About Departure Production Company - Leadership & Commercial Production Expertise

Why

Everyone in our industry is feeling the shift. You can't grab coffee with a friend or attend an industry event without a good portion of the conversation turning to how things are changing. And while we all acknowledge this transformation, few are actually evolving or offering real solutions.

From our POV: our industry isn't facing a creative dilemma. There's absolutely no shortage of incredible directors, artists, and agency-side creatives. There's also no shortage of work, and we don't believe AI is going to steal our jobs. What we're all collectively feeling is a business process and workflow challenge. The old way of buying, bidding, and transacting isn't serving us like it used to.

That's why we created Departure. We wanted to provide actual solutions to the issues at hand. With Departure, high-end directors can be sourced quickly and efficiently, our scale allows us to stretch budgets further, and directors are free to work wherever they please. We believe our model works for everybody involved and delivers the practical solutions our industry has been waiting for.

About

Departure was designed to address today's creative demands and opportunities. Our team blends talent-scouting expertise with hands-on production skills. We're equal parts creative matchmakers and business problem-solvers, bringing clarity to a fragmented production landscape.

Genres

We pride ourselves on being truly genre-agnostic in our approach to production. Unlike companies that specialize in a narrow creative lane, we live and die by director fit.

Our vast and diverse talent pool means we can confidently deliver exceptional results across every genre.

Culture

We're passionate about finding the perfect creative fit for every project, regardless of status or name recognition. Our team gets just as excited about matching an emerging talent to a $100k brief as we do connecting a renowned name to a seven-figure production. This passion for perfect fit over fame drives everything we do.

We're deeply committed to fostering independence in the production community, regularly hosting collaborative groups where independent directors and producers gather to refine their craft, strengthen their pitches, and build sustainable careers. By nurturing this ecosystem, we not only discover extraordinary talent but help create a more vibrant, innovative production landscape that benefits everyone.

In the News & On the Record

Our coverage, ramblings,
and industry takes.

Luke Lashley discusses how the no-roster model better serves agencies and directors on Crossing The Axis Podcast.

Listen: Freelance vs. Roster

Everything freelance directors should know in 2025 via The Howler.

Read: Director Tips for 2025

We share our take on the Omnicom / IPG merger alongside 18 other Ad Execs on LBB Online

Read: Doubling Down on Efficiency & Scale

We chime in on the R/GA sale and how "efficiency is king" in today's landscape via Reel360

Read: Agency Mergers and Efficiency

Luke Lashley writes about the rise of directors as a brand and debates the value of production company prestige via The Holwer.

Read: Directors as Brands

Examining the origins of exclusive rosters and debating if it still makes sense in today's industry via Reel360

Read: Exclusivity as a Relic of The Past

A in depth look at the differences between "exclusive", "loan out", and "freelance" via Shots

Read: Does Exclusive Really Exist?

“Departure's director reels are on point and stand out from the rest. They always give great context as to why the director is a great fit for my spots. They have a really good eye for what will work and their reels continually make it into my top 10.

I recently shot with Departure and they over-delivered on set with a top notch talented professional crew and amazing hospitality in Austin. I felt like I was working with an old friend who had my back.”

Laura P.

Senior Producer, FCB Chicago

140+

Agencies and brands regularly receiving reels from Departure

“Departure does reel submissions unlike any production company I’ve worked with and every single time they submit a reel, I get hooked. You can tell departure takes time to really understand the brief and creative ask, and submit directors that truly fit the vibe, adding context around each director - spot for spot.

The bidding process can be time consuming and tedious, and in a sea of sometimes monotonous reels, Departure reels always stand out to me. They are thoughtful, they are creative, they are intentional.”

Austin W.

Executive Producer, VML Atlanta

$12M+

Average board value submitted per month

"Working with Departure was seamless from pre-pro to post. Dell shoots are often complicated due to volume of products and variations of shots. Departure handled those logistics faultlessly and I was able to focus more on the creative and our stakeholders. They created a fun atmosphere on set and the work created was exceptional."

Ashley H.

Production Manager, Dell Blue Studio

Leadership

Luke Lashley - Founder & Executive Producer (ATX)

Luke is the founder and Executive Producer at Departure, his second production venture. Drawing from his experience with his first production company—where he experimented with various roster models (exclusive, non-exclusive, and hybrid approaches)—Luke founded Departure to champion director independence through a no-roster model.

Under Luke's leadership, Departure has secured projects with major agencies across the country. Beyond building his company, Luke hosts weekly community calls where freelance directors discuss ways to better serve clients and creatives, elevate treatments, and develop sustainable independent careers.

Lucas Markman - Executive Producer (LA)

Lucas entered the production world from an agency background working with global brands like BMW and Google. Over the last half decade, he has balanced EP and creative producing roles with being a working director and photographer.

Lucas champions a holistic production approach, balancing creative experience with an understanding of the technical craftsmanship that bolsters strong work.

When you get a reel from Departure, the director was chosen specifically for your brief and your brand's broader production goals. We call ourselves your "extended in-house production team" because we integrate seamlessly with your existing capabilities while expanding what's possible. Our team blends talent-scouting expertise with hands-on production skills, functioning as an embedded part of your operation rather than an external vendor. We're equal parts strategic production partners and execution experts.

HQ:

1011 East 15th St.  

Austin, TX 78702

Advertising, filmmaking, talent scouting, and innovating.

Our coverage, ramblings, and industry takes.

Leadership

Our coverage, ramblings,
and industry takes.