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Up today on our crew profile series is Monica Destefano, our assistant animatic editor!
• When did you become interested in animation and why?
I had always loved watching cartoons (particularly the original Nicktoons) as a kid, but I never really thought I could make a career out of animation. When I originally applied to the Nickelodeon internship I thought, “Wow, this would be cool, working in cartoons seems like a perfect fit for me!” Once I started interning here, I knew it was the right choice.
• What was your first job in animation?
My first job in animation was as a production assistant on Sanjay and Craig.
• If you could befriend one animated character, who would it be and why?
This question was very difficult to answer but… I think I’d have to say Genie from Aladdin. Aladdin was by far my favorite movie as a kid, and the Genie always stood out to me as a hilarious and fun character. I’m pretty loud and boisterous myself, so I think we’d get along swimmingly – plus he could grant my wishes!
• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
There’s one piece of advice that I received constantly when I first started working in animation that’s benefitted me time after time: be nice, cool, and easy to work with. Talent, dedication, and quality of work are obviously incredibly important, but being a communicative and reliable crew member can take you very far. I’ve created many strong bonds with coworkers at Nickelodeon that have led to valuable friendships, and I’ve seen many others achieve success in the same way. At the end of the day, we’re creating cartoons, so it’s important to have fun, be relaxed and not take yourself too seriously.
• If you had to eat one kind of food every day for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
Tacos. Moving to Southern California has made me a taco freak.
Artists (and Writers) in Action!
Say hello to Kevin Sullivan, a writer on our upcoming show The Loud House!
We met up with him in his office in between script meetings to talk about his love of junk food, the advice he’d give to aspiring writers, and his history in the Nickelodeon family. We are such huge fans of his sharp sense of humor and undeniable persistence in searching for the hidden answers that make scenes work.
He’s got great things to say so read on!
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1) How did you get your start?
I interviewed to be script coordinator on two productions: FOP/Danny Phantom and Fatherhood. I was hired on Fatherhood. A few months later they promoted the script coordinator on FOP/Danny Phantom to writer and gave me those shows as well. I had the chance to pitch ideas for FOP and they let me write several freelance scripts. Being in the room with the writers and the execs gave me a clear understanding of how they told their stories and what they were looking for, so that made it super easy. Then I started freelancing on Danny Phantom, too. Eventually they promoted me to staff writer. The script coordinator job is seen as a stepping stone to writer, so getting that was my way in.
2) Did you go to school for what you’re currently working in?
I did - sort of. I studied the very vague “Communication Arts” and minored in English. My university didn’t have a TV writing program when I attended. But having the career I do now is as much about “who I know” as it is “what I know”; it was another graduate from my school who told me about the script coordinator job openings at Nick in the first place. Without her info, I never would have known to look here. So I always tell people to make sure you foster those connections…you never know when one will pay off.
3) What do your day-to-day tasks look like?
We write The Loud House as a group. Each writer generates their scripts on their own but we put them up on a screen and revise them collectively. We also break stories as a team. It all depends on what’s on the calendar any given day. Today, for example, we revised a script from a freelance writer in the morning, and reviewed an outline from a staff writer and gave him notes so he could revise it before we submit it to our executives. In the afternoon, we examined the 2nd draft of a script I wrote, incorporating not only the notes from our network executives but the notes from Chris Savino, who created The Loud House. Then I had some questions about an outline I’m working on so I threw that out to the group for some brainstorming. That’s kind of our schedule every day; the only thing that changes are what episodes we’re working on and where they are in development (premise, outline, first or second draft script).
4) Favorite parts of the job?
I love pitching a joke that makes everyone in the room laugh. That is my favorite part of the job, hands down. When we’re struggling with a problem and we can’t seem to figure out how to make a scene work, and it seems hopeless…but then we hit upon the answer and it solves everything - that’s also a wonderful moment. I hate the struggling part, but the moment you have the clarity and figure out your issue is awesome.
5) Advice you’d give to aspiring artists in the industry?
If you’re an aspiring writer, then keep writing. When my job on FOP ended I had no new spec scripts or pilot scripts to use as samples. I thought being a staff writer on FOP for a decade would open all sorts of doors for me…and I was stunned to find this wasn’t the case. Story editors and show runners wanted to read new and more current scripts from me, not just old FOP scripts. I had none and was completely unprepared. I can be a procrastinator and be flat out lazy when it comes to writing on my own time, so it’s kind of hypocritical for me to say “always be writing,” but, you know, you should always be writing. Also, have a varied portfolio of scripts. You never know what kind of job you might be up for - sitcom, drama, animation…make sure you’ve got spec scripts of current series as well as a pilot or two of your own making. That way you’re ready or anything.
6) What tools have helped you get to where you are?
I guess my sense of humor has helped the most. Not only in pitching jokes in the writer’s room, but in interviews and meetings with story editors when I’m looking for work. That and feeling confident that I can do this. Believe me, the confidence thing takes a lot of work every single day. Most writers seem to be struggling with this, or at least I’ve met a bunch who are. So finding the strength to kind of “fake it till you make it” was a big step for me.
7) What inspires you?
