Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1525032
FALL 2024 7 E D I T O R ' S N O T E ROMA MURPHY ("She's Got the Beat") is a comedy writer living in Los Angeles and missing her hometown of New York. She is a proud member of TAG and has worked across studios like Disney and DreamWorks. In her free time she likes to cook and have long conversations with her cat. Freelance writer and author KAREN BRINER ("Just Draw It") 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. SONAIYA KELLEY ("All the School's A Stage") is a film reporter at the Los Angeles Times. The Bronx, N.Y., native previously served as a digital producer at Essence and Allure magazines and has contributed bylines to Complex, Mashable, and Patch.com. An alumna of Stony Brook University's School of Journalism and the Bronx High School of Science, you can find her on X (formerly Twitter) @sonaiyak and on Instagram @sonaiya_k. WHITNEY FRIEDLANDER ("Primetime Power") is an entertainment journalist who lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, daughter, and infamously ornery cat. A former staff writer at the Los Angeles Times and Variety, she has also written for Esquire, Marie Claire, and The Washington Post, and currently contributes to CNN. For example, a chance conversation between Bruce Timm and James Tucker led Timm to return to Batman. Timm and Tucker found themselves discussing their shared love for classic noir films and a weirder version of the superhero, the result being the new Batman: Caped Crusader (p.18). Art Director Valerio Fabbretti's career journey began with a surprise gift of comic books to his grandfather on the set of an Italian Western. The vivid illustrations captivated his imagination and fed his passion for drawing (p.12). Similarly, a detour to a woodworking shop during a camping trip led Katie Aldworth to take up whittling. Aldworth, who had never whittled before, found herself intrigued by the craftsmanship. What began as a spontaneous visit turned into a creative outlet (p.9). Sources of inspiration are all around us. Music, pop culture, nature, and everyday interactions can all serve as catalysts for creativity. Character Designer Kali Fontecchio infuses her animation work with a love of music, which she's included in her animated short, Maude Macher & Dom Duck (p.10). Broadway musical choreography heavily influenced the animated theatrical productions in Disney's new preschool show, Kindergarten: The Musical (p.32). And, pop culture references have inspired decades of award-winning comedy showcased in Emmy-nominated Union shows (p.26). So, whether it's a chance conversation, a surprise gift, or an unplanned detour, remember that inspiration often comes when we least expect it. Just grab hold of it when you see it! Alexandra Drosu editor@tag839.org LIFE HAS AN UNCANNY WAY OF PRESENTING US WITH UNEXPECTED MOMENTS THAT CAN IGNITE OUR CREATIVITY. LET'S CALL THEM "HAPPY ACCIDENTS" THAT LEAD US TOWARD OPPORTUNITIES THAT FUEL BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL WORK. CONTRIBUTORS CHANCE ENCOUNTERS OF A CREATIVE KIND