Case Study

Velvet is proud to have worked on the Gautrain, South Africa's first rapid rail project. We have journeyed with the Gautrain team since 2006, capturing and telling the many stories along the way. As custodians of the Gautrain footage, from the onset, we recommended filming at the highest quality and chose the Red One, offering 4K resolution, to ensure all the footage would be available into the future for potential film projects and international television channels, to give the Gautrain the exposure it deserves.

We provided a turnkey solution in terms of monthly filming, editing, archiving and creating monthly content for Gautrain tv keeping the public abreast of progress. Many films have been individually commissioned, eg, the first, original film, “Phambili Gautrain Phambili” communicated the vision and benefits the Gautrain would bring to people. South African singer/songwriter, Wendy Oldfield was commissioned to write the song and this film has served well as one of the project's communication tools.

We have provided creative visual content for their many events over the years and the launch of the Gautrain in June 2010, saw us creating content for 7 huge screens, requiring separate edits, integrated into one story. This contributed to the wonderful impact and success of the event.

We were commissioned to produce the 1 hour History Documentary Film “From Dreams to Reality” designed to share this wonderful story with the world.

Our client base includes advertising, communication and marketing companies who represent the full spectrum of South African blue chip companies.
See what they have to say about us

Client testimonials

Dr Barbara Jensen (Head of Communications), Gautrain

The Velvet team has been working on the Gautrain history video since construction commenced on the project at the end of 2006. Not only are they responsible for documenting the history, they also form an integral part in events. Their ability to translate the complex Gautrain construction and processes into a story contributed to the success of the communication on the project. All four audio-visuals they produced for the Gautrain Commencement of Construction event on 05 June 2010 won a special mention of the judges at the International CineRail Awards in Paris in March 2011.

Peter Rolt (Managing Director), Rolt Advertising

I have had the pleasure of working with Jannine and Velvet on a number of commercials for almost 10 years.
I enjoy our relationship immensely because of Velvet's clear understanding of my requirements and their ability to deliver on production budgets that have varied from R10 000 to R1.5 million. The end product in all instances has been superb, highly professional and cost-efficient. It is also important for me to deal with a company that is flexible and sensitive to the needs of my clients - and none of the gobbledygook that a lot of production companies are notorious for. Here's to the next 10 years!

Tshilidzi Ratshitanga (Managing Director), Mitupo Investment Holdings

I came across Velvet some years back when I had a production that needed to be done rather quickly. Not only do they meet tight deadlines, they produced for us sterling films. I have used them ever since and appreciate the way in which they get intimately involved in all the projects we have worked on together. The Velvet crew is professional and base their work on detailed research that improve your own brief. Dale and Jannine are personally involved in the projects and their collective vast experience make out for a wonderful outcome of your projects. Velvet films handles both small and large contracts, but they treat them with equal status in terms of quality, that is rare and commendable.

Simon Morgan (Solutions Marketing Manager), Dimension Data

Working with Velvet has been a remarkably positive experience from the first planning sessions until post-production. What stood out to me was their drive and reliability which never compromised my own timelines and responsibilities. The recent video case study which Velvet produced for me has received raving comments from all stakeholders and I am looking forward to many more exciting projects

Marion Black (Senior Producer), Aspect Ltd.

I have worked with Velvet for the past three years and found them to be very helpful and flexible. Their camera operators and editors are really easy to work with and are always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. Being based in the UK, it’s essential that I have a company that I can rely on in South Africa and I know I can rely on Velvet

Elke Cramer (Creative Director), Adwork Ltd., Lagos, Nigeria, 2010

I’ve had the great pleasure of working with Velvet on a number of occasions, both from South Africa and Nigeria over the past several years. Jannine and her team can only be described as consummate professionals who leave no stone unturned to seek out the right solution and deliver again and again under the most challenging and often adverse conditions. I highly recommend Velvet for their unwavering commitment to the job on hand.