Farewell from FableVision’s summer marketing interns!

Summer break is coming to an end, and the marketing interns are drawing our time at FableVision to a close. It's sad that time moves so quickly. We did a lot of great work and had an amazing time! We sincerely hope the adage, it's not good-bye, it's see you later, is true for us and the FableVision team.

Courtney and I both started in June, a bit nervous, and quickly jumped into the world and work of FableVision—drafting social media, helping write and research case studies, writing blog posts, and much, much more. In the first couple of weeks we were learning so much that I'd go home and be able to physically feel my brain processing all the information—it was exhausting in the good way, like when you finally get to lay down after a long day's work.

(Speaking of which, anyone who thinks interns don't work hard, or are merely coffee camels, hasn't heard about FableVision's internship experience. Come to think of it, I don't think we were ever forced to go get the office's coffee? Maybe we missed out on a life-changing experience.)

In the first weeks of our internship, Courtney and I created the awesomely customary Meet the Interns blog post, which we had a lot of fun with! We also got assigned big projects that would take a while to come to fruition.

Chief among them was the joint art and marketing intern independent project "Drawing Courage," an anthology of fictional comics centering "around themes that have shaped us into the creative people we are today: identity, loss, love, and self-care." This was a doozy of a project, and not something I personally had prepared for—I didn't think interns would be given such responsibility!—but it quickly became the best part of the work-week. Meeting with Yury and Mimi, the wonderful art and animation interns, and writing comics with Courtney, all while making sure everything was getting done on time was great training for project management, and a real bonding experience for the interns.

I began writing TechTalk, a look into how the tech team at FableVision makes all the projects that come through these doors really come to life, and Courtney began writing her utterly charming post about what it's like to work at FableVision and be a part of what she calls the "FableFamily," as well as an in-depth behind the scenes post for "Drawing Courage."

Few things force you to grow as much as being handed work and being told, "I trust you, make it great." (Something Sarah and Mitul said comfortingly often to us.) I could write all day about the wealth of great times in my three short months at FableVision, but I can reasonably sum them up as "amazing" and "hard work" and "worth every second." Being an intern at a friendly, smart, driven company has been a wonderful privilege, and if you're reading this and wondering if you should apply—what's stopping you? Come join the FableFamily for a while.

Drawing Courage: Behind the Scenes

Drawing Courage is a collaboration between FableVision Studios’ summer marketing and animation interns. Working as a mini-production studio, the four of us came together to utilize each of our strengths and produce an independent project that scaffolds all of the knowledge and skills we learned during our time at FableVision. Together with Ethan, my fellow marketing intern, and the fabulous animation interns, Mimi and Yury, we created a series of four comics to show what you can create when you work with and learn from people in a very special internship setting like the one FableVision provides.

Here’s a behind the scenes view of how we made Drawing Courage.

“The independent project is a good opportunity for people from different departments to collaborate and experience first hand the challenges that come with working in a group and discussing different ideas.” - Yury

Inspiration and Ideation

So, how did it all begin? I knew that FableVision offered interns the unique opportunity to create an independent project that furthered skills and interests related to FableVision, but wasn’t sure how that would take shape. During our Intern Meet-and-Greet, Ethan and I met Mimi and Yury, this summer’s animation interns. Our supervisors, Sarah Ditkoff and Hannah O’Neal, told us about the opportunity to do an independent project together.

We knew we wanted to work on something that highlighted all of our separate talents, and out of this discussion came the idea of telling a series of fictitious stories through comic panels that hit upon themes that helped shape us into the creative people we are today: identity, loss, love, and self-care. It was then and there that we decided that the interns would collaborate on a joint independent project for the first time! 

Implementation

We hit the ground running seconds after the Interns Meet-and-Greet ended. We made plans to have weekly Tuesday meetings to discuss our project and prepared to give our formal pitch in two weeks time.

During the formal pitch, we presented our project’s overall concept, what we intended the final project to look like, and the estimated production timeline. After laying our foundation, we discussed and assigned individual roles. It really felt like we were a mini production studio within FableVision! I was named the creative director and writer, Ethan was the producer and editor, and Mimi and Yury were our artists. Our intern team did everything from production to marketing and everything in between. 

“I wanted to stay true to the story while keeping it somewhat abstract and making sure the progression still made sense while the art influenced it. I'm very excited to see it come together and I hope that people will be able to see a little bit of themselves in our comics.” - Mimi

Channeling Our Voice

Writing the comics involved a lot of verbal communication and talking through my thoughts out loud with Ethan. Though the stories are fiction, I wanted the stories to feel authentic, and for each piece to be as relatable as possible. 

