Creator Forge Podcast

Pat Interviewed fantasy illustrator Bruce Brenneise (pronounced Bren-EYE-zee) is an award- winning fantasy illustrator. He is known for world-building via vibrant, epic, otherworldly environments.  We discussed his creative education, whether or not art school is a good choice, how he broke into the fantasy illustration industry, over saturation of the illustration field, and how AI "art" may change the industry and careers. www.brucebrenneise.com https://www.artstation.com/brucebrenn https://www.artstation.com/brucebrenn CreatorForge.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- *Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge.*

Jeff and Ginger are the unknown super champions of Animation Workers. Check out the incredibly important work they are doing to help guide employers and employees to a better, more sustainable way of working that will impact the future of the industry. We also discuss job hunting, the future of remote work (did you catch what Elon Musk is trying to pull), and unionization of Animation Studios. It's all here, gang. Link in bio. Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jS8pwlNfZ4c ASIFA-South (International Animation Society - South US Chapter) https://www.asifa-south.com ASIFAC - Animation Festival and Conference https://www.asifa-south.com/asifac-festival Ginger Tontaveetong: Executive Director of ASIFA-SOUTH https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-tontaveetong-animator Jeff Yu: VR Artist and Content Developer for Themed Attraction Industry https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffyuart https://www.artstation.com/jeffyuart https://www.jeffyuart.com Resources: https://www.asifa-south.com/resource https://ggda.org/ https://www.georgiaproduction.org http://s3.siggraph.org CreatorForge.com --------------------------------------------- *Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge.*

We discuss the changing landscape of careers in Animation, games, and attractions amid the challenges of the Last 2 years with ASIFA-South Execs, Ginger Tontaveetong and Jeff Yu.     ASIFA-South (International Animation Society - South US Chapter) https://www.asifa-south.com/   ASIFAC - Animation Festival and Conference https://www.asifa-south.com/asifac-festival   Ginger Tontaveetong: Executive Director of ASIFA-SOUTH https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-tontaveetong-animator/   Jeff Yu: VR Artist and Content Developer for Themed Attraction Industry https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffyuart/ https://www.artstation.com/jeffyuart https://www.jeffyuart.com   Resources:  https://www.asifa-south.com/resource https://ggda.org/ https://www.georgiaproduction.org http://s3.siggraph.org   CreatorForge.com -------------------------------------------------------- *Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge.*

Interview with Comic Book Artist JonBoy Meyers. We cover his early inspirations to draw, his art education and what advice he has for anyone who wants to start a career in comics. To WIN the JonBoy Meyers Sketchbook Volume No.2 be the first or second person to achieve all of the following: 1. Like, Subscribe, and Comment on this video, "I want the JonBoy Meyers Sketchbook" 2. Find @CreatorForge on Instagram and follow Creator Forge, then Find the JonBoy Meyers Podcast Announcement Post, give it a like and comment, "I want the JonBoy Meyers Sketchbook". 3. Find Creator Forge on Facebook and follow Creator Forge, then Find the JonBoy Meyers Podcast Announcement Post, give it a like and comment, "I want the JonBoy Meyers Sketchbook". 4. If you use different usernames on each platform, be sure to identify yourself in your comments so we know it was you who completed each task. Good luck, and enjoy the show. Thanks for listening. CreatorForge.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- *Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge.*

Coran Kizer Stone - Animation Character Designer - how to use social media to start your art career Pat chatted with Coran Kizer Stone about his inspirations, how he got his start in the Animation Industry, and how he maintains his incredible social media presence. Listen to the end for all the great knowledge that this incredible professional artist offers us in this fantastic interview. CreatorForge.com ------------------------------- Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/creatorforge -------------------------------- *Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge.*

Interview with Ernest Chan: Animation Supervisor at DreamWorks Animation TV CreatorForge.com ------------------------------------------- *Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge.*

This amazing interview was recorded just before we had to take a break last year. Jeff is one of the most dynamic guests we have had to date. He has over ten years of multimedia design experience. He works in 2D and 3D visual development for concept art/design in games, animation, and film. His body of work features a wide range of visual styles from manga/comic illustrations to photorealistic matte compositions. He has an incredible breadth of knowledge about the application of AR and VR Arts for games, attractions, and therapeutic methodologies/technologies. He finished a double major at SCAD in Sequential Art AND Animation, and is currently completing a business degree. On top of ALL that he's also the Business Director of ASIFA-South. This guy stays BUSY! Please enjoy this fantastic and packed interview. For more info follow the links below.   Jeff's Web Presence: https://www.artstation.com/jeffyuart https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffyuart/ https://www.jeffyuart.com   Pulseworks: https://www.pulseworks.com/products   IAAPA (convention) https://www.iaapa.org --- 3D Modeling: Modo https://www.foundry.com/products/modo   ZBrush https://pixologic.com   Zbrushcore Mini (Formerly Sculptris) https://zbrushcore.com/mini/   Blender https://www.blender.org --- Nolan Woodard (Comic Book Artist and Former Professor of Sequential Art at SCAD-Atlanta) https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/13003/nolan_woodard https://www.instagram.com/nolan.woodard/?hl=en --- **Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge LLC.**

https://www.tontaveetong.com/about/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-tontaveetong-animator/ https://www.asifa-south.com http://s3.siggraph.org Open Source Tools: https://geekflare.com/open-source-designer-tools/ **Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge LLC.** #podcast #cfpodcast #CreatorForge #Film #Video #Director #artist #animation #animator #arteducation #motiongraphics #artdirector #design #howto #inspirational #aifa #asifasouth

