Nice to meet you, SBDIGITAL.

My name is Michael Ivey. I’m a freelance “multi-screen” storyteller – a “hands-on” problem solver, always happy to wear multiple hats to help stretch budgets and meet deadlines. My unique talent is the ability is to capture the “best version” of anyone, from “real people” to celebrities, while crafting their stories into authentic, moving and memorable content.

“I read your case studies. Wow.”

I recently created a campaign for a magistrate race in West Virginia. I had a single day to create a campaign’s worth of content on a shoestring budget. Everyone worked with great enthusiasm and created commercials and still photography that we felt sure would resonate with voters. When asked my advice about digital distribution, I could only offer the most elementary suggestions: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube pre-roll. I admitted to the candidate that I didn’t know “that world,” but I did know that someone out there could do precise digital targeting and engagement measurement.

I visited the SBDIGITAL website and quickly realized that I had found that someone. I read your case studies. Wow. I’m very impressed by your successful partnership with Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and the essential part you played in Virginia’s historic “Blue Wave” of 2017, as well as your other campaigns. Your accomplishments make it obvious that there isn’t a single strategic or tactical “cookie cutter” in the SBDIGITAL toolbox. The SBDIGITAL team’s use of creativity, experience and insight to forge original, high-impact, paths to success for clients is inspiring.

I’d love an opportunity to work with the SBDIGITAL team.

COVID-19 Collaboration

Since the 2020 production season has been “compressed,” due to COVID-19, are you looking for creative collaborators to help handle your content creation workload – once America is “open” again?

Please take a few minutes to view samples of my political, issue advocacy and corporate work below. More samples are available by clicking the Motion and Still tabs in the header. Radio samples are under Motion - Radio / VO.

Political

1,2,3) Keep Gary Sheff Magistrate - Writer, Director, Producer, Co-DP, Editor, Still Photographer Schedule - One-day shoot on location in Kanawha County, West Virginia Crew - One other filmmaker and myself Budget - Shoestring Deliverables - Two :30s and Four :15s for TV & Social, One :30 Radio, Official Portrait, BTS photos for Social Media

4) Latino Victory - Latino Victory Looks Ahead To 2018 - Researcher, Writer - Brand Image, Social, Fundraising

Issue Advocacy

1) Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center - Susan - Director, Interviewer, Co-Producer, Co-DP, Editor Schedule - Three-day shoot on location - Georgetown University Gelardin New Media Center - we shot over 30 in-depth interviews. Crew - One other filmmaker, a stylist and myself Deliverables - Initially Nine videos for a fundraising gala. This video was produced after the gala for an award presentation (and for fundraising) from my initial interview.

2) The Southern Company - Project Share - Fundraising - Director, Production Designer

3) ALSO US / Mitsubishi Health - Aleia - Storyteller, Editor - https://www.alsousart.com/our-als-stories/aleia

4) ALSO US / Mitsubishi Health - MacKenzie - Storyteller, Editor - https://www.alsousart.com/our-als-stories/mackenzie

5) DTFA - I’m Just A Kid - Writer, Director, Casting (all children cast from within the foster care system), national PSA

6) The Ohio State University - What It Means To Be A Buckeye - Director, Interviewer - Social, Brand Image, Fundraising

Corporate

1) visitNC.com - Get Close - Writer, Producer, Director, DP, Editor - This spec spot helped me land WV Tourism.

2) West Virginia Tourism - Real. - National TV & Social - Writer, Producer, Director, DP, Location Scout, Propmaster

3) Smithfield Foods - The Gangs All Here - National Broadcast Campaign - Director, Production Designer, Propmaster

4) Mercy Health - Twists and Turns - Regional Broadcast Campaign - Director, Production Designer

5) JBS Swift - 1855 - National Brand Rollout & Image, Salesforce Training - Researcher, Writer, Director, Co-DP, Co-Editor

6) Omni Nashville Hotel - Multipurpose Brand Image Video - Writer, Director

7) CincinnatiUSA.com - Stay Close - Regional Broadcast Campaign - Director, Production Designer

Partial Client List

Ford Motor Company, FIVE GUYS, Ohio Lottery, Corning Glass, Alabama Power, Wendy’s International, P&G, Cooper Tire, Jet’s Pizza, Big Lots, Smithfield Foods, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Integris Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation, and The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

Bio

Besides working in film, I’ve been a commentator / reporter for NPR’s “All Things Considered,” a professional river runner, a Los Angeles-based production designer, an Operating Engineer and an AP photojournalist based in Appalachia.

I’ve created impactful, award-winning content across numerous categories - from cause marketing to documentaries to rebranding Swine Flu as H1N1.

I am committed to preparation, collaboration, authenticity in casting and performance, putting the budget on the screen, and making work that makes a difference.

As a Directors Guild of America / Financial Core director, I can work both union and nonunion projects.

Thank You

I really appreciate you taking the time to view my work. When you need a hand with any aspect of production, please do not hesitate to give me a shout.

All the best and stay safe, Michael

michaelivey@mac.com - 614.657.5337

Recommendations

“After four years of shooting on little budget, I was an exhausted documentary filmmaker who felt like she was drowning as an editor, shaping a vast story for PBS Independent Lens. That’s when Michael Ivey and his storytelling chops swooped in and pulled me above water, not only seeing the vision, but showing me the creative path to get there. As my Consulting Director (and frequent interviewer and cameraman) for “On A Roll: Family, Disability and the American Dream,” there were moments when I despised Michael’s perseverance and unwillingness to let me flounder, but persist we did. The film won the Independent Lens Audience Award and recommendations from The New York Times, Anti-Defamation League, and others, followed by ten years of international broadcast by ITVS True Stories: Life in the USA. I believe none of that would have happened without Michael Ivey.”

— Joanne Caputo, independent filmmaker

“Michael is unlike any director I have ever worked with. It must be his NPR journalist background or something, because he explores every nook and cranny of a project before, during, and after a shoot. Instead of hiring one guy, you get 10. He has a marketer’s DNA and brings to the job some wicked observations, insights and ideas. Carry a pad when you work with him. He’s collaborative. He’s versatile. We used to joke in the agency how at least once a day someone would throw out an idea that began with “What if we got Michael Ivey to...” That’s how much a part of our team he became. Best of all, he is a great guy and I consider him a great friend.”

— Rich Paschall, marketing creative director & strategist

“There are some people you work with who make work seem like play. There are some people you work with who make you feel like you are the most important person in the room. And there are some people you work with who make you feel like your project is the best, most important thing he or she has ever worked on. Michael is all of those people. He is so far beyond an insane director. He is a visionary, a poet, a storyteller, world traveller and photojournalist - he is the quintessential renaissance man. And he is genuine to the core. His passion, vision, collaborative nature, and his tireless commitment to doing whatever it takes to make each and every production the very best, make Michael my very first choice to work with. Always. I owe a lot to Michael. He has made me a much better broadcast creative than I ever hoped to be. Borrowing a sentiment from one of my favorite creative directors, I have a very small list of people I hope to work with again in my career... Michael is at the top of that list.”

— Sherri Anderson, branding consultant, copywriter, idea houndess

References

Doug Heyl - Vice President, SBDigital - doug@sbdigital.com - 404.431.3866 Sue Witham - Production Co. Owner / EP - Midwest Board Member AICP - sue@mediumfilm.com - 248.840.5400 Paul Johnson - Production Co. Partner / EP - paul@howdy-partner.com - 646.870.5110