Creative couple brings the he(art) to FableVision

“Life flashes by so quickly,” FableVision Lead Artist Renee Kurilla said while sharing that she was recently featured in a video for her alma mater, Lesley University. “It was nice to look back and reflect on all the decisions, artistic growth, and self realization that has happened in the past 10 years.”  

Renee graduated with a BFA from Lesley University College of Art and Design (known then as The Art Institute of Boston).

“Looking back, I'm not sure I could have ever predicted where I would end up and how I would use my illustration degree,” Renee said and she wasn’t alone.

This past summer a team from the University came to FableVision to talk to Renee and her husband, Keith Zulawnik – also an Art Institute of Boston graduate and lead artist at FableVision Studios.

While only a few desks apart, Keith said they’ve “grown to embrace being so close together, both in physical space and proximity in our profession.” The shared love for art, movies, and story keep Keith and Renee connected but it’s another quality that defines their relationship (which blossomed at FableVision).

“We both have a passion for all things silly, which I think keeps us young at heart,” Keith explained. “While we do need to jump into our adult shoes every now and then, I'd say most of the time we both think like a kid. I mean, in a profession that requires you to constantly think up worlds and characters, this is pretty essential.”

We’re pretty proud of Renee and Keith at FableVision – as artists and as a couple. We got some warm fuzzies watching the video and can’t wait to share! 

February FableFriday: Adam Landry, Executive Vice President

Crank up “Sweet Caroline,” would you? Boston loves their Red Sox and if there was any doubt about the Number One Red Sox Fan at FableVision, then you haven’t met our executive vice president Adam Landry.  

“How do you feel about the Yankees?” we asked one day.

“Wait, is this the start of a joke?” Adam replied. “I’m very much your stereotypical Red Sox fan. Hate the Yankees. Love Derek Jeter. Can’t stand A-Rod. Wish Mariano Rivera played for us. What else?”

As a key member of our executive team, Adam brings his insight and business acumen to FableVision.  Balancing business development, marketing, and operations, he helps run the show at FableVision Studios. And yep, you guessed it, we’re going to make a sport analogy: build your team right and they’ll perform. FableVision is proof of that, and as one of our head coaches, Adam has been instrumental in building and guiding the great FableVision team. So, grab a cup of coffee, it’s time to head to the dugout and meet Adam.

Give us a glimpse into your life before FableVision, did someone say Wonder Bread?
Ha! I’m sure someone did. I grew up in Natick and will never forget the sweet smell of the Wonder Bread bakery beside the Natick Mall. My dad worked at Wonder Bread for my entire life, so of course I had to see what all the fuss was about. My first job was as Freddy the Fresh Guy – dressed up as a giant loaf of bread, handing out mini-loaves and inadvertently scaring the daylights out of little children at some supermarket grand opening in Framingham. I was promoted to Twinkie the Kid a few days later and never really looked back. I spent summers loading trucks. When I finished college I entered the management-training program and spent the next five years traveling to and working at a number of different bakeries in the U.S.

After Wonder Bread, I spent a couple of years working in the public sector, and was eventually given an opportunity to join a small staffing firm in Needham. There I got a taste for running a small business. Around this time, my wife Annmarie and I were raising our family, and I was introduced to Peter and Paul Reynolds. When I helped Paul Reynolds run his campaign for Selectman in Dedham, I really got to know them well.  A year or so later had a chance to join the fun full time.

In a small business, you need to wear a lot of different hats. You’re the head of finance, but you also help steer marketing, operations, and business development. Any tips on staying organized?
This is a good one – something I think about pretty often. I’m always on the lookout for the best tools for organization and time management – habits and gadgets. I’ve read some books and checked out some apps, and we do a lot of best practice sharing here in the Studio. Right now I’m all about the Google. I’ve found a pretty good system using a combination of Gmail, Calendar, Google Now, Google Keep, and my Moto 360. Most important though is a really, really good team – just the right amount of nudging, reminding, supporting, and most of all, being there for each other.

