RICK McCLELLAND

Emmy Award-Winning Storyteller

Storyteller | Videographer | Editor | Creator | Writer | Comedian | Guy With Too Many Titles

I make things that get results. From videos that have helped raise millions in funding and pass two state laws to writing that people actually open and offbeat comedy for all the other weirdos out there.This is the home of Wit's End Creative, my studio for film, software, and written work. Everything I'm building lives here. Feel free to take a look around and if you're interested in hiring me or collaborating on a project, my email and DMs are always open.

Filmmaking Portfolio
Comedy & Writing
Contact
About

Wit's End Creative LLC

Wit's End Creative is an independent Florida creative studio founded by Rick McClelland, producing software, video, and written projects. Current projects include PrompterCam and Finding Wit's End.
Contact: rick@witsendcreative.studio

Home

THE BURIED BADGE

The story of a badge lost for over 100 years

THE STORY

When a metal detectorist brought us 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 traced it back to the very formation of Seminole County itself and found a living descendant of the badge's original owner.

RESULTS

Emmy

First for me and the agency

Museum

Permanent home for the badge

The gold badge now resides permanently in the Museum of Seminole County History, and the story profiling it won an Emmy Award in the Historical category.

DocumentaryResearchProducing · Shooting · Editing

OPIOID RECOVERY CAMPAIGN

Highlighting efforts to combat the opioid crisis

THE STORY

Part of a series produced with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, going behind the scenes on the agency's innovative opioid rehabilitation programs, the depth of the crisis locally, and recovery stories from survivors of addiction. The films raised awareness on social media and were presented at local, state, and national conferences to educate audiences on the effectiveness of ongoing efforts here in Seminole County.

RESULTS

$4M+

Raised for a new treatment facility

2 Laws

FL HB 95 and HB 365 passed

Funding came from both government and private stakeholders, and the videos assisted in lobbying for legislation increasing penalties on drug dealers and expanding access to life-saving Narcan.

Documentary SeriesAdvocacy · Public HealthCampaign Strategy

SOCIAL MEDIA ASSETS

Marrying metrics with storytelling

THE STORY

A compilation of social media content produced during 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 seven years I've produced more than 1,000 multimedia assets, extending beyond social media to internal trainings, time-sensitive body camera redactions, and press materials for news organizations.

RESULTS

1.7M

Minutes viewed in year one, up 200%

35K → 70K

Follower growth on their primary platform

Overall video views grew 138%, and the work culminated in 537 days (12,888 hours) of watch time and 22,800+ interactions across an 18-month period - a 467.5% increase. Video outperformed photos 5x in engagement and 4x in reach.

Social StrategyShort-Form VideoAnalytics · Audience Growth

OUR SIX HEROES

A documentary memorializing six fallen deputies

THE STORY

Produced over two years, this film showcases 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 revealed their personalities both at home and on duty.

RESULTS

2 Years

Production and archival research

40 Years

Since a family had found closure

The impact of this film goes beyond numbers. 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 four decades since it happened.

DocumentaryArchival ResearchLong-Form · Interview

IMPOWER FUNDRAISER

Showcasing a non-profit's impact story

THE STORY

IMPOWER of Central Florida already had a clear vision: helping at-risk youth reach their full potential through transitional housing and other services. Their dedication made it easy to find two teens whose stories exemplified the heart of the organization's mission and the impact it was having in the community.

RESULTS

Projected donations tripled

$50K

Raised against a $15K goal

The final film debuted at IMPOWER's annual fundraiser breakfast, where it drove the largest single-event donation total in the organization's campaign.

NonprofitFundraising FilmInterview · Field Production

Home

Home

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.)

