Between the Keyframes

Between the Keyframes

By Erin Sarofsky & Austin ShawBusinessEntrepreneurshipEducationArtsDesign
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Between the Keyframes episodes

  • Getting to Know Justin Cone

    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

      Justin Cone Twitter

      Justin Cone LinkedIn

      Sarofsky 

      Austin Shaw

      1 hr 20 min
    • Professional Practices: Soft Skills
      Your raw talent can get you in the door, but that door is going to be hitting you on the ass very quickly if you don’t have the necessary soft skills to work well in collaborative groups with clients, colleagues, team members, and leaders in our field.
      The definition of a ‘skill’ is something that is learned. In this episode, Erin and Austin discuss ‘soft skills’ like reliability, time management, communication, attitude, and more.  Most of these should be common sense, but to become a consummate professional, it pays to learn and practice soft skills and develop your emotional intelligence.  You’ll become a sought-after pro with a sterling reputation if you really work on observing, learning, and developing these skills.
       
      Discussion Points:
      Our work only survives with collaboration, as in most creative mediums
      Definitions – Skill, Soft Skills, Hard Skills
      Austin and Erin admit their soft skills needed work when they first started in the business
      Time management –In the real world, there are repercussions to failing to do what you’ve been hired to do by the deadline
      Unreliability is not tolerated - and someone is always waiting to take your place
      Communication– if you’re not sure, or worried, just ask – sooner than later
      Missing assets you need for the job– how to best communicate 
      Attitude– you can still have your own style, but do the work and don’t be a bummer
      Giving Direction – clarify what you’re trying to solve, and give the person something to work toward
      The ripple effect of missed deadlines
      Follow-through - you can be organized but follow-through may need to be learned
      Learning to ‘read the room’ – give everyone space to speak, don’t hog the mic, and look for the spotlight.
      Everything affects everything – do your work on time, don’t be a bummer or a jerk, and communicate early if you’re having trouble
      We’ve received lots of your reels for Reel Time Reel Talk!
       
      Resources:
      Sarofsky 
      Austin Shaw
      26 min
    • The Hold System
      If the hold system did not exist or was not respected by motion design studios and freelancers, there would probably be complete chaos.  Even with this system, finding and reserving talent can be a “challenge.” The hold system is a constantly moving puzzle that must be delicately managed by both studios and talent.
      Today Austin and Erin are delving into the basic tenets of the hold system and giving you the inside scoop on how you as a freelancer are able and encouraged to work within this tenuous network. You are in control of your time and your fees, so be proactive, fair, and flexible. Your reputation will thank you.
       
      Discussion Points:
      Definition of a hold first and second holds
      How studios use holds to manage resources
      Building your reputation, being fair re: studio holds
      Studios and freelancers need to respect the system
      Holds vs. bookings
      What is a booking?
      Communication with studios – its okay to reach out as a hold approaches
      Juggling multiple holds– dos and donts
      What is a challenge?
      The etiquette around holds, bookings, and challenges
      Kill fees and canceled bookings
      Check out the 2019 Motionographer article on holds by Josh Van Praag
      Recap
       
      Resources:
      Josh Van Praag Motionographer Article on Holds
      Sarofsky 
      Austin Shaw
      34 min
    • All the Things we Make: Part 02
      Welcome to Part II of all the things motion designers create. In this episode, we’ll discuss brand videos & documentaries, explainer videos, apps, future tech, video games, experiential design, live performances, and NFTs.  
      Some highlights include brand work that has been done for Apple, Marni, and Good Books, Apps like Google Home, video games including the breathtaking scenery in Red Dead Redemption II, live performance opportunities such as half-time shows or visuals for your favorite bands in concert, and we’ll even cover programming drones to create visuals in the sky and NFT’s digital assets being sold in the crypto world. 
      Let us know if we missed something and send us your favorite examples in any area we discussed!  
       
