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


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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
The Meteoric Rise of Chandler Levack - Just Shoot It 523 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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BriTANick Bake a 'Pizza Movie' - Just Shoot It 521 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:50
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Writing to your Budget w/Aaron Pagniano - Just Shoot It 519 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Ending Relationships w/ Carlyn Hudson - Just Shoot It 518 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:26
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How to be a Person w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 517 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:22
Matt and Oren spend some time figuring out how to be a normal human being in a world where there’s so much that isn’t normal anymore. We’re way past the new normal!!Like, can you really pitch a potential client on how mu…
Is AI a Tool? w/Sarah May Bates and Susan Song  - Just Shoot It 516 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:09
Sarah May Bates https://www.sarahmaybates.com/ is an AI director, and she’s been getting lots of work! And Matt and Oren dive deep into how she makes that happen. She’s joined by actor Susan Song.Sarah has a clear line f…
Directing Kevin James in "Solo Mio" w/Chuck Kinnane [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:22
Chuck Kinnane joins directly from Little Compton, Rhode Island. And he comes out straight on sharing the credit and pay from their latest feature, “Solo Mio”, starring Kevin James.The Kinnane brothers have been living th…