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.

October FableFriday: Erin Carvalho, Junior Developer

With her wealth of knowledge in both programming and education, junior developer Erin Carvalho offers unique insight into developing educational games and interactives. Erin has a bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a masters degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and it’s this background in education that pushes her to not only consider the code, but also the pedagogy in every project.

“Having teaching and administrative experience definitely helps me consider how people will use the programs I develop,” says Erin. “I’ve been fortunate enough to see how education affects everyone. I feel like I owe it to my mentors, colleagues, and students to develop programs that are student-centered and teacher approved.” 

As junior developer, Erin serves as a programmer on a variety of polished projects across mobile and web platforms. Her creative problem solving and technical skills enable her to quickly adapt to new programming challenges. So let’s get to know the newest member of the FableVision team and take a deep dive into Erin’s insightful advice for up-and-coming developers, her favorite activities, and her strong opinions on pumpkin spice lattes.

Welcome to the team! Tell us more about your journey to FableVision. 
Honestly, if you had told me in college that I would be a developer within the next three years, I probably would’ve laughed hysterically. I was sure that once I graduated I would just become a teacher. I had applied to a teaching residency in Boston when my sister contacted me about a course she worked for called CS50, Harvard University's introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I helped develop content for their high school version of the course that mapped to the new (at the time) AP Computer Science Principles course launched by the College Board. It wasn’t long before I started taking on small development projects like the project5050.org website. That was probably the first time I thought, “I like this and I want to do a lot more of this.” 

Brian Grossman, FableVision’s Technical Director, was a teaching assistant for one of the courses I took at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and he informed me of a developer position at FableVision. I politely declined to which he replied, “I’m gonna keep emailing you, hoping to find an opportunity to work together at some point. Hope that’s ok.  ;-)” It’s a year later, and here I am.

What does a typical day in the life of a developer look like at the studio?
One of the reasons that first got me interested in programming is that no one is an “expert.” My browsers always have a million tabs open, just like my brain. Programming changes rapidly, so you need to be comfortable being uncomfortable. While I was hired as a developer, I love being able to contribute to other aspects of projects like the UI and overarching pedagogy.

You were a Zoombinis fan before coming to work here. What’s your favorite part about the game, and how did learning about FableVision’s role in the 2015 relaunch influence your decision to join the team?
I have always been a HUGE fan of logic puzzles and brain teasers. I love challenging myself to consider various perspectives. One of my coworkers suggested that I try out Zoombinis, and I was hooked. I loved the variety of the various minigames and all the trial and error. The first time Brian reached out about potentially working at FableVision, I Google’d the studio’s projects and  as soon as I saw Zoombinis, I knew I had to do whatever it took to join the team.   

What team dynamic do you feel is most important for a development team?
I think communication is huge! People tend to think of a stereotypical programmer as someone who is alone in a dark basement drinking Mountain Dew. That’s simply not the case...I prefer Coke Zero. All joking aside, developing is almost entirely about collaboration. You may be the only developer on a project, but you typically work with a team of people who bring their ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds to help produce the best project possible. I don’t expect the people I work with to understand every technical term and I certainly don’t always have knowledge in other aspects of a project either. It is key to develop a shared vocabulary so that everyone can feel comfortable contributing. 

What are you most looking forward to in your career at FableVision Studios?
I’m excited to work with everyone in the studio. I feel privileged to work with such an amazing group of individuals who all provide critical pieces to produce amazing projects. I’ve dipped my feet into art a little and have also worked on content development,  so I love seeing the unique ideas people bring to the table.

We heard you’re a gamer! What are your favorite video and board games, and what has being an avid player taught you about designing and developing educational games?
Video Games:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

• SpeedRunners

• Borderlands 2

Board Games:

• Carcassonne 

• Code Names

• Jaipur

I think my biggest takeaway from the games I play is that a good game can be won in a variety of ways. I love using my knowledge of my opponents to inform my strategy. My favorite games are the ones that aren’t over until it’s over. As a developer, I strive to create experiences that are appealing and accommodating to all learners. I want people to be able to solve my games in whatever way is best for them. 

