Marvel director Kat Coiro https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0192478 covers everything from working with day players to why directors have to take acting classes. An actor herself, Kat has mastered the art of infusing enthusiasm into every set and using that energy to supercharge collaboration.

Kat's worn every hat—writer, actor, director, producer, EP, and more. And while CAA found her because of her short film, her deep understanding of each role on set propelled her into a coveted career directing "Marry Me" with Owen Wilson and Jennifer Lopez, "Matlock" with Kathy Bates, Marvel's "She Hulk: Attorney at Law", to name a few.

Is there ever over-preparing as a director? Not according to Kat. It's all about putting in the work, asking questions of your showrunner, and really investing into its world. And she doesn't downplay the ability to leverage commercial sensibilities, and pitching with decks and details that can take weeks simply on spec.

Matt and Oren get Kat to share her go‑to techniques for “talking details through” before stepping on set. And why talking about how you were up all night working on the show, isn't necessarily a good sign.

In fact, Kat's a big believer in the importance of self-care in projecting confidence. And mantra is about knowing when :slowing down" unlocks "speeding up". For Kat, relaxing and taking care of yourself is a huge part of a show's overall success.

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Matt's Endorsement: Atlas Obscura App https://app.atlasobscura.com/

Oren's Endorsement: Swap wearing your watch on different wrists to avoid tan lines. Use Midjourney https://www.midjourney.com/home for art direction inspiration.

Kat's Endorsement: the Oura Ring https://ouraring.com/

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After an amazing DP/cinematographer has an unfortunate schedule change, Matt & Oren whip up a discussion about social media and listener notes about their websites. And Matt talks about how his LinkedIn post got noticed. And there's a surprising little twist that might make some listeners uneasy.

Later, they dig into a listener question. And that leads to some banter about the must haves when you're shooting a commercial on spec. And Matt decodes a list of items that make a compelling spec, especially when you write it yourself.

Matt's Endorsement: Fog machines are inexpensive right now.

Oren's Endorsement: You can Google how long trailers are before a movie plays.

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Matt & Oren discuss the feeling dogging every freelancer: "Will I ever work again?" They dig into who they recommend when they can't take an awesome job, and how that has paid it forward in good ways. Maybe it's all about who you vibe with.

But what is that, exactly? And what if a brand or agency does a vibe check on you? Surprisingly, it's like a date, and more of sales pitch so be prepared!

But there's a way to show up with a certain enthusiasm for a project and demonstrate a personal connection without sounding like a cold email that falls on its face. This episode is definitely worth a listen if you're trying to rack up more jobs this year!

Matt's Endorsement: Deschute's Fresh Squeezed Non-Alcohoilc IPA https://deschutesbrewery.com/products/fresh-squeezed-non-alcoholic

Oren's Endorsement: Tab Groups in Google Chrome. R-Click on a tab > Add Tab to New Group. Also on Chromium-based browsers like Firefox and Brave. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2391819?hl=en&sjid=9324260012388965296-NC#zippy=%2Cgroup-your-tabs

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