In 1981 Ken Mandel produced and directed his first independent project, a short subject film cut to original music titled ‘Working Class Girls'. With MTV starting up at the same time, Ken used this short film as a calling card to become one of the first independent music video directors in the US.

In 1986, Ken’s primary focus changed from music videos to commercial and corporate productions. This proved to be a successful transition with Ken acquiring such clients as Sony, Texas Rangers, Coca-Cola, IBM, Campbell Soup, Pizza Hut, Minute Maid, American Airlines, Motorola, EDS, HBO, Baxter Labs and Miller Brewing.

In 1990 Ken released the critically acclaimed documentary, FRIDA KAHLO: A RIBBON AROUND A BOMB. Next came, BLUESLAND: A PORTRAIT IN AMERICAN MUSIC a history of the blues. Then A FIGHT TO THE FINISH: STORIES OF POLIO, a historical look at polio from the first epidemic in 1916 in New York City to the Salk vaccine in the mid-fifties. It screened at many film festivals and the Academy of Arts and Science choose it as 'one of the best Documentaries of 2000' and was one of the final twelve feature documentary finalist for the Oscar.

In 2001 Ken released AMERICAS DEADLIEST STORM GALVESTON ISLAND 1900, the story of the hurricane that devastated Galveston Island in 1900, it was chosen by the IDA for the prestigious InFact theatrical series. In 2008 Ken finished the documentary “On Solid Ground” the story of the RIVER RATS of Arkansas. In 2014 Ken released DEBAKEY a Bio film on the life of famed heart surgeon Michael DeBakey, M.D.In 2018 Ken completed a feature documentary starring singer/songwriter Mark Collie, THE MOUNTAIN' A SONG OF HOPE.

Currently Ken has finished the documentary, I GOT THIS. The film is about Dr. Tony Herring who in 1975 started working with young children who had amputations or were born missing limbs. Not knowing anything about prosthetics, Dr. Herring was told “don’t worry, the kids will teach you everything you need to know”-- and they did. The clinic became an exciting place for the kids and their families to come and get help and meet other families in the same situation - making their lives better while having fun along the way. The film premiered at the 2025 USA film festival and was a finalize for best short documentary.