Moving the Needle: Christopher Lane

At adam&eveDDB New York, our people are the heart and soul to our agency. We believe that the inclusivity of thought and background leads to when we, as a company, are able to be the most authentic and creative. Thus, allowing creativity to be the most powerful force within our business; it has the power to make people laugh, cry, think, alter their behaviour, create change for the world, and impact culture.  

I was born in NYC and raised in Philadelphia. I studied marketing and business admin at Loyola University Maryland and jumped into film and television production right after college. I worked in the film and tv work for about seven years. A few of the productions I worked on before joining DDB are Time Travelers Wife (HBO), City on a Hill (Showtime), Leave the World Behind (Netflix), and John Wick 3. I joined DDB (my first agency job) one year ago this month and have greatly enjoyed my time here so far! I am recently engaged and just became a first-time homeowner with my fiancé Olivia. In my free time I am a jazz drummer, I enjoy sailing, taking care of my dog Disco, playing squash, and traveling with my fiancé.

1. Name, Title, Office, Link to LinkedIn Page  

Christopher Lane, associate producer, LinkedIn

2. What is your personal mantra?  

Christopher> “Yes I can” 

3. How did you wind up in advertising?  

Christopher> I had been working in the location management department for film and TV productions for about seven years before I made the switch to advertising. I loved being on set, but I wanted to move from the freelance world into the more structured agency work environment. I enjoy the short-format content I have been producing since joining the DDB team!  

4. What is a piece of creative that you worked on that particularly moved you?  

Christopher> I enjoyed working on the Marmite Smugglers project. Seeing the reactions of the 'smugglers' was exciting, funny, and it was hard not to smile. Food is one of those things that is great at reminding  people of home and family.  

5. What does your daily routine consist of?  

Christopher> My daily routine consists of taking care of my amazing dog Disco, walking to work, trying to stay active (working out, going on a run, or playing squash), and then usually cooking and meal prepping for the  next day. Currently, my fiancé and I just purchased an apartment and are trying to self-manage a renovation, so much of my free time is spent managing contractors.  

6. When do you feel the most powerful?  

Christopher> I feel the most powerful when I complete a project and it turns out great or successful. All the demanding work and knowing it paid off is amazing. The sense of accomplishment I get from pulling all the pieces together to create something great that people connect to is why I got into the industry.  

7. Which of the DDB Four Freedoms is the most important to you and why?  

Christopher> I think the Freedom to Fail is the most important to me because I am new to agency production. As much on-set experience as I had, it did not translate to being able to hit the ground running. The DDB production team allowed me to take on responsibilities and learn on the job. They were there to guide me and I learned much faster than I expected because of the support from the production team and the freedom to risk making a mistake along the way. 

8. What is one source of creative inspiration you draw from outside of work?  

Christopher> I draw a lot of inspiration from nature and the waters around New York. I have spent much of my life on the water around New York. Growing up I learned how to sail on the Peconic sound, my first job was  teaching sailing to kids, and eventually, I ran a sailing program on Long Island. Sailing teaches humility,  patience, communication skills, and an understanding that sometimes a little luck goes a long way.  

9. Who are your creative heroes?  

Christopher> My creative heroes were the directors and producers I watched growing up. As a kid, I loved a wide range of creators from Mel Brooks to Peter Jackson.  

10. Wishes or aspirations for the advertising industry?  

Christopher> I hope that the advertising industry can bring awareness to the causes that might have otherwise been overlooked. There is a project I am working on right now for Parley for the Oceans, which is a company that is trying to bring awareness to plastics in our oceans and rivers. This is a global issue and advertising has the expertise and skill to bring issues like this to the attention of the masses. These issues will  impact generations and I hope the advertising industry is at the forefront of informing and educating  people on how to solve them. 

11. How are you moving the advertising industry forward?  

Christopher> I will always find a way to make something happen. Even if the original plan does not work, we always have a contingency plan.  

12. What has been your most measurable impact?  

Christopher> I believe it would have to be the efficiency and the scrappiness I bring to the projects. I have been able to make projects work with a tiny budget and still deliver quality content.  

13. Lasting words to leave us with: 

Christopher> You can’t control the wind, but you can always adjust your sails.