Swhype ‣ for Video

Swhype is a Creative Video Agency, creating film & animation for brands, businesses, agencies and charities.

We work with forward-thinking brands and agencies, businesses and charities to create award-winning video content, film and design. We have created content for retail brands like John Lewis and The White Company, publishers like Phaidon and The Pool, and innovative organisations like Toyota and the BBC. Our ability to connect audiences with emotive brand content is key to our 'Swhypeology’ (the science of creative chemistry).

We have our roots in the independent film community - supporting emerging directors and animators through our ‘four-wheel film festival’, Cannes in a Van as well as the Music vs Film 'mash-up', Screen Social and open-source live event 'h264'.

We like to move… pictures and people.

––––––––––––––

Swhype's services include:
‣ Video Direction, Video Production & Editing / Post-production
‣ Animation & Motion Graphics for Brands & Business
‣ Virtual Events + Remote Video Creation
‣ Video Marketing
‣ Social Media Marketing
‣ Branded Video Content
‣ Motion Design for Broadcast 
‣ Editorial Design
‣ Art-direction: photo shoots – location, studio, still life, celebrity, fashion, concepts, portrait
‣ Digital Design – websites, HTML, CSS, newsletter templates, banner ads, e-zines & iPad publishing.
‣ Commissioning photographers, illustrators, makeup artists, stylists
‣ Advertising & Marketing Concepts
‣ Branding
‣ Photography
‣ Copywriting
‣ Visualising Concepts

Creative Director + Co-founder ‣  Film & Animation for Brands, Agencies, Businesses + Charities

Scwair1

A changing world needs an open attitude to change. Embracing it, analysing it and seeing the opportunities thrown up by it. We’ll explore every aspect of growth as we ourselves grow. 

Scwair One can apply as much to personal development as business development and is itself an initiative started from scratch, with the aim of helping people to realise their potential, get over the hurdles put up by ourselves and the business world and talk to people who have done it, are doing it and are intending to do it.

Scwair One Films tells stories of people who do good stuff.
To inspire people to do good stuff.

open• is an experiment in community and tribe-finding.
It's an open 12 hour Zoom call for anyone wanting to talk, listen and learn from others who think the way they do.

Our first peer-to-peer support initiative was The Mentor Exchange – a mutual mentorship hub founded during Covid that helped independent thinkers connect to share knowledge and advice.
Access @ mentorexchange.co

Follow the journey @ https://scwair1.com

Founder

The Dot & The Line

The Dot & The Line was an independent creative consultancy launched after my publishing career.
From this perspective I worked with entrepreneurs, startups, content agencies and brands, creating the best editorial, web, branding and DM solutions for their needs.

We provided support for content agencies and publishers, working on a number of launches, redesigns, pitches and digital design jobs. These have included such clients as Barclays, Eurostar, Tesco, M&S, Heal's, & Capita.

Creative Director

Cosmopolitan Magazine

I oversaw the creative direction of Cosmopolitan magazine during a challenging time in publishing, managing a brilliantly talented team in our Art & Picture Depts. 

I introduced retouching skills into our dept to help the team with the transition from digital to print and to give us more control over what ended up on the shelves.
During the economic squeeze of 2008 we offered our support to take on the responsibility for overseeing the creative commercial side of Cosmopolitan.

...along with all the usual creative director roles – editorial design, typography, photo-shoots, art direction, concept & ideation, office playlists etc.

Company Magazine

Art Director

Emap

Art Editor at More! Magazine

Director 🎬 Creative Director | Breathing Life into Brands + Business Through a Lens | The Creative Video Coach | Video Production | Former publishing creative director

If you’re a marketing director looking for a video agency partner.
An agency in need of a creative spark…
A founder who wants to explore brand video and social media….

You’re in the right place.

I’m Andy, and I run a creative motion agency called Swhype.
I help people, brands, agencies and businesses find a creative answer through video, design and open conversation.

We’ve worked for brands big and small.
We can sell what you do better than we can sell ourselves.

Because we’re not our business.
You are. If you want to be.

There are lots of other video companies to choose from.
They’ve won more awards.
Shout louder than we do.

