2013 marks our 25th year in business. Phil Broxham, Producer/Owner of Grindstone Video Productions, started his business back in 1988. Phil left his position as Ad Sales Manager at Cablenet in Mt. Prospect, bought a video camera and some editing gear, and started producing a local cable TV show called The Weight Room. Phil, along with host John Abdo, self syndicated the show and soon had it on regional sports networks like SportsChannel Chicago, Madison Square Garden Network, PrimeTicket in Los Angels, the Sunshine Network in Florida, and many others.
By 1995 the show was in 48 states with over 60 million households nationwide. Phil did all the shooting and editing for the show. “We would shoot on location in Hawaii, California, and Florida. It was a weekly, so I would produce over 45 1/2-hour episodes each year”, Phil said. Jeff Everson took over as host in 1995 and changed the name of the show to Training & Nutrition 2000. In ’96, TV Guide voted the show One of TV’s Best Body Shops. “I shot and edited over 500 episodes in the show’s 12 year run. That’s a lot of production! It really honed my skills as a producer”, Broxham said.
The fitness show finally ran its course at the end of 2001, and Phil transitioned into industrial video and documentary work. In 2002, Phil directed, shot and edited a feature-length PBS style documentary called “Circle of Time: Elgin and the Watch Company”. Grindstone began to do a lot of work within the Elgin community, adding clients like the City of Elgin, School District U-46, Elgin Area Historical Society, and many Elgin area businesses. “I also started working with non-profit organizations like Little Angels in Elgin, the United Way, PADS, and others. These organizations have important stories to tell, and I love helping them get their message out to raise money and awareness”, said Phil.
Today, Grindstone continues to work with non-profits and businesses in the Elgin area, and has added national clients like FTD, Tri-Sure, BodyLogicMD, and others. Grindstone also does a lot of work with Trade Show Associations producing video exhibitor directories and member profile videos. “Video is so important to businesses and organizations today”, Phil said. “It’s a tremendous tool, and we can help you use the web, social media, smart phones, tablets, and television to get your message out to the people you want to reach”.
Grindstone Productions. . . quality video made easy and affordable.
