DreamPath Podcast

Bryan and Jason recap Bryan's interviews with animators Michael Surrey (Disney, Dreamworks, Spire Studios) and Shawn Krause (Pixar, Spire Studios). They also remember and honor previous guest BJ Thomas (Hooked On A Feeling, Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head) who passed away last week from lung cancer, preview next week's interview with producer and Aspen Film Festival Director Susan Wrubel, and talk about some exciting interviews scheduled for June, including Moby and a mystery guest whose name Bryan shall not mention until their chat is "in the can."

Animator Shawn Krause spent 26 influential years at Pixar Animation Studios, working on classics like Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. He also lead the animation team on Cars 2, Inside Out, and Up, which opened the Canne Film Festival, won an Oscar for Best Animated Featured, and was nominated for Best Picture. Shawn is now creative director for Spire Studios, where he is developing Trouble, an animated feature with Danny McBride.

What you will learn:

• What it was like starting his career at Pixar and working with the company as it evolved and refined its computer animation style. [0:00-9:10]
• Shawn's opinion on the necessity for aspiring animators to know traditional draftsman skills, and the advantages of mixing old and new techniques. [9:10-13:26]
• Why he has focused on character throughout school and professionally, and how fantastic the working environment was at Pixar. What it was like animating Inside Out, turning emotions into movie characters. [13:26-21:09]
• Shawn's perspective on director/writer input during the animation process, when animators make characters resemble the voice actors portraying that character, and what it was like working on Pixar's most recent film Soul. How the animation team at Pixar has grown over the years and how he incorporated a logo from his father's locksmith company into the movie Inside Out. [21:09-30:52]
• Whether formal education is necessary for aspiring animators, what inspired him during his formative years, why he made the choice to move on from Pixar after 26 years to work as Creative Director at Spire Studios, and what future projects Shawn is excited about, including an animated feature called Trouble with Danny McBride. [30:52-41:22]

Resources:

• Shawn Krause's: IMDb, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram

Animator Michael Surrey is the artist behind some of Disney's most iconic films, including Beauty and the Beast, which was the first, full-length animated movie to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. Michael went on to animate the title character in Aladdin, Timon in The Lion King, and Clopin in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, among many others. After 18 years at Disney, Michael animated for Dreamworks, where he worked on Shark Tale, Tangled, and the Oscar-nominated How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, among others. He is currently Creative Director of Story and Animation at Spire Animation Studios, where he is developing the animated feature Trouble, with Danny McBride.

What you will learn:

• What called Michael to California 30 years ago and what Disney film inspired him to work for Disney. How an unconventional summer job (animation posing artist for the Care Bears TV series) opened his mind to the possibility that animation could be a career. [0:00-11:52]
• Michael's earliest memories of drawing and being asked to draw pictures and pen "tattoos" for fellow classmates. How fundamental school was in transitioning from drawing to animation. The commitment it took to overcome rejection before finally being accepted to an animation school. [11:52-17:26]
• Michael's perspective on Disney's animation style when he began working for the studio, how many drawings and time it took to create just a few seconds of film, and why initial animation concepts often have to be simplified over time. [17:26-24:50]
• What it was like for Michael to work on Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin early on in his career at Disney, and how the passionate, collaborative work environment at Disney shaped him as an artist. Why he appreciated the openness Disney had to employee input on story changes and why it makes for a stronger finished product. [24:50-32:43]
• How knowing who will voice a character before its creation can affect the artist's approach when animating the character. The best and worst parts of his day as an animator. [32:43-41:58]
• Why Michael left Dreamworks to become Creative Director of Story and Animation at Spire Animation Studios. Why we are currently in a renaissance period for animation and the importance of having a progressive work culture. [41:58-49:55]
• Why he is excited to be working on Spire's upcoming project, Trouble, with Danny McBride, and why he believes there is a wide audience now more than ever for animation. [49:55-59:49]

Resources:

• Michael Surrey's: IMDb, LinkedIn, Instagram
• Spire Animation Studios

Bryan and Jason recap last week's interviews with songwriters Los Angeles-based songwriter Emily James and Seattle-based songwriter Sue Ennis, who co-wrote more than 70 songs with Ann and Nancy Wilson, of the platinum-selling rock band Heart. Bryan talks about why his personal connection to Sue, through his dad who passed away in 2003, made that interview special. Jason plays a message from a super fan. And Bryan and Jason preview upcoming interviews with animators Michael Surrey and Shawn Krause who joined Spire Animation Studios in 2021 after working for Disney/Pixar for decades.

