1) We’ve arrived at an exciting moment in our industry. In stark contrast to the rigid separation of the past, we are finding that more and more companies are enthusiastically adopting the integrated production model that Humble and Postal were born from. When Humble began a decade ago, we were one of the first hybrid studios out there with a wholehearted adoption of this integrated model that puts production and post production under one roof. We put a core team of killer young artists who could concept, direct, shoot, edit, and design all in the same room and sparks flew. Shortly after, other production companies followed suit. Agencies starting developing production companies in-house and production companies took on more original content and creative responsibilities. It’s impossible not to see that the continued integration of our industry has lead, and will continue to lead, to more efficiently produced, beautifully crafted quality content.
2) In the New Year I am more inspired than ever to continue to push the unique culture we have here even further and redefine what it means to be a fully integrated production company. As Humble and its sister post production company Postal continue to grow, we know that our culture is our greatest strength. While the directors are still the heart of Humble, our creative roster has grown to include more writers, performance artists, performers, and non-commercial filmmakers. Our best work happens when we break the old relay race model, with each department passing the baton to the next, and we let this extended roster get involved in ideation and execution from day one. For example, some of the best original content projects we have in development came from our Office Manager in LA, we are in post production on our first ever interactive feature film, and we won a Cannes Lion for a Snapchat. I really believe that when you remove barriers, good ideas can come from anywhere.
3) I’ve learned that curiosity and openness are key. We are always searching for new platforms and mediums to tell stories no matter how far outside of our comfort zones they may be. Take the past year at Humble and Postal – while a big part of the team was focused on bigger and bigger spots, feature films, and longer form content, a series of unexpected projects taught us that good things really do come in small packages. Our first foray into micro-storytelling came in 2014 when we partnered with BBDO on the award-winning “Fix in Six” Vines campaign for Lowe’s. We later partnered back up with the brand to produce their first-ever Snapchat videos which racked up over 300,000 views in just 3 days. With 30+ stop motion animations, over 50 million impressions, and a Cannes Lion – we’re sold. What’s next?
4) To land bigger fish. You can take that as a metaphor or not.