      Discussion Points:
      Brand videos 
      Brand documentary films
      Explainer videos 
      Apps 
      Future Tech 
      Video Games 
      Experiential
      Live Performance
      NFT’s 
      Resources:
      Sarofsky 
      Austin Shaw
      33 min
    • All the Things we Make: Part 01
      We tried to squeeze everything a motion designer creates into one episode, but we touch so many things that we’re splitting it into two.  
      In Part I, we’ll discuss movie titles, TV titles, title cards, commercials, Network branding and promos, music videos, episodics, in-app branding, and award show packages (like MTV Video Music Awards and the Oscars), and logo animations.
      What comes to mind when you think of each of these areas of Motion Design? Austin and Erin will highlight some of their favorites – from Motion Design studios to individual designers, going back decades. From Ozark to the Brady Bunch, MTV’s moon and flag treatment, to Green Day, Led Zeppelin, Netflix, Microsoft, and Google – join us for a sometimes nostalgic and always inspiring look at all the work motion designers create.  
       
      Discussion Points:
      Movie Titles – Birds of Prey, Psycho & Saul Bass, Thomas Crown Affair, Se7en, Bond films
      TV Titles - Peacemaker, The Morning Show, True Detective, The Brady Bunch, Golden Girls 
      Title Cards - Ozark, The Killing
      Events - Oscars, Emmys, MTV, Independent Spirit Awards
      Conference Titles - Not often talked about, a chance to really experiment
      Commercials – Nike Air Max, the Kraken, Bombay Sapphire
      Network Promos and Branding - F/x American Horror Story, Simpsons
      Austin’s work for Pharrell, Anthropologie, Ralph Lauren
      Music Videos - A-Ha, White Stripes, They Might Be Giants
      Episodics - Another area not often talked about - Adult Swim, Julia Pott
      Motion Branding - TV networks, Netflix, Hulu
      In-App Branding - Microsoft, Stephen Kelleher 
      Award Show Packages – MTV, Studio Moross
      Logo Animation - MTV Moon Man
      Resources:
      Sarofsky 
      Austin Shaw
      34 min
    • Professional Practices Overview
      Welcome to the first episode in our “Professional Practices” series. Today we’ll cover some of the topline areas that you need to consider when you begin your job search. We’ve been around the block, and we’re here to share our hard-won knowledge about the Motion Design industry, how to find the perfect position for your skills and preferences and the many critical elements to being successful.
      From defining what you want to do, to where you might be interested in doing it, to the many moving parts of Motion Design teams and companies, we’ll help you navigate through some of the toughest stages of your career.
      Discussion Points:
      We love to start with definitions – what is a “Professional”?
      Austin’s personal dress code through the years
      Identifying what job you are most interested in 
      Generalists vs. specialists
      Future topic: the hierarchy of Motion Design teams
      Can you identify and communicate your “value proposition”?
      The three “stages of knowing”
      Future topic: interpreting a creative brief
      The soft skills necessary for being a professional
      Motion Design is highly collaborative - leave your ego at the door
      Future topic: Building a reel
      Identifying your employable skills
      Learn to be ‘of service’
      We’re here to help!
       
      Resources:
      Sarofsky 
      Austin Shaw
      33 min
    • Motion Design Culture
      Back when we were job hunting early in our careers, no one mentioned company culture, and we didn’t look at company culture as a ‘thing.’ We looked for open jobs and took them when hired!  These days, a company’s culture ranks high on the wish list of many motion design job seekers.  
      Join us as we discuss what makes company culture toxic, or sustainable, and how to recognize aspects of each type.  Every company or classroom has a culture, it may be great in a giant corporation, and it could be horrible in a small, seemingly cool, boutique organization.  Don’t assume.
      Do you have some great culture-related work stories?  Send them to us, we would love to hear about them.
       
