Cancellation Policy and Legal
Cancellations accepted until 5pm Pacific on July 31, 2026 for refund minus $200 cancellation fee. After that, I know last minute gigs come up that may force you to choose, in which case you can transfer your payment to equal value in 1:1 Mentor consultations, online courses, the next Bootcamp or Filmmaker Retreat. Your spot at the Retreat is transferable, so send a friend.
There will be an Activity Waiver and Release form to sign. Safety is paramount so I’ll be reminding us to hydrate and be responsible humans. This is a fully insured event. Bring a hiking shoe or sneaker for the our visit to the JT National Park.
Commercial Directing Film School is registered with the State of California Seller of Travel. Certificate of Registration #: 2163550-70 Brady Oil Entertainment / Commercial Directing Film School
@Filmmaker Retreat 2025
bradyoil (store manager) –
Chris Salters, Commercial Editor. Your eyes didn’t deceive you, this video editor went to a retreat for filmmakers that’s geared towards commercial directors. Why? Perspective. It’s easy to get comfortable in the post-production world and lose sight of the immense amount of work that occurs in production and pre-production phases of the commercial process. Basically I wanted to learn more about how the sausage was made before it hit my post-production plate.
Jordan Brady showed me his sausage. He also shared the secret family recipe with 19 other filmmakers, covering the proverbial 4 R’s (reel, relationships, revenue, repeat biz), how to get better gigs, pitch winning strategies, and other sprinklings of commercial making voodoo tips. We even had an opportunity to practice pitching, followed by quality actionable feedback in a safe environment – an environment that’s conveniently prolific in drinks and snacks. I especially appreciated the drinks as I had never pitched to an audience before, but thoroughly enjoyed the exercise.
Education aside, Jordan structured the retreat so that you quickly build relationships with the other filmmakers beside you from the moment you arrive. From early morning coffees to gathering at meal times and casual walks in the Joshua Tree desert, the retreat gives you a chance to socialize with other filmmakers and share in each other’s journeys. The retreat’s isolation also gives you the chance to disconnect from the professional world for a bit and enjoy the calm desert surroundings. Honestly that may have been my favorite part. The walkabout in Joshua Tree National Park was an exceptional experience that gave me time to take in the scenery while contemplating the topics we had discussed over the weekend.
As for gaining perspective? I found it here. I gained a deeper understanding of the entire commercial filmmaking process, especially the roles of the director, and that now helps me to collaborate more fully with creatives and agencies while cutting commercials and brand films. So whether you’re a director, editor, cinematographer, production assistant, crafty, whoever – if you’re even slightly interested in the commercial filmmaking world, you’ll gain something from this experience and walk away with a better respect for the process.
bradyoil (store manager) –
Kevin O’Brien, Commercial Director, Writer/Director: Jordan Brady ‘s Commercial Directing Joshua Tree Retreat was one of the best investments I’ve made in my own career. Learn about yourself, find tried and tested processes for winning jobs, and build a community with 19 other filmmakers. Seriously, I’ve never met anyone as generous with their inside knowledge and experience as Jordan is.
If you’re a commercial filmmaker, this is a must-attend.
It’s also a beautiful resort.