From Set to Strategy: How Directing a Film Mirrors Leading a Business Team

On the set of Down to the Felt. Photo by Jennifer Schaaf Photography. Copyright 2025 Big Deal Pictures, LLC.

From Set to Strategy: How Directing a Film Mirrors Leading a Business Team
By Jon Osbeck
www.jonosbeck.com | www.downtothefeltmovie.com | www.bigdealpictures.com | IMDb

Directing a feature film like Down to the Felt isn’t just about calling “action” and “cut.” It’s about vision, trust, adaptability, and execution—four pillars that just as easily apply to leading a high-functioning business team.

After years of working across all stages of independent filmmaking—from my first feature Minus One, to the recent premiere of Down to the Felt—I’ve realized how the director’s chair is less about control and more about leadership. In fact, many of the same principles that guide successful business leaders are the ones I’ve leaned on while directing on set.

Here’s how filmmaking and team leadership go hand-in-hand:

🎬 1. Start with Vision, Then Share It

Every film begins with a vision. Before the first shot, before casting, before location scouts or camera setups—there’s an idea of what the story should feel like. The same is true in business. Leaders need to create a clear picture of where the team is headed.

But vision is only powerful if it’s shared. As a director, I have to translate a screenplay into something tangible for my cast and crew. I need to communicate tone, energy, character, rhythm—and I need them to see it the way I do. The better I communicate that vision, the better everyone aligns to make it real.

🎬 2. You’re Only as Good as Your Team

Making a movie takes a small army. Cinematographers, production designers, ADs, editors, grips, sound techs, actors—each role is essential. As director, I’m often the final decision-maker, but I depend on the expertise of every person on set.

The same applies in business. A good leader surrounds themselves with people who are better than them in their respective lanes. Leadership isn’t about doing it all—it’s about orchestrating a team’s strengths to create something greater than any one person could alone.

🎬 3. Adaptability Is Everything

Even the best-laid shot list can be thrown out the window by bad weather, a last-minute location change, or a technical issue. The key is staying calm, focused, and ready to pivot. There’s always another way to tell the story.

Likewise, business plans often shift. Market conditions change. Clients drop. A strong leader knows how to improvise without losing sight of the end goal. On Down to the Felt, we faced multiple unexpected hurdles—but each one forced us to find creative solutions that made the final product better.

🎬 4. Culture Shapes the Outcome

A film set is a workplace. And just like any company, the culture you create has a direct impact on morale and output. I believe in running a respectful, focused, fun environment—because happy, empowered people do their best work.

Whether you’re leading a startup or managing a department, culture isn’t fluff. It’s fuel. Set the tone early, show up with consistency, and care about your people. They’ll deliver for you.

🎬 5. Celebrate the Wins (and Learn from the Misses)

When a film wraps, you celebrate—but you also review. What worked? What didn’t? Where can we improve next time?

Leadership requires reflection. Every project, campaign, or rollout offers a chance to grow. And just like every film is its own beast, every business challenge offers a new lesson. You keep evolving.

THE TAKEAWAY…

Whether you're leading a crew or a team of analysts, the job is essentially the same: inspire people to do their best work toward a shared goal. Directing Down to the Felt has been one of the most demanding and rewarding experiences of my life—and the leadership lessons I’ve picked up along the way are ones I’ll take with me into every project, on screen or off.

FOR MORE…

Want to see how that plays out on screen?
Follow @downtothefeltmovie on Instagram for behind-the-scenes, festival updates, and release info.

Let’s keep creating.
—Jon