Business Documentaries
Un-corporate videos that reveal the human element.
A business video documentary that attracts the kind of attention you want.
I’ve written dozens of corporate videos for clients in all kinds of industries. It is enjoyable work that takes me to interesting lands and facilities, while exposing me to entrepreneurs and the fruits of their labours. I often finish projects sensing there’s a deeper story to be told than “Here’s why our products/services are amazing.” Like: Who thought this up and why? How do their minds work? What’s unique about their operation, their leadership style? How do they keep passion alive in their people? What do they do differently to advance their staff? Are they funny? Eccentric? Artistic? Sporty?
Who is Paul Fenn?
I’m a writer who began his career in travel writing, switched to magazine reportage and editorial, expanded into copywriting in advertising, digital, video, screenwriting and now… documentaries. As a copywriter, I’ve long inhabited a strange paradox in which I communicate on behalf of others things they know better than me. So writing business docs came as a natural extension of all that. I bring a life experience that’s international and beyond unique; a keen eye for details that matter; a love of research and historical context; a need to read everything under the sun; and a fierce addiction to daily writing.
I ship with a team of motivated talents
Getting my start in advertising, then later entering the high-performance off-road motorcycle sphere, as a rider and a writer, enabled me to establish valuable relationships worldwide. Among them, superb video storytelling teams who produce TV & digital ad campaigns, action sports films, family docs and more. In early 2026, I forged partnerships with two video production groups who bring the full offering – pro-grade camera, lighting and sound tech, plus editing and musical chops. Collectively, we bring creativity, imagination and craft to the business documentary.
"There’s more to your business than its products."
- Paul Fenn, Toronto Copywriter
Biography
This won’t hurt a bit – it might even feel fantastic
We have no boilerplate format. Each project is designed around the type of client and business, their product, service offering, facilities and the tone, manner and messaging we agree to before production begins. Our goal is telegraphing less of the “aren’t we great” and more of the “here’s what greatness looks like from the inside, who did it, how it’s created, maintained, improved upon.” If you or your business has an interesting life story, we’ll document it in ways that confer depth and personality to it. If your people have great belief in your business, we’ll use non-clichéd ways to communicate that.
Copywriting
Your business story, told like it never has been
We begin with a discussion of possibilities. What’s unique here? Who built it, how and why? What do customers, staff and suppliers love about this operation. When we have a sense of how to attack the project, we develop a production plan and present it to you. Once you’ve signed off on it, we begin interviewing key and ancillary figures, aiming to do so in visually stimulating locations. We set them at ease, get to know them, enabling them to unspool their stored recollections. We can add drone and action camera footage
of hands-on work, technical facilities, exterior works, anything and
everything to capture the essence of your story.
Content
That’s the A-roll footage
B-roll comes from scouring archives, photos, documents and whatever you choose to allow us access to, using a combo of video, still and drone cams. Once we’ve bagged our shoot list, we take it all away for editing. After an agreed-to timeline, we provide an initial rough cut for your approval. We review this with you, noting the amendments, additions and deletions you request, then get to work on a second cut. We add any tweaks and details, then deliver it in glorious hi-res 4k. Your completed documentary comes on a thumb-drive and/or password-protected Vimeo, YouTube or other channel of your choosing.
Copywriting
What You Get
Pre-Shoot Consultation
We discuss main story, interview subjects, questions, story arcs, locations, artifacts, shooting style, tonality and length of the work.
Master Plan
Detailed description (in contract form if desired) of proposed A-roll & B-roll shoot locations and dates, people to be interviewed, estimated production timelines, 1st and 2nd cut deadlines, total cost and time estimates to deliver a polished final product.
Quality of Execution
A carefully planned, shot and executed work of video documentary.
Craft
A religious devotion to brevity, substance and your unique selling propositions.
Promises Kept
On-time delivery of everything as agreed to by both parties.
Customer reviews
What My Clients Say
Paul Fenn is an experienced, talented and strategic copywriter. He has a magical way of taking a concept or a feeling and translating into words that resonate and inspire the audience. I don't hesitate to recommend Paul to others in the marketplace of ideas.
Paul, is advertising talent personified. He is one of those rare 'naturals' that are able to deliver warm, human communications. He even has the advertising pedigree, perhaps you could argue, genetics, to make this case as his father was one of Toronto's original Admen. Highly recommended talented individual!
ExpandaBrand was new to the U.S. and although we'd been doing business here for 15 years, we lacked an online presence. Paul was very easy to work with, created exactly what we wanted… from little more than a few bullet points and an overall feel. He never missed a deadline. We’ll have additional needs… Paul will be our go-to guy.
Paul Fenn is a talented big ideas guy. He is thorough, creative, and filled with enthusiasm. I often turn to Paul for help with major campaigns that I am developing for my clients, and he pulls through every single time.
Working with Paul on the Deloitte campaign, I found him to be a holistic thinker, interested in going beyond the ask to create bigger and more engaging work. Once that happened, the words just sort of fell into place. He's also incredibly collaborative and supportive, and a lot of fun to work with. I hope to work with Paul again.
Genius writer – and clearly one of best copywriters that ever existed. Paul's creative skills coupled with his extraordinary sense of humor can be that element of awe your campaign and marketing needs. I would hire Paul again in a heartbeat!
I had the pleasure of working with Paul on our major fundraising gala The Autists for two years running. Paul's leadership, insight, enthusiasm, sense of humour and creativity are an inspiration to all who come in contact with him. His vision is grand, and his creative instincts are both highly refined and intuitive.
I gave Paul 80,000 words of semi-coherent rambling (and yes, several hundred AI-assisted clichés) and asked him to make it “sound smart.” He not only made it sound smart, he made it readable, which is no small feat when the subject matter is utility corridors and regulatory reform. Grateful doesn’t quite cover it… Paul turned chaos into clarity.
Don't Be Shy
Contact
Get a quote, check on availability or just run an idea by me. I’ll usually get back to you within a business day.