Topo Designs Spec Commercial - Directed by Yours Truly
What Skills Make Me Fit For The Role?
Whether it’s on the top of a mountain, or the back nine, I have the tools to succeed.
Here’s what I got:
Branded Storytelling Fluency
For the last 7 years, I have lived in the world of branded content.
After university, I immediately found work on large scale commercial productions, helping to produce some of the largest digital ad content in the United States over the last 5 years (You can find some examples in my credits list HERE).
While that experience is mostly rooted in more 'traditional' marketing, and less on 'social' marketing, I still helped to produce a LOT of social content. In my most recent position at Netflix, I helped manage the production of several concepts that were designed for Netflix's social feeds.
Meanwhile, I have shot social content for my own portfolio in my freetime. The video to the right was recently shot on my own Sony ZV-1 with a gimbal and colored from log.
Classical Filmmaking Background
Before my work started in branded content, I studied Visual & Media Arts with a focus in Directing. I learned everything about the end to end of filmmaking: the importance of checking the gate, what makes an effective story, and how to organize a proper Adobe Premiere timeline.
My foundations are strong, and I can confidently say there are few other candidates who are properly seasoned in the production world and also have the wide breadth of creative knowledge that I have. I am uniquely positioned in that I enter not from some rag tag, run and gun team of shooters, but from the buttoned up world of commercial production.
Because of both my education and my experience, I can tell you what equipment is necessary, what shots are MUST captures, and what shots will end up on the cutting room floor.
Technical Expertise
I am confident in Adobe Premiere, Lightroom, Photoshop, (a bit of) After Effects. I am confident with Davinci Resolve workflows and organization, even timeline editing. My file management system is organized, and file sharing with frame.io is second nature for me. I am confident mixing audio and recording in the field.
I am most comfortable with the Sony line of cameras, owning a Sony a7iii and Sony ZV-1 for my own daily carries. Personally, I love Fuji cameras for stills. I am comfortable shooting with many DJI and Rode audio systems. I like shooting with gimbals, and am comfortable balancing them, when the occasion calls for it (often, if in the field piggybacking on another shoot).
When it comes to the technical aspects, I am a total nerd. I almost focused in Cinematography when I was at university because I have an engineer’s brain. It’s easy for me to pick up new gear and I love to be an early adopter. Who doesn’t love new toys?
Logistical & Practical Independence
Something that I believe gives me a bit of an ‘X Factor’ is my holistic production experience. I have both a logistical and creative background, and that gives me a huge leg up on filmmakers who only have one or the other.
In my many years in the media industry, it’s often painfully obvious when a Producer or an Executive doesn’t have any production experience. They make impractical, uninformed decisions that hamstring campaigns, productions and, ultimately, relationships.
With me, you know my decisions are made with practical experience in mind, and you can sleep better knowing I will show up, carefully consider all angles, and move forward with the team in confidence.
Not just that, I simply require less hand holding. I know what questions to ask when, and I can execute my role efficiently and independently. I believe that is what good partners are all about.
