Introducing…CONTEXT Studios!
High-end film and podcast documentaries transforming how stories are passed down to future generations
October 24, 2024 — CONTEXT Studios (CONTEXT) is excited to announce a unique new way that individuals, entrepreneurs, and family businesses are keeping their legacies alive: high-end, feature-length-film and podcast documentaries.
“I set out to design an innovative solution to a problem that many people, including me, were facing: how to document our parents’ stories before it was too late,” says CONTEXT founder and CEO Andrea Lekushoff. “Most people lack the time and ability to do it, and have no idea where to start, so I knew we had to make it easy. After several years of research and development, we’ve created a product that will transform how people are remembered, so their legacy—in fact, their very essence—will not be lost. I’m excited to help people fix this age-old problem and hopefully bring joy and comfort to many.”
“Our team has been helping entrepreneurs, family businesses, and corporate executives communicate their successes for years,” she explains, referring to the executive profiling work she does through her PR firm, Broad Reach. “We’ve helped countless leaders build their personal and corporate brands. Entrepreneurs and family businesses don’t always take the time to document their legacies, but we’ve seen again and again how powerful it is to share the personal stories at the heart of any business, big or small. CONTEXT is a natural extension of that work.”
A film or podcast documentary brings individuals, families, and businesses to life. It captures voices, faces, and emotions so that future generations can get to know and feel a personal connection with previous ones. The format provides space to delve into every aspect of someone’s story, documenting the context of their life and/or business.
Looking Beyond Monetary Assets in the Midst of the Great Wealth Transfer
According to CPA Canada, the largest transfer of generational wealth in Canadian history is now underway. The Great Wealth Transfer will see a forecasted $1 trillion in assets passed down from Canadian baby boomers to their Gen-X and millennial descendants between now and 2026. During this time, families can take great comfort in passing down not just money and physical assets, but also stories, memories, traditions, and values—their legacy. It's often said that people are forgotten in three generations, and that their stories fade away within 75 to 100 years of their passing. With CONTEXT, that no longer has to happen.
Easy, Single Day of Filming Leads to Feature-Length Film Documentaries Featuring Short Episodes
A CONTEXT film documentary will last for generations. With a team of award-winning documentary filmmakers, directors, and producers, CONTEXT has developed an easy and efficient way to capture an individual’s or business’s most important stories in just one day. Using a small crew, the company films its subjects in their own home, vacation property, or business, putting individuals at ease with a skilled and friendly interview style.
The crew spends a full day on set, interviewing one primary individual with up to two (30-minute) secondary interviewees and capturing footage of the location. Photos, videos, and audio clips supplied by the client are then woven into the film in post-production.
Documentaries are up to 90 minutes long and are divided into short episodes (making it easy to enjoy), each one capturing a chapter of a person’s life or a business’s growth. The intention is to include as many stories as possible, not just the best ones and CONTEXT provides two short clips for use on social media, and can design custom packages to fit a client’s specific needs. The company has a custom streaming site that allows people to access their documentaries from any device, just as they would for their favourite TV show or podcast. While the documentaries are designed to be private, they can also be published online.
Podcast Documentaries Ready to Publish on Major Listening Platforms
For those who might be camera-shy, or who simply prefer an audio format, CONTEXT also produces podcast documentaries. Episodes can be streamed directly from CONTEXT’s custom streaming platform, and they’re also ready to be published on all major listening platforms (which the company can help with).
A Modern Approach That’s Easier Than Writing a Book and Enjoyed From Any Device
Most often, when people think about documenting a life story, they think to do it in writing. The most ambitious try to write a book—a task that’s often abandoned, because of the time and effort involved. Those who do undertake such a project may eventually complete a book but find that it rarely (or never) gets read. Today, people are engaging with digital media much more than they are with books or the written word. They want short videos they can watch on their phones or audio clips they can listen to on the go. CONTEXT documentaries are the perfect way to capture a legacy in a timeless format that fits with the way content is being consumed today and will last for generations.
“My kids have often said I should write book, and now I don’t have to,” says Andy Stein, former CEO, third-generation family business leader of iconic Canadian retailer Henry’s. “I don’t know much about my parents and grandparents, because they didn’t write things down. Trying to dig into their past, all I ever find is little bits and pieces of information—I’m sure I’m missing ninety percent of my family’s story. This documentary captures the important stories and milestones of my life, so the past won’t be lost. It’s so powerful to document the history of our family and of our family business in this way.”
“I’ve never heard of anything like this before,” says Gillian Stein, former CEO and fourth-generation leader of Henry’s. “I’m so relieved that my parents’ story is now all in one place and I can reference it at any time. It also gives me comfort to know that my kids (and eventually my grandkids) will be able to get to know my parents and their stories through this documentary. I’ve always wanted my parents to write down their history, but this made it easy for them, getting it done in just a day and creating this beautiful piece that we will all enjoy watching for years to come.”
An Idea Sparked by a Personal Desire to Preserve Her Parents’ Stories Before It Was Too Late
The idea for CONTEXT was sparked by a number of things. Lekushoff felt the personal need to record her own family’s stories, as her parents—the keepers of her Macedonian family’s four-generation history—were in their mid-eighties. She knew that intentionally asking questions would allow her (and her children) to better understand their heritage and draw out new stories they could learn from and cherish. After turning fifty, she had also been feeling her own mortality, and through the pandemic she tried to interest her teenage kids in going through old photo albums—with little success. She found herself in frequent discussions with friends who felt the same pressure to capture their aging parents’ stories, and the guilt of not having the time, ability, or knowledge of how to do it.
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Since CONTEXT documentaries can be enjoyed from any device, they can be easily passed down to future generations, making them an invaluable gift for anyone interested in legacy. What better gift can an older generation give to their current and future descendants than a professionally produced documentary of their lives, ensuring their kids and grandkids never have to regret the loss of treasured family stories. Not only can a CONTEXT documentary provide great insight into a family member while they’re still alive, it can also bring great comfort once they’re gone.
About CONTEXT Studios
CONTEXT Studios documents the lives and legacies of individuals, entrepreneurs, and family businesses in high-end film and podcast documentaries. Its films are shot by cinematographers and streamed on a custom streaming platform. Its podcasts are hosted on the same platform and can be published on all major listening platforms. CONTEXT documentaries can be enjoyed from any device and can be easily passed down to future generations, making them a unique and invaluable gift for any family or business interested in legacy. For further information follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
