House of 8 Media — Local services in Carmel-by-the-Sea

My fiance and I were supposed to marry in April, but due to shelter in place, we were unable to wed. I called the Clerk’s office in Santa Cruz because our license was going to expire in roughly a month, but they wouldn’t budge on giving us an extension, so we had to find someone ordained or lose the license altogether.

Thinking how we would find someone to marry us, let alone video our wedding amidst COVID-19, seemed futile. But, a domino effect of good fortune came to us in the way of our neighbors. One is ordained, the others have a farm, and they knew of a videographer - Michael Buffo from House 8 Media. Together, they gifted us the most beautiful wedding and were witnesses to our vows.

From the beginning of our process, which was maybe 8 days or so total, Michael was incredibly patient, flexible and determined to make our ceremony accessible to our friends and family who couldn’t attend. We had a Zoom call to go over the details and services that he could provide, one of them being a live broadcast of our wedding to subscribers, or to video it and host a live webinar where all the subscribers “our wedding guests,” could view the ceremony the next day. We chose the latter, so we could just focus on the ceremony.

Working with Michael was also a gift. He is incredibly intuitive and heard what was important for us as a couple. He was flexible with all the various locations we wanted to film, I think there were four different pit stops we made along the way to our altar. He also seamlessly fits into the ceremony, not at all intrusive. Most importantly, we wanted to invite and welcome our friends and family to feel like they were with us at the time of our ceremony, and he did just that.

Within hours he was able to incorporate the audio recordings that our friends and family sent us into the video. A stand out was how Michael incorporated my step-dad singing “Into the Mystic” as we walked alongside pictures of our family and friends into the ceremonial space.

The next morning we were able to watch it on the webinar link that Michael provided, and one by one, we were able to read the excited chats of all our family and friends. We also were able to ‘in real-time’ say thank you to everyone at the beginning and ending of the broadcast. The only snag in the process was that my internet browser was incompatible with the webinar platform, luckily we were able to jump on a different computer and log back in.

The response I received from my family, especially my parents who couldn’t attend, was that it was truly meaningful for them to feel like they were there. They really enjoyed how they felt part of everything and not just the watching of our vows, but from the moment the video started how they were welcomed into our home, our lives, meeting our neighbors, seeing the procession, the ceremony, and the toasts at the end, they just were so grateful to be there.

For what could have been a very sad or somber experience, not having our loved ones with us, it truly was joyful and the best possible outcome given our current circumstances. We had all of the love and support with us on the day of and after, and Michael made that possible for us. I can never thank him enough for all of his effort that seemed effortless. And we have a beautiful, lasting memory that perfectly captured my husband and I on our...

I was looking for a company to help me film and edit a client testimonial for my online fitness coaching program. I'm based in Boise and my client lives close to Monterey.

I'm very hands on with what I do, so I was naturally apprehensive during my search for a production company since I wouldn't be able to meet in person.

I've worked in the film industry and my experiences have always been in-person from the early stages all the way to sitting in the editing room until the final cut was completed.

I was also a bit nervous because I wanted to get through this process without it become terribly annoying for my client!

I found samples of Michael's work during my search that I loved! I contacted him right away.

Michael's professionalism and crystal clear understanding of my needs instantly put me to ease! He's extremely knowledgable and also fun to speak with. I feel as though I've completed a mini film course or a how-to-nail your online coaching course after we speak.

Having worked in front of the camera, I know how intimidating that experience can be. Michael gets it! He is prepared to make the experience a comfortable one. He's friendly and easy to be around, and I think anyone who is going to be in front of the camera, will feel more comfortable with Michael around.

I didn't have a chance to speak with his editor yet, Jules Hart, but let me just say that I haven't witnessed such a quick turn around with an edit.

The only issue I had with this process was that everything was so good!! which makes it REALLY hard to pick what to leave out for certain versions that have to be shorter in length.

It's not easy to find this combination of creativity, professionalism, and sophistication with a team. I'm looking forward to working with them...

I highly recommend Mike Buffo and House of 8 Media for any video project you may have. A year ago, we entrusted Mike with creating a video to portray the 60-year legacy of Gateway Center, capturing our past, present work, and future aspirations. Mike's expertise shone through as he guided us through the production process, offering valuable insights on interviews, settings, and messaging. The end result was a phenomenal legacy video that resonated with our audience and amplified our brand presence across various platforms. We premiered the video at our 60th Anniversary Gala and it was loved by all attendees. Mike seamlessly translated our visions into impactful visuals, demonstrating his creativity and professionalism. Additionally, his team delivered compelling 60-second reels for our social media outreach and a on point video for our annual dinner this year. Mike's kind heart, collaborative nature, and remarkable talent make him a top choice for any video project. Thanks to the exceptional videos produced by Mike and his team, we were able to raise significant funds for our nonprofit. A true gem in the industry, I wholeheartedly endorse Mike and...