A Sampling of 7: This Year’s Local Films in Review

The challenge with identifying the most successful films of the year for a small company like mine is that popularity is measured differently than with mainstream media. Within the Lavender Lane media-verse, each project is bespoke. Some films are generally aimed at preserving precious family narratives while others are laser-focused on communicating an idea or concept that has an immediate application.

Let’s see how a mix of analytics and client satisfaction helps us render a reasonable list of great viewing events in the scope of 2023. Maybe you’ll encounter some that resonate with you!

Most viewed video asset:

When artist/entrepreneur Brandy Calvert-Ringelmann decided to take her fashion boutique in a different direction, she took complete control of her story in this video which topped the viewing list with direct impressions that measure in the thousands:

Biggest splash in a short time:

It’s no secret that Hastings County works hard to support the development of small business. Free coaching services offered by the Small Business Co-ordinator’s office are a big hit with new and experienced entrepreneurs alike. This prime example made a record number of impressions following the day of its release. It doesn’t hurt that it features gorgeous Hastings locations including a managed pine forest and a stunning lakeside property that was lovingly rehabilitated after intense windstorm damage.

Most personal feedback:

It seems that I can’t get far into a networking event before somebody recognizes me as the guy who created the Brand Story for Nest Design and Construction. In this short film, Stephen’s clients do much of the talking as sweeping camerawork takes in the innovative home designs that he creates. A dramatic bathroom renovation is only slightly upstaged by Stephen’s incredible work in creating a custom vehicle conversion that truly raises the bar for #vanlife.

Most focused film:

In these punchy one-minute narratives, Tammy Girard, owner of The Grit Pit, contextualizes the powerful stories that come out of her women-only gym. These are designed to gain attention and inspire women to unlock the path to their very best selves. It doesn’t hurt that we lit the company logo on fire:

The “How did they do that?” award:

As a client, John Barry is amazing to work with. He comes ready to earnestly and enthusiastically share what’s new in Quinte West real estate - and he willingly puts shares the creative reins. The result is some big ideas underpinned by technical feats that gain attention. In this example, we bested the technical challenge of maintaining synchronized audio from John on a balcony as the camera flies backward. Fun, right?

The “Wish we could show you but we can’t” film:

Even though I’ve signed a non-disclosure agreement that protects the contents of this video, it’s fun to let people know that I do this kind of work. GlobalMed (now rebranded as Aptyx) creates an incredible range of medical-grade components that are used in life-sustaining equipment around the world. Alas, you won’t see the ultra-clean and cheerful assembly environment like I did… but rest assured that it’s there. We’re now on our third series of custom training films to support the internal development of human resources at Aptyx in Quinte West.

Trying something new and amazing:

When I replanted the seeds of Lavender Lane Media in Ontario after an exotic career overseas, I thought my traveling days for media wouldn’t come around again. Luckily, I was invited to join a family that is celebrating their family farm in Colorado that’s been in the same name since the 1880s. It was a supersize version of my regular Life Story film offering. The Epple Family Life Documentary was created to inspire subsequent generations of family farm operators, but the trailer offers a pretty snappy summary of some story elements:

Bonus selection:

With a substantial audience in attendance at the Quinte West Business Achievement Awards, this delightful feature racked up over 400 viewings not counted by the usual analytics. Celebrating the best of our business community involves making near impossible decisions between strongly matched nominees. I’m so glad that the QBAA selection committee does the hard work, then sends me out to create films for the winners they choose. Here’s an example: