[Dongguk University Campus Town X IT Donga] Dongguk University has been participating in the Seoul Campus Town project since 2022, creating a startup ecosystem in the northwestern urban area. By supporting deep tech and cultural content startups, it has been selected as an excellent case of startup nurturing for two consecutive years and received an A+ grade in the 2024 Seoul Campus Town performance evaluation. IT Donga introduces promising startups developing alongside Dongguk University Campus Town.

Frontworks develops and operates the platform 'FILM US,' which connects video clients and producers and conducts the entire video production process in a one-stop manner. FILM US analyzes the capabilities of producers using an AI-based capability analysis algorithm and connects them with suitable clients. It also provides a collaborative space to support cooperation between clients and producers until the final product is completed.

This allows clients to easily and quickly meet suitable producers and create the desired video, even without prior video production experience or knowledge. Producers can work in a more comfortable environment through smooth communication and collaboration with clients.

Frontworks recently added the project auto-setting feature 'Blueprint' and the project management feature 'Video Production Studio.' Frontworks explains that these features, reflecting user feedback, will enhance the convenience and work efficiency of both clients and producers.

Frontworks CEO Kim Yong-min and Chief Branding Officer (CBO) Cho Ye-eun discussed FILM US and the new features.


Founded to Solve Problems Experienced in Video Production

IT Donga: Hello, CEO Kim Yong-min and CBO Cho Ye-eun. Please introduce yourselves.

CEO Kim Yong-min: Hello, I am Kim Yong-min from Frontworks. I have worked as a video director for about seven years, producing over 120 videos, including movies, dramas, and promotional materials. Since 2018, I have worked as the head of original content at an OTT platform startup. Then, in July 2023, I started Frontworks with video professionals I worked with at the startup. Frontworks was incorporated in May 2024.

CBO Cho Ye-eun: Hello, I am Cho Ye-eun from Frontworks. I am also a video director with seven years of experience, mainly producing promotional videos for public institutions or local governments. I have been involved with Frontworks since the business idea conception stage and am currently in charge of branding, marketing, and customer analysis.

IT Donga: What led you to join Frontworks, CBO Cho Ye-eun?

CBO Cho Ye-eun: I met CEO Kim Yong-min while working at an OTT platform startup, and he suggested joining at the business idea conception stage. Although there was anxiety about it being a startup, I agreed that it was a necessary service to solve various difficulties and challenges I experienced as a video director. I was confident that the service would be widely used in the video industry once launched, so I decided to join.


IT Donga: Please introduce Frontworks and FILM US.

CEO Kim Yong-min: Frontworks is a startup developing the AI-based comprehensive video production hub FILM US. FILM US quickly and accurately analyzes the capabilities of video producers to connect them with the best clients and provides tools necessary for project progress, such as contracts and management, to help produce high-quality results. By using FILM US, video clients can find producers suitable for their situation and environment, and producers can meet projects that highlight their strengths and create the desired video with ease.

IT Donga: What does the name FILM US mean?

CBO Cho Ye-eun: When naming the service, we listed keywords that would attract video producers' attention and keywords that reflected the image of the service we wanted. We comprehensively considered word combinations, sound, associative images, and design elements. The name we decided on is FILM US.
'FILM' is a keyword that attracts interest from video beginners to experts and conveys a sophisticated, professional, yet popular image. We chose the word 'US' to consider the value of collaboration, which our service emphasizes. FILM US encompasses all fields of the video industry and aligns with the direction and image of our service.

Added Blueprint and Studio Features Reflecting User Feedback

IT Donga: You recently introduced new features, Blueprint and Video Production Studio. What are these features?

CEO Kim Yong-min: Since the launch of FILM US last April, we have continuously analyzed subscribers and users and collected feedback. Based on this, we developed features that enhance user convenience and work efficiency. The results are Blueprint and Video Production Studio.


Blueprint is an AI-based project auto-setting feature. When requesting video production through FILM US, clients create a project. However, after collecting user feedback, we found that clients had difficulty creating projects. They were unsure how to set the genre, cost, etc., because they were unfamiliar with video production. Therefore, we developed Blueprint, which analyzes the information about the desired video input in natural language by the client and automatically sets the necessary items for video production.

For example, if a café owner with no video production experience requests a promotional video for the café, they can use Blueprint to input the desired video information conversationally, and the necessary items such as the scale of personnel, cost, and genre for the video production are automatically set, and the project is created. This allows them to quickly find a suitable video producer for the project and obtain the optimal result.

Video Production Studio is a project management feature for producers. Initially, we focused on analyzing and matching clients and producers and progressing projects. However, after analyzing subscribers, we found that over 70% were video production professionals in broadcasting, film, etc. So, we added features that producers need when progressing projects.


Video Production Studio divides the entire video production process, such as planning, shooting, and editing, into stages and facilitates smooth communication necessary for each stage, such as sharing plans and files and writing feedback. This allows the entire process, from contract, planning, production, revision, to delivery, to be conducted on one platform. Additionally, clients and producers can closely coordinate by sharing the progress of work at each stage. As a result, the number of revision requests for the final product is reduced, and satisfaction with the final product is increased. Since the exchanged opinions are recorded, disputes can be resolved easily if they arise.

Evolving from a Matching Platform to a Workflow Platform

IT Donga: I heard that you are rebranding FILM US with the launch of new features.

CBO Cho Ye-eun: Blueprint and Video Production Studio fill the gaps in the existing FILM US. Through this, we have completed the video production workflow from video request to final delivery. Accordingly, we plan to set the direction for branding and marketing. Previously, we emphasized the matching platform connecting clients and producers, but now we plan to focus on being a workflow platform that benefits both clients and producers. As the service's completeness has increased, we plan to continuously expand marketing channels and actively promote FILM US in related communities.

IT Donga: You are currently receiving support from Dongguk University Campus Town. What kind of support have you received?

CEO Kim Yong-min: Through Dongguk University Campus Town, we received infrastructure support such as office space and related equipment, and participated in various programs necessary for startup growth, such as investment linkage and networking. The education programs related to promotion, management, taxation, and investment were also useful. We received a lot of help in corporate growth and capability enhancement.


IT Donga: Lastly, please tell us about your future plans.

CBO Cho Ye-eun: With the completion of the new feature updates, we plan to launch aggressive marketing activities. We aim to actively promote FILM US so that more people can create the videos they want through it. We will strive to make FILM US a service that provides smooth service to satisfy both clients and producers.

CEO Kim Yong-min: Like Blueprint and Video Production Studio, we will continue to listen to user voices and add features that enhance convenience and work efficiency. We are currently preparing a storyboard production support feature. This feature will provide a storyboard based on the video content input by the client. It is expected to help communication between clients and producers and improve the completeness of the final product.

Our goal is to grow into a platform that is usefully utilized throughout the video industry. We will continue to introduce services needed by video clients and producers by securing various data, such as video-related personnel and production workflows, to become the best video platform in Korea.

IT Donga Reporter Han Man-hyuk (mh@itdonga.com)

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