Candice Vernon

Commercial directing is one of the most coveted roles in the creative industry, yet very few people understand how the business actually works or how directors break in. From global brand campaigns to high-profile celebrity collaborations, commercial directors sit at the intersection of storytelling, advertising, and filmmaking.

In this revealing talk, award-winning director and creative director Candice Vernon pulls back the curtain on the world of commercial directing. Drawing from her own experience directing campaigns for major brands such as HBO, Spotify, Febreze, Vaseline, and NBA2K, she explains how the industry operates, how directors are selected, and what it really takes to build a career in this space.

Candice shares practical insights into the creative, strategic, and relationship building skills required to succeed, as well as the pathways that allow creative minds to transition from advertising, filmmaking, or other disciplines into directing global campaigns.

Attendee Results: • Understand how the commercial directing industry actually works behind the scenes • Learn realistic pathways for entering the highly competitive world of commercial directing • Gain insight into how creative professionals can position themselves for directing opportunities • Discover the intersection between storytelling, advertising, and filmmaking in brand campaigns