Dan Lindau On The Spot

With his business partner Camille Taylor, Dan Lindau oversees the Crossroads companies, which in addition to a commercial production unit, includes 89 Editorial, Headlight Design + Visual Effects, Crossroads Television and Crossroads Feature Films. The 47-year-old executive producer also found time this year to be jury chair of the 14th annual Association of Independent Commercial Producers show, which returns to the newly remodeled Museum of Modern Art this year. The Westchester-born Tufts grad says overseeing a variety of companies feeds his "A.D.D." Q: How has your shop evolved over the years? A: While I think a lot of companies do movies as well, I think we're the most fully integrated. I'm the guy who runs the movies, with Cami, and she runs commercial production with me—it's really the same people. In most companies, it tends to be totally separate organizations. Why did the AICP decide to focus on PSAs for its lecture this year?In light of worldwide events, both natural and manmade, it seemed a good time to take stock of what advertising does and can do in the public sector.How do you feel about the winners being housed in the permanent collection at MoMA—is advertising art?MoMA has long housed icons of design and craft that reflect our culture at aspecific time. What does that better than advertising?What has the experience of being AICP chairperson been like so far? What you expected?Living hell. (laughs) No, I'm just kidding. It's been great. Matt [Miller] and Ileana [Montalvo] have set up such a well-oiled machine at this point. I'm more like the girl at the parade waving, so while there are some decisions to be made and we have to get some people in line, and we wanted to get sponsors up and things like that, they've really done the heavy-lifting. What do you think of the quality of the work you've seen?There was good work and bad work. Comedy and comedy dialogue seems to be back in a big way. There's a heavy emphasis on that, less giant productions like "1984," less things that rely solely on size of the production.Who has influenced you the most creatively?I would say in a company way, Ames, the people who made the furniture, Ray and Charles Eames. But what they also did, they tried to make things that worked in a variety of settings, they tried to make things for your total life. They applied things across many disciplines, and so I think they were inspirational in that sense.Your company has a lot of different functions. Is there one part you like the best?No, I think it's the A.D.D.-ness in me. I love best moving back and forth.What's the last ad that made you think, "I wish I'd done that"?I think it was Heineken. The one where bottles break, and around the world people get sad. I like that they set a tone by creating a mood, and started and ended with relating it to a product. But other than that, it was about a journey around the world and the reaction to what could have been anything. I just thought it was well handled on every level. What's the smartest business decision you've ever made?Going into business with Cami. We've been partners for however many years. And I trust her completely, and she's an ideal partner.What about the dumbest business decision?Oh, there have been so many. In the distant past, allowing some of the satellites we had set up to operate autonomously. In general, as a lesson learned, no two people do things the same way. So if you set up parallel businesses and expect them to run the way you would run them, it's not going to happen.What's your vote for the best shop out there?I would answer this in the way people do [business]—it's encompassing in that I like the ethics of the people, I like the way they do business, and the quality of the work. I'd say Moxie, I like those guys. And over the years, Wieden. What's your dream assignment?Since I don't work on jobs so much anymore, I don't think I have a dream assignment. I'm more a facilitator these days. It would be having various groups working on their dream assignment—how's that for beneficent? Name one person you're dying to work with?Robert Goulet.What's your biggest pet peeve?George Bush.What's on your nightstand?Piles of books and scripts arranged to create the illusion that a thoughtful person rests beside them.What was the last CD/music you bought?New Eels, Thai Rock 'n' Roll, Roswell Rudd.What's the most important thing you learned from your parents?Never—wait, no—always give back.What's your greatest accomplishment?By far, having kids who I like. I know that's a little hackneyed, but it's true. They're 18, 16 and 11—girl, boy, girl.

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Dan Lindau On The Spot

Mae Anderson

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Mae Anderson