Directing Animation Livecast

Originally streamed on YouTube Live Feb 7, 2025. Audio edited by Kiara Horowitz.
This fantastic new film floored Scott Wiser, so we had to interview Jim about his daring art project and why so many people should see and treasure this film! Jim Capobianco is an American film director, animator and screenwriter. He has worked as a story artist and storyboard artist for films such as The Lion King (1994), Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), A Bug's Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), Up (2009), Inside Out (2015), and Finding Dory (2016). (Source: Wikepedia)In 2008, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Ratatouille (2007). In 2023, he wrote and directed the animated feature film The Inventor, about Leonardo da Vinci's life in France.Learn more at:https://www.jimcapobianco.com/Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (Supervising on Fortnite emotes. Built the Lego Fortnite emotes team, animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

Originally streamed on YouTube Live on Jan 10, 2025. Audio edited by Kiara Horowitz.
Blizzard Entertainment! Disney! Sony Animation! Illumination Entertainment! Visual Development Artist Sam Nielsen has worked for them and more: • Viz Dev @ Skydance Animation• Character Design and Environment Design for games at Bungie, Warner Brothers Games, Disney Interactive, Activision, NBC Universal, many others• Environment and Character Design for TV for Dreamworks TV, WildAid• Figurine Design for Sideshow Collectibles, Disney Interactive• Character Design for theme park attraction, Disney Imagineering• Book Illustrations for HarperCollins, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, etc.Sam also teaches in the prestigious animation department at BYU (Brigham Young University) and makes great LinkedIn posts ... which is why Scott thought to bring him on the show. A few months, Sam made a thoughtful post about three effective kinds of directors and the rest is history you can watch unfold in this episode! Sam's Website:https://www.samnielson.com/Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (Supervising on Fortnite emotes. Built the Lego Fortnite emotes team, animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

Originally Streamed on YouTube Live Dec 6, 2024. Audio edited by Kiara Horowitz.

Produced by a team of 70+ artists from more than 24 countries, in collaboration with the global Coptic community, "The 21" is up for an Oscar nomination in 2025

Director Tod Polson made this statement:

The 2015 beheading of 21 Coptic Christians by ISIS
sent shockwaves across the globe and left a deep,
lasting impact on me personally. The martyrs’
steadfast faith in the face of overwhelming terror
was, and continues to be, both humbling and deeply
inspiring. When the opportunity arose to tell their
story, I embraced it wholeheartedly.
The creation of the film has been an incredible
journey. The story evolved slowly, shaped by
interviews with Coptic Christians, former ISIS
members, and journalists embedded with the
Libyan army. Spending time with the families of
the martyrs allowed me to better understand who
these men were, further deepening my admiration
for their courage and conviction.

The visual style of The 21 is rooted in traditional
iconography. Artists from Egypt, Syria, Ukraine,
and the United States contributed their expertise,
not only helping shape the aesthetic of the film but
also influencing my own approach to art. Animation
artists from around the
world lent their talents, each adding something
personal to the project.
My deepest hope is that The 21 serves as a tribute to
the martyrs and their families. In a world that seems
more than ever in need of such powerful examples
of faith and resilience, I believe their story is more
vital than ever.

THE21FILM.COM

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (supervising Lego Fortnite and animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

In person interview at the SLAnimation Expo. Audio edited by Kiara Horowitz.

It was fascinating to see the difference in Tony from episode #1 of the Directing Animation Livecast till NOW! His attitudes were refreshing as as always it was a wonderful conversation.

1st interview: https://www.youtube.com/live/oMrfdY_w...

Tony Bancroft is currently working on the 2D Light The World Animated feature film. has co-directed Mulan (1998), Animal Crackers, supervised the animation of Pumbaa in Lion King, and wrote the book on Directing for Animation. He and his Brother (Bancroft Brothers Podcast) are a force for good in the industry and a great example for all of us rising in the animation industry!

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (supervising Lego Fortnite and animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

Originally Streamed on YouTube Live Sep 6, 2024. Audio edited by Kiara Horowitz.

Ron Friedman and I had a wonderful conversation at the Salt Lake Animation Expo* BUT technology Failed us, so let's do it again!

Let's talk about His Thirty Years as an animator on hand-drawn animated films such as The PageMaster and Swan Princess, which visual FX, video game animation, supervising animation for Pan's Labyrinth, to previsualizing films at The Third Floor to teaching future animators through   / animationtrainers   and    / @animationtrainers  

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (supervising Lego Fortnite and animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate

*The Salt Lake Animation Expo is now called "Sketch 2 Screen (And Everything In-Between!)"