How to Become the Filmmaker Big Brands Actually Want to Hire ft. RJ Bruni

Get 2 extra months of Artlist free when you use our code on an annual subscription: https://artlist.io/artlist-70446?artlist\aid=the505podcast\2970&utm\source=affiliate\p&utm\medium=the505podcast\2970&utm\campaign=the505podcast\2970 What’s up, Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by director and filmmaker RJ Bruni. In this episode, we break down how RJ went from working heavily in the outdoor space to developing a completely different visual style, how posting cinematic personal work on Instagram helped attract fashion, lifestyle, and commercial brands, and what it actually takes to become a better director. We also get into developing taste, having a strong creative point of view, directing talent, building a career around your work, and why sometimes the best marketing is simply becoming undeniably good at what you do. Plus, RJ walks us through some of his campaigns, treatments, lighting decisions, and the process behind creating branded films that feel more like short films than traditional ads. Check Out RJ Here: https://www.instagram.com/rjbruni/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 02:14 – How RJ Developed a Style Luxury Brands Gravitate Toward 06:00 – Why Great Directors Need Strong Taste and Opinions 07:57 – How to Become a Better Director Outside of Being on Set 10:11 – How to Get Better Performances From Talent 12:24 – How RJ Used Instagram to Change the Direction of His Career 15:10 – Breaking Out of the Outdoor Filmmaking Niche 17:09 – Feeling Pigeonholed by the Work You’re Known For 20:30 – Making Personal Films to Attract the Work You Actually Want 22:07 – Why RJ Was Willing to Let Work Slow Down to Reinvent Himself 24:00 – Why Personal Work Was Never Just About Views or Followers 25:21 – The First Opportunities RJ Got From Social Media 26:13 – Jaguar, Monaco, and Realizing the Strategy Was Working 28:43 – Building Social Campaigns Around Multiple Pieces of Content 31:27 – Working With Dairy Boy and Elwood 32:58 – RJ’s First Elwood Campaign 35:11 – Why World-Building Matters More Than Just Making a Hero Video 37:29 – Should Directors Mix Personal Content and Client Work on Instagram? 39:12 – Balancing Being a Director With Building a Personal Brand 42:34 – Breaking Down RJ’s Commercial Work Shot by Shot 42:54 – How RJ Got the Moving Motorcycle Shot 44:53 – Breaking Down the Lighting Setup 45:43 – How Much of a Shot Is Planned Before Getting to Location? 48:29 – How RJ Landed the Salt & Stone Campaign 51:28 – Why Great Brand Films Should Feel Like Short Films 52:16 – Breaking Down RJ’s Treatment and Creative Process 56:30 – Using Natural Light, Bounce, and Minimal Gear 57:25 – Shooting for Vertical vs. Horizontal 59:27 – Turning Storyboards Into the Final Film 1:01:50 – Camera Movement and Creating Production Value 1:04:08 – How RJ Approaches Treatments When He Has to Pitch 1:06:13 – How Being an Athlete Shaped RJ’s Work Ethic 1:08:03 – Why Getting Better at Your Craft Matters More Than Just Sending More Emails 1:10:27 – Why You Should Create Even When Nobody Is Paying You 1:11:08 – Why Becoming Undeniably Good Is the Best Marketing 1:12:37 – RJ’s Approach to Becoming the Kind of Director Big Brands Hire If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/  Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/