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Michael Haje of 77 Ventures Captures the Spirit of Sports
Lead or get out of the way
Michael is the founder and president of independent agency 77 Ventures Creative and bi-coastal production company Boomshot. Haje specializes in fast-paced work that focuses on the spirit and adventure of sports. He’s created work for ESPN, NASCAR, Fox Sports, the SEC Network and Tabasco. He is also the creative force behind Wyoming Whiskey’s brand development, design and content.
We spent two minutes with Michael to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.
Michael, tell us …
Where you grew up, and where you live now.
I grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., and I now live in Nashville.
How you first realized you were creative.
Making my friends laugh with fake sports and news articles about our school.
A person you idolized creatively early on.
My Uncle Bill. He was a painter, commercial artist and graphic designer. He worked at The New Yorker, which impressed my mom. He had a “look”—white hair, white beard, white suit, white Tretorns. He was playful and seemed to have a lot more free time than other adults, which he spent sketching, playing badminton and drinking wine.
A moment from high school or college that changed your life.
I realized I wasn’t going to play point guard for Knicks and was forced to think about how I might support myself.
A visual artist or band/musician you admire.
Ethan Hawke. He’s somehow in-the-moment, nostalgic and moving forward, all at the same time.
A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.
Book: Static by Brendan Gillen. It drags you out of this digital world and into a scratchy LP-world that feels more real. And, it’s set in New York.
One of your favorite creative projects you’ve ever worked on.
AND1 Basketball. Kevin Garnett, the legendary AND1 Mix tape with crazy Tony Kaye directing, Sprewelll!
A recent project you’re proud of.
The ongoing work we do with Wyoming Whiskey’s Wide Open Spaces and the two Wyoming National Parks—Yellowstone and Grand Teton. We get to flex all our strengths. It starts with new product development and design, then the chance to film and capture the beauty and scale of the parks with Boomshot. It ends with cool content and a launch party. All for a good cause.
Someone else’s work that inspired you years ago.
Hal Riney. He was most famous for Saturn, Alamo and “Morning in America.” But his Bartles & Jaymes Wine Cooler spots (150 all told) made me want to get to San Francisco and work there. More fun than any other hard seltzer ads I’ve seen.
Someone else’s work you admired lately.
This Nick Saban spot for VRBO is my current fave:
Your main strength as a creative person.
The BS-ing about ideas at the beginning.
Your biggest weakness.
The internet.
A mentor that helped you navigate the industry.
Rosemarie Ryan and Bob Jeffrey. They were the bigwigs at J. Walter Thompson and bought into my plan to start an agency, Lodge 212, with my partner Ben Conway. They had both run small agencies, knew a lot and were rooting for us.
How you’re paying it forward with the next generation of creatives.
Setting the next-gen up for some good creative opportunities. Then I lead or get out of the way.
What you’d be doing if you weren’t in advertising.
Bartender.
2 Minutes With is our regular interview series where we chat with creatives about their backgrounds, creative inspirations, work they admire and more. For more about 2 Minutes With, or to be considered for the series, please get in touch.