But if you’d like one with experience, creative resolve and ideas which aren’t what everyone else is doing, then drop me a DM.

Email: andy@swhype.com

Call me for a chat about what you or your company needs.
…or just call for a chat : )

Brand work includes: AMEX, Three Mobile, John Lewis, Eurostar, Ocado, The White Company, IBM, Phaidon, P&O Cruises, Channel 4, BBC, Eurosport, Boots, ICAEW, Very, Clinique, WIRED.

---

Swhype's range of services includes:
‣ Video Direction, Production & Editing
‣ Corporate filmmaking
‣ Branded Content
‣ Advertising & Marketing Concepts
‣ Animation & Motion Graphics
‣ Virtual Events + Remote Video Creation
‣ Video Marketing & Social Media
‣ Copywriting
‣ Branding

I’ve changed my location on LinkedIn.


To the place where I live.

I know. Crazy, right?
You’d think I did that already.

Well, no actually.
Because it doesn’t matter where I call home.

I can work with any founder, business or agency… wherever they are.
Creative processes aren’t anchored to a local office.

But my hope during these 100 days of connection is that the algorithm will help me make new ones in and around my hometown.

If you don’t know where I live.
Check my profile - I might be up your street.

Until now local connections were something I stepped back from for all the same reasons others do.

→ Fear of social situations.
→ Imposter syndrome.
→ The distinct lack of ‘small talk’ subjects I have any grasp of.

‘Go deep or go home’ is my accidental ice-breaker – and I’m working on that.

But starting today.
I’m reaching out.
To anyone around my area.

→ Awesome people who are up for a chat.
→ Events which I can set an intention to attend.
→ Groups which might float my boat… 
or paddle board.

And tomorrow I’m taking the plunge.
To say at 8am I’ll be at Rockwater, Hove.
For my first open• walk.

An idea I had back in ‘22 when connection was all I craved.

I figured others could use it too.
So why not walk and talk.

It’s just taken this long to find my feet.

So if you’re near me.
And you fancy stretching your sea legs.
Maybe you want to keep me company.

Because connections go nowhere.
Unless someone makes the first move.

(Crickets and tumbleweeds need not apply).

…

This is day #5 of 100 days of connection.
If you’re in my area and would like to connect… or take a Sunday morning stroll… drop me a DM.

Who knows where it will go.

🙏

Happy weekend all.
You deserve it.

-

#open #community #videoproduction

Andy Greenhouse

Video is not poetry.


It’s not soft.
But sharp.
Jagged.
Awkward.

Video doesn’t breathe.

It’s far from organic.
Captured.
Edited.
Rendered.
Exported.

Video doesn’t come natural.

Pushed away.
Not for me.
Not for us.
Someday maybe.

Video won’t 10X ROI.

Until it does.
One day.
When you didn’t see it coming.

Video IS a medium.

A way to tell story.
To story a brand.
To brand a person.
To reach.
Millions.
If you tell the story right.

Video IS recyclable.

Its impact is low.
But it’s IMPACT.
Has the potential.
Of exponential.

Video IS an asset.

It will change how you do things.
As a business.
As a founder.
As a human.

Video IS an investment.

Of time.
Funds.
People.
Commitment.
That pays off.

Video is not poetry.

But it changes perspective.


Video is what I do.

What can video do for you?

…

Day #30 of 30 days of creativity.
Not what I expected.
But that’s the way it should be.

Follow, connect or tap the 🔔 for daily experiments in creativity.

DM if you’re open• to conversation.

-

#videoproduction #creativity #writing

Building a business is the most creative thing you can do.

.

It takes EVERYTHING you’ve got.

From the first eureka moment.
To the days you don’t want to get out of bed.

You live it.
You breathe it.
You wrestle with it.

You take it home.
A home you might even sacrifice for it.

To the pub.
Into your weekend.
And out the other side.

It’s relentless.
Unforgiving.

Adapt.
Or die.

Find a way.
And don’t stop when you have.

For me it began with a simple question.

What if I spent as much time working on my own stuff as I do working on someone else’s?

How could I fail.

Well, of course I did.
Many times over.

But you create your way out.
As I will continue to do.
Today, tomorrow and the next.

