We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jordan Brady. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jordan below.
Jordan, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Don’t you really mean “How did I overcome imposter syndrome last month?” Short of becoming a full-blown narcissist, I think that monkey brain starts yapping every now and again, no matter the level of success one reaches. Personally when self-doubt creeps in, I remind myself I’ve gotten this far. Someone will hire me again and opportunities will come.
As a commercial director, assignments seem to ebb and flow, but step back, they’ve been consistent for decades now. Then there is taking charge and adapting to the landscape. Smaller budgets don’t mean smaller jobs, it means step up and figure out how to do more with less resources.
And you know what resource has never let me down? Ingenuity, craft, studying, planning and hard work. Putting in the work actually distracts from the monkey brain. So create a task, a self-imposed deadline for a new project, and you won’t have time for impostor syndrome.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve been directing for 30 years now, the last 20+ the focus has been on making commercials, and 98.3% comedy. My niche is comedy dialogue and I tell myself I have a unique point of view when in comes humor, a “voice” as we say. And I’m always refining that. I’ve made feature films, documentaries and shorts, but directing funny commercials is my passion.
True Gent is my production company, My wife, Jeannette Godoy and son, Ben Brady, are both on the roster of filmmakers. Morgan Bond and Nickolas Grisham are a directing duo not related to me, but they’re married. You can say we’re a family business. I like being a small boutique so we can cater to a few jobs at a time and really offer a collaborative experience when we immerse ourselves into each project like no one else can commit to.
My other company is Commercial Directing Film School. It’s a platform that allows me to mentor and teach the next generation of filmmakers the tricks I’ve learned over the years. We have online courses, in-person Bootcamps and an annual Filmmaker Retreat. This year is September 26th through 29th in Joshua Tree. Our theme is “Define Your Voice.”
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three qualities that I have that I’d stress up and coming filmmakers to develop:
1. Be decisive.
2. Be collaborative.
3. Know when to be 1 or 2 of the above.
Indecisiveness will bring a production to a screeching halt, then effect your leadership as everyone will second guess you’re choices or wait and wonder if you’re gonna change your mind.
Collaboration brings the best ideas forward. Foster creative collaboration until it’s time to lead the team. Take credit for the great ideas, but never throw anyone under the bus when you take a bad suggestion. Own it.
3. There’s a time to wear the “Collaboration Hat” and a time to put on the “Benevolent Dictator Hat.”
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is a senior level decision maker at an ad agency or brand, that hires me for my point of view, then trusts me. She knows I not only will not screw up the project, but I’m gonna bring a little extra magic and irreverence to the commercial.
This dream client has me shepherd the project through completion. When it comes down to finally shipping the spot to the various tv, streaming, web platforms it will live, she knows I’m flexible and will find solutions to make major stakeholders happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://truegent.tv/
- Instagram: @thatjordanbrady
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatjordanbrady/
- Other: https://commercialdirectingfilmschool.com/
Image Credits
On set shots Patrick Reynolds
Headshot MK McGehee
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