Finding the right balance depended heavily on the text and visuals working in harmony. I leaned on Mimi and Yury for their artistic creativity when I hit writer’s block. There were moments when I couldn’t find the right word to express a particular emotion, but they were able to convey it through their drawings.

Don't Hold Your Breath (Mimi)

Don't Hold Your Breath (Mimi)

The Listening Cure (Yury)

The Listening Cure (Yury)

Family Roots (Mimi)

Family Roots (Mimi)

Straighten It Out (Yury)

Straighten It Out (Yury)

Penning The Stories

Once Ethan and I felt confident in the text, we began writing descriptions for each comic panel, which included suggestions for backgrounds, character facial expressions, body language, speech/thought bubbles, and aspects of each story that would become animated. Ethan has written screenplays before, and he helped tremendously in writing the comic descriptions. Ultimately, Ethan and I would sit down with the artists, Mimi and Yury, to discuss the language and potential art. It was important to have Mimi and Yury let their own creativity and vision help guide the direction for each story. Together, we decided that each story would be depicted in be one long, infinite scrolling, vertical comic. 

“This is the first time I’ve worked with artists so closely on something that’s so deliberately emotional, so it’s been a challenge to balance that while also focusing on the business of getting the work done.” - Ethan

We all love FableVision’s mission: creating “stories that matter, stories that move,” and we wanted to incorporate movement into the panels. In addition to emphasizing certain story aspects with movement, the pops of color were also very intentional. The highlighted words and drawings are intended to draw attention to moments within the story that are pivotal and impactful in the characters’ lives.

An Intern’s Summer with the FableFamily

The first moment I saw the studio: that’s when I knew that I wanted to jump into the FableVision culture. The Wall of Inspiration, an organized jumble of toys directly to the right as you step through the studio doors, caught my eye first. Everyone sits in and around “the hub,” a central horseshoe of tables that allows for everyone to openly converse and share ideas. Spend just a few hours at FableVision as an intern and you can’t help but start to seriously consider what type of work culture you value most and want to work in one day.

The most important thing I’ve learned while working here is the love I have for a collaborative and familial work environment. Hierarchy does not define FableVision. My supervisor, Sarah, exemplifies this notion. Throughout my internship, she has held me accountable to complete my tasks, but has also had me hold her accountable to project deadlines we collaboratively work on. And this holds true for the entire staff—the work of one person is not possible without the help of another person. The staff holds one another responsible while simultaneously leaning on one another.

They not only count on one another to get the work done, but also to make sure that the positive energy never dies. There’s a level of ownership that people here have over the FableVision culture. They do their work, they do it well, but they have fun while they do it. 

FableVision has shined a light on my personal life in addition to strongly influencing my future professional goals. We all have our own personal journeys, and the timing of recent racial and hate crimes in our country has ironically occurred at a very pivotal time in mine.

I’ve read countless articles and watched hours of video and news clips, and I truthfully feel so hopeless. It feels like there are more people destroying peace and progression than creating it, and I wonder, what can I do? Can I even do anything?

Despite how discouraged I’ve felt at times, coming to FableVision has given me hope. Each day when I go to work I am reminded that the answer is: of course—you can do so many things! Working in this positive environment makes me feel better at the end of each day and that’s worth something. The importance of culture and family for FableVision employees creates a strong sense of togetherness.

I’ve learned that amazing results can happen when people from different walks of life come together and respect the perspectives that each of us brings to the table. I’ve been able to understand this through the working partnership I have with my co-marketing intern, Ethan. Ethan and I are on very different academic tracks in school and have different interests outside of work. While he is significantly experienced in game design and I have never talked about this concept a day in my life, we complement each other SO well! Working with Ethan each day reminds me that there is a reason why diversity exists, and it is to bring out the best in one another.

The work environment at FableVision speaks to the success this FableFamily has achieved. FableVision is on a 200-year mission to move the world to a better place, and this company does a fantastic job upholding its mission. Everyone believes in that mission wholeheartedly, and that’s what makes it possible to achieve their goal. I am hopeful that if there is a community like this in Boston, then that same essence of family and respect can exist elsewhere. As my first “real job,” I will certainly carry FableVision’s value of family with me through my future job search.

