1) There’s been an increasing request for female directors, which has really given us a chance to champion all female talent including DPs, producers, etc. We’re getting so much closer to an equal playing field.
2) Ben and Adam Callner’s short film “Adman” was a clever and self-reflective look at advertising. It hit all the beats and reaffirmed that the work with an emotional rollercoaster of storytelling still stands out the most. We all just want to feel something.
3) We won an AICP for a PSA starring Mike Rowe receiving a live prostate exam on camera. We went into the project with the agency just wanting to make something meaningful to bring prostate cancer awareness, and pulled our resources together to create this spot. It was great collaborating with the agency from the start, not waiting for the project to come to us, and having more skin in the game.
4) This year’s advertising funds have been affected by the global economy so it’s been interesting watching the ripple effects of global politics (US/China trade war, Brexit) as they influence brands’ spending power.
5) Again, we’re getting so much closer to an equal playing field with our diversity awareness. I think the awards shows reflect that.
6) We’ve always been the type of company that nurtures new directorial talent from all backgrounds by participating in spec work and connecting filmmakers to strong below the line talent. We find it’s just as important to nurture our producers as well so they can include the same mindset through the execution of the spot. Overall, we’ve created an environment for more teaching and learning in our company.
