What’s the most relevant business and/or creative lesson you learned in 2020 and how will you apply it to 2021?
In 2020, I added global pandemic to my short list of things I can’t control. Weather used to be at the top of my list; it’s now moved to number 2. I learned that the conditions of working in a pandemic brought our clients, agencies and crews together closer than ever and we moved through our shoot days like a ballet in a phone booth. Masked up, social distancing, testing, remote feeds, protocols and guidelines, each member of our team(s) brought their A game and I was humbled by the trust they put in me; in harvest.
As we move into 2021, these bonds and production methodologies we developed will continue to be tested, pushed to the limit and iterated over and over, again.
I will apply the following lessons in 2021:
- Stay nimble, flexible.
- 2-3 masks are needed per shoot day.
- Print scripts to bring to set.
- Actors that are related are not always better for a project.
- Don’t forget headphones for remote shooting and back up batteries.
- Keep booking basecamps where crews can walk to set.
- Petty Cash is no longer green money.
- Digital Timecards can be unreliable.
- Brush hair before turning on ZOOM camera
Gazing into your crystal ball, what do you envision for the industry--creatively speaking or from a business standpoint--in 2021?
2021 is off to a positive start. Creative concepts I’m seeing are strong and smart and have the budgets to support the ideas. With the turmoil we have experienced in our country over the past few years, I think business both creatively and financially will be a boom in 2021.
What are your goals, creatively speaking and/or from a business standpoint, for your company, division, studio or network in 2021?
We are very passionate about launching our Carbon Neutralization program with Green The Bid for commercial production in 2021. It was a program I started a decade ago and today people are interested, engaged and know it’s the only way forward. I am grateful for GTB and their interest in moving the conversation forward. There are so many causes and needs in our communities today that we all have to come together and help each other raise awareness, raise money, food, shelter and care for those who cannot care for themselves, including our environment.
harvest will be turning 20 years old on March 15th and I’m excited to jump into some longer form projects we have on the horizon. I’m also writing a ton and crafting ideas where I can utilize different skill sets; it feels so fresh.
Tell us about one current project you are working on for early 2021.
We are working with our director, Elizabeth Banks on a large commercial campaign that is shooting in January. NDAs prohibit me from saying too much more other than we’re all very excited about the project. Shhhh.....
How did your company, agency, network, service or studio adjust/adapt to the marketplace in 2020 (new strategies, resources, technology, health/safety expertise) and what of all that bodes well for 2021?
Well, thanks to the AICP and their bi-weekly ZOOM gatherings we all became well versed in the rules, regulations, protocols, guidelines and medical nuances of COVID and how to steer our companies through the pandemic. That already is boding well in 2021, as we won’t be out of the woods for awhile. And I’m not certain how we lived so long without ZOOM?