School of Motion Podcast

One the of the hardest parts of freelancing is managing your risk. Lucky for Colin Hesterly, he's never been afraid of taking a chance. Whether it's crossing the country for a degree, landing an internship with Buck off a student film, or jumping headfirst into freelancing only three months into his career...Colin is ready to take the plunge. We finally managed to lock him down long enough to extract some golden nuggets of advice, so crank that volume and break out a pen and paper. Class is in session.

No one arrives in this industry ready to jump straight into freelancing. You don't instantly get the skills just because you downloaded the software. Nuria Boj put in the hard work—and the homework—to find and define her strengths as a designer/illustrator. Along the way, she's worked with some incredible studios and clients...including on a project near and dear to our hearts. Get ready to meet one fantastic artist.

What if you had an amazing idea for an animated series, but had no idea where to start? That's where Matthew Senreich and Seth Green began, chasing a funny idea across Hollywood to bring their dream to life. The end result, after 15 years and going on 200 episodes, was the legendary Robot Chicken. We sat down with Matthew to talk about his start with Wizard Entertainment, running rampant over pop culture, and his plan to dominate future. Don't miss this one!

Imagine setting out into the world as an artist, traveling from country to country, with each step in your career taking you further from home. Motion Designer Jiaqi Wang began her journey in China, but she's practiced her craft from Shanghai to Turin, Italy, to sunny Los Angeles, California. Still, she's only looking toward the future, and what tomorrow might bring.

At some point, every artist struggles to find their voice—that unique style that makes everything they do specifically theirs. We often talk about the structure of animation, or the foundational elements of motion design, but all of that is just the groundwork for your art. To learn more, we sat down director Cat Solen to learn how she found her voice in her new Adult Swim show, "The Shivering Truth."

Adult Swim is known for shows that push the envelope for both what you can show on TV, and how you bring your stories to life. "JJ Villard's Fairy Tales" is a twisted and hilarious take on the Grimm Brothers' famous works. In this episode, JJ joins us to discuss the incredible show, overcoming numerous setbacks, and what it was like to work with the cast of his dreams. If you're hoping for a creative career, don't miss this one!

Territory Studio has become one of the biggest players in the game when it comes to FUI work with huge feature films like Avengers-End Game and Guardians of The Galaxy under their belt. Lately, they have seen ventures into Experimental and Future Design by creating the UI for the cars of the future. In this episode, Co-Founder and Creative Director Marti Romances explains how the right mindset and smart business decisions can pave the way to success.

Youtube has become an incubator for content that blurs the lines between VFX studio and hobbyists with contributors creating some pretty impressive stuff with consumer gear. Daniel Hashimoto; AKA "Hashi" AKA "Action Movie Dad" has shown us what ingenuity, technical chops and a couple of cute kids can do with budget filmmaking. Oh, did we mention that Hashi happens to be Senior Content Creator at Red Giant Software?

"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" Director Kris Pearn joins us to discuss his new Netflix Original Movie, "The Willoughbys," how they achieved such a unique visual style, and what it's like inventing new worlds. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/animated-feature-film-director-kris-pearn

Studio ownership is unforgiving when you consider the great effort it takes to get one up and running, never mind operating for a long period of time. Block & Tackle is one of the very few studios that have existed since the pioneer days of Motion Design, and they are still thriving. Owners Adam Gault and Ted Kotsaftis join us on this episode and talk about how they have maintained their sharp edge in the industry while producing an expansive collection of different looks and styles.

When you see slick, cutting edge digital design being used by big brands, your brain probably conjures up images of a bustling studio in a big city like New York or LA where the cost of living is astronomical and your lifestyle is limited to your surroundings. What if we told you that that same cutting edge design was being created in small-town America where living cost is palatable and there are more opportunities for you to have the life you want. Barton Damer, owner and Creative Director at Already Been Chewed Studio in Wylie Texas talks about how his nonconformist passion for skateboarding blossomed into creating a world-class studio that is very much off the beaten path.

Can you imagine being so good at imagining and creating FUI that Marvel comes to you to create it for their feature films like Iron Man 2 and Black Panther? What about taking it a step further and being so good that real-world companies come to you to for consulting on products that don't even exist yet? In this episode, Chief Creative Director John LePore talks about how Perception Studios is doing just that.

Do you have a favorite plugin that you can't live without? Have you ever thought about who the person was that created that plugin that has saved you countless hours of work? This special episode of the School of Motion Podcast has been pulled from our Expression Session vault. It features instructors Zack Lovatt and Nol Honig interviewing Adam Plouff who you may know as the mad genius behind Battleaxe; which, may we add, is responsible for the massively popular and useful plugins Rubberhose and Overlord.

