Respect The Process

When your film is done and before it hits TV, cable or Netflix, your baby must pass the test of Quality Control. My guest is the delightful Britta Meleson-Bordeaux, rated one of the Top 10 Master Quality Controllers in Los Angeles. She breaks down the process and offers invaluable advice for mastering your project. The tech-talk is strong on this episode, but Britta makes the knowledge accessible...

I flew to Kitty's Sports Bar in Cincinnati, Ohio just to see how mid-Americans react to the Super Bowl spots. More of my opinions at my site, jordanbrady.com so please enjoy.

This episode is just me explaining how I shoot various tests to help land big gigs. It certainly helped with my current batch of spots with Saatchi & Saatchi, who are some of the coolest and most creative folks in the business. Not just to get the assignment but to execute with confidence. When I'm shooting I've got to respect that process, so this is a quickie. Let me know what you all think! Oh,...

Donny Bailey has been the stunt driver on all your favorite action films, "Mad Max: Fury Road", "Batman" series of films, and "Captain America: Civil War" ...and I was privileged to shoot my Buick spots with him. In fact, it's all the same to Donnie,for he approaches the work on a shot by shot basis. The consummate professional, Donnie stays calm under pressure and takes charge to execute the most...

Thank you Ryan Kunkleman for explaining the mysterious role of the D.I.T. to me! The Digital Imagining Technician has become a critical member of the filmmaking team since the digital revolution. Ryan is one of the best, having done feature films, television and commercials. Can you say "Captain America: Civil War"? He not only tells us the different approaches to his craft in the various mediums,...

Ric Cantor is a director and writer of commercials, television and film. We met on a lark at a Directors Guild Of America conference, and I loved his work and wit so I'm very happy he's on the show. We discuss Steven Seagal, the contractual and creative differences between directing spots in England versus the United States, as well as common trends we've noticed. He also tells how he readies hims...

This is part two with Director Marcus Nispel , the innovative filmmaker of commercials, music videos and film. His work and work ethic have both inspired me since starting in commercials, including his famous manifesto, which we discuss. Marcus expresses the joy he still gets from solving problems, be they in the script or in a challenging execution. Click his name to see his expansive body of wor...

Enjoy your Christmas and remember we need to be students of human interaction over these holidays to make ourselves better storytellers. I'll be back next week with Part 2 of Marcus Nispel. Peace. Jordan.

Director Marcus Nispel is a ground-breaking filmmaker and visionary. His illustrious career includes your favorite big budget music videos, six awesome feature films and some 1200 plus commercials for every major brand. He's work influenced my own while his philosophy towards the art and craft of commercial filmmaking inspired me long before we ever met. So you can imagine what a treat it is to si...

Director Jed Hathaway returns to the podcast with more wondrous stop motion filmmaking stories. I visit the set of his So Cal Honda shoot, where Jed and his producer Rosa Tran had over a half dozen miniature stages going at once. Jed leads an army of misfit animators, all specialists at the top of their game, to make holiday cheer. His work puts a fresh twist on a nostalgic style we all love. (Thi...

My guest Paul Ashton is a triple threat: writer, director, actor and I love his new film "This Isn't Funny." Click now, buy it on iTunes and then listen to this great chat with Paul. He also stars in Superlounge comedy director Daniel Sheppard's new series of spots for GMC. Paul and I chat about getting a film made and distributed, our shared love of stand-up comedy, and how to take charge of one'...

If you're wondering just what the heck the Set Decorator does specifically, my guest Chris Coles has the answers. The Set Decorator brings the set to life, interpreting the vision of the Production Designer, who has been in cahoots with the Director. Chris shares similar beliefs as I do about really putting in one's 10,000 hours to master one's craft, and we discuss the new generation of entitleme...

Commercial Filmmaker Brad Hasse has seen his art become a reality. His short film, "Texting Hat" is so popular that people started asking him if they could order their own chapéu. And now it you can. He's also the only helmer I know that's done spots for two different types of mouthwash. Odd. We chat about the importance of personal passion projects, finding your voice as a director and much more....

