Kate Wrobel

Kate Wrobel’s decades of experience editing high-end broadcast commercials, online content, social media marketing, educational and fundraising videos, has not only helped her develop strong storytelling skills, but also has taught her to listen. And how to problem solve. Together, these make her a true creative partner with both her clients and her client’s clients.

Kate was the first woman to occupy the position of creative editor at Optimus, a full service post-production house in Chicago. She’s as proud of the fact that she trained and mentored five women who would join her in that role as she is of the work that she created for Fortune 500 companies. 

She learned early in her career that the role of creative editor extends beyond the edit suite.  With every project, she works closely with artists in telecine, audio, design and finish to maintain the integrity of a project, manage work flow, and keep everyone happy.

Eventually, editing led Kate to directing because, in her words, “that’s just how these things go.”  She favors documentary, or "doc-style," directing with crews small enough to keep production intimate and comfortable.  Kate is an empathetic interviewer, a b-roll scavenger, and when possible, her own editor.  

Most recently, Kate added writing to her skill set as co-author of the script for the nine-episode webseries, “Sea Curious,” that she also directed and edited for the Shedd Aquarium.

Kate earned her undergraduate degree studying the classics in the University of Notre Dame’s Great Books program, and then went on to earn her Masters of Fine Arts in Film and Video from Columbia College, Chicago, with a concentration in documentary storytelling.  She mentors with Free Spirit Media, and volunteers her skills for local nonprofits.