Newsletter
#WFH Diaries: Allan Gungormez of MOCEAN
Even as the world begins to open up amid the pandemic, most folks are still working from home. We’re checking in with creative people to see how they’re faring. Here’s an update from Allan Gungormez, svp of social and strategy at MOCEAN.
Give us a one-line bio of yourself.
I’m the svp of strategy and social at MOCEAN and an L.A. native.
Where are you living right now, and who’s with you?
I live in an apartment in Studio City with Jaws, my very energetic Australian Cattle Dog.
What’s your work situation like at the moment?
I do most of my work strategically placed on a corner of my couch that has a view of what I call “the presentable” corner of my apartment so it looks like I have my life together on video calls.
Describe your socializing strategy.
Outside of the countless Zoom, Skype, Teams and FaceTime calls, I’ve been lucky enough to create a very small “quaranteam” of friends who I see in real life that have made this whole experience infinitely better.
How are you dealing with childcare, if applicable?
Well, I’ve reached the point in all this where my dog is starting to wonder if I’ll ever not be around, but in sort of a “You’re getting on my nerves” way. It’s almost as if I’m holding him back from living some sort of secret life.
What are you reading?
I’m currently enjoying both Raymond Chandler’s The High Window and Dave Trott’s One Plus One Equals Three.
What are you watching?
I just finished White Lines and #blackAF on Netflix, and a rewatch of Cowboy Bebop. I’m actively looking for something new to watch.
What are you listening to?
Currently listening to a playlist filled with the likes of Tom Misch, Roosevelt, Meltt, and Parcels.
How are you staying fit?
I actually have a pretty serious fitness routine that I do daily. I start every morning off by running a 5K followed by four rounds of the following:
• 45 seconds of forearm planks to planks
• 20 burpees
• 25 side plank raises on each side
• 25 explosive pushups
• 45 seconds of mountain climbers
• 45 seconds of seated leg flutters
• Boat hold for max time
Then I jump rope for 10 minutes and do a whole resistance band workout. Sticking to a gym routine has definitely helped me keep some feeling of normalcy.
Have you taken up a hobby?
Single line drawings. I’ve become pretty decent at faces at this point.
Any tips for getting necessities?
Don’t sleep on liquor stores for supplies! They are great to avoid the long lines of Trader Joe’s and can keep most of your bare necessities covered.
An awkward moment since all this started.
I was on a video call that was seemingly never going to end and my dog walked over and hit my laptop with his paw and ended the call midway through someone speaking. I like to believe he sensed my vibe of being over it and just wanted to help me out. It felt very “my dog ate my homework” trying to explain what happened.
Best work email you got since all this started.
Rather than lay out their next round of feedback, a client laid out the recipe for a cocktail because we all needed a drink with what’s been going on in the world.
An aha! moment since all this started.
It’s incredibly important to not take moments of genuine human interaction (big or small) for granted.
What’s your theory on how this is going to play out?
A homeless man that I had the pleasure of getting to know during all this told me to remember that “after the Black Plague, the Renaissance happened, so we should all be open to something new and beautiful happening.” I’d like to think that at this point we’re overdue for something really beautiful.
