Kevin Gamble, Animation Production & Management Consultant

Kevin Gamble, Animation Management Consultant

kevin(at)crypticent(dot)com

Over the past eleven years of my career in computer graphics/animation, I have been responsible for overseeing and supervising all aspects of the production of more than 100 animated half-hour TV episodes and several direct-to-DVD long form animated projects, all produced using computer software ranging from SoftImage XSI to Maya to Adobe's Flash & After Effects. My knowledge base spans all aspects of the production of animation and graphics using computers, from the creative aspects of the process to the logistics of setting up and managing CG production pipelines.

• Manage and spearhead small, multi-tasking development teams or large-scale production crews (100+ staff). Design schedule, create budget and lead entire computer graphics production process from start to finish.

• Hire key positions (art director, story editor, animation directors, technical directors, et al). Work with the lead team to formulate a technology plan, and alter existing or create a new computer graphics production pipeline specifically designed for the needs of the project.

• Oversee the creation of an original script / show bible, or ensure an existing creative vision is outlined to the production team, adhered to and delivered. Ensure the project maintains a consistent creative vision during design, modeling, testing, animation and post-production phases.

• Work with story editor & writers to verify that scripts are structurally sound, entertaining, computer graphics friendly, and satisfy U.S., Canadian and International broadcast standards. Assist in revision process, ultimately approving final production script. Perform or oversee script breakdowns for various departments, guarantee that all required production elements are identified and tasked out. Create and administer schedules for the design, modeling, animation and post-production phases.

• Review shows in production, giving show notes (generated either by myself, or by working in tandem with a client) to episodic directors on a regular basis. Communicate and liaise with client, network or distributor, negotiate and coordinate revision, re-shoot and creative change requests during entire production process.

• Daily “fire fighting” - quickly solve the array of problems that can emerge as a project progresses. Conduct management meetings with the lead team on a weekly basis to discuss the current project status and formulate strategies on how to modify the production workflow to optimize efficiency.

• Manage budget & cost reports. Oversee entire production team, identify and quickly resolve any issues that threaten to impact budget or delivery.

• Maintain high morale throughout the entire production team by keeping people happy, energized and motivated - and lead with a smile on my face! When necessary, resolve inter-team spats and HR issues quickly and fairly.

• Deliver a fantastic product that upholds and enhances the reputation, marketability and bottom line of the company, and deliver it on time and on budget.

PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE: ANIMATION

	Producer "George of the Jungle" Studio B & Classic Media January 2006 -> November 2007 Fifty-two x 11 minute television episodes for Teletoon & Cartoon Network Lead team of computer graphics artists and computer animators to produce animated television series of fifty-two 11-minute television episodes using Adobe Flash software for Cartoon Network and Teletoon. Managed budget, created and oversaw entire production schedule, hired key staff, tasked with the management of all aspects of the series from pre-production to final delivery.


	Director of Development & Producer Nerd Corps Entertainment January 2005 -> January 2006 While working with Nerd Corps, I managed a slate of internally conceived & developed CG series and features, and created schedules and budgets for prospective projects. Produced in-house tests, pilots and promos for new projects. Tracked down new properties and developed relationships with artists, creators and networks. Represented the company at trade shows and conferences (including Comic-Con, KidScreen, Ottawa International Animation Festival) to seek out and bid on new business opportunities.

	Co-Creator & Content Producer "Tiki Bar TV Video Podcast" www.tikibartv.com March 2005 -> ongoing Co-created one of the most popular video podcasts in the world. Tiki Bar TV was thrown into the limelight when Steve Jobs himself showcased it during the “Video iPod” Apple keynote presentation in October of 2005. The show catapulted to #1 on the iTunes Podcast charts and currently has in excess of 500,000 subscribed viewers (and growing). Tiki Bar TV has been referred the “pioneer video podcast” credited with launching the genre and as such, I have spent the last two years speaking on panels and giving presentations about new & emerging media and podcasting at premier events such as MacWorld, the Consumer Electronics Show, VidFest Digital Expo. Produced using HD video, edited with Final Cut Pro, composited with Adobe After Effects.

	Chief Creative Officer & Producer "Hateful Chris" SecondSun Entertainment January 2004 -> November 2004 Managed creative process of converting an existing video game IP into a prime-time CG series, which MTV optioned four months after I took over the project. Set up and managed a new computer graphics animation division to animate the series, hired key staff and designed the production pipeline. Additionally, I was also tasked with developing and bidding on new business, and as such attended international markets and events such as MIP, NATPE and KidScreen.