I love TV - I’m a big TV junkie. I love any show that surprises me in its storytelling. I joke that if a show has me screaming back at the TV in utter shock, or jumping off the couch with my jaw on the floor, then that’s great. That’s what inspires me. Seeing a show and thinking I want to tell stories the way that show does, or hearing dialogue and just wishing I could be that concise and lyrical and clever - those things motivate me. Meeting people who watch Nick is always an inspiration, too. I recently had parents and their little kids interrupt me at lunch one day because they heard me say I used to write for FOP. Seeing kids excited by that is really a cool reminder of how great it is to be able to do what I do.
8) Where would you go in a time machine?
I’d be selfish and want to revisit days of my life where I remember being so happy I thought I might burst. I know I’m supposed to go back and stop JFK’s assassination or do something for the greater good, and sure I’d do that too… but first I’d go back to great times in my life and enjoy them all over again. Life goes by so fast and I’d want to get a few moments back again and revel in them.
9) Choice of superpower/ability?
I’m terrified of heights, so flying is out. And reading minds would only lead to disaster if I learned someone hated my shoes or was mocking the way I danced or something. So I’m going with teleporting. That not only eliminates a ten hour flight to Paris, but it gets rid of having to go to the airport, too. I’m all for that.
10) What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I like to eat. A lot. I’m a junk food junkie (the writer’s room for the Loud House has at least four different kinds of Oreos in it at any time). Therefore, exercise is a big hobby. I like to swim. Beyond that, I’m a huge car nerd. If I wasn’t a writer I’d want to design cars. I love traveling to different auto shows. And I love baseball, too - I’m a Mets and Dodgers fan, so I am still coming down off the high of this past season.
A fantastic “Artists in Action” interview with one of our writers, Kevin Sullivan!
Hey everyone!
Here’s a peek at some backgrounds I’ve painted from the awesome, new show I’m working on at Nickelodeon called The Loud House!!! The show is really charming, and the crew is packed with super talented people. You can see more work from The Loud House at our Tumblr page: http://theloudhousecartoon.tumblr.com/
The Loud House morning, noon & night!
NICK ANIMATION PODCAST
EPISODE #20: THE LOUD HOUSE SISTERS
We’re getting LOUD on the final podcast of season one! Hector is joined by the seven actresses who play the ten sisters on the new hit cartoon THE LOUD HOUSE: Grey Griffin, Lara Jill Miller, Jessica DiCicco, Cristina Pucelli, Nika Futterman, Liliana Mumy and Catherine Taber. It’s a Loud lovefest as Hector finds out what it’s like to be one of Lincoln’s sisters, who went to law school, who was on Family Feud in high school, who’s a champion poker player and so much more.
Listen on:
Huge thank you to all the actresses for joining us! Stay connected with them on:
Grey Griffin • Instagram • Twitter
Lara Jill Miller • Instagram • Twitter
Jessica DiCicco • Instagram • Twitter
Cristina Pucelli • Instagram • Twitter
Nika Futterman • Instagram • Twitter
Liliana Mumy • Instagram • Twitter
Catherine Taber • Instagram • Twitter
Additionally, thank you to our amazing NICKterns for their help on this podcast episode!
Keep up with our intrepid host Hector on his own Twitter and Instagram pages. And stay tuned to NickAnimation25 for a new season of episodes coming soon!
This is an AMAZING podcast with all of our lovely and talented voice actresses! It is NOT to be missed.
The LOUD HOUSE PREMIERES TODAY AT 5pm on Nickelodeon and new episodes will debut every weekday at 5 pm all month long!
Had a blast drawing this, and amazing colors by Diem Doan who knocked it out of the park. check out her instagram https://www.instagram.com/deechisum/
Talk about your Fan Art Friday! Look at this radical Nicktoon inspired comic by our storyboard artist Miguel Puga!
Lincoln and little Lily Loud from THE LOUD HOUSE for creator Chris Savino - finished! and a detail shot of Licoln’s hands because I really dig how they turned out.
THE LOUD HOUSE series premiere is this May only on NICKELODEON!
We LOVE our fan art! Check out this RAD cross stitch of Lincoln and Lily!!!
Here are some board to animation examples on one of my favorite Loud House episodes, A Fridge to Far! Everyone did such a good job on this episode and I love how it turned out!
#nickelodeon #storyboards #loudhouse #animation (at Nickelodeon Animation)
TBT to this sweet board to final comparison!
NICK ANIMATION PODCAST
EPISODE #40: Inside The Loud House Writers’ Room
It’s no secret that The Loud House is the brainchild of creator Chris Savino, but what exactly goes into writing a smash hit series week after week? On this very special season 2 finale of the Nickelodeon Animation Podcast Hector takes the interview out of the recording studio, across the Nickelodeon campus and into animation offices of The Loud House to find that answer and so much more. We’re unpacking all the secrets with writers Mike Rubiner, Karla Sakas Shropshire, Kevin Sullivan, Whitney Wetta and Sammie Crowley to find out what it takes to tell hilarious stories straight from the heart. This is “behind the scenes” as you’ve never heard it before!
Listen on:
Many thanks to Mike, Karla, Kevin, Whitney and Sammie for joining us! Follow The Loud Writers on Twitter to see some hilarious “overheard in the writers’ room” tweets and stay updated on all the Loud Crowd news.
Keep up with our intrepid host Hector on his own Twitter and Instagram pages. That’s a wrap for season two - thanks for listening, and stay tooned for season three this summer!
This is NOT to be missed!
Happy happy Thanksgiving, Loud Crowd!