Discover Top Creative Directors in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Our team is made up of a collection of professional creatives who want to make the world a better place. We’re up for any challenge—whether it’s developing a compelling film strategy for a local electric company, creating ad spots for national and international clients alike, producing a 52-episode travel series, or raising awareness about the very real existence of sex-trafficking in our nation. We know how difficult it can be to get a vision off the ground. It requires a lot of preparation, effective communication and of course, flawless execution. But delivering great visual content is only half the battle. We work tirelessly to go above and beyond the call of duty for our clients and partners. Our ratings reflect that. We thrive amidst logistical challenges, tight deadlines, and always work to deliver a great experience. What is your story? We’d love to make it a reality.

• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Drone Operator
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Sound Mixer
• Gaffer
• Grip
• Series Producer / Show Runner
• Line Producer / On-Location

Hiya. I'm Josh, I run a shop under the banner "Stoneburner Video" We craft content that does stuff. Moving people, generating conversation, and capturing conversions. Big or small - we're on budget, on brand, and on time. With over a decade of experience, my team and I have provided support as video journalists, a full production company, video editors, producers, casting directors, animators, and so much more. Questions? Don't hesitate to holler. Expect to talk to Josh, Gillian, or Meagan throughout your project.

• Commercial DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Production Company
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Production Coordinator / Crewing
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Full-Service Live Production
• Content Strategist
• HD Live Operator
• Sound Mixer
• Creative Director
• Gaffer
• Post-Production Manager
• Colorist
• Production Assistant
• Digital Content Creator
• Drone Operator
• Art Director

Hi there, My name is Cameron Moore. I have worked full time as a videographer and filmmaker for the past 10 years. Along the way, working with brands like the Chicago Bulls, Reebok, and McDonalds. Although some of the things that really drive my love for video are action sports, food, and good ole' mother nature. I am willing to work with just about anyone. I hope to here from you about making your next awesome project. Reach out! Lets chat!

• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Production Company
• Production Assistant
• Grip
• Drone Operator
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Creative Director
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Field Producer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Corporate Videographer

With experience as both a photographer and videographer and an editor, Jeremy Handrup has been working in the freelance industry in Chicago over the last 7 years. He has recently graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with an MFA and is currently co-directing an upcoming documentary feature "Detention" concerning the US asylum policies.

• Documentary DP
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Commercial DP
• Fixer
• Production Assistant
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Sound Mixer

Stephen L. Garrett is a filmmaker based in Chicago, who collaborates with directors, producers, and production companies to develop, shoot, and edit feature-length documentaries, series, and promotional films for organizations large and small. Stephen began his filmmaking career in Madagascar as a third year Peace Corps volunteer in 2007. This experience led him to produce work for various organizations across the US and in 17 countries for clients such as the World Bank, the Ford Foundation, USAID, and the US Institute of Peace. Over his 12 year career in filmmaking, he has helped develop and produce television series that have aired on major television networks. In 2018 he coordinated coordinated post-production teams for 3 feature-length documentaries simultaneously: Nossa Chape debuted at South by Southwest 2018 and aired on Fox Sports; Momentum Generation won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Long Sports Documentary and debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival 2018 and aired on HBO; and Give Us This Day aired on AT&T Audience Network. In addition, he coordinated production and post production teams working in 13 countries for Phenoms, an internationally broadcast 6-episode documentary series about rising World Cup soccer stars for Fox Digital. In 2019, Stephen was the associate producer for Committee Film’s Investigation Discovery series Serial Killer: Devil Unchained. He is currently editing his first feature-length documentary How To Build A School in Haiti for director Jack C. Newell, which will be released in 2020. His short documentary, Mine 21, was awarded the 2019 Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media. Stephen has a BA in Conservation Studies from the University of the South.

• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• Video Editor - Commercial
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Production Company
• Production Assistant
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Fixer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Sound Mixer
• Event Photographer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist

Over 24 years of video production experience. Creative communications professional with extensive knowledge of current and emerging trends in media technology and distribution. Expert on High Definition acquisition and dissemination over multiple broadcast and social media platforms. Professional experience with crisis management, news story development, storytelling-based video production, social media production, commercial production, live streaming, and live broadcast. Accomplished television news photojournalist with multiple regional and national awards. Work seen globally on various cable and regional networks. Specialties: Video Production; Producing/Directing; HD Videography (RED, ARRI Alexa Mini, DSLR); Video editing: Premiere Pro; Visual storytelling; Marketing/Public Relations; Live webcasting (single and multi-camera); Technical Directing; Photojournalism; Field Producer; Television news, sports, and events; Writing news stories; Pitching news stories; and Television broadcasting

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Drone Operator
• Video Editor - News
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Production Company
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Full-Service Live Production
• TV News Producer
• HD Live Operator
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Sound Mixer
• Copywriter
• Executive Producer
• Senior Editor
• Social Media Producer
• Creative Director
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Sound Designer

