Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1475662
SPRING 2022 7 E D I T O R ' S N O T E EVAN HENERSON ("Turning the Page") is a lifestyle and entertainment writer based in Los Angeles. His work has appeared in L.A. Parent, TV Guide, Orange Coast Magazine, and the Los Angeles Daily News where he was a features writer and critic for nine years. L.A.-based photographer TIM SULLENS has one wife, two daughters, and six cameras. Over the years, he has captured images of musicians and performers, political rallies and weddings. In this issue, he snapped the mentors and mentees in "Wise Counsel." WHITNEY FRIEDLANDER ("Drawing with Feeling") is an entertainment journalist who lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, daughter, and infamously ornery cat. A former staff writer at Los Angeles Times and Variety, she has also written for Esquire, Marie Claire, and The Washington Post, and currently contributes to CNN. Freelance writer and author KAREN BRINER ("A Passion for Picture Books") grew up in Cape Town, South Africa where her garden was home to wild chameleons. Her most recent novel is Snowize & Snitch: Highly Effective Defective Detectives. THE WONDER OF WORKING RELATIONSHIPS CONTRIBUTORS So, I made a point of writing one of the features this month, "Game Changers" (p.36), about the journey of transforming the popular Cuphead game into a TV series. One thing was obvious from my interviews, the support and collaborative atmosphere of the Cuphead production played a key role in the artistic success of this project. Learning how to collaborate and fostering a supportive environment is critical to all working relationships, which is why mentorship can be so valuable. In our feature, "Wise Counsel" (p.30), we explore three mentor-mentee pairs and discover how these treasured relationships foster mutual respect and understanding. When a working relationship clicks it can open doors once closed. That's what writing partners Jeannette Lara and Michael J. Beall discovered when they joined forces. In "Relentlessly Intentional" (p.15), they discuss how their shared Latinx experiences propelled them to seek lasting change in the animation industry. Working tirelessly to make change happen and support all Animation Guild members is something The Animation Guild's Tactical Action Group, also known as TAG-TAG, strives to do. You can read more about why these dedicated TAG members are working to mobilize the membership into action in "Tactical Activism" (p.18). Since I started working at the Guild almost five years ago, I have watched as the members of The Animation Guild have come together in solidarity and camaraderie. I like to think that Keyframe has played a small part in this transformation by not only celebrating the craft of animation but those who make the magic happen. Alexandra Drosu editor@tag839.org AS MY OTHER DUTIES HAVE GROWN AT THE ANIMATION GUILD, I HAVE SPENT LESS TIME WRITING FOR THE MAGAZINE, AND GUESS WHAT? I MISS IT! ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF MY JOB IS GETTING TO KNOW OUR TALENTED ANIMATION GUILD MEMBERS, HEARING THEIR STORIES, AND LEARNING ABOUT THEIR CREATIVE ENDEAVORS.