Because you know… 
If you reach for those stars.
You have to put a rocket up your analogy first.
Nobody is going to do it for you.

And one day you’ll look back.
From a place you never thought you’d get to.
Far from here… or there.
Where the planets finally align.

And you’ll say.

Damn.
At least I f>cking tried.

At least I did that.

…

How about you… 
Are you building… or ready to exit?

…

#29 of 30 days of creativity.
A fractured journey of thought and ideas.
(Which is a good description of my brain).

Follow, connect, or tap the profile 🔔 for daily words + thought bubbles.

DM if your business is building.

🙏 

-

#startups #creativity #videoproduction

‘Hi, I’m Andy and I’m self-conscious’.

.

This is the way I’d introduce myself at a networking thing if I EVER went to them.

‘I do video’.
‘You’re going to ignore me so why not start now’.

Damn. What a disservice I’m doing myself.

Even before I arrive.

But this story is only a story I play on repeat.
In my head.

The real scenario never happens quite like this.

Because I’ve learnt over the years that I need to push myself.

Sometimes that means travelling 1000s of miles to a San Diego event run by a podcaster I felt a connection with.

This was 2019 and Pat Flynn’s podcast was the one I had listened to on repeat for years.

I was always cynical about anything like this.
Events run by influencers in the US looking to make a quick buck by getting hundreds of people in a room to convince them that THEY TOO have what it takes… to get hundreds of people in a room to convince them that THEY TOO have…

You get the picture.

But something was different about Pat.
He spoke from a place of integrity.
Honesty. Vulnerability.

He was relatable.
He didn’t know it but we had…
A connection.

And he was running his first conference that wasn’t a conference… ‘FlynnCon’.

I knew no one.
No one knew me.

But I made an agreement with myself.

That before I had chance to think I would just say to anyone nearby ‘hi, I’m Andy’.
And reach out for their hand.

Avoiding the voice in my head’s death stare was easier than I thought.

And the conversations were 3 dimensional.
Not just… ‘what do you do?’.

After all I wasn’t there to do business.
I was there to grow.

On the morning of the final day I put out a post on Instagram saying I was at FlynnCon.

A guy called Frank Mendoza, MBA messaged me and we met for early breakfast.

We hung out. Exchanged numbers.
And when I returned home we agreed with another guy Asher that we’d meet up every week online – to help each other navigate the everyday entrepreneurial environment we found ourselves in.

We’ve shared so much over the years.
And Covid meant that our friendship became a lifeline.

Lately we’ve fallen off the wagon.
But we know we’re there for each other when we need to be.

An ocean apart.
But connected.

.

Hi. 
I’m Andy and I’m self-conscious.

Wanna have a conversation?

…

What do YOU say to the voice in your head?

…

Day #3 of 100 days of connection.
Sorry this was a long one.
But if you made it through… 
let’s have coffee : )

Follow, CONNECT or 🔔 me.
DM to chat.

-

#personaldevelopment #marketing #videoproduction

In 2011 I decided to take what I knew about running film nights and a mobile festival to the streets of Shoreditch.

But this wasn’t to be any old film night.

I wanted this to be social.

4 screens. 
All showing the same thing simultaneously.

Music. 
Surrounding us.

Independent film.
Live acts.
Music videos.
Spoken word.
Panel discussions.
Creative showcases.
Conversation.
Connection.

There was a bar called The Book Club round the corner from the office.

It had a basement.
With a PA.

Perfect.

I bought a URL.
One I thought summed the whole thing up.

‘I don’t want people to feel they can’t talk.
That’s the point. 
It’s called Screen Social for a reason.’

The ‘film & music mashup’ ran every month until 2017.
Each event punctuated with a theme.

We showcased future Oscar winners.
Bands who would go on to critical acclaim.
Live calls with industry folk.

And we planned each night with pin-point precision.

Although the plan was often shelved.
It was (almost) always fun.

A meeting of minds.
Of creativity coming together.
Visual, audible, physical.

Social.

We gave the door proceeds to Shelter.
The money wasn’t the point.

The belonging was.

I’m proud of those days.
And nights.

