School of Motion Podcast

Caleb Ward of Curious Refuge joins us to talk about how he made 2 movie trailers go mega viral with AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, D-ID and Eleven Labs. Caleb recently released 2 Wes-Anderson-inspired trailers that mashed up Wes’s signature quirky style with Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Both trailers became viral hits, getting millions of views and spawning articles in The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Business Insider, and more. In this interview, he walks us through how he made these films, and tells us what it’s like to go mega viral. We also dive into the future of creativity in the face of AI, and the complex ethical questions around all of this.

AI has finally come to the world of art, but what does that really mean for artists? Will it be the friend we’ve always wanted by eliminating monotonous tasks and speeding up workflows? Or will it turn out to be a foe and make digital artists obsolete? Joey sits down with Daniel Jeffries, CIO of Stability.ai, to discuss the real-world use cases of artificial intelligence and the moral, ethical, and philosophical ramifications of AI art.  In addition to our regular podcast format, we also made this episode into a video, so you can see the work and tools as they’re being discussed. Check it out on the School of Motion YouTube channel.

2022 may be remembered as the year things got back to “normal,” but also as a year of big changes, and our industry is no exception. The economy was booming, but now may be stalling. The rapid development of AI tools makes our jobs ever easier, but also might be stealing them away. In-person work and events have returned, but are people ready to show up? New tools are making serious in-roads against the established giants. Freelance rates had been booming for the past couple years, but a flood of tech layoffs may shake everything up.  School of Motion’s fearless founder Joey Korenman is joined by Creative Directors EJ Hassenfratz and Kyle Hamrick, former SOM Creative Director Ryan Summers, and an all-star lineup of studio owners and industry experts for their hottest takes on this year’s burning questions, including “can we even define what motion design is anymore?”.  In addition to our regular podcast format, this year we also made this multi-hour odyssey into a video, so you can see the work, tools and events as they’re being discussed. So get comfy and prepare your ears for a full recap on all things mograph for 2022.

Adobe recently acquired Figma for $20 billion. That's 'billion' with a 'b'. This transaction was the largest purchase of a private VC-backed company in history, and left wall street and many artists scratching their heads. Why did Adobe do this historic deal? And, what does it mean for motion designers?

Building a career is like climbing a mountain. There are numerous obstacles ahead, and no guarantees that you’re on the right path. But what happens when you reach the peak and discover…there’s so much more you want to do? Nocky Dinh moved across the world to pursue her dream career, and she wasn't about to let a limited skillset keep her down. Find out what happens when she added 3D to her portfolio.

If you want to hear what a real VO session sounds like, then you've come to the right place! In this podcast you'll get to be a fly on the wall for a VO session lead by Jake and Joey. Along the way Joey is going to be dropping some golden nuggets of VO directing advice to help you direct VO like a pro the next time you need to.

Think about your career as an artist. Are you really where you want to be? Are you headed toward the top of the right mountain? The Design and Animation industry is constantly changing, which makes it hard to know if your career is headed in the right direction. What does the end of the road look like? Who are the artists you should aim to follow? And how can you, forging your own path in this subjective career, create your own legend? Join Aaron Ray as we discuss where your career can go. 

We’ve had our eye on Chromosphere Studio for some time. They’ve consistently put out stellar work, with a keen eye toward the future of the industry. From new techniques to bold storytelling, these artists are building up their brand without taking their eyes off the prize. So how do you develop your career without losing focus on a passion project? We spoke with Kevin Dart and Theresa Latzko to find out.

The design and animation industry is rapidly evolving. As the tools of the industry become available to more artists around the world, innovation and growth follow. One of the most exciting developments has been the proliferation of cryptoart, but it is still an area rife with confusion and speculation. What do NFTs really mean for the future of our industry? We have Buck's Justin Cone here to discuss what's coming next.

Doing personal projects is a great way to experiment and flex your creative muscles. Personal projects can also be part of a strategy of beefing up your portfolio or reel, especially if you're just starting out in the industry. Our guest today is Nicolaj Larsson, the founder and creative director of the Copenhagen based studio ccccccc.tv.