How to make production a synergetic space for everyone

Synergy is a buzzword. We see it plastered across LinkedIn and hear it slide off the tongues of corporate thought leaders day after day. As an elderly Gen Z, I should probably roll my eyes at the word, but hear me out.

Production environments [can] become breeding grounds for inflated egos, minimal respect and safety issues.

Real synergy is truly the coolest thing to experience. Synergy is why I do this work. It’s the feeling of synchronicity with other people all in the pursuit of creating something that does not yet exist. Sure, I’ve experienced this in creative development. However, nothing beats the synergy that bubbles up on a good set while crafting images with light, sound and story.

These production environments done right are sacred, but so often they become breeding grounds for inflated egos, minimal respect and safety issues all in the name of efficiency. Personally, I’ve experienced a range of general condescension (Please stop explaining to me what an HDMI cable is), men doing my job for me and inappropriate physical touching.

Fortunately, we all can lead by example and create on-set environments to be proud of.

When these negative events happened, it made me want to step away from production all together. I know my experience is the tip of the iceberg, especially in an environment dependent on hierarchy with so few checks on bad behaviour.

Today, in order to improve the sets I’m on, any influence I have needs to be put in the direction of building a supportive culture. Now, when I’m directing or leading, I take this personally. The buck starts and stops with me. Fortunately, we all can lead by example and create on-set environments to be proud of.

Here are some key steps I believe we should follow:

Personalise your crew from the start

Make sure the entire team is introduced—not just with their names, pronouns and roles, but on a human level. Building up positive energy to kick off the day is crucial, then you can carry the vibes through the long day ahead.

Diversify your [talent] pool by doing away with antiquated, limiting requirements, like having a college degree.

One strategy is to pair intros with each person sharing a goofy anecdote or even a funny sound or gesture that’s met with team encouragement. Even The Harvard Business Review cited that self-deprecation is a key for connection and creativity. Include this in the daily schedule and make it mandatory. It signifies that the crew’s leaders see the value in quality collaboration and building a thriving on-set community.

Above: Be pro-active in finding under-represented crew members. 

Cultivate an organically diverse talent pool

Avoid performative hiring by continuously expanding your talent pool. Don’t wait for a role to open up, join mentorship organisations and training programs that support rising talent in diverse communities. That way, when there is an opening, you know the talent pool is diverse and well-represented.

It’s no secret that ageism exists in the ad industry.

Another way to diversify your pool is by doing away with antiquated, limiting requirements, like having a college degree. In creative industries especially, higher education matters less than a strong creative voice and the tenacity to put it out into the world.

Encourage inter-generational learning

It’s no secret that ageism exists in the ad industry, and there needs to be better representation and care aimed at the 50+ market. But ageism toward younger people is also a current reality. The truth is that everyone can learn from and alongside each other.

When possible, encourage team members of all ages to collaborate and see ways to complement each other's skill sets. Intergenerational collaboration brings varied POVs together that ultimately create an authentically collaborative environment and in turn, better work.

Be self-aware and keep your hands to yourself

There are very few circumstances where one should ever touch another person in a professional environment – especially upon first meeting. However, it’s worth acknowledging that productions can occur in odd environments and close quarters, sometimes leading to moments when people can encroach on each other's personal space. In these instances, practice self-awareness.

Check in with those around you, ensuring they’re comfortable – useful comments might be, “Whoa this space is kind of tight, are you okay with my hand here?”. It’s on all of us to support each other. It’s about being considerate, communicative and conscious of how you’re physically showing up so everyone feels safe and able to do their best work.