Meet Your Makers: Making The Impossible Possible with Tessa Banks
Tessa Banks leads GALE’s creative production team. She has over 10 years of experience producing bespoke, award-winning content for brands such as Beats by Dre, VW, and Target. She has worked on the agency, publisher, and brand side, and is passionate about creating content.
LBB> What first attracted you to production–and has it been an industry you’ve always worked in, or did you come to it from another area?
Tessa> Since I was a child, I’ve been attracted to film and creation. I used to sit glued to the TV for hours, totally ignoring my family and friends when they’d call my name. But I always thank music for helping me find my way into the production world.
Music videos were a staple in my life growing up, and I always imagined myself making them. I had no idea how to get into the business (my mom was a linguist and my dad was a mathematician), but I knew I wanted to make films. I got a job in digital media as a way to get into an agency and then stalked the production department until a role opened up. It was worth the wait!
LBB> What was your first role in the production world, and how did this experience influence how you think about production and how you grew your career?
Tessa> I got my first role as a production coordinator at Deutsch LA, and I was amazed at how much there was to learn. I was able to not only absorb what producers did but also learn about filmmaking. While I shadowed fellow producers, my mentor gave me lessons in film theory. The combination gave me a very robust understanding of the field. It set me up to become a true creative producer because I was really thinking about crafting the best work and not just about getting the work done.
LBB> How did you learn to be a producer?
Tessa> Ah yes, the ways of the producer. I started my production education journey by shadowing other producers and working on in-house editorial projects (brand essence videos, sizzles, etc.). Working on post-production projects was a super helpful way to learn and grow. Those projects taught me how to manage timelines, facilitate feedback with creative teams, how to partner with vendors, and left me with invaluable technical knowledge.
LBB> Looking back to the beginning of your career, can you tell us about a production you were involved in where you really had to dig deep and that really helped you to grow as a producer?
Tessa> I’d have to say it was one of my first solo productions. It was a live-action, stop-motion, and animation production for Target. Because we had such an integrated concept, I really had to use all my individual skills to figure out the best production approach and how to properly work with our production partner.
It taught me to not let what you don’t know get in the way of what you do know. I used what knowledge I had and my commitment to learning to tackle the project. This one really helped me grow into the resourceful producer I am today.
LBB> A good producer should be able to produce for any medium, from film to events to digital experience. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why/why not?
Tessa> Agree. Simply put, our job is to “figure it out”. We are in charge of making the impossible possible. There’s no reason our skills wouldn’t help us figure out how to get a new job done. We’re versatile as hell!
LBB> What’s your favourite thing about production and why?
Tessa> This is always the hardest question to answer! It’s true (but also boring) when I say “all of it,” so let me try to explain. I love seeing an idea go from a concept to a reality. I get to help my team craft the narrative and make sure we’re elevating the work along the way. Facilitating this process is everything, and getting to see that finished product is the chef’s kiss.
LBB> How has production changed since you started your career?
Tessa> SO much has changed. It’s pretty crazy when I stop to think about it. We went from film to digital, from broadcast to social media, and from executional producers to creative producers. The way people consume content is so different that we’ve had to evolve immensely to keep up with the times. Consumers have evolved, so our strategy has too–and that trickles down into everything we touch.
LBB> And what has stayed the same?
Tessa> Our collective passion to make things. No matter what we think about, what to make, or how to make it, we’re passionate about getting the work done.
LBB> What do you think is the key to being an effective producer–and is it something that’s innate or something that can be learned?
Tessa> In my mind, the most important trait of a great producer is pushing to elevate the work. Through this, we can figure out solutions and ways forward–instead of accepting roadblocks and no’s. While I believe this can be learned, you need to be passionate about understanding the creative AND the strategy to ensure the work is exceptional.
LBB> Which production project from across your career are you most proud of and why?
Tessa> While I was at Beats by Dre, I worked on an amazing Chinese New Year film, 'Wild Like Us'. We shot in Shanghai with a handful of local influencers, featuring each of them inside their own artistic room that represented the essence of who they are. Each room was beautifully crafted and choreographed to a hero track from a famous Chinese artist.
I’m most proud of it because it was an abstract, international project that I got to produce and collaborate creatively on. With so many moving parts and things open for interpretation, it was a true balancing act to keep it all together while still crafting something beautiful.
LBB> And in terms of recent work, which projects have you found to be particularly exciting or have presented particularly interesting production challenges?
Tessa> Last year, I had the most fun I’ve had in a while producing the ridiculously hilarious 'Wood Milk' piece for MilkPEP.
It featured the amazing Aubrey Plaza and was a fast and furious production. We went from prep to delivery in just four weeks, including locking talent. The speed was the main challenge on this one because the humor had to really land–and you don’t want to rush getting to funny! But it was a blast to finally make a piece of entertainment content vs a traditional ad.
Crafting entertainment/culture content is where everything should be heading, so it felt great to be a part of the movement.
LBB> Producers always have the best stories. What’s the hairiest/most insane situation you’ve found yourself in, and how did you work your way out of it?
Tessa> This one is too easy. I worked on a project starring Serena Williams, featuring Nicki Minaj. This spot had everything: costumes, dancers, monochromatic sets, shooting in the middle of a street in Queens, NY. EVERYTHING.
The evening before the shoot, I got a phone call that said, “Guess what–we got Nas!” While exciting, it was 5pm the day before the shoot, so we had to figure out where to put Nas in the spot and what he would be doing. He ended up opening up the spot and it was great, but that was a journey. Did I mention that we shot that on a Tuesday and shipped the following Monday?
LBB> What are your personal ambitions or aspirations as a producer?
Tessa> I have two very clear ambitions. First, I’m very passionate about evolving the way we think about production. We’re no longer just executional experts, and I want to help shape what it means to be a true creative producer. We need to be involved from the creative brief through delivery so that we can help the development process. We’re here to build something together, and that’s how we should behave.
Second, I really aspire to be an amazing mentor. I want to give new, growing producers the support they need and deserve. This should be fun and we should watch out for each other. Building a network and support system for producers on the rise would be a legacy I’d be proud of.
LBB> As a producer, your brain must have a neverending "to do" list. How do you switch off? What do you do to relax?
Tessa> As a proud member of the ADHD community, I enjoy what they call active relaxation. I work out, paint, do puzzles, and pick up other arts & crafts projects. These things allow my mind to go into the most zen state I can be in. Outside of that, naps are AMAZING.
LBB> Producers are problem solvers. What personally fuels your curiosity and drive?
Tessa> I love creativity, making things, and puzzles. So I guess I'm lucky because those things drive everything I'm passionate about. To make things, you have to identify the puzzles, and creativity helps us solve those puzzles.
LBB> What advice would you give to people who are interested in becoming a producer?
Tessa> Don’t just produce the work, produce the process. Creativity flourishes when everyone feels supported and is having a good time!
LBB> From your experience, what are the ingredients for a successful production?
Tessa> Transparency, trust, and over communication. We’re all in this together, so if we act like it, then we’ll be successful.
LBB> What’s the key to a successful production-client relationship?
Tessa> Be a source of information for them. Establish trust by bringing them along for the ride. They’ll appreciate the transparency, the involvement, and the education. The more they understand, the smoother things will go.
