I&PG- 020, Melissa Suber, Storyboard Artist and Director (part 1)

Today we're speaking with Melissa Suber- Storyboard Artist, Director, and Fine Artist currently storyboarding on The Lion Guard over at Disney Jr.  Her fine art paintings can also be seen in Shanghai's Disney Resort.  With a resume that spans the last 20 years, she has worked at various studios in various roles like Layout, Storyboard Revisionist, Storyboard Artist, Story Editor, Production Manager, Writer, and Director but still makes time for freelance and her own personal projects.  We discuss a lot about the business of animation and how to navigate it without losing your creative spirit that makes you unique.

Show Notes (Pt1)--------

IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1204347/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Personal page: https://mjsuber.carbonmade.com

Hearst Family (Animation):

 http://www.hearstent.com/animation.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Randolph_Hearst

5 Ways to Draw Perspective: http://www.wikihow.com/Draw-Perspective

Layout Animation: http://stevelowtwait.com/blog/what-is-animation-background-layout

How much are your talents/skills worth?

3 things you can control in any negotiation

-The quality of what you make

-The money you get paid

-The time it takes

You should be in control of at least one if not two.  High quality gets more money or more time.  If you pay less, you get less quality and you do it in less time.  Or if they will pay less, I ask for more time.  

Stephen Silver "Stop working for free!" http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ideas-commentary/stephen-silver-stop-working-for-free-77417.html

Melissa's adendum to Stephen's advice:

Make sure free exposure makes the work worth it.  Always do some research.  Not always worth it- maybe sometimes.  

"Ask for higher rate.  They can always say no.  If they say no, it's not in the budget, I respect the budget.  Bigger studios have a slight wiggle room whether they say that or not.  Smaller studios are working on tight budgets and probably don't." MJ on negotiating pay.

On continuing to get work in Animation:

"It is greatly about who you know.  Be loyal and work hard for your crew and they will remember you."

Mike Young Productions/ Splash: http://www.splashentertainment.com/production

On networking and getting more work in Animation:

"It doesn't have to be the best work, it needs to be reliable.  Be that indispensable person.  You don't have to be the star.  The star costs more and rolls off the show first."