Filmmaker Devante Blackwell attended Commercial Directing Bootcamp on December 4, in Los Angeles, as the recipient of a Filmmakers’ Diversity Award sponsored by Oso Delicious Hot Sauce. Launched in 2015 by Jordan Brady, the in-person Commercial Directing Bootcamp is a component of his Commercial Directing Film School (CDFS), which also includes the director’s popular online Commercial Directing Masterclass, released in Spring 2020. To date, over 1,000 people in 9 countries have enrolled in Brady’s online course, including Blackwell, a commercial director operating his own production company, Captivating Cinema, based in Atlanta, GA. Blackwell is the seventeenth Diversity Award recipient. He joins CDFS alumni who have variously gone on to secure commercial representation, garner trade press for their spot work, and receive nominations for the Cannes Young Director Award, SHOOT Online's NDS and other honors, currently curated in an Alumni Showcase.
“The Bootcamp was absolutely phenomenal, I had a blast,” said Blackwell, whose company has produced spots and branded films on the local level, for hospitals, automotive dealerships, schools, and other businesses. “Through the material he’s prepared, Jordan really lays it out and clarifies everything you’ve thought about before or wanted to know about this business – he does it all with wit and humor. As someone who has been directing commercials for 10 years, I was able to gain clarity on how to land bigger jobs with bigger brands and clients.”
“Devante wowed me with his filmmaking prowess, combined with his being a quick study on the advertising medium.” Brady recalled. “His brand films look great, but it was the emotion captured and infused into the films that showed me he's got the right stuff. I knew Bootcamp could propel him.”.
Blackwell first heard Brady as the guest on a podcast earlier this year, where he mentioned his book, Commercial Directing Voodoo: Filmmaking Spells & Production Potions. After devouring the book, Blackwell began listening to Brady’s own podcast, the long-running RESPECT THE PROCESS. A filmmaker friend mentioned Commercial Directing Masterclass around the time Blackwell heard Brady speak at the DGA's Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP) event (Blackwell was a Finalist). He connected with Brady over a post on LinkedIn, and not long after, took the Masterclass. Blackwell availed himself of a 20-minute follow-up call with Brady, and the one-on-one part of the mentorship began.
“Jordan helped me tweak and develop my reel,” Blackwell said. “We talked about Commercial Directing Bootcamp, which I was definitely interested in doing at some point.” Brady called Blackwell soon after, and offered the Filmmakers’ Diversity Award scholarship. “Jordan believed Bootcamp would give me the knowledge I needed to get to the next level, and I believe he was right,” Blackwell asserted.
Blackwell’s passion for filmmaking dates back to his childhood in Louisiana, when he would memorize and reenact movies, TV shows, and commercials for his mother and her co-workers, down to the characterizations, timing, and delivery. After auditioning for a local talent agency, he was signed for representation, but the cost of headshots and travel for auditions proved prohibitive. His resourcefulness prevailed, however, and throughout junior high, he created his own films, playing every character, improvising dialogue, and rigging a remote recording setup to pause filming during wardrobe changes, because the camera he used could not be connected to a computer for editing. Blackwell’s fascination with the medium led to research and further experimentation. He graduated from high school and went to work at a petroleum plant that consisted of several 91 hour week turnarounds. Blackwell prayed on the career path he should take, and a voice came to him saying, “Do what you know best.” He began to save up and purchase film equipment. Working at the plant, he prepared a financial nest egg, studied, researched and read books about cameras, lighting, directing, editing, and business – specifically, how to transition from a day job to self-employment.
Self-taught, determined, focused, and after much prayer and preparation, Blackwell formed Captivating Cinema, an award-winning, Atlanta-based production company comprising a team of passionate people who love to create.
“Creatives already see in Devante the things that I saw,” noted Brady, who is repped for spots by kaboom productions, and whose recent work includes projects for USAA Auto Insurance (Publicis Lion), Dodge (reuniting him with wrestling star Goldberg, via GlueIQ), and his 16-year run with Valley Toyota via LaneTerralever. Brady routinely brings other industry players in to speak at Bootcamp; Blackwell pointed out that this time around, it was veteran agency producer, Anne Kurtzman. “Ms. Kurtzman really put in perspective the wants and needs of the agency producer, which is invaluable to the director,” he said.
Blackwell concluded, “Jordan is a great guy. And I really appreciate what he’s doing to chip away at the glass ceiling faced by under-represented filmmakers.”
The Diversity Award scholarship sends one talented filmmaker to each seminar for free. Filmmakers are judged on the following criteria:
- Quality of storytelling.
- Need for exposure to brand storytelling.
- True passion for making ads.
Those submitting are asked to email no more than three spots or short films to jordan@commercialdirectingfilmschool.com. The deadline is two weeks before the next seminar. Travel and lodging not included. The next seminar has been scheduled for March 5th 2021.
If your team would like to sponsor a Director from an underrepresented segment of the filmmaking community, please reach out.
About Jordan Brady
Jordan Brady has directed more than 1200 national TV spots to date. As host of the popular podcast RESPECT THE PROCESS, now starting its 9th year, Brady interviews a wide range of ad bizzers and filmmakers on a weekly basis. Brady’s book, Commercial Directing Voodoo: Filmmaking Spells & Production Potions, serves as a complement to his Commercial Directing Bootcamp. And to date, 1,000 people in 9 countries have enrolled in Brady's Commercial Directing Masterclass, released in Spring 2020. He is repped by kaboom productions.