Can you share a learning experience you’ve had at FableVision?
One thing I’ve learned from hanging out with Peter, Paul, and Gary is business is a lot more fun when you’re kind and respectful. FableVision is the best company in the world and our projects and clients are truly remarkable – but every organization faces adversity now and then. When this happens the executive team at FableVision handles these situations professionally, respectfully, and courteously. For close to 20 years that’s how business at FableVision is done. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you – FableVision is run by good people. Because of how carefully FableVision chooses its employees, clients, partners, and vendors – everyone that makes the business tick – things work out. I love that.

What are your favorite types of projects the Studio works on?
Every once in a while, we will be given an opportunity to participate in the full life of a project – our team participates in the architecture and planning, will take the lead on early design (both technical and art), manage all phases of development, and support the launch and deployment. These are my favorite projects. The projects where our whole team is involved – creative, technical, art and animation, and even our whiz-bang marketing group – all wrangled by a project management team that is truly the best in the industry.

When we get the opportunity to participate so fully, we get organizational support and excitement for the project that is really energizing, and gives us a chance to develop some very strong and long lasting partnerships with our clients.

You are a dad of six and very active in their lives, how do you balance work and family?
Peter, Paul, and Gary give folks at FableVision the opportunity for “work/life integration.” Thanks to a wife and children that are equally flexible, this works very well for me and my family. I am lucky that I can be present in the events that are happening in their lives, and never really "off grid" for work stuff. That flexibility, combined with a team that is incredibly smart and hard working, allows a chance to balance it all out – at least on paper.

You love attending sporting events with your kids. Any standout memories?
I’ve been to so many great events – it was great to see the Patriots beat the Eagles in Jacksonville (and brush past Bill Clinton and George Bush); went to an NBA Finals game with Gary that the Celtics won in overtime…but the greatest was Game 1 of the 2013 World Series. I was able to take my sons, Evan and Alex, to the game [pictured below] – the first World Series game for all of us. Baseball has been a big part of my life – I started playing when I was eight and still play now, and have great fun coaching the boys.

Tell us about the Pan Mass Challenge. Why do you ride?
I started riding in 2009, when a good friend of mine called and basically said, “Too many people we know and love are being affected by cancer…let’s join the fight.” In the six years that I’ve been riding, I’ve experienced so many incredible emotions – sorrow for people I love that have lost those closest to them; joy for people I love that have been diagnosed and, after treatment, seem to have the upper hand; anxiety for people I love that are right in the middle of their fight. I’m always amazed at what they do at Dana Farber, and hope that the little bit I’m able to do helps.

Favorites:

Way to take your coffee: Frozen with hot fudge and whipped cream
Day trip to do with your family: Bike ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail – part of our annual summer camping trip,
State: Massachusetts for sure. I’ve lived in a few others and visited many. Massachusetts is unlike any other. I wouldn’t raise a family anywhere else.
Vacation spot: Disney World
Snack food: Chips ’n’ salsa and Bugles.
Movie: Oceans 11 (the remake)
Actor: Brad Pitt. Right?
TV Show: Modern Family
Book series: I think I'm more of a one off guy. I love to mix in a good business book now and then too. Good to Great is on the shelf and referred to often, and I love Patrick Lencioni’s business “fables.”

Florida, FETC, and FableVision

Orlando, you were lovely and sun-shiny and we loved it! Now bundled up and snowed in, we warmly look back at the week that was FETC (Florida Educational Technology Conference). We had a strong showing at the Orlando education conference with two panels and a new partnership announcement. With sunglasses on, we helped set records in the FETC annual photo walk, rocked the exhibit hall floor, and connected with friends old and new! But our sessions are where FableVisioniaries shone.

