How To Break Into Commercial Directing
Start Learning
Webinar hosted by: RJ Collins
Award-Winning Writer & Director; Founder at Everdream
RJ Collins is an award-winning writer/director, renowned for founding the trailblazing directing collective Everdream. Their viral Tesla spec commercial revolutionized branded content, demonstrating the immense potential of young filmmakers. His unique talent for blending narrative depth with commercial appeal quickly established him as a preferred director for top-tier brands, elevating the art of storytelling in the advertising industry. RJ has perfected the art of winning commercials through his unique approach to treatments and pitches. His creative prowess carried into narrative with his Streamy-nominated mini-series "Simi Valley," a personal reflection of his upbringing, and his acclaimed sci-fi script "Vapor," which won the ScreenCraft Grand Prize and earned praise from Oscar-winner Diana Ossana. He's also behind the buzzed-about horror-adventure short "Dropping," featuring talents like Reign Edwards, Devin Druid, and Mia Threapleton, with plans for a feature adaptation. Currently, RJ is working on his pioneering debut feature, "Left Alone," a screenlife thriller starring RJ Mitte, aimed at transforming disability representation in film. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
A-List filmmakers such as David Fincher and Ridley Scott started their careers directing commercials. Directing commercials can be a great way to make a living, gain valuable experience working with cutting edge technology and prepare yourself to direct movies.
Plus! Receive an exclusive handout that will help you build your commercial directing career!
Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, a seasoned director looking to transition into the lucrative field of commercials, or someone simply passionate about visual storytelling, directing commercials is an exciting and fruitful creative career path.
Many of the most well known film directors started working in commercials and honed their craft working on branded commercial content. And some directors have built long lasting and successful careers only directing commercials for an array of clients. However, how do you break into the commercial directing industry? And once you’re in, how do you forge a successful career for yourself?
In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn how to create and build your career as a commercial director from an industry leader who built his directing career from the ground up. Teaching you everything you need to know about the business and craft of directing commercials is RJ Collins, the pioneering mind behind Everdream and the viral Tesla spec commercial that redefined branded content.
RJ has built a career at the nexus of deep narrative and commercial sensibility, becoming the director of choice for top brands through his innovative approach. His foray into film and TV includes the Streamy-nominated "Simi Valley" and the ScreenCraft-winning script "Vapor," earning accolades from Oscar-winning screenwriter Diana Ossana. His latest endeavor, the buzzworthy horror-adventure feature film "Dropping", is on track to roll cameras in summer 2024.
As a commercial director, there is a constant balance between honing your pitching skills to book work and developing your directorial style so you perpetuate a lasting career in the marketplace. In a jam-packed 90 minutes, RJ will teach you not only how to develop your style, brand, and relationships to ensure you have a successful commercial career, but also how you can leverage your work as a commercial director to move into film and television work.
This course is a golden opportunity for you to learn how to become a go-to director for clients across the commercial industry and use that to propel your directing career.
PLUS! You’ll receive an exclusive Director Treatment Template to create winning pitches to help hone your commercial directing work.
If you’re a director in any medium with a passion for visual storytelling, this webinar is a must!
What You'll Learn
- Personal Success Story (Who is RJ Collins) and Industry Insights:
- Hear inspiring personal anecdotes and success stories, including the instructor's journey, highlighting the effectiveness of spec work in establishing a directing career.
- Understanding Commercial Directing:
- Gain a comprehensive overview of the commercial directing landscape, from agency roles to storyboarding.
- Learn how directors are hired and break into the industry, setting the stage for your own career launch.
- Building a Spec Portfolio Early On:
- Discover the importance of spec work in your directing career right from the start.
- Learn how to create compelling spec commercials that showcase your potential and skillset.
- Developing Your Directorial Niche:
- Use specialized worksheets to identify and develop your unique directorial style.
- Understand how to channel your passions into creating content that resonates with your intended audience.
- Mastering the Art of Pitching:
- Learn the Three Cardinal Rules of pitching and treating to consistently secure commercial directing jobs.
- Understand how to prepare for production, enhance existing ideas, and impress clients with your unique approach.
- Gain access to downloadable treatment templates and example treatments.
- Targeting Brands and Establishing Your Niche:
- Follow a step-by-step process to identify brands that align with your style and vision.
- Learn how to effectively approach and engage with these brands to build your niche in the industry.
- Industry Trends and Styles:
- Stay ahead by understanding current market trends, including shifts to direct-to-brand strategies.
- Explore how directors are increasingly involved in the creative process and the latest visual styles in commercial directing.
- Networking and Professional Relationships:
- Develop strategies for effectively networking within the industry.
- Learn how to build and maintain professional relationships with brands, agencies, and production companies.
- Collaborating with Clients and Agencies:
- Understand how to use your treatment template to excel in collaborations with clients and agencies.
- Personal Success Stories and Industry Insights:
- Hear inspiring personal anecdotes and success stories, including the instructor's journey, highlighting the effectiveness of spec work in establishing a directing career.
- Interactive Q&A and Exclusive Offers:
- Engage in a Q&A session for personalized advice and insights.
- Receive a free director's treatment template and the chance to win a one-hour coaching session through RJ’s giveaway.
About Your Instructor
RJ Collins
FAQs
Q: How do I watch my webinar live?
A: If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Go to Webinar, you will receive an email from Go to Webinar with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. You can also access your webinar link in your purchase history located under settings in the top right-hand corner of your Stage 32 profile.
