[FRAMED]: James Razzall, President, North America Advertising
[FRAMED] exists to shine light on Framestore’s most fascinating cast of characters: its people. Presented with a probing list of questions and a demandingly short deadline, this feature puts the hopes, dreams, and desktops of our MVPs on the digital wall, for all to see. Welcome to [FRAMED].
Name: James Razzall
Title: President, North America Advertising
It’s a loaded question to ask in the current climate, but here we are: what are you guilty of, sir?
I was always told not to plead guilty.
Worst character fault?
Constant optimism. I know it can be infuriating to the realists I work with.
Your most shining quality?
I genuinely see the best in people.
You’re on the run from the law, where are you headed?
Zihautanejo, Mexico. It’s a bit cliché after Shawshank Redemption, but an amazing quick getaway from Los Angeles.
Who’s your partner-in-crime?
My wife, Rebecca, of course. Tea som and super mum extraordinaire.
Fantasy cellmate?
Osho.
Your greatest achievement?
Making President…obviously.
Most valuable skill?
I am good at reading people and reacting accordingly. I’ve learned that this puts people at ease.
Go on, say something bragging.
Did I tell you I’m the President?
Name your vice.
Way too much caffeine. The hipster coffee shop next to our office would probably stay in business on my orders alone.
The DREAM project looks like:
Script opens on a tropical island with client mandate that I HAVE to be on set.
Your career highlight to date?
It’s a toss-up between opening our New York office and joining the LA team…I love to keep moving and growing.
This week I learnt that:
We definitely need more space.
What’s your current view?
Blue sky and palm trees…sort of. I was kicked out of my corner office and now reside in a storage cupboard next to Finance. [We’re just trying to keep you real, Mr President]
Give us a desk tour:
MacBook, iPhone X, EarPods…you can see the theme.
What do you need to work, on the daily?
Did I mention the hipster coffee?
Framestore is, in three words:
Gradual world domination.
Framestore is great at:
Making people happy, both our people and the lucky ones who get to work with us.
Heads in the clouds, now. Favourite artform?
Graffiti.
Favourite image?
Martha Cooper’s pictures of Dondi in subway art. Pre-internet, that book was inspiration for a whole subculture.
Happiness looks like:
Two 20-minute meditations a day and a glass of fine red at night.
If not here, then where?
Goa.
What do you think of too often?
US politics.
Couldn’t live without?
British news coverage.
If I ruled the world:
QPR would have a shedload of oil money and be winning the Champions League.
James Razzall, Mr President, you’ve been [FRAMED]. Read more insights on LA living and Culver City’s creative scene in Razz’s recent interview with VoyageLA, here.
