Building a Commercial DP Career on Spec Work

Live from Sync Camp: Aaron Mercer on Why Every Placement Is a Minor Miracle

Aaron Mercer, co-president of Premier Music Group, has spent 30 years in Nashville shaping how music moves through advertising, film, and TV — from his early days at BMI and Sony ATV to leading a firm whose clients include Samsung, Adidas, and the NBA. He covers the nuts and bolts of music licensing, why AI-generated music is a legal non-starter for commercial use, and how a Chevy commercial broke the band Fun overnight.

Live from Sync Camp: CJ Oliver on Producing, Perfectionism, and Reinvention

Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter CJ Oliver has 180+ tracks in the Soundstripe catalog and sync placements on NBC, Hulu, and Netflix. Her self-taught start at nine selling her first instrumental, breaking past being known as the violin kid, producing across R&B and hip-hop, AI in music, and advice for young artists.

Leo Falkenstein (Consume Media): Video Connection in the Age of AI

Leo Falkenstein is the owner of Consume Media, an Atlanta video company he founded 13 years ago that now works with Calendly, SalesLoft, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Leo and Jeff cover starting out in the Athens music scene, how AI is reshaping video production, turning one shoot into 25 assets, and why he calls the work video connection, not video marketing.

Noam Kroll on Building a Filmmaking Career, Working on Your Own Terms, and Trusting Your Instincts

Noam Kroll is an LA-based filmmaker, director, and cinematographer who runs one of the most popular filmmaking blogs and podcasts on the internet at noamkroll.com [http://noamkroll.com]. He talks about the slow build of a filmmaking career, working in a way that fits how he's wired as an introvert, and picking ideas worth committing to.

Dr. Erika Siegel on the Pillars of Health, Creativity, and Self-Care

Dr. Erika Siegel is a naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and founder of Nourish Me Clinic in Portland, Oregon. She and Jeff cover blending Western and Chinese medicine, the foundations of health, GLP-1 drugs, sauna and cold therapy, the link between wellness and creativity, and self-care as responsibility.