He’s Directed HUGE Videos for Kendrick & Bieber. Here’s How Colin Tilley Stays Relevant in a Cutthroat Industry

From shaping visual masterpieces with Kendrick Lamar and Justin Bieber to redefining commercial storytelling, director Colin Tilley has done it all. In this episode, we get the full story. Colin opens up about his evolution as a filmmaker, how growing up in Berkeley influenced his aesthetic, and how trial and error on set helped him develop a signature style now sought after by the world’s biggest artists and brands. We also talk about building longevity in a notoriously fickle industry, the role of mentorship, and how creating a healthy set environment makes all the difference. Colin doesn’t shy away from the gritty details: from the pressure of editing his own work, to managing the balance between creativity and business, to taking a conscious break from Instagram to reset his artistic mindset. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or someone fascinated by what it takes to succeed behind the camera, this conversation is full of game and rare insights from one of the industry’s most visionary directors. 00:00 Transforming on Set: Embracing the Superman Side 02:03 Full Circle: From Fan to Collaborator 03:06 The Berkeley Influence 03:56 Learning Filmmaking Through Trial and Error 19:05 Creating a Positive Set Environment 23:34 Maintaining Longevity in the Industry 35:30 Transitioning from Music Videos to Commercials 37:28 Mentorship and Learning Patience 41:09 The Art of Editing and Collaboration 44:22 Challenges of Balancing Directing and Editing 45:30 Finding the Right Team for Each Project 51:19 The Impact of Social Media on Creativity 52:31 Taking a Break from Instagram 01:02:53 Understanding Film Management vs. Agents 01:06:18 Breaking into Commercials from Music Videos 01:11:10 Funding and Creating 'Mr. Happy' with Chance The Rapper 01:15:52 Building Trust and Relationships in the Industry 01:16:20 Working with Justin Bieber: Building a Long-Term Collaboration 01:23:11 Breaking into the Industry with Tyga & Chris Brown 01:25:19 The Role of Relationships in Career Growth 01:29:42 Iconic Projects: 'Alright' with Kendrick Lamar 01:33:43 Shooting a Commercial with Steph Curry 01:36:10 Final Thoughts and Reflections   Follow Colin Tilley Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠Arrad (podcast host)⁠⁠⁠⁠    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SPOTIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE MUSIC⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ourselves (production team)⁠⁠⁠⁠:  ✩ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook