20 things we’re grateful for on our 20th anniversary

This Thanksgiving marks 20 years in business for Saint James Studios.

As we reflect on how fortunate we are to have such longevity in this ever-changing industry, we want to share 20 things we’re grateful for.

1. Mentors like Jim Shooter (who recently joined the SJS team!) Moses the unconventional art teacher, Cynthia Davidson, Ilise Benun and Nancy Ruzow because it takes a village to keep a company open.
2. Our first client ever — Bryan Buckley — for helping us learn how to do the impossible and showing us how it’s done.
3. Our amazing team of pros and collaborators, and our dream-come-true Copywriter, Deidre Rienzo.
4. Having the privilege to work on the Oscar-winning short film, The New Tenants, directed by Joachim Back, and the Oscar-nominated short film, Saria, directed by Bryan Buckley.
5. Recent movies like Dune, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Parasite, and The Master — and anything by Wes Anderson — for keeping our creative juices flowing.
6. Being part of the incredible UN “Don’t Choose Extinction” ad by Murray Butler.
7. The glorious Blackmagic 6K camera.
8. These incredible clients and colleagues, who gave us insight into their genius and let us share it: Murray Butler, Andrew Wonder, Matt Smukler, and Irv Blitz.
9. Technology: for finally catching up to our lifestyle. 🙂 How it facilitates our work, communication, collaboration, efficiency, and independence as a studio.
10. Having met the design icon and legend, Milton Glaser.
11. Bustelo coffee, for the daily get up and go.
12. The music of Steely Dan, Frank Sinatra, Prince, James Brown, Mozart and the West Side Story soundtrack.
13. Parker guitars and Music Man basses.
14. Resilience, laughter, and our tight knit group of friends.
15. The Super Bowl, and how it has fostered our ability to evolve over the years.
16. Sushi. All the sushi.
17. Podcasts: The Wall Street Journal, John Macarthur, Slow Burn, and Rachel Maddow. (We aren’t sure if we love or hate her snarkiness, but we know things don’t feel quite right without it.)
18. Trust. Without the trust of our incredible clients, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this.
19. Comic-Con 2014. What an experience!
20. Last but not least, storytelling, and turkey, and their connective abilities.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!