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 to Adapt a True Story as a Film or Series
What do the singer Elvis Presley, the actress Pamela Anderson and the phycisist Albert Einstein all have in common? Their true life stories have been adapted into major feature films and TV series in recent years. True story adaptations find success largely because the writers and creators understand where to find the story within these real lives to adapt. They efficiently honed in on an angle that pulled the audience in while developing emotional arcs that kept viewers invested. Writing is a craft, no doubt, and one that must be managed differently when pen hits paper and for adaptations. It takes work and a deep understanding of your story as well as the medium you’re adapting it for, but it’s something you can achieve for your own true life passion project, especially with the proper understanding and guidance. Kate Sharp is a producer and literary manager at Bellevue Productions. Prior to joining Bellevue, Kate was the VP of Development and Production at Occupant Entertainment, producing short-form content for Showtime, MTV, Verizon, Facebook, and U2, and was an Executive Producer on the Hulu original, Emmy-nominated TV series BEHIND THE MASK. Her film credits include PEEP WORLD, BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY, MADAME BOVARY and THE HALLOW. Kate is currently producing THE BURNING SEASON with Naomi Watts and STRANGER THINGS’ Sophia Lillis attached to star. Kate has worked with countless writers on adapting their true story projects of all types and knows what it takes to turn a true story into a script that producers, reps, studios and execs will be interested in. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, Kate delves into the craft of adapting a true story to a film or series, and how to put words to the page to make this happen. She defines the three types of true story or biopic adaptations so you can determine which option is best for you and give you the tools to decide if your story should unfold as a feature or limited series so you can determine which option is best for you. She will also walk you through best practices for researching, finding your own angle to the story, and how to write your script so it feels authentic while still possessing emotional arcs and narrative liberties to ensure your script is marketable and successful in the market. You'll walk away from this webinar with confidence and write an adapted script based on a true story that gets the attention it deserves. Praise for Kate's Previous Stage 32 Webinar: "Kate Sharp was incredible. She's a great instructor, and also looks like a very special person to have as a manager, who loves what she does and would be a great partner for a writer! Thank you for sharing her gifts with us!" -Ricki L. "The information was straightforward and practical. I made loads of notes to go back over. Thanks!" -Gillian R. "BRAVO, KATE!!! She provided a wonderful presentation fueled by stellar "real world" facts and scenarios" -Bill B.
How to Write a Female-Driven Pilot + 4 Script Downloads
Includes Downloads Of The Pilot Scripts For RUSSIAN DOLL, FLEABAG, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL & KILLING EVE When it comes to today's streaming and television landscape you can easily paraphrase Beyonce... Who runs the world? Badass female characters do! From laugh-out-loud comedies like HACKS to emotionally charged dramedies like GINNY & GEORGIA to dark stories of corruption like THE DROPOUT, its never been a better time to write female-driven stories. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you’ll learn how to create a female-driven story that only you can tell. Guiding you is Colleen Labella, the producer and Director of Development at Leslye Headland’s Shoot to Midnight. She has sold numerous television series, including Netflix’s RUSSIAN DOLL, Freeform’s SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, and the upcoming Star Wars series THE ACOLYTE for Disney+. Colleen is dedicated to telling stories about womxn and the LGBTQIA+ community, and she’s bringing that passion and her years of experience to teach you: How and why the industry’s interest in womxn has changed Current patterns in popular female-led series What’s working and not working in today’s female-driven stories Current themes in these shows What is the future of female representation on television Common traps to avoid when writing these pilots How to develop new and interesting characters we haven’t seen yet Most importantly, Colleen will show you how combining your unique voice with different television formats and utilizing multiple storylines can enhance your work, creating a better script and series overall. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to hear from a fantastic expert working at one of the most in-demand production companies around. You’ll walk away with a stronger understanding of both female-driven series and where your voice fits into this growing market. Praise for Colleen's Stage 32 Education: " I strongly suggest Colleen Labella. She is amazing and so detailed.." - Susan W. "This was honestly one of the best webinars I have ever seen!" - Brianna C.
