Commercial Directing: Problem Solver vs. Creative Filmmaker
In the dynamic world of commercial directing, it's essential to embrace the dual role of problem solver and creative filmmaker. While creativity fuels our passion and drives our vision, the ability to navigate challenges and find practical solutions is equally crucial in bringing the ideas to life. Its important to strike a balance between these two mindsets and how mastering both can elevate your director treatments to new heights, and into winning treatments.
As creative filmmakers, we thrive on pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and crafting compelling narratives that captivate audiences. Our ability to think outside the box, envision the unimaginable, and breathe life into our ideas sets us apart and allows for a fresh perspective to be brought into an ad agency’s campaign. However, The job starts at being excellent at your craft of filmmaking in short form, but creativity alone is not enough to navigate the complexities of the industry. You must also possess a keen sense of problem-solving skills to quickly on your feet on set, under pressure, money is burning, make the best decisions for the edit in real-time in your head, recutting it in your head while on set. That’s no small feat. There are time & budget constraints, amongst other complex nuanced obstacles per project that has to meet a deadline, and deliver results that exceed expectations.
On the flip side, adopting a problem solver mindset allows us to approach our director treatments with clarity, efficiency, and pragmatism. Whether it's navigating tight budgets, tight timelines, or client demands, the ability to think strategically and find creative solutions is invaluable in turning our vision into reality. By embracing both the creative and practical aspects of our craft, we empower ourselves to tackle any challenge head-on and deliver excellent creative that builds trust with your client. You can do what you say you can do.
Ultimately, balancing being a problem solver and a creative filmmaker is the key to success in commercial directing. It's about marrying artistic vision with practicality, innovation with strategy, and creativity with resourcefulness. By mastering both mindsets, you can position yourself as versatile, adaptable, capable of bringing any concept to life, no matter the obstacles that come along the way. So, the next time you approach your director treatments, remember to harness the power of both the problem solver, strategy in your approach to the production, as well as the share your fierce creative superpowers you express through filmmaking.