Buyer Beware: The Rise of Hollow Video “Agencies” Flooding the Market
We’ve noticed a disturbing trend
More and more video “agencies” are flooding the market with slick websites, targeted Instagram ads, and bold claims about their creative process. They promise cinematic content. They name-drop client logos. They offer packages at prices that seem too good to be true.
And often, they advertise in the exact same markets we serve, including right here in Cleveland.
But behind the scenes, these companies aren’t agencies at all. They’re sales funnels. They book the job, farm it out to the lowest bidder, and move on without creative direction or oversight.
What you're left with is a patchwork production. A freelancer who has never met you. Footage that’s handed off to an anonymous editor. No creative leadership. No accountability. No soul.
Some of these companies even use AI to cut costs further. The video that introduces their own brand might be stitched together from stock footage, robot voiceovers, and chat-generated scripts.
And clients — real businesses with real reputations — are paying for it.
At Monolith, that’s everything we’re not
When you work with us, you work with the people behind the camera. You meet the team who will be on set. You collaborate with the creatives who actually build the concept. We shoot it. We light it. We edit it. We deliver it with intention.
Every frame is handcrafted. Every idea is aligned with your brand. Every decision is made by someone who knows your name.
That matters more than most people realize. Video production isn’t just a service. It’s a partnership. If your agency isn’t personally involved, the work will always feel disconnected.
The danger in “good enough”
You don’t need more content. You need the right content.
You need video that speaks to your audience, reflects your values, and actually helps your business grow. You won’t get that from a marketplace that assigns strangers to shoot your brand story. You won’t get it from a company using AI to mimic human creativity.
You get it from real people who care about doing great work.
That’s why Monolith exists. We’re based in Northeast Ohio, but we’ve operated at the highest levels of sports, music, and corporate production. Our clients come back again and again because they know we don’t just meet the brief. We care about the result.
Before you hire a video team, ask:
Who will be on set with me?
Is this a real team or a network of outsourced freelancers?
Can I talk to the director or editor?
Do they develop original ideas or just execute templates?
If you're getting vague answers or fast talk, step back. You deserve better.
