A76 | a design pod 040: Ideas in motion with Cal Engel
Nov 26, 2025
In this engaging conversation, videographer and photographer Cal Engel shares his journey from crafting internal videos to touring with the Jonas Brothers and founding AV Collective. He discusses the importance of storytelling in his projects, especially about real people's lives, and how chaotic environments can fuel creativity. Cal also reveals his favorite sources of inspiration, from unplugging during biking to exploring artsy content, and emphasizes the need to adapt during shoots while staying true to one’s creative instincts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Building A Scalable Production Company
- Cal left a startup and started AV Collective to scale production up or down depending on project needs.
- The company now manages multi-country shoots and assembles large volumes of video for clients.
Take Full Creative Briefs When Possible
- Prioritize projects where clients give you a one-sentence idea and let you execute start-to-finish.
- Those briefs let Cal tell real people stories and produce the most rewarding work.
Use Volume And Iteration To Unstick Ideas
- When stuck, list many options quickly and iterate: make 100 ideas, pick top five, expand each into three variations.
- Use teammates and occasionally AI as a brainstorming spark, then bounce ideas off trusted collaborators.