“Story and personal meaning = engagement = motivation = success. Design with a purpose.” – Leigh Hallisey
What’s the Anatomy of a Learning Game? It's more than just good programming. Using Classroom, Inc.'s After the Storm: The Daily Byte as the core of the discussion, FableVision’s Creative Director Leigh Hallisey joined Anne Richards of Classroom, Inc., Jen Groff of Learning Games Network/MIT, and Jessica Millstone of BrainPOP on the panel. Discussion topics covered the importance of user testing, creative design and development process, and harnessing content to drive user engagement.

“Innovation by accident is wonderful.” – Paul Reynolds
FableVision’s CEO Paul Reynolds and Dr. Peggy Healy Stearns dove into the world of 3D fabrication. The two took the audience on a journey of the development of the Fab@School Maker Studio, the first digital fabrication software tool specifically for use in elementary and middle school classrooms. Fab@School Maker Studio is being developed by The Reynolds Center TLC and FableVision Learning. Sign up for more info on their website.

“Give every child a chance to share their voice with the world.” – Peter H. Reynolds
Perhaps the highlight of FETC was the new partnership announcement. Who doesn’t love making new friends? FableVision Learning and Lulu Jr. announced their partnership to develop My Awesome Publishing Company! The web-based writing and book-publishing platform for young learners lets kids write, illustrate, publish, and market their own creative stories. FableVision's founder Peter H. Reynolds will host the online platform. Learn more on our News page.

January FableFriday: Katie Tusch, Associate Producer

If FableVision did superlatives, Katie Tusch would win for best smile. 

“No two days are the same in the life of an Associate Producer,” she says about her role at FableVision Studios. Daily, Katie juggles requests coming in from staff and clients alike, so keeping a grin on her face comes with the territory. 

“My two biggest jobs are being an assistant to FableVision producers on major projects and being a solo project manager on smaller projects,” she says. “When working with the producers, tasks include scheduling, QA, client communication, and overall assistance with project organization.”

Beyond organizational tasks, Katie has to understand the scope of different genres of media: games to animation to websites cross Katie’s plate–that’s a lot to keep straight. The trick of it all? Looking for small milestones every day.

“Honestly, I have great moments every single day at FableVision—I love what I do,” Katie says. 

A big part of being a producer at FableVision, beyond managing deliverables, is motivating your team. Katie leads by example at FableVision: bringing ambition and a sense of urgency to all her work. For January’s FableFriday we chat with Katie about her favorite projects and crowd surfing (no joke). Read on! 

Guide us through a typical day at FableVision.
Today I had a client walk-through where we demo-d an app over a screen share. Earlier in the morning I fielded some emails from a client about some troubles they were having with downloading the app. Then, I spent some time talking with the four artists who are working on the ERB AABL app, printing and delivering scripts for them to follow, as well as answering any questions.

The afternoon was spent closing out bugs and entering a couple new ones for Matt Brelsford, a developer on our team, while doing some QA for an anti-bullying game. I ended the day by putting together to-dos for the team working on NCFL’s Renegade Buggies game update. 

As an Associate Producer you have to stay organized, what’s your trick?
I always carry a notebook and pen! With so many projects to be in sync with, and so many requests coming in from producers and clients, it’s important not to let anything slip, so I write everything down. Plus, there’s no better feeling than checking things off your to-do list.

Katie with Paul Reynolds, FableVision CEO, at 2014's ERB Annual Conference in Boston. They pose here with some FableVision-created characters that are part of ERB's AABL project.

What has been the best moment working on a project at FableVision?  
The best moments are when we complete a project. One of my main projects here is ERB AABL, and it’s super rewarding to see the team complete a project and have (our Executive Vice President) Adam Landry send out that final invoice.

Another favorite moment on the AABL project was getting to meet the ERB team in person at the annual ERB conference. It’s great to make an in-person connection with people you email or speak to on the phone every day. 

