Problem

The existing WordPress site felt dated and wasn’t showcasing work in a polished, cinematic way.

Goals

• Keep WordPress so portfolio updates stay easy.
• Present work with director + project info on every card.
• Create a strong visual first impression with a header-less landing page.
• Use autoplay media (Vimeo + hover/scroll previews) without hurting UX.

Solution

• Custom WordPress theme and tailored templates for the portfolio grid.
• Vimeo lightboxes with autoplay for individual projects.
• Hover/scroll GIF previews for fast visual scanning.
• Fullscreen, autoplay landing video with no header.

Challenges & Tradeoffs

• Balanced heavy media with speed and stability.
• Pushed WordPress beyond typical template constraints.
• Ensured autoplay behavior worked reliably across devices.

Role & Scope

Learned WordPress quickly to deliver a CMS workflow, then custom-coded most of the frontend behavior and layout.

Technical Approach

• Custom WordPress theme development.
• Custom JavaScript for hover/scroll playback and autoplay handling.
• Vimeo embeds optimized for autoplay and lightbox experience.
• Portfolio grid layout tuned for responsive consistency.

Creative Direction

• Minimal UI to let the footage lead.
• Header-less hero with fullscreen autoplay video.
• Consistent card structure with director + project info.

Results

• Modern, cinematic portfolio that’s easy to update.
• Stronger first impression with immersive media.
• Fast load times and smooth performance despite heavy media.