SpecialGuest’s co-founder on creativity, production and agency life

In partnership with Breaking and Entering Media, Ad Age is publishing the “Breaking and Entering” podcast on AdAge.com. Learn more about the show at Breaking-Entering.com. In the latest episode of “Breaking and Entering Advertising,” Aaron Duffy, co-founder of SpecialGuest, joins host Geno Schellenberger to share his creative journey—from being a video director to co-founding an award-winning creative agency. Duffy’s experience is a departure from the traditional advertising career path, offering listeners a unique perspective on how production and agency life intersect. Duffy’s background in art and sculpture led him to direct high-profile commercials. On the podcast, he explains how SpecialGuest was born from his desire to move beyond executing ideas and into concept creation. His agency has carved out a niche by collaborating with internal creative teams at tech companies such as Meta and Google, helping them execute large-scale campaigns while bring fresh, external perspectives. Throughout the conversation, Duffy touches on pivotal moments in his career, including directing OK Go’s MTV Video Music Awards-winning video, “The Writing’s on the Wall,” and how it cemented his love for pushing creative boundaries. He also discusses SpecialGuest Acts, a sister agency that explores AI and robotics in creative production, highlighting the importance of experimentation in keeping the agency on the cutting edge. For aspiring advertisers and creatives, Duffy encourages embracing non-traditional career paths and exploring the production world. His experiences in animation, video and stop-motion helped him develop a strong foundation in visual storytelling, which became a key driver of his agency’s success. Listen to the episode above to hear Duffy’s full story and how SpecialGuest is shaping the future of creative production. Check out more episodes on Spotify. Ad Age Marketer’s Brief podcast Listen here or subscribe via Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music or Audible Click here About Breaking and Entering Media Breaking and Entering Media is a leading platform dedicated to helping everyone better understand and break into the advertising world. Whether aspiring advertisers landing their first job, agencies winning their dream clients or production companies connecting with top agencies, Breaking and Entering bridges the gap and helps people pull off their ultimate “heist” in the industry. Founded in 2020, it quickly became a top resource for industry insights, strategies and expert advice. Consistently ranked as one of the top 5 advertising podcasts globally, Breaking and Entering exists to tell the stories that break down the advertising industry and empower its audience to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

SpecialGuest’s co-founder on creativity, production and agency life

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