Kinema Group

It’s been 2 years and we are still waiting for our video. Anyone else left high and try by videographer/​editor Justin Capadocia?

My experience with Kinema thus far has been mixed, but to date it’s been disheartening to say the least.
In the beginning:
We were looking into wedding videographers and our venue recommended Kinema as their preferred vendor, so we went with them (later we found out Kinema had never even done an event at this venue). In the beginning things seemed fine — they seemed to have a professional website and examples of their work. They have a high cost, but promote that their equipment and quality is worth it. We bought their package which included a documentary video about 15 – 20 minutes long, a highlights video about 2 – 3 minutes to a song, and the dvd’s/additional footage they did not use.
Before the big day:
They asked us to keep in contact with «Jimmy Tan» throughout the process. A few weeks before the wedding (when things seemed most hectic and we were trying to organize timing and a final walk through with all the vendors) he became unavailable. He stopped answering all of our emails, and we were not even sure a representative would show at our final walk through. Luckily someone did. The day of the wedding the videographers showed up late and missed the girls getting their hair and makeup done, but they were there in time for some other «getting ready» activities. The rest of the day seemed to go very well. They had even offered to set up a time lapse camera for us that would video the entire day from set up to break down.
The deadline:
We were told we’d receive a first cut of our videos in 6 months. 6 months came and went, and we were then told 8 – 9 months. 8 – 9 months came and went and we’ve been on this roller coaster for over 17 months now. We’ve had over 20 deadlines promised with no product delivered. They sent over a few clips, probably just something to hold us over. They did send a longer video at one point, but it wasn’t the highlights reel or the documentary, and did not include some of the key clips we’d discussed ahead of time, and included some clips we’d ask not to have.
Communication:
Justin Capadocia replaced Jimmy as our point of contact shortly after our wedding because we had complained Jimmy would never respond to us. He was one of our videographers and one of the main people who edit the videos. Justin was very nice and friendly, and at first decently responsive. Now he ignores 3 – 4 emails before replying. We used to have a phone number for him, but apparently there was a time he had no phone or access and offered to call us when he could. We talked once when he was available and he assured us this time he would get everything done. We had high hopes. That deadline of course came and went and we didn’t even receive an email updating us. Add that to all the other deadlines he’s given and not delivered on.
Why isn’t the video done?
We’ve received a handful of excuses, all related to personal issues. On the outside, Kinema seems to be a professional video editing company, but working with them as a client you see that they seem to just be a group of people who do this in their spare time, and put their «real jobs» and other personal priorities ahead of their Kinema work. My husband and I are in a similar industry so we know exactly what it is like to have a client, deadline, and project we need to get done that relies solely on us. This would never fly with any of our clients.
What now.
Unfortunately we are looking into taking legal action. There just hasn’t been any way for us to motivate Kinema to complete our videos, and it’s getting ridiculous emailing people who do not respond or give us a number we can reach them at. We feel completely taken advantage of and are also hoping to get all or most of our money back along with our videos.
The purpose of a wedding video is for the couple and their loved ones to be able to relive the day for years to come. Something that makes them happy. Everything to do with these videos has put a bad taste in my mouth. When I hear the song we picked for our highlights reel I cringe. Kinema has managed to turn something great into something I associate with something stressful, disappointing, and just sad. We were most excited about the highlights video so we could post it online and share it with everyone. Now that it’s been so long since our wedding it seems almost foolish to post it if we ever receive it. I’m upset about the money spent and all the frustration Kinema has brought us, but more upset how they’ve effected the way I view this aspect of my wedding day.

We were one of the first weddings that Kinema Group shot and so we did bear through some of their growing pains as they dealt with their rapid growth. BUT, in the end, we got a wedding video that was unbelievably awesome. Everybody that I’ve shown the videos to has been amazed (a few have even cried!). I’m looking forward to booking them for future events and creeping on their Vimeo page to see if any of their new videos are better than ours. =P

I saw their work through a friend’s wedding, and was very interested in gettting these guys for my own wedding until I got in contact with them and they are nowhere near ready to handle their demand and really need work on their Customer Service. Response time is very poor. We are all busy, but if you’re really trying to get a good name out there for a new business, I suggest to work on that portion for potential customers, otherwise, you will continue to lose big time referrals out there. They have lost out on a good wedding that could’ve open up vast opportunities, being I have many friends who are engaged and have a huge family that I cannot refer these guys to. I have found an awesome Videographer (who I will be reviewing after the big day…) that is responsive, brilliant, and more experienced/​established that can pretty much work with everyone.

AWESOME.
That is all.