Baboon Animation, Brooklyn, NY
This summer I had the opportunity to work for Baboon Animation in Brooklyn, New York. Baboon Animation specializes in writing, direction, and production of animated television shows and feature films. They do both service work, which involves punch-ups and story editing among other assistance, and original production of intellectual property. In my time at Baboon, I gained insight into the process by which entertainment media is created from idea to product. I learned about business development within the industry, technical aspects of production such as sound editing and animatic review, and script production and processing. I left with a broad understanding of the animation industry as well as improved skills in screenwriting, story development, and production.
Every day I began by tracking the progress of a 78-episode original television cartoon series which is set to air in France later this year. I personally corresponded with both American and European writers, the French production company, and the network in order to coordinate script production through an intensive 25-step process. In this role as production coordinator, I had the opportunity to organize writer’s rooms, sit in on meetings, and create and format scripts at every stage. I was educated on all aspects of the process through both personal asides and professional correspondence. I had a hand in providing notes to both writers and the network as scripts matured. I was also privy to the business negotiations between writers and production companies. It was very interesting to see how the different institutions balanced their desire for power with the necessity of cooperation. They all claimed to prioritize the quality of the project, but that was not always clear in the harsh deliberations.
The most meaningful experience of the summer was taking notes on writer’s rooms for two episodes of a television show. I got to be part of the creative process and learned how to combine the hard structure and themes of the show on a broader scale with the jokes and storyline of each individual episode. Watching real writers work made me feel like I was on the right track. It was exciting, energizing, and fun.
One interesting issue that arose in the writer’s room was the question of credit. Everyone wants to be compensated for their work, but often the best work comes from a team of writers. Trying to assign credit, then, becomes a gray area. I now understand that sometimes creative work must be compensated without naming credits.
The entertainment industry plays a large role in shaping our society, which was evident in the persistent battle between creativity, economic potential, and largely arbitrary ethics. As a middle man between many voices in the production process, I witnessed the frustration of creatives bending to accommodate rigid network rules, and the network struggling to meet deadlines as the writers refused to soften language and imagery until the third or fourth draft. Entering the creative field, I recognize the fragility of those relationships and have more perspective on when it is important to stand by my creative choices, and when it is more important that I remain professional and produce satisfactory work.
The company itself exists in a single room. Everyone is constantly communicating and working together in person and through online systems to accomplish tasks. Working around a single table, it became a very socially comfortable environment where everyone felt safe sharing creative ideas. I believe this unconventional space contributed greatly to the relationships I built in such a short period of time.
The employees consist of the founder, one production coordinator, one head of business development, a team of off-site freelance writers, and a gaggle of interns. The founder worked directly with the interns to assign projects, but there was very little direct technical instruction. Contrary to an educational environment, I had to learn many tasks while completing them. I learned that I am capable of doing a job for which I have not been traditionally trained, which gives me confidence to open my post-grad search beyond my fields of study.
The prevailing management style at Baboon Animation is fast. The industry is fast-paced and requires acute attention to detail. Baboon offered little instruction and assigned great responsibility. It allowed for a very hands-on experience, but was often stressful. I found the first few weeks to be frustrating, but quickly learned how to take care of myself and produce excellent work. I learned how to ask questions and demand clarity, and how to separate the professional from the personal, both skills applicable to all future employment. I also learned about chain of command and the difference between details that must be reviewed and details that should be acted on with regard to personal initiative.
My relationship with Baboon at this point is positive. I met a lot of inspiring interns that share my passion for writing and creation. It was energizing to be in an environment of shared interest, dreams, and fear. I intend to stay in touch and use them for support, editing, and motivation. The founder of Baboon is well-connected in the industry, and his letter of support will be key to moving upward at other institutions. I am grateful to Baboon for the opportunity to learn and train with them, and for their continued support.
As I continue my education at Williams, I will pursue more courses related to creative writing. I enjoyed my experience this summer to the extent that I believe I would enjoy the field professionally. While I am not interested in animation specifically, I enjoyed both writing and production. I was not previously interested in production or development, but now I understand production to be a comfortable springboard into the industry. Should an opportunity arise post-grad to work in production, I would strongly consider it. In the future, though, I will likely seek out larger work-environments that operate under a more structured system of management.
Although I am largely interested in writing, this particular experience reminded me that my economics degree will also be a valuable asset in the entertainment industry. Baboon is a small business with a limited staff, and much writing is done through freelance contracts. Therefore, the day-to-day invoicing, bookkeeping, and management is imperative to success. A solid understanding of economic opportunity, cost, and growth is critical so as to be self-sufficient and profitable.
I want to thank Ms. Martha Williamson ’77 and Mr. Peter Martin Nelson ’76, who made this opportunity possible for me. I very much enjoyed spending time in New York City and learning about the entertainment industry. Without their support, I would not have enjoyed such flexibility this summer. I also want to thank the Williams College ’68 Center for Career Exploration for all of their work in organizing and distributing the ASIP grants. Everyone in the office was approachable, helpful, and prompt. They made the whole process extremely accessible, and, for that, I am very grateful.
Megamenu Social