#WFH Diaries: Luke Ricci of Bullitt
As lockdown linger in many parts of the world, we're checking in with creative people to see how they're faring. Below, we chat with Luke Ricci, president and executive producer at Bullitt.
Give us a one-line bio of yourself.
I am a partner and the president of Bullitt, originally from Northern California, now living in and loving Los Angeles.
Where are you living right now, and who's with you?
I'm hunkered down with my little tribe at my house in Frogtown, a vibrant neighborhood on the East Side of L.A.
What's your work situation like at the moment?
Working from home and busy! We're currently in various phases of remote production with some very innovative and forward-thinking agency partners and clients. It's been a steep learning curve for everyone and there are many production methodologies to navigate, but we've developed some inventive ways of working within the constraints of Covid-19. We're also in creative development and pre-production on some branded entertainment projects which I'm very excited about.
Describe your socializing strategy.
Virtual. I do happy hours with friends, game nights over Zoom and house parties, and I try to call at least one friend a day to stay connected. I miss being in the physical company of friends and colleagues, but I find that I'm much more proactive about keeping in touch. There's no running into people at the local bar, so it's important to be an instigator of communication.
How are you dealing with childcare, if applicable?
I am very fortunate that I have a part-time nanny who is helping coordinate the educational needs of the kids. There is a strict protocol that we've developed in order to keep everyone safe and healthy.
What are you reading?
Why Fonts Matter by Sarah Hyndman. Narrative Economics by Robert Shiller. The Push: A Climber's Search for the Path by Tommy Caldwell.
What are you watching?
Peaky Blinders, Pandemic and World War II in Color.
What are you listening to?
I'm listening to everything these days—literally every kind of music imaginable.
How are you staying fit?
I'm an avid cyclist and member of the Fireflies Cycling Club, and we have moved all of our group rides to an indoor format supported by an incredible virtual cycling community called Zwift. This community enables cyclists to "ride together" with avatars that race around the fictional world of Watopia. I've been putting a lot of time in on the bike, and feel like I will actually come out of this much more fit than I was before! My guilty fitness pleasure is this super-fun app called "Just Dance" for the Apple TV OS.
Have you taken up a hobby?
I've been enjoying working on art projects with oil pastels. My art skills are at a 2nd-grade level now!
Any tips for getting necessities?
Get it delivered. Wipe it down with a cleaning product.
An awkward moment since all this started.
Wearing a mask and gloves into the bank. It's fun, but scary!
Best work email you got since all this started.
Any emails where potential partners inquire about collaborating during these challenging times are always a highlight, as well as emails awarding our company projects.
An aha! moment since all this started.
You don't really know what you take for granted until those things are compromised, but I've realized through this process that I really don't need that much. The most important things are the people in your life.
What's your theory on how this is going to play out?
This is going to be a long road for society, for our industry, and for individuals to come to terms with. There will be permanent effects on how we conduct business and socialize. That said, I think there will be many opportunities on the other side of this, but there will be many serious repercussions for people and companies in our industry. We will need to be inventive and adaptive to transition into new ways of doing business.