Meet the Interns! Summer 2016 Edition

Summer is in full swing, ladies and gentlemen, and the Summer 2016 interns are ready to bring their variety of talents and skills to FableVision Studios. Coming from all corners of the Boston community, we represent Boston College, Boston University, Lesley University, and Fitchburg State University. In the spirit of collaboration, for the first time, the interns from the art and marketing departments are teaming up to craft an ambitious independent project over the course of the summer (more on that later, stay tuned!). This year’s cohort of junior FableVisionaries are quite the bunch, so read on to get to know us, how we got here, and why we’re all at least a little weird.

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Courtney Copelin

Marketing Intern

• Hometown: New Orleans, LA
• Education: Boston College, '17
• Major: Applied Psychology and Human Development; Communication, Women and Gender Studies minor 

What drew you to FableVision? Why did you want to intern here?

More than anything, I love that FableVision is a company where “work” is fun. Every member of the team here is super talented and wonderful at what they do, and have so much fun while doing it! I love that the company strongly emphasizes the idea that play is important at every age. The collaborative style of this work environment makes each day enjoyable and makes me feel like I’m living with a greater purpose.

I was drawn to FableVision because the mission of this company is a perfect integration of my two majors! I have been interested in "helping professions" since I was a young girl, and I saw this internship as an opportunity to teach me a new perspective. I knew that FableVision would allow me to explore my own career interests, especially the independent project component of the internship. This project will be a personalized component of my internship experience where I will be able to develop and utilize my skills in a way allows me to make a significant contribution that will benefit the community and myself.

How does your major apply to the work you will do here?

I’ve had the pleasure of taking a writing intensive course called “Children and the Media” in the spring semester of my junior year, which not only improved my ability to write more effectively, but also taught me to identify the most relevant information with respect to children’s development, which is critical for my internship position at FableVision.

I was honestly intimidated at first because the other interns are studying specific majors that seemed to better prepare them for professions in media. While they have concrete portfolios to show off their work, I only had research papers. But, I have learned that this contrast is important and extremely useful because both skill sets are necessary in order to produce a fantastic project.

What is the most valuable skill you are striving to gain/improve throughout your internship experience?

My goal is to communicate effectively in a collaborative, intimate setting and then speak on behalf of the FableVision team to a wider audience describing the work we've done. By the end of my internship, I want to know how to effectively use an active, assertive voice without sounding aggressive. This is a critical tool in marketing and is also a critical asset across many contexts—professionally, academically, and personally.

I am confident that the collaborative work experience at FableVision will definitely foster this development. The structure of this environment will allow me to listen and speak to all team members consisting of artists, developers, animators, designers, creative strategists, and project managers. I am super excited to learn about the production of children’s media beyond my specific focus!

If you had free choice to do any project that you want, what would you chose to do?

This a tough question for me to answer, because I perceive life in general as one huge project. Every project involves a mission, and my mission is to make a positive impact on the world in the grandest way I possibly can. While this dream may seem generic, I wholeheartedly believe in its importance. I want to change children's lives and give them a better future by inspiring them and moving them to action. It really is true: children are our future; it is our job to empower them in order to make a lasting impact on this world for generations to come. There is always room for growth and I know this project will never be complete, but I want to be a part of the solution. I am discerning what role I can play in this movement, but I am confident and hopeful that I will discover what my greatest purpose is in that process.

What is your Harry Potter house?

Hufflepuff

Favorite kids show growing up?

All That

Would you rather listen to music for the rest of your life and not watch TV OR watch TV for the rest of your life but not have music? Why?

I would rather listen to music and not have TV because music is therapeutic and uplifting. Plus, I have a pretty vivid imagination, so I could create stories and narratives through music instead of watching someone else's vision on screen :)

Why are you weird?

I bring my New Orleans Creole food seasoning with me wherever I go (well, at least while I’m living in the North East.)

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Mimi Chiu

Art Intern

• Hometown: Twinsburg, OH
• Education: Boston University, '17
• Major: Graphic Design
• Portfolio: Chiudesigns.com

What drew you to FableVision? Why did you want to intern here?

I actually met a few FableVision artists at a Drink and Draw in Boston a few months ago and not only did they tell me about their company, but also were extremely friendly and warm. They made FableVision sound like a great place to work because of its sincere goals and attitude. Since I wanted to improve my animation and art skills in a welcoming environment, I applied immediately!

How does your major apply to the work you will do here?