Fresh off a huge 16 day shoot, I chat with filmmaker Tony Franklin . He started as an art director, working for Target's in-house creative department. He has quickly and successfully transitioned into a full-time commercial filmmaker, and luckily for us, Tony shares his journey with us. We chat about when to sign and why not to sign with a commercial production company, as well as how to measure i...

Editor Rob Watzke has cut many of your favorite tv spots over the years, but on nights and weekends, he teaches improvisation. We saw his show the night Helen Hunt played along with Rob and his troupe. The 100% riffed show was amazing. Back in the editing bay, Rob deftly cuts on any tool invented, and works with his agency clients to bring out the best in the footage. We chat improvisation, editin...

You recognize the name  Andrew Furtado  as the deft editor my documentary "I Am Road Comic". He started out as a lowly production assistant, but now directs his own projects, films and edits films like Clive Baker's "Nightbreed:The Director's Cut" . He also produced, directed & edited comedian Kyle Kinane's hilarious special. We chat self-discipline, how to avoid being sent to stop traffic when yo...

Continuing the "acting for commercials" theme, I talk with my pal Jimm Giannini  for his take on the commercial biz. Jimm's new web series, "Tyler and Borelli", is the result of him adapting to new opportunities. Here's a link to an episode called "Janet" that's charming, funny and endearing. You can tell these two actors are having fun and connecting. 3 minutes, watch it. Enjoy. We chat about how...

Comedian/Actor/Writer Wayne Federman is my favorite comic, and he's just put out his debut comedy album, The Chronicles of Federman . A box set of three CDs (also available digitally) that spans his 30 plus years of unique, killer stand-up.  Judd Apatow, who writes the liner notes, says "Epic, hilarious, inspired and whimsical." And Mr. Apatow goes on and on. Oh, and I must reveal, Wayne is also m...

Commercial helmer Mike Bigelow started out as a motion animator and VFX technical director working on prestigious films like "The Abyss" and "Total Recall" before directing hundreds of commercials. We chat about our mutual love of doing as much in camera as possible, how comedy plays best in a wider shot, and we engage in a little tech talk. Mike is a gentleman and his sly humor makes for a great...

Josh Forbes is a funny commercial director, whimsical music video director and helmer of the horror hit "Contracted: Phase II". We chat about the differences among his many disciplines of filmmaking. He also tells the tale of being nominated for Best Rock Video Of The Year for "Shut Up And Dance" by Walk The Moon at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. Yet oddly, the filmmaker was not invited to th...

I'm shooting in Toronto and Montreal, so it's just me talking about the process of getting work up here, in my experience. Helen is vacationing in Barbados and will return soon. Great guests lined up for Fall. And my Bootcamp was a huge hit!! Bravo to the filmmakers that attended. Thank you, Jordan

I discovered Scott McMahon's Film Trooper Podcast  through his tweets, and found the information he provides to be such a valuable part of my toolkit. He also retweets the best film related articles. We chat about his beginnings in the video game industry, and how that lead to him making a $500 feature film called,  "The Cube". He also produces Film Trooper presents "Film Marketing Fridays", which...

What a treat to sit down and chat with Director Andrew Laurich . The man makes inventive music videos, killer commercials and his latest short film, "A Reasonable Request" has been ripping up the festival circuit. Discover how Andrew started in the vault making reels, then shot second unit with Stacy Peralta in Alaska, which then lead to a gig at the helm. Click here  to see the short, but do not...

For the last 10 years or so, Cinematographer Mateo Londono and I have made dozens of great spots together. Sometimes, we barely talk on set, and instead smile in agreement. After all, we've worked everything out ahead of time, so the shoot day is about executing that plan, and I am free to focus on performances while Mateo captures it. We talk about how style is informed by the creative, of course...

Jack Plotnick 's philosophy towards creativity is so spiritually aligned with my own, that I think we might have been separated at birth. I've directed Jack in a few commercials, marveled at his acting chops in films like "Meet The Fockers", "Rubber" and "Gods And Monsters". Then I discovered his directorial debut, the feature film "Space Station 76". Jack and I chat about creating one's own conte...