• Concept Ideation
    Director Treatments
    Script writing
    Story Development + Producing
    Art Direction & Narrative Style

  • Pre Production + Tech Scouting
    Location + Talent Management
    Production + Equipment Management
    Director + DP Talent

  • Editorial
    VFX
    Sound Design
    Music Supervision
    Music Composition
    Archival Management

Woodward Original’s long-standing collaboration with Rocket Mortgage spans more than a decade, built on trust and a deep understanding of the brand.

The partnership extends across a wide range of internal and external work, from employee-focused storytelling to national brand campaigns.

rocket mortgage

The Lake House

The Lake House, part of Rocket’s Large Loan Amount campaign, is designed to highlight their ability to handle high-value mortgages with personalized care.

Rather than rely on traditional financial advertising, the film leans into narrative-driven storytelling. It follows a family as they settle into a home meant to last across generations.

Our team led location scouting across Northern and Western Michigan and prioritized casting and chemistry testing to support natural, intimate performances.

Director Ariel Ellis approached the film with a documentary-informed sensibility, prioritizing emotion and realism.

  • Director | Ariel Ellis

  • Producer | Stevie Ansara & Alex Becker

    Director | Ariel Ellis
    Director of Photography | Dimitrius Ramirez

  • Post Producer | Carly Atto

    Editor | Joe Talbot

Stepping Closer

The second installment of the Large Loan Amount campaign follows empty nesters stepping into a more intimate season of life. For this couple, downsizing from the home they spent most of their adult lives in to a high-rise condo means moving closer to their first grandchild — and closer to each other.

As with the first film, we placed a strong emphasis on casting, ultimately choosing a real-life couple with decades of shared chemistry. The team also scouted locations from Traverse City to Detroit to find a setting that felt true to the story.

  • Director | Ariel Ellis

  • Producer | Stevie Ansara & Alex Becker
    Director of Photography | Dimitrius Ramirez

  • Editor | Joe Talbot

Rocket Mortgage Classic Changing the COURSE

Changing the COURSE

Changing the Course is Rocket Mortgage’s long-term initiative to help close Detroit’s digital divide by expanding access to high-speed internet, digital devices, and training. The program has invested millions into local organizations through the Rocket Classic and has played a key role in Detroit’s transformation from one of the least connected large cities in the country to a nationally recognized model for digital inclusion.

Our creative approach focused on the shift from isolation to connection through camera movement, lighting, and sound. The films begin in quieter, more introspective moments and gradually open outward. The frame warms, the light softens, and the score and sound design builds as residents describe their the importance of connection. Each element works together to reflect how access and community can change what’s possible.

  • Director | Ariel Ellis

    Executive Creative Director | Rory McHarg

    Executive Producers | Nate Segall, Jon Braue, & Joe Talbot

  • Producer | Alex Becker
    Director of Photography | Jeremy Brockman

  • Editor | Nikki Finn - Reprise Post

    Post Producer | Carly Atto

TIM’s Story

Tim’s journey is one of profound renewal and finding purpose. After his first mortgage company collapsed in 2008, he faced the loss of his business, his health, and his family. With guidance from mentors, he gradually rebuilt his business and his life, rediscovering his dream along the way.

Today, Tim helps veterans like himself achieve the dream of homeownership as a Rocket ProSM partner. Watch his story in "Stories from home," a Rocket Studios series celebrating the unique journeys behind every American Dream.

Marlene’s Story

Everyone’s pursuit of the American Dream looks different. For Marlene, homeownership was about holding on to what mattered most, not chasing something new. Her lakeside home is where she built a life with her husband, shared laughter, and faced loss.

When she feared she might have to leave, a simple phone call made it possible for her to stay. Marlene’s story is a reminder that home is where love endures. By sharing real journeys like hers, we honor the humanity behind every mortgage and celebrate the people shaping their own version of the American Dream.

  • Director | Michael Smith

    Executive Creative Director | Rory McHarg

    Executive Producers | Nate Segall, Jon Braue, & Joe Talbot

  • Producer | Stevie Ansara
    Director of Photography | Diana Eliazov

  • Editor | Nikki Finn - Reprise Post

    Post Producer | Carly Atto

  • Director | Todd Krolczyk

    Executive Creative Director | Rory McHarg

    Executive Producers | Nate Segall, Jon Braue, & Joe Talbot

  • Producer | Alex Becker
    Director of Photography | Diana Eliazov

  • Editor | Todd Krolczyk

    Post Producer | Carly Atto

PGA Rocket Mortgage Classic

This film announced that the PGA tour was coming to Detroit! The Rocket Mortgage Classic made history in 2019 as the first PGA Tour event held entirely within the city limits of Detroit, bringing world-class professional golf to the Detroit Golf Club and replacing the Quicken Loans National on the Tour schedule.

From the beginning, the event combined high-level competition with community impact, raising funds for local charities and setting the stage for future initiatives tied to Detroit’s growth and connectivity.

  • Director | David Tappan

  • Producer | Anthony Bommarito

    Field Producer | Tom Zellen

    Director of Photography | Cody Cochran

  • Editor | Nikki Finn - Reprise Post

    Post Producer | Carly Atto