Basic Brainheart

Shannon Tindle, writer of Kubo and the Two Strings, believes in making stories specific and personal. This week he shares his own story and the lessons he’s learned so far in his career. Believe me, you don’t want to miss it.

Some of Shannon’s other work includes Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The Croods, Coraline and a number of other impressive projects and achievements. He and his wife Meg are incredibly creative and collaborative and I can’t wait to see what they’re up to next.

Some links to check out:

Check out Kubo and the Two Strings on Netflix!

Google Spotlight Story "On Ice" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHgJ9DdYMiw

Shannon’s Twitter: @ShannonTindle_1

Shannon’s Instagram: @shannon_tindle

Intro/Outro music courtesy of BenSound.com

“William is a bit of a dreamer.” That’s what Will’s teachers often wrote on his reports. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be an animator. He describes his own story so well, that I’ll let him speak for himself here:

“After a degree in animation at Edinburgh College of Art, Will joined Aardman Animations as a trainee assistant animator on Wallace & Gromit's Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Since then he has worked on features, commercials and TV shows including The Pirates, Creature Comforts and Shaun the Sheep. He has written and directed three independent short films and is currently Animation Director on Nick Park’s latest feature film Early Man in Bristol. Will lives in South Gloucestershire, England with his talented wife and two children.”

Links:

Will Becher: will_becher, willbecher.co.uk

Eve Coy: @evescoy, http://evecoy.blogspot.co.uk/

Aardman Animation: http://www.aardman.com/

Early Man Movie: @EarlyManmovie

If you're curious about Will's work, here's a list...it's not exhaustive, though! :)

Early Man (animation director) (filming)

2015Wolves and Dogs: Howls for Full Moon (animator)

2009-2014Shaun the Sheep (TV Series short) (animator - 45 episodes)

- Fruit and Nuts (2014) ... (animator)

- The Stare (2014) ... (animator)

- Duck! (2014) ... (animator)

- Save the Dump (2014) ... (animator)

- Picture Perfect (2014) ... (animator)

Show all 45 episodes

2012So You Want to Be a Pirate! (Video short) (animator)

2012ParaNorman (animator)

2012The Pirates! Band of Misfits (character lead animator)

2008A Matter of Loaf and Death (Short) (character animator)

2007Creature Comforts America (TV Series) (animator - 7 episodes)

- Great Outdoors/Pet Peeves/Talent Show (2007) ... (animator)

- Growing Up/Fears & Phobias/Something's Afoot (2007) ... (animator)

- Communication/Feeding Time/Parrot Tongue Twister (2007) ... (animator)

- Working/For the Birds/Love, Animal Style (2007) ... (animator)

- Winter/The Zoo (2007) ... (animator)

Show all 7 episodes

2006Off Beat (Short) (animator)

2005The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (animator)

Director, writer and multitalented artist extraordinaire (Book of Life, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera) Jorge r Gutierrez has pioneered his own path since graduating from art school. He stayed true to his roots and his passion, but was deemed "unhireable" by many American studios because his style is so unique. Jorge has had to create his own work ever since. Thankfully, he and his incredibly talented wife, Sandra Equihua, have been, and continue to be, successful.

Find Jorge on Twitter and Instagram: @mexopolis

See and purchase his work here: http://www.super-macho.com/shop.htm

What do Kung Fu Panda, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, The Little Prince and More have in common? They were all directed by creative genius Mark Osborne.

Mark Osborne was born on September 17, 1970 in Trenton, New Jersey, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Kung Fu Panda (2008), The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) and The Little Prince (2015). His brother Kent is also an incredible creative human.

Mark has thoroughly explored the worlds of stop motion animation as well as 2D and 3D animation and has garnered an amazing reputation in the entertainment industry as being a great director to work with.

Not only is he passionate about story, he's passionate about helping women in animation get more opportunities in the space and is actively working to help change the landscape. He's got so many practical, actionable advice for creatives and delves into those details on today's show.

John Brooks knows his way around a camera. He has the awards to prove it.

His career in Communication, Film and Television spans 42 years. He has worked with Jim Cameron and Vince Pace on a broad range of 3-D

projects since 2001 in various capacities including, DP, Director, Stereo Supervisor, and the was the Vice President for Creative Services for The Cameron Pace Group. For the past 3 years has served as the Executive Vice President for The Cameron Pace Group – China.

As for awards, he's won a few. ;)

1977 Addy Award – Commercial - Safe to Drink?

1978 Teddy Award’s for segments on The Outdoorsman TV Series

1979 Teddy Award’s for segments on Sports Afield TV

1996 Communicator Awards, Crystal Award of Excellence for the

National Park Service Public Service Announcements on the preservation

of underwater cultural resources.

1997 Emmy Nominated for work on PBS film Shipwrecks and Sacred

Places.

Named one of the Top 100 producers by Video Magazine for 1997.

1997 Communicator Awards, Award of Excellence for an interpretative

video Shipwreck Archeology.