Starting a motion design career is hard and leaves you with a lot of questions. There are so many hurdles that new artists stumble into; it can feel like there is no clear path forward. Joe Donaldson joins us on the podcast and breaks down how he balances work and life, all while riding a wave of continual success.

Today's podcast is pulled directly from VFX for Motion, hosted by course instructor and Stu's former colleague, Mark Christiansen. When it comes to pulling knowledge directly from the source, this podcast is the holy grail. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/stu-maschwitz-interview

James Ramirez joins Joey in a one-on-one nostalgic trip back to the early 2000s. From a small Texas town to Los Angeles, James unpacks his career between his time at the legendary MK12 Studio to directing the Spider-verse titles and much more.

It was a heck of a year for the MoGraph industry, and for School of Motion. SOM's 2019 Motion Design Industry Survey revealed greater participation, enthusiasm, opportunity and income than ever before; and SOM's business, course curriculum, core team, enrollment and online reach and engagement grew at exceptional rates. Not to mention SOM's rebrand with Chris Do and The Futur, the brand manifesto video with JR Canest and Ordinary Folk, and the completely redesigned website coming soon. On the 2019 End of Year Podcast episode, SOM founder, CEO and Podcast host Joey Korenman is joined by EJ Hassenfratz, 3D Creative Director, and Ryan Summers, 2D Creative Director, to talk about the artists, studios, tools, trends and events that made MoGraph news in 2019 — plus all the exciting plans (and bold predictions) for the coming year. This one's long, but it's a must listen.

Allen Laseter Talks Productivity, Passion Projects, People Management, Motion Design, Direction, and Developing Your Own Style Nashville-based animator, illustrator and director Allen Laseter didn't 'study' motion design; the famed creative, known for his bold, striking scenes and uniquely stylized characters, transitioned from live action with trial and error and online tutorials. One day, after graduating with a BFA in Film, he was offered an animation project from a friend of a friend — and the rest, as they say, is history. Allen's since completed projects for the likes of Lagunitas, TED, Coke, Disney and School of Motion. How does he do it? Almost exclusively in After Effects. And now, with a new baby at home, how does he juggle his creative work, commercial direction and family life? On Episode 81 of the School of Motion Podcast, our founder and CEO Joey Korenman and his guest Allen Laseter discuss the road to renown; developing your own style; After Effects animation; coordinating paid client and personal passion projects; billing for your services; working freelance versus studio employment; project and people management best practices; and Stanley Kubrick, School House Rock! and The Beatles's Yellow Submarine.

Some of the coolest work in the industry blurs the line between motion design and visual effects. School of Motion's VFX for Motion course teaches you to move in and out of these worlds with ease. On Episode 79 of the SOM Podcast, we go behind the scenes of VFX for Motion, discussing in depth what went into the course's creation with the creator himself, Mark Christiansen. The developer of the After Effects Studio Techniques series of books that helped launch a generation of visual effects artists, Mark has spent his career dedicated to creativity and mentorship — ideal for an instructor, online or off. During his conversation with School of Motion founder, CEO and Podcast host Joey Korenman, Mark covers his work with LucasArts and Industrial Light & Magic, shares tons of tips on compositing in After Effects, and answers a variety of questions SOM tallied from its audience.

Will Johnson, creative innovator, co-founder, director and partner of industry-leading motion design studio Gentleman Scholar speaks with School of Motion founder, CEO and Podcast host Joey Korenman about the importance of passion and work ethic; the naming, creation, development, key differentiators and success of Gentleman Scholar; and much more.

Liz Blazer was a successful fine artist, but the fine art world wasn't for her. She chose to blaze her own path, telling stories through animation — like Ozzy Osbourne fighting Elton John to the death. Now a famed filmmaker, art director, designer and animator, Liz has worked as development artist for Disney, director for Cartoon Network, special effects designer for MTV, and art director for Sesame Street in Israel. Her award-winning animated documentary Backseat Bingo was shown at 180 film festivals across 15 countries. But that's not all. Liz is the authority on animated storytelling. She wrote the appropriately entitled Animated Storytelling, now in its second edition, and currently teaches visual arts at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where she emphasizes the art of storytelling in pitching and delivering successful animation projects. School of Motion founder, CEO and Podcast host Joey Korenman raves about Animated Storytelling (and its illustration, by Ariel Costa), and makes the most of his opportunity speaking with "Blaze" on Episode 77. During her hour-long appearance, Liz speaks with Joey about her transition from fine art to animation; the importance of movement, breath and soul in art; animation's ability to "charm" and "suspend belief;" the creation of her award-winning animated documentary; how she ended up writing a book by accident; the differences between animation and motion design; the keys to compelling storytelling; and more.

