How to Tell Better Visual Stories (That Actually Connect) with Stuart Cohen
From The Visual Lounge by TechSmith Corporation
April 15, 2026 · 30 min · Episode 284
About this episode
In this episode, Matt interviews filmmaker Stuart Cohen about the art of visual storytelling and the importance of constraints in filmmaking.
What if the most powerful thing in your video has nothing to do with your camera, your software, or your budget? In this episode, Matt sits down with Stewart Cohen, a filmmaker and photographer whose work spans brands like Coca-Cola, AT&T, and Gatorade, to explore what it really takes to tell a visual story that resonates. Stewart does a lot marketing work, where 30 seconds is sometimes all you get. But he thinks that constraint can actually be one of the best creative teachers. When every cut has to earn its place, you stop overthinking and start being clear. Stewart talks through how he draws authentic moments out of people on camera. and why pre-production is often where the real work happens. He’s also talks through something most experienced filmmakers hesitate to say out loud. Sometimes you have to spoon-feed your story to make sure it lands. He also gets into what virtual production is already making possible, including a music video that looked like it was shot across five continents, wrapped in a single day. And he shares his take on where AI fits into all of this, even when that means handing off a project entirely. Learning points from the episode include: 00:00 –…
People in this episode
Host: Matt
Guest: Stuart Cohen
Topics covered
- visual storytelling
- filmmaking
- marketing
- creative constraints
- pre-production
- AI in production
Keywords
- visual stories
- storytelling
- filmmaking
- marketing
- pre-production
- AI
- creative process
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Coca-Cola, AT&T, Gatorade
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