From Studio to Site
Why I Left The Cinematic Arms Race To Focus On Manufacturing's Bottom Line

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Author: Rob Nickels | Executive Producer & Founder of Born Tomorrow
Dec 5, 2025
I was born and raised in Canada, and my entry into the United States came on a track and field scholarship. I did the fancy film school thing. When I graduated, I went straight into a top-tier advertising agency, working for global brands like Remington, huge oil and gas companies, banks (I think liberals referred to this as the axis of evil) and mid-sized manufacturing companies across the Midwest.
After I quit, I freelanced for Fortune 100 clients - including SpaceX, Facebook, LinkedIn, the United Nations, Ford Motors, and Pepsi -I filled my portfolio (and ego) with really cool logos of brands, but I felt empty.
The Real Engine of Innovation
I have always felt that manufacturing and industrial companies never get the credit they deserve and are constantly overlooked while the tech and software companies get all the headlines. Those software advances simply cannot happen if manufacturing companies are not creating the hardware they build off of. But no one seems to care.
I got the most enjoyment out of working for American-made, family-owned manufacturing companies that emphasized craftsmanship—an ideal that has become forgotten in this country. We used to take pride in making things in this country. Call me old fashioned, but I want to bring it back. My decision to leave the agency world and focus solely on industrial video was driven by that conviction.
Blending Cinematic Vision with Industrial Utility
My philosophy is simple: I bring a design-first and story-first aesthetic that puts the brand front and center. I am not just a craftsman; I apply what we did at the top ad agencies and bring a fresh, high-end look to my projects.
We abandoned the high overhead of the traditional studio model to eliminate the "Studio Tax" for our clients, but we never abandoned the polish.
No one in this industry blends the cinematic creativity, with motion design, and visual effects in post-production like we do. We combine the technical precision demanded by engineering with the visual flair required to capture attention.
Our company was founded to bring that high-level, agency-grade storytelling and design to the industrial companies that truly power the American economy. Our focus is on utility, measured by your ROI—but we make sure that utility is presented with unmistakable, high-end professionalism.
About the author:
Rob Nickels
Executive Producer & Founder of Born Tomorrow
20 years experience working with over 100 clients
around the world. Rob has created video projects
for companies such as SpaceX, The United Nations,
Facebook, Ford, Toyota, and Pepsi. He specializes in
creating brand videos for manufacturing companies
in Colorado. His video expertise is creating brand
centered and story driven projects that deliver ROI.
