Skateboarding Meets Fine Art: ATK PLN’s Jose Sebastian Gomez
Win or lose, you always want to feel like you pushed the creative to its best and had fun doing it.
In a few words, can you tell us who you are and what your job title is?
My name is Jose Sebastian Gomez, I’m the Executive Creative Director here at www.ATKPLN.com I have the pleasure of leading a massively talented group of artists, designers and creative thinkers here at our studio.
Did you have a mentor at one point in your life and how did that person help guide you?
I would say that my friend Chris Miller was a big mentor in my life. He is an absolute legend on a skateboard being one of the top professional skateboarders of his day and a accomplished entrepreneur in business owning several lifestyle brands. We used to work together in the action sports industry and he really showed me a level of professionalism that has stayed with me all these years.
If you were going to choose one project to post on AdForum to represent your creative vision, what would it be?
It’s hard to pick just one but what I think speaks best to my storytelling style is one where the intersection between live action, animation and design comes together seamlessly. Some of my favorite projects I’ve directed are Smart Car, The Walking Dead & DC Shoes “AirCraft”
Is there a band or artist that you listen to during the work week to help you relax and spark creativity?
If so, who is it? Even better, he is a link to my “work music” when I need to get things done. The playlist is called “Constant Flow” https://open.spotify.com/user/josesebastiangomez/playlist/2xe8fWDmC8lwH363YUMCl2?si=sQqQnSSUTmermOKbwzmudg
What would be the one word you would use to describe your office’s culture?
Ambitious
What can you do creatively when working on branded content that you might not be able to do in the “traditional” ad process?
Be able to tell stories in a more unique way that has the ability to be a form of entertainment. Being able to give the audience something in return for their time. I think the branded film for DC shoes I directed does this really effectively. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VHaQeY88po
What is your least favorite thing about the pitch process?
The waiting game after the presentation…. everything before that is my favorite part of this business. Win or lose, you always want to feel like you pushed the creative to its best and had fun doing it.
If you had the chance to President and/or King for a day and can enact any rule into law, what would it be?
Free college education.
What do you think will be the big change either in technology or culture that will affect advertising in the next 5 years?
The internet. Forever.