A featured contribution from Leadership Perspectives: a curated forum reserved for leaders nominated by our subscribers and vetted by our Media and Entertainment Business Review Advisory Board.

TEAM

Gary Gimelfarb, Director of Content Production

Craft, Connection and Code: Leading the Future of Content Production

Gary Gimelfarb

Gary Gimelfarb

Content Workflow Innovator

Crafting Stories That Live Everywhere

The content production world is moving faster than ever, and content leaders constantly walk a fine line between driving innovation and staying efficient, all while keeping the heart of storytelling alive. For me, that heart has always been authenticity and human connection.

My journey from music videos, documentaries, and indie films to producing commercials and content at ad agencies, and now leading TEAM’s Content Production department, has cemented that belief. Early on, I learned how to solve problems with no time, no budget, and no sleep. Those lessons shaped how I lead today. At TEAM, we empower everyone at the table, account, creative, production, post strategy, even interns contribute great ideas where everyone feels ownership, everyone has fun, big creative swings become possible and that’s when work really breaks through.

Our roots in experiential marketing give us a unique edge. We don’t just think about one post or video, we design entire brand ecosystems. Picture landing in Las Vegas, every billboard at baggage claim, the cab screen on the ride to the hotel, every poster, every element at the event, the performers, costumes, pop-up shops, screens, content capture and live posting, all created by us for our client and the event they're sponsoring, that we're producing. That integrated approach is now our baseline. Whether capturing a live activation or producing social-first content, we think about the full brand journey before, during and after.

This mindset also makes us smarter producers. We capture modular elements that flex across OOH, social, digital and experiential, ensuring consistency and maximizing value for clients.

Outpacing the Algorithm

The biggest challenge is speed. Algorithms shift overnight, AI evolves daily, and timelines keep shrinking. Audiences expect more because they know what’s possible. At TEAM, we’ve built pipelines that adapt to this pace, leveraging cloud-based workflows, AIpowered collaboration, and strong vendor partnerships to move fast without sacrificing quality. But tools alone aren’t enough.

Technology is a multiplier, not a replacement for creativity.

We constantly test emerging platforms, learning how to use them now and for what’s next. I tell my team: “don’t wait for the industry to catch up, let's get ahead. Everyone learns the basics, shares knowledge and expands skills.” Each of our producers are strong editors, and soon they will all animate and master every AI content tool better.

Technology is a multiplier, not a replacement for creativity. Generative AI helps us to version content and prototype ideas faster, but what matters is how we use the time it saves. It allows us to learn further into craft and build stronger emotional connections, which is the true point of great storytelling.

Curating the Future of Brand Storytelling

We’re also focused on merging physical and digital experiences. Our experiential roots push us to ask: how can live activations and digital engagement feel seamlessly connected? Maybe it’s layering AI-powered digital elements into events, designing content that sparks interaction, or building shoppable experiences that drive audiences straight to a product. When every touch point is intentional, the brand story keeps living and evolving.

For aspiring leaders in content production, versatility is everything. You need strong storytelling skills, fluency in data and emerging tech and the ability to nurture creative talent while turning business objectives into work that moves people.

Above all, have fun experimenting. Try new tools the moment they become available and bring your team together to quickly ideate how to integrate them into what you do. Because in this industry, you’re either creating the future or wishing you did.

The articles from these contributors are based on their personal expertise and viewpoints, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of their employers or affiliated organizations.