I am probably going to get cancelled for this statement, but anyone who knows me knows I live quite well with that. The world has changed enormously from the day I was born until now. Forty-seven years of life. There have been significant advances in many areas, surprising developments in others and, in my view, slight setbacks of severe magnitude in certain matters made possible only because of the freedom we have established. It is important not to forget that. Freedom is wonderful. Unique. Singular. Undeniable. The fact that we are free and able to debate any subject without direct consequence cannot turn us into contagious carriers of non-uniform truths. In my understanding, there are things that do not change in my mind. One of them concerns the distinction between Man and Woman. Mother and Father are distinct “things”. And both are necessary and incomparable. They shape. They build. They equip. They complement one another. “One cannot live without the other.” Call me old-fashioned, outdated, classically cancellable, but the truth is that the protective instinct of a Mother and a Father manifests itself differently. Certain aspects are more relevant to one than the other. And that is wonderful. The strength born from that combination is indestructible. Or at least that is what I felt from 5 June 2017 onwards, the day my little “olive” was born.
If Rute had fought a dragon, an elephant, a rhinoceros and a lion simultaneously, I – who barely participated in the process – became thirsty for blood, earth and conquest. I radiated vigour, strength and ambition.
I have mentioned several times that the story of B16 crosses paths with my personal story. B16, Unipessoal, LDA grew throughout its first decade of existence and these episodes demonstrate how it would eventually become the holding structure of the following decade. Some entrepreneurs even say that “processes are transversal”. The steps are the same. Every partner must climb their staircase individually, and each person takes their own time to move through the various stages of the journey. I try to tell mine as this account unfolds. And the truth is that, in crucial moments – good or bad – the mind defines how we travel each stretch.
It is hard to believe that the second half of 2017 happened this way. The list of content I present in this chapter does not seem humanly possible to me. How did João Costa and I, with occasional help from others, create so much in such little time? Two people. Endless energy. Dozens of projects. And, consequently, many invoices out in the worl
That was my protective instinct as a Man. As a provider. Prospecting. Producing. Saving. Pioneering. Doing whatever was necessary, both in the present and for the future.
I can locate each project on the calendar, but amidst the immense joy that fatherhood brought me, everything feels blurred. I cannot remember whether this project came first, or that one, or the other one after that. I simply know that we did all of this during the period when My Dear Daughter was born. And, in my modest opinion, it was all well done.
The second half of 2017 truly deserves one of my favourite company names: “Content Factory”. I love it. Much like Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory, which I used to love watching – on our scale, of course. I have just remembered the “Gato Fedorento” sketch about “nano, micro, small and medium-sized businesses”. My mind really is cable television. But yes, that is exactly it.
I will try to recap each project with brief comments. But it is important to note that throughout this second half of the year, my premature daughter required attention 24 hours a day, our dog Tofo had his rituals, family time was essential and, professionally, I still maintained the retainer with Ambifaro while continuing to support Infralobo and Grupo Prime Pass. None of those clients will be portrayed here. Still, here are the little “things” we kept doing…
VIDEO PRODUCTION
Video Production for Grupo Timing
As mentioned earlier, we secured a video production retainer with Grupo Timing. The beginning of the partnership was shaped by strategic alignment. We managed expectations and tried to synchronise the teams. Regardless of how long that process took, we managed to produce: 3 short clips for immediate recruitment campaigns and one promotional summer best-of.
Video Production for Help 21 Gym
Grupo Timing owns several companies (more than 10), and one of them at the time was Help 21 Gym. We had the opportunity to produce: 1 promo for the Colour Run event and another for their summer event.
Video Production for Hotel Faro
With the launch of the Hotel Restaurant’s new concept, we were invited to provide press relations support and capture the launch event.
Production of the Video for Ao Rubro
The Algarve’s first LED advertising van was introduced to the market with this promotional video. A result different from what the Client expected, but one we remain proud of because of the concept we managed to materialise.
Production of the Video for Byho
We followed the production of the sculpture displayed at MAR Shopping Algarve, created by Byho, an interior design company.
Production of Short Clips for Endemic Azores
We launched a collection of short clips and helped distribute them across their social media platforms.
Video Production Proposal for Casa Mestre
A promotional film that never came to life, but which gave us immense pleasure to imagine, especially while visiting the venue in person and enjoying some proper waves in what feels like our second home: Sagres, Vila do Bispo and the Costa Vicentina.
Video Production Proposal for Associação Turismo do Algarve
Nothing came of it either, but we presented a proposal for a promotional video aimed at promoting the Golf segment in the international market
BRANDING & DESIGN
Development of the Graphic Identity for After Life Funeral Services
I worked alongside Marcelo Souto on the development of this brand and the visual identity for this funeral services business concept. A project that was never actually launched, but one that still makes us proud because of the final outcome.
