After more than 10 years as a stills photographer, contributing to such magazines as Esquire and Rolling Stone, Jolly Roger director John Mastromonaco took what he calls the next logical progressive step in his career: commercial directing. Since the switch, the l.a.-based director has completed campaigns for Brita and mbanx and was recently in Toronto for a General Motors job.

What has been the high point of your directorial career so far?

I haven’t had the high point yet, but I am definitely striving for it.

What is your favorite tv commercial of all time (not your own)?

I don’t know if I have a favorite commercial; I have a favorite genre of commercial. I prefer anything that has to do with humanity. Spots that are capable of capturing humanity in an honest, insightful way. . . that’s what does it for me.

What do you like about those spots?

The process of capturing that moment, being able to encompass everything, those moments that expose b.s. from skill.

What advice would you give an up-and-coming director that you wish someone had given you when you were starting out?

What would I be giving advice to the young hot competition for? I can’t say advice would do them any good anyway. I know for a fact I wouldn’t want to know anything that I had not seen yet for myself. All experiences are different. Wanna know anything else, you’ve got to pay for it.

If you knew when you started out in the business what you know now, what would you have done differently?

Nothing, I would rather be naive, that naivete that affects the work both in a positive and a negative light. If I had the knowledge then I have now, I would be a little bitter and jaded. Not that I am not bitter and jaded now, but those were good times, everything was new and there were so many options to explore. After awhile, some things become routine.

I would not have ever wanted to feel like I was in a routine back then. Enthusiasm, after all, is the best part. I guess the only thing I would have needed or wanted was financial advice, other than that, nothing.

Who and/or what influences your work?

My moods, state of mind, the people surrounding me, the moon.