In this podcast we talk to commercial directors and get their thoughts on the industry but more importantly talk about their processes. We break down a commercial they have shot from pre-production through post. The CDP will give you tangible knowledge to take to your own sets.
What Agencies Really Look for in a Director | Mike Davidson
Directors often see the boards, the creative call, and the bid. There’s a lot of work happening on the agency side before any of that reaches us.
For Episode 18 of The Commercial Directors Podcast, I spoke with Mike Davidson, head of production at Callen, about how his team approaches director searches and what they hope a director brings to the process.
We covered reels, treatments, collaboration, AI, and the value of involving production earlier in creative development. One part I especially appreciated was the conversation about bringing a distinct point of view to a project while staying open to the people who have been developing it long before the director came aboard.
1 Sept 2026
Make the Work You Want to Get Hired For | Bailen Estrada
How do you get hired to make the kind of work you’ve never been hired to make?
You make it yourself.
At just 22 years old, director Bailen Estrada is already building an impressive commercial career, and spec work has played a huge role in getting him there.
In Episode 17 of The Commercial Director’s Podcast, Bailen joins Evan Swinehart to talk about discovering filmmaking as a kid in the Midwest, skipping film school, moving to Los Angeles, and teaching himself the commercial directing business in real time.
We dig into his HOKA and Salomon spec projects, why one great piece of work usually isn’t enough, how he strategically released his Salomon spot, and how that work eventually helped lead to representation and bigger commercial opportunities.
Then we break down Bailen’s Sin City-inspired betting commercial shot in Romania. We get into green screen, practical sets, VFX, CGI, graphic-novel lighting, shooting internationally, collaborating with a Romanian crew and VFX team, and how Bailen approached building such a heavily stylized world.
We also talk treatments, AI, inspiration, the awkward middle stage of building a directing career and why Bailen carries an old Russian stopwatch on set.
16 Jun 2026
Developing Taste: The Hidden Skill Every Director Needs | Ekta Saran
In Episode 16 of The Commercial Director’s Podcast, Evan sits down with director Ekta Saran for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, craft, and building a career behind the camera.
From the books, films, and directors that inspire her to the realities of commercial production, Ekta shares a thoughtful perspective on what separates good directors from great ones. The conversation explores the transition into commercial directing, the importance of problem-solving on set, developing visual taste, and why curiosity remains one of the most valuable tools a filmmaker can have.
Along the way, Ekta discusses creative influences, learning through every project, balancing technical execution with storytelling, and the mindset required to keep growing in an ever-changing industry.
Whether you're an aspiring director or a seasoned creative, this episode is packed with insights on finding your voice, refining your craft, and staying inspired.
13 May 2026
Alex Richanbach: From Fincher to Funny or Die to Fast-Paced Commercial Sets
In Episode 15, we sit down with commercial and feature director Alex Richanbach to break down his unconventional path from working under legends like David Fincher and Adam McKay to directing viral content at Funny or Die and high-volume commercial campaigns. We dive into:
Building trust and chemistry with crews fast
Directing comedy and letting performances breathe
Managing chaos on high-pressure commercial shoots Why “fun” is actually a serious directing tool
The evolving future of commercials vs. YouTube-style filmmaking
Plus, Alex breaks down his Champs Sports campaign where talent dropped out two days before the shoot and how he adapted on the fly to still deliver.
If you’re trying to level up as a director, this one is packed with real-world insight.
7 Apr 2026
Oren Kaplan - Winning Pitches, Losing Jobs & The Evolution of Treatments
Episode 14 features commercial director and Just Shoot It podcast co-host Oren Kaplan.
Oren shares his journey from engineer to director, how starting a podcast opened doors to industry knowledge, and why curiosity has been one of his biggest advantages.
We dig into the modern state of commercial directing, from evolving treatment trends to the increasing role of AI and what it takes to stand out when competing against top-tier directors and production companies.
Oren also breaks down his Rebel Wilson PSA in detail, covering:
Building ideas through constraints and budget limitations
Pitching with passion (and why that matters more than polish)
Designing gags, transitions, and visual continuity
Shooting with limited time and zero coverage
Lessons from post-production and VFX mistakes
We also talk about rejection, creative confidence, working with celebrity talent, and how to maintain your voice in an industry that’s constantly changing.
If you’re a director, creative, or filmmaker trying to level up this one is packed with real-world insight.
2 Mar 2026
Finding Your Niche as a Commercial Director (And Using Spec Work to Land Bigger Jobs) – Joris Noordenbos
In Episode 13 of The Commercial Director’s Podcast, Evan sits down with Amsterdam based director Joris Noordenbos to talk about one of the most important decisions a commercial director can make: finding your niche.