We survived.
Amongst a selection box of ‘cool & upcoming’.

Outsiders.
Non-promoters.
Just creatives.
Wanting to create.

Why?

Why did I choose to make my life harder by committing to something which took time, resources, brain space and copious amounts of stress?

Why?

Because I had never done it before.

…

Do you go all in with those big ideas?

…

This is day #22 of 30 days of creativity.
I’ll get back to the drawing board soon.

I’m Andy.
I create connection between brands, business and audience – through video, design and conversation.

I also try to help people get over their fear of video. One frame at a time.

Follow, connect or tap the profile 🔔 for daily creative thought bubbles + video tips.

DM for everything social.

🙏

-

#creativity #videoproduction #community

Yesterday I struggled.
On the call I host every Friday.


To communicate what was here.
[points at brain]

And send it to here.
[points at mouth]

It happens a lot.
My search for words.

In life.
In work.
In conversation.

A pause.

Becomes a black hole.
Constantly referencing itself in a split-second that feels like hours.

A momentary lapse becomes a chasm of self-consciousness.

Some see it as a weakness.
Take advantage of my inability to…‘comeback’.

But over the years I’ve adapted.
Used self-deprecation as a shield.

If I get there before you…
I’ve already used up your ammunition.

What else can you hit me with?

It’s now a pattern in my personality.
Protection before pain.

.

Writing became my answer.
The soulmate I never met.

I knew if I wrote, the words would (sometimes) come out the way I wanted them to.

And there wasn’t a time limit on the pause I could take.

So I wrote.
Just for me.

Thoughts, lyrics, scripts, stories, concepts, business ideas.

And over time… for others.
Newsletters, marketing stuff, treatments, proposals, storyboards.

Writing enabled me to express those things I couldn’t say.

To tell you how I feel when my mind is locked out and my mouth is frozen.

To let others know…
that if you feel like this you’re not alone.

Writing.
Became my emergency service.

The one I have on speed dial.

I’m still working on the speaking.
On the pauses that swallow my confidence whole.

I know it’ll take a lifetime.
It already has.

Video is helping.
Conversation is too.

But can I ask you one thing?
And you don’t have to answer.


Would you rather I just shut up?
Or try to speak my mind.


Please.
Speak yours.

🙏

…

#writing #personaldevelopment #videoproduction

The path might lead to a place you didn’t mean to go.

But it’s still the path.

.

If I tell you that yesterday I showed up.
That people came.
That we talked and walked.
In the early morning sun.
That we made connections.
And it was glorious…

Did I succeed?

.

If I tell you that yesterday I showed up.
That no one came.
That I walked and talked.
In the early morning sun.
With my supportive wife
Who was there ‘just in case’.
And it was glorious…

Did I fail?

.

Which truth would you rather believe?

And does it matter.

Either way.
I showed up.

And this week I will again.
Sunshine… or rain.

Just with more notice.
And a little less spontaneity.

Sometimes putting yourself in the position to fail.

Is the only way to succeed.

( See yesterdays post for context : )

…

I took a day out from LinkedIn.
Spent it on the beach, in the garden, amongst my family, the bees and the trees… had my hands in horse manure, mowed the lawn and made edits to a video in the breeze with hover flies buzzing in my ears.

Felt like a win to me.

…

Day #7 of 100 days of connection.
On Wednesday I’ll be embracing my fear of networking at the Media Production Show in Olympia.

If you’re going and you fancy connecting – drop me a comment or DM.

Follow, connect or 🔔 me for daily creative thought bubbles + video tips.

-

#open #personalgrowth #videoproduction

There’s one skill that will set you apart from everyone else.


You have it.

Maybe you can’t place it.
But you have it.

It’s the thing that people ask you for.
The reason clients need you.

It’s in the comment someone made.
When you said.
‘Really? Do I do that?

And only when you look.
In the mirror of a reflective mind.
Do you see that maybe they’re right.

.

I thought I was just a designer.
↳ Until someone saw more in me than myself.

I thought everyone could turn text into boards that tell stories.
↳ Until an agency told me they struggled to visualise video.

I thought I was stumbling through hosting  Zoom calls.
↳ Until I was told… ‘you hold space well’.

