March FableFriday: Jonah Gaynor, Associate Producer

When Jonah works on a project, he brings not only his project management experience, game design background, and “spidey senses” that anticipate client needs, but also his sense of humor, creativity, and variety of interests. 

Jonah joined FableVision as a production assistant. Now, in his newly-minted role of associate producer, he takes more of a leadership role, with a comprehensive understanding of the FableVision process to ensure that projects are completed smoothly and thoroughly. 

“My game design background has a huge influence on how I produce projects in all phases,” he says. “My experience with being in the weeds allows me to better understand the needs of the project and the potential directions it could be headed in.”

Keep reading to learn about Jonah’s game design background, fun geography facts, and his fabled journey to FableVision!

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Congratulations on your promotion to associate producer! How does your position as an associate producer expand on your previous role as a production assistant?
I was very fortunate as a production assistant to work with many fantastic producers at FableVision, which was excellent preparation for moving into this new associate producer role. I learned many useful skills for the best management of a project, such as budgeting, client communication, and internal team structuring, productivity, and morale. 

As an associate producer, I take the lead on more projects and I am prepared to propose possible solutions for any issues we may run into. I’ll provide clients with a smooth process to avoid any bumps on the road.

How do you integrate your game design knowledge into your daily tasks? What’s your favorite part of the game design process?
My game design background helps me understand which direction to take a project in, while also identifying when certain ideas are taking us away from the scope of the project. I like to think of myself as a jack of all trades, master of… some.

I especially love the initial brainstorming phase of the game design process! There’s something really exciting about the first “great idea” that comes from the team. From a production perspective, I think about how, if at all, this brilliant idea will impact production, but I do take a moment to enjoy the byproduct of working with so many creative and driven people. We have a great team.

What are your favorite types of projects to work on?
I love working on projects where FableVision’s mission is compatible with the client’s mission, such as Keenville for the Georgia Department of Education. No matter the idea, aim, or timeline for a project, this meshing of visions makes the journey easy, fun, and seamless. Fortunately, this happens quite a bit!

What are some games you designed outside of FableVision?
My biggest undertaking was Maya’s Dice. It’s a 2D Cyberpunk RPG that uses the bluffing dice game liar’s dice instead of a more traditional battle mechanic. The game started as my Capstone project in my undergraduate program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and grew from there. I tried to make something unique that would really put my skills to the test. It’s out now on Steam!  

And taking a step back for a moment, what’s your “journey to FableVision” story?
You want the whole story? Here goes: Jonah Gaynor was born on Feb. 8, 1897 to Alan Gaynor and Dr. Sharon Silbiger in New York City. From a young age, it was clear that there was something… strange about this child. While most young children played with LEGO and stuffed animals, Jonah’s parents would frequently find him in his room with a Trello board open and budget spreadsheets lining the floor. His first words were, “I have a passion for multimedia education-focused production management.”

In 1917, the United States Senate voted in favor of a measure to declare war on the German Empire, entering the US into the first World War. Fearing the draft as a 20-year-old, Jonah was cryogenically frozen in a warehouse in Boston. In March of 2021, FableVision stumbled upon the frozen Mr. Gaynor, and wouldn’t you know it, there was an opening on the team for a new production assistant.

Do you believe this story? According to my research, 30/30 surveyed FableVision Studios employees did not, with one stating “Jonah, I’m a little busy right now.” I guess I love storytelling as much as FableVision does. For a more straightforward answer… 

Jonah with former soccer star Frank Lampard.

From a young age, I was hugely passionate about media of all shapes and sizes. Entering college, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I wanted to be involved in the production of amazing media. I studied Game Design at NYU, where I learned game design, game programming, production management skills, user experience design, and more. This helped me make my own independent games, take on producer roles in larger teams, and eventually lead me to FableVision. 

Seeing the job listing for a production assistant at FableVision, a company that I had heard of even though I was still living in New York at the time, was really exciting. The FableVision mission matched my personal one perfectly, and I knew it was an amazing opportunity to contribute to something I really believed in. And now each day I feel very fortunate to be doing just that.

And what are your current obsessions in this day and age?
Oprah’s Jonah’s Favorite Things 2022:

Podcast: This American Life

TV Show: The Midnight Gospel, Taskmaster, or Euphoria. It’s hard to choose!

Movie: Sound of Metal

Album: NFR by Lana Del Rey or A Moment Apart by ODESZA

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More About Jonah!

