Episode 55: Joe Russ

Sarah Blank is a freelance animator, compositor, designer and sometimes-writer/director. In the episode, we chatted with her about CG and live action compositing, Travel Oregon and user interfaces in VR.   Links: Website: www.thesarahblank.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-blank-96062b11/ Travel Oregon: https://bit.ly/2N7dnfb NYU Tisch: http://tisch.nyu.edu/ Nomad Editing: http://nomadedit.com/   Notes: -Apple screen graphics -Game of Thrones Season 1 -Compositing (CG and live action) -Travel Oregon -The forest for the trees approach -NYU Tisch -Nomad Editing -Editing vs. Compositing -Editing on Game of Thrones -Seasons of freelancing -Husband, Dave Blank -Coordinating freelance schedules and taking time off -California Bloodbath -Giving yourself deadlines on personal projects -User interfaces in VR -Commonalities in top-level work across studios -Pigeon-holing artists -Improving as a director -Dream client: Michel Gondry -Favorite animated film: Who Framed Roger Rabbit -What do the people you love think you do at work all day?: CG modeling and animating -Animalator: The Ouroboros

Lisha Tan is a Creative Director at The Mill in Los Angeles, CA. In the episode, we chatted about The Story of O.J., reading YouTube comments and managing creative limitations as a director.   Links: Portfolio: http://www.themill.com/portfolio/filter/collection/103/lisha-tan The Mill: http://www.themill.com/ Lilchotchke: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lilchotchke Resolution Design: http://www.resolutiondesign.com.au/ The Pirates of Somalia: https://imdb.to/2M955Gd   Notes: -The Mill LA -Mill+ -Project processes -The Story of O.J. -Jay Z -Reading YouTube comments when a job goes out -Giving and receiving notes as creative director -Communicating vision on a project -Transition to creative direction -Coaching character animators -Personal pitching process -The Mill’s internal resources -Pitching vs. pre-production -Lisha’s process of ideation -Managing creative limitations as a director -Lilchotchke Ceramics -Lisha’s mentors -Resolution Design -The Pirates of Somalia -Developing personal style -Favorite animated film: Spirited Away -What do the people you love think you do at work all day?: I don’t they know--messing around with cartoons. -Animalator: A little hybrid cat-thing because people tell me sometimes I’m like a cat.     **Note: The Mill worked with JAY-Z, Roc Nation and Director Mark Romanek via Anonymous Content to create the animated music video for ‘The Story of O.J.’   Lisha and The Mill artists realized JAY-Z’s vision using a combination of hand-drawn cel animation, computer graphics, and painted backgrounds, collaborating with Titmouse to animate the original characters.

Wesley Louis is a Director at The Line Animation out of London, UK. In this episode, we talked about The Line’s team structure, hiring freelancers and Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabbit.   Links: The Line: www.thelineanimation.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/librabear/?hl=en Tumblr: https://librabear.tumblr.com/ Blogspot: https://librabear.blogspot.com/ Gorillaz - Humility: www.thelineanimation.com/work/gorillaz Jamie Hewlett: http://jamiehewlett.com/ Aya Suzuki: http://ayasuzuki.blogspot.com/ Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabbit: https://bit.ly/2NHxro8 Electric Theatre Collective: http://electrictheatre.tv/ Partizan: https://www.partizan.com/   Notes: -The Line -The Line's team structure -Founder meetings & complimentary strengths -Hiring freelancers -Gorillaz -Jamie Hewlett -Aya Suzuki -Enforcing cinematic animation perspective -The Line funding their personal projects -Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabbit -Celebrating personal projects in a big way -Setting deadlines for personal projects -The post-mortem process for commercial work -Electric Theatre Collective -The Line’s business structure -Looking forward -The Illusionist -Partizan -Wesley’s story of process and growth -Becoming a director -Dream Client: Nike or Capcom -Favorite animated film: Kiki's Delivery Service and Akira -What do the people you love think you do for a living: Draw and make things move. -Animalator: Rabbit, because of Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabbit

