Airing Today: In The Lead With Nor-Tech's Trond Schou and Nils Johnsen

When the second episode of the Speed On The Water “In The Lead” video series goes live this morning, high-performance powerboat fans will get a close look at Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats founders Trond Schou and Nils Johnsen and their 30-year journey to success. The nine-plus-minute segment not only chronicles the rise of the Fort Myers, Fla., high-performance center console, catamaran and V-bottom sportboat company, it shines a light on the relationship between the two Norwegians, who grew up together in Oslo.

Debuting this morning, the latest Speed On The Water “In The Lead” video powered by Mercury Racing focuses on Nor-Tech’s Trond Schou and Nils Johnsen (center cutting ribbon). Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Media-shy by nature, Schou and Johnsen gave Scrapyard Media videographer Brad DiMaggio unfettered access to them for interviews at the Westin Cape Coral Resort during the day leading up to the Nor-Tech’s 30th annual Gala Celebration, which attracted some 600 guests from around the country. Given the events at hand, the time Schou and Johnsen afforded our crew was remarkable—as were the interviews that came out of it. Scrapyard’s Ryan Wenk edited hours of video and combined it with footage from the Nor-Tech facility and the lunch run to Useppa Island the day after the party to tell their story as it’s never been told before.

Hard choices are the nature of editing—you could even say they define the process—whether you’re talking about a magazine feature or a video. And Wenk and DiMaggio spent the better part of two months making them with more than eight hours of interviews and supporting footage to sift through and edit. And they distilled it all into a compelling nine-minute story.

Powered by Mercury Racing with additional support from MYCO Trailers and Hamilton Marine Finance, the seven-episode “In The Lead” video series began with the story of Grant Bruggemann, the owner and founder of Grant’s Signature Racing in Bradenton, Fla., and one of the nation’s top powerboat riggers. In tackling the story of Schou and Johnsen, the production team had two stories to tell and combine into a cohesive narrative.

But the result is more than cohesive. It’s outstanding, as we’re sure you’ll agree.

And please don’t miss Schou’s parting interview line. It’s one for the ages—and one to live by.

Airing Today: In The Lead With Nor-Tech’s Trond Schou and Nils Johnsen

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