Understanding Option Agreements for Film and Television & How to Protect Yourself
Learn from and Entertainment & IP Attorney at LaneCrowell LLP, whose client's projects have been on Starz, Nickelodeon, Discovery, TLC and more! Whether you're controlling some valuable intellectual property, looking to secure IP, or simply have a valuable property in the form of a spec script, TV pilot, webseries, digital series, or other filmed material, you are likely going to be confronted with signing or distributing an option agreement. It is imperative that you understand the various types of option agreements and what information should be included to assure that you are not only protecting your material, but yourself legally as well. As the international content business grows, option agreements have become more and more commonplace. It is the vital piece of the paper trail that will ensure you are exercising and getting all your rights as your project gets made. These agreements are designed to protect both sides of a given deal, but can be complicated and sometimes include unnecessary language or clauses that could serve to hold up your content or payment. before you sign on the dotted line, you need to understand what exactly is an option agreement, who has creative control, how much money can be made and what you need to include to protect your rights up front. To help you navigate option agreements is Thomas Crowell is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney and partner at LaneCrowell, LLP. Thomas specializes in working with artists whose work you’ve seen on Sony, Starz, Marvel, DC, IDW Publishing, Discovery, and many more. You won’t be overwhelmed with legal jargon here. Thomas is an expert at showing writers, directors, producers, and more how to understand their agreement and legal options in a tangible way, as seen in his best-selling legal guide for independent producers, The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers. After watching this on-demand webinar, you’ll know the difference between shopping agreements, option agreements, and purchase agreements, which one is best for your material or the material you’d like the rights to, understand copyright issues, how to ensure you have exclusivity, and all of the deal points that you’ll need to negotiate. PRAISE FOR THOMAS'S TEACHINGS AT STAGE 32: "Very informative. The best legal/contract class I have ever attended." -Jon C. "Mr. Crowell was truly informative and I appreciated that he covered both sides: Producer and Writer (because I am both)." -Elease P. "Thomas is so clear and precise. I will have to come back many times to be able to absorb all the information. Wonderful and just what I needed." -Prema R. I have taken Thomas's webinars several times over the years through Stage 32 and I have learned so much. From my personal experience, if you ever in need of an entertainment attorney to represent you when you encounter legal issues with your film, he is the attorney you should go to. Thank you, Thomas Crowell for literally saving my behind! -- Joe P.
Advanced Financing Webinar: How To Put Together A Recoupment Schedule For Your Film or TV Project
As creatives, we tend to focus on the writing, the directing, the creative producing, basically all the creating aspects of a film or television series. But it’s important to understand what happens after a film is released or TV series is aired. All those big box office numbers sound great, but who gets all that money and in what order? Who gets paid and in what order is called the “recoupment schedule” also known as “the waterfall.” It’s important to understand this schedule, so that you know your place in the waterfall. Some people may find the recoupment schedule confusing, because there are several factors and various agreements that go into determining the order of recoupment. Those includes sales agency agreements, co-production agreements, finance agreements, talent agreements, interparty agreements, security agreements, and collection account management agreements. Plus there’s the consideration of domestic and international revenue, and what gets allocated through the waterfall. But if your head is already spinning, fret not. With the right guidance, all of this will make much more sense and David Zannoni is the best at breaking this down. David Zannoni is an international business specialist for Fintage House in the US, Europe, Canada and Latin America territories. Fintage House, the world's most respected company for revenue and rights protection for industry professionals and companies. David negotiates agreements for films and television series and is involved in business development and relationship management globally on hundreds of productions. David is continuously present to make deals and speak at international film markets, festivals and conferences, including: the Cannes Film Festival, the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, the American Film Market (AFM), Ventana Sur, the Bogota Audiovisual Market (BAM), and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and travels regularly to the United States, the Netherlands, Europe, and all over Latin America. David is going to help you understand the ins and outs of a recoupment schedule and how to make sure you are on top of your finances for your own project. He will first go into what exactly a recoupment schedule looks like and what kind of projects they are normally used for. He will delve into the agreements that recoupment schedule is based on. He will also go into how the payments are executed, how to determine the order of payments, and which funds you should be allocating. You’ll walk away with a solid foundation and understanding of “the waterfall” and where you may fall in the waterfall.