You’re also a certified Yoga instructor. What do you enjoy most about doing and teaching yoga?
In high school and college, I ran cross country and track. After moving to Boston, I started running, but the colder it got, the less I wanted to be outside, so I started doing hot yoga and quickly fell in love with it. My favorite part of yoga  was the mental aspect. I found that taking an hour to just focus on my breathing really helped me feel more at ease throughout the day. It also gave me strategies I could use outside of a yoga class if I was feeling particularly stressed. The community at the yoga studio became a family and teacher training just felt like the next logical step. It definitely added another level to my practice because I learned more about the anatomy behind the poses and various modifications to differentiate.

Tell us one thing that others never thought you would do, but that you have done. 
People probably thought that I would never move to Boston. A lot of people who grow up in Hawaii stay in Hawaii. It was a big move and very scary moving somewhere where I only knew a couple people. I think it was necessary, though. I’d advise anyone moving to get a dog. I got my dog as soon as I moved, and while it was stressful starting a new job and raising a puppy, it got me out of my apartment. I made a lot of friends in my building and at the dog park. Taking her for walks helped me get to know the neighborhood and all the hidden gems you only find by walking around. 

More About Erin: 

Dogs or cats: DOGS!
Favorite place to visit in Boston: The Charles River.
Favorite animated movie: The Croods.
Pumpkin spice lattes. Yes or no? No...just no.
Something you couldn’t go a day without: Spotify.
Favorite Halloween candy: Sour Patch Kids.

FableVision’s Cross-Country Tour

Summer is here, so you know what that means: sun, fun, and our annual Summer Road Trip! We’re excited to hit the road once again to visit conferences and summits across the country. We’re sure to meet amazing people and take part in the important conversations happening in education, media, and technology. Follow along with our travels on Twitter, and if you find yourself at any of our stops, come say hi!

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Back in the Bay Area

We’re heading off to sunny California from June 10-12 to hear from some of the brightest minds in educational technology at the SIIA Conference. With keynote panels focusing on diversity and inclusivity in educational services, this conference is sure to be a deep dive into the future of edtech in the United States as well as internationally! Catch our colleagues from the Reynolds Center from Teaching, Learning, and Creativity in the Cisco booth presenting the FabMaker Studio STEAM program to create practical, affordable makerspaces using paper, cardstock, and inexpensive digital fabricators (details TBA!).

Building Your Internal Capacity Without Hiring: Working with Service Providers
What: Panel of experienced providers in conversation about company growth and making the most of your workforce. Featuring FableVision Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Product Solutions Shelby Marshall.
When: June 12, 2019 at 10:15 a.m.

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Taking a Byte of the Big Apple!

Next up: New York! Join FableVision’s Communications Director Sarah Ditkoff, Executive Producer Peter Stidwill, and President and Co-founder Gary Goldberger at the Games for Change Festival, where attendees will hear from designers, developers, and others who are making games for social good. Along with Learning Games Network’s Shannon Frederick Meneses, Peter will speak about FableVision’s game, Quandary, which was awarded Game of the Year at the 2013 Games for Change Festival. We’re looking forward to convening with people leading meaningful changes in gaming through immersive media and applied principles in civics and game-based learning.

Life After “Game of the Year”: Sharing Six Years of Learning
When: June 18, 2019 at 11:45 a.m.
Where: Parsons School of Design at The New School, 63 Fifth Ave, NYC

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Exciting Edtech in Philadelphia

Join FableVision’s Sarah Ditkoff and Shelby Marshall in Philadelphia for the International Society for Technology in Education Conference. This conference highlights visual, cultural, and digital literacy. We can’t wait to meet teachers, business leaders, and others spearheading the movement for inclusive, accessible education technology (and perhaps pick up a tasty cheesesteak in the meantime)!

