Creator Forge Podcast

As Director of Game Design for Cartoon Network, Brad Merritt has designed and directed dozens of games for CartoonNetwork.com and AdultSwim.com. While working in the web design industry, Brad started creating Flash games in 1999. He lives in Atlanta, where he is the organizer of the Atlanta Game Developer Meetup and has served as a guest instructor at the Art Institute of Atlanta. Brad also develops games independently.

• Brad's Blog
• Cartoon Network
• Atlanta Game Dev Meetup
• GGDA Presentation

Mentioned TV Shows

• The Amazing World of Gumball
• Adventure Time
• Batman Animated Series
• The Powerpuff Girls
• Steven Universe
• Teen Titans Go

Mentioned Games

• Snipper Clips
• Banjo-Kazooie
• Yooka-Laylee
• Adventure Time - Battle Party
• Card King: Dragon Wars (iOS)
  • GooglePlay
• Card Wars - Adventure Time (iOS)
  • GooglePlay
  • Amazon
• Card Wars Kingdom - Adventure Time (iOS)
  • GooglePlay
• Flipped Out - Powerpuff Girls (iOS)
  • GooglePlay
  • Amazon
• Attack The Light - Steven Universe Light RPG (iOS)
  • GooglePlay
  • Amazon
• Glitch Fixers - The Powerpuff Girls (iOS)
  • GooglePlay
  • Amazon
• Robot Turtles (board game)
• Uncharted 4

Mentioned Books

• "Predictably Irrational" by Dan Ariely
• "You Are Not So Smart" by David McRaney
• "Teach Yourself HTML" (most recent edition)

Mentioned Studios

• Cryptozoic
• Kung Fu Factory
• Grumpyface Studios
• Krome Studios
• Pet Tomato

Mentioned Software

• Unity 3D
• Spine 2D

Other Mentions

• Penny Arcade Expo (PAX)
• The Varsity
• WebGL
• Steve Stamatiadis (artist/designer)

Podcast Credits:

• Pat Bollin: Host
• Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host

Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Florida, Kim Nguyen is an Atlanta based 3D animator. She earned her Masters in Interactive Technology from the FIEA (Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy) after earning her undergrad degree at USF. Her credits include EA Tiburon, Hi-Rez Studios, and now Moon Studios. We discuss her work, her experiences in the industry thus far, and the unconventional path she took to get there.

Kim's Portfolio Website

Mentioned Companies:

• EA Tiburon
• HiRez Studios
• Moon Studios GmbH
  • Ori and the Blind Forest (XBox One)
  • Ori and the Blind Forest (PC)

Mentioned Schools:

• University of South Florida (USF)
• Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA)

Other Mentions:

• Kartikay Bhagat, rigger/technical artist at Hi-Rez Studios (this is an old site, but it's all I could find)
• Full Sail
• 3Ds Max
• Maya
• Atelier, definition

Podcast Credits:

• Pat Bollin: Host
• Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host

Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Fernando Carlos Vazquez Rivera was trained in art at the Atlanta campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design. With 7 seasons under his belt, he is now the Lead Illustrator for FX's hit Animated TV Series, Archer.
“Ferni” discusses how he discovered his passion for illustration, how he first broke into the animation industry, what studio life is like, and how to approach an animation studio for work. Ferni is also passionate about athletics and rock climbing. He has competed in three seasons of American Ninja Warrior, and he graciously contributes his time and expertise to Catalyst Sports, an organization that empowers individuals with physical disabilities through adaptive sports and personal coaching.

Archer Animated TV Show

Software

• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Illustrator
• Toon Boom

Rock Climbing

• Stone Summit Atlanta
• Team Catalyst

Other Links

• Bill Mayer
• University of Puetro Rico at Mayagüez
• SCAD-Atlanta

Podcast Credits:

• Pat Bollin: Host
• Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host

Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Goni Montes is a prolific Atlanta-based freelance editorial illustrator. His client list includes Men's Health, Rolling Stone, BOOM! Studios, The New York Times, Playboy, Tor, and many many more. Goni discusses how he discovered his passion for illustration, how he first broke into the industry, his creative process, and what his daily work life is like.

• Goni's Website
• Goni's Blog
• Richard Solomon, Goni's Agent

Mentioned Clients

• Men's Health
• BOOM! Studios - Power Rangers
• Power Rangers Vol. 1
• D&D - Dragon+
• Rolling Stone
• Next Testament by Clive Barker
• Irene Gallow
• Sea Grant of Puerto Rico

Networking and Industry Events

• Society of Illustrators
• American Illustration
• Workbook
• Illuxcon
• Spectrum

Other Links

• Promethia
• University of Puetro Rico at Mayagüez
• Bill Mayer
• Rick Lovel
• Norman Rockwell behind bar at society of illustrators
• Process Gif

Podcast Credits:

• Pat Bollin: Host
• Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host

Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Episode 7G, Creator Forge: Geek Talk. A geeky, off the cuff discussion about the Marvel Cinematic Universe on TV (cut together from a few recordings).

