Alex Richanbach: From Fincher to Funny or Die to Fast-Paced Commercial Sets

In Episode 15, we sit down with commercial and feature director Alex Richanbach to break down his unconventional path from working under legends like David Fincher and Adam McKay to directing viral content at Funny or Die and high-volume commercial campaigns. We dive into:

• Building trust and chemistry with crews fast
• Directing comedy and letting performances breathe
• Managing chaos on high-pressure commercial shoots Why “fun” is actually a serious directing tool
• The evolving future of commercials vs. YouTube-style filmmaking

Plus, Alex breaks down his Champs Sports campaign where talent dropped out two days before the shoot and how he adapted on the fly to still deliver.

If you’re trying to level up as a director, this one is packed with real-world insight.