Art & Content Producer | Freelance
Los Angeles, CA
by Mara Serdans
Do you have a side hustle? Tell me about it.
No, but I used to do Makeup.
Are you more of a hunter or a gatherer? And why?
Both. I love to go out and get things like knowledge, supplies, ingredients but then bring them home and do something with them.
What's the last song you listened to?
Rosalia - Malamente
What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?
Gosh, everything - what's going on in the news, work, work projects, personal projects, family and friends, relationships. I do love public radio when in the car.
What inspires you?
TV/streaming is really turning out some of its best right now. I've always loved film but now it’s the smaller screen that seems to be the most creative.
You’ve been given an elephant. You can’t give it away or sell it. What would you do with the elephant?
We'd grab Tulip and Bob. Go for a great walk in Griffith park and eat some greens.
What's your favorite board game?
Monopoly.
What is your mantra?
Conscious breathing
In-N-Out or Shake Shack?
In-N-Out
ROB BECKON ON THE DELICATE BALANCE OF BEING
A HUNTER AND A GATHERER
As freelance producer for many years, Rob Beckon has been around the block. Having made the rounds at award-winning agencies including Media Arts Lab, Innocean, Saatchi & Saatchi LA, Mullen Lowe, and David & Goliath, Rob is a shape-shifter.
It must be why Rob considers himself equally adept as a hunter and gatherer.
“Freelancing makes the whole job different because everyone has different approaches. You know, Nissan is different than Apple. It’s never stagnant, it’s always interesting.”
As a hunter, Rob is someone who casts his vision on the horizon and moves quickly. Someone who sees minor differences in the landscape to search for the hunt – be it Rob’s next production gig or his experience as a make-up artist.
Several years ago, Rob traded the craft of triple-bidding for a make-up brush and worked on various editorial, commercial and test shoots. “Doing makeup…it’s sort of an extension of who the person is and who they want to be. I loved doing make-up because it’s like painting and it always gets back to the visual component. I've always loved how writing, directing, acting, costumes, sets and makeup, come together to create a story or film.”
As much as Rob enjoyed being a make-up artist, art production never strayed too far and he craved the consistency of longer-term contract jobs.
So Rob forged ahead as a hunter, using his panoramic view of the ad world to anticipate broad-level industry changes. “Advertising is a great business because it’s always new, always changing…and often the leader in technology and innovation – whether it’s a product or a service. That’s always been the fascinating side of advertising for me. Never a dull moment.”
As a gatherer, Rob is meticulous and deliberate. He is someone who notices changes in the here and now. This know-how is critical for a freelancer – whether it helps Rob adapt to an agency’s unspoken cultural rules, cozy up to the new cost consultant or creative problem-solve for the next integrated campaign that needs to be bid and shot in one week.
Amidst the freelance hustle, Rob also values moments of reflection.
“Because we’re in so much turmoil, I’ve been taking walks. It’s a good way to tackle the stress and heaviness that’s around us today. Sometimes I just have to pull away and try to empty my mind and the easy thing to do is focus on my breathing.”
It takes a certain chameleon to adapt to the changes in advertising and the world around us, and we love how Rob takes things in stride – as a hunter, a gatherer, and one cool cat who never forgets to breathe.