Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1512296
WINTER 2023 19 O N T H E J O B ABIGAIL BOKUN BABY SHARK'S BIG SHOW!, NICKELODEON When Abigail Bokun was in the fifth grade, she told her teachers it was her dream to work at Pixar Animation Studios. She eventually earned a BFA in Animation from DePaul University and originally sought storyboard work but found it difficult to get her foot in the door. She feels fortunate to be in production, where she has grown her career from Production Assistant to Production Coordinator. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOB? I consider my job the glue that holds the different departments together. Production is not only interfacing with all the artists, writers, directors, and executive producers, but we are also expected to handle myriad day-to-day tasks that ensure everyone else is able to do their job efficiently. I am expected to attend any meetings that have to do with storyboards, director or lead check-ins, network reviews, and so much more. When I'm not helping run those, I [break] down episodes, track asset assignment, send files, and am at the ready for any issues that may come up. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF YOUR JOB? With so many moving pieces, it can be over whelming to make a choice about which task I should do when. There are times when I know I should be working on the lead sheet (logging every single asset that shows up in every single scene), but there's also an animatic review at 4 p.m. and we still don't have the animatic itself. Knowing what to prioritize when is a learned skill. Boundaries are also important. Because animation production unionizing is new, production desperately needs standardized job descriptions and protections to avoid job creep. WHAT ARE THE BEST PARTS ABOUT BEING A PRODUCTION COORDINATOR? My love for animation is still so strong, and being in production allows me to watch an episode get made from star t to f inish. I still get that excited zing in my chest when watching a new animatic or seeing a cute design for the f irst time. Ar t is beautiful, and it is a privilege to be the one helping it get made. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING PRODUCTION COORDINATORS? Whether production is a stepping stone in your path to a creative position, or a career you wish to pursue all the way up the ladder, I truly believe that production can foster good relationships between every person on the project. Be kind and learn about your peers' schedules and their struggles. And tell them about your struggles and aspirations! The more we all learn about each other in this wonder ful, stressful, beautiful world of animation, the more we can stand up for one another when times are tough. KEEPING IT TOGETHER AS MORE ANIMATION PRODUCTION CREWS JOIN TAG, THE ROLES THAT THE GUILD REPRESENTS GROW. HERE, THREE NEW MEMBERS SHARE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ON AN ANIMATED SERIES.