The Director & The D.O.P

The Super Bowl Ad That Almost Didn't Happen | Ep 05 — The Director & The DOP

n Episode 5, Ethan and Liam break down ESPN Have a Sick Day — an Australian Super Bowl promo for Now We Collide agency with Mint Films, produced by Henry Richardson. They get into why Ethan wrote a treatment for a job that didn't ask for one, how they found lead actor Jack William Newell through a casting tape that made the decision instantly, shooting a loose unscripted performance style with a rigid sun-driven schedule in an open street, and what it felt like when Liam lost it laughing trying to hold the Ronin steady on Jack's very first take. Then the story nobody knew was coming — a shoot postponed the day before because of the Bondi Beach shootings. How that call was made, who made it, and what it cost everyone to show up a few days later and find the energy to make something joyful. In Gear Chat — Iron Glass, a Ukrainian company doing some of the most interesting vintage lens rehousing work in the world while their country is at war. Why vintage lenses are having a moment, and what the new Air Series mirrorless mount rehousings mean for smaller camera packages. 0:25 Intro — MacGyver mic stand, 25K social views, guest updates 3:37 The Breakdown — ESPN Have a Sick Day 5:53 Writing a treatment when nobody asked 11:40 Finding Jack — the casting tape that ended the process 13:56 Liam loses it on the Ronin — first shot of the day 16:00 The trumpet girls scene 18:38 Shooting in a city — 3, 4, 5 suns 32:51 Outro The Director & The DOP is a video podcast for the commercial production and advertising industry. A director and a DOP break down real projects — no theory, just the work. New episodes weekly. 🎙️ Hosted by Ethan McLean (Director) & Liam Brennan (DOP) #commercialfilmmaking #director #cinematography #advertising #filmmaking #australianfilm

I Shut Down a Pub and Lit It From the Street | Ep 04

In Episode 4, Ethan breaks down Adidas Bound by Legacy — a film for the Sydney Roosters made in collaboration with Helium and Hype Republic, directed by Ethan and shot by Donny Buppapirak ACS.They get into why Ethan chose to light an entire pub from the street rather than inside, how First AD Murray Robertson’s “you get one light” call shaped the entire look of the film, working with rugby league legends who have a 10-minute window, and the Petzval lens choice that gave the film its nostalgic character.Then in Life of a Freelancer — Director’s Cuts. Why Edit 2 is the director’s version. Why Edit 3 onwards belongs to the village of clients. And why directors keep ringing their composer mates asking for free favours long after everyone else has been paid.Plus — Meta and Google both shut us down in the same week. We’re back.---0:00 Cold open — I shut down a pub0:28 Intro — new mics, wardrobe, and getting banned by Meta and Google04:15 The Breakdown — Adidas Bound by Legacy, Sydney Roosters07:14 How Ethan got the job without pitching08:34] Lighting the pub from the street — the one light decision09:55 Working with rugby league legends in tight windows18:21 Petzval lens choice and Peaky Blinders colour references22:56 Jesse Watt — the composer who made the difference24:50 Life of a Freelancer — Director’s Cuts25:10 Edit 2 is the director’s cut28:46 Who pays for the grade and sound mix after the fact32:24 Outro---The Director & The DOP is a video podcast for the commercial production and advertising industry. A director and a DOP break down real projects — no theory, just the work.New episodes weekly.🎙️ Hosted by Ethan McLean (Director) & Liam Brennan (DOP)#commercialfilmmaking #director #cinematography #advertising #filmmaking #australianfilm

I Nearly Turned This Job Down. Here's What Changed. | Ep 03

In Episode 3, Ethan and Liam break down Changi Taste of Asia — a 12-day, four-country travel campaign directed by Luna for Infinity Squared, with Liam as DOP and no camera assistant. They get into how Luna planned every location digitally before ever setting foot there, why you have to plan spontaneity, how Liam stripped the Sony Burano down to football size to shoot handheld across Southeast Asia, and why Liam nearly didn't take the job at all. Plus the broader conversation on crafted influencer content — what happens when you bring a proper ad crew into that world, and why the result is better than the sum of its parts. Then in What We Watch — Ethan on Ardbeg You Can't Untaste It and the power of a simple, beautiful setup. Liam on Project Hail Mary and why IMAX is genuinely worth leaving the house for. 0:00 Introduction0:30 Espresso, coffees on set, and show intro2:27 The Breakdown — Changi Taste of Asia6:41 Luna's digital recce approach10:09 Sony Burano — stripping back to handheld13:05 No camera assistant — how it actually worked18:56 I nearly didn't take this job21:14 The crafted influencer format23:40 What We Watch — Ardbeg + Project Hail Mary / IMAX27:35 Outro

Nine Days on the Road — How We Choose Our Crew | Ep 02

In Episode 2, Ethan and Liam break down their Destination NSW Central West content capture project with Mint Films — a 9-day, multi-location shoot across regional NSW on natural light only, with a lean crew and no lighting team. They get into how Ethan selects a DOP for a long-form road job on emotional intelligence as much as skill, how Liam chose his First AC Molly Sutherland ("Little Miss Never Miss"), the terrarium approach to directing non-actor talent, why recces are non-negotiable on tourism work, and the key takeaway — always aim higher than the brief. Then in Gear Chat — Liam breaks down the Sony virtual production tracking system using SLAM technology. Camera-agnostic, no external markers, and why he thinks handheld is back. Plus — why we changed the name from The Director and the DP.

Our First Good Project Together (And What We'd Do Differently) | Ep 01 — The Director & The DOP

In our first episode, Ethan and Liam break down Grant Burge Leave Your Mark — a TVC, social, and OOH campaign featuring Dylan Alcott, where Ethan served as both Creative Director and Director. They get into the Panavision H Series lens choice and why it defined the look, working with non-actor talent who calls their own takes, the decision to bring Dylan's dad on set, and Liam's handheld-on-dolly solution when time ran out. Then in Life of a Freelancer — the DOP/Director coffee date. Who reaches out, what makes it work, and the age-old question of who actually pays. 0:00 Introduction 3:35 The Breakdown — Grant Burge Leave Your Mark ft. Dylan Alcott 7:17 Lens choice — Panavision H Series & Alexa Mini LF 14:14 Working with non-actor talent 18:18 The handheld-on-dolly decision 19:43 What we'd do differently 22:45 Life of a Freelancer — The Director/DOP coffee date 27:55 Tips for the coffee date The Director & The DOP is a video podcast for the commercial production and advertising industry. A director and a DOP break down real projects — no theory, just the work. New episodes weekly. 🎙️ Hosted by Ethan McLean (Director) & Liam Brennan (DOP)