Micro Steps to Macro Progress: Tiny Assignments for Filmmakers.

Welcome our newest sponsor: Spot School – the best commercial directing courses on the planet.

Thanks to all that have supported the victims of these horrific LA fires. My family is safe, but countless friends and colleagues have lost their homes. We’re doing a fund-raising webcast called Make Your Passsion Project Now with filmmaker Michael Patrick Jann (Award-Winning Writer/Director/Producer “Organ Trail”, “Drop Dead Gorgeous”, “The State” Founding Member) and myself moderating. 100% of the proceeds are donated to Red Cross LA. This is a great collab between Commercial Directing FIlm School and the Filmmakers Academy, who will host the event on their platform.

Special pop-in guests: 
Cami Delavigne (Screenwriter/Producer “Blue Valentine” “Homecoming” “American Gigolo”)
David Wain (Writer/Actor/Director “Wet Hot American Summer” Trilogy “Children’s’ Hospital”)
Thomas Lennon (Comic/Actor/Screenwriter “Night At The Museum” “Reno 911!” “Balls Of Fury”)

TINY GOALS
This episode is just me: I want to share my approach to using “tiny assignments” to make steady progress on your filmmaking goals. I’m a big believer in breaking down big ambitions into manageable micro-steps. Why not try writing just one sentence per day on that screenplay? Or dedicate time each week to analyze a favorite commercial – study the techniques, the editing, the performance.

Anchoring these tiny habits to your daily routine, tracking your progress, and celebrating small wins can lead to major breakthroughs. I provide examples across writing, directing, and networking. The key is to embrace an incremental approach. Don’t get bogged down by lofty dreams – focus on the micro-steps you can consistently take. Trust me, those tiny assignments will add up and fuel your creative growth. It’s all about taking that first small step. So let’s get to work on making micro-progress towards your filmmaking goals!

COMMERCIAL DIRECTING BOOTCAMP 04.05.2025
We’re donating 50% of your Bootcamp tuition to charities and GoFundMe’s to help the fire victims. Filmmakers learn how to win jobs and craft better work that leads to more opportunities. Agency creatives will learn how the flow goes on-set before the shoot. Limit 10 filmmakers. Includes one-on-one onboarding call.  Enroll now to direct with confidence.

FILMMAKER RETREAT JOSHUA TREE ’25
Thursday, September 25th – Sunday, September 28th, 2025. Limit 15 Filmmakers. This will be our 4th year and it’s so special, I’d prefer to jump on the phone with you and tell you more. Every year since our first, filmmakers have come back. Pretty much says it all. SIGN UP!

ONLINE FILMMAKING COURSES – DIRECT WITH CONFIDENCE
Each of my online courses come with a free 1:1 mentorship call with yours truly. Taking the Shadow course is the only way to win a chance to shadow me on a real shoot! DM for details. Want to level up your commercial directing game?

MAGIC MIND – MY MENTAL PERFORMANCE EXILIR – JAN SPECIAL 45%
Save hugely on Magic Mind by using this special 45% off the Magic Mind Bundle in January with coupon link for MAGIC MIND — This link is the way. BRADYJAN is the code.

Thanks,

Jordan

My cult classic mockumentary, “Dill Scallion” is online so I’m giving 100% of the money to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. I’ve decided to donate the LIFETIME earnings every December, so the donation will grow and grow annually. Thank you.

“Respect The Process” podcast is brought to you by Commercial Directing FIlm School and True Gent, aka True Gentleman Industries, Inc. in partnership with Brady Oil Entertainment, Inc.

How To Succeed As An Episodic TV Producing Director With Filmmaker Michael Patrick Jann.

Writer/Director/Producer Michael Patrick Jann returns to the podcast (check out his 2014 episode here) to explain what a Producing Director does, how he pitches to get episodic assignments and so much more. Most enlightening for me as the guy always telling young filmmakers to “put yourself in a box”, Michael embraces his multitude of experiences and his versatility when pitching on new shows. He has so many arrows in his directing quiver, it makes sense. 

It’s also interesting to learn from the Producer’s perspective how an episodic Director is hired and what the goal of that Director might be. Shout out to Michael’s mom, who sat in on the interview. Always a delight to see friends and colleagues succeed.

Thanks,

Jordan

This is 90 minutes, almost, and worth your time. The next Commercial Directing Bootcamp is Oct. 12th, 2019 and one third sold out. Limit 20 Filmmakers. Buy your Oso Delicious Hot Sauce to support the show, and www.militaryfamilies.org 

Directing “A to Z” with Michael Patrick Jann.

Director Michael Patrick Jann brilliantly draws an analogy between directing and the art of ancient Chinese calligraphy. This is a must-listen episode.

Michael knows comedy. Straight from film school to directing MTV’s “The State”, then onto “Reno 911” and countless commercials, he’s been directing the funny non-stop for 15 years. Today, Michael is an accomplished director of single camera tv comedies, and a go-to guy to shape many a network’s pilot episode. His new series “A to Z” debuts this October on NBC.

We talk about shooting pilots, the joy of winning commercials and the fickle nature of making movies. I wish I’d had this chat 15 years ago, I’d be a way better director. Enjoy.

Click Community Films to see his spots and a “Flight of the Conchords” video I love.

This episode is just over an hour. Do rate us on iTunes and “like” us on Facebook pretty please.