I graduated from college in 2007 and was immediately thrown into the world of freelance filmmaking. My first job was as a camera operator for a company that flew across the country filming 30-minute auto dealership infomercials—a big deal at the time, since streaming wasn’t a thing yet and YouTube had barely launched.
After about a year and a half of infomercials, the 2008 housing market crash changed everything. Businesses slashed their marketing budgets, media work dried up, and I was laid off. With nowhere else to turn, two colleagues and I had what we thought was a brilliant idea: start our own commercial and corporate film production company right here in DFW. That’s how Haywire Studios was born.
We did everything we could to get traction—chamber of commerce events, ad agency meetups, cold calls, even giving away our work for free. Nothing seemed to work. No one wanted to take a chance on us, even though we had years of on-set experience. It wasn’t until a construction company (that built warehouses for Amazon and Walmart) called us out of the blue for contractor training videos that things finally changed.
From that first break, we built more connections, leading to more work. But one thing always stuck with me—I’d ask every business, “How long have you been looking for a creative team?” And every time, the answer was the same:
👉 “We’ve always wanted to do creative work—we just had no idea where to find someone.”
That’s when it clicked. Most businesses want creative work done, but they don’t know where to start.
- They try Google, but get overwhelmed by choices.
- They hire an agency, but end up feeling overcharged and undervalued.
- They browse Upwork or Fiverr, but aren’t sure if they’re dealing with real professionals—and if they do get work back, it’s a gamble on quality.
💡 Creativize is the solution. No more guesswork. No more endless scrolling. Businesses can now connect directly with local creatives who can meet in person, understand their needs, and deliver real results.
With Creativize, businesses don’t have to wonder if their hire is legitimate. They can see real portfolios, connect with creatives in their own city, and even meet face-to-face if they want. And if a creative doesn’t deliver? The review system holds them accountable—ensuring a thriving, trustworthy ecosystem where both businesses and creatives succeed.
No matter the size of the project or budget, there’s a place for everyone here. Creativize was built to make creative work easier, more accessible, and more connected. And after 15 years of seeing this problem firsthand, I couldn’t be more excited to finally bring this vision to life. 🚀
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