Tools of the Trade: Han West of Washington Square Films

Tools of the Trade is an AgencySpy feature to help highlight the many tools that help make advertising and marketing folks successful. The tools can be anything that helps people perform at their top form, from a favorite drafting table to the best software program to a lucky pen, a vintage typewriter or a pair of headphones.

Next up is Han West, EVP/executive producer at Washington Square Films.

What is one tool you use all the time at work, and how does it inspire your work?

You might have to rename this segment “tool” of the trade (referring to me) with this answer, but one thing I can’t live without, especially on the road, is my Rolex. Yeah, I said it. It’s a second-hand, first-edition GMT Master that was so beat-up when I got it that the guy selling it to me literally told me the few thousand I was spending on it was a bad investment. 10 years later, it still keeps good time and apparently, it’s worth more than what I paid for it. Take that, watch guy.

Why is it your favorite?

I travel a lot. The watch was designed for pilots to calculate differences across time zones, and when I first bought it, I thought I would be using those features all the time on my trips. But now, whenever I venture to other states or countries for work, I never set my watch to the local time and always keep it on New York Eastern Standard to stay connected with home.

How did you acquire your tool or hear about it for the first time?

I bought it after a shoot in Los Angeles from Bob’s Watches. It had a cracked dial that needed to be replaced and no box or paperwork. I think when the salesman brought it out he was using it to class up the other options he was showing me, but it was love at first sight (and it was frankly the only one I could sort of, maybe, just barely afford).

How does it help you be successful?

I always keep the watch set to New York time because I like to have a little reminder of my home, my family, and my office family to keep me grounded in the chaos of quadruple-tasking while on the road. I just look down at my wrist and I know what time it is and where they are. In a job constantly trying to pull you in a million different directions, I find that little anchors like this are super helpful in keeping me composed and my priorities straight.

Does it have sentimental value?

The watch has definitely become something of a personal heirloom. I hope to eventually pass it down to one of my kids. Maybe one of them will decide to be a pilot for Virgin Galactic. They’ll need it.

Do you think your tool could go TikTok viral? Why or why not?

There is a huge TikTok watch fanbase. A lot of people on those channels would probably be shocked that I actually wear and use my watch, versus keeping it in a drawer somewhere.

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