Mark Simon has had an incredible, storied career lasting more than 30 years of working in the entertainment industry as a Storyboard Artist, Producer/Director for live-action and animation, and author of a dozen books and countless industry articles. He has been a part of more than 5000 productions. Pat interviewed Mark in his magnificent basement studio back in late January to talk about his career and his terrific new book "Start at the Top: Stories To Help You Succeed". Mark's Storyboards Website Mark's Animation Website MarkSimonToons Youtube Channel Mark's book pages: MarkSimon.com and Amazon.com Start at the Top: Stories To Help You Succeed LinkedIn IMDB Page Audio editing by Pat Bollin

Game developer, game artist, entrepreneur, comic artist, and more, Ron Jones is a man of many interests and a fixture in the Atlanta game scene as the founder of the Indie Cluster. Jeremiah met up with him at SIEGE 2019 to talk about his journey to his current work of promoting and supporting Atlanta’s burgeoning indie game scene. Ron’s Website Indie Cluster Site Tripwire SIEGE Art Institute of Atlanta Brad Merritt (we interviewed Brad in Ep11)   Audio Editing by Jeremiah Clark & Adam Greenlee

Chris McLaughlin is Lead 3D Environment artist at Floyd County Productions where he works on FX's Archer. Jeremiah caught up with him at SIEGE 2019 for a short conversation about his work history and thoughts about how to navigate a creative career. Chris’ Portfolio FX's Archer Floyd County SIEGE Trick3D Went2Play Vizitech "NdotL" (Shaders for Artists)   Audio Editing by Jeremiah Clark & Adam Greenlee

As owner and sole full-time employee of Mighty Pants Media, Tony Grillo is a producer of dynamic video and animated content for advertising, messaging, training and entertainment. He has Directed ads as well as celebrated series for high-profile creative and corporate clients like Mark Cuban, Adam Sandler, and Tim Burton. He regularly works as a Story editor, writer, and development partner for short format content. Pat sat down with him to talk about his lengthy career that has spanned 3 decades and multiple states, and ask him what advice he has for industry hopefuls. Tim Burton: Stain Boy Animated Series Gracie Films Bottom Line Productions (where he worked in Atlanta while still at ACA) Atlanta College of Art X-Sheet format Atlanta College of Art (only history I can find) First Movie made in Flash Jib Jab This Land Toon Boom SCRUM   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee  

 A self-described "Professional Nerd", Lee Hammock is a senior game designer at Tripwire Interactive where he has worked on titles like Killing Floor 2, Killing Floor: Incursion, the upcoming Man-Eater, and others. He has had a long and varied career that has included stints working on games, and RPGs and comics, for properties as diverse as Halo, Farscape, A Song of Ice and Fire, Pathfinder Online, Fallen Earth, Elder Scrolls, and Fading Suns. Tripwire Interactive Lee's Wikipedia page Lee's books on Amazon.com Tales From The Glass-Guarded World (podcast) Holistic Design Inc. Star Frontiers RPG Fading Suns RPG Hero Kids RPG- Fallen Earth MMO Perception (video game) Thomas Was Alone (video game)   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee And Jeremiah Clark

Leah Knighton is co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at Ker-Chunk Games. Along with co-founder and CEO Molly Proffitt, she has managed to start and grow a company in a highly competitive market. They balance client work with developing their own original IP, and they're making it work. Jeremiah sat down with Leah at the Ker-Chunk office for a short conversation about how they got their business off the ground, their commitment to creating inclusive and empowering games, and what they've been working on lately. PS: There are still a few sound issues, but I'm learning! We appreciate your patience. Leah's Profile Ker-Chunk Games Call Me Phrasy (iOS game) Princenapped (iOS game) Rainbow Tree Stickers (for Apple Messages) 2 Dads + 4 Kids Puppet Minis (Unity Asset Store) Hyper Casual Games Colorblind stats (I was WAY off)   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee And Jeremiah Clark

Julee Fuller is an Athens-based freelance illustrator and concept artist. Originally from Indiana, she received a BFA in game art from the Art Institute of Atlanta. Since that time she has had a lot of ups and downs, but she's powered through it all. Jeremiah sat down with her to talk about some of her recent struggles and how she's gone about rebooting her creative career. The audio quality is not the best (sorry about that, I'm, still learning! -JC), but the conversation is chock full of honest talk about the trials and tribulations of what it means to pursue your passion despite setbacks (while still taking care of yourself). Julee's Portfolio Rook and Pawn (restaurant) Titanic 3D (movie) Art Institute of Atlanta SIEGE No, You Shut Up! Games (sadly, now out of business) Legends of Ooo (games) Desert Sky Graphics Freelance Fridge Adventure Time: Battle Party (game) "Time to make the donuts" Strange Waters anthology comic (Kickstarter)   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee And Jeremiah Clark

