Founder · Web Developer · Cinematic AI Director

Founder · Web Developer · Cinematic AI Director

Daniel J. Wood is a veteran web developer, creative technologist, and cinematic storyteller with over 23 years of hands-on experience spanning web development, eCommerce systems, digital infrastructure, and immersive visual storytelling.

Beginning his career in 2001, Daniel has evolved alongside the web itself—building everything from early websites to modern Shopify-based platforms with advanced automation, structured data, and performance-focused architecture. His work is rooted in long-term stability, clarity, and real-world usability.

Shopify & Technical Expertise

Daniel specializes in advanced Shopify development, including custom Liquid architecture, large-scale product catalogs, metafields, CSV automation, complex shipping logic, freight rules, and SEO-optimized site structure. He works directly with businesses to solve operational challenges—not just visual ones.

Cinematic AI & Storytelling

Daniel is the founder and creative director of WhatThen? Studio, a cinematic project built around speculative “What If?” scenarios and serialized concepts that explore alternate histories, near-future realities, and unexplained phenomena through AI-assisted filmmaking.

He also created WhatThen? Archives, a companion project dedicated to true stories, mysteries, and real-world accounts—carefully reconstructed into cinematic form using VEO-based workflows. These projects emphasize realism, pacing, atmosphere, and narrative continuity rather than novelty or spectacle.

Creative Philosophy

Daniel believes technology should support the story, not distract from it. Whether developing a high-performance commerce platform or a cinematic AI narrative, his work prioritizes structure over spectacle, realism over hype, and intention over trends.

His approach blends engineering discipline with storytelling craft—treating AI as a creative amplifier, not a shortcut.