EXPLAINLY SENIOR CREATIVE PRODUCER (2021-Present)
As Senior Creative Producer at the animated video marketing agency Explainly for nearly 5 years, I have driven impact by writing, art directing, storyboarding, and leading countless video projects for fantastic and happy clients. My several hundred 2D, 3D, mixed media, and live action videos have played a part in many successful and award-winning ad campaigns.
From local startups to global Fortune 500s, my aim is always to tell an engaging story, to keep strategy a consistent key priority, and to convey a genuine message that any viewer can resonate with.
I thrive in leading cross-functional teams, providing guidance throughout the entire production cycle to ensure high-quality, timely, and on-brand deliverables. My technical proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, combined with my flexibility in making in-house edits enables me to maintain a sharp focus on efficiency and quality.
I also play an integral role in shaping brand identity and managing the digital presence of Explainly, while refining workflows and overseeing vendor relations to optimize project outcomes.
The production process and product offerings that I've helped refine at Explainly has resulted in a well-structured, iterative journey, designed to ensure every video meets the highest creative and technical standards. Packages range from turn-key videos based on complexity tiers but made entirely from scratch, all the way to custom frame-by-frame animated mixed media projects.
Each video begins with research, a client questionnaire, and a kickoff, where my Project Manager and I dive deep into each client's brand guidelines, audience, and objectives. Strongly defining goals and asset use cases early ensures that our projects are all strategically aligned to meet desired outcomes.
This leads to my creation of a detailed creative brief for our vendors and freelance teams, which serves as the foundation for all subsequent work. Script writing follows, where we craft compelling, on-brand narratives and outline key visual descriptions.
After these pre-production steps are thoroughly revised and approved, we gather voice over auditions and carefully select the talent that best fits the tone and message.
From there, I provide final direction to our artists to begin sketching storyboards, followed by several style frames to define the overall aesthetic and mood. Once the wireframe is approved, we direct a fully illustrated storyboard, which my Project Manager and I assemble into a timed animatic to establish pacing and rhythm.
My music selection and editing is a critical part at this stage, as the right soundtrack can elevate the emotional impact of the animation and influence the timing of each sequence. Animation then begins, bringing the story and visuals to life, followed by timing and movement revisions to perfect the flow and sync with the voice over.
Consistently setting timeline and revision expectations keeps our clients happy and educated on the production process, which is an important line to walk in order to satisfy artists and stakeholders.
After providing my internal direction and our consolidated client to the animators throughout every step, we finally work with an audio engineer to layer in sound effects and foley. To maximize the reach of the video, in many cases we direct the timing and creation of social cuts, alternate campaign versions, and adjusted aspect ratios to fit various platforms and formats.
On many projects, I also facilitate the creation of additional assets including designing video card packaging, using After Effects and Premiere to edit environment screen assets for in-person events, and isolating elements for use in other areas of the client's marketing mix.
It's particularly key to ensure no font family errors or color errors when converting RGB animation projects into CMYK print assets.
Finally, we compile all elements for Final Delivery. I meticulously check every deliverable and working file to ensure that all assets are packaged, files are organized, and the project is ready for distribution. My Project Manager delivers the final approved assets and the project is complete, at least until the next SOW!
This thoughtful process is both technical and creative, and ensures that each project is visually striking and also strategically impactful!
animation showreel (2024)
My showreel highlights my own recent character animation, motion graphics, and visual effects created in ToonBoom Harmony, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Animate/Flash for a mixture of personal and client projects.
Adult Swim's 'Mr. Pickles' & 'Momma Named Me Sheriff' (2019)
As an Animation Production Intern, I adjusted many shots and assets for consistency in 300+ Adobe Animate scenes for a 2D Adult Swim Show. I utilized Airtable to track assets and production spreadsheets, and organized server data for streamlined accessibility. I participated in all Production team meetings and dailies, contributed to brainstorms, and performed office management duties and phone coverage.
HotHouse Productions Direction & Production Management: Will Carsola, Mark Brooks, Tom Riffel, Dave Stewart, Kenny Micka, Jacob Young, Daniel Bejines, Kallan Zimmerman, Brendhan Geraghty, Michael Harding, Isabel Higgins, Matt Krajewski
GameSpot Original Programming Production Intern (2020)
As a part of my role at GameSpot, writing, producing, designing, animating, editing, and researching video content, I produced and wrote a video game lore series with the GameSpot Production team, which aims to bring new surprising, interesting, and unsettling meaning to your favorite games.
Software Used: Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Asana, Frame, Audacity
Senior Producer: Lucy James | Executive Producer: Chris Beaumont | Lorescape Title MGFX: Gurkan Erdemli
Myths & Folklore That Inspired The Witcher 3 | Lorescape
My Role: Producer, Writer, MGFX Animator, Video Editor
The Sims' Dark Mystery: The Fate Of Its Most Famous Sim
My Role: Producer, Writer, Video Editor
Assassin's Creed Explained: Pieces Of Eden, Isu | Lorescape
My Role: Producer, Writer, Video Editor
Demon's Souls Remake Lore Explained
My Role: Writer, Motion Graphics Artist
Explainly Projects | In-House Filming & Editing (2022)
Live Action & Documentaries
Additionally, I have thorough on-set and independent experience using Panasonic and Canon DSLRs, Cinema Cameras, and Camcorders for personal photography and professional film production, as well as operating all types of microphones and lighting equipment.
Precita Eyes | Documentary (2016)
Documentary that spotlights a non-profit muralist organization in the Mission district.
My Role: Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, InterviewerCo-Creators: Andrew Fuchs, Steve Roy, Stone Van Allen
Produced through the Tamalpais High School Academy of Integrated Humanities & New Media
American Fútbol | Documentary (2017)
Documentary highlighting the conception, growth, and cultural importance of the San Francisco Deltas soccer team.
My Role: Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Interviewer
Co-Creators: Kendall Lafranchi, Ian Pratt, Natalie Gooden
Produced through the Tamalpais High School Academy of Integrated Humanities & New Media
Divided | Documentary (2016)
Documentary calling attention to the opportunity divide that disconnects millions of young adults from job opportunities.
My Role: Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Interviewer
Co-Creators: Jacques Martin, Kira Cross, Griffin Barry
Produced through the Tamalpais High School Academy of Integrated Humanities & New Media