What if the most powerful thing in your video has nothing to do with your camera, your software, or your budget?

In this episode, Matt sits down with Stewart Cohen, a filmmaker and photographer whose work spans brands like Coca-Cola, AT&T, and Gatorade, to explore what it really takes to tell a visual story that resonates.

Stewart does a lot marketing work, where 30 seconds is sometimes all you get. But he thinks that constraint can actually be one of the best creative teachers. When every cut has to earn its place, you stop overthinking and start being clear.

Stewart talks through how he draws authentic moments out of people on camera. and why pre-production is often where the real work happens. He’s also talks through something most experienced filmmakers hesitate to say out loud. Sometimes you have to spoon-feed your story to make sure it lands.

He also gets into what virtual production is already making possible, including a music video that looked like it was shot across five continents, wrapped in a single day. And he shares his take on where AI fits into all of this, even when that means handing off a project entirely.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 – 00:47 Intro
• 00:47 – 02:46 Stewart’s background and career in commercial filmmaking
• 02:46 – 05:07 Asking the right questions and finding everyone’s story
• 05:07 – 07:09 Using constraints to sharpen your storytelling
• 07:09 – 10:01 Stewart’s mental checklist for location scouting and building a shooting board
• 10:01 – 11:34 Why visual quality matters and holding viewer attention
• 11:34 – 16:48 Working with stakeholders and getting aligned before shoot day
• 16:48 – 17:51 AI’s growing role in filmmaking
• 17:51 – 19:31 Spoon-feeding your story — don’t assume viewers will follow
• 19:31 – 23:09 Virtual production walls, budgets, and how technology is changing filmmaking
• 23:09 – 25:24 Advice for everyday video creators
• 25:24 – 27:21 Speed round
• 27:21 – 27:56 How to connect with Stewart
• 27:56 – 28:48 Stewart’s final take
• 28:48 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewartcohen/
• Visit Stewart’s website: https://www.stewartcohen.com/
• Find Stewart on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scpictures/