Between the Keyframes

Interview with Kelli Anderson

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Listen in as we explore the creative world of Kelli Anderson. Kelli takes us on a journey through her artistic path, revealing how her interests in art and science led her to an unconventional approach to motion design. Our conversation explores this unique intersection, the importance of communication skills in the art and design industry, and the magic of trusting our own feelings in the creative process. The episode is a tribute to the power of art to transcend our physical limitations.

Discussion Points:

Motion design and creative exploration
Kelli’s education and background
Art, ideas, communication intersection
Balancing playfulness and accountability in work
The importance of joy in creativity
Craft and technology
Intersection of science, art, design
Workshop structure and the analog-digital mashup
Exploring typography and favorite artists
Zoom for international collaboration

Resources:

Kelli Anderson

Book: This Book is a Planetarium

Book: This Book is a Camera

Sarofsky

Austin Shaw

Interview with Peter Clark

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Join us as we delve deep into a captivating conversation with the multi-talented designer and director, Peter Clark. From his humble beginnings of learning the ropes in high school Photoshop competitions, all the way to selling his first piece of art and taking the plunge into his dream career, Peter's journey is nothing short of inspirational. Discover how Peter transitioned from school to the professional realm, the significance of personal projects, and the courage it takes to chase your dreams.

Peter Clark is a multi-media artist and designer with an emphasis on graphic design brought to life via experimental animation techniques. His work is largely influenced by a life of skateboarding and drumming, which gave birth to his audio alias Enternull. Clark is often involved in both the audio and visual production of his projects -- which vary between experimental animations, light-based installation art and title design packages. He has been working as a freelance designer since 2014 with clients such as Fender Music, The Video Game Awards, Nike, Masterclass, Martin Garrix, and Nine Inch Nails. His visual approach often focuses on the process behind creation, attempting to use actions or materials as conceptual metaphors. By focusing on the errors often found in analog glitch or practical effects, Clark seeks to hint at the process behind the work and bring viewers closer to the act of making.

Discussion Points:

Early interests and education in design
Creating a unique aesthetic and brand
Transition from school to the professional world
Career paths and perspectives
Becoming a studio owner journey
Curating and mentoring talent
Practical effects and the creative process
Practical effects vs. digital
Pushing boundaries in lighting effects
Analog and digital art intersection
Taking time off and giving back

Resources:

Interview with Bee Grandinetti and Dorca Musseb of Panimation

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0000

What if we told you that animation is no longer a male-dominated field? That's right! On today's podcast, we're joined by Bee Grandinetti and Dorca Musseb, the brains behind Panimation, a thriving community for women, trans, and non-binary individuals involved in animation and motion graphics. The pair share heartening anecdotes from their career journeys, their roles as educators, and shed light on the significant changes they're witnessing in the industry. They also reflect on Panimation's journey, from a humble Facebook group to a robust platform with a directory, Instagram handle, and an exclusive channel. Staying true to their ethos, Bee and Dorca don't shy away from addressing the less glamorous aspects of the industry. Together, we dive headfirst into pressing topics like microaggressions, mentorship, the value of seasoned peers, and the need for ensuring fair treatment for all. They paint a vivid picture of the complexities of the animation world while emphasizing the importance of creating a safe space for discussions about worth and value. We also discuss the unique challenges that crop up when working with different studios, touching upon sensitive issues like health insurance and student debt.

Discussion Points:

Maintaining a nurturing Facebook group
The animation community in New York
Women directors and talent
The importance of inclusivity and representation
Gaining social power in the workplace
Importance of peers in career networking
Embracing knowledge and empowerment in education

Resources:

Panimation
Dorca Musseb
Bee Grandinetti
Sarofsky
Austin Shaw

Interview with Sofie Lee

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0000

We are thrilled to welcome the multifaceted Sofie Lee, a designer, illustrator, art director, and storyboard artist with an inspiring journey to share. We delve into her transition from South Korea to Vancouver, LA, to SCAD, and ultimately establishing herself in the world of freelancing. We'll discover how a visit to the digital media building at SCAD led her to switch her major to motion media design and how this transition opened up a new world of self-expression for her. We also discuss the profound impact of parenthood on career and worldview. Through her own experiences, she underscores the importance of creating spaces for those who break from the mold, and the evolution of her communication techniques. We wrap our chat by reflecting on the creative industry's specialist and generalist roles, the unique opportunities they present, and the inherent challenges.

