Director Nur Niaz is a talented filmmaker creating stylish and fun films for Samsung, Toyota, BMW, Coca-Cola, Red Bull and many more. I met Nur via another filmmaker's instagram post of Nur's work an d loved it. He's living in his home country of Kazakhstan, yes it's a real place, so we zoomed and you'll love this chat.  Also check out Nur's treatments and templates you can use for your pesky Director's Treatments. It's a great resource.  Check out all the Nur's stellar work here.  FLOW...

Managing Director/Exec Producer Rebecca Niles offers us a masterclass in everything filmmakers need to know about joining a roster at a top production company. Rebbeca joined Art Class, one of the busiest shoppes working with brilliant filmmakers, and is dedicated to serving agencies and the next gen of filmmakers to make great stuff. She brings deep global production experience spanning advertising, branded content, and feature films. At ArtClass, Rebecca oversees productions, manages...

Director Ed Han started on the agency side and is now a busy commercial director, having helmed spots for Lincoln, Roomba, Hersey's and more. I love Ed's core philosophy of discover the overlooked, celebrate the journey, share the sublime. Those tenets certianly come through in his work. During our talk, he stressed the importance of ensuring "clarity in communication" when doing our job as directors. Amen Ed. Check out his spot we talk about here.  FLOW Click my name for your MAGIC MIND...

Filmmmaker Jeannette Godoy screens her romcom feature film "Diamond In The Rough" on September 22nd as part of the NY Latino Film Festival at the Regal Union Square. Jeannette is a talented writer, producer, director and my lovely wife. She started in the business as a dancer/choreographer, choreographing Sir Mix A Lot's "Baby Got Back" before making her first commercial for Bridgestone Tires that took her to Cannes Lions Festival over there in France. Along the way, she's directed dozens of...

Filmmaker Chris Overton directed "The Silent Child", written by Rachel Shenton, and won the Oscar® for Best Live Action Short at the 90th Academy Awards®. The film tells the story of Libby, a profoundly deaf 6-year-old girl, who lives a silent life until a social worker, played by Shenton, teaches her how to communicate through sign language. Chris and I discuss about that journey and how it led to a commercial starring the same def actor, Maisie Sly. We also go deep into running their...

My guest is Jim DiPiazza, Founder & CEO of Area of Expertise, a full-service marketing collective. We built and maintain an invite-only roster of highly experienced talent – who have helped create some of the most famous and impactful brands in the world. As for Jim - he's been around the country at agencies both small and big agencies during his 29 year career. He’s worked on luxury brands, irreverent youth brands and almost everything in between.  He helped pitch and win Xbox, Uber,...

Steve Williams, Undnyable Partner/Exec Creative Director, joins me in an informative and entertaining chat about making commercials soup to nuts. (We've shot six fun spots for Kaiser Permanente, but we've never been on set together due to that pesky pandemic.) We discuss running the agency from concepting and strategy to shooting the spots. We cover the importance of being nimble with the ability to scale, and how to stay in one's lane. Great talk! Steve is I’m an experienced and...

Multi-disciplined filmmaker Vikkal Parikh is an award-winning director and creative director at Ataboy. Born and raised in Mumbai, Vikkal trained as an architect before coming to the U.S. to get his MFA in computer art from Savannah College of Art and Design. After a stint at MTV and Red Car, he formed Attaboy. His clients include Burger King, Puma, HBO, Ad Council, Nickelodeon, Dell, and Verizon Fios. Check out his Ikea and Progressive spots.  EVENTS LIMITED TIME ONLY! Summer Office...

Josh Shelton is a multi-hyphenate producer, writer, director and composer who has worked for Netflix, MTV, ESPN, Participant Media and more.  Shelton was nominated for a Sports Emmy as a producer on Netflix’s "We Are The Champions." He has also been at the forefront of the digital landscape for over a decade as a YouTube Award and Telly Award Winner, working with the joy-filled digital media company SoulPancake, where he was a trusted producer/showrunner on a range of branded campaigns and...

Just lil' old me, Jordan. Aka Grandpa Brady, aka Poppa Jordan - ranting about how American Airlines pushed my flght to the next day forcing me to miss giving my seminar at the University Film and Video Association. But I've salvaged the presentation for "Agency Collaboration" - a zoom workshop Wednesday, July 26th 2023 from 4pm to 6pm PDT. Join me, details here. I also give my two cents on ageism... not a deep dive but a few good points raised. Now turn that music down! EVENTS LIMITED TIME...

Filmmaker Patrick Shelton is a partner, Director, and EP at Current Resident in Minneaoplois. Current Resident proudly proclaims itself "an independent production company and post-house that makes cool shit with good people." Ingrained with a deep love for both narrative and entrepreneurship Patrick is constantly looking for new and exciting ways to blend the two… When asked if he wants to direct feature films, he answers, “Brands are more adventurous, and hungry for story than ever – if I’m...

Rob Bagot has work for some of the world's greatest advertising agencies and many influential brands, as Chief Creative Director, Group Creative Director, even Global Chief CD. He's collected over 750 national, international and regional awards. At his very heart, Rob is a commercial storyteller, now as CCO of Storymachine Films, he leads a “full-stack” creative agency that writes, directs and delivers award-winning commercial content. We chat about how we met (he gave my a big Kia job early...

Dave Curtin joins me for a great talk about music in commercials. Dave is an Executive Music Producer, Music Branding specialist & Music Supervisor. Starting as a DJ and nightclub promoter in San Diego, his shows drew over 80,000 people to events through music, fashion and trendsetting themes. Since then he's managed recording artists, produced & licensed music for hundreds of commercials for major global brands and advertising agencies. He also has served as music supervisor on...