Subscribe Now

Loading the latest misadventures…

(() => { const FEED_PROXY_URL = 'https://substackfeed.rickjmcclelland.workers.dev/'; const FEED_ELEMENT_ID = 'fwe-feed'; const MAX_POSTS = 5; const FALLBACK_POSTS = [ { title: 'As Seen On Dating Apps #4', subtitle: "HELP - I'm addicted to going for the joke", url: 'https://www.findingwitsend.com/p/as-seen-on-dating-apps-4', date: '2025-06-11T12:26:38Z', author: 'Rick McClelland', image: 'https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/65730482-3abf-43b4-89d7-37abde3d6592_1456x1048.png' }, { title: 'My Day Living Like Liam Neeson', subtitle: 'If you get taken, just call me ig', url: 'https://www.findingwitsend.com/p/my-day-living-like-liam-neeson', date: '2025-05-26T19:00:11Z', author: 'Rick McClelland', image: 'https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/331d266d-7bf9-40b9-883b-97f770cd64f7_1456x1048.jpeg' }, { title: 'Greek Mythological Figures Answer Dating Prompts', subtitle: 'Even gods find love complicated', url: 'https://www.findingwitsend.com/p/greek-mythological-figures-answer', date: '2025-05-14T15:19:13Z', author: 'Rick McClelland', image: 'https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B8F-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa5dab625-6e2d-4676-8f73-3696644355bc_1400x721.webp' }, { title: 'As Seen On Dating Apps #3', subtitle: 'Pick-up lines from a guy who cannot resist going for the joke', url: 'https://www.findingwitsend.com/p/as-seen-on-dating-apps-3', date: '2025-04-30T19:19:30Z', author: 'Rick McClelland', image: 'https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/24215e63-0d9d-4ab7-9004-f520b650dab6_1456x1048.png' }, { title: "Sauron's Press Conference Following The Battle Of Minas Tirith (3/16/3019)", subtitle: "Obviously, we're disappointed by the outcome of the battle", url: 'https://www.findingwitsend.com/p/saurons-press-conference-following', date: '2025-04-16T19:38:38Z', author: 'Rick McClelland', image: 'https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ea831bf5-2f44-46c4-99e0-554f5cc3c1ae_1456x1048.png' } ]; const safeHTTPSURL = (value) => { try { const url = new URL(value); return url.protocol === 'https:' ? url.href : ''; } catch (_) { return ''; } }; const formatDate = (value) => { const date = new Date(value); if (Number.isNaN(date.getTime())) return ''; return new Intl.DateTimeFormat('en-US', { month: 'short', day: 'numeric', year: 'numeric', timeZone: 'UTC' }).format(date).toUpperCase(); }; const render = (posts) => { const root = document.getElementById(FEED_ELEMENT_ID); if (!root) return; const fragment = document.createDocumentFragment(); posts.slice(0, MAX_POSTS).forEach((post) => { const url = safeHTTPSURL(post.url); const image = safeHTTPSURL(post.image); if (!url) return; const link = document.createElement('a'); link.className = 'fwe-feed__item'; link.href = url; link.target = '_blank'; link.rel = 'noopener noreferrer'; const copy = document.createElement('span'); copy.className = 'fwe-feed__copy'; const title = document.createElement('span'); title.className = 'fwe-feed__title'; title.textContent = String(post.title || ''); const subtitle = document.createElement('span'); subtitle.className = 'fwe-feed__subtitle'; subtitle.textContent = String(post.subtitle || ''); const meta = document.createElement('span'); meta.className = 'fwe-feed__meta'; meta.textContent = formatDate(post.date) + ' \u00b7 ' + String(post.author || 'Rick McClelland'); const thumbnail = document.createElement('img'); thumbnail.className = 'fwe-feed__image'; thumbnail.src = image; thumbnail.alt = ''; thumbnail.loading = 'lazy'; thumbnail.decoding = 'async'; copy.append(title, subtitle, meta); link.append(copy, thumbnail); fragment.append(link); }); root.textContent = ''; root.append(fragment); }; const text = (item, selector) => item.querySelector(selector)?.textContent?.trim() || ''; const parseRSS = (xmlText) => { const xml = new DOMParser().parseFromString(xmlText, 'application/xml'); if (xml.querySelector('parsererror')) throw new Error('Invalid RSS response'); return [...xml.querySelectorAll('channel > item')].slice(0, MAX_POSTS).map((item) => ({ title: text(item, 'title'), subtitle: text(item, 'description'), url: text(item, 'link'), date: text(item, 'pubDate'), author: text(item, 'creator') || 'Rick McClelland', image: item.querySelector('enclosure')?.getAttribute('url') || '' })).filter((post) => post.title && post.url); }; render(FALLBACK_POSTS); if (!FEED_PROXY_URL.startsWith('https://')) return; fetch(FEED_PROXY_URL, { method: 'GET', mode: 'cors', credentials: 'omit' }) .then((response) => { if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Feed request failed: ${response.status}`); return response.text(); }) .then(parseRSS) .then((posts) => { if (posts.length) render(posts); }) .catch(() => {}); })();

COMEDY + HOSTING

Performing, writing, and hosting for live audiences and camera

Performing at the O-Town Improv Festival

(function(){ var s = document.querySelectorAll('#comedy-slides img'), i = 0; if (s.length < 2) return; setInterval(function(){ s[i].style.opacity = 0; i = (i + 1) % s.length; s[i].style.opacity = 1; }, 4000); })();

THE WORK

I perform and teach improv, host live shows and corporate team-building events, and write comedy for brands that would rather be funny than forgettable. The same instincts that make a room laugh can help an executive relax on camera, which is why the coaching side of my production work always runs smoothly.

CREDENTIALS

Feature Film

Comedy consultant and actor, Gluten Is A Joke (Sept. 2026)

SAK Trained

Improv, stand-up, and show hosting

Festival stages including the O-Town and Orlando Improv Festivals, performances at SAK Comedy Lab, and years of improv, sketch, and stand-up on stages across Florida, going all the way back to the live Whose Line-style show I hosted and produced in college.

Improv · Stand-UpEvent HostingComedy Writing

Home

@therickmc

Home

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!

Home

About Rick

For over fifteen years I've been writing, producing, filming, and editing content that gets results. I've worked with companies, non-profits, and government agencies to grow their audiences, raise millions in funding, and even help shape state law. A documentary series I produced helped secure more than $4 million for an opioid treatment facility and helped pass two Florida bills increasing access to the opioid inhibitor Narcan.I've also written in a variety of voices: scripts, press releases, social media, ad campaigns, and more. The monthly newsletter I compile at my day job goes out to over 15,000 subscribers with a 49% open rate.I'm also a trained improv performer and stand-up comic. People who are camera shy tend to open up with someone who can channel some ridiculousness and make the experience memorable. My combination of skills allows me to find the story, shoot it, cut it, write it, and stand in front of it.Off the clock: 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.Got a story worth telling and want to create together? I'd love to hear it.