Discussion Points:

Sophie’s background and journey to finding community and inspiration
Exploring the power of motion design
Transition from school to the working world
Growth through learning
Parenting's impact on career and empathy
Challenges of aging parents and work
Creating space for diversity and inclusion
Cultural differences and workplace etiquette
Career skills and understanding growth
Impact of collaboration in art

Resources:
Sofie Lee
Sofie’s Instagram
Sarofsky
Austin Shaw

Interview with Hung Le and Ricardo Roberts of Bien

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Imagine being a teenager who has to escape your homeland, learn a new language, and then you proceed to become a leader in the motion design industry. In another installment of our interview series, we welcome such a person - Hung Le - and his co-founder at BIEN Motion Design Studio, Ricardo Roberts. Both have unique, inspiring journeys that embody the spirit of determination and innovation. Hung recounts his incredible escape from Vietnam at 16 and his path to becoming a household name in motion design. Ricardo, on the other hand, was born in Ecuador and relates how a chance elective in grad school transformed his life, leading him from studio art to motion design.

Ricardo and Hung discuss their ‘Double the Line’ initiative, a mentorship program that aims to break down monoculture in design. Join us as we traverse this inspiring journey that encompasses not just the world of motion design, but also the larger issues of diversity, inclusion, and representation.

Unconscious bias continues to drive motion design. It’s bad for society and it’s bad for business; limiting revenue potential, brand recognition, and growth. BIEN was founded on the belief that inclusivity helps everyone. As a minority-owned motion design and animation studio, they work with award-winning creatives who embody a diverse range of human experiences.

Discussion Points:

Incredible origin stories
Motion design and business ownership
Inclusive motion design
The creative industry's diversity and globalization
Importance of representation
Inclusive motion graphics design
Navigating cancel culture and promoting diversity
Design activism
Sustaining momentum and making a difference

Resources:

Bien Studios

Inclusive Motion Design

Sarofsky

Austin Shaw

Interview with Carlo Vega

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In another episode of our interview series, you’ll hear from industry expert Carlo Vega, a motion design veteran with over two decades of experience. Carlo shares memories of his early career, his first professional job, and his journey to New York. The discussion covers Carlo's use of technology to create art and the topics he explores through his passion projects. The episode concludes with the importance of understanding the process and the value of failure when working on projects.

Carlo Vega was born in Lima, Peru, and grew up during a time of domestic terrorism and political turmoil. Vega approaches his art as a studied collection of thoughts and experiences, piecing together various realities. By combining simple, often geometric shapes with nebulous backgrounds and exploring abstract concepts through various mediums, Vega explores a tension between the logical and the inexplicable, the same tension he was surrounded with as a child in Lima. Carlo received his BA from the University of South Carolina in 2000 and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Discussion Points:

Artistic personal work and career opportunities
Collaborative work on TV network rebranding
Building long-term client relationships
Evolution of creative careers
Art and design in motion
Exploring dialogue and creation with AI
Visual R&D and experimentation process
Exploring and evolving creative approaches
Workshops and learning in design
Balancing labor and enthusiasm in workshops

Resources:

Interview with Ariel Costa

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first episode of our interview series featuring Ariel Costa, an Emmy-winning Creative / Animation (mixed-media) Director based in Los Angeles, CA. As the world constantly evolves, so does the motion design industry. Ariel gives his take on the emergence of new talent, the rise of AI and NFTs, and the impact of the pandemic on the industry. The conversation also covers the implications of AI on the industry, copyright infringement concerns, and the potential loss of the industry's 'soul.' Ariel lets us in on his creative process, the allure of 'blinking our brains,' and how the marriage of analog and digital elements creates harmony in design. Join us for this insightful and enthralling conversation about the challenges, triumphs, and evolution of our industry.

