Finding Community Through Storytelling: Britnie Harris Thompson

For this video feature, I set out to tell a story about a woman who brings together the community and I found it inside a shaved ice shop.

Britnie Harris Thompson, a Cal State Long Beach graduate, is the founder of the Fountain Valley Moms Group and the owner of Creative Ice Company. Going into the shoot, I knew I wanted to highlight not just her business, but the impact she’s had in connecting  local moms and supporting her city. 

Filming inside the shop gave me the perfect visual assets. Bright colors, families gathering and Britnie working behind the counter all helped illustrate the kind of space she has created. I focused on capturing natural moments and sound such as her making shaved ice, interacting with customers and small interactions between parents and kids. These details helped show, rather than just tell, the sense of community and her work ethic. 

One of the most important parts of the process was structuring the story. In a few minutes, I needed to balance her background, her connection to CSULB and the growth of the Fountain Valley Moms Group, which now has more than 2,000 members and her founding the Creattive Ice Company.  Using narration alongside interview clips allowed the story to feel both informative and personal.

The strongest moments came from the interviews. Hearing firsthand how the group has supported local families added emotional depth that visuals alone couldn’t provide. She offered a lot of personal details about her upbringing and mission that really draws the audience into her story. 

This project reinforced how powerful small, local stories can be. What started as a simple idea, creating a space for connection , has grown into something much bigger.

Through this video, I really wanted to show that community isn’t just something you talk about  it’s something you build, one interaction at a time. 

Look for the video in my latest work section or watch it HERE.