Mentioned TV Shows & Movies:

• Daredevil
• Jessica Jones
• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Batman v Superman
• Suicide Squad
• Agent Carter (OK, we didn't mention this one, but it's good)

Podcast Credits:

• Pat Bollin: Host
• Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host

Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Pat Bollin is a Concept Artist and Illustrator for the casino game industry. He has been an accomplished web and advertising illustrator, a published comic book artist, and served a 5 year tour as a U.S. Naval Illustrator-Draftsman. He holds BFA and MFA in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Pat has a passion for learning and teaching, and has taught Drawing, 2D Design, and Concept Art at SCAD and the Art Institute of Atlanta. He and his lovely wife, Renee (also a design professional), live, work, play, and renovate their fixer-upper house in Atlanta, GA.

In this second Half of the interview, we explore his struggles after art school, dabbling in different art careers, and eventual success as a professional artist.

Originally form L.A. (Lower Alabama), Pat Bollin is a Concept Artist and Illustrator for the casino game industry. He has been an accomplished web and advertising illustrator, a published comic book artist, and served a 5 year tour as a U.S. Naval Illustrator-Draftsman. He holds BFA and MFA in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Pat has a passion for learning and teaching, and has taught Drawing, 2D Design, and Concept Art at SCAD and the Art Institute of Atlanta. He and his lovely wife, Renee (also a design professional), live, work, play, and renovate their fixer-upper house in Atlanta, GA.

Pat's Website

• Shape Language
• The Uncanny X-Men Omnibus - Vol 1
• SCAD Savannah
• The Great Comics Crash of 1996

Podcast Credits:

• Pat Bollin: Host
• Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host

Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Miami, FL, Darnell Johnson is a super talented Illustrator, character designer, and visual development artist based in Atlanta, GA who recently made the bold leap from the relative stability of studio life in the casino game industry to a full-time career as a freelance artist. Darnell discusses the steps he has taken to forge a freelance career, art education, networking, and staying true to your own values while successfully working in commercial arts.

The Creator Forge Podcast will maintain a monthly release schedule going forward. Thanks for joining us so far, and we hope to hear from you on social media. Let us know what you think.

Darnell's links

• Stain LLC
• Darnell's LinkedIn

Companies and schools

• Pixel Pirate Studio
• ADC Mouse
• Age of Learning
• WMG
• Timbuk Toons
• AGS
• SCAD

Other Links

• How to become a toy designer
• Shawn Crystal
• Nolan Woodard

Podcast Credits:

• Pat Bollin: Host
• Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host

Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Animator, Recruiter, and Consultant Allyssa A Lewis is most noted for her animation on over 75 episodes and promos of FX's Emmy winning series "Archer", NBC's "30 Rock", and Animation Domination. She is also the CEO and Founder of the animation resource and staffing agency, My Animation Life, primarily focusing on the career placement and portfolio enhancement of artist within animation-related industries. Lewis is the Animation Director of re:imagine/ATL, and on the Advisory Board of ASIFA South.

Allyssa is truly passionate about the entry level experience. After discovering how difficult it is for young animators to find available positions in the animation industry, she decided to make it her mission to close the gap between working pros and entry level animators, bring young animators together, and providing them with the information and contacts they need to succeed in the animation industry.

Links

• My Animation Life
• ASIFA Atlanta
• re:imagine/ATL
• Archer Animated TV Show
• Floyd Norman: An Animated Life
• Adobe After Effects

Podcast Credits:

• Pat Bollin: Host
• Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host

Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Maine, Jeremiah graduated from The Art Institute of Atlanta with a degree in Game Art and Design, and has parlayed his knowledge and natural interests into a career as a game producer in the casino games industry. He has the rare quality of being both highly creative and highly organized at the same time, which are some of the qualities that make a good creative project manager, or producer.

Even though I’ve known Jeremiah for a few years now, there were a lot new things I didn’t personally know about him that came out in this interview. I can honestly say that Jeremiah is the model of what our podcast is about, which is taking your talents, skillset, and even your personal challenges, and using them to shape your own career in creative industries; sometimes in ways that aren’t always expected. ~Pat

Comics influences

• Stan Sakai
  • The Art of Usagi Yojimbo
  • Usagi Yojimbo - The Special Edition
• Sam Kieth
  • The Maxx - Vol 1
  • The Maxx TV Show
• Todd McFarland
  • The Art of Todd McFarland
  • Spawn Origins - Vol 1
  • Spider-Man by Todd McFarland Omnibus

Deliberate Practice

What is a Game Producer?

• Gamasutra
• Sokanu

PS: Sorry, I really did look, but I couldn't find any of my old Squirrel Man comics. I'll keep looking. ~Jeremiah

Podcast Credits:

• Pat Bollin: Host
• Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host

Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.