"To talk about kids' content is a joy"

Louise Bucknole’s career journey has taken her to almost all the major broadcasters – BBC, ITV, Disney and Sky – but it’s her current role, as Senior Vice President of Kids & Family, Paramount UK & Ireland (Milkshake! Channel 5 & Nickelodeon), that sees her playing a hugely influential role in entertaining and educating another generation of kids – a role she clearly relishes.

Louise gives some lovely insights into her own career path and offers sage advice to those just starting out, as well as insights into what she feels makes a great show. We also find out about some of the classic shows of Louise’s youth that first inspired her and what that means when it comes to how she commissions shows these days.

Grab your tea or coffee and settle in for an hour with Louise Bucknole and Julian Scott.

"The value of listening"

Given the chosen medium, I couldn't agree more with our guest in this episode, Neil Court.

And, given Neil's career trajectory, there is no-one we should be listening more closely to!

Early in his journalistic career Neil took an opportunity offered and didn't look back. That calculated and opportunistic risk taking has marked his career ever since, taking him from Managing Director of Nelvana, to founding Decode Entertainment, which became DHX Media, which became Wildbrain!

Neil has since gone on to be Executive Chairman at 9 Story Media, as well as Chairman of entertainment company, Peacock Alley Entertainment.

A busy man, we are extremely grateful to Neil for taking the time to talk to us.

Please subscribe, like, share, subscribe, and then give fashion advice, film suggestions, and recipes, to [email protected]

My thanks and gratitude, as always, to Julian Scott at Film London for hosting, Janet Balmforth at Liberi Consulting for organising, and Odilia Sickinghe for audio editing and advice.

A lotl to get through in this episode!

Julian’s guest this week is the always inspiring, technology pushing, groundbreaking, cliché defying, Dan Fill of Dark Slope Studios in Toronto.

Dan and his team have been rewriting how we conceive, produce and engage with entertainment for 7 years now but it’s also Dan’s career prior to Dark Slope that Julian digs into a little more, as well as exploring his penchant for a particular Mexican paedomorphic salamander.

So, grab a mug of something hot, or alcoholic, sit back, relax and let Dan Fill inspire you to push your own boundaries.

Please subscribe, like, share, give feedback, suggestions, fashion advice, musical suggestions, to [email protected]

My thanks and gratitude, as always, to Julian Scott at Film London for hosting, Janet Balmforth at Liberi Consulting for organising, and Odilia Sickinghe for audio editing and advice.

With Cartoon Business taking place this week in Brussels, what better time to talk to one of European animations best known (and loved) faces but least known human, Vanessa Chapman.

With a career that started at The Mirror newspaper and BBC Radio, Vanessa then moved into kids tv while at ITV.

Sidelines in fire eating, rally driving and bob sledding notwithstanding, Vanessa has gone on to be come one of the most recognisable faces in international kids television, now consulting with companies and European bodies at an Executive level.

Let's see how much Julian can find out about this most enigmatic of Execs.

Super Happy Magic Chat!

Tom Beattie, ladies and gents!

From Pot Noodle, to U2, to working with Rowan Atkinson, to his eclectic collection of fancy yet affordable eyewear, this week Julian gets to talk to MD of Tiger Aspect Kids about his career in kids media and how he progressed through the ranks at Tiger Aspect to become one of the most respected Execs working today.

To make matters worse, he's also one of the nicest people in the industry.

Grab a cuppa and settle in for a wonderful chat with Tom Beattie.

As always, massive thanks to Julian Scott at Film London Animation for hosting, Janet Balmforth at Liberi Consulting for organising, and Odilia Sickinghe for edit expertise.

Bestriding oceans, genres, and animation techniques, Allison Abbate is one of the most prolific Animated Feature Producers of the past few decades.

The Little Mermaid, The Iron Giant, The Rescuers Down Under, Tom & Jerry as well as being the long time Tim Burton collaborator on Frankenweenie, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Corpse Bride, Allison's resume is impressive.

Have a listen as Allison chats to Julian about how she started in the industry, what drives her still and take notes on her tips for getting the most out of your career.

A huge thanks to Allison for her time, to Julian Scott of Film London, for hosting, Janet Balmforth at Liberi Consulting for all the organising and planning, and to Odilia Sickinghe for editing expertise.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run, Sherlock Gnomes, The Paw Patrol Movie!

He's worked on them all!

Get to know Ramsay McBean and hear how his globetrotting early days informs how he engages with projects and with teams. A fascinating insight into a fascinating man and, without wishing to go all 'click baity' on you, listen out for some of the best career advice towards the end of the podcast.

Enjoy.

It's... the incomparable Marion Edwards!

With a career that has taken her to Telemagination, Dreamworks, HiT/Mattel and, more recently Gutsy Animation, Marion's career path in animation was anything but set at the start.

The classiest person in kids TV* gives us a glimpse behind the serenity that is shown to the world and hints at the incredible hard work that has gone into making it all look so easy.

Marion gives us an insight into, and tips on, how to build and maintain successful co-production relationships and some great advice for those starting out in the industry today.

A wonderful episode with a wonderful human.

Enjoy.

*My own awards.

In this episode Julian chats to the director of the highest grossing animated film… OF... ALL... TIME, Kelsey Mann.

Kelsey discusses his early passion for movies in Minnesota, where he grew up, and how that took him on a path, though not always direct, to Warner Brothers and Pixar and there through the ranks to direct his own movie.

We discover the knock-backs and rejections in Kelsey’s career that only made him more determined and focused and that he credits for ultimately helping him to where he is now – a record-breaking director.

He also sheds light on what makes good leaders and how to help further your career when you think you’ve hit a wall.

Kelsey is wonderfully warm, generous and very honest about his journey and there is a lot to be learned from this chat.

I’ll be asking him back for another episode as there is so much more that we didn’t get to cover but this is a great episode, so enjoy your time with the Mann of the Moment (sorry Kelsey).

With thanks to Julian Scott, Janet Balmforth and Odilia Sickinghe.

Bonjour et bienvenue dans un autre épisode

Today’s guest is Philippe Alessandri. A gentleman whose whole life seems to have been immersed in media, from being a teenage TV presenter and creating his own comic strips, to senior roles in some of Europe’s largest animation studios, to now running his own, Watch Next Media, in France and Italy. As if that wasn’t enough, Philippe is also the Chairman of the Animation in Europe federation. A busy man to whom we are very grateful for giving his time and his insights.

À toi, Julian.