CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
& DIRECTOR TREATMENTS
YOUR IN-HOUSE CREATIVE ENGINE:
As production companies take on more projects from brands directly, I've helped many move with confidence through the creative process – giving clients the campaigns and scripts they're hoping for while respecting the realities of the production process. Excellent work is produced within scope and the production company becomes a trusted and reliable partner to the brand.
I'm happy to step in anywhere in the process:
BRAND STRATEGY; helping the brand team develop their comms strategy before production
CREATIVE IDEATION; create campaign ideas and present them alongside the production team
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT; finesse existing scripts to be shootable (so many are convoluted and over-length)
PRODUCTION OVERSIGHT; assist with pre-production and planning, and be on set to help ensure every detail is captured
POST PRODUCTION OVERSIGHT; collaborate in the post process to improve the quality of the work through every stage
Clients exit the process feeling satisfied that they were respected and listened to, with top quality work to share with their team. Best of all, the production company is set up for the next time they call.
YOUR FIRST-CALL TREATMENT WRITER:
As a seasoned copy writer with over 25 years of advertising-side experience reviewing and awarding director's treatments, as well as having worked through writing and production of +300 commercials and videos, I apply all I've learned into writing and finessing treatments that build on your directors' vision, inspire confidence with your agency partners, and excite the brand clients they are working for.
"Stefan is an amazing creative partner for us and our clients. He’s extremely talented, collaborative, and quick (which in the advertising world of “we needed this yesterday” is always a plus!). He’s someone who you can trust, too. He presents well to clients, never misses a deadline, and is always looking for ways to make the creative better."
JULIA MORRIS, PRODUCER LEAD, MAKERS
"Stefan is an absolute dream to work with! He consistently delivered above expectations under tight timelines, staying incredibly calm and focused throughout a long and arduous approval process."
CAT CHIANG, PRODUCER, MAKERS LOS ANGELES
"I love working with Stefan. He is one of the smartest and creative writers out there. He can take a brief and get to a solution quickly, always delivering creative options for consideration that are on brief. He keeps the best work at the forefront while respecting all disciplines. He puts as much thought and effort into the creative writing as he does listening and responding to the brands needs and lastly, those involved in making the final product. I would highly recommend him for any project and hope to work on many more with him."
CYNTHIA HEYD, EP, THE DELI
"Stefan’s skills lie far beyond the realm great writing - he is my go-to person when I need someone to dig deeper and collaborate on big ideas. His ability to handle tight timelines makes it so much easier to engage him on projects that are flying at 100 m.p.h."
YAEL STAAV, DIRECTOR, FURLINED US
"Stefan has been the perfect creative partner for Lookout. He has cracked campaigns for us time after time. Scripts, treatments and content, Stefan will make it all happen! He has continued to be an outstanding collaborator, helping us see things through to the end."
JARED COOK, EP, LOOKOUT CONTENT
"I can't say enough great things about Stefan. He's a creative writer and strategist. He's witty and humble. He's more than a collaborator. Stefan's become an essential part of my creative preparation before presenting. Consider him a secret weapon."
BEN SHIRINIAN, DIRECTOR, KRYSTAL LEVY PICTURES
"Aside from his creative excellence, Stefan is also business smart. He's production friendly and understands the process from prep through post. Stefan’s a collaborative partner with directors and producers, editors and sound engineers, helping execute and deliver beyond expectations. We lean on Stefan to craft and polish our director treatments. As a long time creative director, Stefan helps our production team identify what agency creatives might be looking for in a treatment, giving us a greater chance of getting awarded."
KEVIN SAFFER, EVP, TOUCHPOINT FILMS
"With a deep knowledge of both advertising creative and commercial production, Stefan knows how to relay a director's vision while hitting all the right notes for creatives and their clients. He can take any treatment to the next level. I also find him to be incredibly collaborative, insightful and reliable within often condensed timelines – things that really count in this business. Stefan has become an integral part of the bidding process and that’s led to a measurable increase in win rate.”
JOSHUA CHAITON, DIRECTOR, REEL IMAGES