A group of us who were laid off from Omnicom Production have banded together and are in the process of starting Productionaut Studio. It occurred to me they were actually letting the best, most experienced bad ass production professionals go. This had to be the case since they met ME go! lol. Anyway it’s something to do while being funemployed. It’s all the things, digital, print, video and events. You can find us on LinkedIn or email me mark@productionautstudio.com.

I just worked on a shoot where half the crew was union and half non-union, and wow the divide was real. Union crew got better pay, guaranteed breaks, and turnaround time, while non-union folks were expected to just “tough it out.” It created tension that no amount of pep talks could fix. I get both sides, but it felt like two different worlds existing on the same set. Has anyone actually seen a production bridge that divide, or is it always going to be us vs. them?

I recently joined a new firm and while everyone’s technically nice, there’s a clear “in group” on every project. Jokes I don’t get, Slack threads I’m not tagged in, impromptu coffee chats I only hear about after the fact. It’s not toxic, but it’s definitely isolating. I’m trying not to force connections or be that person who pushes too hard to fit in, but I also don’t want to stay on the outside. How do you actually build real relationships across teams like this?

Anybody catch that Breaking and Entering video yesterday where CBH was all smiles in front of BBDO, being interviewed by the guys on the day they had a huge round of lay offs? They’ve since taken it down but what an insensitive jerk. Also, B&E covering the merger like TMZ while so many lose their jobs is so tacky and shameful. People losing their livelihoods shouldn’t be the industry’s entertainment.

Hello Fishbowl community, I was recently laid off due to a slowdown at the creative boutique agency I worked for. I’m looking to connect with CDs interested in teaming up on freelance or full-time projects, or just grabbing a coffee. I’m a NYC-based Sr. Creative Director with 17 years of experience in Europe and the US, a strong visual background, and awards across the board—including Cannes Gold. If you’re open to collaborating, send me a message.

Of course, GAP's new commercial is another dance number with another group of stereotypically 'good-looking' women. I don't know how no one on their team suggested some diversity in terms of body positivity for this campaign. As a clothing brand, the last thing you want to do is make people of different sizes feel like your brand doesn't have a place in their wardrobe. Do you agree with me, or do you have a different view on this?

Is it just me or was there like one SB spot that actually stood out? I can't even remember any of them in detail because they all just felt like a random, chaotic dump of ideas, one after the other. For me, the standout one was the Coinbase ad, just because my family and I started singing along with the karaoke. What about you?

So, LinkedIn has jumped onto the Spotify "Wrapped"/year in review bandwagon. I am probably fortunately that I wasn't able to find it, it sounds like it's only available in their app. Everyone else is doing year in review stuff (Amazon, of course, but even the NYT games). Just wondering what everyone's thoughts were on that.

Hey CD/ADs, I’m a CD/CW back in NYC post-Covid, and hoping to expand my network of creative partners. Let’s DM our links, start with a coffee, and then get some freelance together? I like pizza, rock n roll, and long walks on the beach. “The Other Guys” and “The Heat” are a few of my favorites comedies. You?⚡️

Price first, or? When qualifying during a disco call, do you all discuss the investment before moving along to the next stage (demo stage for me)? Typically asking about budget in this industry goes no where and they almost all say “no we haven’t set aside money for this”