Stephen M. Levinson

What is your name?

My name is Stephen M. Levinson and I currently reside in Santa Clarita, California.

 

What would you say has been your primary job in animation?

My primary job has been as a Flash animator, but my interests have recently moved to the production side of animation.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?

I was very fortunate that I never took a “regular” summer-type of job. My first job was freelancing animation for a kill-bill spoof animation. It was great being paid to make cartoons for the first time!

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Atul N. Rao

What is your name?
Atul N. Rao

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
“I have been lucky to be part of many great projects.  Some of them never got past a pilot, but the experience of breaking new ground was worth it as experiences go.  The pilot projects include:   The Cartoon Network Pilot, “”Swaroop”” is certainly top of my list, where I met my long time friend and collaborator, Mike Milo.  “”Roy Rogers:  Rodeoheads”” was a hilarious pilot in which we worked with great voice actors (including Mark Hamil) and the director, Guy Vasilovich.  “”The Maharaja Cowboy”” which was done partly in Austin Texas and in Trivandrum India.  Recently I wrote a pilot for MARVEL called “”The Defenders”” which may be one of the best TV scripts I’ve ever written.

How did you become interested in animation?
Always loved it.  Started making my own stop motion films on Super 8 in the sixth grade.  I was obsessed with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Droopy and a bunch of others all through University while I studied psychology.  To me animation is the true frontier of human imagination, humor and art.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Born in Detroit, raised in Canada, moved to L.A., then lived in India, Continue reading

Davide Spada

What is your name and current occupation?
Davide Spada.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I have always worked to the visual art as catoonist and graphic design.

 

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
My first storyboard for italian horror movie and characters for a big animation project. Unfortunately the second project failed for economic reasons by the producer.

 

 

How did you become interested in animation?
Well, I have seen so many animation by Tim Burton, Pixar, Aardman, since that I start to think if I can to work animation business.

 

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was born and grew up in Turin, Italy. I drew storyboards for adv for a big agency in Turin, then storyboards for movie and animation. I like to work in the pre-production creating characters, storyboards, backgrounds etc…

 

 

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
I working from my office. In the morning hours to check email, look at planning jobs and then with my creative staff establish what to do.

 

 

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
personally experience new graphic styles for giving works the right atmosphere.

 

 

What part of your job do you like least? Why?
race against time!

 

 

What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
Wacom, Photoshop, Illustrator but I love HB pencil and sketch book.

 

 

What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
It has to be finding work every day. In Italy is most difficult working for the cinema because there isn’t culture for the storyboard.

 

 

In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
Of corse, but the creativity arises watching all forms of art, I met G. Fontana (photographer), G. Cavazzano (cartoonist), R. Garofalo (author) and more…

 

 

Describe a tough situation you had in life.
I’ve had it pretty good so far.

 

 

Any side projects you’re working on that you’d like to share details of?
I usually start thinking new ideas and then I will do some doodle. Oh Well, I realized an horror animation movie for teenagers!

 

 

Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
Play the electric guitar in high voltage.

 

 

Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
work work work so hard. Don’t be afraid to meet people and compare with them.

 

http://dspada.altervista.org