Nathaniel Friel
I want to push past traditional storytelling, explore immersive brand experiences, and shape campaigns that leave lasting impressions. Whether it's through creative direction, brand strategy, copywriting, or video content, my goal is to not just tell stories, but move people to action.
Because the best stories don’t just imitate life. They shape it.
Experience and Work Samples
About Me!
Over the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to intern with the Chrysler Museum of Art’s Communications Team, where I contributed to the museum’s marketing and public relations efforts. My role centered on crafting compelling narratives to engage audiences and enhance the museum’s visibility across digital platforms.
Instagram Reel CreationOne of my most impactful projects was independently creating a promotional Instagram Reel for an upcoming museum event. From concept development to editing, I ensured the video aligned with the museum’s brand voice while maximizing engagement. I used Adobe Premiere Pro to edit dynamic visuals, incorporate smooth transitions, and optimize the content for social media trends. This project challenged me to balance creativity with strategic messaging, ultimately producing a reel that successfully captured the event’s atmosphere and purpose.
Press Release Writing
Press Release Writing
- Beyond digital content creation, I also gained hands-on experience in press release writing, helping to promote key museum exhibitions and special events. I drafted and refined press materials that adhered to AP style and the museum’s editorial standards, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and a compelling call to action. This experience strengthened my ability to communicate with the media, distill complex information into engaging narratives, and maintain the museum’s professional tone while appealing to a diverse audience. Published Press Releases From Ice to Water: World-Renowned Glass Artist Peter Bremers Debuts a New, Ice Cold Collection at the Chrysler Museum of Art
Spicy9
As part of the Campaigns Team of the 1893 Brand Studio, an advertising agency in Chapel Hill, I created a fun reel highlighting a new drink introduced at the Spicy9 Sushi Bar and Restaurant.
Carmax
The following is a sample of a campaign I completed for Advertising Creative (MEJO 371) as part of my coursework as a student at the Hussman School of UNC Chapel Hill.
TV Spots:
1. The Road of FirstsScene: A montage of first-time car experiences: first solo drive, first drive-in movie,first holiday road trip. All depicted from angles that display a CarMax bumper sticker on the rear-end of the vehicle.
Voiceover: "A first car is a rite of passage."
Scene: close-up on the expression of drivers and passengers in the vehicle living in the moment cherish and enjoying the moments shared in the car
The customers are seen cherishing their CarMax car at each step.
Voiceover: "With CarMax, that passage is lined with trust."
Closing Scene: The car pulls up to a family home warmly lit from within. The camera focuses on break lights illuminating a CarMax bumper sticker. Tagline: "It's not just a used car, it's a CarMax car."
2. Backseat loversScene: a young couple are in a dark unilluminated parking lot. Slow romantic music isplaying from the radio. Shot from the outside the back window of the car, They kiss in sillhouette. Camera switches to a close up from inside the car to the faces of the two teens. Boy: Are you ready? Girl: think so…The car seats lower to a reclined position. Parking lot lights are suddenly turned on revealing that they are in a car on display in a CarMax lot. A CarMax employee in uniform shines flashlight in the car and is flabbergasted. Cut to a reverse shot of the two teens with an equally shocked look on their faces.Voiceover: At CarMax, we provide the setting for all of life’s big and unexpected moments. Even the ones that surprise us. Just remember to check our showroom hours. CarMax. It's not just a used car, it's a CarMax car.
Voiceover: "A first car is a rite of passage."
Scene: close-up on the expression of drivers and passengers in the vehicle living in the moment cherish and enjoying the moments shared in the car
The customers are seen cherishing their CarMax car at each step.
Voiceover: "With CarMax, that passage is lined with trust."
Closing Scene: The car pulls up to a family home warmly lit from within. The camera focuses on break lights illuminating a CarMax bumper sticker. Tagline: "It's not just a used car, it's a CarMax car."
2. Backseat loversScene: a young couple are in a dark unilluminated parking lot. Slow romantic music isplaying from the radio. Shot from the outside the back window of the car, They kiss in sillhouette. Camera switches to a close up from inside the car to the faces of the two teens. Boy: Are you ready? Girl: think so…The car seats lower to a reclined position. Parking lot lights are suddenly turned on revealing that they are in a car on display in a CarMax lot. A CarMax employee in uniform shines flashlight in the car and is flabbergasted. Cut to a reverse shot of the two teens with an equally shocked look on their faces.Voiceover: At CarMax, we provide the setting for all of life’s big and unexpected moments. Even the ones that surprise us. Just remember to check our showroom hours. CarMax. It's not just a used car, it's a CarMax car.
About me
My journey into creative advertising didn’t start in a business classroom or a marketing seminar—it began on stage. I graduated from the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia, where I trained in theatre and film. There, we were taught through Aristotle’s Poetics that art is the imitation of life, and theatre is the imitation of the action of man. But I disagreed with one part of that definition—I didn’t just want to imitate life. I wanted to influence it. I wanted to be part of a force that motivates and persuades people to take action, whether that’s through the power of purchase, shaping cultural trends, or sparking conversations that matter. That realization is what led me to advertising.
One of my favorite classes at the Governor’s School was playwriting. I was fascinated by how changing just one word, or shifting emphasis in a sentence, could completely transform meaning. That obsession with language—the way small nuances can shape perception—is what makes copywriting the most exhilarating part of crafting advertising campaigns for me. It’s not just about selling something; it’s about making people feel, react, and ultimately, do something.
As an Advertising/Public Relations major with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Urban Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I’ve spent my college years refining my creative instincts and strategic thinking. My coursework in digital storytelling and video for advertising and public relations at UNC’s Hussman School of Media and Journalism gave me hands-on experience in shooting and editing video using Adobe Creative Cloud tools, including Premiere Pro, Audition, and Photoshop. These skills equipped me to create Instagram Reels and promotional videos, expanding the ways I can express creative thinking and ideation. Now, I don’t just write compelling narratives—I bring them to life visually, adding another layer to my ability to connect with audiences.
Beyond the classroom, I am a member of the Campaigns team at 1893 Brand Studio, a student-run advertising agency affiliated with The Daily Tar Heel. While I am still new to the team, I have already made substantial contributions, including creating an Instagram Reel for Spicy9, a top client of the agency, and applying my theatre training by joining pitch decks to present our services to potential clients. I also collaborate closely with other Campaigns team members, contributing to brainstorming sessions and the ideation process to shape effective brand strategies.
One of the most formative experiences of my career so far was my internship at the Chrysler Museum of Art, which gave me a new perspective on working with an in-house marketing and communications team. The level of detail and deep understanding the team had of the museum’s brand—built through years of dedication—gave me a new appreciation for their work. My primary contribution was press release writing, which provided significant relief to the team. I also helped expand the museum’s digital accessibility by writing alt-text for Instagram posts, improving both accessibility and algorithmic visibility. My digital storytelling skills were put to use in creating an Instagram Reel to promote the museum’s summer internship program, encouraging future interns to apply.
Now, as I look ahead, I know my future lies in the creative side of advertising and branding. I want to push past traditional storytelling, explore immersive brand experiences, and shape campaigns that leave lasting impressions. Whether it's through creative direction, brand strategy, copywriting, or video content, my goal is to not just tell stories, but move people to action.
Because the best stories don’t just imitate life. They shape it.