We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alexander McKee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alexander, appreciate you joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

This topic option couldn’t help but put a smile on my face — at the end of the day, all a director does is solve the unexpected problems that occur on every single shoot. And I mean EVERY single shoot.

I will spend countless hours at my desk breaking down a script, storyboarding our various angles, and collaborating with the crew on the best order to get the shots in. But the true challenge is learning to adjust and change a plan that has been in the work for weeks, perhaps months.

On one of the last commercials I directed, a series of similar angles meant coverage for our main character had to keep getting pushed back — and by the time we were ready to go, the sun was much lower than any of us had anticipated.

One of my favorite quotes from David Fincher is “you don’t know what directing is until the sun is setting and you’ve got to get five shots and you’re only going to get two.” And there I was, in that exact scenario (but I was able to squeeze in a third shot, thankfully!).

The shots we needed, had been planning for, had timed with the whole commercial so perfectly, now needed to have the same substance with far less time.

Everyone’s eyes were on me, awaiting my decision on how we were going to change the scene. And in about 30 seconds, I knew I had to give them all a definitive answer.

All I did was take that time, erase what I thought I knew about the scene, and started over. It’s always simultaneously one of the most simple and most complicated things about my job.

Friends outside of the industry have asked me how I prepare for these problems, and I don’t really believe there is one definite answer. All I can ever say is that knowing problems will occur is about half the battle.

When the unexpected challenges of day that has been pre-planned down to the minute starts to fall apart, I know I cannot start to lose patience and rage against the world. It’s time to calm down and know that the solutions can flow from me and my team.

Whether you are battling against the setting sun or a burnt out bulb, the knowledge of how to pivot has to constantly be in my mind. There is no manual of how to get out of the particular hole that’s just appeared beneath you, only practice.

Problem solving is an art more than a science — a mentality that helps me remember to always keep learning, rather than thinking it’s something I must fully master.

Alexander, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Alexander McKee, I’m a director and the proud owner of Dawn Chaser Media LLC!

Being a director was my dream since I was four years old — every major choice in my life after that was a bridge across the gap of dreams and reality.

My dedication to this craft and company is what makes me proudest — I have devoted my life to this, to this art form and career that gives me an unmatched happiness.

Whether it be films, commercials, or music videos, I love bringing stories to life. If you have a script, a song, or a product that needs visuals, I want to help you create it — everybody has a story to tell, and they are all worth exploring.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are so many answers I could give to this, but the one that came to mind first is seeing a diary of my life.

At the end of every single project, I love to make a DVD to add to my ever-growing stack. Each new jewel case might seem like a relatively simple addition, but I view it as a landmark.

Each project, each scene, each shot is filled with their own memories. There were plenty of trials and tribulations to get each made, but at the end of the day I catch myself beaming that I was able to cement this small chapter of my life into something permanent.

I cannot guarantee that my work will live on beyond me, but I know these very special memories will exist just a bit longer.

It’s a marker in my map of life and there aren’t too many other careers where that type of gift is possible.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Just recently, a friend started to shake his head, sigh, and asked, “I don’t know how you deal with rejection all the time.”

I couldn’t help but laugh — not only did that comment come out of nowhere, but it is an overlooked fact in my industry that a lot of non-creatives forget about.

Rejection comes constantly. The number of times I have heard “yes” will never even attempt to rival how often I have heard and will hear, “no.”

My family and closest loved ones — none of whom work in the entertainment industry — are incredibly caring, and quick to try and shield me from the pain that can come with criticism.

But hearing the word “no” with regular frequency is a fact of life in my field. It’s a badge of honor, really! I think non-industry people in my life can occasionally forget that being told “no” means I tried. The victory isn’t always in hearing the word “yes,” but in knowing that you were willing to take a risk.

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