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We make vibrant content that connects.
Our unique approach allows us to deliver results outside the ordinary rules. With a holistic view of production needs and alignment with client strategies, we ensure each creative vision can be fully realized, and that audiences connect with the stories we tell.
Leah Harper-Lane
Principal & Executive Producer
Leah is an Emmy award-winning producer with over twenty years of experience in award show, concert, unscripted, and multi-cam production.
A career in entertainment began early, starting with a Neville Brothers tour in high school, and working up to the Summer Olympics with NBC as a senior in college. Leah loved watching the pieces of a show come together, only to be topped by her love for the roar of a crowd. This kicked off a fan-first obsession she still carries, and why she will always measure success by how audiences connect with a live experience.
Leah continued her career as a Line Producer and EIC on high-profile productions, such as Super Bowl, Academy Awards, Showtime’s Inside the NFL, the NMAAHC Dedication Ceremony with President Obama, along with numerous MTV and VH1 tentpole events. A growing reputation for problem-solving and leadership made her one of the most sought-after EICs in live televised events. In 2015, she founded the production company Strong Brew, where she and her teams deliver complex live events for market leaders, such as Airbnb, Google, CBS Sports, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Complex, and YouTube.
And, as a black woman working in production for decades, Leah is very familiar with the challenges facing her communities, and seeks to address systemic issues within the talent pipeline. Previously, she ran a non-profit, ColorsBars Network, a professional group for all people of color working in media, entertainment, and communication. Strong Brew now participates in Pledge 1% to open more doors for Women and BIPOC production professionals.
James Lane
Strategy & Operations
James brings to Strong Brew almost thirty years of experience in marketing, design, branding, and customer experience. He is an award-winning strategist and has been named a CX Top 100 thought leader. His work spans several industries, from travel, auto, and financial services, to entertainment, technology, and consumer goods.
A passion for design and technology began in high school, building websites for local businesses. This led James to The School of Visual Arts in New York City, where only halfway through the program, he was overseeing direct response campaigns for US Airways, Buick, and Microsoft Xbox at one of the world's top marketing firms. After graduation, he took on studio operations for a boutique marketing firm, restructuring the function into a profit center, while servicing storied brands such as Johnnie Walker and Virgin Atlantic. James then joined Showtime Networks, just as hit shows like Dexter, Weeds, and The L Word sparked rapid growth, which James managed by automating and streamlining key production design processes.
A systems perspective, operational savvy, and an instinct for problem-solving led James to San Francisco in pursuit of an MBA in Design Strategy. After driving unprecedented results in digital marketing performance at AAA, James now consults independently and provides Strong Brew with a strategic design perspective. This ensures each production delivers a meaningful audience experience, while also being aligned with a client's larger business objectives.
© 2024 Strong Brew, Inc.
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