You worked on the newly launched app,  Renegade Buggies. Tell us about the project?
Created for National Center for Families Learning, Renegade Buggies is an endless-runner-style mobile and tablet app that teaches financial literacy. You play as a racer dude who drives down the track on a little yellow shopping cart, collecting groceries, money, and coupons along the way. It’s an awesome game with some sweet 3D art, interesting learning components, and a killer soundtrack!

What is your dream job? 
To host my own talk show! But, if it turns out audiences don’t like me as much as I like me, then I’d love to be behind the scenes as an Executive Producer at a media company.

A talk show? This brings us to our next question! You're a big Oprah Winfrey fan. What is it about her that you love? 
I love that she does so much for other people. I think her whole story is such an inspiration, and I really admire her road to success. She's built a crazy empire where she's got her hands on nearly every part of it. Isn't being on the cover of your own magazine every month something we all strive towards?! I have Oprah quotes surrounding me at my desk in the studio, and my favorite quote by her of all time is:

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo. But what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”

Who do you follow on Twitter/how to you get all this cool stuff brought to the studio?
My favorite person right now to follow is @BostonTweet because he tweets about cool events going on around Boston and any free giveaways that might be happening. This summer, I heard that the Ben & Jerry’s truck was touring the country giving away free ice cream. Through Twitter, I followed them from their delivery in Florida all the way up the east coast. When they got to Boston, I tweeted at them all day begging them to come to FableVision with free ice cream! The Studio even tweeted out a picture of me looking sad with a spoon. And then they showed up with TONS of pints right here in the studio! That was an awesome day. Free giveaways are always out there, you just need to know where to look! Finding them is one of my secret talents. (Editorial note: and we love benefitting from it!)

We heard you used to teach an after school video production course for middle schoolers. What did you learn from that experience?
I learned a lot about patience—it's hard work to teach that age group. But I also learned that every kid had something to offer. There were some kids who refused to be on-camera, but others that turned out to be really great at, say, writing scripts. Others just wanted to help with the equipment. From the big tasks to the small tasks, everyone could get involved with helping put together our news show. You just have to look for what gives them a twinkle in their eye.

Katie's List of Bests
Best holiday: Christmas!
Best concert: Third Eye Blind when I was 19, because I crowd-surfed so far during Semi-Charmed Life that I landed outside the gates of the venue.
Best movie: I am ready to be ridiculed by this one, but in all honesty: The Princess Diaries.
Best book read in 2014: The Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter—and how to make the most of them, by Dr. Meg Jay. A great read for post-grads and 20-somethings who are just trying to figure out their lives.
Best TV shows: I loved the Newsroom—MacKenzie McHale is my ultimate TV character role model. I've been watching Grey's Anatomy forever, and I just can't bring myself to stop watching—I love a good mix of medical drama and romance. Girls is just about the funniest show on TV right now. I laugh out loud in every episode. Maybe I like it so much because I can relate to living on my own for the first time and having my first job. Last but definitely not least, Gilmore Girls will be a forever-favorite. I could re-watch any episode, any day, any time. I love that it's set in my home state of Connecticut, I love all the quirky characters, and I love Lorelai Gilmore. I think I cried for three days after that series finale!

FableVision thanks Governor Deval Patrick

Gov. Deval Patrick with FableVision founder, Peter H. Reynolds.

Today, Deval Patrick will leave the Massachusetts state house as Governor for the last time. We applaud the Governor for his strong record on education, the environment, healthcare, and more. But we applaud him most for his unyielding commitment to civic engagement, for his unwavering vision to move Massachusetts -- and the world -- to a better place.

In 2007, FableVisionary Michele Norman was Director of the Governor's Youth Inaugural. With the Governor's statement on civic engagement in hand, she asked us to design a poster featuring his words. We did. 

To honor Governor Patrick and celebrate our shared belief in the power and potential civic engagement has to improve the odds for us all, here is the poster. We hope you will read it, share it, live it.

And to Governor Patrick we say thank you for your vision, leadership, and commitment to citizens of every age. We wish you well!