We’re thrilled to introduce you to Telly Awards Judge Derick Rhodes, Vice President of Vimeo Experts! As VP of Vimeo Experts, Derick looks after a wide range of initiatives (including training and community efforts) related to Vimeo’s new partner program for video pros. An experienced filmmaker with a few shorts and a feature under his belt, Derick spent the early days of the pandemic creating a talk-show-from-home, The Lonely Show, and otherwise loves anything and everything involving his four (amazing) kids, airplanes, and escaping to Vermont whenever possible.
Read our interview with Derick below to learn more about how Vimeo Experts is helping creatives grow their businesses! 

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

The first role I held that lead to production experience was heading up a Berlin-based stock imagery/footage company called fStop. I think the main thing it taught me was that there’s no “one way” to make beautiful or inspiring work – and that it’s okay to start by documenting what you know and have access to in your surroundings. 

What are the best and worst pieces of professional advice you’ve received?

I’m not sure if this counts as advice, exactly, but the notion of “striking while the iron is hot” seems essential to me in the production world (and with any type of content creation), and particularly with anything related to having a budget approved (aka spend the money now before somebody changes their mind). If you’ve got an awesome alignment of people/variables happening, don’t hesitate to go for it when you see daylight – too often things fall apart with too much hesitation.

The worst advice is any advice offered out of fear. 

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I work on Vimeo’s new-ish Vimeo Experts partner program, which is all about helping video pros grow their business, and I spend most of my time focused on building the training, community and partner-success sides of that project. So lots of Zoom calls and content reviewing and strategizing on how to best help folks on Vimeo be successful!

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

I put a lot of time and energy into the stock video offering that we rolled out a few years back, Vimeo Stock, and I continue to love that we were able to put such a great collection together and to give up to 70% of each sale back to the creator.

What’s the best part of your job? What’s the most challenging?

I love the people I get to work with everyday, so that’s far and away the best part of the equation. Otherwise, I think the biggest challenge is probably Zoom fatigue.

What makes you excited for the future of your industry?

I think it’s awesome that it’s getting easier and easier to create such high quality videos with less technical experience. I’m super curious how AI-assisted video will work, and also can’t wait to see how the metaverse, once it’s in place, incorporates and transforms video.