Advantages to being a Commercial Director & Cinematographer
As a commercial director and cinematographer, you have a unique perspective on the filmmaking process. You are not only responsible for crafting the visual language of the piece, but also for shaping the narrative and bringing it to life on screen. While this may seem like a daunting task, it can also be incredibly rewarding.
One of the biggest advantages of being a commercial director and cinematographer is the ability to control every aspect of the production. You have complete creative control over the visual language of the piece, which means that you can ensure that every shot and every frame is exactly what you want it to be. This level of control allows you to create a cohesive vision for the piece, which can be incredibly powerful.
Another advantage of being a commercial director and cinematographer is the ability to communicate your vision to the rest of the crew. Because you are intimately involved in every aspect of the production, you have a deep understanding of how each element contributes to the overall look and feel of the piece. This means that you can communicate your vision to the rest of the crew with clarity and precision, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goal and on the same page during the process.
However, being a commercial director and cinematographer also comes with its own unique set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is balancing the technical and creative aspects of the job. While you need to have a deep understanding of the technical aspects of filmmaking, you also need to be able to tap into your creativity to bring the piece to life. Finding the right balance between these two aspects of the job can be difficult, but it is essential if you want to create truly memorable work. My starting in the camera department as an AC (assistant camera) and working my way up to camera operator and eventually through many years of learning my craft to become a commercial cinematographer. This laid the groundwork for my deep understanding of the technical tools and applications needed to then direct a commercial applying my creative side to a project.
Another challenge of being a commercial director and cinematographer is managing your time effectively. Because you are responsible for every aspect of the production, you need to be able to juggle multiple tasks at once. This means that you need to be highly organized and able to prioritize effectively. It also means that you need to be able to work efficiently without sacrificing quality. I think that’s where the right crew come into play. The key team helps move through that process and over time the communication becomes a form of shorthand and the process runs like a well-oiled machine. Well, for the most part anyways but anyone who's spent any time working on commercial productions the amount of curveballs can be impressive but you and the team you’ve assembled will use their experience to problem solve and create the magic.
Despite these challenges, being a commercial director and cinematographer can be incredibly rewarding. You have the opportunity to bring your creative vision to life in a way that few other professions allow. You get to work with talented artists and technicians, and you get to see your work have an impact on audiences around the world.
In order to be successful as a commercial director and cinematographer, you need to be passionate about your craft. You need to be willing to put in the time and effort required to create truly exceptional work. You also need to be willing to collaborate with others and to be open to feedback and criticism. This can be a hard one to learn but absolutely necessary to make your best work a reality. I’ve learned a lot through the years from very talented director's working alongside them as a cinematographer and that has been key for helping me work as both director and cinematographer on commercials. That being said you take the pieces you like from those styles and apply them to your style of leadership and creativity while also removing some of the things you’ve seen that aren’t your particular way of doing things. No wrongs or rights here only a goal in mind and a unified cohesive process I’ve found yields the best results for all involved.
Ultimately, being a commercial director and cinematographer requires a unique set of skills and talents. If you are passionate about filmmaking and willing to put in the work, it can be an incredibly rewarding career path. Whether you are creating commercials, music videos, or feature films, being a commercial director and cinematographer allows you to bring your creative vision to life in a way that few other professions can.