D.J. Amerson · Founder of The Vortex

D.J. Amerson

Director, producer, cinematographer, and production systems builder.

20+ years making high-end media across sports, healthcare, commercial, documentary, branded, and digital work. He directs, produces, shoots, edits, and colors. FAA Part 107 pilot. He founded The Vortex to turn that range into systems other teams can rely on.

Book a Call → See the work

DJA D.J. Amerson Director · Producer · Cinematographer · Aerial · Systems

Who he is

One person who can own any seat, and the standard across all of them.

D.J. Amerson has led production, post, aerial, and visual systems work across commercial, healthcare, golf, sports, documentary, and institutional projects. He thinks in operations and outcomes, not just footage. The throughline across 20+ years: he owns the standard and the outcome.

DirectProduce CaptureFly EditColor DeliverBuild systems

What he does

Operating lanes

Direction + Production

Cinematic commercial, documentary, brand, and institutional work, owned from concept to delivery.

Cinematography + Aerial

Camera and FAA Part 107 aerial. Cinematic imagery when the job needs scale; documentation and decision support when the job is intelligence.

Commercial Aerial →

Post + Finishing

Edit and color in DaVinci Resolve. The cut and the look, handled in-house.

Production Leadership

Senior production leadership embedded across a team's projects, on a monthly retainer.

Fractional Head of Production →

AI-assisted Systems

AI built into delivery to remove friction, with human review and client control at every step.

Responsible AI →

The Vortex

The production company he founded and runs.

See the work →

Selected work · Vortex client

Direct Vortex engagements

Produced, directed, and delivered through The Vortex. Full video proof lives on the Work page.

BVortex Client Hospitality · PartnershipThe Ben Hotel x Porter Yachts Produced, directed, and shot a promotional campaign for the hotel's partnership with Porter Yachts.

PVortex Client Non-Profit · DocumentaryPlace of Hope 101 A documentary-style overview of the organization's mission and programs. Client since 2023.

AVortex Client Education · Virtual TourAlabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering Phase 1 of a multiphase virtual-campus tour. An active Vortex engagement.

SVortex Client Legal · Brand FilmSmith, Ball, Báez & Prather The Vortex's first client. Approximately 50 commercials produced, with more in production. ▶ View showcase

KVortex Client Financial ServicesKKR / Charles Schwab Produced the Charles Schwab portion of a larger video project for KKR. Name-only.

FVortex Client Golf · Course DesignFazio Golf Course Design Ongoing membership, course-update, and planning communications. Name-only.

See the full Work page →

Selected directing work

Campaigns D.J. Amerson directed

Directing work that is part of D.J. Amerson's career, not a Vortex client engagement.

JCareer Credit Healthcare · CampaignJupiter Medical Center Directed Jupiter Medical Center content for roughly a decade, beginning during his time at KO-MAR Productions. Returned in 2025 to direct the latest campaign.

JCareer Credit Healthcare · Campaign SeriesJupiter Medical Center — Supporting Spots Supporting spots from the 2025 campaign series directed by D.J. Amerson.

Selected professional credits

Career work produced through KO-MAR Productions, partner companies, and loan-out arrangements. These are personal directing and producing credits, not Vortex client engagements.

PCareer Credit Streaming / Episodic · Loan-outNetflix's POLO Supervising Producer on Season 1, through a Vortex loan-out arrangement with Boardwalk Pictures.

BCareer Credit Automotive / Brand Film · KO-MARBMW: The Ultimate Journey Produced and directed around the BMW iX launch at the opening of the 2021 Ryder Cup, as EP at KO-MAR Productions.

CCareer Credit Corporate / Campaign · KO-MARCarrier: We Are the Next Generation Produced and directed multiple Carrier projects over roughly 12 years at KO-MAR, including this campaign.

PCareer Credit Golf / Award Film · KO-MARPGA of America: Merchandiser of the Year A short award film produced, directed, shot, and edited by D.J. Amerson during a KO-MAR engagement.

TCareer Credit Golf · Brand · KO-MARTiger Woods / TaylorMade Directed the Tiger Woods MusclePharm and TaylorMade "Speed Is the Universal Language" campaigns; one of three directors on Tiger Woods: My Game, Season Two.

RCareer Credit Automotive · Broadcast · KO-MARRange Rover / CNN Films Produced From Jupiter with Love, a Range Rover project created through CNN Films, during his time at KO-MAR.

RCareer Credit Luxury · Brand · KO-MARRolex Directed a Rolex photo shoot and video promotion featuring Coco Gauff and Serena Williams.

ACareer Credit Healthcare · Pharma · KO-MARAstraZeneca Directing and production work for AstraZeneca during his time at KO-MAR Productions.

ECareer Credit Sports · BroadcastESPN / ABC Freelance sports-news reporting through contract work with ABC, including NFL, NHL, and NBA coverage.

Selected directing work and professional credits represent D.J. Amerson's individual career work and are not Vortex client engagements.

Aerial

FAA Part 107

Cinematic aerials when the shot needs scale and polish. Documentation, mapping, and decision support when the job is intelligence. Same license, different jobs.

Commercial Aerial →

AI-forward systems

AI with a human in the loop

He builds AI into delivery to remove friction, with human review and client control at every step. D.J. Amerson completed Google's Use AI Responsibly coursework as part of Google AI Essentials, a five-course foundational AI program offered through Coursera.

Responsible AI →

Where to go next

Work with D.J. and The Vortex

Tell us what you need built, captured, or made easier to run.

One conversation to figure out the right next step. No pressure, no pitch deck.

Book a Call →