Laura Martin is an award-winning comic book colorist who has worked at Marvel, DC, WildStorm, CrossGen, and more. In this, part 2 of her interview with Pat, she talks about her coloring process and how it has changed over the years. LauraMartinArt.com   People Lee Loughridge Matt Hollingsworth Trish Mulvihill Joe Chiodo Brian Hitch Bryan haberlin Bryan Miller John Rauch Companies Image Comics WildStorm CrossGen Other Ruby Lith (wikipedia) RGB vs CMYK Wacom Cintiq Comics Experience The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics (book)   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee

Laura Martin is an award-winning comic book colorist who has worked at Marvel, DC, WildStorm, CrossGen, and more. After months of scheduling problems, she sat down with Pat to talk all things comics. There was so much to talk about, in fact, that this is going to be part 1 of a 3 part series. Be sure to subscribe or check back often so you don't miss parts 2 and 3! ComicBookDB - Laura Martin ComicBookDB - Laura DePuy   Companies WildStorm Image Comics CrossGen Gaijin Studios Comics The Authority (comic) Wild Cats (comic) Desperados (comic) Sandman (comic) People Ian Hannin Jim Lee Frank Miller Niel Gaiman Alex Ross   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee

Brent Day is an Atlanta-based writer, director, and all-around creative problem solver. He currently resides at Spoke Creative where he has directed video and multimedia projects for leading companies in hospitality, financial services, and information technology. He has been lead copywriter on marketing campaigns, internal communications programs, print advertisements and video scripts for B2B and B2C marketing. Adapted from Brent's bio on the Spoke Creative website. Spoke Creative's Website: www.spokecreative.com Spoke's Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/spokecreative Long form director's reel: https://vimeo.com/305092317 Brand Story reel: https://vimeo.com/313312972 Music video example: https://vimeo.com/253525477 Corporate Comedy examples: https://vimeo.com/156495231 https://vimeo.com/180952429 Short film example: https://vimeo.com/180324605 Influences We asked Brent about his influences, and he sent back a document that was far too long to use without editing. Here is a severely cut down version of his response. I'm more influenced by music than movies. I like music because it operates more at the dream level. It's like reading books as a child. You can imagine the story being told, and each piece of instrumentation can be used to add something to a story that you can't say with a picture or a word. I particularly like lush, intricate pop music like The Beatles, XTC, or Elvis Costello. I also like punk rock and dream pop, and really dreamy old Velvet Underground and R.E.M., and a lot of classic rock. Also great lyricists like Bob Dylan, Springsteen, and Joni Mitchell. And also Bowie & Prince, of course. I also get a lot of inspiration from travel, history and current events.   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee

Welcome to our second annual roundup episode! We sat down at an undisclosed coffee shop to talk about the year that was, and our hopes for the year to come. This format (more conversational and out in the world) is a bit of an experiment for us, something we're going to be testing out and refining going forward. Thank you to everyone who is taking this journey with us, whether you're a long time listener or just found us. This wouldn't be possible without you. Most of what we talk about is linked in the individual episode show notes. We are including links to a few SIEGE videos that have been released since those episodes were originally posted.   SIEGE Videos: Innovative Designs for Board Games - Features Michelle Menard & Dean Velez Game Character Art Pipeline from Concept to Start Screen - By William Moritz Breaking into the Video Game Industry - Features Michelle Menard   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee

Sarah Massagee is a UX designer based in Atlanta, GA. She is passionate about creating digital experiences through UX/UI design and Virtual Reality (VR). Our conversation with her is the last of our recordings from SIEGE 2018. Sarah's Website Tripwire UX (Definition) Kennesaw State University Trick 3D General Assembly The Design of Everyday Things The Gamer's Brain Aaron's Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee

Dean Velez has had a lengthy career in media and motion graphics. Over that career, he has worked in commercials and marketing and more recently has ventured into VR and gaming. We talked to him at SIEGE about his time at Sprocket Creative, specifically about his recent intensive apprenticeship experiment "The Anvil" and their recent forays into VR and AR. Dean Velez Sprocket Creative After Effects Cinema 4D SIEGE 2018 - Innovative Designs for Board Games Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee

Michelle Menard is a systems designer with an extensive resume within the game industry. She has worked on board games, video games, social games, and any sort of game design consulting you care to mention. She is a regular presenter at SIEGE, where she was gracious enough to take a break from her crazy schedule to talk to us. Michelle's LinkedIn Oxide Games Fish Wizard Games Artemic Games Videos SIEGE 2017 - Algorithm Design Basics for Game Designers SIEGE 2017 - Indie Rants (Michelle's rant starts at about 42 minutes) SIEGE 2018 - Innovative Designs for Board Games SIEGE 2018 - Breaking into the Video Game Industry Other Links SIEGE 2018 SCAD Savannah Gateway: Uprising Applied Math (Wikipedia) Challenges For Game Designers Ian Schreiber Danger: Not to Scale (D&D Campaign)   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee  

