Stellar Energy + Hitachi Energy: Success in Action
Less than six months after filming Hitachi Energy's Power Consulting video, we got the call to return to their Raleigh headquarters for another testimonial shoot. This time, the stakes were higher—we'd be capturing the story of Hitachi Energy's first-ever "Vision Partner," Stellar Energy, and their Chief Advisory Officer Marco Sanchez would be speaking directly to camera about what makes this partnership a game-changer for the global energy transition.
The Project
Stellar Energy isn't just another partner in Hitachi Energy's channel program. As a Vision Partner, they represent the highest tier of collaboration—a relationship built not on sales volume but on shared ambition, strategic alignment, and a commitment to co-creating sustainable energy solutions. The testimonial video would position both companies as leaders in their respective fields while telling the story of what modern B2B partnerships can look like when they're done right.
The brief was straightforwardg: capture Marco Sanchez delivering eight different talking points about the partnership, from the strategic rationale for becoming a Vision Partner to concrete commercial opportunities in data centers, LNG, and power generation. The final video would be a 3-4 minute piece matching the style of previous Hitachi testimonials—Marco speaking directly to camera, professional but authentic.
Production
We filmed on July 29th, 2025 in Hitachi Energy's headquarters. The setup was familiar from our February shoot—two-camera 4K coverage with three-point lighting and a teleprompter—but this time we were focused entirely on one talent delivering direct-to-camera testimonials rather than the multi-subject format of the Power Consulting video.
Camera A was positioned straight-on for the main angle, while Camera B captured a 30-degree offset to give the editorial team cutting options. The teleprompter allowed Marco to deliver his messaging confidently while maintaining natural eye contact with the lens. Three-point lighting created depth and dimension, ensuring he stood out from the office background behind him.
The shoot window was tight—10am to 11am for filming—which meant our 8:30am call time was critical for getting lighting dialed in and the teleprompter calibrated. Marco arrived on time, flexible and ready to work through multiple takes to get each talking point exactly right.
The Story
What emerged from the interview was a compelling narrative about what partnerships should be in the modern energy sector. Marco described visiting Hitachi Energy's transformer factory in Zurich and being inspired by the "passion and tenacity" of the team. He talked about Stellar Energy's need to move beyond transactional relationships toward true collaboration—partnerships built on trust, transparency, and the ability to co-invest in solutions the world needs.
The conversation covered everything from the strategic benefits of Vision Partner status (access to Hitachi's full portfolio, dedicated support, enhanced market credibility) to the tangible commercial opportunities on the table: integrating Hitachi's transformers and grid automation solutions with Stellar's EPC capabilities, expanding into high-growth markets across the U.S. Southeast, Texas, and the Middle East, and accelerating modular energy solutions for data centers and industrial clients.
Marco repeatedly emphasized speed as a differentiating factor—"time to first megawatt" as the new critical metric. In a world where heat waves and AI-driven power demand are pushing grids to their limits, the ability to deploy reliable, dispatchable power quickly matters. The partnership enables that velocity.
When asked to describe the Hitachi-Stellar relationship in one word, Marco chose "game-changing." The explanation that followed captured the essence of the partnership: aligned vision combined with rapid execution, moving the world forward together through sustainable cooling solutions and integrated engineering.
Why This Matters
B2B testimonial videos walk a fine line. They need to feel authentic while delivering specific messaging. They need to showcase partnership value without becoming sales pitches. They need to work for multiple audiences—internal teams, potential partners, customers, and industry observers.
The key is creating an environment where the talent can be genuine. Marco wasn't just reading corporate talking points—he was articulating a vision he clearly believed in. The teleprompter gave him structure, but his delivery had energy and conviction. That authenticity is what separates effective testimonial content from forgettable corporate speak.
For Hitachi Energy, this video serves multiple strategic purposes: positioning the Vision Partner tier as aspirational for other channel partners, demonstrating thought leadership in sustainable energy solutions, and showcasing a real-world example of what's possible when companies align around shared goals rather than just transactional volume.
The Experience
Working with Hitachi Energy for the second time in six months reinforced what makes repeat clients valuable. The team knew our process, trusted our creative approach, and had confidence we'd deliver footage that met their exacting technical specifications.
The coordination was seamless. The shoot stayed on schedule despite the tight one-hour filming window. We captured everything needed—the eight question responses, some additional b-roll of Marco in the space, and beauty shots for editing flexibility. The relationship has continued to grow.
After delivering the Power Consulting footage in February and the Stellar Energy testimonial in July, Hitachi Energy has become one of our most valued corporate clients—the kind of partnership where both sides understand expectations and deliver consistently.
The Result
The final video published on YouTube showcases Marco's compelling storytelling and Hitachi Energy's strategic positioning. As viewership increases, it's resonating with the target audience—channel partners considering Vision Partner status, customers evaluating energy solutions providers, and industry observers tracking how the energy transition is being accelerated through strategic collaboration.
More importantly, the video represents the kind of work we're proud to create: technically excellent, strategically sound, and authentically delivered. It's corporate content that doesn't feel corporate, testimonial video that feels genuine, and B2B marketing that actually tells a story worth hearing.
Watch the final video: Success in Action: Stellar Energy + Hitachi Energy
From corporate testimonials to event coverage, documentary work to commercial campaigns, we're always looking for stories that matter and clients who value the partnership approach. If you've got a project that needs a team who understands both the technical craft and the strategic vision, let's talk.
Locals Video is a full-service video production and post-production company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, serving clients across the Carolinas and beyond.
