Commercial filmmaking offers unique opportunities to sharpen your skills and potentially get your work in front of a massive audience. Many talented filmmakers wonder what it takes to actually succeed—not just to produce impressive work, but to also navigate the business side and effectively put themselves on the map.
Coming to you from Full Time Filmmaker, this insightful video introduces you to Dylan Bradshaw and Nate Norell, the creative minds behind the winning entry of the Doritos "Crash the Super Bowl" commercial contest. These two filmmakers share behind-the-scenes decisions on how they took their concept from idea to production, ultimately turning it into a standout spot aired during one of the biggest televised events. What immediately stands out is their approach—simplifying the storyboard by shooting mockups on an iPhone, allowing them to visualize exactly what shots they needed and which ones they could toss. It seems basic, but the practical advice of filming your scenes quickly before the actual shoot proved invaluable in saving crucial time and energy during production.
It's also clear that the duo's experience with visual effects (VFX) played a significant role in their success. Whether you're new to visual effects or experienced, Dylan and Nate emphasize involving your VFX team directly in planning and filming. By including their VFX supervisors, who also happened to be their final editors, directly on the set, the filmmakers ensured a smoother workflow and nailed complex visual elements in their commercial. Listening to them recount the production, you realize how critical strong communication and preparation become on set, especially when you have limited time and resources. Rather than overshooting and sorting it out later,Bradshaw and Norellhighlight the value of decisively executing what they planned ahead of time.
Central to the video's value is how these filmmakers handle what's often overlooked: the practical financial reality of the filmmaking industry. Winning a contest as high-profile as Doritos' comes with significant prize money, and the way theytalk about managing their newfound earnings offers useful clarity. They describe starting by rewarding their crew and investing in equipment and future projects before splurging on personal luxuries. Their down-to-earth handling of their sudden win feels like solid advice for filmmakers at all levels who might unexpectedly find themselves with awards or client projects that yield substantial earnings.
Bradshaw and Norell also touch on the challenge of promoting their video, emphasizing the marketing campaign needed alongside the spot itself. For them, creating high-quality content was only half the equation; successfully getting an audience excited enough to vote required proactive campaigning online. This critical insight suggests filmmakers should consider how they will market their work from the earliest stages of planning rather than scrambling after production wraps. For more practical advice and to hear the full details of their commercial's behind-the-scenes story, check out the video above for the full rundown.