The first of four interviews we recorded at SIEGE 2018, William Moritz describes himself as a creative problem solver. He's worked in a huge number of positions in different creative industries in multiple countries. In our interview, he told the story of his time working at an animation house in China.   William's LinkedIn   SIEGE 2018 - Game Character Art Pipeline from Concept to Start Screen Quiz Pro Go (Google Ploy) Quiz Pro Go (iOS App Store) Bring on the Good Friends with You Georgia Media Workshops Freud Tools   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee

We were on a panel at this year's SIEGE (Southern Interactive Entertainment and Games Expo). The panel was titled "Long-Term Collaboration, or How Not to Kill Each Other for Fun and Profit". The initial idea was Pat's, I wrote and submitted the pitch (and the title, of which I am quite proud). Molly and Leah were added to provide a different perspective (and panel experience), for which we were very appreciative. The organizers were fine with us setting up our equipment and making our own recording. We had no control over the environment, and the talk was less structured than our normal episodes. That said, Adam did a great job making it sound as good as possible for a live recording. Molly Proffitt Leah Knighton Companies 45 South Cafe & Coffee House Aristocrat Games Art Institute of Atlanta Georgia Game Developers Association Ker-Chunk Games SCAD Tools 1Password Boomerang for GMail Discord Dropbox Frame.io Jira Quip Slack Trello VMware Wipster Misc SIEGE Princenapped (Game) Limited Liability Company Computer Backup Rule of Three   Audio Editing by Adam Greenlee

Dane Cozens is an illustrator and concept artist living in Atlanta, Georgia. He holds a bachelors in communication arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Masters in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has done agency work for various government and military organizations, as well as illustrations for book covers and card games. He currently works full time as an illustrator in the casino games industry. Dane Cozens' Website Pokemon Dane's realistic pokemon Star Wars Sketchbooks Wolverine (character) Logan (movie) People Audubon John Larison Jason Grace Goni Montez Ron Speers Schools & Businesses SCAD Virginia Commonwealth University George Mason University Fantasy Flight Games AGS Pixel Constructor

Originally from a small town in Missouri, Edward Louis received a BFA in Media Arts and Animation from the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago. After graduating he held a number of odd and short term jobs in Chicago and California, before landing at Hi-Rez Studios here in Georgia. He currently works there as a visual FX artist working in the Unreal engine. Edward Louis Hi-Rez Studios Companies EDMC info (including gov't lawsuit) Art Institutes Dreamcenter Holdings Higi Tencent Lynda.com Gnomon Studio Software Z-Brush Maya Jira Unreal Books & Games Journey (game) "Walking Simulator" Games On Writing by Stephen King Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin

Scott Warren is a Lighting Artist working at Tripwire Interactive. An Atlanta native, he started in the game industry as an FX artist at Hi-Rez Studios before transitioning to in-game lighting. Scott has also worked at CCP Atlanta, Xaviant, and Raven Software where he worked on several Call of Duty titles. Scott Warren Tripwire Interactive Companies Raven Software Hi-Rez Studios CCP Games Xaviant Sledgehammer Games G4 TV People Alberto Noti Tim Lindsay Steven Jenkins Börkur Eiríksson Game Engines Unreal Engine 4 Unity 3D Cryengine Games Call of Duty WWII World of Darkness EVE Online Other PBR (Physically Based Rendering) Photogrammetry

Jose Acosta is an Atlanta based film maker and entrepreneur. He is the founder of and Director of Photography for DoubleRaven Studios, where he often adopts many more titles such as Writer, Director, and Editor. He's a rare generalist in an industry of specialists. He also has experience in 3D graphics, animation, visual FX, and teaching. DoubleRaven focuses mostly on corporate and educational films, but has recently branched out into scripted drama, something Jose hopes to do more of as time goes on. Jose Acosta (LinkedIn) DoubleRaven Studios, LLC Edgar Allen Poe's Mystery Theater Mentioned Companies Delta Airlines Suntrust Bank Michelin Tires Ford Coca Cola Showtime Boys & Girls Club of America Delta News Hub KPMG Home Depot Logic Junction Autodesk University of Maryland NYU Film School PBS Other Thai bank commercials Where the Wild Things Are Frankenstein Coen Brothers JRR Tolkein Salsa (TV Show) Huginn and Muninn - Odin's ravens   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Adam Greenlee: Editor Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.  

