drew belz is an executive leader,
producer and creative director
based out of Asheville, NC.
drew belz is an executive leader,
producer and creative director
based out of Asheville, NC.
Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (2018-24)
Our job was to grow membership. Over six years working hand-in-hand, we helped grow assets from $1.35 to $2.7 billion.
We blanketed the region with these campaigns – stop-motion and cel-animated Super Bowl commercials, music videos, social campaigns, radio, print, out-of-home and physical programming in neighborhoods. Thoughtful strategy allowed big creative to connect.
Media Strategist, Producer, Creative Director, Editor
Full-service creative – strategy, creative, design, digital, and production – with film production at our core.
Clients included Disney, Participant Media, Air Jordan, Dick's Sporting Goods, SAP, Samsung, Kia, Office Depot, Organic Valley, Lodge Cast Iron, and Rockefeller Philanthropy. Our work consistently drew hundreds of thousands to millions of views on YouTube and spikes in exposure for our clients.
I managed 20 full-time employees at our peak, dozens of collaborators in our studio, and production crews of 50+.
Founder, Chief Creative Officer (2010-2015)
CEO, Executive Producer (2015-2025)
With ad accounts for Air Jordan, Disney and SAP expanding at Fancy Rhino in 2015, we leveraged our growth into an investment fund for feature films – and called it Mama Bear. We started reading scripts and looking for hungry filmmakers to support.
Our lead financing brought to life 2015’s Hunter Gatherer (Andre Royo, “The Wire”) and 2016’s Dayveon. Both played to critical acclaim at SXSW. Dayveon played Sundance and Berlinale. Both sold to Netflix.
Founder, Executive Producer
Office Depot (2014)
Our first documentary series is still my favorite. I developed our approach to the client and headed our creative department.
But my biggest contribution was building our team of brilliant directors, cinematographers and editors. By knowing what made them tick, I helped them discover what made our characters tick too.
CCO, Executive Producer
Disney (2016)
We live for something new.
The company that defines creativity hired us to define creativity. Disney wanted to inspire new investments in art in our schools. We showed where a creative perspective can take you with the help of astronaut Leland Melvin, writer Scott Barry Kaufman and Estella Pyfrom's Brilliant Bus.
CCO, Executive Producer
Serge Missions (2024)
When a band of missionaries are passionate and nuanced about their work, marketing has a needle to thread. My first step here was to gather Serge's leadership and run some group exercises.
We found a heartbeat. Then I jumped on a plane to 4 countries in 12 days to find it on the ground. Sometimes showing up in person is the only way. But the results resonated – with every stakeholder.
Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor
Original Short Doc (2016)
What do you do when you learn you have end-stage cancer? Our friend Nate started running marathons.
The urgency of Nate's voice moved me. Soon I found myself overwhelmed by the privilege of pulling our community together to tell his story. It had to be told.
Director, Producer
Cretors Popcorn (2019)
We wondered what it might be like for Sir-Mix-A-Lot to control a popcorn factory with beats. So we flew popcorn from the Cretors Factory out to the legend in his Seattle studio. What happened next is hard to explain.
10 million views.
CCO, Writer, Executive Producer
Original Feature Doc (2011)
To document a watershed year at the Howard School, we first had to agree to teach a class.
A year later, we found ourselves with a gold mine of footage that allowed the students to speak for themselves. The screening of our feature doc filled a 1,500 seat theater downtown and kickstarted a movement to revive the school.
We built a recording studio so students could keep telling their stories. Funding arrived to build a new magnet school too, inspired by the film.
Producer, Editor
Original Feature Doc (2012)
One of the first black schools in the country, the Howard School nearly closed its doors in 2011. To capture this watershed year, we first had to earn the school's trust. So we offered to teach a class on documentary filmmaking.
A year later, our students had found their voices. They were owning their stories and the community was listening. The screening of our feature-length doc filled a 1,500 seat theater downtown, and kickstarted a movement to revive the school.
We built a recording studio so students could keep telling stories. Funding arrived to build a new magnet school too, inspired by the film.
Producer, Editor