Favorite geography fun fact?
Bir Tawil is a chunk of land in northeastern Africa that both Egypt and Sudan claim is the territory of the other. Each country claims the Hala'ib Triangle to the east (which borders the Red Sea) based on how the modern-day countries were originally drawn over 100 years ago. Now, neither country dares to enter Bir Tawil because if it did, it would be recognizing the other country’s claimed border. Check your nearest map. If Egypt’s southern border is flat, that’s the border that Egypt likes. If it’s slightly jagged and comes north on the east side, that’s the border that Sudan likes.

Favorite video game?
Football Manager. You wouldn’t believe the number of hours I put into making the Czech team Bohemians 1905 into Champions League winners.

Favorite board game?
The Mind. The elevator pitch is that you’re collaborating with fellow players to play cards in the correct order, but there’s no communication allowed, meaning the only action you can take besides playing a card is waiting.

Favorite sport?
Soccer! The tactical depth, despite the simplicity, and its worldwide nature make it an amazing lens through which to learn more about the world.

Boston or New York?
Whichever you, the reader, likes more.

Favorite new area in Boston?
Walking across the Charles River, especially as the sun sets over the Boston skyline, is a new joy of mine. It’s fantastic getting the walk in on my way to or from the new FableVision Studios office.

May FableFriday: Andrea Hoerner, Associate Producer

Organization, communication, and trust: FableVision associate producer Andrea Hoerner has perfected the recipe for flawless project management down to a science. With a background in journalism and experience in higher education, Andrea combines strong people skills with her knowledge of pedagogy to lead teams that produce media that engage viewers and inspire change. 

The journalist in her seeks to honor the story being told by building strong connections with her team and clients. “The hours and hours I’ve spent with subjects either writing or photographing them has enabled me to build trust with clients and help them articulate their needs,” she shares. “Holding space for people to work through their ideas and observing what excites people are all ways of interaction that I bring with me into every meeting.” 

In her role, Andrea manages the studio’s technical and creative teams, as well as supports the production team on a variety of media projects. Read on for her organization hacks, advice to budding producers, and the sense of wanderlust that inspires her in all her endeavors.

Welcome to FableVision! What initially drew you to the studio, and what do you enjoy most about working in educational media?
When I first heard about FableVision, I had been trying to marry my passion for social impact and education with the work that I was doing day to day. Having come from a background working in higher education, I closely aligned with the studio’s mission. I spent some time doing my own research and connected with a FableVision staff member to learn more about the various types of projects the studio tackles. I was drawn to the work being done at FableVision, and now here I am! 

Here at FableVision, we tell “stories that matter, stories that move.” How do you, in your role as an associate producer, try to honor the different stories being told?
While each project has its own mission, deliverables, and clients, my universal goal as a producer is to ensure that our team’s creative collaboration on every project is a catalyst for the desired result of audience engagement and education. Regardless of the learning goal, I like that the work FableVision does is positive and instills a feeling of empowerment through play or interaction. As storytellers and creatives, the best way to honor different stories being told is through creating connection with audiences emotionally and visually. 

Before joining the FableVision team, you reached out to other professionals to learn more about the industry. What’s one piece of advice you would pass on to someone interested in entering the field?
As someone who loves learning from others and their experiences, I’d recommend a two-part piece of advice. I’d encourage someone interested in entering the field to network to get a sense of how the work and culture can vary at different organizations within the industry. And more importantly, I’d advocate for some internal reflection on your skill sets and experiences (“Me-search,” as I like to call it). I’ve learned that you can talk to as many people as you’d like, which is great; however, if you don’t really know who you are or what you’re looking for, it’s easy to lose sight of your own purpose.    

You manage and support multiple teams at the studio. How do you keep the lines of communication open between departments and ensure everyone works together to get a project over the finish line?
The needs of any given project fluctuate at different times, but constant effective communication remains a pervasive part of day-to-day management. When it’s crunch time for a project or we’re about to enter a new phase of production (QA Testing, animation, etc.), I am a fan of daily team huddles or meetings. These meetings typically last all of 15 minutes every day, usually bright and early, but they provide an opportunity for all team members from different departments to have a 360-degree view. This process helps build trust on our teams, which are different for each project, and I’m often sad when a months-long project wraps after the team has found a great rhythm! 

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to managing a project. What is your secret to staying organized? 
Personally, I love organization on a Marie Kondo level, so it’s not surprising to those who know me that I have many tricks up my sleeve. One of my favorite ways I like to stay organized across my different projects that all have moving parts is through very colorful post-it note lists on my wall. I like the visual display with color and the flexibility to prioritize or de-prioritize action items listed in front of me. 