Ariel’s creative studio BlinkMyBrain™ is not a tool, it’s the attitude. Ariel helps studios, production companies, agencies, and all sorts of clients to solve creative and visual problems, bringing ideas to life and creating the message. With over 14 years of experience in the Motion Graphics industry, Ariel had the chance to collaborate with clients such as Marvel Animation, Spotify, Adidas, Warner, Focus Films, Netflix, The New York Times, Pinterest, and Facebook among many others. In the music industry, Ariel has done visual concepts for bands like Panic at the Disco, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and 30 Seconds to Mars. He directed music videos for incredible bands like Led Zeppelin, Green Day, Mastodon, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Discussion Points:

Real and digital world inspirations
The importance of personal projects
Navigating time constraints in creative problem-solving
AI's role in the creative process
The importance of studio environment
Challenges of a creative director
The decline of traditional work structures
Social media's importance for artists
The feedback loop and iterative process
Collage and mixed media exploration

Resources:

Ariel Costa - Blink My Brain

Blink My Brain – Green Day

Blink My Brain – Led Zeppelin

Blink My Brain - Mastodon

Sarofsky

Austin Shaw

Reel Time Real Talk - Part 2

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Erin and Austin review and critique three more listener reel submissions for part two of their “Reel Time, Real Talk” mini-series.

You’ll hear tips and tricks for improving the reel content, feedback on which parts are strong and not so impressive, advice on changing perspective, simplifying, modifying the typography or camera pov, and other constructive feedback. Today’s reels are from Miles Fabishak, Seth Thomas, and Evan West.

Discussion Points:

[00:17] Discussion and feedback for submission reel from Miles Fabishak
[04:23] Discussion and feedback for submission reel from Seth Thomas
[10:13] Discussion and feedback for submission reel from Evan West
More Reel Time Reel Talk in our next episode

Resources:

Miles Fabishak

Seth Thomas

Evan West

Jessica Hische Typography

Sarofsky

Austin Shaw

Reel Time Real Talk - Part 1

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 06:05:00 +0000

In this episode, Erin and Austin review and critique three listener reel submissions for part one of their “Reel Time, Real Talk” mini-series. You’ll hear tips and tricks for improving the reel content, feedback on which parts are strong and not so impressive, advice on changing perspective, simplifying, modifying the typography or camera pov, and other constructive feedback. Today’s reels are from Issy Muir, Etienne Buteau, and Thomas Collier.

Discussion Points:

[02:14] Discussion and feedback for submission reel from Issy Muir
[09:11] Discussion and feedback for submission reel from Etienne Buteau
[15:12] Discussion and feedback for submission reel from Thomas Collier
Stay tuned for Part II in the coming weeks

Resources:

Issy Muir Portfolio

Étienne Buteau Website

Thomas Collier Website

Sarofsky

Austin Shaw

Getting to Know Justin Cone

Erin Sarofsky & Austin Shaw — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 08:55:00 +0000

In this episode, Erin and Austin welcome Justin Cone, Director of Communications Strategy at BUCK, a global creative company that brings brands, stories, and experiences to life through art, design, and technology. With offices around the world, BUCK’s 600 makers, doers, and dreamers create work that is experienced by literally billions of people every day.

Justin’s experience with many different roles within the industry makes him a great listen for any motion design student or experienced designer. You’ll hear about the state of the motion design industry both in the early days and now, trends in employment and education, and new ideas and concepts on the horizon.

Discussion Points:

Justin, Erin and Austin’s early days in the industry
The state of education and employment in the industry today
The “Cream of the Crop” list
Big tech jobs
The impact of Motionographer.com on the industry
Internships/apprenticeships
BUCK business update
An LGBTQIA ‘zine project at BUCK
Remote work and its lack of network building
Writing and motion design
Producers, EPs, and their roles
Company culture
The IRL student experience
Private vs. public art schools
Obligations and responsibilities, managing time
Pros and cons within the motion design industry
Talent vs. hard work
Taco preferences, worst client notes, early mistakes, and gripes about kids these days

Resources:

Starter Story “How to Say No”

Justin Cone Website

Justin Cone Instagram