If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Zoom, you will receive a separate email from Zoom with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. Your login link will not be in your Stage 32 profile. If you did not receive your link via Zoom please email support@stage32.com.
Q: How do I watch my webinar on demand?
A: You will be able to watch your webinar on demand as many times as you’d like inside your Stage 32 profile. The recording is processed and posted between 24-48 hours after the webinar concludes. You can follow the instructions below.
YOU MUST HAVE A STAGE 32 PROFILE TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO – STAGE 32 IS FREE TO JOIN
If You Already Have a Stage 32 Profile:
- Log into your Stage 32 profile
- Click "Settings" in the top right-hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
- Go to www.stage32.com
- Create a profile using the SAME email address you used to sign up for this webinar. The email addresses must match in order to watch the webinar.
- Once you have your profile set up, you can view the webinar by clicking "Settings" in the top right hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
Q: What is the format of a webinar?
A: Stage 32 Next Level Webinars are typically 90-minute educational broadcasts that take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32. Your webinar will be taught by a working industry professional with in-depth teaching on a topic. If you are able to attend live you will be able to ask your Stage 32 Educator questions during Q&A.
Q: What are the system requirements to watch my webinar live?
A: You will need to meet the following system requirements in order to run the webinar software: Windows 7 or later Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.
If you have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.9 (Mountain Lion): The webinar software does not support these operating systems. If you are running one of those operating systems, please upgrade now in order to be able to view a live webinar. Upgrade your Windows computer / Upgrade your Mac computer.
Q: What if I cannot attend the live webinar?
A: If you cannot attend a live webinar or purchase an on demand webinar, you will have access to the entire recorded broadcast, including the Q&A.
Q: Will I have access to the webinar afterward to re-watch?
A: Yes! Like all Stage 32 education, after the purchase of a live or on demand webinar, you will have on-demand access to the recording.
Q: How do I get a copy of the handouts provided?
A: If the webinar you take included handouts you can find them as downloads underneath your on demand video. You must be logged into your Stage 32 profile to view the video and get the handouts by clicking settings in the top right hand corner, then clicking purchase history.
Q: What if I need accessibility and accommodations?
A: Email support@stage32.com to request accommodations.
Thanks for your loyalty to Stage 32 Education. We value having you in the Stage 32 community.
If you have any further questions, we are always happy to help. Please contact Stage 32 support at support@stage32.com.
Relevant Tags
Share with friends:
Questions?
Other education that may be of interest to you:
How You Can Build a Film Package For Little to No Budget
Yes, you can build a complete development package to attract investors with little (or even no) budget. We are going to show you how. Plus! Receive 5 downloads to help you put together your film development package! There is a misconception that you need millions of dollars in order to move your independent feature film forward. This isn't true. If you have access to a computer, internet and passion, YOU can make your project attractive to high-net-worth individuals. If you have limited funds, we will show you the best places to spend money to yield results. It may seem daunting to build a package with...
Netflix + Stage 32 Present: Television Pilot Story Structure
Netflix and Stage 32 have partnered on an exclusive global education series in an effort to democratize the worldwide entertainment industry. Together, over the course of 5 webcasts Stage 32's world class educators will bring their knowledge of what it takes to write, develop and produce today's television for the Stage 32 and Netflix creator community. To kick things off, we are going to talking about television pilot story structure. Nailing your TV drama’s story structure—specifically your pilot—is no easy task. In the span of just 40-60 pages, you have to introduce your world, your characters, your central plot and...
Understanding Global Tax Incentives
Learn directly from Simon Graham-Clare (Producer) and Ricky Margolis (VP) at Future Films USA (Over 200 films & TV shows financed and produced)! In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, Simon Graham-Clare and Ricky Margolis will demystify global tax incentives and highlight some of the many other factors to take into consideration when looking at different locations. They will look at current example incentives from around the world and also enlighten you on ways these incentives can trigger additional investment into your project. Filmmakers will learn more about international independent film financing and how tax...
10 Business Steps To Get Your Film Financed & In Production
In this Stage 32 Next Level webinar, Simon Graham-Clare will discuss 10 business steps for giving your project momentum and creating a viable package that feels right to investors. Having been involved in the production and/or financing of over 200 projects, Simon will discuss how a filmmaker can benefit by teaming up with a producer who understands this world, and he looks at all projects from an international point of view to give you a full spectrum idea of film financing. The last two films The Future Film Group produced were both first time directors, so Simon knows exactly what it takes to get your project in...
A Director’s Guide to Post-Production: Your Film is Wrapped, Now What?
The more production savvy we are, the better filmmakers we become. As directors, it is our job to know every heartbeat of our story; the preparation needed for executing our vision; and the intricacies of bringing it to its final conclusion, in a way that will illicit an emotional response from our audience. That means that we must not take our foot off the pedal once we wrap. Being present, aware, in control, and maintaining our focus during post-production is vital. Sometimes our film is made (or lost) in the edit. The technical steps of post production can seem overwhelming, especially coming off the heights (or lows)...
How to Build a Successful Career in the Horror Industry
The world of independent horror is like no other arena in the film industry. The appetite for new horror films is strong, consistent, and seemingly endless, as always-hungry audiences continue to seek out new titles. As a result, hundreds of horror films are made each year and the market itself is incredibly profitable. Yet in such a saturated market and with such a volume of horror films being released, it can be very hard to stand out. After all, out of hundreds of horror films, there are always only a couple BABADOOKs or GREEN ROOMs that have real staying power. A lot of people are able to work in the horror...
Register / Log In