You have a lot of hobbies. How do you cultivate your interests both in and out of work, and what is your go-to way to relax after a busy week at the studio? 
My hobbies and activities are a bit more limited these days given COVID, but I like to spend as much time outside as possible on the weekends. I’m a National Parks lover, and one of my goals is to visit as many national parks as possible! If I’m not hiking with my camera or kayaking on the Charles, I can be found meandering through the Museum of Fine Arts or dabbling with watercolor. Additionally, I’m always trying to perfect new recipes for baked goods or meals and enjoy sharing them with friends!  

We hear that you’re an avid fan of photography. Who are your favorite photographers and what do you enjoy photographing the most?
Photography has always been about “clicks and connections” for me, meaning connection through my lens with my own photos or the photos of others. I am always connecting to a specific sense of place, time, and often people, which in turn usually helps me learn more about myself. 

Two of my favorite photographers are quite different from each other in style, subject, and time. The first is Ansel Adams, as his images inspired my hiking travels to Wyoming a few years ago. It was incredible to float down the Snake River and see the Tetons emerge on the horizon like he did. I love the way he utilizes light, especially in his black and white pieces. 

The other photographer is James Nachtwey, who is an American photojournalist and war photographer. I remember watching a documentary about his work in high school and it left me stunned by the beauty and raw quality of his work; he has covered tragic events/crises globally from the Rwandan Genocide to famine in Somalia. While many would run away from capturing the individual human experience in conflicts like these, Nachtwey runs towards those at the heart of these experiences to tell their stories and give them a voice through his work.   

We also hear that you love to travel. What are some of your favorite trips that you’ve taken? Where do you look forward to visiting once it’s safer to do so?
I’m itching to get back out West (Wyoming, PNW) again on another hiking trip with my camera. Staying inside most of the last year has made me really miss being out in nature and spending time in environments that are radically different from city life. Outside the U.S., I would really like to visit Norway either in the summer or winter to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights!

If you could: 

Pick up any new skill: Play guitar well.

Live anywhere in the world: London.

Listen to only one album for the rest of your life: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.

Learn any language instantly: Portuguese.

Have any animal as a housepet: Mini horse.

Have authored any one book that already exists: Too tough to choose!

January FableFriday: Melissa Schoeller, Associate Producer

Melissa Schoeller is a woman of many talents. As an Associate Producer at FableVision Studios, Melissa helps to manage the studio’s technical and creative teams in the development of small and large scale educational media. Although her journey to FableVision was slightly roundabout, she always had an inkling that this was the career she was meant to pursue.

“In graduate school, the curriculum was project-based and teams were small, so I had to learn to do a little bit of everything,” shares Melissa. “However, every time I made a 3D model, designed an animated character, or created other content, I also kept jumping in to monitor the schedule, budget, and scope. At one point, I promised myself I would be on a project just as an artist, but by the end of the first meeting, I single-handedly created our entire communication infrastructure without meaning to. I can’t turn it off!”

Along with being a talented producer, Melissa also makes sure to maintain her creativity and passion in her life outside the studio as well. Outside of her work at FableVision, Melissa freelances as an artist and module writer for an upcoming tabletop role-playing game, she designs games, and she bakes delicious treats that she shares with family and friends.

A project manager, game designer, linguist (she learned four languages!), book collector, musician, and baker—Melissa embodies the importance of cultivating your interests both inside and outside of work. Join us as we learn more about how she came to FableVision, what a day in the life of an Associate Producer looks like, and what her favorite holiday recipes are!

What is your “journey to FableVision” story?
FableVision and I had a bit of an accidental encounter. After receiving my masters in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon, I spent the summer interning in California and figuring out what I wanted to do next. Because I was exhausted from all of the moving around, I told myself that I needed a couple of weeks off in my home state of Massachusetts before I could start seriously looking into what city was going to be my new home. I was telling this to my friend at MIT when she asked me if I’d heard of FableVision. I replied yes—they’re pretty well known in the educational games community—and then she asked if I’d like to work there.

It turns out that she and Peter Stidwill, FableVision’s Executive Producer, had met a few weeks prior, and he mentioned that he was hiring new FableVisionaries for the production team. “I know you said you were going to take a break,” my friend said. “So if you think I should ask someone else…” I cut her off. How could I ever pass up the chance to combine my two great loves: entertainment and developmental/educational work? Interviewing and meeting the FableVision team only solidified my decision.

My last day at my California internship was on a Friday, and my first day at FableVision was the following Tuesday!

You have a background studying psychology. What brought you into working in entertainment media?
When I was getting my undergraduate degree, I actually wanted to be a creative writing major, but Bryn Mawr College only had a minor and a concentration. I felt that the minor was more rigorous, so I picked psychology as my major in order to gain a better understanding of how people think and process the world around them. Even though I wanted to be a writer, I’m someone who puts all of their energy into whatever path they’ve chosen. So, once I became a psychology major, I became a true blue researcher, thesis and all.

Once I graduated, I applied 50/50 to writing and psychology jobs. Ultimately, I found myself at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program as a research coordinator. It was an awesome place to be, and they were doing important work in autism and anxiety treatment. However, more often than not, the best part of my day was when I would entertain children in the waiting room by teaching them how to draw, or by helping them come up with fantastical stories. Psychology requires one hundred percent dedication, and my heart was really in storytelling.

What are your favorite parts of working as a member of the production team?
I love being at the intersection of different specialties. I get to see an idea transform as it travels from person to person, from artist to animator to developer, into a game or animation. The best moments are when the entire team is hunkered down together, brainstorming across the studio, making creative chaos. It’s invigorating to see it all come together and to be a part of it.

What does a day in your shoes look like at the studio?
I’m sure everyone says this, but every day is so different! It’s consistently true that when I come into the studio, I review the list of tasks on the docket for the day and make sure everyone on my projects knows what they need to get done. From there, I could be recording scratch voiceover, reviewing design specs, updating budgets, brainstorming with a client, or checking a game for bugs. All of the producers are on multiple projects—I’m on four at the moment—and they’re all in different stages of development, so meeting each project’s needs requires vastly different work.

You also design games! What are some of your side projects and how are they similar to or different from the work you do at the studio?
I know, I can’t stop working! Every once in a while I get an idea for something fun, new, or just ridiculous! My brain just gets stuck on them, like you would a song, and I can’t stop thinking about the idea until I’ve brainstormed the entire thing out.

I think my favorite side project is a continuation of research I worked on at Carnegie Mellon called the Presence Project. My team made this exploratory game for virtual reality (VR) that was trying to prove that you can tell a story in VR without assigning the player a character role—“3rd-person VR.” Not only did it work, but a couple of universities were interested in continuing the research. So, in my off hours (usually early in the morning because of the time difference), I’m on the phone with labs in Norway, turning a tiny four-person lab into an international design consortium. It’s nuts!

We heard that you come from a musical family. How was that experience growing up and what instruments do you all play?
My mother plays piano and my father plays the guitar (as did his parents). When I was a kid, my brother and I took after our dad and learned guitar as well. I have a lot of really wonderful memories of getting ready for bed while Dad played music in the living room, and my brother and I would sit on the floor and sing along. And as we all got better, my brother and I soon played guitar alongside him. My real love, though, is singing.

My parents are big supporters of pursuing your passion, so long as you put in the effort. In middle school, I wanted to get into my school’s audition-only choir. I knew the only way to do it was to practice, so my parents signed me up for lessons and I pushed myself every day. Once I got into that choir, I needed to practice to get a solo, and so on, all the way up to college a cappella. I only sing for fun now—with my friends, mostly—but the lessons that I learned about pushing myself apply to everything I do.

We also heard that you love testing out new recipes. Care to share one of your favorites with us?
I’m famous for my pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, but my favorite thing I have ever made is a pumpkin Yule log with cinnamon vanilla frosting. Swiss rolls are challenging, because you have to get the right consistency and make sure to roll it perfectly before the cake cools. My biggest problem, however, is that I’m terrible at presentation. I tend to get really messy with piping frosting. So, even though the cake was super tasty, the yule log looked incredibly unappetizing.

I tried my hand at a new one this past Christmas. It looked better, but it didn’t taste quite as good.

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More About Melissa:

Favorite animated movie: Up! I cry every time.

Hardest language for you to learn: Spanish. I’m still awful at it. I can’t roll my “r”s!

Favorite board game: That’s like choosing a child! I can’t! Not to mention I tend to rotate. But, the current game of the hour is Photosynthesis. It’s a turn-based strategy game where you try to grow more of your own trees than other players’ trees. Environmentally conscious AND competitive!

Favorite book genre: I love realistic fantasy—books that weave magic into the everyday.

Best thing about winter: I should probably say skiing (my whole family skis), but I think the best thing is when you’re drinking hot chocolate on a walk through Boston Commons with the trees all lit up and big, and fluffy snowflakes start falling.

Favorite music genre: I love everything, but lately my Spotify has been filled with a lot of folk music.

One thing you couldn’t go a day without: My bullet journal! It’s my schedule, my sketchbook, my to-do list—I’d fall apart if I didn’t have it.