2 Minutes With ... Danielle LaFortune, VP & Head of TV Streaming at Big Picture Entertainment
Danielle is vice president and head of TV streaming at Big Picture, where recently she oversaw campaigns for Barry Season 4, Rain Dogs and White House Plumbers.
Before joining Big Picture, she lead the key art and TV streaming teams at MOCEAN, working on campaigns for John Oliver, A Series of Unfortunate Events, You're the Worst, Catastrophe, Animal Kingdom, Delta Airlines and more. Earlier, she was SVP, print, at New Wave, guiding campaigns for Star Wars, The Big Lebowski, Ice Age and Borat.
We spent two minutes with Danielle to learn more about her background, creative inspirations and some recent work she's admired.
Danielle, tell us...
Where you grew up, and where you live now.
I grew up in Troy, N.Y. For those in the know it is the home of Uncle Sam and where the HBO show The Gilded Age was shot. I now live in Burbank, Calif., with my daughter Quinn, when she's home from college, my dad aka Pops, our dog Cooper and two cats Nutmeg and Cinnamon.
Why you pursued a career in entertainment.
I remember seeing Jaws when I was a kid and I was just in awe (and scared to death) of the images on the big screen. That started me on my love of entertainment. Being transported to a new world or seeing the world through someone else’s eyes is such an amazing experience and I wanted to be a part of making that experience happen for others.
I came to L.A. with three other women in a red GTO with $400 in my pocket from a slot machine jackpot I hit during a stop in Vegas and dreams of being a writer. While waiting for my "big break" and two days before my deadline to ask my dad for a plane ticket home, I was able to land a receptionist job at DAZU. They were an entertainment print agency and where I got my first taste of this crazy industry and I've been hooked ever since.
Three movies/TV shows you couldn't do without, and why.
Steel Magnolias—Great characters and the women are badass. It's such a rollercoaster of emotion. Always great if I need a good cry and some really good quotes.
Moana—Reminds of my daughter.
Shaun of the Dead—Simon Pegg and zombies, need I say more?
Your favorite movie trailer or poster.
Wow, this is a hard one because there are so many. I am a true fan of the work that comes out of our community, but I am always partial to the risk takers. If I had to pick to just one I would say the original Jaws poster, it's iconic and the movie made a big impression on me.
One of your favorite projects you've ever worked on, and why.
Our Yellowstone, season 4 teasers.
Our partners at Paramount really wanted to do a series of teases that didn’t give away too much, with the cliff hanger from season 3 we couldn’t show any footage from the new season without ruining the surprise so we wrote and shot bespoke creative to kick off the season. This was my first in person shoot after the pandemic. We shot in Montana and it was absolutely beautiful.
A recent project you're proud of, and why.
Barry Season 3 and 4 campaigns. Our partners at HBO really pushed us to do something different for these seasons and it was just a fun ride and the show is fantastic. Plus come on, there's Noho Hank.
One thing about how entertainment marketing is evolving that you're excited about.
What excites me the most is also what challenges me the most and that is, how do we evolve the way we create marketing to be more authentic and digestible for this younger generation.
Someone else's work, in entertainment or beyond, that you admired lately.
Deike Brandt, my daughter's grandmother, is a phenomenal person and water colorist and I truly admire her and her art. I have quite a few of her paintings hanging in my home.
A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.
Gabrielle Bernstein's book Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace
A visual artist or band/musician you admire.
P!nk—I love her music, but really respect her ability to be unapologetically herself without worrying about what people say or think. I find that inspiring.
Your favorite fictional character.
Clairee Belcher: "I love ya more than my luggage!"
Someone worth following in social media.
Your main strength as a marketer/creative.
Not just listening, but hearing what our partners are looking for on a project and being able to pivot when needed.
Your biggest weakness.
Trying to do too much and not taking time for myself.
Something people would find surprising about you.
I love watching ghost hunting shows and going on ghost tours with my daughter in every city we visit, but I can't watch a scripted horror movie or show without losing sleep for about a month.
One thing that always makes you happy.
Going to a Broadway musical with my daughter or just spending any time with her, she's my favorite human.
One thing that always makes you sad.
Sending my daughter back to college.
What you'd be doing if you weren't in entertainment.
Writing romance novels.
2 Minutes With is our regular interview series where we chat with creatives about their backgrounds, creative inspirations, work they admire and more. For more about 2 Minutes With, or to be considered for the series, please get in touch.
