CAL ENGEL

I’m Cal. I bring ideas to life.

I’m a director, producer, photographer, and editor. I’ve produced projects, worked behind the camera, in the edit, and alongside creative teams to bring ideas to life.

Download my resumé

A career built around making.

At The Marketing Store, I built an internal video group to support agency teams and their clients. I produced, directed, shot, and edited the work myself. From there, my work took me on tour with the Jonas Brothers, into brand content at Optimum Nutrition, and into production leadership at RMG Mall Media.

In 2014, I founded AV Collective to give brands and businesses a production partner from the first idea through final delivery. It’s where I’ve continued to combine the things I enjoy most: producing, shooting, shaping a story in the edit, and bringing talented people together to make something we’re proud of.

Good work takes more than a good idea.

It takes people who understand the goal, a plan that gives them what they need, and someone willing to work through the details. Finding the right shot, capturing an honest moment, or getting the rhythm of an edit to click is the work I love. Staying involved in those details also makes me a better collaborator and team leader. I understand what goes into the work because I’m doing it alongside the people I bring in.

The experience I bring.

AV Collective, Inc – Creative Director : 2014-Present

I saw an opportunity in the content space to offer full-service video and photography production services for brands and businesses that needed visual assets, but didn’t have an in-house team.  We fill that role by being one call away for anything a client needs from ideation and scripting, to on-site productions, to editing and motion graphics.

RMG Mall Media / AKOO – Senior Producer : 2012-2014

At RMG, I co-ran the creative team and I was responsible for all of our video and photo production services. I produced content for our DOOH network of screens around the country and managed the team shooting & edited content, ranging from talent on green screen to interviews with actors and musicians.

Optimum Nutrition – Videographer : 2012

At Optimum Nutrition I was responsible for developing all video content for one of the biggest brands in the sports nutrition category. I was responsible for producing, shooting and editing original content, edited, artist submitted video, and marketing materials.

Maddock Douglas – Innovation Manager – Creative : 2011

I developed a plan for how to Maddock Douglas could approach their video needs and build a profit center in the company, by producing video and photo content across all clients and internal stakeholders.  I managed the projects from start to finish, finding resources where needed and doing all postproduction in house.

Jonas Brothers – Tour Photographer : 2010

I was responsible for capturing every moment of the Jonas Brothers day. From time off, to events and premieres, meet and greets and the show itself.  My images images could be used for press and internal applications.  Even once I’d moved on from the touring world, I frequently was hired back on for parts of the tour, to create visuals that could be used for future promotion.

The Marketing Store – Multimedia Supervisor : 2004-2010

When I started at tms, I saw that video was becoming a necessity for any creative agency.  So I created an internal video group that brought video options to every project and client.  I built and managed a team that delivered engaging video content, photographs, and presentation materials.  I was responsible for all aspects of a project, managing resources, producing, directing, shooting & editing.  All while working closely with the internal creative team to deliver their vision.

Education

  • College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL – Video Production (2002 – 2004, coursework completed)
  • Hope College, Holland, MI – Pre Law (2003, coursework completed)
  • Timothy Christian High School, Elmhurst, IL – Class of 2000

Software and Tools

  • Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop, etc)
  • Frame.io & Camera to Cloud Workflow
  • Google Workplace & Microsoft Office
  • Network Attached & Cloud Storage Solutions and File Management/Structure

Download my resumé

A few things about me.

22

Countries visited

37

States visited

500+

Concerts photographed

20+

Cameras owned (in the past)

What you can expect from me.

I want people to understand what we’re working toward and feel comfortable bringing their expertise to it. My role is to provide direction, listen, and help the team make decisions that serve the work.

Running a company has taught me to think beyond my part of a project. I pay attention to the budget, the schedule, the relationships, and the handoff—because all of them affect the result.

I’m comfortable leading a production and contributing to each individual part directly. Time spent behind the camera and in the edit helps me understand what the team needs and where I can be useful.

I’ve built new production capabilities throughout my career. I enjoy finding better ways to make things, whether that means learning a tool, improving a workflow, or bringing in someone with a different perspective.