breaking into commercials

[Unemployed]

anyone know how a first time director goes about getting a job directing commercials? Do you need an agent? -- what do they want to see in your showreel?

[miker]

You'd be surprised at the calibre of some of the advert directors. Coppola once directed for Coke.

However, Ridley Scott I think did ads before features (Hovis?)

Altman did corporates before features (I think he did his first feature when he was 45!)

To be honest though, although they're a nice cash-cow, most adverts direct themselves and the client usually makes stupid suggestions that MUST go in.

If I were you, start out as a runner on adverts to see if you like the whole ethos first.

[Unemployed]

but that didn't answer my question.

[miker]

Then you are not reading between the lines.

It's not what you know...