Haitian American multidisciplinary artist and animator Handel Eugene personifies the very best of the superheroes he's maneuvered on behalf of Marvel films: like Black Panther, Handel is a master of advanced technologies; and, like Spiderman, he has that "Spidey sense" — for what works and what doesn't. On episode 76 of the School of Motion Podcast Handel talks about how his tireless work ethic and precise work flow have enabled him to succeed in the increasingly competitive motion design industry. http://schoolofmotion.com/podcast/handel-eugene-mograph-innovator-teacher-mentor-som-podcast-episode-76

To commemorate the 75th episode of the world's number-one motion design podcast, we speak with none other than Bradley G. Munkowitz, popularly known as GMUNK, a prolific Berkley-based director, designer and artist who's worked not only in motion design and animation, but also in graphic design, UI/UX, experiential design, live action direction, installation art, robotics, projection mapping, LED, and more. In his conversation with our podcast host (and founder and CEO) Joey Korenman, the genius GMUNK discusses the tempestuous world of commercial direction, his experimentations with psymunk (psychedelic art), inframunk (infrared photography) and other art forms, his use of hallucinogens, why and when he may move to Europe with his family, the key characteristics necessary for long-term success, and much more. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/famed-designer-director-bradley-g-munkowitz-gmunk-som-podcast

Ryan Honey of premier motion design studio Buck talks landing a motion design job, creativity and collaboration in the workplace, and more. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/studio-ascended-buck-cofounder-ryan-honey-som-podcast

Portland-based art director, illustrator and designer Sarah Beth Morgan discusses her new SOM course, Illustration for Motion https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/podcast-illustration-for-motion-course-sarah-beth-morgan

An Illustration for Motion exclusive podcast made public featuring Illustrator and Director Tuna Bora. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/tuna-bora-podcast-interview

Good sound design can set an animation apart from the rest of the pack. We may be pushing pixels left and right, but the audible experience needs just as much love. On today's podcast, Wes and Trevor of Sono Sanctus bust down doors and deliver a really unique podcast experience. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/sono-sanctus-podcast-interview

An insightful chat with Giant Ant's Co-Founder Jay Grandin. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/jay-grandin-podcast-interview

In today's podcast episode we chat with Designer and Art Director Nidia Dias. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/nidia-dias-interview

An interview with Earworm storytelling genius at Vox, Estelle Caswell. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/estelle-caswell-vox-interview

We sat down with Ordinary Folk, a new studio led by JR Canest, to chat about their recent launch, pain points, how they create such beautiful work, and even how faith plays a role in their lives. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/ordinary-folk-interview

Josh Norton shares his 15 years of operational experience at his New York studio BigStar. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/bigstar-interview

Yann Lhomme drops a ton of insight into the changing landscape of marketing that studios now operate in. When every brand in the world is a media company how can studios and agencies help their clients navigate the world of video and motion design? https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/yann-lhomme-interview

There's a lot of buzz around motion design and how it fits into UI and UX. Zach Brown is leading the way with an app called Animator by Haiku. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/haiku-podcast

Beeple, the godfather of everydays, digs deep into learning and where you should be spending your time and efforts to build your career. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/beeple-interview

Issara Willenskomer from UX in Motion stops by the podcast to chat about the exciting possibilities of UX design for animators. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/issara-willenskomer-interview

We are stunned to have our latest guest on the podcast. To say that Erin Sarofsky is a successful motion designer would be a severe understatement. As an Emmy Winner and Studio Owner, Erin is one of the most accomplished artists that we've ever talked to. If you've gone to the movies or turned on the television in the last 5 years there's a really dang good chance that you've come across her teams work. As a woman-owned business, Sarofsky is on the cutting edge of social change and artistic achievement and we are thrilled to have Erin and Sarofsky Creative Lead Duarte Elvas on the podcast. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/sarofsky-interview

In this episode, Adrian and Joey reminisce a bit about what it was like to come up in the industry in the early 2000's. If you've been around the industry for a while, this one is going to make you nostalgic, and if you're just a few years in... you are going to learn a lot about the big changes that have shaped our industry over the past 2 decades. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/adrian-winter-interview

Get ready to meet Iria Lopez and Daniela Negrin Ochoa. They are the two creative minds behind the studio and have established Wednesday as a shop that produces beautiful illustrated work with a strong mix of traditional animation, 2D after effects stuff, and even a little bit of 3D. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/wednesday-studio-interview

