How To Break Into Commercial Directing

Hosted by RJ Collins

$49

On Demand Webinar - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.

Start Learning

Please make sure you use the same email address as the one you use to sign in to Stage 32, otherwise you won't have access to your webinar.
apply Your coupon will be applied after you agree to terms below.

- or -

$49.00
TOTAL PRICE:
Overlay Icon

Stage 32 Next Level Education has a 97% user satisfaction rate.

RJ Collins

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 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.

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:

  1. Log into your Stage 32 profile
  2. Click "Settings" in the top right-hand corner (gear icon)
  3. Click "Purchase History"
  4. Choose this webinar and click the link to view
If You Do Not Have a Stage 32 Profile:
  1. Go to www.stage32.com
  2. 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.
  3. Once you have your profile set up, you can view the webinar by clicking "Settings" in the top right hand corner (gear icon)
  4. Click "Purchase History"
  5. 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.

Questions?

If you have a generic question about Stage 32 education you can take a look at our frequently asked questions section on our help page, or feel free to contact support with any other inquiries you might have. If you have a generic question about Stage 32 education you can take a look at our frequently asked questions section on our help page, or feel free to contact support with any other inquiries you might have.

Other education that may be of interest to you:

Seven Steps to Mindfulness for Creatives

A New Exclusive Webinar! Learn how to strengthen your mindfulness and happiness as a creative from an Emmy-winning Executive Producer and a Ph.D. in Conscious-Centered Living, who's worked with A&E, ABC, CBS, NBC, TNT, Lifetime, and more! The entertainment industry can be challenging. The rejections, self-doubt, and pressure can wear on even the most mentally resilient creatives. Many believe that when they land the big TV show or the top manager, they’ll be happy, but that’s not how it works. Those external factors are great, but you need internal strength in order to maintain your mental health no...

Developing & Financing Family and Faith Based Projects

Learn directly from Nikki Hevesy and Anne Marie Gillen, Producers with over 20 years of experience each in developing and financing media projects. Nikki is a director, producer and media strategist with an expertise in integrating faith-based content into mainstream media, and Anne Marie is an expert on film finance, having successfully raised over $100M for projects worldwide. With the recent successes of films like Heaven Is For Real, Son Of God, God Is Not Dead, and all of the faith oriented films coming down the pike like Mark Burnett’s Ben Hur, Mary Mother Of Christ and The Shack, Faith and Family based...

The Casting Process: How To Create A Great Ensemble Cast For Your Film

Learn directly from Jordan Bass, Casting Director and partner in bass/casting, a bicoastal casting company with feature film and television credits including New Line Cinema's Annabelle, Starz' Spartacus pilot, Lionsgate's The Last Exorcism, and HBO's newest Project Greenlight among others! For many independent films, the filmmaker also wears the hat of casting director. How do you go about the casting process? How do you choose one actor over another when they both had a good audition? What should you be looking for to create your ensemble cast? In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, host...

How to Build a Simple Film Business Plan to Get Investors on Board

One of the hardest parts of being an artist is understanding the business part of the “film business”. You very likely have the “art” part down--you have a script; you’re an actor; you learned how to direct, etc--but as you set out to make the magnum opus that is your film, you quickly realize that you are spending way more time talking about legal documents, business prospectus, waterfalls, and returns on investment. It’s not what anyone signed up for when they set out to be artists, but it’s still absolutely part of the job. This doesn’t need to be a bad thing, though. Understanding the business side of your craft...

How to Adapt a Book Into a Film or Series

A good book takes the reader to another world. A good film or series does the same. Today, it’s not unusual to turn on the tube and take in films like THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, and BLACKkKLANSMAN, or series like OUTLANDER, THE HANDMAID’S TALE, and MINDHUNTER, all of which are based on fiction and non-fiction books. Writers of all levels are seeing the potential with adapting a good story from the pages of a book. However, not knowing exactly how to go about structuring the story or what elements to highlight and pull from a novel could be a proverbial brick wall for some. But...

Tools to Financing a Film Between $1MM-$3MM - 4 Class Intensive with Handouts

Learn the tools to finance your $1MM-$3MM film with one of the entertainment industry's top film financiers Plus, get access to exclusive handouts including sample budgets, packages and collection account management statements, sales sheets, sales agent contracts, and distribution agreements In recent years, the independent producing model has shown that films budgeted between $1-$3 Million have become a "sweet spot" for investors. But first, you must understand the ins and outs of what goes into financing a film with this budget level so you can ultimately find success. Knowing how to raise money...

register for stage 32 Register / Log In