What’s the impact of the pandemic on you, your company, your approach to doing business in the future? What practices emerged that you will continue even as restrictions are loosening?
We were all working from home for most of 2020, and somehow we got a lot done. We shot throughout the quarantine – keeping crews 6-feet apart and using masks, gloves and lots of hand sanitizer. We’ve been growing and changing the last couple years to include more capabilities, but we had no idea we’d be so busy during the pandemic and need to utilize all we had learned – and then some – so quickly.
We’re all now used to the new way of working and will continue to put a lot of it into practice going forward. We are going into the studio now, but we have a new way of getting lunches and snacks, I think these precautions will continue for a while, especially with the new Covid variants showing up. Pre- and postproduction are all about communication. The pandemic forced all of us to communicate so much more carefully. Text, basecamp, phone, email – we’ll keep that increased communication up going forward.
What trends, developments or issues would you point to thus far in 2021 as being most significant, perhaps carrying implications for the rest of the year and beyond?
So far, the 2021 trend is being super busy! I don’t know if it’s because the pandemic slowed everything down, and now, with things loosening up, people are ready to get back work. But we’re very grateful that the trend seems to be getting as much done as possible.
It’s beginning to look like 2021 will continue to be a challenge for everyone. We’re all slowly moving back to the office and working in groups again, but we’ve learned remote work can be done and that will likely benefit future work. We know that whatever is in store, we will get through it together. Jack, Joey, James, Deedle and I are eager to keep moving ahead.
What work (advertising, entertainment)--your own or others--struck a responsive chord with you and/or was the most effective creatively and/or strategically so far this year? Does any work stand out to you in terms of meshing advertising and entertainment?
Experiential or environmental art has really struck a chord with me this year. I’ve been very impressed with some of the innovative combinations of art and entertainment I’m seeing. We’re currently working on an experiential project that will literally move people and I’m very excited about it.