Studio Kinate Hires Sr. VP of Animation

I've delayed making this announcement, because I am a perfectionist and I wanted all the right words, pictures, etc.  However, the only thing that  perfection does is preventing me from sharing my excitement announcing Studio Kinate's VP of Animation.

RUSTY MILLS is joining Studio Kinate as the Senior Vice President of Animation.  In the long term, Rusty "General," will oversee all the creative projects at the studio.  Beginning in January, Rusty will be the director and producer of the animated production for the Office of Naval Research, C-DEW training.  Rusty recently taught our first Toon Boom workshop and will also be utilized teaching workshops for the studio. 

As I've said in my last post, I needed to "go the distance" and that means I have to make commitments and go for the best and with Rusty Mills, I am taking those first steps.  I want the best leadership available so that we can make the biggest impact on the industry.  I want those yet-to-be animators to be challenged to create the best stories and I truly believe these two people will help me make that happen.


Look out world, here comes Studio Kinate!


Until next time, believe in your dreams and let your IMAGINATION be UNLIMITED!


Char

Studio Kinate: "Field of Dreams" Part III

Go the Distance!

2009 Studio Kinate Concept Art

When considering your dream, you will set short-term goals that will help you achieve your vision, which is the focus of this, my "Field of Dreams" blog.  In part I, I shared about building Studio Kinate.  It was about building a studio,  one that will be different.  Part II it was "ease [their] pain" about the artists/animators.  After all, without them what IS the point? This brings me to the final stage, going the distance, and this truly is the hardest part of the journey.  Allow me to take you back to the movie.


Near the end of the film much had been revealed to Ray but uncertainty still hung over his head.  He was on the verge of losing his farm, the bank was ready to foreclose.  The choices before him seemed to be keep the field and be evicted or sell the farm.  He looks at the field of players, his family and the sales contract.  How will HE decide?


I know only too well the emotions and the strain that Ray must have experienced.  I've pushed our finances (with the support of my husband) to the utter edge. However, I know this is the thing I am supposed to to.  I have seen the future and it is bright and wonderful.  I have talked to those industry professionals who tell me the vision is good and the approach is right.  Despite how it may look, I choose to "Go the Distance."  Studio Kinate IS the first woman owned animation studio!  This studio IS about developing strong CHARACTERS and STORY!  This studio IS about the ANIMATORS and ARTISTS!  This studio IS making history! And I WILL move forward and not look back.


And so, I pass this on to you.  You cannot copy what someone else has done to achieve your dream; however, you CAN learn from them.  You will have successes AND failures.  Study the failures of others and learn from yours.  Set your goals and work to achieve them.  Attend critiques and workshops. If you want to be a writer, write and read.  If you want to be an artist, take classes from the best teachers (even if you have to travel!).  If you want to be an animator, study the masters and (in the words of Larry Lauria) DRAW, DRAW, DRAW!   

Well, ladies and gentleman, next week I will be making a very important announcement.  I am VERY excited about the new year so during the coming holiday season I am going to be reflecting on this past year and what lies ahead for Studio Kinate.  So until next time, keep your vision alive and let your IMAGINATION be UNLIMITED!

The Vision vs. the "I" Words!

This has been one of those weeks, I've been on the mountaintop and I've had a meltdown (not unlike the wicked witch of the West). I had to be reminded to breathe (amazing how we forget to do that when we are stressed!) and I've seen the possibilities of where Studio Kinate is going. Times like this make it hard to see through all the yuck, however, when I look back on my life, I can see times almost as bad and know that we got through them and we will be victorious now too.

Part of all this is remembering back when I decided to leave George Mason to build this business.  I went to workshops and they told us that the hard times will come and it is our passion that will be the thing that gets us to the other side.  Everyday I have to avoid the "negative talk," the words that eat away at the vision.  Those words that say, it is Impractical, Impossible, Irresponsible, for a woman, in her 50's to build an animation studio in VIRGINIA!  Can I just say, BS!!!!

If you want something bad enough, YOU and no one else have to make it happen.  I believe in the artists who sacrifice everyday.  There are those who have come along side of me, who can see the vision and are sacrificing as much as I am.  Then I've seen others who have drifted away because their passions have them going in other directions, and that's okay.

I need those artists, animators, illustrators, storytellers who can help build this dream.  There are those who will build and pull their weight while others will pull down the the dream because of their lack of vision.  I used to wish I could be an animator but I'm not.  I am a dreamer and I want to help those with the talent to bring stories to life. After all, that is what it means to animate!

Let your imagination be unlimited!