Navigating the Advertising Landscape w/Callen's Mike Davidson- Just Shoot It 542

Navigating the Advertising Landscape w/Callen's Mike Davidson- Just Shoot It 542

Author: Filmmakers Matt Enlow & Oren Kaplan August 27, 2026 Duration: 1:15:57

Mike Davidson, Head of Production at Callen https://thisiscallen.com/, joins Matt and Oren. After years with agencies like Leo Burnett, Wieden+Kennedy, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, and PXP, Mike is happy to be in a role that’s more production-focused while still being client-engaged.

And Matt and Oren chat about his journey from the digital, interactive, and web design side of creative to the TV commercial and production world. And he shares some unique insights that helped him level up as campaigns underwent a transformation to integrated and 360.

For Mike, choosing directors is about finding the right talent who can see the ad's strategic direction, the client’s purpose, as well as how the insanity of the idea is best suited to make things work. And he shares a producer’s perspective on choosing the right person for the directing job. And he describes the often necessary triple bid process, and why it works and sometimes doesn’t.

But Matt and Oren probe Mike on what a producer looks for in a reel. And Mike shares some key insights into what, unfortunately, may be making you appear generic. And it all leads to a fascinating conversation about AI, and how Callen uses AI and LLMs to make their bids more effective while still keeping creative solely the output of a human head.


Help Matt's film: https://wefunder.com/badfeeling

Join the Just Shoot it Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPod


Matt's Endorsement: "BlackBerry" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21867434/ currently on Netflix.

Oren's Endorsement: "Margo's Got Money Troubles" on Apple TV

Mike's Endorsement: "Patriot", the series on Amazon Prime


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Behind every film you've ever loved is a collection of hard-won lessons, creative struggles, and moments of pure luck. Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing pulls back the curtain on that process. Hosted by working directors Matt Enlow and Oren Kaplan, this podcast operates like a long-form conversation between peers, delving into the granular details of building a life behind the camera. Each episode features an interview with a filmmaker, but the focus is less on promoting projects and more on dissecting the craft. You'll hear directors, writers, cinematographers, and other artists break down their approach to story development, the visual language of a scene, working with actors, and the practical realities of navigating a career. The discussion is grounded in the hosts' own experiences, making the advice tangible and the pitfalls relatable. This isn't abstract theory; it's a field guide compiled from the trenches. Whether you're an aspiring director, a seasoned screenwriter, or simply fascinated by how movies are truly made, this podcast offers an honest, unvarnished look at the art, business, and relentless problem-solving that defines filmmaking. Tune in for a masterclass that feels like a coffee shop chat, where the goal is to demystify the journey from script to screen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing
Podcast Episodes
Fix It in Prep w/Matt & Oren- Just Shoot It 533 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:30
With the year in swing and clients shooting, Matt and Oren talk about challenges they’re experiencing on set and some interesting solutions to some common problems to all commercial directors.Matt kicks it off talking ab…
Booking Work w/Director Robert Boocheck - Just Shoot It 532 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:43
Robert Boocheck talks about the three ways commercial directors land jobs. But first Oren and Matt chat about California's Billionaire tax, its impact on the film industry, and why it is and isn't a great solution.Then O…
Agency Month w/Fallon Anderson of Tailfin - Just Shoot It 531 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:39
Fallon Anderson, Creative Director at Tailfin agency https://tailfin.com/ talks about making a Super Bowl commercial and her method for elevating creative.And Matt and Oren dive deep into her process, what she values, an…
Manifesting a "Fantasy Life" w/Matthew Shear - Just Shoot It 529 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:12
Matthew Shear IG: @matthew_shear takes us on the journey to cast Amanda Peet, Alessandro Nivola, and Judd Hirsch in his directorial debut. In the midst of a long and successful career as an actor, should you ever write y…
Agency Month w/Greg Kort of Doner - Just Shoot It 528 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:49
Greg Kort from Doner Advertising, Detroit https://www.doner.com/talks about the job of an agency producer and how it differs from a line producer, or any other kind of producer. And Matt and Oren get him to share what it…
Agency Month w/Joe Saroufim from Kimmelot - Just Shoot It 527 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:01
As a Creative Director at Kimmelot Labs, Joe Saroufim has worked with Janusz Kaminski and Matt Oren chat with him about the role of a Creative Director in maintaining the voice of the brand while pushing creative boundar…
Agency Month w/J.K. Lyons of Conscious Minds - Just Shoot It 526 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:06
Matt and Oren chat with Creative Director JK Lyons about how you can stand out as a director. And they dive deep into what is in your reel, book, or portfolio. Does it make a statement about your personality? Can somebod…
How to Act in an Audition w/Matt & Oren  - Just Shoot It 525 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:02
Matt and Oren talk about what they love to see from actors. How many takes should you do? What if you drop a line in an audition? And what’s the best way to ask questions?It’s a great episode on the little things actors…
Where Do I Fit In? w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 524 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:58
Where do you fit in, as a director? That’s what Matt and Oren are talking about on this episode of Just Shoot It!What does that mean? Think of this: what makes you just the right director for a certain script, or a certa…