Jorge Gaspar is a 3D artist with an extensive background in e-learning, architectural pre-viz and design, and animation. He currently works at Trick 3D doing architectural and commercial work, and previously worked at Floyd County Productions creating 3d backgrounds and assets for the FX show Archer. Jorge has also worked as a graphic designer, and as a compositor. Jorge's Profile Trick 3D Software AutoCAD 3Ds Max VRay Flash Maya Nuke Cinema 4D Modo After Effects Final Cut Pro Splutterfish renderer Arnold renderer Shows Adult Swim Archer Aqua Teen Hunger Force Lazy Town Chosen Companies Art Institute of Atlanta AutoDesk Home Depot Radical Axis Cartoon Network EdgeNet Turner Floyd County SCAD Ringling College of Art and Design People Ken Bock Tim Smith   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Adam Greenlee: Editor Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

With Pat taking some time off to settle into life with a newborn, we thought we'd try having two guests for this episode! Amanda Dearborn is a 3d artist from Virgina Beach. She's a recent graduate from the Art Institute of Virginia. Tim Smith is a 3d artist originally from Georgia. He graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta, and has worked at a variety of companies over the last decade. Together with co-host Jeremiah, they make up the 3d department at MR Systems in Norcross, GA. Amanda Dearborn Tim Smith Voltron Inferno (comic) Epidemiology SCAD (Savannah) Sequential Art Disney Renaissance Art Institute of Atlanta Art Institute of Virginia Physically Based Rendering (PBR) Autodesk Maya Autodesk 3Ds Max Modo Unity 3D Special shout-out to our editor, Adam, who managed to get this episode sounding better than we thought possible, while also juggling a newborn!   "I don't know. I mean I do know, but do I?" - Amanda Dearborn   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Adam Greenlee: Editor Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.  

It's a new year, so we decided to sit down and talk about the past twelve-plus months and the twenty episodes of this podcast that we've released in that time. We talk a bit about what we've accomplished, milestones both past and planned, and where our sixteen guests are now. Links: Teaching College by Dr. Norman Eng (book) This article discusses the problems with feed hits EPISODE RECAP Episode 2 - David Riddle David's Artstation Hi-Rez Studios Episode 3 - Jeremiah Clark Jeremiah's (out of date) Portfolio Site Pixel Constructor Episode 4 - Allyssa Lewis My Animation Life Episode 5 - Darnell Johnson Stain LLC Darnell's Portfolio Episodes 6 & 7 - Pat Bollin Pat's Website Episode 8 - Goni Montes Goni's Website Goni's Blog Richard Solomon, Goni's Agent Episode 9 - Fernando Vaquez Archer Animated TV Show Episode 10 - Kim Gnuyen Kim's Portfolio Website Moon Studios GmbH Episode 11 - Brad Merritt Brad's Blog Cartoon Network Atlanta Game Dev Meetup Episode 12 - Molly Proffitt Molly Proffitt Ker-chunk Games, LLC PrinceNapped - iOS Game Episode 13 - Chris Bivins Chris' Blogger Portfolio Deviant Art IMDB Profile Episode 14 - John Clowdus Small Box Games SBG on Board Game Geek SBG on Kickstarter Episode 15 - Kathryn Hudson Kathryn's Website Store Page Episode 17 - Marty Walker Marty's website Bento Box Episode 18 - Ken Bock Ken's Website Floyd County Productions Special shout out to our regular podcast editor, Adam, who was able to make this sprawling conversation flow as well as it does. He saves either of us from having to listen to ourselves endlessly while editing, and makes us sound good in the process.   Finally, since this recording Pat has officially become a father! Lucas Bollin was born on January 2nd, congratulations to Pat and Renee!   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Adam Greenlee: Editor Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Ken Bock is a 3D artist who currently works at Floyd County Productions doing 3D backgrounds and props for the TV show Archer. Originally from South Carolina, Ken earned his BFA in Game Art and Design from the Art Institute of Atlanta. We talk to him about what he does on Archer, what drives and motivates him, and how he has methodically worked to break into the entertainment industry. Ken's Website Floyd County Productions Links MR Systems (company) Art Institute of Atlanta (school) Archer (show) Art of Archer (book) Photoshop (image editor) 3Ds Max (3D modeling) VRay (3D renderer) Art Mannequin (art tool) Ed Murrietta (instructor) Cartoon Network (company) Halo (video game) World of Warcraft (video game) Joe Gardner (instructor) Ola Gardner (instructor) 3D World (magazine)   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Adam Greenlee: Editor Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Marty Walker is a senior animator and technical director at Bento Box Studios in Atlanta GA. Originally from Bowie Maryland, Marty studied animation at the Art Institute of Washington. He worked freelance jobs while in college and has worked as an animator at several studios. His current position at Bento Box has him doing everything from digital design to hand-drawn animation. We talk about all of that and more in this episode. Marty's website Bento Box Mentioned People/Companies Floyd County Productions Max Fleischer Fred Moore Art Institute of Washington PBS Kids World Wildlife Fund Patrick Smith Mike Valencourte Mentioned Tools Toon Boom Harmony Adobe After Effects Animation Mentors Mentioned TV/Movies Bob's Burgers (TV) The Awesomes (TV) Legends of Chamberlain Heights (TV) Out There (TV) Archer (TV) South Park (TV) David S Pumpkins (TV) Trollhunters (TV) The Incredibles (movie) Garfield and Friends (TV) Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (TV) Dawn of the Croods (TV) Rick and Morty (TV) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (TV) Thunder Cats (TV) The Amazing World of Gumball (TV) Steven Universe (TV) Other Mentions The Little Whirlwind (animated short) NAFTA Gobelins (Art School)   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Adam Greenlee: Editor Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Kathryn Hudson is an Atlanta-based character artist and illustrator who originally hails from a small town in Mississippi. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Belhaven University and a Masters from SCAD, and currently works at Floyd County as a character designer on Archer. She also keeps busy with freelance work for clients such as Dreamworks and Disney, among many others. Kathryn's Website Store Page Links Archer Fantasia 2000 Lemonade Illustration Agency ImagineFX Magazine Trolls (Graphic Novels) Trolls (movie) Stephanie Buscema Beauty and the Beast (animated movie) Belhaven University J.C. Leyendecker Henry Hensche   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Adam Greenlee: Editor Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

