What is your name and your current occupation? Juli Murphy*, and I am a timer for “American Dad”, for Fox TV.*(For 14 years I also went by my married name, Juli Hashiguchi, or Juli Murphy Hashiguchi)
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was an assistant to the oldest practicing Magician in the Magician’s guild. I think he was in his upper 70’s, and he had been on the Johnny Carson show previously. I answered an ad when I was in college, and I fit the red sequined assistant’s leotard he had. It was a sad, depressing show. He couldn’t remember how to do all his tricks, and he caught the dove’s wings in the disappearing cage. I only lasted one show with him, because he was a really bad driver (going the wrong way down a freeway on-ramp) and he wouldn’t let me drive the Magic Van.
I also worked for Federal Express for 6 years. Besides loading boxes onto planes and trucks I also de-iced aircraft from a bucket extension on a gigantic truck, gave tours through the sorting facility, and radioed pilots in the aircraft. That was a great job, because one of the side benefits was free flights on cargo planes, exactly like Tom Hanks in the movie “Castaway”, luckily without the crashing part. I have ridden in the cockpit of 727’s and DC-10’s enough times to be sick of it.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I would have to say the best job I have had to date was at Cartoon Network on “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy”. I was the Supervising Director for 5 years, and it was a really wonderful experience. I had the most challenging and Continue reading
What is your name and your current occupation
Mark Medernach, Executive Producer/Partner at DUCK Studios
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation? I was a PA on a shoot for KFC. Â My job was to ferry the chicken between the store where they were making it and the location. Â I came home each night smelling like fried chicken
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? We’ve done a few United Airlines spots which I am really proud of. Â I think the campaign is brilliant. Â They choose filmmakers tomake their animated spots and the artistry of the entire campaign is just top notch.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business? I grew up in Pennsylvania and went to college in San Francisco. I was out of work and was looking for a job. Â I got hired as the editor at Duck Soup. Â Even though I was not really an animation aficionado, over the years, and the name change to DUCK, I’ve come to really love and admire animation.
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job? Here at DUCK we represent a wide variety of artist/filmmakers for advertising and other short format work. Â The days are spent touching base with the different artists. Â Making phone calls to advertising agencies to look for more new work and overseeing the productions we have in the studio.
What part of your job do you like best? Why? I love it when a young director gets their first project to direct. Â It is always fu to see them mature as filmmakers and become successful.
What part of your job do you like least? Why? I wish I were able to start more directing careers. Â I also hate to tell the directors that they did not get a job that they pitched on. Â I know a lot of times they pour a lot of themselves into the pitch and for whatever reason they did not get it. Â It is difficult to give them the bad news.
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business? The constant search for new work. Â Once you book a job for the director there is no time to sit back and enjoy the fact that the job is in. Â It is on to the next project and trying to get everyone working.
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis? I am on the internet all day long. Â Looking for new artists, looking at work that is out there and just looking. Â For production we use a wide variety of software, but i don’t work on that side of the business.
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness? Well we represent Eric Goldberg, who I believe is one of the most talented 2-d character animators in the world. Â We also represent Jamie Caliri who I think is a genius. Â Whatever he works on ALWAYS seems to turn out brilliantly.
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
I tell most of the young filmmakers I talk to the same thing, try to find a style that is yours. I think all of the successful animation directors have a signature style, which is what draws people to their work. Â Try not to be a jack of all trades, try to master one.
What is your name and your current occupation? Eduardo a.k.a. Eddie Brito, I am a Writer / Director / Producer at arlequÃn STUDIOS.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation? I used to own an exporting business from Miami, Florida to South America. I used to freight forward appliances and cargo for a living.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? As a General Producer of the Television Show “Buscando Amor†(“Looking for Loveâ€, the Latin version of the “Blind Date†reality show), I added the first Computer Generated Images (with Maya, autodesk) in a Latin American Television Show. We created 3 different characters, a Mouse, a Teacher, and a Scientist that would make humorist comments during the show. We did this during sweeps in 2003, and kept the format until 2004, on Estrella 62 Television, in Burbank, California.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business? I was born Venezuela, but raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I spend many years going back and forth between the two cities before I Continue reading
What is your name and your current occupation? Emilie Goulet, Animator at Reel Fx.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?Â
Working in a cheese store. It’s not that crazy, but it’s probably the job that is the most different from animation. And yet, I worked with some people that were so passionate about cheese that it rub on me.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?Â
Without a doubt, my favorite project is the one I am working on now: Free Birds. Not just because the animation is wonderful and hilarious, but the people that I met on this project made me want to push myself like I never did before. The motivation and support not only came from my leads and director, but from my peers which is incredibly  precious and gratifying.
make their animated spots and the artistry of the entire campaign is just top notch.
