Shadowing a Commercial Director: Start with a Creative Mindset
Welcome to Shadowing a Commercial Director: Part 2 (otherwise known as Behind the Beard), a commercial directing course by Jordan Brady that demonstrates how to take an idea and punch it up to all-new creative heights!
While guiding you through the creative process, Jordan showcases his case study from a successful Toyota spot and how to take a character from a 5 o’clock shadow to a wizard-length beard. This out-of-the-box thinking was very effective in garnering attention and selling lots of cars; and most importantly, Jordan is very proud of it.
This lesson includes the first three videos of the course highlighting how to start with a creative mindset, how to balance logistics with creative, and how to develop your own unique approach as a commercial director.
You’re going to learn:
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Start with a Creative Mindset:
The main purpose of this course is to encourage filmmakers to always imagine the words on the page in the most creative way possible when breaking down the script.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- What is the story I want to tell?
- What is the most creative way that I want to tell this story?
- What does the camera see?
- How am I going to execute my idea?
What do all of these questions have in common? You and your creative point of view. However, this is also a two-fold question, because the other side of that is a craftsman’s perspective. You must break it all down shot by shot and get the most out of your time shooting.
For Jordan, his whole M.O. is based on impressing the idea of always minimizing production logistics to maximize performance time with the actors. This could be an actor reading her funny line, a dramatic scene, or a product shot for a hamburger. It’s all about what’s happening in front of the camera.
Shadowing a Commercial Director: Part 2
Punch up your ideas to new creative heights!
- 16 Lessons
- 2 hours and 5 minutes of instructional videos
In Shadowing a Commercial Director: Part 2, virtually shadow award-winning commercial director Jordan Brady and explore his creative process behind a long-running commercial campaign.
This course goes beyond theory, offering a deep dive into how Jordan approaches a script. Learn how he breaks down the text, constantly pushing creative boundaries and envisioning the most impactful ways to translate words to life on screen. Witness a prime example of this in action with a captivating case study. Jordan will walk you through the conceptualization and execution of a memorable sequence of scenes involving the transformation of a character’s beard — from a simple five o’clock shadow to a full-blown wizard’s length. This case study is a testament to the power of attention-grabbing filmmaking.
But Jordan’s philosophy extends beyond just creative brainstorming. You’ll learn his valuable approach to planning and logistics. Discover how he prioritizes minimizing production logistics to maximize performance time for actors. Through exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary footage, you’ll witness his interactions with filmmakers, the ad agency, and the actors. Jordan’s engaging commentary will provide context. This allows you to see how he navigates the production process. It also fosters a collaborative environment that brings his vision to life.
Additional Resources
To further enhance your learning experience, the course also includes bonus resources. You’ll receive the original agency script marked up with Jordan’s notes, his video treatment that translates his ideas from paper to a visual format, and even his director’s shooting boards — a blueprint for how he executes the scene on set.
Whether you’re an aspiring commercial director, a filmmaker seeking to elevate your creative approach, or simply someone fascinated by the secrets behind successful advertising campaigns, this course offers an invaluable opportunity to learn from a master. Join Jordan Brady and take your commercial directing skills to the next level today!
About Jordan Brady
Jordan Brady directed four narrative feature films, three full documentaries, and over 1,200 national & regional commercials. All this plus Maria Bamford’s acclaimed Netflix Comedy Special. Working with advertising campaigns for brands and agencies all over the world, Brady directed industry giants from comedy stars Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Keegan-Michael Key, and Rory Scovel to pop icons Arnold Schwarzenegger and country music legend Brad Paisley. He has also directed campaigns starring actresses Kathryn Hahn for Chrysler and Lamorne Morris for Buick.
Notable advertising awards include multiple Clios, National Gold, ADDY’s, Gold Promax Award, One Show, D Show, Pencil, and AICP Awards. Brady’s work is routinely spotlighted on AdWeek, Ads of The World, and Agency Spy.
In 2016, Brady completed his passion project. A feature documentary trilogy that reveals what it takes to be a stand-up comedian: I Am Comic stars Sarah Silverman, Leslie Jones, and Louis C.K.; 2014’s aptly titled I Am Road Comic stars Pete Holmes and Marc Maron; and I Am Battle Comic took Brady to Afghanistan, Kuwait, and undisclosed parts of the Middle East where he performed stand-up comedy for our troops stationed there.