Joris shares his journey from in-house generalist to carving out a distinct lane in kids and food. After realizing he was losing bigger jobs because he wasn’t specialized enough, he took matters into his own hands and created high-level spec work to prove he could deliver premium cinematic food storytelling.
In this episode, we cover:
Why spec work is the fastest way to break the “you need the job to show the job” cycle
How to produce high-end spec without spending your own money
Using spec as a strategic outreach tool
The benefits (and challenges) of niching down
Directing children and creating authentic performances
Keeping your style fresh inside a defined lane
Managing complex food shoots and food styling logistics
Previs, testing, and working with international crews
A full breakdown of his Blue Band campaign blending kids + food storytelling
Joris offers practical, tactical advice for directors at any stage especially those trying to level up from generalist to specialist.
If you're building your reel, refining your voice, or looking to create your own opportunities instead of waiting for them, this episode delivers serious value.
19 Jan 2026
Cameron Harris
Commercial director Cameron Harris reveals to host, Ryan Booth, how his agency background informs his directing approach when collaborating with creatives and managing A-list talent in high-pressure commercial shoots, in this interview.
25 Nov 2025
Scott Pugnetti
Scott Pugnetti from Equals Management discusses the international advertising model, pitch reform, and portfolio conversion in an interview on building a successful directing career.
13 Oct 2025
Jon Schwartz
Director Jon Schwartz discusses his creative process, including using iPhone animatics and 3D previs in Blender, to create dynamic commercials with motion-controlled camera shots in this interview.
9 Sept 2025
Syra McCarthy
Director Syra McCarthy discusses how her acting background informs her empathetic and communicative directing style on commercial sets, an interview.
26 Aug 2025
Jon Bregel
Filmmaker Jon Bregel interviews director and coach Jon Bregel about aligning creative careers with personal values and finding authenticity beyond professional success.
23 Jul 2025
Parker Schmidt
Director Parker Schmidt discusses his creative journey from downhill skateboarding to advertising, emphasizing emotional storytelling and conceptual art direction in his commercial work, particularly for automotive brands, in this interview.
1 Jul 2025
Lori Schmon
Director Lori Schmon discusses the advantages and disadvantages of directing within an agency, emphasizing values in storytelling and bringing emotional depth into product-driven work in this interview.
11 Jun 2025
Kody Kohlman
Commercial director Kody Kohlman discusses his career journey and artistic approach, breaking down his recent Timberland commercial and emphasizing the importance of staying true to one's style in this interview.
21 May 2025
Adam Patch
Adam Patch discusses his journey from motion graphics to directing, the advantages of a strong VFX background, and the challenges of industry practices like triple bidding. Adam shares his creative approach, including building detailed treatments with the help of his custom tool “Patch Tagger,” and dives into a case study of his visually bold LL Flooring spot.
Follow Adam:
Instagram: @adampatch
adampatch.com (http://adampatch.com)
patchtagger.com (http://patchtagger.com)
7 May 2025
Eric Maldin
Eric Maldin is the co-founder/coo of Stadium. The conversation explores the changing landscape of commercial directing—from the importance of personal branding in a saturated market to the art of pitching and the value of specialization. Eric offers an honest look at building a creative career, the entrepreneurial hustle behind Stadium’s rise, and what it takes to stay relevant and inspired in a rapidly evolving industry.
Follow Eric:
@ericmaldin
www.stadiumcreativegroup.com (https://www.stadiumcreativegroup.com/)
23 Apr 2025
ELIZABETH ARCHER
Liz Archer is a triple threat in the commercial world—comedy director, screenwriter, and in-demand treatment writer. In this episode, Liz pulls back the curtain on the art of crafting director’s treatments—both her own and when collaborating with other directors. She shares her take on film school versus the self-taught path, and dives into the nuances of pacing, timing, and intuition when directing comedy that truly lands.
Follow her:
@elizabethmarcher
www.elizabetharcherfilm.com (http://www.elizabetharcherfilm.com)
16 Apr 2025
Chris Leclerc
In this episode, Chris Leclerc dives into the importance of client service as a commercial director, emphasizing how a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset on set can build trust and lead to long-term relationships and repeat business. He shares insights into how treating clients as creative partners—not obstacles—can elevate a project and create a more rewarding experience for everyone involved. Chris also breaks down his recent commercial for Garmin, detailing how he transformed a minimal brief into a compelling visual story through creative pitching, close collaboration with Garmin’s internal team, and a clear vision rooted in authenticity and emotional impact.
Follow Chris:
Instagram - @chrislecrc
Website - https://www.territory6.com/ (https://www.territory6.com/)
Who has been a guest on The Commercial Directors Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Cameron Harris
Scott Pugnetti
Jon Schwartz
Syra McCarthy
Jon Bregel
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
219
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
4
Social presence
0
YouTube
66
Engagement
32
Contact The Commercial Directors Podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
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