A local multimedia company has volunteered their time to produce a new promotional video featuring a few of North Grenville’s businesses. Brett Colpitts and Marina Chiabai are the friendly faces behind Brett Colpitts Media. Brett was drawn to photography and videography at an early age, capturing his skateboarding tricks on film. After graduating from Canadore College in TV Broadcasting and TV Production, Brett went on to film and edit The New Fly Fisher TV show, broadcast on several TV and online channels, including PBS and Amazon Prime.
Marina and Brett met in Ottawa, but moved to Toronto for Brett to work with a company called Vertical Scope, which allowed him to travel all over the world filming and editing for some of the biggest names in the automotive industry. “He travelled all over Europe and North America, filming lots of trade shows and different launches…lots of travel with that job, and lots of experience,” Marina says. “That was pretty fun for him.”
In 2019, Marina and Brett decided to move back to the Ottawa area to be closer to family and start their own business. They bought a house in Kemptville and started Brett Colpitts Media, which has been in operation for almost two years. With two kids at home, Marina recently came on to help Brett with the business and photography side of the company.
It was through their North Grenville Business Builders membership that they first got the idea to create a promotional video showcasing some of North Grenville’s businesses. They heard through their connections in the group that there were many local businesses who were struggling due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
“When we heard that, it made us feel sad, obviously, that there are businesses struggling in our community, because we really love our small community and everything that it offers,” Marina says. “A lot of that comes from having such a diverse range of unique small businesses, and how those businesses then support the community.”
Brett and Marina decided to use their unique skill set to produce a short, high quality promotional video showcasing local businesses and talking to owners about what community means to them. Through a mutual connection, they were able to get in touch with the NG Times’ own Marguerite Boyer, who helped them get in touch with businesses in the community who could use the help the most. “She was that bridge for us,” Marina says.
Marina and Brett shot nine businesses in a day and a half, and the video was released on Facebook last Monday. Businesses featured include the Brigadoon Restaurant, Jac’s Boutique, Catered Affairs, To Be Continued, Kemptville Family Restaurant, J-Glow, Fast Eddie’s Diner, Saltastic, and Boss Thai Boxing. The video spread like wildfire online, garnering 10,000 views and over 200 shares in just over 24 hours. “Everyone is sharing it, and that’s just growing more and more awareness for the businesses, which was the whole point,” Marina says.
Owner of To Be Continued, Shelley Mitchell, says working with Marina and Brett was a great experience. They not only produced an amazing video, but they also gave each of the businesses a selection of professional photos and a small video clip of their feature. “For them to do something like this for free, take up days of interviewing and weeks of editing, is amazing,” Shelley says. “The final product is amazing, and definitely their commitment to the community shines through in that final product.”
Karen Quigley of Saltastic also said she was very appreciative of the work that Marina and Brett took on to help support the business community. “It’s so nice that we have people in our community that are willing to do this,” she says. “I’m so grateful.”
Marina hopes the video will entice people to support a business they may not have frequented before next time they are in town. She loved the experience of meeting all the local business owners and, as a newcomer to the community herself, she learned more about what a diverse range of products and services the municipality’s businesses have to offer. “I hope that people see the video, and next time they go out for their errands that they think twice about where they’re choosing to spend their money,” she says. “When we come out of this pandemic, like Shelley says [in the video], we really want our small businesses to be here.”
Check out the full video on the Brett Colpitts Media Facebook page (https://fb.watch/460vVNOXpt/). You can also learn more about their work at @BrettColpittsMedia.
