Producing Tomorrow's Producers: Why Perseverance Is Key with Gordon Mackinnon

Gordon Mackinnon is a managing partner at TwentyfourSeven, one of the world's largest service production companies, with a presence with nine strategically positioned offices across the globe. Born in Scotland, Gordon has called Barcelona home for more than 30 years of which 25 have been spent in the world of service production.

In his current capacity, Gordon supervises the production departments within the expansive TwentyfourSeven network and is actively engaged in cultivating close relationships with clients, spearheading projects, and mentoring his dynamic teams.

LBB> What advice would you give to any aspiring producers or content creators hoping to make the jump into production?

Gordon> For aspiring producers I still strongly believe that it is a case of getting out there, getting people to know you, and that they know you are motivated and hungry to learn. Get as much on the ground experience as you can, build your network of contacts within the industry, be humble and willing to learn.

LBB> What skills or emerging areas would you advise aspiring producers to learn about and educate themselves about?

Gordon> Obviously emerging technologies are hot topics...AI, augmented reality, virtual reality and it will always be helpful to be ahead of that curven and to widen your scope of knowledge and skill set. But also bear in mind the basics, get familiar with how all departments work, get familiar with camera, grip and lighting gear, interact with HOD´s and learn from their knowledge. Speak to directors. The better your understanding of how a set works the better your producer skills in the future.

LBB> What was the biggest lesson you learned when you were starting out in production - and why has that stayed with you?

Gordon> I think that perseverance is key, keep pushing and looking for opportunities. And have respect for that learning curve. You have to be prepared to take some hits! When I. started looking for work in production I had no experience whatsoever and I. had a university degree which was more or less useless for a film set. But people appreciated the fact that you were willing to do the hours, be attentive and with a smile on your face!

LBB> When it comes to broadening access to production and improving diversity and inclusion what are your team doing to address this?

Gordon> Given the nature of our company and the fact that we are multi territorial then we have almost 200 people within our various offices. We have been able to really open up to people of all types of backgrounds when recruiting. We actively promote diversity and inclusion in our team generating internships and mentorship programs to support professional and personal growth within our ranks. And given the opportunities within our company we see young people flourish within these programmes given the fact that they have real opportunities to learn and to grow.

LBB> And why is it an important issue for the production community to address?

Gordon> In our interconnected global world it´s obviously important to generate more inclusive narratives and to do so you have to create diverse teams. And in doing so you create a more interesting workplace which ultimately benefits the production´s quality as well as creating opportunities.

LBB> There are young people getting into production who maybe don’t see the line between professional production and the creator economy, and that may well also be the shape of things to come. What are your thoughts about that? Is there a tension between more formalised production and the ‘creator economy’ or do the two feed into each other?

Gordon> At the moment we are at a point where the creator economy feeds into formalised production and vice versa. But I am confident that the majority of those who are trying to get into production as producers recognise and are interested in the structured processes of professional production. I suppose the sweet spot for young people is to find an environment where they can balance creative freedom within those structures.

LBB> When it comes to educating producers how does your agency like to approach this? (I know we’re always hearing about how much easier it is to educate or train oneself on tech etc, but what areas do you think producers can benefit from more directed or structured training?)

Gordon> As I mentioned earlier many of our producers started as PA´s and have grown within the company and therefore feel very connected already with the company ethos and are familiar with the processes which TwentyfourSeven has in place worldwide. As a result our producers are able to experiment producing in other territories and therefore become more versatile and have a more universal view of the company and production in general. We also encourage them to develop business skills and project management and share with them on a regular basis industry specific knowledge from festivals, forums and publications.

LBB> It seems that there’s an emphasis on speed and volume when it comes to content - but to where is the space for up and coming producers to learn about (and learn to appreciate) craft?

Gordon> It's important for aspiring producers to appreciate and learn about storytelling, cinematography and other aspects of craft. For them to seek out the work of top players, to be up to date with pieces which are winning awards for craft. Obviously the need to hit a deadline will be a hard reality but hopefully balancing the need for speed with a commitment to quality and creativity.

LBB> On the other side of the equation, what’s the key to retaining expertise and helping people who have been working in production for decades to develop new skills?

Gordon> This is very dear to our hearts in Twentyfour Seven. We are very proud of the fact that we do not lose producers.. We create a creative and productive environment for them and give them the opportunity to be working on some of the best campaigns that are out there. We develop a sense of belonging which outweighs a freelance lifestyle in most cases. Being at the frontline of these projects they are constantly learning and developing new skills.

LBB> Clearly there is so much change, but what are the personality traits and skills that will always be in demand from producers?

Gordon> Communication skills, problem solving, diplomacy, adaptability, leadership...if you have those up your sleeve you should be able to navigate most situations.