Matt Gissing
Founder & Creative Director
Matt Gissing operates at the intersection of Hollywood structure and commercial strategy. As a produced feature screenwriter and faculty member at the Ringling College of Art & Design, Matt doesn't just "make content", he engineers narratives.
​
With over two decades of industry experience, Matt recognized a gap in the market: brands were buying attention, but they weren't holding it. He founded Active Octopus to fix this, bringing cinema-grade production discipline to corporate messaging.
​
From the viral success of The Ringling Ghost (2026 Gold AVA Digital Award Winner) to global distribution deals, Matt leads an elite network of creatives who turn passive viewers into active advocates.
DISTRIBUTION & RECOGNITION
And many more...
Strategic Advisory & Campaign Architecture
Beyond directing and producing award-winning branded films, Matt Gissing serves as a strategic advisor to organizations seeking clarity, differentiation, and narrative cohesion.
His work begins at the architectural level, diagnosing brand positioning challenges, defining audience psychographics, and designing campaign frameworks that align story with institutional goals.
Production is execution. Strategy is foundation.