Sue Ennis is an internationally-recognized songwriter. Best known for co-writing more than 70 songs with Ann and Nancy Wilson of the platinum-selling rock band Heart, Sue has more than 35 million records sold, including 10 gold, 4 platinum, 1 triple platinum and 1 quintuple platinum album. Sue recently co-wrote and performed on Nancy Wilson's first solo album, You and Me, which was released last Friday. She also teaches songwriting workshops and her "Craft of Songwriting" class sells out every quarter at Shoreline Community college.

What you will learn:

• How she met Ann and Nancy Wilson as a teen, and how that friendship blossomed into a decades-long songwriting collaboration.
• What it was like writing songs in the early days with Ann and Nancy, and how they have been able to maintain that same rapport and collaborative spirit for so long.
• How Sue collaborated with Nancy Wilson on Nancy's first solo album, You and Me, which was written and recorded during the pandemic, and released in May of 2021.
• How Sue and Nancy collaborated to write and record the title track, You and Me, for Nancy's first solo album.
• Why Sue chose not to pursue a career as a live performer.
• What she learned early in her career about copyright and publishing in the music industry.
• What Sue thought of the grunge scene in Seattle in the late 80s, why she was not initially impressed and didn't understand the appeal of Mother Love Bone when the band was first starting out, and why she has profound respect for Kelly Curtis who managed Mother Love Bone and later Pearl Jam after Anthony Wood passed away.
• The origin story of the Lovemongers, a band Sue formed with Ann and Nancy Wilson in the mid 90s.
• How music royalties are divided between songwriters, performers, and publishers.
• What it was like touring with Heart throughout Europe.
• How Sue met Bryan's Dad, Greg Smith, when Greg was Heart's tour pilot. Sue also tells the story of an adventure with Greg in Germany, which involved landing a plane at a closed airport on a dark runway.
• How songwriting is both a craft that can be taught/learned, and an art with an element of magic that perhaps can't be taught/learned.
• What it was like receiving a limited edition, signature Nancy Wilson Martin Guitar in the mail, as a gift from Nancy.
• Sue's advice for Bryan about how to finish a song he wrote in high school but never finished.

Resources:

• Sue Ennis' Website and Twitter
• YouTube Video for the title song from Nancy Wilson's first Solo Album, You and Me

Singer-songwriter Emily James began writing her own music when she was 10 years old, inspired by such musical influences as Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, and Adele. At 16, Emily moved from New York to Nashville and, a year later, released her self-written EP, Emily James, produced by Grammy award winners Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves) and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon). She relocated to Los Angeles in 2017 and released her debut album, Til the Morning, produced by Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Vance Joy). Emily's most recent EP, Wanted You To Know, was released in February of 2021.

What you will learn:

• How growing up in New York City, having a close-knit family who valued the arts, and taking piano at an early age started her on a path to success as a songwriter and performer. [0:00-6:27]
• How performing at open mics in New York at the age 13 and being surrounded by supportive musical influences inspired her as a musician. Why she felt a connection to Nashville and why she moved there at the age of 16. [6:27-10:57]
• How she first got the attention of producers and how singers/songwriters work and collaborate with producers. [10:57-16:16]
• How Emily protects her work legally as an independent artist and the steps she takes to obtain licensing to perform covers of songs by other musicians. The importance of being in Los Angeles to make it in the entertainment industry, and how covid has changed that dynamic. [16:16-23:13]
• The evolution Emily's songwriting with her latest EP Wanted You to Know and what it was like making the music video for her song Back in the Summer. How her mother has influenced and supported her, and the challenges of being taken seriously in the music industry as a young artist. [23:13-31:00]
• What is was like growing up in a post-9/11 New York, Emily's plans for the future, and her take on the double-edged sword of social media. [31:00-39:12]

Resources: Emily James' Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify

Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways from the interview with Rae Deslich, process the guilty verdict in the Chauvin trial and what it means for racial justice in America, and talk about upcoming interviews with two singer/songwriter Emily James, and the platinum-selling songwriter on more than 70 Heart songs, Sue Ennis.