Graphic Design  encompasses such a wide range of areas from poster design to motion graphics. All of the skills from my major such as color theory, composition, and motion has really helped me create art here.

"Lost Dog" by Mimi Chiu

What is the most valuable skill you are striving to gain/improve throughout your internship experience?

I'm hoping to gain a stronger ground in animation and illustration while getting studio experience to learn how people, such as artists and project managers, communicate and work together to complete projects.

If you had free choice to do any project that you want, what would you chose to do?

I would love to create an interactive comic! I love comics, but I also love video games, so I think it'd be an interesting experiment to combine the two!

What is your Harry Potter house?

Hufflepuff

Favorite kids show growing up?

The Powerpuff Girls

Would you rather listen to music for the rest of your life and not watch TV OR watch TV for the rest of your life but not have music? Why?

I would rather watch TV for the rest of my life! I love music, but I am more visually inclined and I get more joy out of seeing beautiful animation, stories, and characters.

Why are you weird?

Basically everything I own is pink. I really really really love pink, so everything from my laptop to my stuffed animals to nearly my entire wardrobe is pink. I think it's the cutest color and it makes choices really easy for me! Plus everything matches now.

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Yury Guzman

Art Intern

• Hometown: Stamford, CT
• Education: Lesley University, '17
• Major: Animation major, Illustration minor
• Portfolio: Yuryguzman.com

What drew you to FableVision? Why did you want to intern here?

I really enjoyed the style of their work and feel their child friendly approach and educational productions would be fun to see up close and learn from.

"Ghost Walker" by Yury Guzman

How does your major apply to the work you will do here?

I am currently studying animation and plan to learn a lot more about the process and software used during my time at FableVision.

What is the most valuable skill you are striving to gain/improve throughout your internship experience?

I want to be able to properly animate characters in a professional amount of time as well as have a better understanding for the process and environment. I like a challenge and I feel that the work at FableVision would be a good match.

If you had free choice to do any project that you want, what would you chose to do?

I like to do comics in my free time so it would be pretty cool to make an interactive comic or a short of a comic's characters coming to life through the panels.

What is your Harry Potter house?

Gryffindor

Favorite kids show growing up?

It's a tie between Teen Titans and Franklin.

Would you rather listen to music for the rest of your life and not watch TV OR watch TV for the rest of your life but not have music? Why?

I'd rather listen to music over watching TV. I can listen to music while doing just about anything. I also use music to help me figure out stories or characters for my projects.

Why are you weird?

My eyebrows have a mind of their own.

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Ethan Thibault

Marketing Intern

• Hometown: Sharon, MA
• Education: Fitchburg State University, '18
• Major: Game Design
• Portfolio: ethanthibault.xyz

What drew you to FableVision? Why did you want to intern here?

I'm really interested in how and why art gets made, as well as how art can be informative and socially responsible as well as beautiful--which is exactly the kind of content FableVision makes! There's so much room in our lives for art and entertainment that teaches, inspires, and makes our daily lives better. When I found out through my girlfriend that there were internship possibilities here, I leaped at the chance! 

How does your major apply to the work you will do here?

Majoring in game design, with a focus on the business side of things, gives me insight on both sides of the development-marketing equation; I know (to a limited degree!) how the games, websites, animations, etc. get made, so now I get to work on the other half. I want to do the back-end work like marketing, research, and operations so that the artists can focus on doing what they do best! 

What is the most valuable skill you are striving to gain/improve throughout your internship experience?

I've never worked in an office! So this is a crash course in that sort of working environment, as well as the operations and organization side of that. If I had to pick one skill, it'd be communication between me, my team members, and other team members! So many humans to talk to, so many checklists.

If you had free choice to do any project that you want, what would you chose to do?

Well, outside of my internship on FableVision I'm working on making a small game every month, as well as writing a larger interactive-fiction piece over the summer! It's going well so far, but we'll see how I feel in August.

What is your Harry Potter house?

RAVENCLAW

Favorite kids show growing up?

Looney Tunes!

Would you rather listen to music for the rest of your life and not watch TV OR watch TV for the rest of your life but not have music? Why?

THIS IS SO DIFFICULT. I love listening to music while I work, but I could replace that with white noise; I can't live without TV because stories are my source of life-energy and inspiration, so TV it must be!

Why are you weird?

If you'll let me get back to you, I have an itemized list.

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Interested in interning at FableVision Studios? Learn more and apply on our website!