John Clowdus is the owner and designer of Small Box Games, a publisher of cards games based near Atlanta, GA. His philosophy is to stay small, move fast, and produce a high-quality product that his customers will love. He has been running SBG as a one man show (with some occasional help from friends and family) since 2007 and has published and sold over 50 games, largely funded using Kickstarter and consisting of runs as small as 50 copies and up to 2000 or more. Small Box Games SBG on Board Game Geek SBG on Kickstarter Links GGDA Global Game Jam Board Game Geek Deviant Art Kickstarter Games  Summoner Wars Mice and Mystics Tail Feathers Magic: The Gathering Heroscape People & Companies Drive Thru Cards Plaid Hat Games John Ariosa Daryl Toh Aditya Ikranegara Sandro Rybak   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Chris Bivins is a 2D Generalist who regularly tackles illustration, concept art, storyboards, digital painting, motion graphics, and animation. He's that rare sort of artist who seems to be good at everything he tries, yet still remains humble. Originally from Kansas City Missouri, Chris graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta with an BFA in Media Arts & Animation. He works days at AGS creating art for video slot machines (alongside co-host Pat Bollin), and has done freelance concept and storyboards for feature films, as well as illustration for comics and games. Chris Bivins' Links Blogger Portfolio Deviant Art LinkedIn IMDB Profile People Shawn Crystal Elio Geuvara Pat Quinn Darnell Johnson David Bonilla Brian McKissick Irene Strychalski Aaron Acevedo Sean Galloway Joe Karg Enock Etienne Companies Disney Animation Studios Pixar Animation Studios White Wolf Publishing Pinnacle Entertainment Group Software Adobe Photoshop Manga Studio Adobe Premier Toon Boom Movies Finding Nemo The Incredibles Treasure Planet Emperor's New Groove Belko Experiment Almost Christmas Chappaquiddick (IMDB) Superstition: The Rule of 3's (IMDB) Books Bridgeman Anatomy Frank Frazetta Marc Silvestri Bruce Timm Moebius Claire Wendling Sky Doll Blacksad Other Mentions Kingdom of the Sun (which became Emperor's New Groove) Carl & Ray Blockbuster (hamster) commercials   Special Thanks We'd like to thank our guest editor for this episode, Jason Grace, for all his hard work! Please check out his Soundcraft Essentials Series albums. These are high quality, affordable sound effects libraries for independent media creators. Each album is an essential collection of designed genre specific sounds. Soundcraft Fantasy Realm Essentials Soundcraft SciFi Sound Effects Essentials Also available for download on GooglePlay and Amazon. If you're interested in a possible collaboration, here's a link to Jason's portfolio: http://www.jasondgrace.com   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Molly Proffitt is the CEO of Ker-Chunk Games, a company dedicated to creating cross-platform, social and casual intellectual properties that empower women players. She has also worked as a game producer and designer on mobile, web, and Facebook projects, focusing on the casual and social games space. She attended The College of Santa Fe and holds a BFA from The Savannah College of Art and Design in “Interactive Design & Game Development”. Molly also served as the Chair of the IGDA Atlanta from 2014-2017. Molly Proffitt Ker-chunk Games, LLC PrinceNapped - Facebook Game Links Jira WGA (Writer's Guild of America) WGA East WGA West SAG (Acreen Actor's Guild) AWS (Amazon Web Services) Amazon Activate Enchanted (movie) Unity 3D IGDA (International Game Developers Association) GDC (Game Developers Conference) E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) Thrust Interactive World of Warcraft Jam Sync College of Santa Fe Brothers (movie) "Using the Terms ‘Hardcore’ & ‘Casual’ Hurts The Game Industry’s Bottom Line" (article) Hearthstone (game) Eyes Wide Games Wonder Showzen Game Developer Barbie (news story) Game Developer Barbie (doll) People Leah Knighton Brandon Huffman Jessica Gore Justin Sheets Adam Kunz Annick Huber Adam Green Jess Weiner Mary Kurek Terms Defined Startup Incubator Advisory Board UX/UI MVP (minimum viable product)   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

