From Lucasfilm to Doja Cat: Warren Fu Reveals How to Land Your Dream Directing Job

In this episode, visionary director Warren Fu shares an inspiring journey through his iconic work in music videos, his creative roots at Lucasfilm, and the delicate balance of creativity and burnout. We dive deep into his collaborations with legendary artists such as Doja Cat, Daft Punk, The Weeknd, and The Strokes. From overcoming immigrant family expectations and cultural differences to navigating the unpredictable worlds of directing music videos and commercials, Warren offers invaluable insights on the multifaceted role of a director, the importance of editing, and the future of filmmaking with AI.

 

00:00 Intro

02:54 The Importance of Editing in Directing

04:33 Balancing Creativity and Burnout

06:47 The Journey to Delegation and Trust

12:15 From Graffiti to Lucasfilm: A Creative Evolution

39:40 Visiting Skywalker Ranch

40:03 Quitting Lucasfilm to Pursue Directing

40:45 Immigrant Family Guilt

42:04 Cultural Differences Growing Up

50:44 Challenges of Directing

53:25 Pitching and Treatments

01:00:30 The Music Video Industry

01:04:32 Lucasfilm: A Film School Experience

01:16:06 The Strokes' Mystique and Early Career

01:16:55 Freelancing in LA and Breaking into Music Videos

01:18:04 First Big Break with The Strokes

01:19:37 Building Relationships with Artists

01:22:10 Collaborating with Mark Ronson and Daft Punk

01:30:46 Directing Daft Punk's Iconic Videos

01:42:57 Working with Doja Cat on 'Planet Her'

01:52:35 Transitioning to Commercial Work

01:57:35 Personal Connections in the Industry

01:59:18 Pitching Ideas and Working with Reps

02:01:27 The Role of Specs in Commercials

02:02:47 Keys to Successful Pitches

02:08:23 AI in Music Videos

02:16:58 The Future of AI in Filmmaking

02:27:52 Balancing Work and Life

 

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