	Producer (development) "Alien Legion" Mainframe Entertainment December 2002 -> November 2003 Led series development process with property creator Carl Potts, former editor-in-chief of Marvel / Epic Comics. Worked with the creator to re-invent the hit 1980's comic-book property for a new generation of viewers. Hired artists to conceptualize a new look, style & direction for show, and hired & worked with story editor to create a pitch bible which was used to promote the property. Unbeknownst to us, Lucas Animation was simultaneously developing the new “Clone Wars” animated property which ultimately was the show that claimed the “space army action adventure” slot on Toonami just before the show was green-lit.

	Producer "Scary Godmother" Mainframe Entertainment July 2002 -> February 2003 Produced one hour seasonal TV special for YTV and Cartoon Network USA. Winner, 2004 Leo award. “Best Animated Program or Series”. Worked with comic book creator Jill Thompson and a team of in-house artists to faithfully recreate the watercolor & painterly look of the award winning comic of the same name. Created & managed production pipeline, managed schedule, logistics, staffing. Project was completed with the SoftImage XSI computer graphics program, which was at that point unreleased. This meant working very closely with the software creators in Montreal throughout the process. Today, XSI is considered to be one of the premier 3D animation packages due in part to the intensive development and field testing it received during this project.

	Animation Producer "Project X: Cybernet Surfers" Mainframe Entertainment for Lego Media February 2002 -> April 2002 Produced ten minute live-action / computer graphics animation promo / pilot episode. Worked alongside clients (who moved into our studio for the duration of the project) and acted as liaison between them and the studio. Managed schedule, led the creative team, supervised live action plate shooting which used actors, green screen and physical sets (which were later used as elements for the final CG promo). This project was Mainframe's first foray into live action and I was picked to lead it because of my extensive live action background..

	Animation Producer "Max Steel - Season 3" Mainframe Entertainment for Sony Pictures / Columbia Tri-Star June 2001 -> December 2001 Nine x 20 minute television episodes. Animation Producer for nine x 20 minute television episodes. We were given assets from a competing studio who had produced season 2, and we were assigned season 3. My team and I were given a very short amount of time to convert existing assets built with an entirely different animation package into a format that Mainframe could use in production. We jumped directly into an unproven & largely theoretical pipeline with little to no development time and still managed to deliver the first episode on time.

	Associate Producer "Reboot - Season 4" Mainframe Entertainment April 2001 -> June 2001 90 minute broadcast feature shipped as 4 television episodes AD for a single 90 minute broadcast feature shipped as 4 television episodes (pre production only). Did script breakdowns & coordinated art & design department during the initial look development phase. Worked very closely with series creators to ensure the vision for the project was realized, then I handed off the project to a second associate producer while I moved on to run a series.

	Associate Producer "Heavy Gear" Mainframe Entertainment for Sony Pictures August 2000 -> May 2001 Forty x 20 minute television episodes. AP for forty x 20 minute television episodes. Managed pipeline and process for the entire series, reporting to Producer. Did initial script breakdowns and re-conceptualized and re-wrote scenes that were “production killers” and made them more production friendly. Assisted the Producer with show reviews and ensured client comments were addressed by the series directors.

	Assistant Director "Casper’s Haunted Christmas" Mainframe Entertainment / Harvey Entertainment January 2000 -> August 2000 90 minute direct-to-video feature. AD for a single 90 minute direct-to-video feature. Created & managed Mainframe's first feature-length production pipeline. Worked with Director to ensure all departments were on track and that information and assets were flowing smoothly. Acted as a bridge between pre-visualization, animation, compositing and post-production departments.

	Assistant Director "Weird-Ohs" Mainframe Entertainment March 1999 -> December 1999 Thirteen x 20 minute television episodes. AD for a single 90 minute direct-to-video feature. Created & managed Mainframe's first feature-length production pipeline. Worked with Director to ensure all departments were on track and that information and assets were flowing smoothly. Acted as a bridge between pre-visualization, animation, compositing and post-production departments.

	Assistant Director "Transformers: Beast Wars - Season 2 & 3" Mainframe Entertainment for Hasbro August 1997 -> April 1999 Thirty-nine x 20 minute television episodes. AD for thirty-nine x 20 minute television episodes. My first foray into animation, I was recruited out of live action to coordinate existing processes and soon after I was hired, I created a variety of new production processes (which are still used by Mainframe today). I created & instituted a series of production protocols, departmental breakdowns and devised a new animation workflow for the company. Beast Wars was the first Mainframe production that was delivered on time and on budget.