1998 Telly Award for film on submerged cultural resources.

1999 Telly Award for a film The Race to Save White Abalone.

1999 Telly Award for a film Treading Lightly In The Channel Islands.

2000 Aurora Gold Award for Underwater filming on PBS film New

Florida: What About Coral

2003Telly Award for film Beneath The Reflections

2004 International Wild Life Film Festival, Merit Award- Photography,

Beneath The Reflections

2004 Telly Award for Tragedies In The Mist

2004 Telly Award for Hidden Habitats

2004 Telly Award for Scientists At Sea

2006 Telly Award for Defender Of The Fur Seal

2006 Aurora Gold Award Defender Of The Fur Seal

2009 International Wildlife Film Festival numerous awards - People of The Seal

2010 Honorable Mention Blue Ocean Film Festival – Beneath The Rainbow Bridge

2010 Telly Award cinematography – Beneath The Rainbow Bridge

2010 Emmy – US Open 3D – Stereo Supervisor

2011 Santa Barbara Film Festival Selection – Beneath The Rainbow Bridge

Tomm Moore and his colleagues at Cartoon Saloon have been hard at work for years creating breathtaking stories like the Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Puffin Rock and more. In this episode we get to hear all about how the small town kids from Kilkenny Ireland go to art club together...then stumble into the film business and end up making films that the Academy nominates for Best Animated Feature. The humble beginnings of what's sure to be a continually unfolding story of one of the most beloved animation studios on earth.

Donna Lynne Champlin knew she wanted to perform at the age of 3 1/2. Since that time, she's pursued excellence in musical and dramatic performance and her career is skyrocketing these days as she has made the transition from stage to television.

In today's show we cover a plethora of topics such as how she met Rachel Bloom, what it's like to be a "rookie" on the set, learning the politics of playing a supporting role and the importance of "unplugging" in order to be the best performer you can be.

This time we play with format a bit! My sister Bethanie joins me and we chat about everything form "Valley Girl Philosophy" to how chaotic school mornings are for us and our kids.

Lorien McKenna is a screenwriter and story consultant. She specializes in Story and Script Development for both studios and writers, helping them find the best version of their story. Her studio experience includes 10 years at Pixar Animation Studios in Story Development (RATATOUILLE, UP, BRAVE, INSIDE OUT, THE GOOD DINOSAUR), Paramount as a Development Producer, REELFX Animation Studios as a Story Consultant, as well as international studios for both live-action and animation. Her private writing clients include live-action and animation feature and TV writers, directors, and novelists.

In 2015, along with Meg LeFauve and Chris Whitaker, she sold and wrote a TV Comedy based on the foibles of parenthood for WBTV/NBC. She is a mentor and judge for the Cinestory Foundation in both the TV/Digital and Feature Retreats.

Lorien McKenna and Story HikesLorien has a BA in English Literature & Performing Arts and an MFA in Playwriting from St. Mary’s College of California. She founded GUILTY THEATER in San Francisco where she produced and wrote plays and acted as the company dramaturge. Lorien also taught Playwriting, Shakespeare and Theater at St. Mary’s College and ran creative workshops for both children and adults in schools around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Lorien is a strong believer in development of both the story and the storyteller. Her passion is working with writers to dig down into the core underlying themes and structures of story, finding what excites and moves the writer and bringing that to the audience. Lorien’s professional and personal experience in the world of story is a guiding force for writers, both emerging and established.

Find Lorien: @AngryWriterLM

With her refreshing and innovative style, unique training, and unparalleled creativity, newly minted 2016 Emmy Award winning choreographer Kathryn Burns has become Hollywood’s toast of the town. As the groundbreaking choreographer behind the hilarious watercooler moments on CW’s critically acclaimed hit television series "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," Kathryn stood apart in her Emmy category, and her peers took notice. Her three Emmy winning dance performances include “I'm So Good at Yoga,” “Settle for Me,” and “A Boy Band Made Up of Four Joshes.”

Animated, charismatic, and witty to a T, Kathryn Burns made a name for herself as one of the hardest working and most in-demand television choreographers in Tinseltown. In addition to “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” her brilliant choreography has been featured in Netflix’s “Wet Hot American Summer,” Comedy Central’s “Key & Peele,” CBS' "2 Broke Girls," and Adult Swim's "Children's Hospital" just to name a few.

Originally from Texas, Kathryn moved to Los Angeles to hone her craft by performing and choreographing at the prestigious Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCB). The years of unique hands on training that she received here is where Kathryn ingeniously combined comedy with dance, creating a limitless style all her own. While at UCB, she created innovative and laugh out loud choreography for Hollywood’s comedic legends, including Amy Poehler who she worked with in the UCB film FREAK DANCE. Kathryn still performs regularly at UCB where she can be seen every month starring in "Quick & Funny Musicals."

The 2016 Emmy for “Outstanding Choreography” isn’t the only accolade under Kathryn’s belt. She was recognized this year by winning The World Choreography Award for "Best Choreography in a Television Episode" for her breakout work on “Key and Peele.” Along with the original dances that she creates for the small screen, Kathryn has worked with numerous recording artists including the dancers alongside Pharrell Williams on the iconic "Happy" music video, which won her and the team a Grammy for “Best Music Video of the Year.”

With an unwavering passion, skill and imagination for dance, television, film and comedy, Kathryn Burns is a new pioneering force in choreography. Audiences worldwide will continue to be astonished by her remarkable work as she tirelessly makes her mark dancing through Hollywood.

You can find her at: @katmburns on Instragram!