The Commercial Directors Podcast

Directors often see the boards, the creative call, and the bid. There’s a lot of work happening on the agency side before any of that reaches us.For Episode 18 of The Commercial Directors Podcast, I spoke with Mike Davidson, head of production at Callen, about how his team approaches director searches and what they hope a director brings to the process.We covered reels, treatments, collaboration, AI, and the value of involving production earlier in creative development. One part I especially appreciated was the conversation about bringing a distinct point of view to a project while staying open to the people who have been developing it long before the director came aboard.

How do you get hired to make the kind of work you’ve never been hired to make?You make it yourself.At just 22 years old, director Bailen Estrada is already building an impressive commercial career, and spec work has played a huge role in getting him there.In Episode 17 of The Commercial Director’s Podcast, Bailen joins Evan Swinehart to talk about discovering filmmaking as a kid in the Midwest, skipping film school, moving to Los Angeles, and teaching himself the commercial directing business in real time.We dig into his HOKA and Salomon spec projects, why one great piece of work usually isn’t enough, how he strategically released his Salomon spot, and how that work eventually helped lead to representation and bigger commercial opportunities.Then we break down Bailen’s Sin City-inspired betting commercial shot in Romania. We get into green screen, practical sets, VFX, CGI, graphic-novel lighting, shooting internationally, collaborating with a Romanian crew and VFX team, and how Bailen approached building such a heavily stylized world.We also talk treatments, AI, inspiration, the awkward middle stage of building a directing career and why Bailen carries an old Russian stopwatch on set.

In Episode 16 of The Commercial Director’s Podcast, Evan sits down with director Ekta Saran for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, craft, and building a career behind the camera.From the books, films, and directors that inspire her to the realities of commercial production, Ekta shares a thoughtful perspective on what separates good directors from great ones. The conversation explores the transition into commercial directing, the importance of problem-solving on set, developing visual taste, and why curiosity remains one of the most valuable tools a filmmaker can have.Along the way, Ekta discusses creative influences, learning through every project, balancing technical execution with storytelling, and the mindset required to keep growing in an ever-changing industry.Whether you're an aspiring director or a seasoned creative, this episode is packed with insights on finding your voice, refining your craft, and staying inspired.

In Episode 15, we sit down with commercial and feature director Alex Richanbach to break down his unconventional path from working under legends like David Fincher and Adam McKay to directing viral content at Funny or Die and high-volume commercial campaigns. We dive into: Building trust and chemistry with crews fast Directing comedy and letting performances breathe Managing chaos on high-pressure commercial shoots Why “fun” is actually a serious directing tool The evolving future of commercials vs. YouTube-style filmmaking Plus, Alex breaks down his Champs Sports campaign where talent dropped out two days before the shoot and how he adapted on the fly to still deliver. If you’re trying to level up as a director, this one is packed with real-world insight.

Episode 14 features commercial director and Just Shoot It podcast co-host Oren Kaplan.Oren shares his journey from engineer to director, how starting a podcast opened doors to industry knowledge, and why curiosity has been one of his biggest advantages.We dig into the modern state of commercial directing, from evolving treatment trends to the increasing role of AI and what it takes to stand out when competing against top-tier directors and production companies.Oren also breaks down his Rebel Wilson PSA in detail, covering:Building ideas through constraints and budget limitationsPitching with passion (and why that matters more than polish)Designing gags, transitions, and visual continuityShooting with limited time and zero coverageLessons from post-production and VFX mistakesWe also talk about rejection, creative confidence, working with celebrity talent, and how to maintain your voice in an industry that’s constantly changing.If you’re a director, creative, or filmmaker trying to level up this one is packed with real-world insight.

In Episode 13 of The Commercial Director’s Podcast, Evan sits down with Amsterdam based director Joris Noordenbos to talk about one of the most important decisions a commercial director can make: finding your niche.Joris shares his journey from in-house generalist to carving out a distinct lane in kids and food. After realizing he was losing bigger jobs because he wasn’t specialized enough, he took matters into his own hands and created high-level spec work to prove he could deliver premium cinematic food storytelling.In this episode, we cover:Why spec work is the fastest way to break the “you need the job to show the job” cycleHow to produce high-end spec without spending your own moneyUsing spec as a strategic outreach toolThe benefits (and challenges) of niching downDirecting children and creating authentic performancesKeeping your style fresh inside a defined laneManaging complex food shoots and food styling logisticsPrevis, testing, and working with international crewsA full breakdown of his Blue Band campaign blending kids + food storytellingJoris offers practical, tactical advice for directors at any stage especially those trying to level up from generalist to specialist.If you're building your reel, refining your voice, or looking to create your own opportunities instead of waiting for them, this episode delivers serious value.

Navigating the Spotlight with Commercial Director Cameron HarrisCommercial director Cameron Harris joins the podcast to break down what it really takes to direct high-pressure commercial work especially when celebrities are involved.With a background that spans top agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi, Clemenger BBDO, and Leo Burnett, Cameron shares how his years on the agency side shaped his directing approach and gave him a unique advantage on set. From collaborating with creatives to managing expectations with A-list talent like Martin Short, John Cena, and David Beckham, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the realities of modern commercial directing.In this episode, we cover:Making the transition from agency creative to directorHow collaboration builds trust and improves the workDirecting celebrities with confidence, preparation, and respectWhy preparation is the key to staying calm on setThe challenge of making comedy feel premium, and why brands need to fully commitThis episode is packed with practical insight for directors, creatives, and filmmakers navigating agency relationships, celebrity talent, and high-stakes production environments.🎧 Available now wherever you listen to podcasts.

The CDP sits down with Scott Pugnetti of Equals Management to break down the international model, pitch reform, how to win (and lose) bids, and what makes a portfolio actually convert. We dig into real talk on transparency, paid pitching, global opportunities, and why your website is probably holding you back. If you’re a director building a career, this one’s essential. https://www.equalsmgmt.com/

This episode dives deep into director Jon Schwartz’s creative process from building iPhone animatics to crafting full 3D previs in Blender to nail complex, motion-controlled camera shots. Jon breaks down his Joybird commercial, revealing how he kept repetitive phone scenes dynamic, convinced the client to embrace kinetic motion-control cinematography, and merged practical set design with VFX for a seamless look. He shares how tools like the Milo rig can save hours on set when properly prepped, why wide lenses make small sets feel massive, and how tight collaboration between director, production designer, and agency elevates the final spot. https://itsjonschwartz.com/

Syra McCarthy shares how her background as an actor shapes her directing bringing empathy, clear communication, and play to fast paced commercial sets. She talks building trust with talent, running takes to find flow, and using tone references that help actors shine, https://www.syramccarthy.com/ https://www.softholdcollective.com/ https://evenodd.studio/