When: June 23-26, 2019
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

FabMaker Crew: Paper Prototyping for STEAM-powered learning

FableVision’s Paul Reynolds and Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity’s Andrea Calvin will showcase FableVision’s Fab@School Maker Studio at two workshops hosted in the CISCO Active Learning Space. Discover how schools, libraries, and programs around the country have used the FabMaker Studio STEAM program to create practical, affordable makerspaces using paper, cardstock, and inexpensive digital fabricators. During this hands-on session participants will experience the benefits of rapid paper prototyping, which allows for quick cycles of testing and iterative design enhancements.

When: June 24 from 3-3:45 p.m., June 25 from 11-11:45 a.m.
Where: Breakout Room 106AB

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Making Moves in Maine!

Ever wondered about how animation can revolutionize learning? Join FableVision’s Jane Reynolds and Dr. Denine Jimmerson at the Side x Side Summer Arts Institute in Portland, where they will explore just that! Take part in a comprehensive workshop focused on introducing important animation techniques and starting a conversation about using animation as a platform for every lesson imaginable.

What: “Using Animation as an Innovative Tool for Teaching and Learning” Workshop
When: June 24-25, 2019
Where: Portland, Maine

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Seriously Smiling in Montreal

We’re heading to the University of Quebec for the 2019 Serious Play Montreal Conference, highlighting the biggest achievements in serious games. We’re so excited to hear from developers, designers, and more who are leading the way in educational gaming and immersive learning. FableVision and our partners are accepting two Serious Play Awards for our games Lights, Camera, Budget! and Project Here Games. 

Silver Award Winner: Lights, Camera, Budget!, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) and the Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE)
Lights, Camera, Budget! puts high school students in the shoes of a Hollywood movie producer in order to enhance their knowledge about personal finance, money management, and budgeting. In partnership with GPB and GCEE, FableVision created this game to reflect real life lessons in economics and help to increase students’ financial literacy.

Bronze Award Winner: Project Here Games, The Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, Health Resources in Action, and the GE Foundation
Project Here Games is part of a state-wide initiative to promote substance use prevention and healthy decision making among middle school students. Working with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and Health Resources in Action, FableVision created this series of games that provide an interactive landscape in which students can develop socioemotional skills to handle situations involving substances and peer pressure, as well as stress management.

When: July 10-12, 2019
Where: University of Quebec, Montreal, Canada

April FableFriday: Beth Santarpio, Senior Producer

Senior Producer Beth Santarpio took a risk early on in her career to find what she truly wanted to do professionally. Upon graduating from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in Communication, Beth drove to Los Angeles with no job or housing lined up in search of a meaningful job.

“The desire for a fun job wasn’t a new revelation upon graduation, but rather one that had been evolving for quite some time,” says Beth. “I knew that I wanted to do something that would be impactful to people, and it was Jerry Bruckheimer who ultimately inspired me to go against the grain and pursue something in the media arena. There’s something unforgettable about reaching and resonating with an audience and having them affected by your work.”

After working for Disney Character Voices and Buena Vista Games in LA, Beth moved to Boston and worked as a producer for a game developer for a few years before ultimately joining the FableVision team. As Senior Producer for FableVision Studios, Beth manages a number of multi-faceted creative and technical projects. A seasoned media producer, Beth expertly balances product quality and client service in all of her work with FableVision partners.

Beth’s path to FableVision shows the importance of taking risks and adapting to change in the pursuit of her passions. A skillful and accomplished producer, Beth has a lot of advice for up-and-coming professionals interested in entering the media and edtech fields. So let’s dive in and learn more about how Beth came to FableVision and how she creates a supportive and creative team dynamic!

You’re a new FableVisionary. Welcome aboard! What brought you to FableVision and what are you most looking forward to?
I actually encountered FableVision a couple of times in different capacities throughout my professional career. I was first introduced to FableVision by a business colleague a long time ago when I moved to Boston. Then, a handful of years later, I worked with FableVision as a client during my time at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. As a result, several months ago, when I began to reevaluate what I wanted to do professionally, FableVision immediately came to mind. One thing led to another, and here I am! I’m excited by the diversity and purpose of our projects and the amazingly talented team of people I get to work with on those projects.

What advice do you have for budding producers?
Be confident, be humble, and work your butt off.