On this special episode of the Creator Forge Podcast, we talk to Creator Forge co-founder Jeremiah Clark about his recent experience of being laid off and searching for work. We discuss the toll this took both financially and emotionally, how he was eventually able to find work, and what happened in between. Jeremiah's web site (years over due for a refresh) Jeremiah's 3D Portfolio Jeremiah's LinkedIn Mentioned Links Pixel Constructor (I said "Pixel Collider" the first time, my bad) Better Off Tread (it's out, and can be downloaded for free!) Mentioned People Michael Shean & Jennifer Williamson Ken Bock Laura Clark Alyssa Pelchat Brandon Moulton Jason Gibb Ben Ferrell Taylor Meyers   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

As Director of Game Design for Cartoon Network, Brad Merritt has designed and directed dozens of games for CartoonNetwork.com and AdultSwim.com. While working in the web design industry, Brad started creating Flash games in 1999. He lives in Atlanta, where he is the organizer of the Atlanta Game Developer Meetup and has served as a guest instructor at the Art Institute of Atlanta. Brad also develops games independently. Brad's Blog Cartoon Network Atlanta Game Dev Meetup GGDA Presentation Mentioned TV Shows The Amazing World of Gumball Adventure Time Batman Animated Series The Powerpuff Girls Steven Universe Teen Titans Go Mentioned Games Snipper Clips Banjo-Kazooie Yooka-Laylee Adventure Time - Battle Party Card King: Dragon Wars (iOS) GooglePlay Card Wars - Adventure Time (iOS) GooglePlay Amazon Card Wars Kingdom - Adventure Time (iOS) GooglePlay Flipped Out - Powerpuff Girls (iOS) GooglePlay Amazon Attack The Light - Steven Universe Light RPG (iOS) GooglePlay Amazon Glitch Fixers - The Powerpuff Girls (iOS) GooglePlay Amazon Robot Turtles (board game) Uncharted 4 Mentioned Books "Predictably Irrational" by Dan Ariely "You Are Not So Smart" by David McRaney "Teach Yourself HTML" (most recent edition) Mentioned Studios Cryptozoic Kung Fu Factory Grumpyface Studios Krome Studios Pet Tomato Mentioned Software Unity 3D Spine 2D Other Mentions Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) The Varsity WebGL Steve Stamatiadis (artist/designer)   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Florida, Kim Nguyen is an Atlanta based 3D animator. She earned her Masters in Interactive Technology from the FIEA (Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy) after earning her undergrad degree at USF. Her credits include EA Tiburon, Hi-Rez Studios, and now Moon Studios. We discuss her work, her experiences in the industry thus far, and the unconventional path she took to get there. Kim's Portfolio Website Mentioned Companies: EA Tiburon HiRez Studios Moon Studios GmbH Ori and the Blind Forest (XBox One) Ori and the Blind Forest (PC) Mentioned Schools: University of South Florida (USF) Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) Other Mentions: Kartikay Bhagat, rigger/technical artist at Hi-Rez Studios (this is an old site, but it's all I could find) Full Sail 3Ds Max Maya Atelier, definition   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Fernando Carlos Vazquez Rivera was trained in art at the Atlanta campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design. With 7 seasons under his belt, he is now the Lead Illustrator for FX's hit Animated TV Series, Archer. “Ferni” discusses how he discovered his passion for illustration, how he first broke into the animation industry, what studio life is like, and how to approach an animation studio for work. Ferni is also passionate about athletics and rock climbing. He has competed in three seasons of American Ninja Warrior, and he graciously contributes his time and expertise to Catalyst Sports, an organization that empowers individuals with physical disabilities through adaptive sports and personal coaching. Archer Animated TV Show Software Adobe After Effects Adobe Illustrator Toon Boom Rock Climbing Stone Summit Atlanta Team Catalyst Other Links Bill Mayer University of Puetro Rico at Mayagüez SCAD-Atlanta   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Goni Montes is a prolific Atlanta-based freelance editorial illustrator. His client list includes Men's Health, Rolling Stone, BOOM! Studios, The New York Times, Playboy, Tor, and many many more. Goni discusses how he discovered his passion for illustration, how he first broke into the industry, his creative process, and what his daily work life is like. Goni's Website Goni's Blog Richard Solomon, Goni's Agent Mentioned Clients Men's Health BOOM! Studios - Power Rangers Power Rangers Vol. 1 D&D - Dragon+ Rolling Stone Next Testament by Clive Barker Irene Gallow Sea Grant of Puerto Rico Networking and Industry Events Society of Illustrators American Illustration Workbook Illuxcon Spectrum Other Links Promethia University of Puetro Rico at Mayagüez Bill Mayer Rick Lovel Norman Rockwell behind bar at society of illustrators Process Gif   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Episode 7G, Creator Forge: Geek Talk. A geeky, off the cuff discussion about the Marvel Cinematic Universe on TV (cut together from a few recordings). Mentioned TV Shows & Movies: Daredevil Jessica Jones Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Batman v Superman Suicide Squad Agent Carter (OK, we didn't mention this one, but it's good)   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Pat Bollin is a Concept Artist and Illustrator for the casino game industry. He has been an accomplished web and advertising illustrator, a published comic book artist, and served a 5 year tour as a U.S. Naval Illustrator-Draftsman. He holds BFA and MFA in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Pat has a passion for learning and teaching, and has taught Drawing, 2D Design, and Concept Art at SCAD and the Art Institute of Atlanta. He and his lovely wife, Renee (also a design professional), live, work, play, and renovate their fixer-upper house in Atlanta, GA. In this second Half of the interview, we explore his struggles after art school, dabbling in different art careers, and eventual success as a professional artist.

