An Interview with Design and Animation Producer Kaitlyn Mahoney

An Interview with Design and Animation Producer Kaitlyn Mahoney

We recently caught up with the exceptionally talented Kaitlyn Mahoney about some of her favorite productions to work on as well as her upcoming projects. Here is what she had to share:

Please introduce yourself to the readers and how and when did you first get into producing?

Hey there I’m Kaitlyn, an Aussie design and animation producer living and working in Los Angeles! It’s funny, producing is actually something I kind of fell into after taking a commercial production internship during my final year of university in Sydney, and I had no idea how much I would come to love it! I gratefully took the position thinking ‘production’ meant something hands on and crafty (aka. Art Dept) but once I got in there I discovered the wild world of organization, communication, budgets and schedules and honestly loved it! Having the opportunity to be a part of every aspect of an entire production, from beginning to end, really worked for me - so I ran with it!

What inspired you to get into the entertainment industry?

I guess the movies! During my university days, I really wanted to get into indie feature film production – I wanted to be a part of the next Quentin Tarantino or Ted Hope film. But I also began to develop a real interest in the design and animation industry through the exposure I received working at Sydney-based studio, Engine. I discovered that I’m definitely a design-driven person, and the aesthetic fulfilment I received from working on beautifully illustrated and animated productions was incredibly satisfying. Once I got an opportunity to move to the US and work at Buck, I didn't look back!

What kind of training have you had, if any?

I’ve mostly had on-the-job training, and have picked up new skills with each project experience. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have some great mentors through my professional positions and workshops I’ve taken. I also completed a Bachelor of Media at Macquarie University in Sydney.

What has been your favorite production to work on so far?

My favorite production experience I’ve had, was working on a CG short called ‘Seed Matters’ for Clif Bar that features a foul-mouthed evangelist seed character whose aim is to encourage the world to learn where their food comes from. It was great fun to work with a brand and agency team that wasn’t afraid to mix humor and provocation to get their anti-GMO message across in an entertaining way and, our team got to push the artistic boundaries of CG look-development while we were at it!

What has been one of the most exciting achievements of your career so far?

One of the most exciting achievements has been producing animated Times Square takeovers for both MasterCard and Facebook that played on all the major billboards on New Years Eve across two separate years. Both productions were monumental feats that took a small army of people to make, but in return for our efforts we were able to entertain millions of people in the hours leading up to the iconic ball drop (while they waited patiently in the cold of course.) That was a warm and toasty gift within itself!

What projects do you have coming up?

This year me and 3 other exceptional illustrators (Amelia Giller, Xoana Herrera and Audrey Lee) co-founded a female-focused illustration collective aptly called ‘Get it Girl’. As our name suggests, we want to be women who challenge the norms of the motion graphics industry within which we work, and bring to the forefront art that spotlights the female experience. The work our collective is creating is often times playful or humorous, sometimes evocative, and regularly challenges us to step out of our stylistic comfort zones. And, we want to encourage other talented ladies to do the same. That’s why in August this year, we began inviting guest collaborators to take part in our monthly themed pieces. I’m super excited for Get it Girl collective to collaborate with and share more work from amazing female artists in the design industry - and make more friendships.

Who would you most like to work with?

I’ve always looked up to the incredible indie film producer Ted Hope. I’ve watched his movies, read his book, followed his blogs, and many years ago. had a perfectly timed sick day, that allowed me to attend a one-off producing workshop he held in Sydney. All of this with the hopes of meeting him, learning from him, and (hopefully) convincing him I’d be a great assistant! Needless to say, it didn’t work out quite like that! But I do absolutely admire his commitment to artists that are willing to take risks and his dedication to building a better future for modern cinema together. If I ever get the opportunity I certainly wouldn’t mind working alongside him!

What are your plans for the future?

I’m a big fan of all types of creative projects, whether they be in the motion design industry, the film industry or even in the art world. I’d love to keep partnering with like-minded creative people and help bring those ideas to life. I might also commit to getting a dog.

What is your advice to aspiring producers?

I truly believe if you love working with all types of artists and being responsible for pulling a production together, then being a producer is one of the most rewarding jobs in the entertainment industry! My advice would be to remember that this is a collaborative industry and everyone’s voice is valid - you may have to answer directly to a client but it doesn’t need to be at the expensive of supporting your creatives/director’s vision. Your job is to ease the two together and produce the best product you can -on budget and on time of course!