We refreshed the Vidalgym logo.
Discussions with an Investor for a Local Clothing Brand
An individual inspired by his travels contacted us to develop a premium-quality clothing line aimed at tourists visiting Faro and the Algarve. It also never moved forward.
BUSINESS CONSULTANCY
Communication Plan and Business Strategy for Sisgarbe
This was the year we began our relationship with Sisgarbe. Miguel Anastácio was introduced to me by Miguel Fernandes, and this was when we started outlining the path towards a 2018 in which half of my time would end up being spent inside that company. The diagnostic phase began around this period and all the work that followed will be described in due time.
I did everything for this Client: legal advisory support, recruitment, Mystery Client operations, team coordination, implementation of a Quality Management System, rebranding, communication planning, outdoor advertising, countless meetings and conversations with shareholders and decision-makers.
Later on, what emerged from that relationship deserves a chapter of its own. We’ll get there. For now, I’ll simply share the process behind approaching the organisational culture and the recap video from the first event we organised together.
“WORK CONVERSATIONS” ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
We produced 9 episodes of a mini-series that still makes me incredibly happy today. We created them slowly, without pressure, without a strict schedule, simply whenever we felt inspired to do so.
We innovated in all of them. Some worked better than others. Some had extensive pre-production, others had none at all. Some were long, others short. A campaign proudly filled with B16 DNA. I leave here a playlist with all of them.
DREAMS COMING TRUE
Marcelo got married during this period. He held one ceremony in the Algarve and another in Japan.
I tattooed Jamie Thomas’ Leap of Faith on my leg.
I fulfilled a teenage dream: getting my sailor’s licence.
MORE THINGS AT THE OFFICE
This was the first time I started thinking about case studies as a vehicle to attract more Clients. I began surrounding myself with the results the company had already achieved during its first and second years of existence.
And we brought in more furniture…
And we wrote on the board…
And we painted more things…
And we bought more toys…
And we stuck stickers on the toilet door…
And we issued more invoices…
From the balcony we witnessed something beginning to emerge at the entrance doors of the old Cinema Santo António. We had no idea what it was (or who), so we documented the moment. Who would have thought that years later they would become our Clients?
THE PITCH THAT CHANGED OUR LIVES
And on a summer afternoon, alone at the office, we started wondering why we shouldn’t proactively present a proposal for ongoing video production services to MAR Shopping Algarve.
If they were opening in October, why not offer them a full year of content solutions? This video sits comfortably in the TOP 5 of Made by B16 content.
CONTENT RETAINER WITH MAR SHOPPING ALGARVE
We scheduled a meeting with the shopping centre’s management team and the only thing we produced was a double-sided A4 sheet, laminated. On the day of the meeting we said: “We’re not particularly good at these things, so we made you a video presentation instead.” I remember it as if it were yesterday: inside the meeting room of the construction-site container sat myself, João Costa, Herman and Sandrine. We pressed play and watched their reaction. Incredible.They asked us to replay it. Approved on the spot. Once again, a winning pitch. That’s how every pitch should feel: confident, victorious, solid.
From that meeting onwards, we headed straight to the centre’s grand opening…
And ever since then, we’ve never stopped working with them. We’re now approaching almost 10 years of collaboration with the Ingka Group. That same year, we produced the following social media videos.
B16 WEBSITE
Finally, we ended the year with a particularly interesting challenge: our first actual website model – until then, we had only had a splash page.
We collaborated with a great long-time friend, Rui Correia. The idea was to create a simple, mechanical, basic, arcade-style website, but layered with artistic collages and mouse-over effects.
We provided the core ideas and from that point onwards, the magic belonged to him and Gonçalo Dias, who assembled/programmed the whole thing.
I don’t know whether it was my protective instinct, the consequence of doing what I love, João Costa’s company, or the magic of novelty, but the truth is that B16 became a genuine Content Factory during that year.
Looking back, it’s genuinely fascinating to realise how every single one of the seeds mentioned above generated long-term consequences for the company. People who believe in us and help us grow through new challenges, new people and new perspectives; Clients who approach us to build one type of project and end up pursuing another; moments when we had no work and managed to create pieces of art out of pure procrastination; sources of inspiration emerging from beliefs, objects and places as simple as the ones we truly stop to observe.
Yesterday, I kept repeating the chorus of a song by “NOME”:
“Listen carefully to what you see;
See clearly what you are not.
Feel,
Time in your hands.”
Nothing could make more sense.
I think that’s exactly what we did…
As long as I’m alive, MY PEOPLE will never go hungry.
I might not be able to fight them all at once, but…
Dragons? Lions? Rhinoceroses? Elephants?
I eat them for breakfast!
😀
