Our latest guest on 'The Creative Leaders Podcast' brought to you by Bigmouth Audio - is Michael Babcock, who joins us to discuss his work as Supervising Sound Editor and Re-Recording Mixer on Netflix & Sony's mega hit feature; K-Pop Demon Hunters.

In this episode, we dive deep into the life and career of a seasoned producer in the animation industry; Calum Hart. We start with an exploration of Calum's mission and purpose, which centres around nurturing creative ideas from their embryonic stages to fully realised projects. He emphasises the importance of collaboration, foresight, and creative problem-solving in his role.

Our guest shares his unique upbringing in the highlands of Scotland, where his isolated environment fostered a rich imagination and a love for various creative pursuits. From a young age, he dabbled in everything from magic and comedy to comic book writing, which eventually led him to a passion for film, music, and art during his teenage years.

He recounts his educational journey, including a filmmaking and screenwriting degree and a master's in scriptwriting, which provided him with numerous opportunities to intern and work in various roles within the creative industry. His career trajectory took him from live-action production roles to a pivotal moment when he discovered Axis Studios, where he transitioned into the animation industry.

Our guest discusses his time at Axis Studios, where he grew from a coordinator to a senior producer, and the challenges and triumphs he faced along the way. He also shares his experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, despite the global chaos, became a period of significant professional growth and achievement for him.

After several years at Axis Studios, he decided to spread his wings and moved to Sweden to work for Goodbye Kansas, a company known for its AAA animation cinematics and VFX. He reflects on the similarities and differences between the two companies and how this move allowed him to further hone his skills and take on new challenges.

Throughout the episode, our guest provides insights into the animation industry's current landscape, the explosion of adult animation, and the importance of taking creative risks. He also gives us a glimpse into his day-to-day responsibilities at Goodbye Kansas, where he juggles multiple projects, collaborates with creative teams, and navigates the complexities of project management.

In the end, he shares his excitement for future projects that offer new challenges, diverse creative approaches, and opportunities to learn new skills. This episode is a fascinating look into the mind of a creative producer who is passionate about pushing the boundaries of animation and storytelling.

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with the Founder & Creative Director at Chalk and Blade, Ruth Barnes, a company renowned for its innovative approach to audio storytelling and podcast production. Our guest shared insights into the evolution of podcasting, particularly the increasing importance of video components and high-quality sound design, such as Dolby Atmos, in modern podcast production.

We delved into the origins of Chalk and Blade, learning that the company was born out of a desire to create engaging audio content and to work independently. Our guest candidly discussed the challenges and rewards of running a business, emphasising the importance of producing meaningful and impactful stories, whether for branded content or independent projects.

A significant portion of our conversation focused on the business side of podcasting, including strategies for approaching brands and organisations, the importance of networking, and the challenges of monetisation. Our guest highlighted that for many clients, podcasting serves as a powerful brand-building and marketing tool rather than a direct revenue stream.

We also explored the creative process at Chalk and Blade, from initial concept development to final production. Our guest shared their approach to working with journalists and brands, emphasising the importance of collaboration and understanding the unique goals of each project. They also provided valuable tips on training podcast hosts, helping them find their voice and deliver engaging content.

Towards the end of the episode, our guest reflected on the impact of storytelling, sharing a personal anecdote about how reading "The Lord of the Rings" at a young age profoundly influenced their appreciation for narrative and fantasy worlds.

Overall, this episode offers a deep dive into the world of podcast production, providing listeners with a behind-the-scenes look at how Chalk and Blade creates compelling audio content that resonates with audiences and meets the diverse needs of their clients.

Eleanor is the Founder & Director of Clubhouse, an independent animation studio, based in Glasgow. Clubhouse is Scotland’s first 100% paper independent animation studio. They create playful handcrafted content that is ideal for colourful campaigns or surprising social media.
Eleanor has received the Bram Stoker Medal for most imaginative work and a D&AD Best New Blood Award. Her work has been screened in the UK and internationally, and twice alongside a live symphony orchestra.

Emrah is the Founder & Creative Director at Mooncolony - a premium 2D art and illustration services provider to the video games industry.

Emrah leads a team of outstandingly talented concept artists and illustrators who provide premium 2D art and illustration services to video game developers across the globe. With over seven years of experience in his role, he has successfully established and grown Mooncolony as a trusted and reliable partner for some of the biggest names in the industry, from free-to-play mobile games to AAA blockbusters.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:20 - Guest's Purpose and Mission
00:00:34 - Discovering Passion for Building Teams and Brands
00:01:20 - Merging Visual Development and Branding
00:01:46 - Guest's Background and Childhood
00:02:01 - Growing Up in Turkey and Early Influences
00:03:38 - Encouragement and Support for Art
00:03:57 - Pursuing Art in University
00:05:12 - Transition to Graphic Design
00:06:05 - Entering the Concept Art Industry
00:07:07 - Entrepreneurial Influences from Family
00:08:33 - Learning Business Skills from Father
00:08:54 - Career Path and Freelancing
00:09:15 - Founding Moon Colony
00:10:08 - Balancing Full-Time Work and Freelancing
00:11:11 - Building a Team and Studio Vision
00:12:05 - Naming and Branding Moon Colony
00:13:18 - Importance of Team Collaboration
00:14:07 - Establishing a Unique Studio Style
00:16:45 - Importance of Brand in B2B Space
00:17:57 - Selecting Projects and Clients
00:20:56 - Saying No to Non-Aligned Projects
00:22:40 - Early Days of Moon Colony
00:23:01 - Transitioning Freelance Clients to Studio Clients
00:25:39 - Role of Creative Director
00:27:45 - Delegating Responsibilities
00:29:50 - Learning and Networking for Business Growth
00:32:26 - Work-Life Balance and Team Support
00:36:06 - Side Ventures: Lunar Academy and Lunar Forge
00:37:33 - Impactful Stories and Influences
00:41:05 - Closing Remarks and Future Plans

Adam is a Director & Founder of 2d development house StudioNX.

He is also an Emmy winning Co-Creator of 'Niko and the Sword of Light' on Amazon Prime.
He recently developed the story for Herobeats' Bafta winning game 'Endling' and In 2019, directed season one of Marvel’s Battleworld which has since picked up over 5 million views.
In 2017 he created and directed the 80s inspired arcade game 'The Videokid' for Pixel Trip Studios. In 2013 Adam wrote and directed the critically acclaimed animated comic ‘Niko & the Sword of Light’ which hit no1 on the iOS appstore and went onto become an Emmy award winning TV series on Amazon Prime. As the Executive Producer for two seasons, he worked closely with Titmouse studios in L.A. supervising on scripts, storyboards & animation. The series was nominated for a total of 11 Emmy & Annie awards.

Pamela Nelson is the Managing Director at the award winning, boutique design, animation and motion studio - Revenant. She has a strong background in production across the broadcast and film industry.

Revenant have worked on projects across themed entertainment, broadcast TV, brand, experiential, film and games.

Collaborating with clients such as Riot Games, Netflix and Oakley.

Donald Pirie is currently one of the most exciting and in demand casting & voice directors working in the games and animation industries.

Working on titles such as Lords of the Fallen, Superfuse, Per Aspera, Ridley Jones as well as a number of unannounced titles.

Donald was recently described by CI Games as being

"Hands downs the best & most intuitive voice director working in games ever!"

Donald, a voice actor himself, also has one of the most recognisable and most used voices in Scotland. He has the flexibility to voice anything from adverts and corporates to talking books and animations. He trained at one of the world's top drama schools, LAMDA and has performed in theatres across the country from the Old Vic to the Royal Lyceum. 

In this episode of The Creative Leaders Podcast, we dive into the world of casting and voice production in the gaming industry. Our guest, Adam Ritchie, shares insights on the importance of authentic casting and the growing need for innovative choices. We also discuss the impact of diverse voices in games and the rewarding experience of nurturing talent. Join us as we explore the behind-the-scenes of creating immersive audio experiences for gamers.

Timestamps:

[00:01:06] Gaming and music technology.

[00:06:31] Divisiveness of character voices.

[00:09:26] Character design and inconsistencies.

[00:14:11] Speed running a recording session.

[00:19:34] Managing international production teams.

[00:25:10] Innovative casting choices.

[00:27:17] Diversity in character voices.

[00:33:48] The value of voice directors.

[00:36:17] The actual magic of storytelling.

[00:40:28] Remote recording challenges.

[00:47:39] Recording in unique studio setups.

[00:52:31] The importance of game knowledge.

[00:57:10] Showcasing Skills in Sound Design.

[01:01:30] Foley work and learning activity.

[01:05:48] Dialogue editing in games.

[01:10:00] Generosity and humility.

Follow Adam here: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠

Follow Stephen here: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 

We’re a podcast that focuses on in-depth conversations with leaders, founders and top creative talent working in animation, gaming and beyond. Hosted by Stephen Scott and Powered by Bigmouth Audio. Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠ Our website: ⁠⁠⁠https://bigmouthaudio.com⁠

In this episode of the Creative Leaders Podcast, host Stephen Scott sits down with Sam Carlisle, Senior Director of External Partner Relations at Microsoft, to discuss his journey into the world of gaming. Sam shares how he initially pursued art and had a passion for comics before eventually finding his way into the games industry in his thirties. Despite facing challenges in finding work, Sam's involvement in behavior analysis during his time working with his father played a surprising role in shaping his career.

Timestamps:

[00:01:24] Art and comics in the 80s.

[00:05:00] Lara Croft advertising poses.

[00:10:49] External development challenges.

[00:12:45] India's contrasting poverty and wealth.

[00:18:06] External development community.

[00:22:11] External development importance.

[00:28:11] What external partners should consider.

[00:31:01] Production management and trust.

[00:36:10] Games never truly finished.

[00:39:22] Pre-production in movies.

[00:42:27] Polishing by addition in games.

[00:46:26] Limitations and creativity.

[00:50:08] The loneliness of outsourced management.

[00:53:33] Lack of support in industry.

[00:57:04] XDS and the external development community.

[01:02:23] Gaming industry's unexpected origins.

Follow Sam here: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

Follow Stephen here: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ 

We’re a podcast that focuses on in-depth conversations with leaders, founders and top creative talent working in animation, gaming and beyond. Hosted by Stephen Scott and Powered by Bigmouth Audio. Follow us: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠ Our website: ⁠⁠https://bigmouthaudio.com⁠