, that ROI often comes from organic reach and earned media; audiences sharing your content because they genuinely connect with it. As an award-winning film production company that has created films for global brands like IKEA, Nissan, and McDonald’s, we’ve seen one truth play out time and again: you can’t force a connection.
The most successful brand films don’t feel like ads at all. They prioritize story over the sale. Here’s our insider take on how to approach your next film to drive real, measurable results.
The ROI Killer: A Common Branding Mistake
We see brands make one frequent misstep that almost guarantees a film won’t be shared. They treat the screen like a billboard.
The instinct is to ask for more branding: a bigger logo, more product shots, more direct messaging. The thinking is that if you’re paying for a film, your brand should be the star. In reality, this approach is the fastest way to lose your audience. People have a sixth sense for a sales pitch, and they will tune out immediately. This kills shareability, limits your reach to paid media, and prevents you from earning the massive ROI that a viral hit can deliver.
How to Drive Real ROI: Focus on the Narrative
The solution is to flip the model. Instead of inserting a story into a brand message, you must weave your brand values into a powerful, universal story.
Prioritize Radical Simplicity
Our most successful project taught us that the most impactful creative choice was “to keep the storytelling extremely simple.” A story that relies on core emotions and clear body language will resonate with anyone, anywhere, regardless of language or culture. Don’t overcomplicate the script or narration. If the emotion is true, the audience will feel it.
Let Your Brand Values Do the Talking
Your brand doesn’t need to be the hero of the story, but its values should be the foundation. For one major banking client, we knew “Emirates NBD has a strong CSR and volunteering program, which aligned naturally with the story.” We didn’t need to mention the program. The story of giving was a direct reflection of their values. This creates a much deeper, more authentic connection than a logo ever could.
Embrace Subtle Branding
Trust your production partner to integrate your brand in a way that feels authentic. For that same banking client, the directive was clear: “they didn’t want it to become a typical brand film.” The only direct branding in the entire film was a single, quick shot of an ATM. By allowing the story to breathe, the brand became associated with a powerful, positive emotion rather than just a product.
Proof in Practice: The “Give in to Giving” Success Story
We were tasked by Emirates NBD to create a film promoting a local volunteering campaign. By focusing on a simple, emotional narrative and keeping the branding subtle, we collaborated to produce a film that delivered unprecedented ROI.
The results went far beyond the original local goal:
- It became the most-watched animated commercial launched from the region, with over 300 million views.
- It went viral in more than 25 countries, with massive organic reach in unexpected markets like Brazil.
- The client earned an estimated $3 million in free media time (earned media).
- It won over 27 international awards.
The film was so universally understood that, as our team discovered, it “was even shared on WhatsApp family groups, often mislabeled as the Oscar-winning short film Piper.” This is the power of a story-first approach. It transforms a commercial into a piece of art that people actively want to share.
Ready to Create a Film That Delivers Results?
Choosing to prioritize your story is the first step toward creating a film that not only captures attention but also drives significant business value. Don’t settle for a film that just looks good; demand a film that works for you.
If you’re ready for cinematic storytelling that moves markets, contact Hanzo Films today.
