Lexington, KY - Passion is an invaluable thing, especially when the possible by-product of that passion is to make the world a better, more informed place. When one visits Pinnacle Productions and speaks with owner David Harl, the veracity of this mission for increasing public awareness is made readily apparent. A novel business model combined with a deft nobility of purpose position Pinnacle Productions as a company to keep your eyes on.
Pinnacle is located in a historic building on 620 West Main St. (just beyond the Jefferson Street viaduct), which sees the fascinating combination of a nearly 200-year-old home meshed with plenty of modern-day technology, including state-of-the-art video production and editing equipment. There is true organic warmth found in the confines of the building, one where the strains of yesteryear share space with a modern mission to garner support for various nonprofit and for-profit entities. Through its various services, often including international work and travel, Pinnacle provides a conduit to the world at large, highlighting numerous amazing and intensely inspirational stories.
Harl, who has logged several years in both the video and music production worlds, maintains that some of his main interests are in supporting the arts community and shedding light on various organizations that seek to provide positive contributions to society. Yet Harl's main goal as a producer is to churn out the highest quality video that can conceivably be achieved.
"We always strive for everyone to be satisfied with every production we turn out," he said.
Pinnacle's objective is to promote and spread information about organizations, inspire involvement in their causes, provide quality production and to simply ensure that the process represents an enjoyable encounter between both client and staff. Harl works with any organization interested in retaining his services, even with potentially modest budgets. But its dedication to advocacy notwithstanding, Pinnacle is still a for-profit business.
Harl said that his business is "focused on human services," with some of these projects beckoning him all over the world and back. Pinnacle has been involved in projects in India, Africa and South America. In Guatemala, they documented a story about residents of a poor village who, through philanthropic support, were given access to several high-end doctors who subsequently performed countless amazing surgeries and procedures for them.
"I have been lucky to have had the opportunity to meet people under incredible circumstances and see the positive change that can come from their lives," Harl said.
Though his work has taken him to places around the globe, he has also sought to expand his roster of local clientele. In Kentucky, Harl has created productions for important organizations, including The Christian Appalachian Project, Lexarts, the Lyric Theater and The Muhammad Ali Center, to name a few.
Much of the work for organizations of this ilk is done to raise money for their respective missions. Harl benefits from experience in fundraising and not only provides clients with promotional video materials, but also insight on how to wring the most out of their creative leverage. In addition to the video projects, Pinnacle also creates websites for clients that allow them to showcase the videos that illustrate their particular interest. Harl called it one of the "most potentially viable forms of distribution" in the modern age and pointed out that with the broadcast capabilities of the Internet, any organization can reach a "limitless number of people."
At the crux of what Pinnacle provides are short, informative documentaries that generally reside around the 10-minute mark and generally feature interviews and other informative bits. Harl has interviewed former presidential candidate John McCain during one project. With his production skills in tow, Harl still believes that his biggest asset is his ability and willingness to make these conversations count.
"If I have one talent, I hope that it's the ability to have people sit down and be honest with me," he said.
Truly a family affair, Harl is joined in his work and labor of love by his wife, Josa, whom he credits with being an undeniable pillar of Pinnacle. Outside of her shared pursuits of advocacy and video production, she also handles the lion's share of the administrative tasks. Their 3-year-old daughter, Saidi Rekik, is indeed the apple of their eye and herself serves as a source of inspiration to the pair. With his family firmly in place, Harl plans to drop anchor in Lexington for the foreseeable future and continue to do his part for clients in both the non-profit and corporate sectors.
Operating under the Pinnacle banner since the late '90s, Harl has compiled an indelible body of work and is well equipped for continuing to serve as a liaison to our community, our country and the world as a whole. The core principle of Pinnacle's mission is simple: "to get a true inspirational story and tell it effectively." Should success be dictated by a business's heart being in the right place, then Pinnacle is surely destined to reap countless accomplishments.