Originally form L.A. (Lower Alabama), Pat Bollin is a Concept Artist and Illustrator for the casino game industry. He has been an accomplished web and advertising illustrator, a published comic book artist, and served a 5 year tour as a U.S. Naval Illustrator-Draftsman. He holds BFA and MFA in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Pat has a passion for learning and teaching, and has taught Drawing, 2D Design, and Concept Art at SCAD and the Art Institute of Atlanta. He and his lovely wife, Renee (also a design professional), live, work, play, and renovate their fixer-upper house in Atlanta, GA. Pat's Website Shape Language The Uncanny X-Men Omnibus - Vol 1 SCAD Savannah The Great Comics Crash of 1996   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Miami, FL, Darnell Johnson is a super talented Illustrator, character designer, and visual development artist based in Atlanta, GA who recently made the bold leap from the relative stability of studio life in the casino game industry to a full-time career as a freelance artist. Darnell discusses the steps he has taken to forge a freelance career, art education, networking, and staying true to your own values while successfully working in commercial arts. The Creator Forge Podcast will maintain a monthly release schedule going forward. Thanks for joining us so far, and we hope to hear from you on social media. Let us know what you think. Darnell's links Stain LLC Darnell's LinkedIn Companies and schools Pixel Pirate Studio ADC Mouse Age of Learning WMG Timbuk Toons AGS SCAD Other Links How to become a toy designer Shawn Crystal Nolan Woodard   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Animator, Recruiter, and Consultant Allyssa A Lewis is most noted for her animation on over 75 episodes and promos of FX's Emmy winning series "Archer", NBC's "30 Rock", and Animation Domination. She is also the CEO and Founder of the animation resource and staffing agency, My Animation Life, primarily focusing on the career placement and portfolio enhancement of artist within animation-related industries. Lewis is the Animation Director of re:imagine/ATL, and on the Advisory Board of ASIFA South. Allyssa is truly passionate about the entry level experience. After discovering how difficult it is for young animators to find available positions in the animation industry, she decided to make it her mission to close the gap between working pros and entry level animators, bring young animators together, and providing them with the information and contacts they need to succeed in the animation industry. Links My Animation Life ASIFA Atlanta re:imagine/ATL Archer Animated TV Show Floyd Norman: An Animated Life Adobe After Effects   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Maine, Jeremiah graduated from The Art Institute of Atlanta with a degree in Game Art and Design, and has parlayed his knowledge and natural interests into a career as a game producer in the casino games industry. He has the rare quality of being both highly creative and highly organized at the same time, which are some of the qualities that make a good creative project manager, or producer. Even though I’ve known Jeremiah for a few years now, there were a lot new things I didn’t personally know about him that came out in this interview. I can honestly say that Jeremiah is the model of what our podcast is about, which is taking your talents, skillset, and even your personal challenges, and using them to shape your own career in creative industries; sometimes in ways that aren’t always expected. ~Pat Comics influences Stan Sakai The Art of Usagi Yojimbo Usagi Yojimbo - The Special Edition Sam Kieth The Maxx - Vol 1 The Maxx TV Show Todd McFarland The Art of Todd McFarland Spawn Origins - Vol 1 Spider-Man by Todd McFarland Omnibus Deliberate Practice What is a Game Producer? Gamasutra Sokanu PS: Sorry, I really did look, but I couldn't find any of my old Squirrel Man comics. I'll keep looking. ~Jeremiah   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.

Originally from Colorado, David Riddle is a Senior Character Artist on Hi-Rez Studios' online game, Smite. David has a deep knowledge of traditional art techniques, especially sculpting, that he has utilized in his career in 3D art. He has a huge technical knowledge base that he shares with us in the first half of the interview. Then we transition into a discussion about his early years as a highly creative kid, acquiring skills, art education, and then breaking into the game industry. David's Links David's Artstation Hi-Res Studios Smite Software Topo Gun Maya 3Ds Max ZBrush Unreal Engine Networking Polycount Art Station SIEGE Summit FDM 3D Printing YouTube Video Other Links Ron Mueck Book Ron Mueck Wikipedia What is a 3D Character Artist? Parkinson's Law Bone Clones   Podcast Credits: Pat Bollin: Host Jeremiah Clark: Co-Host Opinions expressed by guests are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by their employer, past present or future, nor by Creator Forge, LLC.