We live in strange times people... it's not always easy and frankly, sometimes it's a bit dangerous to be too honest about your politics. In this conversation Erica and Joey explore this topic and we talk about what effects she's seen on her own career and other artists when it comes to mixing work and politics. We also talk about Patriot Act, the effect of tech giants on our industry and many other things so sit back and say hello to Erica. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/erica-gorochow-interview

Joel Pilger started his own studio, Impossible Pictures, in 1994 and wore many, many hats over the years. 20 years later he sold the studio, and then found himself at a crossroads, not sure what to do next. And then, he found his current calling which, in our opinion, suits him PERFECTLY. He's currently a consultant and partner at RevThink a consultancy for creative entrepreneurs including owners of Motion Design studios. His day-to-day involves helping studio and agency owners figure out how to grow their business, how to position themselves in the market, how to handle operations and finances, and all of the business lessons he learned in two decades of running a successful studio. He also runs a Jumpstart Accelerator for owners who need some help getting things past the painful startup phase, and you can find out about that and all the other cool things they do over there at RevThink.com. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/joel-pilger-interview

The Motion Design industry is always changing and evolving, and 2018 was no exception. From new tools to emerging artists this was a big year for our industry. In fact, this year more than any other year, it really feels like motion design is beginning to define itself in the creative world. As such, we thought it'd be fun to sit down with our good friend Ryan Summers to discuss some of the biggest news coming out of the mograph industry in 2018. In the podcast, we talk about everything… from incredible projects to #chartgate. No stone is left unturned. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/motion-design-review-2018

In this episode, Sander van Dijk answers questions from... YOU, the School of Motion community. We collected tons of great questions and tried to pull out the ones that Sander could really dig in to! See the Show Notes: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/sander-van-dijk-interview

In this podcast episode we sit down with Simon Fielder, an advanced 3D artist who has made a name for himself in the Cinema 4D and Houdini community. On the episode, we chat about the value of learning difficult things, we hear how Simon has developed his Houdini skillset, and learn how he embraces the pain that often comes along with developing new skills. Simon lives in Mainz, Germany where he freelances for studios and clients around the world. Simon's understanding of 3D is impressive and it was no easy trek to get to where he's at today. So what advice does he have for artists looking to dive into the deep end of 3D? https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/simon-fiedler-interview

Today we talk with Nick DenBoer about his unique entry point into the professional world of motion design, how he landed a dream gig working for Team Coco, and how his short passion project landed him at the Sundance Film Festival; and on the radar of gigantic brands and ad agencies. There is a lot for you to geek out on in this episode! www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/nick-denboer-interview

On today's podcast episode we sit down with Hayley Akins. Hayley is the founder of Motion Hatch, a very cool online community that focuses solely on the business side of things. She's the host of the wonderful Motion Hatch podcast, and has recently released a Freelance Contract Bundle. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/hayley-akins-interview

TJ is currently an Executive Producer at Instrument, a VERY cool digital agency out in Portland, Oregon. Prior to that he was EP and co-founder at a studio called... Oddfellows, yes, THAT Oddfellows. Before that he worked in ad agencies, big post-houses, and everything in between. His experience in this industry has given him an incredible perspective on the economics of Motion Design. He's been on the client side, hiring studios, and he's also been on the vendor side, trying to woo and work with agencies and clients. In this conversation, TJ gets extremely specific with the economics involved at the studio level. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/tj-kearney-interview

50 friggin' podcast episodes. It's insane to think how many ridiculous Motion Designers have volunteered their time to appear on the podcast. Naturally, for episode 50 we wanted to make the podcast extra special, so we asked the talented Ash Thorp on to speak his mind. On that podcast, we talk about the work ethic required to operate at the level of the best in the business. We talk about the way he organizes his work so he can be super productive. We talk about motivation and how an artist can deal with those moments when you're stuck on a project. And we also talk a lot about the double-edged sword of being a public figure in this industry or in any industry, really. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/ash-thorp

Film Riot is a YouTube channel with, at the time of this recording, 1.3 MILLION subscribers. It's an incredible resource that teaches you the art and science of film-making in a very entertaining way, and the mastermind behind it is Ryan Connolly. Ryan's a filmmaker, and I really think that word fits him well because after talking with him it's clear that he is obsessed with filmmaking and has been pretty much his whole life. In this interview we talk about the brilliant model behind Film Riot, that lets Ryan and his crew fund and produce short films with an insane amount of production value… all without a studio backing them. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/ryan-connolly-film-riot