Pro Hello: Damon Webster
Photograph credit: Greg Collins
Damon Webster has been an award-winning executive producer for over 20 years. He has worked on productions in over 30 countries, both agency side and for years on the production company side. He has held multiple head of production positions for agencies, producing content for telecom, automotive, health, mobile, package goods, food, finance, entertainment, sports, and a myriad of other categories, creating successful campaigns with actionable metrics. In addition, he has experienced producing long form series for streaming, utilising in-house production and post production teams. He is proud to be part of teams that produce high level, successful pitches, thriving off the intensity and finite nature of those projects.
On top of this, Damon is the winner of multiple Cannes Lions and various other advertising awards. Beginning as an assistant photographer in NYC, he went on to photograph everyone from a Manson Family member, to Dizzy Gillespie, Jaco Pastorius, Smokey Robinson, Bruce Springsteen and Joni Mitchell.
Here, Damon delves into some of the experiences that have got him to where he is today.
LBB> What do you do, and where are you based?
Damon> I am a freelance senior producer based in NYC, and work on global time zones.
LBB> What recent campaigns might we know you from, and what was your input on these campaigns?
Damon> Most recently, I have been brought into campaigns as a creative, seasoned producer with a steady, calm hand. The requirements varied.
LBB> How did you first get into the industry, and how did you realise what you wanted to do?
Damon> I first started as an assistant photographer with a love of advertising. I even collected classic TV spots. I was initially on the production company side, then moved to the agency side. When I showed up at a tiny prod co to buy some lights, there was every filmmaking tool in their studio. I offered my services to work on their commercial shoots in whatever capacity, and six months later I was their producer. All of the things I learned about in film school were right in front of me. I never looked back.
LBB> Tell us about your journey so far.
Damon> Moving from a production company to an agency gave me a well-rounded insight into all of the parts. I knew how the process worked, and it made me a better negotiator. I have been lucky enough to lead brilliant production teams, and advocate for their success. I have recently been brought into projects based on speed and difficulty, and am happy to lend experience to produce a seamless end result. It has never been a straight line, but always a learning experience.
LBB> What projects / campaigns that you’ve been involved in have been the most personally satisfying to work on, and why?
Damon> This is hard to nail down, so I made a list...
- The first Lion was a good one, as the creatives were Jeff Goodby and Steve Simpson.
- Leading a team and winning Gold in a very challenging category.
- Having three weeks to create a CGI piece for a Toyota dealer show, which resulted in a staff job offer.
- Working an adventure-centric campaign taking me to 30 countries, and producing in extreme locations and situations.
LBB> What’s been your proudest achievement?
Damon> Managing a team of producers, BA, traffic, post-producers and editors while I was director of production at Saatchi & Saatchi LA. These people were / are the best, and I was proud to be their advocate. We won the first Gold Lions for the agency in a challenging category.
LBB> What do people (clients, agencies etc) come to you for specifically?
Damon> I was once called 'The Wolf' by an HOP, referring to the character in 'Pulp Fiction'. Initially offended, I then viewed it again and realised he just solved hard problems with no drama. I’ll take it.
LBB> What are your strongest opinions relating to your specific field?
Damon> If you are not constantly curious and exploring the ways we tell stories, you will be left behind. I have always felt that being a culture maven influences your storytelling references in marketing. When you understand the medium, you know how to tell the story.
LBB> What sort of projects really get you excited at the moment?
Damon> The next one.
LBB> Who are your creative heroes, and why?
Damon> One of the smartest and most grounded creatives I have ever had the honour of working with, Jeff Goodby, and one I have never worked with, Greg Hahn - though I do know that the work created out of Mischief sets the new bar.
LBB> Outside of the day job, what fuels your creativity?
Damon> Everything that is a visual sorbet to life - constant stimulation walking the streets of NY, going to museums and galleries, movies in a theatre, live jazz, food experiences, and all of the things that harbour the human spirit. 'The Family of Man', a book of photographs about the human condition, is my North star.
