Rising Stars: Meet Clayton Sommer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clayton Sommer. 

Hi Clayton, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up as number 4 of 6 kids, life in the middle is the way it’s always been. As a Producer, I find myself in a ceaseless state of being in the middle – the in-between, and the linchpin keeping it all together. Looking back, the character traits and skills I learned as a kid — from mediating daily sibling disputes to negotiating my way out of the dreaded middle seat — are just as useful today as they were back then. 

An adverse reaction to math and a dominant left brain led me down the scenic route to a career in a creative field. I like to consider myself a creative person, but if you scroll through the photos on my phone it’s obvious, I have no business operating a camera or any type of creative equipment for that matter. But much like squeezing into the middle seat, I know how to get in where I fit in. When it comes to the advertising industry, one’s ability to creatively problem solve is equally as important to another’s ability to create. A solution-focused mindset has allowed me to maintain my balance and sense of humor when the shit hits the fan. 

Where I’m at today has a lot to do with the impact and aftermath of the pandemic. Overnight, I went from an office one block from the beach and surrounded by a talented team, to applying for unemployment while sheltering in place at home. I had to constantly tell myself that it would all be okay in the end, but that may not be the case if I didn’t put the work in. Fifty versions of my resume, dozens of rejections, and a handful of freelance gigs later, I found myself producing a television commercial for a post-production house called Workprint. One thing led to another, and Workprint’s Founder and Hell-of-an-Editor, David Nitzsche, asked me to join full-time and help put Workprint on the map. Even though my new office (my garage) is miles away from the beach, the pandemic hurled me to where I’m supposed to be. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It certainly has not been a smooth road, but some rough roads were rougher than others. In my experience, the biggest challenges I’ve had to overcome stem from the setbacks along the way – setbacks that T-Bone you in the intersection even when you have a green light. However, it’s not until the other side do you realize setbacks have a way of redirecting your path when the road you’ve been on leads to a dead end. 

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice to someone just starting out is that whatever you’re doing, KEEP GOING! The only way to look back and see how far you’ve come is to keep going. In the end, everything will be okay. And if it’s not okay, it’s not the end. 

Starting out, I worked in the Tape Vault for an entertainment news show. The pay was next to nothing, the work was soul-sucking, and I was down in the dumps. However, I knew I had a solid foot in the door, and if I could just keep going it may help open some doors. Don’t get me wrong, I whined and complained along the way, but most importantly I never stopped. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://workprint.la/
• My Portfolio: https://simian.me/H1CJ_clayton_sommer