.

We all know we’re supposed to be unapologetically US.

But US through OUR eyes.
Isn’t the US that others see.

And sometimes it takes others.

To shout… ‘SKILL’.
In a perfect pitch.

For US.
To answer.
‘Yes. That was me’.

: )

…

What do THEY say… about you?

…

This is #25 of 30 days of creativity.
It’s in all of us. Not just the ones who were told.

Follow, connect or tap the 🔔 for daily creative thought bubbles + video tips… Andy Greenhouse.

DM if you’d like to storyboard that text.

-

#creativity #personalbranding #USP

No. 

To negativity.

That’s all.


.


Happy weekend.

Think your skills are just ‘common knowledge’? 


You’d be surprised how your everyday expertise can inspire others in just 90 seconds.

What’s obvious to you.
May not be obvious to them.

Share YOUR obvious.

.

This is the challenge I set last Friday.
For myself and others in the Selfie Video School group.

I took a couple of the most obvious things to look out for when filming on your phone.

Let me know if it connects any dots.
Or should I just stick to my day job?

Oh. 
This IS my day job : )

…

Day #4 of 100 days of connection.
Today I’m meeting someone new for actual coffee.

Follow, connect or 🔔 me for daily connective thought bubbles… Andy Greenhouse.

DM if my obvious can help yours.

-

#selfievideoschool #videoproduction #learningfromeachother

Like command-Z on the keyboard. 

I catch myself looking for the life ‘undo’ switch.

.

Andy. You can’t undo real life.

I know I say.
I know.

…

Do you ever just… feel like that?


: )

I don’t agree with brilliant people.

When they say those who don’t engage with their content are… ‘Lurkers’.

Calling them out before giving them the chance to speak.

Everyone has their reasons.
To look but not touch.

And negative nicknames don’t encourage.
They target.

So make them feel better about themselves instead.

And don’t call them ‘them’.
Like I just did.

They.
Are us.

Language is powerful.

Remember to use it right.

Right?

…

I’m Andy.
And I welcome your thoughts : )

Follow, connect or 🔔 me for daily creative thought bubbles + video tips.

DM if want to talk video but don’t know where to start.

…

#writing #community #videoproduction

It worked.
That thing you did.

Worked so well you want to go again.
Based on the numbers.

Maybe you can 10X it this time.
Make clones. 
Scale.
Rule the world through repetition.

But that thing you haven’t done yet.
You have no data on it.
No proof of concept.
No response.

The BIG campaign.
The NEW marketing approach.
The VIDEO.

No survey.
Market research.
Nothing to base success on.

Just a hunch.
A gut feeling.

A sense that this… 
might… just… come off.

On one hand it excites you.
On the other.
Scares you sh!tless.

So.
What do you do?

.

When I was the art director of Cosmopolitan I was told by the MD that ‘green covers don’t sell’.

The reason I figured…
There was no data for green covers.

Because almost none had ever been made.

And because there was no data.
The loop continued.

There would never be a green cover.
To base the data on.

⤷ That’s why we see so many ads with the same ‘quirky CGI/puppet character’ technique.

They’re a ‘safe’ bet.

⤷ It’s why people write a LinkedIn post based on a bullet-pointed template.

That apparently works.

⤷ And it’s why businesses who have never done video… 

Like to keep it that way.

.

But once in a while you have to put the data to one side.

Relegate the spreadsheet.
Confine it to a cell.

And explore the edges of what’s comfortable.

It’s there that new ideas live.
Ideas that capture imagination.
That inspire innovation.

That make people…

STOP

In 
their 
tracks.


So if green isn’t your colour.
But you fancy a change.


Buy a new wardrobe.

: )

…

Have you ever ditched the data?

…

I’m Andy.
And I make a point of helping people behind businesses connect with other humans through video, design and open conversation.

Connect, follow or tap the 🔔 my daily creative thought bubbles + video tips.

DM if you’d like to explore video but don’t know where to start.

.

#videoproduction #marketing #brandstrategy

Art vs Music

.

A conversation in our house last week.
Two behemoths.
One direction.

My only child.
Torn.
Between canvas and chords.

