Sizzle Reel
[2026]
[2026]
YouTube Channel : youtube.com/@DirectedByRuss
Current totals: 3k Subscribers - 2.4 Million Views
Work Samples
"Love and Care on Mother's Day'
Hallmark eCards [2017]
Role: Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor
Hallmark eCards [2017]
Role: Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor
With this project I wanted to visualize love in its many iterations. From pitching the concept and writing the honest expression of love, to planning the imagery, coordinating the artists, assets and locations, lighting the sets and props, filming the scenes, organizing files, editing, color correcting, and voice direction, I probably did too much - but I'm very proud of the final result.
"Happy Pi Day"
Hallmark eCards [2019]
Role: Director, Art Director, Editor, Motion Graphics
Hallmark eCards [2019]
Role: Director, Art Director, Editor, Motion Graphics
Using tabletop setups and food photography tricks, we showcased America's favorite pies in this celebration of Pi Day. Quick turnaround, tasty results.
"Warmest Christmas Wishes"
Hallmark eCards [2017]
Role: Director, Writer, Art Director, Editor, VFX, Motion Graphics
Hallmark eCards [2017]
Role: Director, Writer, Art Director, Editor, VFX, Motion Graphics
Showcasing this magical Christmas spread might look like a dream, but was a 'no budget' shoot with an elaborate camera setup involving 5 people and a rolling chair. Through tenacity and creativity we were able to produce high production value at a fraction of the price.
Additionally, this "holiday food table" production campaign was built around shooting of a series of videos for other holidays sharing similar food assets to maximize the output of content to dollar spent on physical production.
Additionally, this "holiday food table" production campaign was built around shooting of a series of videos for other holidays sharing similar food assets to maximize the output of content to dollar spent on physical production.
"Saxy Christmas"
Hallmark eCards [2016]
Hallmark eCards [2016]
Role: Director, Editor, VFX
After directing actor Santa Ed Taylor against green screen for a series of social GIFs and an iOS sticker pack, I utilized the unused footage by recycling them into this wild VFX-heavy edit taking viewers on a groovy visual trip with Santa. One of the weirder projects that Hallmark allowed for, and I'm a fan.
"Papercut Easter"
Hallmark eCards [2018]
Hallmark eCards [2018]
Role: Director, Cinematographer, Animator, Editor
Stop-motion animation has such a nostalgic joy and tactile realism attached to it, I felt it would be the perfect medium to show flowers bloom for an Easter eCard. Animatic timing, practical problem solving and art asset creation were half the battle, followed by the camera rig programming, lighting, and actual frame-by-frame stop motion animation shot in reverse to help guide the final layout and composition. Additional compositing, tracking, and animation of text was done in post, and could be swapped out to also double this media as a Mother's Day eCard.
Role: Director, Editor
For this 'no budget' digital comedy pilot, I directed actors and non-actors, as well as children and animals. After completion, this pilot secured additional funding in order to produce a larger production Low Budget 30 minute pilot, as well as a series of micro shorts for social.
Role: Director, producer, Writer
Shot on 16mm color film in brutal winter conditions over a 30 day production, this ambitious WWII drama film explores themes of nationalism and detachment. An epic micro-budget $30,000 production.
I was chosen as the director for this senior thesis film because I had written the script and demonstrated a solid track record of quality films throughout college.
As is the nature of most student thesis films, it was a scrappy, passionate and challenging production. Thanks to making quality connections, successful crowd funding, charitable donations, out-of-the-box creativity, much luck and sheer will, we successfully produced a film which could have easily cost upwards of $250,000. There's many reasons why it should cost $250,000 to make this, and we learned why the hard way. Regardless, it was a formative experience in my life, giving me a taste for the fast-paced world of production and the level-head you must have when in charge of making major creative decisions. I am a better director and communicator because of this project..
I was chosen as the director for this senior thesis film because I had written the script and demonstrated a solid track record of quality films throughout college.
As is the nature of most student thesis films, it was a scrappy, passionate and challenging production. Thanks to making quality connections, successful crowd funding, charitable donations, out-of-the-box creativity, much luck and sheer will, we successfully produced a film which could have easily cost upwards of $250,000. There's many reasons why it should cost $250,000 to make this, and we learned why the hard way. Regardless, it was a formative experience in my life, giving me a taste for the fast-paced world of production and the level-head you must have when in charge of making major creative decisions. I am a better director and communicator because of this project..
"Harry Potter And the Deathly Weapons"
[2020]
Role: Creator, Editor, Compositor
[2020]
Role: Creator, Editor, Compositor
World-Famous Viral Content I made for fun. Millions of views in hours. Spawned multiple news articles and dozens of reaction videos.
Though my YouTube was sadly deactivated, clips of the project live on in low-resolution reposts, memes, and internet legend.
➤Newsweek Article
➤Vice Article
Though my YouTube was sadly deactivated, clips of the project live on in low-resolution reposts, memes, and internet legend.
➤Newsweek Article
➤Vice Article
"Dream Hikes: The Wonderland Trail'
[2023]
Role: Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Hiker
[2023]
Role: Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Hiker
This outdoor adventure documentary captures the epic hike around the base of Mt. Rainier in Washington state, USA. This edit is a proof of concept for other "Dream Hike" adventures, including a 5-week motorcycle excursion around the entire country of Vietnam, 200 mile off-trail backpacking atop the rugged mountains of California, multi-day map and compass trek across Newfoundland, rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike, lost in the Peruvian Andes, and many others which have been filmed but need to be edited.