How The Pros Rewrite & Polish: Essential Rewriting Tools and Techniques
Writing is rewriting. All writers know this, but unfortunately too many writers waste valuable time and energy rewriting their scripts over and over without really making them better. Or they make some parts of their script better while weakening other parts -it's almost like an endless whack-a-mole game. The reason this happens is that often writers don't know the most effective ways to evaluate and rewrite their material. They rewrite without a clear focus or understanding of the fundamentals. Knowing how to effectively rewrite your script will lead to a dramatic improvement in your final product for both feature and TV scripts, and will be a game changer in your writing career! There's an art to the rewriting process that many successful writers embrace. It begins with letting go, relaxing, embracing, and, eventually, enjoying the process. Great writers know how to save time by quickly identifying issues with their scripts and how to fix the problems quickly and efficiently. They know how to receive notes, how to discuss those notes, and which notes are worth pushing back against and which are worth taking. They know a great script doesn't evolve all at once. It takes time, patience, awareness and constant molding. Corey Mandell is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written projects for Ridley Scott, Wolfgang Petersen, Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Julia Roberts, Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title, Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films, Touchstone, Trilogy, Radiant, Kopelson Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures. Corey is also a distinguished instructor at UCLA, where he earned his MFA. His students have gone on to sell or option scripts to Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Disney, Fox, Fox 2000, MGM, Universal, Warner Brothers, Showtime, FX, USA Network, AMC and HBO. Others have been staffed on such shows as Community, Justifed, Bones, The Mentalist, The Fosters, Young and Hungry, Playing House, and Treme. Corey knows what it takes to write and rewrite a great script, and he has proven it time and time again. Corey will walk you through the entire rewrite process for feature and TV screenplays from first understanding how your story reads in other people's heads (and why that is important!) all the way to correcting structural weaknesses in your script. He will break down rewrite memos, notes, and narrative cohesion, leaving you with a comprehensive overview of how to do an effective rewrite and how to immediately apply it to your own work. He will teach you how to receive notes and how to find the note within the note, an overlooked and misunderstood practice that can save you major rewriting time and win you points with executives, producers and financiers. Corey will show you all the pitfalls and common mistakes writers make during the rewriting process so you can move forward with not only confidence in your writing, but confidence you can carry into any room. PRAISE FOR COREY'S TEACHINGS: "Pure magic." - Alonzo G. "I always loved pumping out the first draft, but hated the rewrite. Now I know why. I had no idea what I was doing. I have 4 scripts that I can't wait to tear down and build back up bigger and stronger than ever." - Mark R. "This was so comprehensive and helpful. The entire webinar I was recognizing faults in my latest script. So happy I took this webinar!" - Mariana W. "I feel like I was just let into a secret club. The Rewrite Club. I know things other writers don't. Excited to put all this information into practice." - Jules P.
How To Produce Your Independent Feature Film In 2024
A producer on over 25 independent feature films gives you a step-by-step guide to how you can package and position your independent film so you can get it into production in 2024! PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts to help with packaging and financing your film! Oftentimes the best and quickest way to showcase your filmmaking skills is to produce your own independent film. Rather than wait around for a production company or studio to greenlight your film, you can package your own film, raise the money and start shooting! This can be a great way to get your story from script to screen and supercharge your career but independent filmmaking comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges you’ll face while putting together your independent film is obtaining financing to make your feature film. This doesn’t just involve finding a financier to invest in the project, but also understanding the importance of effectively packaging a film project on a limited budget. By mastering the skill of packaging your film -- putting the right team, assets and materials together -- you can maximize your chances of securing financing to bring your creative vision to life. Packaging a film with little to no budget involves presenting a comprehensive and compelling package to potential investors or production companies. You must demonstrate resourcefulness, creativity, and a clear understanding of how to optimize limited resources. In addition to a well-crafted script, filmmakers must showcase their ability to make cost-effective decisions. This can include leveraging the talents of a skilled but affordable cast and crew, finding innovative ways to create visually appealing scenes without excessive expenses, and utilizing effective production strategies to maximize the impact of their limited budget. In this exclusive 2-part course that will prepare you for a successful upcoming year, you will learn how to package your independent film in today's environment. This included how to find financing, how to attach talent and creative elements, and even how to secure distribution before you start shooting. You will learn how you can use regional tax incentives to help get your film made as well as how you can best conduct pre-production to plan for a smooth shoot. Guiding you through your independent filmmaking process is Michelle Alexandria, PGA member on the producer’s council and President of Light Year Pictures. Michelle has personally worked as an executive producer on over 40 feature films ranging up to $6MM budgets. Michelle has lectured on the topic of raising film financing and distribution at the Cannes Film Festival Producers Network and other prominent film festivals and markets including MipCom, Berlinale, Buenos Aires, UniFrance, Sundance, and AFM. Michelle's knowledge is extensive and her advice actionable, and she is bringing all of her experience and perspective to the Stage 32 community to help you succeed with your projects. Over 2 interactive sessions, you will learn how you can raise money for your film, attract top talent and utilize regional tax incentives to make your film a reality. You will become equipped with the skills and knowledge you need to attract financing by demonstrating your resourcefulness, creativity, and ability to make cost-effective decisions. By mastering the art of low-budget packaging, you will increase your chances of securing the necessary funding to transform your creative visions into reality. PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts to help you package your film. If you’re looking to make your independent film in 2024, this rare 2-part class is a must! Praise For Michelle's Stage 32 Teaching "Michelle Alexandria proves to be an excellent guide cutting away at the barriers, self or industry created. Stellar webinar, she provides selflessly a deep knowledge, her experiences towards acquiring interest from the least expected sources, helps streamline efforts towards gaining the optimal financial support and guiding products towards audiences. Going to “throw clay onto the wheel” with confidence. Kudos, highly recommend!" -Jen K “I learned so much from Michelle about how to break into the film/tv industry. There's so much to learn about the craft and business of working in this industry and I'm grateful to have Michelle's expertise in guiding me through it.” -- Nick S. "I can't say enough good things about Michelle! Talk about a woman who knows her stuff. I highly recommend all writers, producers, and directors take a course with her to hone their craft and propel their careers." -- Kaitlin L.
Register / Log In