Asking parental advice.
From parents who question their own choices.

Hmmm.

She chose music.
AND art.

Geography. 
Became history.

Phew. 
May she go on to paint wonderful notes.

.

I was an artist.
They said.

These are some of my unearthed portfolio pieces from my college days.

Attention to detail.
Expression.
Focus.

I had it then.
So why not now.

Maybe spending hours staring at a fish head seems like a waste of time.

And naked people don’t often punctuate my day.

But I’ve built a wall.
One that is painted on the side I can’t see.
Shielding me.
From time and focus.
Fish heads and landscapes.

Maybe finding a ladder is what I need.
What we all need to step up to that thing we lost.

Lisa is starting a Sunday sketch club.
Lovely.

Maybe that’s the ladder.
Or at least the first rung.

…

Thanks to all on the call last Friday… when my daughter was lucky enough to meet some of the wisest souls I know… 
Your collective advice was priceless.

🙏

This is #24 of 30 days of creativity.
No wisdom imparted here.

But may art and music fill your days.
I know I look forward to mine.

-

#creativity #art #videoproduction

I took a 12 year detour.

From one career path to another.

One minute I was working in film trying to figure out how to be a director.

The next I was beginning a career as a magazine designer which would lead me into countless opportunities.

.

If it taught me one thing it’s this.

If you hold back you might miss out.



So don’t hold back.


…


This mashup is by the awesome Chris Evans-Roberts / Ithaca Audio.
I once saw it on YouTube and asked them if they would play it live at our Van d’Or independent film awards back in 2012.

They smashed it.

You’re welcome.

Glad I didn’t hold back.

: )

These next 100 days will change me.

.

Yesterday I set an intention.

Not just to write about connection for 100 days – but to also put myself in places I don’t want to go.

Those places will be networking events (the good ones)… group discussions… extra hot coffees with perfect strangers… and opportunities to connect… which I’ll recognise, embrace, but can’t yet comprehend.

Don’t get me wrong.

I love people.
I really do.

But breaking the ice has always been something I’ve slipped away from.

So I generally give it the cold shoulder.

Of course, it’s not all about avoidance techniques and imposter syndrome.

Connection has been the fuel for my career.

Every one of us is where we are because of a chain of events we mostly didn’t see coming.

My road was as long and winding as the next person.

And back when I set off there was no google map.

No way of charting.
Or knowing.
What course (or courses) I would take.

But maybe I knew I’d somehow always land here.

In a place where others bring you up.
Where true human connection moves from a word… to a non-virtual hug.

Those places.
I want to see more of.

And I’d love to meet you along the way.

…

Tell me.
Did this connect?
Or leave you out on the cold.

…

This is day #1 of 100 days of connection.
The most exciting self-challenge yet.

Every day I will connect a new dot.
If you have 30 minutes, maybe that’s you?

Follow, connect (obvs) or 🔔 me to keep tabs on my progress… Andy Greenhouse.

DM to say hi.

…

“And promise you, kid, 
I'll give so much more than I get.
I just haven't met you yet”
– Michael Bublé

-

#community #personaldevelopment #videoproduction

Standing in a space.
Outside my normal.

Inspiration comes.
Why don’t I have a bottle.
To place it inside.

I asked inspiration.
‘Why do you always appear when I don’t have a pen?’.

It didn’t answer.

Just made its exit.
As quickly as it came in.



. 



This is my inspiration.
She ignites me every day.

Right now she’s hiking with friends.
Learning how life was before social pressure took away childhoods.

No phones.
Just a backpack of possibility.

And pain au chocolat.


…


Today is World Creativity Day.
Someone decided.

So my question…


Who inspires you?


-

#creativity #writing #family #deepdeeplove

An open• walk experiment.

If you’re in Brighton or Hove.
And feel like connecting with other humans.
An open• walk might be your thing.

Just people.
Talking. 
Walking.

No agenda.
Just connection.
open• conversation.
And coffee.

Sunday 12th May
Meet @ 8am
Rockwater coffee shack, Hove seafront.

Oh.
That’s today.

Yep.
Better get my skates on.

DM or just turn up.

🙏


-

#community #connection

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