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A day in the life of Stephen

   Added by Jason Borbet
  Published Fri 26/Oct/2007
  Keywords:

producer, recruitment, FI people


  Category:

fi


Let me be completely honest with you; it wasn’t until I worked at FI that I had any idea of what a Producer is. If you ask most people what a Producer does, they might say, “Producer’s drop mad loot to win Hollywood awards.”

While that may be true, it couldn’t be further from the reality of an FI Producer (trust, we earn awards around these parts). Fortunately for us, Stephen agreed to let me shadow him for a day. From the minute he entered the office until closing time, there were two constants: he was extremely busy and energetic. Every moment was filled with decision-making, intense meetings and interaction with everyone at FI.

It’s been said a million times by a million people, but a picture speaks a thousand words. Take a photographic walk with Stephen through his day. From our twenty-foot kitchen table to our posh conference rooms Soho and TriBeCa, there is never a dull moment for an FI Producer.

Take a look and let us know if you are down for strategy, creativity, pool and pubs!

1. JGP     Chicago, IL,   Fri  26/Oct/2007
Nice to see more pics of what its like working at FI! Since halloween is coming up I wanna see some pics of pumpkins with the FI logo carved into them.
2. ben franklin     sweden,   Fri  26/Oct/2007
you suck.
3. david coomer     richmond, ky,   Fri  26/Oct/2007
once I was shadowed by a photographer around the office. I think he is now using those photos on him MySpace, pretending to be me.

be careful.
4. Roge     Austin, Texas,   Sat  27/Oct/2007
Heard you guys have great offices. Nice photos guys. What kind of education do you need to be a producer in FI? Is it different from what is required in another firm? With the type of projects you guys do im wondering. Nice blog!
5. Ace     Nigeria,   Sun  28/Oct/2007
Nice Pix
FI is my true inspiration

For Real
6. David E     Stockholm,   Mon  29/Oct/2007
Stefan for president!!!
7. Dennis Ramirez     Chicago,   Mon  29/Oct/2007
Looks great.
Im a huge fan of FI, and am hoping to one day take a visit of the office in NY.

Excited for Propod as well ;)
8. Stephen Martin     FI - New York,   Mon  29/Oct/2007
@ Roge: With regards to education - I am a firm believer in hands-on experience, as opposed to a piece of paper from a university. I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to possess an undergraduate degree, formal project management training or a master’s degree (of course, education never hurts). I value my five years of university, where I studied Mechanical Engineering. Even though it has little to do with what I do now, that experience taught me the valuable project and people skills I use in my work today. People with strong character who can lead a team outside of work (in a sporting team for example) will always be of interest to us. Many people who we would consider a Producer at FI may have worked as a designer / developer for a web agency; they have industry knowledge and can apply their skills to lead a team of people.

Hope this answers your question...
9. lakshan     sri lanka,   Mon  5/Nov/2007
dude you guy's are relly cool man. love to come and work with you guy's.
Will u take me there. teach me everything. i love your web site. good work.. very good work
10. lakshan     sri lanka,   Mon  5/Nov/2007
if i don't no anything shall i ask you guy's.. will u help me
11. pablo castro     Chile,   Tue  6/Nov/2007
Great pics, you leave at 6:00pm?!....now that's what i call a pro agency...i wish here in draftfcb chile i can go to my home at 10:00pm at least!!! well......someday i will see the sun
12. huge fan     France,   Tue  6/Nov/2007
And i'm wondering what kind of magic blackboard you have here ! Where did you found it?
I want the same for my "FI"like's web studio !

you're the best, hope some day i'll work with you guys !
13. Haku     http://www.filobosco.com,   Tue  13/Nov/2007
Mmm I'm not really intrested in your life, but i really appreciate the company you made. It looks (but maybe, it's just marketing...) like you are a real team. Congratz

