Directing Animation Livecast

Ron Friedman and I had a wonderful conversation at the Salt Lake Animation Expo* BUT technology Failed us, so let's do it again!

Let's talk about His Thirty Years as an animator on hand-drawn animated films such as The PageMaster and Swan Princess, which visual FX, video game animation, supervising animation for Pan's Labyrinth, to previsualizing films at The Third Floor to teaching future animators through   / animationtrainers   and    / @animationtrainers  

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (supervising Lego Fortnite and animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

*The Salt Lake Animation Expo is now called "Sketch 2 Screen (And Everything In-Between!)"

Since Directing Animation Livecast Episode #2 starring Moonbot Co-founder Brandon Oldenburg, he has gone to develop Flight School Studio, The Immersive Department of Wonder, and now "InBetween" which got to show off development for it new feature film Bloom at Annecy 2024.

As always, Brandon is an inspiring guy and this should be a great conversation!

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (supervising Lego Fortnite and animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

Since interview Story artist, consultant, director Mike Morris, I've been amused by his contributions to "collaborative posts" on LinkedIn. Knowing these "articles" are used to train AI, he trolls them in the funniest way and ironically earned the "Top Animation Voice Badge" on his LinkedIn profile at   / animike  

But that's not what this episode about. It was a serious, great conversation about living as an artist in the animation industry. His thoughts inspired me and hopefully will do the same for you!

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (supervising Lego Fortnite and animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

Met Eli Harris at the Salt Lake Animation Expo and he is a professional in every sense of the word, nicknamed "The Image Maker" because of the inspiring passion that comes from his voice acting. His advice, tips, and experience were fun topics for discussion!

From his LinkedIn bio:

I am Eli Harris, an award winning actor and voice artist in the industry. I am also known as the outstandingly smooth and versatile voice of several brands which has earned me the title of “The Image Maker” in the entertainment industry.

--

Originally, I am from Central Virginia (Lynchburg, Virginia) where I started my acting career at age 6 for the Cherry Tree players.

After graduation, I joined the military as I live by the set of values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal courage. Only after the passing of my late mother in 1998, I decided to pursue my biggest passion in life that is the performing arts.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘

I have a passion for voice acting with the unmatched charisma and sound to command control and hold attention.

For me having a my personal set of values that I live by allows me perform roles that convey messages to about inner values, being in integrity with oneself, setting firm boundaries in life, standing up for oneself with a vision bigger than self while still acting kind, compassionate, and respectful to the needs of others.

My acting reflects authoritativeness and respect, which is believable and yet approachable. These skills allowed me to play roles such as Ike Broflovski of South Park and playing alongside Alicia Keys in The Nanny Diaries.

𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗥

I have recently been selected as one of the top voice talent at Innovative Artists, a New York-based independent agency, a leader in the areas of voiceover and commercials for over 25 years.

Over my 18-year career at the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), I have mastered voice skills such as consistency, conversationality and being connected while also acting with believability, authenticity, emotionality and interpretation that allows me to tell a compelling story and perform solid characters.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗢

In addition to voicing commercials and promos for the Automotive & Beverage Industries I also narrate for sporting, graduation and military events, I am best known for voicing some of the most iconic male characters in video games and animated television shows.

I have industry grade recording capabilities and am able to do sessions via Source Connect, Zoom, Skype and Phone Patch.

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (supervising Lego Fortnite and animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

At DrawingFORCE.com, Mike Mattesi, author of the FORCE drawing books and creator of the FORCE drawing theory teaches his drawing approach.

Scott Wiser sat down with Mike at the Salt Lake Animation Expo for this challenging conversation about navigating the industry as an artist and about his love for animation and teaching!

Mike Mattesi attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City to pursue a career in the comic book industry and found my way into Walt Disney Consumer Products and Walt Disney Feature Animation where Mike had the amazing fortune to work on "The Lion King."

MikeI then moved to the west coast where he entered the video game industry and then returned to New York where he taught at SVA and many other studios and schools in the tri-state area. After many years teaching I decided to write a book called FORCE that would wrap up my teaching career. Mike launched a company called Contagious Concepts, an art resource company for the video game industry. This lead to work with Microsoft, Origin, Electronic Arts and other developers on many exciting titles.

After starting a family, they all then moved to Los Angeles where Mike taught at Nickelodeon, Electronic Arts and Art Center. This lead Mike to opening his own art school, Entertainment Art Academy, the first of its kind in the world!

After four challenging years Mike closed the Academy and moved to San Francisco where he reentered the video game industry and worked primarily as an Art Director across numerous game studios, Zynga my latest.

Now Mike returns to teaching through DrawingFORCE.com, teaching at art colleges and entertainment companies in the Bay area such as , Pixar, The Academy of Art University, California College of the Arts, and Mike travels around the world hosting FORCE Drawing Workshops.

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (supervising Lego Fortnite and animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

Andrew Chesworth is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker living in Burbank, CA. You can see his latest project, The Brave Locomotive at:    • The Brave Locomotive  

​He co-wrote and co-directed the short film One Small Step ​at Taiko Studios.

