AJ Wendel

Delivering for a Big Brand Under Tight Deadlines

Produced, directed, and edited 25 branded explainer videos in under three months.

Context

While working full-time at FIXD as Creative Director, I was asked to support a partnership with Craftsman Tools. They were launching a white-labeled version of the FIXD app and needed their own branded versions of the 25 diagnostic explainer videos we had built for FIXD’s consumer app.

There wasn’t time or bandwidth to run this through our internal production pipeline, so I took it on as a freelance project in parallel to my full-time role.

What I Did

  • Rewrote all 25 scripts to match Craftsman’s tone, brand standards, and legal requirements
  • Directed, shot, edited, and delivered every video personally
  • Collaborated with Craftsman’s team to approve visuals, scripts, and final assets in real time
  • Coordinated live approvals over FaceTime to keep production moving under tight deadlines
  • Designed new graphics aligned with Craftsman’s visual system
  • Delivered a complete 25-video catalog in under three months
  • Managed the entire production alongside my full-time creative leadership role at FIXD

Same Framework, Different Brand

Original FIXD Explainer
Craftsman Branded Version

What It Showed

  • Proved I could lead branded content at scale and under pressure
  • Built trust with a national brand through consistent delivery and communication
  • Balanced speed, cost-efficiency, and production quality
  • Delivered a full customer-facing video library that supported Craftsman’s product launch

Why It Worked

Because I had written and produced the original FIXD videos, I could move fast and adapt the creative without losing quality or intent. The result was a fully aligned, ready-to-deploy series that gave Craftsman a polished launch for their version of the FIXD app.

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Experience

2024 - Present
Independent Creative
Content Strategist & Freelance Creative | August 2024 - Present
• Produced video, social, and brand content for independent clients, including touring musicians and small businesses.

• Shot and produced music videos and live tour content for independent musicians, creating promotional assets and social campaigns under fast-paced conditions.

• Developed branding and digital infrastructure for an occupational therapy reading service, preparing the business for future launch and client acquisition

• Continued professional growth through independent projects and training with tools such as Unreal Engine, Adobe Creative Suite, AI tools.
2018 - 2024
FIXD Automotive
Digital Creative Director | August 2020 - August 2024 (Reference From CEO Available)
• Helped build and scale FIXD’s in-house marketing department, starting from a two-person testing team

• Managed a five-person creative team and oversaw all content tied to $2M/month in advertising spend

• Directed and edited hundreds of performance ads, including a Video Sales Letter (VSL) that ran for 5+ years and supported 250+  iterations

• Developed creative testing frameworks and content pipelines that reduced reliance on new production

• Played a central role in team growth, strategy, campaign planning, and channel scaling
Video Content Creator | October 2018 – August 2020
• Produced original video content for the FIXD YouTube channel and app

• Created educational and brand-aligned visual assets using advanced After Effects workflows
2021
Craftsman Tools
Video Producer / Director / Editor | Oct 2021 – Dec 2021
• Delivered a 25-video explainer series for a white-labeled Craftsman Tools version of the FIXD app

• Handled all production phases independently—scripting, directing, shooting, editing, client communication

• Completed the project in under 3 months while managing full-time responsibilities at FIXD
2020 - 2022
Pale horse production
Freelance Director / Editor | Nov 2020 – Nov 2022
• Edited four short documentaries for the outdoor and hunting industry

• Managed story flow, edit pacing, and sound design tailored to enthusiast audiences
2015 - 2018
Charles Ryan Associates
Director of Photography | Jul 2016 - August 2018
• Led cinematography and post-production for agency video work across healthcare, energy, and public service clients

• Directed a $50K healthcare explainer video that went on to win Best in Show at the WV ADDY Awards

• Contributed to writing, storyboarding, and cross-functional creative projects
Video Production Specialist  | Jun 2015 - Aug 2016
• Shot and edited educational and advocacy content for healthcare, government, and natural gas clients.

• Collaborated with directors and PR teams to shape messaging and deliver polished video content.
Film Intern  | Jun 2015 - Aug 2016
• Supported professional film and commercial projects across camera, editing, and design roles