Haku
14. John     -,   Tue  13/Nov/2007
i want to see the day that anyone ever gets to leave the fi office at 6pm! not gonna happen...
15. Harley     Miami, FL,   Wed  14/Nov/2007
Looks like you gusy are doing an awesome job! I woiuld love to be part of the FI team...
16. Craig Elimeliah     NYC,   Wed  14/Nov/2007
The men and women in the trenches. You get your ass kicked from either side as you work effortlessly to shield your team from the client and your client from the team. The role of Producer is often overlooked because we hide from the glory so that those who need it can bask in its empty light. Your up till 3am making sure deadlines are met, your racking your brain in order to make sense of the often chaos that surrounds every project, you are the quarterback and the coach orchestrating every stop and go of the project. The clients want more, your production team wants the weekend off, your clients want changes and your production team havent even finished the first round of creative, your clients want to push back the launch date and you have 3 other projects launching that day as well. The life of the producer is not for the weak hearted. You close your door and scream, then come out smiling and encouraging the team to push harder, design better, deliver more and to finish with a bang! Oh the life of a producer is so hard yet so good. You have to be somewhat masochistic to step into the role. Many are not qualified, hence the constant shifts in talent, a bad producer can ruin an entire project. You cant talk out of your ass, you need to be honest every step of the way, except when your lieing for the truth, "it will be ready in 2 hours" meanwhile you know very well it wont and you just purchased yourself 2 hours to think of another excuse, but you do it in the most graceful way.
The producer is the guage ini which how hard and how well the team delivers, you present your ideas, you tackle the issues, you motivate and you moderate. Too many hours, too few hours, moody designers who just broke up with their girlfriends and cranky developers who need to release a new version of their flash class later that night for their user group online.
You build the team, keeping an eye out for new talent, gently poaching and trying to find those missing pieces that will make your life easier.
Its the relationship, you want to deliver, over deliver, yet not look like it and you want your clients to love you because deep down you really really love them too... just kidding!

A good producer is like a great conductor who can make every part of the orchestra perform in sync. You have to love the abuse, smile through it and reap the benefits when everything turns out right.

Then there is the little things, the conversations, the subtle prodding, the mind tricks, the deals, the pitch, the deliver, the nods, the stops and the gos. The late night support, the weekend stress, the 3am calls from the client on the west coast, the details, all the fine details, the big ideas, the short deadlines, the budgets, the team, the boss, your wife or husband, your kids, yourself... The One Show, FWA, the Agencies, the brands, the copy, the changes, the video shoots, the uploads, the downloads, the fex ex, the late checks, the early cigarette, the coffee, outlook, blackberry, contracts, schedules, payment breakdowns, comps, revisions, revisions, changes and more changes, no's and yes's, conference calls, one more thing's, almost done's, weekly check ins, client visits, trust, honesty, passion, love for what you do, smilie all the time!
17. PrabhakaranG     India / Chennai,   Wed  14/Nov/2007
@Craig - That was really fabulous, I really dont know about Producer task. Is he human being or an machine, doing all kind of stuffs. I would say WOW if he is perfect for about 70% his work. I never seen any 1 in my life doing all these task, except a mother relationship to her kid, doing 24/7 work.Interesinting. Thanks for the gr8 info craig. BTW r u producer of any company - SMILES
Prabhakaran.G
18. Craig Elimeliah     NYC,   Wed  14/Nov/2007
@Prabhakaran - its an inhuman job, thats why only superheros make it. I actually was recently a producer at Firstborn but I left to start an interactive department at a NYC university and focus on advances in education, im still a producer but just in a bit of a different setting. Oh and one thing I also forgot was expierience, if you were never a designer, developer, artist, whatever, it is very hard to gain respect from your team, so make sure you know what the heck yoru talking about, know flash, know backends, know design standards, etc... otherwise get out the kitchen!
19. craig elimeliah     NYC,   Wed  14/Nov/2007
I personally love being a producer, its a culmination of every aspect of the industry.

When you grow up... be a producer!
20. Jackie B.     Miami, FL,   Wed  14/Nov/2007
Craig that was absolutely brillianty stated. I felt like I was reading my biography! It's always a pleasure to know that there are other insane Producers out there making it happen no matter what! Kudos to you and every other Producer out there working the late shift. A little trick of the trade I picked up along the way...always arm yourself with candy. It makes everyone smile, no matter how rough it is. :) To all those thinking about becoming Producer's it's not as bad as it sounds, the passion and end result always makes it all worthwile!
21. KC     Baltimore, MD,   Wed  14/Nov/2007
Kind of lagging on the updates to this blog ... FI must be working on something huge ... maybe Steven is in charge of it :)
22. Nadine Bleyel     Oberhausen, Germany,   Thu  15/Nov/2007
looks like a great day in office :)
23. craig elimeliah     NYC,   Thu  15/Nov/2007
A pool table? Who has time during the day to play pool?
24. dhm     NYC,   Thu  15/Nov/2007
ever heard of fika? :) A lot of pool goes on here, we have a nice table in the Swe office also. Guitar Hero is popular now though. I very much agree with you that:

"A good producer is like a great conductor who can make every part of the orchestra perform in sync. You have to love the abuse, smile through it and reap the benefits when everything turns out right. "

FI gets about 1000 applicants a week, from all over the world. Mostly for other positions. It seems these days its difficult to explain what a producers role really is, and your comment above is a good metaphor
25. Prabhu     Chennai, India,   Sun  16/Sep/2007
Guys, you are ROCKING!!!!
Your works are so creative and impressive . . .
Cheers..
26. Mark     Netherlands,   Fri  16/Nov/2007
Man, I can't believe this is all flash. Awesome work guys. A true inspiration !
I can't wait to be just as good as you guys...

Good luck in the Future


Greetz,
Mark
27. craig elimeliah     NYC,   Fri  16/Nov/2007
1000 applicants!! WOW! iThat is a lot! I am lookiing for a junior web programmer who knows a bit of flash, send some love my way!

Yes the producer role is very hard to define, kind of like a Point Guard in basketball, you just know that you are, cant explain it, just comes naturally. When I was at Firstborn we also interviewed tons of people who would just come out of the woodwork and for some reason or another assumed that they could do "this", little did they know... the key is not just doing the job, but also maintaining a sense of normalcy and demure, never let em see ya sweat...

Rock On! Fantasy!
28. dhm     NYC,   Fri  16/Nov/2007
I think it might be worth while to start a producer thread/post and invite other producers and discuss this entire role and see how others in the industry view it.
29. Tom     NYC,   Sat  17/Nov/2007
Oh wow! Pool in the office! I wish we had a pool table (just have a wii)...and wish I was in a ton of meetings where work actually doesn't get done.
Ah, I jest. Keep up the good work guys - breaks are necessary in life....so says the guy working on a Saturday right here =)
30. Gustavo     Argentina,   Mon  19/Nov/2007
If you need a latin american point of view of the design, pls contact me! I'm working in development of websites and Intranets for all the World, and also i love flash!
Thks, G of www.gdesigner.com.ar
31. Stephen Martin     NYC,   Tue  20/Nov/2007
@KC - Yes, I am actually working on one of FI's biggest undertakings right now, which is our project code named 'Propod' You can check out the latest right here www.propod.com

@Craig - Very interesting posts above and perspective you have on the Producer role. Good to read through and hear your thoughts.

32. Min Thu     bkk,   Fri  23/Nov/2007
are you guys so busy at FI? please update this blog regularly! :) thanks
33. Bobby Digital     -,   Fri  23/Nov/2007
Your design makes me feel noxious but I guess it's what your clients like so good luck to you and may your staff not suffer too greatly from being made to do sucky design. Cheerio!
34. Sharan     Pondicherry, INDIA,   Tue  27/Nov/2007
Guys !! your workd are fabulus.....I love your website......I would like to work with you guys. Fi ROCKING
35. RWF     -,   Tue  27/Nov/2007
Well now that Halloween and Thanksgiving have passed, our sites are on Christmas. Can we see the FI logo on Santa's ass! Shut up tard from Chicago.
36. Tim     nyc,   Tue  27/Nov/2007
@Craig... It seems you have a ton more free time now man. It might not be a pool table, but blog comments are at times so well crafted, they can consume as much time as a round nine ball. :) - joke
37. Artem     Moscow,   Wed  28/Nov/2007
I'm working as a producer in one of Russian's biggest design company and i'm with you in thet a explanation of how to be a good producer is same dufficalties as if you'll ask how to make money on stocks. It just need experience and your own, outstanding vision of different things. maybe you don' t know technics, but as a producer you took the project and trying to push it, so what are hell. You have to be informed in many things of production stages. As i thoughts and sorry for my grammer mistakes in english.
38. sfdgdsfg     sdfgsfdgsfdg,   Fri  30/Nov/2007
sdfgsdfgsfdgsfdg
39. craig elimeliah     NYC,   Thu  6/Dec/2007
@Tim... is that you ninja?
freetime, well perhaps... ok well yes... how could i have passed up on a Producers blog?
Gotta be vocal!
40. Harjuntao     Toronto,   Wed  12/Dec/2007
Wow, it must suck to have you as a Producer, Stephen. First you have no education background in design. Second, you only have this job because of family relations.
41. Jason     Toronto,   Sat  15/Dec/2007
I would imagine it is hard for a guy like Stephen, constantly swarmed by the paparazzi when he is trying to get his work done. Imagine, you wake up, you aren't living in your parents basement, rather you live in a fancy dancy nyc building. You want to go out, walk your dog, but wait, its Lindsay Lohan running at you flashing her goodies and you just want a cup of Starbucks. What man can work under these conditions? You tell me. You tell me....

