We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aidan Wilde. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aidan below.
Aidan, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
For the past several years, I’ve been incredibly blessed and grateful to make a full-time living from my art and creative work. My freelance business has been my sole career, with the exception of a brief stint as a busboy and waiter for a few months in high school. When I started my production company, it became my only source of income, which meant I had to rely entirely on my skillset and determination to make it work.
Moving to California during my senior year of college was a pivotal moment in my journey. It wasn’t easy—I was in a completely new city with limited connections and no safety net. On top of that, I still had online classes to finish. I took a huge leap of faith, moving across the country with just a couple of months’ worth of rent in my bank account. I knew that if I wanted to succeed, I couldn’t afford to be picky about work. I said yes to almost everything, taking on any job I could to build connections, gain experience, and keep my business afloat.
Those early days were challenging but transformative. I learned the importance of adaptability and perseverance. I didn’t just focus on refining my craft—I focused on meeting people, building relationships, and understanding the industry in ways I hadn’t before. That grind, along with willingness to embrace discomfort, laid the foundation for where I am today.
Looking back, I don’t think the road to success is ever a fast one, nor should it be. Every stop along the way taught me something valuable, and those lessons were essential to my growth as both a person and a professional. I wouldn’t have sped anything up because the journey—the challenges, the setbacks, and the breakthroughs—was all for my benefit. It’s those moments that shaped who I am and prepared me for the opportunities I have now. Every step was part of the process, and I’m grateful for all of it
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Aidan Wilde, and I’m a film director and creative storyteller based in Los Angeles. My journey into this industry was unconventional but deeply personal. Growing up, I always had a fascination with visual storytelling—how a single frame could evoke an emotion, tell a story, or connect people. This passion was amplified during my teenage years when I began experimenting with family cameras, creating small projects, and learning through trial and error. By the time I was in college, I’d founded my own production company which became my full-time focus and the platform where I honed my craft.
Today, my work spans commercials, music videos, and branded content, but my heart lies in narrative storytelling—. My projects often fuse cinematic visuals with graphic animated elements. I love to immerse myself in every aspect of the process, from concept development, writing producing ,shooting and editing. I’m particularly drawn to projects that challenge conventional boundaries of storytelling—whether that’s blending live-action with animation or integrating innovative narrative techniques that break the fourth wall. I believe storytelling is at its best when it’s honest and fearless. I’m proud of many moments in my career, but one that stands out is a self-funded trailer I created for Team USA during the 2022 World Cup. It combined 2D comic book elements, 3D animation, and real footage in a way that felt fresh and personal. That project was a huge risk but ultimately became a pivotal moment in my career, opening doors to collaborations with some of the biggest artists and athletes in the world.
What I want people to know about my work is that it’s deeply rooted in storytelling that connects on a human level. Whether it’s a short film, a commercial, or a music video, my goal is to create something meaningful—something that twists the minds of the audience leaving them wanting more.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has always been rooted in a simple principle: provide more value than what is expected. Whether it’s delivering a project that goes beyond the brief or finding ways to enhance the client’s vision in ways they didn’t anticipate, I’ve found that over-delivering creates trust, loyalty, and a lasting impression.
When it comes to building and maintaining a network, I firmly believe it’s in your best interest to focus on producing more than you consume. This mindset has been a cornerstone of my approach, even if it occasionally means sacrificing short-term profits. There have been times when I’ve knowingly taken a financial loss on a project because I recognized the potential of the relationship. In those moments, I viewed it not as a loss but as an investment—an investment in trust, goodwill, and future opportunities.
Business relationships, much like personal ones, require nurturing. Some are worth watering and tending to because they yield fruit over the long term. It’s about seeing the bigger picture and understanding that the value you provide today can pave the way for opportunities tomorrow. This mindset is not just necessary for business but also for life. When you prioritize creating meaningful connections and focus on delivering exceptional value, it naturally leads to growth, not just in clientele but also in reputation and personal fulfillment.
In my experience, this approach has not only brought in repeat clients but also led to referrals and collaborations I couldn’t have planned for. People remember when you go above and beyond for them, and that memory turns into trust. Trust, in turn, becomes the foundation of growth and success.”
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I think this is something I’m dealing with currently, and honestly, it’s an ongoing process—not just in business but in life as a whole. It’s this idea that you become so used to a certain way of doing things, whether it’s the creative process or even a way of thinking, that it becomes second nature. And at some point, to achieve new heights or better results, you realize you have to completely restructure how you approach problems.
What makes this so challenging is that when you’ve spent years attacking certain problems from a specific perspective, it feels almost unnatural to question it. There’s a comfort in what you know—what’s worked before. But I’m learning that to open new doors, to unlock a new chapter in growth, you have to humble yourself. You have to remind yourself that no matter how much you think you know, you’re still just a student of the game. Whether that’s the game of business, art, or life itself, you can’t stop searching, questioning, or refining.
For me, it’s about consistently asking: Can this be done better? Is my process as efficient as it could be? Is the product truly as good as it could be? These questions force you to challenge your own habits and push the boundaries of what you’re capable of achieving. And while it’s uncomfortable, I think it’s also what keeps things exciting. Growth requires discomfort, and learning to embrace that is a lesson I’m still working through—but it’s one I know will make all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aidanwilde.com
- Instagram: @aidanwilde
Image Credits
Brendan North,
Kelly Nguyễn
Jacob Ferrufino
Soli Doherty