Manddy Wyckens is a director and designer at Studio AKA. In episode 57, we talk with her about giving direction, doing things she loves and finding a voice.   Links: Website: https://www.manddywyckens.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wyckns Tumblr: http://manddywyckens.tumblr.com/ Studio AKA: https://www.studioaka.co.uk/ 99 Percent Lifestyle Interview https://bit.ly/2zsRRiC Gobelins School: https://www.gobelins-school.com/ CalArts: https://calarts.edu/ Cory Loftis: https://twitter.com/coryloftis?lang=en Revolting Rhymes: https://www.netflix.com/title/80234290   Notes: -Studio AKA -AKA’s pitch process -Giving direction -Finding her craft and voice -Digital classes and animation vlogs -Gobelins School -Sociological differences in schooling -Interning at Disney -Mentor: Cory Loftis -American feedback -Having a voice in client work -CalArts -Focus and spontaneous drawing -Commercial work -Freelance -Compositing -Character design -Freelance life vs. full-time staff work -Short films -Writing a children’s book -Liking to do a lot of different things -Storyboarding -Exploring professional illustration -Dream client/project: Google Spotlight Stories -Favorite animated film: Revolting Rhymes -What do the people you love think you do at work all day?: Whatever animated film we see. They think I’m always abroad and that I do cartoons. -Animalator: To Be Determined

Handel Eugene is a motion designer and instructor for Mograph Mentor and Otis College. In the episode, we talked about his journey to Full Sail University, failure motivating success, and his obsession with documenting life. Links: Website: http://handeleugene.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/handel_eugene Spider-Man: Homecoming: https://vimeo.com/250944644 Perception Black Panther Animatic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE_8p58q0z4 Video Copilot: https://www.videocopilot.net/ We Are Royale: http://weareroyale.com/ Notes: -Marvel -Spider-Man: Homecoming -Perception -Client involvement -Black Panther -Full Sail University -After Effects -Jayson Whitmore/We Are Royale -Family on art as a career -Dropping out of college -Failure motivating success -Teaching at Mograph Mentor and OTIS -Learning the tools before you get to school -Tutorials -Personal development -“The Gap” Ira Glass -Having a mentor -Freelance vs. studio work -Gathering inspiration and developing ideas -List obsession -Documenting his process -You can’t put a price on fulfillment -Dream client/project: Using my skills to make an impact for good -Juneteenth -Favorite animated film: The Prince of Egypt -What do the people you love think you do at work all day? They think I made Black Panther, but for the most part, they get what I do. -Animalator: Night Owl

Joe Russ is a director, illustrator, motion designer and one of the developers of indie game Jenny LeClue. On the episode, we talked about his transition from freelance motion design to game development, impostor syndrome, and the journey of making Jenny LeClue.   Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mografi_Joe Jenny LeClue: http://jennyleclue.com/ Jenny LeClue Twitter https://twitter.com/JennyLeClue Ben Tillett: https://twitter.com/VoiceOfBen MK12: https://www.mk12.com/ Psyop: http://www.psyop.com/ Gretel: https://gretelny.com/ Fathoms: https://vimeo.com/83345929 Anatomy In Motion: http://mografi.com/anatomyinmotion/ The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore: http://morrislessmore.com/?p=app Inside: http://www.playdead.com/games/inside/   Notes: -PAX East 2018 -Jenny LeClue - Detectivu -Core team - Ben Tillett -SCAD -MK12 -Psyop -Impostor syndrome -Gretel -Not just an artist but a professional -Fathoms -Freelancing 9 months per year -Personal projects -Looking back -Learning -From freelance to Jenny LeClue -Anatomy In Motion -Ringling College of Art and Design -Teaching -The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore -Mentorships -Jenny LeClue Kickstarter -Coding & planning -Pre-release feelings -Appreciating the journey -Advice for aspiring game developers -Gamemaker, Unity, Unreal -PlayMaker -Release plans -The future of Jenny LeClue -Dream client: Wes Anderson or David Lynch -Favorite animated film: Iron Giant or Magnetic Rose -What do the people you love think you do at work all day?: Make a book -Animalator: Corgi