It is always a good idea to post your real identity and a contact name when you are posting slander. FYI. - Jason
42. Harjuanto     Toronto,   Tue  18/Dec/2007
WTF are you talking about Jason? It's not hard at all being Stephen. First of all, he wouldn't have the job if his bro doesn't own the company. Secondly, he doesn't have the background of design nor interactive. And why are you defending him like you are his bitch? Well maybe you are his bitch. After all it's NY. It's all good.
43. Greg     -,   Tue  18/Dec/2007
Hmmm...perhaps you'd make a better producer, Harjuanto. You should apply on their website!
44. Prabhu     Chennai, India,   Sun  23/Dec/2007
FI, check 25th comment...
I think the month has been displayed wrong, it is supposed to be Nov. How it happened???
45. Adam     Australia,   Wed  9/Jan/2008
You look like one happy camper!
46. xhtml css developer     Athens Greece,   Fri  11/Jan/2008
I find the web publishing standards of today very important for the future of the internet and world wide web. As a standard front-end developer i really force myself to validate all projects in order to follow the standards in usability and accessibility for best practice. I started develop websites back in 1996 and standard was not at all present for these matters, Today we dont use tables anymore and Xhtml, css is separating information structure from content.
http://www.michaelpersson.com
47. Merrick Kabistan     Los Angeles,   Fri  11/Jan/2008
It's a pretty interesting mini read on what goes on at FI when the producer is there...
48. Jorge Gama     México D.F.,   Thu  17/Jan/2008
Eh visto su crecimiento y cambio a través de los años ustedes han sido un grupo que me a inspirado por que creo que estamos en le mismo canal, desde la su primera pagina los eh visto ya hace tiempo, yo en México eh echo lo mió trabajando de aquí para allá, pero siempre regreso a ver como les ha ido, felicidades por el éxito y espero algún día en la vida conocerlos, y yo también soy de la idea de que la imagen es el elemento por el que uno obtiene interés antes de leer y de escuchar.
49. Frank Diaz     Los Angeles, CA,   Fri  18/Jan/2008
You guys have great offices. I had tested there once to be a designer, but i guess i didnt have what HR was looking for.. which is fine now.. It turned out for the better.. Making videogames for the PS3/360.. BUT NY is my home.. I miss it=)
50. John     Malta, Europe,   Fri  25/Jan/2008
FI is massive......really wish to bw be part of it....just like all the other people hehe.....who knows what the future might hold ! In the meantime keep the great work going ! Well Done!!
51. Gavin Dunne     Cummins House, Tully Avenue, NY,   Sat  26/Jan/2008
Jeez, isn't that guys head a bit long for an EXECUTIVE PRODUCER!
52. Todd     Austin, TX,   Fri  1/Feb/2008
Good reading this thread. Very interesting to also get an insight into how it works at Fi. Pics are rad, job is top notch, company rocks..what more can i say!!!

Keep up the good work Fi
53. Craig Elimeliah     NYC,   Sun  16/Mar/2008
Whoa people... chill out!!! why all the negative posts on here???

The Interactive industry isnt the playground anymore... we are no longer a bunch of kids in the garage, why not have some respect for those who are doing great things and keep your negative comments to yourself... unless you have a killer portfolio to flaunt keep your mouth shut, and if you do have one then you wouldnt be disrespecting an industry bro like this...
54. Lenz     Hamburg, Germany,   Fri  2/May/2008
Nice photos.
I love your offices in Stockholm and New York they´re looking very compfortable and inspirating.
Great Work.