Episode Details

"We work to live. We don't live to work."

- Tom Grane

When I first began my career in Hollywood the concept of life outside of work was completely foreign to me. I assumed the only way to reach my goals was to sacrifice my health and sanity for the sake of a great résumé, only to discover those early habits become lifelong habits if you’re not careful. Once this mentality sets in and you set this expectation with others it can be practically impossible to reverse. That is why I am actively trying to change the conversation around our “get it done at all costs” work culture and collaborate with employers and business owners who understand the importance of work-life balance.

Early in my career I was fortunate enough to experience a work culture where well-being was a priority at what was then a small fledgling trailer & marketing agency. Fast-forward fifteen years and today Mob Scene is one of the top movie marketing companies in the business - largely because of the culture that co-founder and CEO Tom Grane created from the very start. This innovative company has been an integral part of the marketing campaigns for projects like Avatar, Stranger Things, Fast 9, Wonder Woman, Joker, Knives Out, and The Trial of the Chicago 7...and that’s just recently. Historically they have provided marketing and original content for more marketing campaigns than I could list if I had the entire episode to do so.

Having a background as a studio executive for 20th Century Fox, Tom admits to having a strong work ethic, and he’s spent his fair share of hours working late and being away from his family. But his motivation when he founded Mob Scene was to create more flexibility with his time and be more available to his family, and he believed in fostering an environment that provides the same flexibility for his team. In our conversation we discuss a variety of topics that can help creatives better understand what it takes to get an opportunity at a company like Mob Scene, that can help producers and business owners better understand the importance of fostering work-life balance with your teams, and that can help all of us better understand how to navigate our constantly changing landscape of content whether we’re working from home, at the office, or adopting a hybrid work environment.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• How Tom got his start in the entertainment industry.
• What led Tom to working for Fox for 16 years and then taking the leap to opening his own marketing company.
• Tom’s advice to young people just starting out in the business.
• How Tom created the culture of Mob Scene.
• Why they chose the name Mob Scene for the company and meaning behind the logo.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Family and teamwork are the foundation of what makes Mob Scene successful.
• How Tom encourages trailer editors to do their best work and survive the competitive nature of the business.
• Why Tom knew from day one he wanted to create a division-less company and how it has helped them survive over the years.
• The changes that streaming platforms have made to the marketing industry and how Mob Scene has adapted.
• What's missing from the work from home experience.
• Alternate working options coming out of the COVID pandemic.
• Why i