He was an animator for Disney on Frozen, Zootopia, Moana, Big Hero 6, Wreck-It Ralph, Feast, Get a Horse!, Inner Workings, and Olaf's Frozen Adventure​. Previously, he was a director of commercials and short films at Make in Minneapolis. From 2016-2017, Andrew taught fourth-year Character Animation at CalArts. He was an instructor for the online CG animation school Animsquad from 2014-2022. In 2019, he was a character animator on Netflix's Klaus for Sergio Pablos Animation Studios. Recently, he was both Character Design Supervisor and Supervising Animation Director on the Netflix animated series My Dad the Bounty Hunter.​

Andrew spent the tale end of his 3 years at Netflix Feature Animation as a Head of Character Animation and has now become the Character Lead at Flying Bark Productions designing for yet another upcoming project.

http://www.andrewchesworth.com/  / bravelocomotive  

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

Josh Carroll and Ben Rische are such a powerful creative team that even though they've worked together for years and are currently on Steamroller Animation & Jalil Sadool's Spice Frontier, they're collaborating after hours on their own original Graphic Novel.

Ben Rische is the Head of Story at Steamroller, but that's not all. He's a great character designer, 2D FX animator, etc.

  / benrische  

Josh Carroll is not only an awesome 3D character modeler, but his input is vital enough at Steamroller Studios that this year he became the Head of Creative at Steamroller. https://www.artstation.com/kairos121

It's been inspiring to work with both of them on Spice Frontier and their earlier works inspired me before I ever knew them! Let's have a great, creative conversation!

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

Artificial Intelligence, more aptly named "machine learning" has been called both good and evil, so in this panel, we tried to have a balanced discussion with animation inustry experts to inspire animation students, business owners, studios, etc. Produced by Jordyn Curley and the Salt Lake Animation Expo. Panelists:

Dana Ware - Cheif Creative Officer at ARound

Chaz Walgamott - Illustrator and owner of Digital Gravy Animation Studio

Michael Murdock - Founder/ Cheif Creative Officer at Continuun XR

What do chief creative officers think about AI? What do business owners think about AI? What questions are students asking about AI? Find out in this interview! Good or Evil? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at scottwiser.com/collaborate

Josh Carroll and Ben Rische are such a powerful creative team that even though they've worked together for years and are currently on Steamroller Animation & Jalil Sadool's Spice Frontier, they're collaborating after hours on their own original Graphic Novel.

Ben Rische is the Head of Story at Steamroller, but that's not all. He's a great character designer, 2D FX animator, etc.

  / benrische  

Josh Carroll is not only an awesome 3D character modeler, but his input is vital enough at Steamroller Studios that this year he became the Head of Creative at Steamroller. https://www.artstation.com/kairos121

It's been inspiring to work with both of them on Spice Frontier and their earlier works inspired me before I ever knew them! Let's have a great, creative conversation!

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

Armand Serrano is a visual development artist, art director, and production designer for animated feature films and games specializing in environment design. He is currently working as a Production Designer for an unannounced biblical animated feature film slated for 2025.

Armand is known for his works at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Sony Pictures Animation, and The Bible Project. His most recent projects were Skydance Animation's The Search for Wondla (2024) and Marvel Studios' "What If...?" . He is also a seasoned lecturer in the field of animation and design. He conducts workshops and demos internationally. Armand conducts his own online mentorship program once a year for advanced visual development candidates. He teaches at Brainstorm-Inland School and the co-organizer of Icon Manila with his wife. He also taught at Biola University and Art Center: College of Art and Design as an adjunct professor.

After completing his civil engineering degree at the University of Santo Tomas in 1990, Armand started his career as an assistant animator at Fil-Cartoons, a Hanna Barbera studio based in Manila. His new-found passion for animation moved him to Philippine Animation Studio and supervised the layout department for Marvel's overseas production of X-Men and Fantastic Four TV series to name a few. He moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s and took further studies in layout and background design. Armand joined the Walt Disney Animation Studios in Florida in 1996 and became a Layout Journeyman. He worked on four of the studio's successful animated feature films: Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch, and Brother Bear. In 2004, Armand joined the crew of the newly formed Sony Pictures Animation. During his nine-year stay at Sony, Armand completed a total of fifteen projects including Surf's Up, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, Arthur Christmas, and Hotel Transylvania. He also collaborated independently in visually developing Escape From Planet Earth for Vancouver-based Rainmaker Entertainment and production design on Animal Crackers for Blue Dream Studio Spain. Armand moved back to Disney Animation Studio between 2013-2018. His later credits with Disney include the award-winning features Big Hero 6 and Zootopia, Olaf's Frozen Adventure, and Raya and the Last Dragon. He also worked as a freelance art director for The Bible Project and visual development artist for studios such as Netflix Animation, Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Niantic, Blur Studio.

https://www.armandserrano.com/

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate