RICK McCLELLAND
Emmy-Award Winning
Storyteller | Videographer | Editor | Creator | Writer | Comedian | Guy With Too Many Titles
Hi there! I'm Rick, the video storyteller who can help you maximize the impact of your online video strategy.From social media to weddings, local news to corporate, sports production to documentaries, my broad range of experience gives me the versatility needed to craft content for brands and businesses that gets results.View my portfolio and learn how storytelling can help your brand at the first two links. For my comedy writing and performing, check out the third. Get in touch and learn more about me in the final two sections.
© Rick McClelland. All rights reserved.
Social Media Assets
Marrying metrics with storytelling
This is a short compilation of social media content I've produced in my time at the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. When I began working there, they had virtually zero video presence, which gave me the freedom to direct and build it from scratch.Over the past seven years, I've produced over 1,000 multimedia assets, extending beyond just social media to include internal trainings, time-sensitive body camera redactions, press materials for news organizations and more.
Results:
Increased “Minutes Viewed” by 200% to 1.7 million in the first year and drove 138% growth in overall video views
This work culminated in over 537 days (12,888 hours) of watch time and 22,800+ interactions in the current 18-month period (a 467.5% increase)
Drove follower growth from 35,000 to 70,000 on Facebook (their primary platform) through consistent, high-performing video content that outperformed photos 5x in engagement and 4x in reach
Opioid Recovery Campaign
Highlighting efforts to combat the opioid crisis
This video is part of a series, produced with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, where we went behind the scenes to showcase the agency's innovative new opioid rehabilitation programs, the depth of the ongoing crisis locally, and recovery stories from survivors of addiction. The films were used to raise awareness on social media and were presented at various local, state, and national conferences in an effort to educate about the effectiveness of ongoing efforts.
Results:
Over $4,000,000 in funding for a new treatment facility was raised from government and private stakeholders
The videos were used to assist in lobbying for FL HBs 95 and 365 (increasing penalties on drug dealers and access to life-saving Narcan)
Impower Fundraiser
Showcasing a non-profit's impact story
IMPOWER of Central Florida already had a clear vision: helping at-risk youth reach their full potential and achieve individual success by providing transitional housing and other services. Their dedication made it easy to find two teens whose stories truly exemplified the heart of the organization’s mission and the impact it was having in the community.
Results:
The final film debuted at their annual fundraiser breakfast and assisted in tripling projected donations from $15,000 to nearly $50,000.
Our Six Heroes
A documentary memorializing six fallen deputies
Produced over a period of 2 years, we were able to showcase the lives and lasting legacy of the fallen deputies memorialized in Seminole County. We interviewed surviving family members and friends, consulted local historians, and unearthed previously unseen archival footage and photographs that helped reveal their personalities both at home and while on duty.
Results:
The impact of this film goes beyond just numbers. It was a very emotional process for everyone involved. One family personally thanked us for helping them find closure with their loved one’s death, something they had been unable to truly do in the 40 years since it had happened.It’s an honor to tell stories with such compelling characters and extraordinary heart, qualities I look for in every film I craft.
The Buried Badge
The story of a badge lost for over 100 years
When a metal detector came to us with a badge he dug up in the woods labeled #6, it sent us on a journey to find everything we could about its origins. Working with local historians, we were able to trace it back to the very formation of Seminole County itself and find a living descendent of the badge’s original owner.
Results:
The gold badge now has a permanent home in the Museum of Seminole County History. The story profiling its history won an Emmy Award, a first for both myself and the agency.I love history, so it was truly an incredible experience to be part of researching and telling this story.
The facts are clear: The best way to spread your message is through compelling, story-driven content.
Stories shape our perception of ourselves and the world we live in. By deepening our connection and empathy with others, they shatter social barriers and motivate people to create meaningful change.
On a neurological level, our brains even process stories differently than they do with more direct forms of persuasion. The most powerful stories that we interact with can feel almost magical in the seamless way that we seem to find ourselves engrossed in their plots, characters, and outcomes.
By The Numbers:
Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text. {Source}84% of people say that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video. {Source}
Results Achieved:
Crafted an economic development pitch video that brought over $12,000,000 and five new companies to the local economy
Produced a non-profit's fundraising film that enabled them to triple the projected amount of donations at their annual fundraiser
Produced a viral series on the opioid epidemic that was instrumental in lobbying for state and federal legislation and brought in over $4,000,000 in local investments
My process begins by getting to know you, your brand, and your desired campaign objectives. By diving deep we can find and organize the most powerful story possible for your desired outcomes so that once the cameras are rolling we know we're capturing the best you have to offer.
Everything is done with intention and the end goal in mind: transporting your audience and creating identification with the characters. When that occurs, a world of possibilities open up as a result.
Finding Wit's End
FWE is my bi-weekly humor Substack where I publish satire, personal essays, and other assorted comedy. The newsletter is all about my quest to explore the limits of funny and bring all my misadventures finding it to you, totally free.So subscribe below, forget about “inbox zero” and instead light up with anticipation when you see an incoming email from me, your best buddy Rick.(We are buddies, right? Please. We have to be. My therapist says I really need this.)
Comedy Performing + Event Hosting
I also perform and teach improv comedy, host shows and team building events for businesses,
and help brands craft comedic video content that connects them with audiences.
Ready to start working together?
Contact
Looking to chat more about your upcoming projects and needs? Just fill out the form below and I'll be in touch shortly :)If contact forms give you heartburn, feel free to reach out directly at rickjmcclelland@gmail.com
You're In!
I look forward to chatting soon and learning more about how we can get to work making something awesome together!
About Rick
For more than a decade, I've been producing, filming, and editing impactful video content that gets results in today's crowded content landscape. I've worked with companies, non-profits, and local government organizations to expand their social media reach, bring in millions of dollars of funding for new initiatives, and directly impact state and federal legislation. Specific numbers on all of these are available on the other sections of this site.Beyond my technical videography skillset, I also have expertise in writing a variety of content types, abilities in live-event and on-camera hosting, and chops as an improv and stand-up comedian. The truth is that funny content sticks out and I'd love to help you and your brand make more of it.Other than that? Humor writer publishing bi-weekly on Substack, avid exerciser, average pickleball player, and guy who gives 100% to dancing at a wedding while having zero serious moves.Let's create something awesome together.