Jiayan "Jenny" Shi is an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker and video journalist who is passionate about stories that find shared humanity and compassion. Her debut documentary "Finding Yingying" (MTV Documentary Films) has won numerous awards including the Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Voice at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival and a China Academy Award of Documentary Films, and was nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy award. Jenny's work has appeared on Paramount +, MTV, BBC News, PBS NewsHour, Insider, and Bilibili. She has also contributed to work on Netflix, Discovery Channel, Tencent, and Google, among others. Jenny is a Kartemquin's Diverse Voices In Docs fellow, a Women at Sundance Adobe fellow, a Firelight fellow, a Logan Nonfiction Program fellow, and a DOC NYC "40 Under 40" filmmaker. Jenny is the co-founder and programming director of the Chicago chapter of the Video Consortium where she curates films and organizes community events for non-fiction storytellers.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Production Company
• Reporter / Journalist
• Video Editor - News
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director

Sam Mirpoorian is an award-winning filmmaker exploring societal themes at the intersection of time, isolation, health, science, + introspection. During his undergrad + grad studies at Indiana University, he made his first doc-short, Little Warriors, which tells the story about youth activism in the space of climate policy. The film was a Grand Prize Winner at the Academy Award-Qualifying, Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis. In 2018, Sam edited + produced a doc-short, Destination Park, which examines a mobile chapel located in the heart of a desolate truck stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York + made its online premiere via The Atlantic in 2019. In 2020, Sam’s second doc-short, Sonnie, which follows the serene + poignant life of a single father raising his son, played + won awards from over 40 film festivals across the United States + is a recipient of the Kodak Motion Picture Film Bronze Award for Excellence in Filmmaking. Sonnie won three Regional Emmy® Awards and was acquired by NBC, making its broadcast premiere via Peacock in 2021. In addition to his film work, Sam has directed, shot, edited, + produced national + regional commercial/branded content campaigns for philanthropic + environmental foundations including brands such as Pharrell Williams’ IceCream, Robert Redford’s The Redford Center, the YMCA, NASCAR, Goodwill, Louisville Slugger, High & Mighty, + others.

• Video Editor - Documentary
• Documentary DP
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Video Editor - News
• Fixer
• Commercial DP
• Production Assistant
• Creative Director
• Reporter / Journalist
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Production Company
• Drone Operator
• Corporate Videographer

When Parry Metz was a pre-med student at the University of Michigan, he had visions of improving lives and having a profound and lasting effect upon humanity. So he did the only sensible thing: he changed his major to advertising. For 15 years, Parry was a creative director and copywriter at DDB Chicago, where he has worked on Safeway, JCPenney, McDonald’s, The Field Museum, the Afterschool Alliance/Ad Council, the American Cancer Society, and many other accounts. Most recently, he was creative lead on a multi-million dollar Jewel-Osco campaign and also led social media content creation for GNC, Citibank and Applegate Natural Meats. Parry takes pride in finding creative solutions to every assignment that comes his way, no matter how small. Judging by his longevity on the Albertsons/Safeway account (11 years) and, prior to that, the JCPenney account (6 years), this seems to be something that clients appreciate. 3 guiding principles have truly helped shape Parry as a writer and creative leader: Good is the enemy of great. — Voltaire People only read what interests them. Sometimes it's an ad. — Howard Gossage Don't be a douche. — some guy Along the way, he has won a host of awards and created work that has consistently been best in category. What brain surgeon can say that?

• Creative Director
• Copywriter
• Fixer
• Sound Designer
• Audio Storyteller

Bottle Rocket Media is a Chicago-based video agency populated with Emmy Award winning talent. We specialize in authentic storytelling. Born out of the NYC advertising scene, we came of age in Hollywood and refined our skills while working on The Oprah Winfrey Show. With decades of broadcast TV production experience on our team, we know how to make stunning videos that connect with viewers. Bottle Rocket Media services include; video production, 360º video production, story development, motion design, and creative strategy. Our clients include United Airlines, McDonalds, WeWork, Skywalker Ranch, Walgreens, Aon Hewitt, American Dental Association, Discover Card, Nabisco, Dyson, American Girl, Morton Salt, ADIDAS, TOMY Toys, Vosges Chocolate, Centro, The Second City, National Restaurant Association, S.O.S Pads, Steel Series, Travelzoo, Myriad/RBM, The First Years, Pabst Brewing Co, Vermillion, Ad Council of America, Henry V, Next Now Agency, Epsilon, Motiv8, One North Interactive, All Point Public Relations, Momentum WW, Rise Interactive to name just a few. We also work 'white label' for agencies and other creative shops. Some of the companies we created videos for, but you won't see on our site include: Starbucks, PayPal, Hilton, Lilly, Dollar General, Tim Hortons, Jewel-Osco, TIAA, GSK, ADIDAS, Nabisco, Paul McCartney, and Jimmy Buffett Tradewinds Teas. Many examples of our work can be viewed on our website —> http://bottlerocketmedia.net

• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Audio Storyteller

I am a filmmaker and photographer with eight years of experience in short film production, promotional video work, documentary production, event photography, interviewing, and script writing. I am the founder and President of EHFAR Films, which I established in March of 2013. My experience as a videographer and photographer has granted me the opportunity to travel and film internationally, specifically across Italy, Turkey, England, and Rwanda. My team (ft. Award-winning DP Alex Halstead and Director Laura Martinelli) has partnered with DePaul University, Big Picture Learning, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Southern New Hampshire University, The Met, The Adventures of Mr. Clown, Paul Mitchell of N. New England, YMCA, MassChallenge, WEI and has shot a combined 40 short films.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist

I have a 20 year history in film making as a producer, cinematographer and everything else under the sun. I've developed and produced original programming for A&E Network, MTV, produced 4 full length films in distribution through Hulu, Amazon, itunes and many other platforms and co-wrote and produced a film that we sold to showtime. I'm currently co-producing and co-hosting a podcast called Paramerican Radio that we produce out of our office in the Watergarden building in Santa Monica and am in and often working in the Los Angeles area when I'm not in my hometown of the Quad Cities on the border of Iowa/Illinois around 2 hrs from Chicago.

• Documentary DP
• Production Company
• Field Producer
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Commercial DP
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Sound Designer
• Drone Operator
• Gaffer
• Sound Mixer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist

Thatch Films is a full service boutique production company specializing in documentary, commercial, corporate and film projects. We are a full service company offering pre-production, production, post-production, multimedia and animation services. We work with agencies and direct clients around the world to tell stories that explore our common humanity, our capacity for joy, and our search for meaning. We work with clients from conception to delivery and are dedicated to open communication and a holistic artistic approach. * Hiring During COVID-19: We are skilled in practicing and maintaining safe production practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.*

• Production Company
• Creative Director
• Post-Production Manager
• Documentary DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Drone Operator
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Fixer
• Field Producer
• Commercial DP
• Reporter / Journalist
• News Shooter / Video Journalist

I'm a psychotherapist with 14 years of experience in the mental health field in private practice, college collaboration, small businesses and corporations. I have international experience as a mental health advocate and content creator to create consciousness, awareness and visibility to mental health and the way it relates to people's functioning in different aspects of their life like work, physical health and interpersonal relationships. My goal is to empower people to develop self awareness, growth and challenge their limiting beliefs to achieve a healthier version of themselves through actions.

• On-Camera Talent
• Content Strategist
• Creative Director
• Audio Storyteller
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Digital Content Creator

Joe M. Han is a South Korea-born, Director of Photography based in Chicago, IL. A culmination of his involvement in music, art, and theater throughout his early years led him to dive into the world of cinema. With his new found passion for filmmaking, Joe attended Columbia College Chicago, and graduated with a bachelor of arts, concentrating on cinematography. Since then, Joe has worked countless hours with various award-winning directors and clients like Adidas, Buzzfeed, AXA International, Refinery29, and much more.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Gaffer
• HD Live Operator
• Drone Operator
• Colorist

Our clients call us ‘mind readers’, but there are no fortune tellers here, just a passionate group of award-winning filmmakers, at your service. We are exceptional listeners who excel in capturing genuine moments and real emotion – we pull a little more truth and heart out of each camera angle, sound bite, and editorial decision, to tell engaging stories about your brand, product, or experience that create lasting impressions on your audience. And working with us is easy! We’re ready to talk about what Original Six Media can do for you.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - News
• Field Producer
• Production Company
• Drone Operator
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Assistant

From story-boarding to production to shooting to editing, I found I had enthusiasm for it all. Each client brings me a new challenge to find their vision. Each video an opportunity to express myself creatively. I can’t imagine being anywhere else. This is what I love and I want to share my expertise with you.

• Corporate Videographer
• Production Company
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Event Photographer
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist

Rocketfuel Studios is the intersection of digital filmmaking and creative storytelling. From full-blown commercial production, to intimate documentary filmmaking, we work closely with brands to tell important stories that resonate with audiences. Whether you’re looking for turnkey video marketing solutions or individual project support, Rocketfuel has you covered.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Drone Operator
• Production Company
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Production Coordinator / Crewing
• Creative Director
• Post-Production Manager
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Colorist
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Sound Mixer
• Gaffer

Yijun Pan is a Chicago based photographer and cinematographer. She graduated from DePaul University with a degree in Master of Science - Cinematography of Film & Television Production in 2019. Yijun's works focus on portrait and food photography and videography. She also tells stories with narratives and documentaries.

• Creative Director
• Portrait Photographer
• Documentary DP
• Fixer
• Commercial DP
• Production Assistant
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Product Photographer
• Colorist
• Art Director
• Event Photographer

A Filmmaker turned Humanitarian, I have spent the last 14 years working in all aspects of the film industry. My work has been in the United States and India. Must recently starting a non-profit to teach youth to create their own documentary films. I still take time for my own projects. I'm currently traveling along the United States - Mexico border for a documentary series about Asylum Seekers.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Grip
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Commercial DP
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Audio Storyteller