      Discussion Points:
      Let’s first define what culture is in the dictionary
      It’s definitely challenging to foster culture in our current remote home-based zooms and slack etc..
      Motion design work used to be only in NY/LA but now you can work anywhere
      Great motion design teams can be found in lots of unexpected places, like CashApp
      Company culture is always changing– and you can influence it when you’re inside
      Is the company culture “sustainable” or toxic?
      Some attributes that make for a toxic company environment:
      Discrimination of any kind: any of the ‘isms’
      Unrealistic expectations for work deadlines
      Constantly in DefCon 1 Mode/putting out fires
      Burnout
      Some attributes of a sustainable culture
      Feeling like you want to be there
      Anyone can speak up at any time without repercussions
      Communal spaces to talk, eat, hang out
      Clear HR policies/regular reviews
      Clarity of reporting structure– who can you talk to about issues?
      Ability to manage your personal obligations without repercussions
      Accessibility to leadership
      People/leadership saying thank you for all your hard work
      Do you have some interesting culture
      29 min
    • Interrogation Part 2
      This episode is the second half of our Interrogation series with Michelle McDonald, a senior at Western Washington University and one of Austin’s students. Michelle has been grilling us on what she wants to know about the industry, lessons we learned through our experiences, and what she should anticipate after she graduates.
      Today we’re answering questions about overcoming obstacles, what activities lead us to our flow states, and what questions you should be asking your potential studios. Michelle also gives us feedback from her point of view and age group. We also talk about the importance of a mentorship program: why students don’t ask about mentorships more and why they are beneficial.
      Discussion Points:
      Things to overcome as designers
      The activities that make us feel most like ourselves
      Finding flow states
      The questions you should be asking
      Our weaknesses
      Feedback for our project
      Skills students “should” master and the importance of a mentorship program
      Resources
      Sarofsky 
      Austin Shaw
      21 min
    • Interrogation Part 1
      Today we’re doing something a little different. We asked one of Austin’s students, Michelle McDonald, a senior at Western Washington University, to grill us on what she would like to know about the state of the industry, our career experiences, and what to expect as she transitions into the creative workforce. 
      We answer questions around what drives us, what we’re proud of, and how we maintain our passion and work ethic.
      Discussion Points:
      What makes us proud and excited to be in the motion design industry?
      What are we proud of at Sarofsky Studios?
      The nicest things we have heard said to us over the years
      Erin- what has your experience been, working in a male-dominated field?
      Erin- you don’t seem very discouraged about losing out on some things because you’re a woman, why is that?
      What is one thing you’ll never get used to in the industry?
      You’ve both got incredible stamina and motivation, what drives that for each of you?
      Tune in next time for Part II of Michelle’s questions. We’ll answer questions about what students should be asking potential employers, and what kinds of stumbling blocks are our “design kryptonite.” 
      Resources:
      Sarofsky 
      Austin Shaw
      28 min
    • Reflections
      In this first episode of season two, Austin and Erin reflect on season one of Between the Keyframes and the state of the Motion Design industry.
      They explore what makes their content different, how and why they are addressing unique topics that you often don't hear much about, and the surprising and unexpected profiles of the audience members. They also discuss the adaptation requirements both of the industry itself and in regard to their personal experiences learning about vidcasting, editing and content, and dealing with positive and negative audience feedback. Finally, hear about some of their most popular episodes from season one, and what to look forward to in season two.
       
      Discussion Points:
      What we’ve learned
      Navigating the ‘in-between’ content
      Vulnerability is the key to so many aspects of content
      Our surprising audience members– from students to full-time careerists to “old-timers”
      Demystifying the industry
      Adapt or Die!
      It’s not easy to record a podcast and promote it
      Loosening up made our content more enjoyable for the audience
      Personal learnings from Erin and Austin
      Some of our most popular episodes- Mistakes, History of Now, F/T vs. Freelance, Work from Home, etc.
      Audience comments and feedback– we read you some standouts
      Topics we will address in 2022 - including but not limited to– female mentorship, being a producer, after effects, more history, the hold system, and more
      Resources:
      Sarofsky 
      Austin Shaw
      35 min

    About Between the Keyframes

    From the publisher's feed

    A vidcast about the craft and culture of motion design.