Tuna Bora is an illustrator, production designer, and content creator living in LA. On the episode, we talked about working with Nexus Studios, Hussein Chalayan, and getting out of your head.Links: Website: http://www.tunabora.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/tunamunalunaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tunamunaluna/Nexus Studios: https://nexusstudios.com/Patrick Osborne: https://twitter.com/patricktosborne?lang=enJonathan Nkondo: https://www.instagram.com/futursauvage/Otis College of Art and Design: https://www.otis.edu/Hussein Chalayan: http://store.chalayan.com/Hussein Chalayan Table Dress: https://bit.ly/2v6kFLOThree Legged Legs: https://bit.ly/2GTYCJnElastic: https://elastic.tv/Wild Wild Country: https://bit.ly/2FYBYQyHeadspace: https://www.headspace.com/Notes: -Nexus Studios-Directing -Challenges-Writing & narrative-The Artist’s Way-Seeing yourself outside of what you do-Successful strategies for collaboration-Moving from Istanbul, Turkey to Los Angeles, CA-Otis College of Art and Design-Fashion -Hussein Chalayan-Hussein Chalayan Table Dress-Three Legged Legs-Angus Wall/Elastic-Gameshow winners-Taking pressure off-Staying open to the world-Drawing without expectation-Cultivating openness-Wild Wild Country -Headspace-Dissociating from emotions and getting out of your head-Definitions of being an artist-Personal projects-Conquering fears-Rupi Kaur-Hyperbole and a Half-Going back to basics-Originality and style-Dream Client: Jonathan Nkondo-Favorite animated film: Evangelion-What do the people you love think you do for a living: At least some form of animation

Alex Griendling is the co-owner of Lunar Saloon with his wife Meg. On the episode, we talked about movie posters, creative freedom, and making what you want.   Links: Lunar Saloon: https://lunarsaloon.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexgriendling Stardeck: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lunarsaloon/stardeck-space-grade-playing-cards MCAD: https://mcad.edu/   Notes: -Lunar Saloon -Bouncy Smash -The gaming industry -Cold tweeting -Making what you want -Kickstarters -Stardeck -Astro Alphabet -Interlink -Movie posters -The film industry -Creative freedom -Google -Design vs. Being a designer -Teaching at MCAD -Client relationships -Design process -Starting with sketches -Not being defensive to feedback -Minneapolis -California -Starting Lunar Saloon -The future of Lunar Saloon -Being proud of your work -Twitch -Live streaming -Dream Client: Valve on branding fake corporations and characters within their games -Favorite animated film: Akira, Princess and the Frog, Who Framed Roger Rabbit -What do the people you love think you do for a living: Logos and stuff -Animalator: Dinosaur

Andrew Kramer of Video Copilot joined us for episode 52. We talked about rising to expectations, Intercept, Star Trek lens flares, and relying on the talents of a team. Links: Website: http://www.videocopilot.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/videocopilot Element 3D: https://aescripts.com/element-3d/ Action Movie FX: https://apple.co/1kehsvC SENTiNEL: https://vimeo.com/248374832 Intercept: http://bit.ly/2D4iwii Notes: -Video Copilot -Deciding what to work on -Pushing yourself -After Effects -Star Trek -Concept vs. tools used -Element 3D -Bad Robot/Super 8 -JJ Abrams -Rising to expectations -Outside perspectives -Star Wars: The Force Awakens -Relying on the talents of a team -Tutorials -The After Effects community -Action Movie FX -Client work -Managing time -SENTiNEL -Short timelines -Review sessions -Skill development -Intercept -When to stop tweaking single VFX shots -Directing -Future short films -Writing for scenes -Creating tools -Dream client: Elon Musk -Favorite animated film: Tangled and How to Train Your Dragon -What do the people you love think you do at work all day?: My kids just think I work on Star Wars all day -Animalator: Raven -Andrews questions for Zac -Bouncy Smash -Future of Animalators

Austin Mann is a travel photographer who is constantly on the move creating content for today’s best brands. He also founded Weld, a co-working space and community for creative pros. On the episode, we talk about fostering creative communities, how to face closed doors in your creative career and how to pitch yourself.   Links: Website: http://austinmann.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/austinmann WELD: http://www.weld.co/ Good To Great: http://amzn.to/2EbyHj5   Notes: -Weld -Co-working had just begun -We work better together -Creating trust -Collaboration -Asking good questions -Relying on others -Define where we are going -Good To Great -Blind spots -Collective imagination -Pitching ideas -iPhone 6 Project -Photography -What makes a good looking image -Injecting time -Interacting with light -Dream Client: Audi -Favorite Animated Film: Toy Story -What do the people you love think you do for a living: Travel Photography -Animalator: guanaco