As a senior in college, I interned at the Miami-Dade Film Office and worked 40+ hours a week at a local advertising agency, handling South Florida film marketing and PR for Buena Vista, Paramount, and MGM. After graduation, a great student resume put me on the short list at a few go-to temp agencies in LA. One of my first jobs was with Disney Character Voices as Production Coordinator. To say I loved it was an understatement. I learned every inch of the department and even designed an online production management system (that was innovative back then!) for them. After about 6 weeks, though, the position I was trying to fill was temporarily given back to a former employee. I was devastated. However, I trudged forward and paid some dues, putting in a week at Hollywood Records and a week at Def Jam Records (both in Finance) before getting the call that Disney wanted me back! And that’s how it all started.

How do you create a supportive environment where everyone feels they can share ideas?
I really encourage my team(s) to be as involved as possible from the launch of a project. This gets everyone invested from the beginning and helps to establish a good foundation for the inevitable production tensions. I also communicate with my team regularly and try to create a dynamic where they feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, even when there are disagreements. Although the producer is in charge of keeping the team on course to meet the client’s objectives, the process won’t run smoothly if operated like a dictatorship. My role as producer is to provide information, resources, support, and guidance, as well as to empower my talented team members to do what they do best.

How do you balance the creative and production processes?
I tend to share a lot of the big picture thinking behind any particular project. There are often a lot of competing objectives on a project, and I feel like everyone has a much smoother time tackling the “what” when they’re informed of the “why.” When working with tremendously passionate people, it’s natural to get attached to your own part of the process and lose sight of how it fits into the larger goals, especially in the context of change. Change is inevitable in production, as are creative differences and sacrifices. Production is as much managing the human element as it is dollars and deadlines. There’s an art to it all; every day and every project brings new opportunities to learn from and build upon.

What team dynamic do you feel is most important for a production team?
There’s never just one, or a couple of things, that make or break a great team. Personally, I’m big on accountability. Early on in my career I was told: “As the producer, it’s always your fault.” This sounds harsh, but it taught me that, to be a successful leader, you can’t defer blame or make excuses. You have to own it and move on. Getting bogged down in mistakes or setbacks doesn’t benefit anyone. There’s a tremendous amount of respect that comes from accepting responsibility and maintaining the focus and determination needed to reach a successful outcome.

It looks like you’re a Disney veteran. What were some of your most magical moments as a Disney employee?
Every moment was magical, of course! I had an amazing role with Disney Character Voices for a number of years. I’m grateful for the time I spent there because we really were like family. The hours were long, but we all truly loved what we did, so we couldn’t imagine it any other way. It was an incredible time in the company too. From attending VIP Walt Disney World press events, to being on board the maiden voyage of the Disney Wonder to roaming New Orleans with the Fab Five, I don’t even know where to begin!

We heard that you’re a “tinkerer.” What project(s) are you currently working on and how does making in your spare time relate to your professional life?
My chickens are my latest personal passion. I love animals, but I never thought I’d be a chicken whisperer. When my flock grew from six girls to twelve, I decided I would design and build a larger coop out of primarily salvaged materials. Let’s just say that it’s coming along at its own pace. It’s kind of an enigma really, to thrive and enjoy working in a deadline-induced panic professionally, but to have personal projects that seem to get caught in the perpetual hamster wheel.

Rumor has it you and your husband enjoy the outdoors. What are your favorite activities?
We’re a couple of adrenaline junkies. At various times in our lives, we’ve been avid motorcyclists, motocrossers, and snowmobilers. These days, mountain biking is something we enjoy and can do as a family. Even our German shepherd gets in on the action!

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More About Beth:

Favorite Disney character? Scuttle from The Little Mermaid.
Cubs or Red Sox? Bruins.
Sweet or salty? Sweet.
Favorite season? Fall.
Favorite animated movie or TV show? I love SO many of them, but I will always have a soft spot for The Little Mermaid.
Which has the worst winters: Boston or Chicago? Chicago, no doubt!
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? “It’s always your fault.”
Favorite vacation spot? Disney!
Favorite place to mountain bike? I’ll try any location as long as the odds are decent that I won’t break something!