Filmmaker Tamika Miller is an episodic, award-winning commercial and film director/writer.  She’s directed the NBC television drama QUANTUM LEAP, THE EQUALIZER for CBS and STATION 19 for ABC/Shondaland. We chat about her indie feature HONOR STUDENT, a thriller starring Emmy-Nominated actress Kelly Jenrette (The Handmaid’s Tale) and actor Hudson Yang (Fresh Off the Boat). My wife and I loved “Honor Student” at the Pan African Film Festival and Tamika has been tearing up the festival...

Filmmaker Tamika Miller is an episodic, award-winning commercial and film director/writer.  She's directed the NBC television drama QUANTUM LEAP, THE EQUALIZER for CBS and STATION 19 for ABC/Shondaland. We chat about her indie feature HONOR STUDENT, a thriller starring Emmy-Nominated actress Kelly Jenrette (All American: Homecoming, The Handmaid's Tale) and actor Hudson Yang (Fresh Off the Boat). My wife and I loved "Honor Student" at the Pan African Film Festival and Tamika has been tearing...

My friend and filmmaker Craig Melville has travelled the world directing comedy ads, television and films. He’s profilic – over 120 episodes of broadcast television and more than 200 commercials for clients such as Pepsi, Disney, Expedia, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Target, McDonald’s and Honda. Craig has won at Cannes, Grand Prix at Spikes Asia, Grand Prix at Mumbrella BeFest, Australian Film Institute Awards, and multiple Australian Directors Guild Awards – with work...

My friend and filmmaker Craig Melville has travelled the world directing comedy ads, television and films. He's profilic - over 120 episodes of broadcast television and more than 200 commercials for clients such as Pepsi, Disney, Expedia, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Target, McDonald’s and Honda. Craig has won at Cannes, Grand Prix at Spikes Asia, Grand Prix at Mumbrella BeFest, Australian Film Institute Awards, and multiple Australian Directors Guild Awards - with work...

Sister Christian Kendrick and Lawrence T. Lewis are in-demand producers that find time to host an excellent podcast called the Producers Happy Hour. (My episode is here and it’s a gem.) Each has worked all over the world and at every major production company going back a few decades. They share irreverent and brutally honest insights about the film production industry. Check it out here and well as a new course “The Art of Script Breakdown“. I gobble up their production tips on TikTok and IG....

Sister Christian Kendrick and Lawrence T. Lewis are in-demand producers that find time to host an excellent podcast called the Producers Happy Hour. (My episode is here and it's a gem.) Each has worked all over the world and at every major production company going back a few decades. They share irreverent and brutally honest insights about the film production industry. Check it out here and well as a new course "The Art of Script Breakdown". I gobble up their production tips on TikTok and IG....

Composer, songwriter, writer and director Chris Edgar has written music for film, theater, TV, and digital series. He’s scored award-winning films, including The Breakout: A Rock Opera (Best Screenplay), Steve’s Quest: The Musical (Best Animated Series, Best Music Score), and Ghost in the Gun (Best Music Score) His most recent feature project is “Playing With Beethoven,” in which the actors performed the film’s score live on set, and which recently made its nationwide theatrical debut. Click...

Composer, songwriter, writer and director Chris Edgar has written music for film, theater, TV, and digital series. He's scored award-winning films, including The Breakout: A Rock Opera (Best Screenplay), Steve's Quest: The Musical (Best Animated Series, Best Music Score), and Ghost in the Gun (Best Music Score) His most recent feature project is "Playing With Beethoven," in which the actors performed the film's score live on set, and which recently made its nationwide theatrical debut. Click...

Hayden5 was dreamt up on the fifth floor of NYU’s Hayden Hall in 2005. As film school freshman, Milos Silber and Todd Wiseman Jr, became collaborators, conquering the challenges of scrappy, New York City production. Today, Hayden5 is a powerful in video production, offering soup to nuts services. Todd explains the company’s unique approach that allowed them to scale big time, and still offer consistent quality filmmaking. Peep the showreel: From Video Drop Kits to...

Hayden5 was dreamt up on the fifth floor of NYU’s Hayden Hall in 2005. As film school freshman, Milos Silber and Todd Wiseman Jr, became collaborators, conquering the challenges of scrappy, New York City production. Today, Hayden5 is a powerful in video production, offering soup to nuts services. Todd explains the company's unique approach that allowed them to scale big time, and still offer consistent quality filmmaking. Peep the showreel.  From Video Drop Kits to standardized production...

My new pal Chuck Canzoneri claims he is the world’s oldest working Production Assistant. Chuck works at P.A. Bootcamp and they have a session coming up June 10th and 11th in North Hollywood. It is a great program, as you’ll learn. I did a guest lecture there once, but have no dog in the fight other than your success. 5 SPOTS LEFT!! So excited for our Second Annual Filmmaker Retreat in Joshua Tree. Join us Sept. 28th to Oct. 1st in the desert for a transformational experience. “Define...

My new pal Chuck Canzoneri claims he is the world's oldest working Production Assistant. Chuck works at P.A. Bootcamp and they have a session coming up June 10th and 11th in North Hollywood. It is a great program, as you'll learn. I did a guest lecture there once, but have no dog in the fight other than your success. 5 SPOTS LEFT!! So excited for our Second Annual Filmmaker Retreat in Joshua Tree. Join us Sept. 28th to Oct. 1st in the desert for a transformational experience. "Define Your...