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Filmmaker and storyteller Brenton Grimm earned top honors at the Capture Summit’s Church Filmcraft Festival at CFX for his powerful video featuring military veteran Bo Brockett.
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"Bo Brockett's Story" features a military veteran whose personal story exemplifies redemption.
At Harmony Bible Church in Burlington, Iowa, Brenton Grimm has carved a unique space in the intersection of storytelling and ministry. As the Director of Discipleship Media, Grimm oversees much of the church’s video content, ranging from promotional pieces and event coverage to deeply personal narratives that reveal the transformative power of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Recently, his dedication to authentic storytelling earned him recognition at the Church Filmcraft Film Festival, held at CFX, where his video "Bo Brockett's Story" about military veteran Bo Brockett won top honors.
At Harmony Bible Church, storytelling isn’t about production value—it’s about spiritual impact.
Grimm’s journey into filmmaking was gradual but deliberate. “I didn’t have one big project that changed everything,” he explains. “It was mostly, I really liked something I saw and I’d figure out how to do it. A lot of time on YouTube, a lot of time just with a camera in my hand.” His early experiments sometimes tested the patience of his family—especially his wife—but they were crucial to honing his craft. A close collaboration with the church’s worship arts pastor also helped him explore creative directions that pushed the boundaries of what church video could look like.
From his first Canon DSLR to now shooting primarily on the Sony FX3 cameras and a variety of cinema lenses, Grimm’s gear has evolved incrementally, always with a clear focus: telling stories that resonate with people, not just showing off production value. “You really have to make an effort not to put too much focus on quality over story,” he says. “The visuals are important, but the story is the mission.” Audio, too, has been a central piece of his toolkit. Using a Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun microphone and a Zoom F4 field recorder, Grimm ensures that every story is captured with clarity and emotion, later enhanced in post-production using professional plugins to bring out every nuance of the narrative.
While his role once included overseeing all aspects of live production at Harmony, Grimm has since narrowed his focus to video storytelling. His work covers a wide range of content—from promotional and narrative pieces to stories highlighting the church’s global missions. Recent trips to Southeast Asia, for example, allowed him to film field staff in their environments, bringing authenticity and context to the church’s mission work. “Seeing the city and the environment they’re in makes the story far more engaging,” he notes.
Grimm is a perfectionist, a trait he describes as both a strength and a challenge. “I compare myself to the top tier,” he admits. “I want everything I do to look like Christopher Nolan. It’s never going to, and that’s okay. Sometimes you just have to leave it and be a good steward of your time.”
“The visuals are important, but the story is the mission.” – Brenton Grimm
This meticulous approach came to the forefront in the creation of his award-winning video about Bo Brockett, a member of Harmony Bible Church whose personal story exemplifies redemption. Grimm first met Brockett through church connections, including Brockett’s son, who volunteered in production, and through Brockett’s involvement in ministries like Celebrate Recovery. An initial video interview for the recovery ministry piqued Grimm’s interest, but it wasn’t until later that he saw the opportunity to craft a full narrative.
“The story was compelling from the beginning,” Grimm recalls. “Knowing where he is now and where he came from, the struggles he faced—I wanted to tell that story.” The project required multiple shoots, including interviews, b-roll of Brockett’s daily routines, and visits to locations meaningful to his journey. Grimm credits Brockett’s openness and trust for making the process smoother, allowing for creative shots that, on paper, might seem unconventional—like filming Brockett cleaning a gun from behind to convey tension and emotion through sound design rather than visuals alone.
Grimm emphasizes that each story he tells is anchored in the gospel. “The reason we do video here is to show the goodness of the gospel,” he explains. He believes that portraying both human depravity and redemption is essential to conveying the transformative power of Christ’s love. This approach informs not only Brockett’s story but other emotionally intense content he has produced, including videos for Harmony’s capital campaigns.
Despite the intensity of these projects, Grimm remains committed to a “congregation-first” philosophy. While many churches prioritize outreach to attract visitors, Grimm’s team focuses on content that serves the church body, ensuring that the stories told resonate with the congregation first, providing encouragement, teaching, and engagement.
His participation in the Church Filmcraft Film Festival at CFX was both validating and inspiring. Grimm appreciated the breakout sessions, particularly those on technical filmmaking topics like anamorphic lenses, and he looks forward to continuing to grow in his craft and contributing to the wider church video community.
Looking ahead, Grimm hopes to expand opportunities for others at Harmony to engage in storytelling. He plans to launch a creative cohort, training volunteers and fostering a culture where people can serve the church by producing content that is meaningful and engaging.
Grimm’s work demonstrates that church media is more than just production quality—it’s about crafting stories that connect people to the gospel, highlighting real human experiences and the ways faith transforms lives. From his early experiments in a small office to award-winning productions, Grimm’s journey underscores the power of dedication, creativity, and intentional storytelling in ministry.
“We do video to show the goodness of the gospel.” – Brenton Grimm
For Brenton Grimm, filmmaking is not about the latest camera or perfect lighting; it’s about telling stories that matter. The recognition he received at the Church Filmcraft Film Festival is a testament to his vision and dedication, but for Grimm, the real reward is seeing stories like Bo Brockett’s touch hearts, inspire hope, and bring people closer to the gospel. In a world of ever-evolving media, his work reminds the church that the most important story is the one that speaks truth, redemption, and grace.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on an interview Brenton Grimm. Certain sections were organized and refined with the assistance of AI to clarify key points.