Rae Deslich is an Emmy-nominated set decorator whose film Promising Young Woman, starring Carey Mulligan. was nominated for five academy awards and took home one for best original screenplay. They have also worked on notable shows such as Party of Five, Drunk History, Alone Together, and the upcoming HBO Max reboot of 1980s Head of the Class.

What you will learn:

• How Rae approached the set decoration on Promising Young Woman, how they worked with the director and production designer to create the look and feel of the film, the importance of color palette in the film, and why the choice to use bright pinks and blues worked with such dark subject matter. [0:00-11:58]
• How they collaborated with director Emerald Fennell on Promising Young Woman, how the various set and design departments work together on films, and the importance of being versatile from production to production. [11:58-19:15]
• How much work Rae does before, during, and after a production, how mood boards were used during the production of Promising Young Woman, and the inspiration Rae draws from other films and shows. [19:15-26:41]
• How Rae got into the film industry, starting with film school, building a portfolio, and building their way up the industry. Advice Rae would give to anyone wishing to work in the film industry. [26:41-32:36]
• What Rae enjoys most and least about working in set decoration, and their preference of film or television. Rae's future plans, and why there are so many work opportunities on television reboots in the last few years. [32:26-44:00]

Resources:

Rae Deslich's: Website, IMDb, Instagram, LinkedIn

Bryan and Jason discuss:

• Takeaways from last week's interview with filmmaker Michèle Ohayon who directed the Netflix documentary Strip Down, Rise Up, which follows a diverse group of women as they attempt to heal from trauma and body image issues through the power of movement and pole dance classes;
• The different styles of documentary filmmaking that Michèle talked about during the interview, including the style she used to shoot Strip Down, Rise Up (cinéma véríte);
• The HBO Max documentary Q: Into The Storm;
• A listener review posted on Podbean;
• Bryan's upcoming interview with comic Monica Nevi;
• Bryan's plan to interview more performers at The Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima;
• The pride Bryan and Jason have in the podcast baby they have helped raise since March of 2019; and
• Next week's episode, featuring set designer Ray Deslich, who worked on the Oscar-nominated film Promising Young Woman, starring Carey Mulligan and directed by Emerald Fennell.

Michèle Ohayon is an Academy Award-nominated director, writer, and producer. She is also the CEO and Co-Founder of Kavana Entertainment. Her documentaries include It Was a Wondeful Life narrated by Jodie Foster, Cowboy del Amor, and the Academy Award nominated Colors Straight Up. Her most recent film is Netflix's Strip Down, Rise Up. which follows the journey of a diverse group of women who heal trauma and body image issues through sensual movement and the art of pole dance.

What you will learn:

• Michèle's inspiration for and intentions when she began working on Strip Down, Rise Up; how she was surprised by the supportive and cathartic experience that unfolded during the classes she filmed. How she was able to strike a balance between showing authenticity while not being exploitative of the subjects of hte film. [0:00-9:55]
• The grim statistics of sexual abuse and harassment in America, the problem the male gaze has created for women, and how the subjects of her film were able to find ways to heal and take back power through dance. How Michèle worked to create a safe space for the dancers in Strip Down, Rise Up and the powerful potential documentaries have to promote healing. [9:55-17:50]
• Why Michèle chose to hire a male editor for Strip Down, Rise Up after having a nearly entirely female cast and crew, what men in general can take away from the film, and the importance of not sensationalizing the female subjects. [17:50-21:46]
• How Michèle approached working with the women in Strip Down, Rise Up, from initial interviews to the commitment required to capture the perfect moments for the story. The 24/7 work schedule that comes with creating a cinéma vérité documentary and the connection it creates with the film's subject(s). [21:46-28:01]
• The nitty gritty of film budgeting and making enough to financially stay afloat as a documentary filmmaker; Michèle's experience making a documentary for Netflix. What first called her to documentary filmmaking. [28:01-36:01]
• How documentaries are making a resurgence in popularity, how filmmaking is more accessible than ever, and what Michèle has planned next. [36:01-46:18]

Resources:

• Michèle Ohayon's website, IMDb, Instagram, LinkedIn
• Kavana Entertainment
• Strip Down, Rise Up website