Greg Stewart | Ordinary Folk, The Bible Project, Technical Animation, Motion Design, Art Direction, Cavalry

Find out more about Greg → https://www.jdgstewart.co/⁠

Find out more about the podcast here → ⁠https://jackvaughan.com⁠

Today, I’m speaking with Greg Stewart—one of the founding members of Ordinary Folk and now Lead Animator at the Bible Project.

I’ve known about Greg for a long time, as Ordinary Folk are without doubt my favourite motion design studio. I remember first watching Greg from a Holdframe workshop and have since really connected with his way of thinking.

We spoke about

• His early career and fast liftoff
• History and origin story of OF
• His time there, working with Jorge and his eventual move away
• A lot of detail on workflows, process, and working with teams
• Levels of detail in motion - ways of seeing
• Technical side of motion, rigging, systems
• But also the balance and integration of that with art direction, creative direction
• And, towards the end, a deep dive into how he’s using Cavalry

As always, if you appreciate the show, share it or leave a rating wherever you're listening. And I hope you enjoy this interview with Greg Stewart.

Summary & Chapters (AI Generated)

In this conversation, Greg Stewart, lead animator at The Bible Project, shares his journey from studying theology to becoming a prominent figure in motion design. He discusses his experiences at Ordinary Folk, the importance of collaboration, and the balance between technical skills and creative direction. Greg reflects on the significance of storytelling in animation and how his personal goals have evolved over time, emphasizing the value of faith and artistry in his work. In this conversation, Greg shares his journey in animation and collaboration, detailing his experiences working with a creative team and the growth he experienced through collaboration. He discusses the importance of art direction, team dynamics, and the processes that contribute to successful projects. Greg also explores the integration of new tools like Cavalry into his workflow, emphasizing the benefits of dynamic rendering and Google Sheets for efficient project management. He concludes with reflections on the future of motion design tools and the joy of problem-solving in the creative process.

00:00 Journey to The Bible Project

04:24 The Transition from Ordinary Folk to The Bible Project0

7:28 The Excitement of Working on Bible Project

10:13 Balancing Art and Technical Skills

13:36 The Importance of Conceptual Thinking in Motion Design

16:20 Navigating Complexity and Simplicity in Motion Design

38:01 Building a World Through Animation

41:17 The Importance of Pre-Visualization

44:13 Navigating Early Career Decisions

47:59 The Freelance Journey Begins

52:45 Shifting Goals and Personal Growth

57:53 The Dynamics of Teamwork at Ordinary Folk

01:10:32 Exploring Animation Techniques and Intentions

01:13:24 Balancing Creative Integrity and Technical Execution

01:16:09 The Dynamics of Team Collaboration in Animation

01:17:07 Establishing Effective Processes in Animation Projects

01:20:18 Incorporating Freelancers and Diverse Styles

01:23:05 The Importance of Pacing and Quality in Animation

01:25:50 Transitioning to New Tools: Cavalry in Animation

01:33:13 Integrating Cavalry into Workflows

01:44:47 Dynamic Rendering and Google Sheets Integration

01:58:29 The Joy of Problem Solving in Motion Design