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Commercial production FAQ

Posted: 10/13/2026

Thierry Denis

Commercial production FAQ

Straight answers to what brands and agencies ask us before a first call.

What does Ockham do?

Ockham is a commercial production company in San Diego. We write, direct, shoot and finish TV commercials, social video ads, branded content and product videos for brands and agencies.

Where is Ockham located, and where do you shoot?

Our office is at 2230 Columbia St in San Diego. Most of our shoots happen in San Diego County and Southern California, and we travel across the US when a project calls for it.

How much does a commercial cost?

Most of our full campaigns cost between $50,000 and $200,000. The budget depends on the idea, the number of shoot days, the cast, the locations and the amount of post-production. Our guide to what a commercial costs in San Diego breaks it down.

What is your minimum budget?

For a full commercial, our minimum is $25,000. Below that, we can’t staff a shoot to the standard our clients expect, and we’d rather tell you so than cut corners. We do produce some brand and social media content for less however.

How long does it take to make a commercial?

Typically six to eight weeks from approved concept to delivery. That is two to three weeks of pre-production, one to three shoot days and two to four weeks of post-production. Our fastest went from first call to launch in under three weeks.

Do you come up with the idea, or only produce it?

Both. Agencies usually bring a script and we produce it. Brands that come to us directly often need the concept and the script too, and we write those in-house.

Do you work with agencies or directly with brands?

Both. We have produced for agencies such as Marketing Architects and directly for brands such as Manscaped or Shady Rays.

What kinds of companies do you work with?

Consumer products and e-commerce (Manscaped, Shady Rays, Universal Yums), technology and apps (Opera, Razer, SmartAsset), health and insurance (Genexa, Physicians Mutual, the California Department of Public Health) and sports and automotive (Callaway, AutoZone).

What makes Ockham different from other San Diego production companies?

Comedy. More than half of our portfolio is comedy commercials, and that work has won several ADDY, Telly and One Club awards. Our style is often deadpan: absurd premises played straight.

Why shoot in San Diego and not Los Angeles?

Lower costs, easier logistics and the same quality on screen. One of our agency clients puts production costs at about 60% of Los Angeles, and we can still cast from LA for key roles. See San Diego or Los Angeles for your commercial shoot.

Can you handle casting, including celebrity talent?

Yes. We cast in San Diego and Los Angeles, and we have produced campaigns with celebrity talent, including a four-spot Shady Rays campaign featuring three celebrities.

Do you do animation and visual effects?

Yes. We handle motion graphics, 2D and 3D animation and VFX, up to fully animated CG characters composited into live action.

Do we need to be on set?

You’re welcome on set, and most clients come. If you can’t travel, we set up a live remote feed so you can watch and approve takes from anywhere.

Who owns the finished commercial?

You do. You own the final deliverables once the project is paid. Cast, music and other licensed elements are cleared for the media and time period you need, and we spell those terms out in the estimate.

How do we start?

Send us a message through the Get a quote page or call 858-652-8917. A paragraph about what you’re making is enough. We reply within one business day.



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contact@ockham.tv

858.652.8917

2230 Columbia St

San Diego, CA, 92101

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  • About OCKHAM
  • Services
  • Work
  • Contact
  • About OCKHAM
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Elegance, efficiency, and razor sharp precision is the Ockham way

contact@ockham.tv
  • About OCKHAM
  • Services
  • Work
  • Contact
  • About OCKHAM
  • Services
  • Work
  • Contact

Elegance, efficiency, and razor sharp precision is the Ockham way

contact@ockham.tv
  • About OCKHAM
  • Services
  • Work
  • Contact
  • About OCKHAM
  • Services
  • Work
  • Contact
contact@ockham.tv