Day in the Life: Joshua Blum and Han West of Washington Square Films
Could you walk me through a typical day in your roles?
Joshua Blum: There isn’t a typical day, really, but I usually carve out personal time in the morning. I work from home until around 11 AM, and then I head to the office. My office workday often extends until 7 or 8 PM.
When I come into the office, I start by figuring out my priorities. Han and the production team handle the day-to-day operations of our commercials, which alleviates a lot of the burden on my end. But I still like to have daily check-ins with Han to review jobs and bids. Every day, Han or I also talk to our Head of Sales (and commercial division co-founder) Jonathan Schwartz regarding leads and big-picture strategy. Beyond that, my focus is on producing projects, which includes the musical The Harder They Come, a TV series we’re working on with Lionsgate, and several feature films.
Han West: Every day is different, but here’s one version: I drop my kids off early between 8:00 and 8:30 AM. I’m the first one in the office, and my mornings are dedicated to calls with European clients – everything from new projects to reviewing cuts and general check-ins. Midday, we have various internal staff meetings, which is a great opportunity to check in with the team and align everyone. If it’s a lighter week for production, I focus on things I’ve been meaning to catch up on, such as reading scripts, watching film cuts, and reconnecting with people I haven’t spoken to in a while. If it’s a heavier week for production, I try to stay available to support producers with any challenges they might be facing.
What does it mean to be a multi-genre production company?
Joshua Blum: Everybody assumes we make commercials, but we’re actually involved in a wide range of projects, from feature films to television, virtual reality, and live theater. We’re a company that’s constantly evolving and adapting to new opportunities and technologies.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about your industry?
Joshua Blum: The patience and resilience required. It can take forever to get a project off the ground, and when you do, it can instantly be dismissed by gatekeepers and critics. If you’re in the business long enough, you’re going to get your ass kicked, and it hurts, but you get back up, because what else are you going to do?
Han West: This is clearly self-serving, but I think content producers are players in one of the toughest and most complex games on the planet. It’s highly entrepreneurial, with no infrastructural support other than what you choose to build for yourself, and the iterations are short and rapid (i.e., when you complete a project after a few months or years, you start all over again on the next one). It requires immense EQ to navigate working with emotional and passionate people, and yet you must possess the left-brain acumen to interpret the extremely detailed and regimented architecture of physical production in order to execute successfully. You’re consistently working across continents, different cultures, and different levels of society, from pitching to a billionaire investor to resolving a dispute with a craftsperson on one of your sets. You’re trying to make and sell things in an incredibly volatile market, where tastes and technology shift on an almost daily basis. And yet, despite all this, I still think in many circles, we’re seen as black sheep who avoided or couldn’t hack it at a "real job" and ran off to the circus!
What are your favorite tools?
Joshua Blum: I’m old school. I use as few tools as possible. My preferred mode of communication is meeting in person, if that can’t be arranged, then I actually use my phone to call people. In general, I try to keep my life as unmediated and unautomated as possible.
Han West: It’s a cliché – but it’s my phone (I read, make calls, etc.). It’s the lifeblood in communication and the smartphone is the ultimate communication tool… "If my phone’s dead, I’m dead."
What’s your dream project/dream client?
Joshua Blum: Obviously, we like great creative work for big brands, but for me, the most important thing is working with agencies and clients we like and respect. My best experiences have been more about the people and less about the brand or product.
Han West: I have a great idea for a diaper commercial after having three kids. If Pampers or Huggies want to triple sales through a great piece of marketing, then give me a call!
What career advice would you give your younger selves?
Joshua Blum: Relax, don’t lose so much sleep. You might not believe it now, but it’s going to work out.
Han West: Have more faith that the work will pay off and pay less attention to the moments when you don’t feel compensated. Think less about the scoreboard and more about just putting one foot in front of the other – you’ll probably get where you’re trying to go faster.
Conclusion
Washington Square Films is a multi-genre production company that has been involved in a wide range of projects, from feature films to television, virtual reality, and live theater. In this article, we caught up with Joshua Blum and Han West to learn more about their typical day, what it means to be a multi-genre production company, and what they wish more people understood about their industry.
FAQs
Q: What does it mean to be a multi-genre production company?
A: It means being involved in a wide range of projects, from feature films to television, virtual reality, and live theater.
Q: What’s one thing you wish more people understood about your industry?
A: The patience and resilience required. It can take forever to get a project off the ground, and when you do, it can instantly be dismissed by gatekeepers and critics.
Q: What are your favorite tools?
A: Joshua Blum: I’m old school. I use as few tools as possible. Han West: My phone is my go-to tool for communication.
Q: What’s your dream project/dream client?
A: Joshua Blum: Working with agencies and clients we like and respect. Han West: Working with Pampers or Huggies on a diaper commercial.
Q: What career advice would you give your younger selves?
A: Joshua Blum: Relax, don’t lose so much sleep. Han West: Have more faith that the work will pay off and pay less attention to the moments when you don’t feel compensated.
