When you think about a production company, you probably think about its roster of directors, the creative talent it employs, and the work those people are known for.
At TRG, that's only part of the bigger picture.
Alongside our talented in-house directors, we've built relationships with directors across the country, giving our clients access to a much broader range of creative voices, specialties, and storytelling styles.
It's an approach championed by TRG National Account Director Bill Mann, whose years of experience in commercial production have helped him develop relationships with directors working across a variety of genres. We sat down with Bill to talk about how that network works, what goes into choosing the right director, and why the best creative partnerships are about more than a great reel.
Does TRG only work with in-house directors?
Not at all. While our in-house team is a huge part of what makes TRG successful, we also work with directors outside our walls.
As Bill explains:
"We have a fantastic on-staff slate of directors that we can bring to projects, who each bring their own vision, their own voice to projects."
But having great internal talent doesn't mean every project needs the same approach. TRG has also committed to building a network of directors across the country, enabling us to bring in talent tailored to a project's specific creative needs.
It's not about replacing one option with another. It's about giving our clients more ways to bring their ideas to life.
How does TRG's network of directors work?
For Bill, it starts with relationships. Throughout his career, he's made it a priority to meet directors, follow their work, and build connections with creative talent across different genres.
Some relationships begin at industry events or through professional connections. Others start with discovering a great commercial online and reaching out to the person behind it.
The important part is that those conversations happen long before there's a specific job to pitch.
Bill explains:
"I always want to know who that director is. I want to know how they are as a person."
That familiarity allows TRG to recommend directors based on more than their past work. It means understanding their creative strengths, their personalities, and the types of projects where they're most likely to thrive.
How do you know which director is right for a project?
Not every director is right for every creative concept, and that's exactly why having options matters.
A comedic commercial might require someone with a particular understanding of timing and performance. A highly stylized campaign could call for a director with a strong visual aesthetic. Another project might involve complex choreography, precise camera movements, or an intricate one-shot sequence.
Each requires a different set of skills.
As Bill puts it:
"Comedy is hard. Not everybody can direct comedy."
The process starts with understanding the creative brief, then identifying directors whose experience and creative perspectives align with what the client is trying to accomplish.
Rather than approaching every project with the same handful of options, TRG can get more specific about the talent it recommends.
Is a great portfolio enough to make someone the right director?
Not necessarily. A director's body of work is important, but Bill emphasizes that the person behind the work matters just as much.
How do they communicate? Are they collaborative? Can they adapt when a project changes? Will they connect with the agency, the client, and the production team?
Those questions can make a real difference once production begins.
"If it's not the right person, they can have the best work in the world, and it still won't be the right fit."
For TRG, recommending a director isn't simply about finding someone capable of creating a certain look. It's about finding someone who can work with the people involved to bring that vision to life.
What happens when an outside director comes to TRG for a production?
In many ways, the process looks a lot like working with one of our in-house directors. The director collaborates with the client, develops a treatment, and works through the production process alongside the team. Our in-house directors already know the people, spaces, and workflows at TRG. When we bring in someone from outside, we focus on building that same familiarity and collaboration.
That means connecting them with our producers, art department, set designers, production crews, and other specialists who help execute the creative.
The director brings their vision; our team helps make it happen.
Why does having access to more directors matter for brands and agencies?
Because great creative isn't one-size-fits-all.
Brands and agencies invest significant time, research, and resources into developing a concept before it ever reaches production. Choosing the person responsible for executing that idea is a critical decision.
Having access to directors with different backgrounds, styles, and specialties creates more opportunities to find the right creative match.
And with TRG's in-house production capabilities supporting the work, clients can explore those options without losing the advantages of an experienced production partner.
More creative voices. One production partner.
Our in-house directors bring tremendous talent, experience, and creative vision to the table. Our network of outside directors builds on that foundation, opening the door to even more possibilities.
Whether a project calls for one of our own directors or someone we've built a relationship with across the country, the goal remains the same: find the right people, build the right team, and make something great.
Have a project in mind? Let's talk about the creative talent and production resources that can bring it to life.
