School of Motion Podcast

If you're a motion designer in these modern times, you've likely thrown one or two videos up on social media. It can often feel like those side projects are just wastes of time, but that's not true. You're learning new skills, inspiring other artists, and—every so often—putting your work in front of the exact right audience to land a life-changing job. Join Peter Quinn as he discusses how he cracked the code on creating a viral video...and how it led to some incredible opportunities.

Have you ever thought of starting your own studio? How do you even begin? There are so many questions that many people don't get past step one, which is why we brought in an expert to share some much-needed wisdom. Mack Garrison is the co-founder and Creative Director of Dash Studios. He's not only an outstanding artist, but he has an intimate understanding of how our industry functions—and how it treats studios big and small. Grab a snack and listen up!

You've worked hard to build a freelance business as a motion designer. It seems like you've got this train firmly on track...until suddenly it's not. What causes a career to derail? How are you burning bridges. And can you rebuild them? Amanda Russell, co-founder and Creative Director of Cream Studios, shares her experiences on both sides of the hiring table. Don't miss this one.

Defining your style is one of the most challenging aspects of any creative career. Emonee LaRussa is the founder and CEO of Pamanama Studios LLC., a studio filled with a diverse set of talented artists from all over the world, collaborating with musicians to produce top of the line lyric videos. Her hard work has earned her two Emmys, as well as high end clients such as Ty Dolla $ign, John Legend, and Kayne West.

Building a career in motion design can sometimes feel like getting started in Cross Fit. There's a ton of new terminology, you have to buy specialized equipment, and you end up spending a bushel of money just to get started. It's hard to know how to take your career by the reins and steer it in the right direction. Our guest Remington Markham is a motion designer at Facebook, and he might just have the blueprint to help expand your career.

Do you have a logo? A set of colors that you use on your site, your social media handle, on – gasp – your business card? Your brand is more than just a collection of assets—it's your reputation, and sometimes it needs a refresh. The question of rebranding was recently brought up by Macaela VanderMost and the team at Newfangled Studios – and we sat them down to talk all about it.

Imagine you've spent the last few years building up a sizable portfolio for 3D work...but 2D is what your heart desires. Is it possible to rebrand this far into your career? Our guest today has DONE IT… and she is sharing her secrets. The multi-talented Monique Wray is here to spill the beans about how she made a fairly drastic change to her personal brand, the type of work she does, and the impact her work is having on the world.

Imagine if you had the chance to work with one of the greatest bands of the modern age. How hard would you work to get there...and what did it take? Bomper Studio's Emlyn Davies and Josh Hicks challenged their team to learn how to produce high-end character-driven work, and that effort directly led to a contract...with the Foo Fighters.

Chris Schmidt is a really good 3D artist. He was one half of the wacky Greyscalegorilla team back in the early days of the site, and quickly gained a reputation for his MacGyver-like ability to rig things up in the most clever ways imaginable. Some of his tutorials were instant classic, and helped many artists learn their way around Cinema 4D. Now, we're talking to him about his new site, Rocket Lasso, and the future of 3D art and design. Check it!

Even if you don't pay close attention to industry news, you've likely heard of NFTs. Crypto art, led by a growing list of pioneering artists, is revolutionizing not only our industry but art as a whole. However, there have been some valid concerns raised over the viability of the market and the environmental impact of cryptocurrency. That's why we gathered to grapple with this topic and share our observations...plus what we've been hearing from artists and studios.