Protein Editorial’s executive producer, Ted Lega says the 180-degree views of the city from their new, eighth floor space “never disappoint.”
Protein’s new, art-filled home is a 5,200-sq. ft. space on half of the top floor of an eight story building at 900 N. Franklin – an address shared with Kiki’s French restaurant on the first floor.
Founded by Lega and his partner Clark Jackson in the fall of 2007, Protein has enjoyed a quick and steady trajectory of success by representing an exclusive roster of independent editors and the hiring of an executive producer who wanted a bigger challenge.
Wilmette native Tim Jacobs had worked in California for nine years before returning home in 2006. Six of those years were spent as a producer for BBDO, San Francisco and three producing for Film Core in L.A.
Back in Chicago, Jacobs was quickly hired as a producer with a big post house. “But I was restless and looking for more responsibility, notably in sales and recruitment of talent,” he says.
Sales especially intrigued him. “At BBDO I’d seen a few hundred sales presentations and learned what worked and what didn’t work.”
Jacobs was ready and primed when he joined Protein, in December of 2008, as executive producer. Undaunted by recession gloom at the time, Jacobs found agencies were warmly receptive to the idea of hiring independent, national A-list editors, with Protein picking up all travel expenses for the client.
“Since then,” Lega says, “we’ve been growing very steadily.”
Protein currently represents six editors in the Midwest. Cara Meiselman and Clark Jackson are Chicago based; L.A.-based Brett Nicoletti, Rick Lobo, Cory Livingston and Michael Hackett “work all over the U.S.” Jacobs says.
When editors are hired for Chicago projects, they work in Protein’s studio, with four editorial suites, a color/finish room and room to grow.
Lega, an entrepreneur, and Jackson, a multi-talented editor/DP, have been a team since the late ‘90s and from 2000 to 2006 ran Eightball Films, a production/post company.
“We were fortunate to have worked with some great people at Burnett and DraftFCB early on, which I think helped to shape some of our creative sensibilities,” says Jackson.
Currently, they’re working with Leinenkugel’s Beer, Mercury Marine and Can-Am and Jackson will soon start editing a 6-episode factual based TV show for a new Discovery Network.
Through his solely-owned Hotcake Films, Lega has two commercial campaigns shooting currently for agency Jacobson Rost, plus an upcoming television show for Discovery Networks, along with spots, branded content, TV, corporate and social media.
Production growth and success, he says, “will come from a combination of diverse ad work, strategic partnerships and television based programming.” And having room to grow will certainly help forward their goals.
Protein’s phone is 312/944-1500. Visit www.proteineditorial.com for more information.
