// DIRECTOR'S REEL 2024
Director & Creative Producer

Tommy
Saunders

Kansas City · Stories That Move

I make content that holds attention — or it doesn't get made. As founder of Intelligent Operations and a former VMLY&R creative, I direct commercial work, branded films, and documentary projects that turn brand belief into visual proof.

2023
Founded
KC
Based
4
Production Stages
Selected Work

Every frame
is a decision

Sports · Identity
Kansas City Chiefs
Branded content · Campaign
🎨
Documentary · Culture
Tru Kolors
Documentary · Brand story
🎬
Documentary
Chris Burrow — Documentary
Long-form · Director
📷
Commercial · Product
Brand Campaign — 2024
Product stills · E-commerce
About

Self-taught.
Self-determined.

I'm a Kansas City-based director, creative producer, and founder of Intelligent Operations — a full-service content agency built on one belief: the work either holds attention or it doesn't.

My path wasn't traditional. I'm self-educated in the craft — which means every skill I have, I earned on set, in the edit bay, and through the lens. Before Intelligent Operations, I cut my teeth at VMLY&R, one of the world's largest marketing agencies, where I learned the difference between content that checks a box and content that changes minds.

In 2023, I launched Intelligent Operations with a simple mission: make ideas move. That year, I traveled, worked with celebrities, directed documentaries, and assembled the kind of crews and casts that only show up for work that matters.

Director Creative Producer Branded Content Documentary Color Grading Post-Production VFX CTV / OTT Sound Design Creative Strategy Storyboarding Scriptwriting
Core Belief
"Your brand's story isn't in the caption. It's in the cut, the color, and the moment that makes someone stop scrolling."
Background
Former VMLY&R creative. Self-educated filmmaker. Founded Intelligent Operations in 2023 — built on craft, conviction, and the belief that pre-production is where money is made or lost.
LinkedIn Recommendation
"Nate knew exactly what he wanted as the Creative Director... cohesive, expressive and magical... easy to work with, personable, great communicator."
2023 — Present
Founder & Creative Director
Intelligent Operations · Kansas City, MO
Launched full-service content agency. Directed commercial work for Travis Kelce, KC Chiefs. Documentary projects. Top-tier cast and crew nationwide.
Prior
Creative — Agency Experience
VMLY&R · Global Marketing Agency
Developed creative across national brand campaigns. Built the strategic foundation that now powers Intelligent Operations's agency-level thinking.
Foundation
Self-Educated Filmmaker
On Set · In the Edit Bay
Every skill earned through practice, not a degree. Built technical mastery in direction, color, sound, and post-production through relentless iteration.
How I Work

The four stages
of making something real

01
Pre-Production
This is where money is made or lost. Every decision here saves three on set and ten in the edit. Strategy, scripting, storyboarding, casting, and location locking happen before a single camera rolls.
Strategy Scripting Storyboard Casting Locations
02
Production
Where vision meets reality. Direction, camera work, lighting, and performance. I run sets with the precision of a plan and the flexibility to capture magic when it shows up unannounced.
Direction Camera Lighting Performance
03
Post-Production
Editing isn't just cutting clips — it's creating emotions. Color grading sets tone. Sound design creates world. VFX adds dimension. This is where the story gets its architecture.
Edit Color Grade Sound Design VFX
04
Distribution
A masterpiece no one sees is invisible. Format optimization for broadcast, CTV, OTT, and social. Platform-native cuts that reach the right screen at the right moment with the right format.
Broadcast CTV / OTT Social Multi-Format
Philosophy

The laws I work by

"Content is a film set. There's a director, a script, a budget, a cast, and a distribution plan. Everything has a role. Everything is intentional."
01
Every frame is a decision — make it deliberately.
02
Pre-production is where money is made or lost.
03
Clean audio equals clean visuals — never compromise the foundations.
04
Color correct first. Color grade second. The sequence matters.
05
Editing isn't just cutting clips — it's creating emotions.
06
Beautiful content without results is beautiful failure.
Recognition
"
Nate knew exactly what he wanted as the Creative Director — the end result was cohesive, expressive and magical. He was easy to work with, personable, a great communicator.
CW
Collaborator
Via LinkedIn · Kansas City

Let's make
something
worth watching

I take on a limited number of projects each year. If you're building something that deserves to be seen — let's talk about what it takes to make it move.

Available for Projects
Currently accepting new work
Based in Kansas City. Available for projects locally and nationally. I work 7 days a week for the right story.
Commercial Production
Branded Content & Films
Documentary Projects
Product Photography
Post-Production Services
Creative Direction