Meet the cast of our summer intern musicále! For this edition, our summer interns sat down to talk with us about their work, their interests, and what they hope to accomplish during their time at FableVision Studios. We’re confident that they’ll get their heads in the game and bop to the top together!
Amanda Pedersen
Education: Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Animation
Hometown: Litchfield, New Hampshire
Position: Art Intern
How did you hear about FableVision?
Hannah O’Neal was my teacher at MassArt! She told me about FableVision’s internship program!
How has working on the Art Team helped strengthen your skills and diversify your interests?
I’ve learned so much about how professionals use Adobe Animate. I’m also learning more about how to make interactive media.
Tell us more about your goals at the studio this summer! What do you hope to accomplish?
I hope to help make an awesome internship project that can strengthen my portfolio!
Troy has to choose between singing and basketball. What is your dramatic extracurricular dichotomy- and can you make it to both in one night?
I double majored for one semester in both animation and fashion design. I ended up just going with animation, so I guess I can’t make it to both in one night.
If you were in the High School Musical cast, who would you be and why?
I would probably be Kelsi. I was very shy and easily intimidated in high school.Favorite website from your childhood? The Claire’s online catalog.
Favorite summertime movie? The Spongebob Movie (2004).
Beyoncé song of choice? “Crazy in Love.”
Name one person who inspires you: Walter Wick.
When’s the last time you did a cartwheel? Last summer.
Got any go-to musicals? Jim Henson’s The Labyrinth.
Gabriela (Gaby) Romero Gonzalez
Education: Tufts University, Child Study and Human Development, and Education with a Minor in Film and Media Studies
Hometown: Chelsea, Massachusetts
Position: Marketing Intern
How did you hear about FableVision?
A couple of years ago one of my advisors, Julie Dobrow, invited Tufts alums to our Children and Mass Media class, and had them talk to us about their career paths. One of the alumni worked for FableVision, and I had the opportunity to learn about the company’s mission and projects! It matched a lot of my interests, so I decided to apply for an internship this summer!
How has working on the Marketing Team helped strengthen your skills and diversify your interests?
I am so grateful to be on such an amazing team where I am constantly learning and growing. I have had some experience in marketing before, but never an internship dedicated only to marketing. This has been such an amazing opportunity, because I have been able to learn about what goes on behind the scenes when creating content for followers.
Tell us more about your goals at the studio this summer! What do you hope to accomplish?
I hope to learn about the new ways that FableVision uses social media to engage with the public and what the company does to make followers feel part of the community. I am also looking forward to getting creative and having fun with the intern project.
Troy has to choose between singing and basketball. What is your dramatic extracurricular dichotomy—and can you make it to both in one night?
I love television, so it’d probably be trying to catch up on all my favorite shows while also juggling my other responsibilities. I do my best to try to get everything done, but it gets dangerous when there are a lot of episodes available of a show that I can binge, so I try my best to restrain myself.
If you were in the High School Musical cast, who would you be and why? I want to say Gabriella because we have the same name, but I think I am more of a Taylor McKessie because she is ambitious, loyal, and funny.
Favorite website from your childhood? Disney Channel and Stardoll.
Favorite summertime movie? Shrek 2. I have lost count of the number of times I have watched it. It’s iconic.
Beyoncé song of choice? This one is really difficult. I can’t choose just one, but I do have a favorite for every Beyonce era.
Early in fresh solo Beyoncé career: “Deja Vu.”
Right before she gave birth to Blue: “Dance For You.”
Lemonade Queen B: “Freedom.”
Name one person who inspires you: Ava DuVernay, because her artwork is used to give marginalized voices a platform and she fights for representation in film—in front of and behind the camera.
When’s the last time you did a cartwheel? Probably more than a decade ago, and I’m not sure if I’d consider it a cartwheel.
Got any go-to musicals? Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius! Also Rent!
Kat Hardie
Education: Savannah College of Art and Design, Game Development
Hometown: Oxford, North Carolina
Position: Production Intern
Portfolio: kathardie.com
How did you hear about FableVision?
I actually found out through Twitter—I’d already been following Bob Flynn, FableVision’s Director of Art and Animation, for a long time, so when he posted about the FableVision internships, I was immediately curious and pretty quickly knew I had to try my best to get a position!
How has working on the Production Team helped strengthen your skills and diversify your interests?
Through working with the production team, I’ve learned just how much strategizing, organization, and teamwork goes into making sure a project stays on course and eventually reaches completion. Thanks to meetings with departments across the studio, I have a much better idea about the pipelines of each discipline and further strengthened my love of digital media in all of its forms!
Tell us more about your goals at the studio this summer! What do you hope to accomplish?
I’m hoping to learn more about the production process and how a full studio manages projects throughout all stages of development. I’m also excited to create something amazing with my fellow interns and learn from them in the process!
Troy has to choose between singing and basketball. What is your dramatic extracurricular dichotomy—and can you make it to both in one night?
If I was back in middle school, it definitely would have been a MathCounts tournament versus a Battle of the Books meet (I was very popular, if you can’t tell). High school would have been a marching band competition versus a soccer game. And nowadays, it would probably be a Game Jam versus a three-years-in-the-making arc-ending D&D session. So, obviously, I’d have to rope my party members into doing the Game Jam with me.
If you were in the High School Musical cast, who would you be and why?
I don’t think I can really deny being Gabriella after doing both musical theater and math competitions.
Favorite website from your childhood? GaiaOnline. My middle school years consisted of a lot of roleplaying (in private fishing game rooms for some reason) and saving up online currency for extremely tacky outfits.
Favorite summertime movie? I’m not sure if this really qualifies, but The Princess Bride is appropriate for every season!
Beyoncé song of choice? I’m basic and the Glee football team performing Single Ladies will forever be engraved in my mind.
Name one person who inspires you: Zaha Hadid—She applied her love for math and the arts into creating stunning sculpture-like architecture and became one of the most influential architects of the modern era.
When’s the last time you did a cartwheel? Absolutely never. I’m as flexible as a brick.
Got any go-to musicals? Wicked and Hamilton are obvious choices. I also really adore the Young Frankenstein musical, The Producers, and Spamalot.
Mickie Kryger
Education: Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Animation
Hometown: Charlton, Massachusetts
Position: Art Intern
How did you hear about FableVision?
Hannah O’Neal, Lead Animator at FableVision and art/animation internship coordinator, was one of the professors reviewing my work during my spring review at MassArt. She told me about the art internship at FableVision, and now I’m here!
How has working on the Art Team helped strengthen your skills and diversify your interests?
It has been amazing so far! I’ve only been here for a short time, but I’ve already learned so much. I have a much better understanding of Adobe Animate and how it is used in a professional studio. Regarding interests, Orsi, another intern here, has gotten me interested in early Hungarian cartoons and comics—the style is so cute!
Tell us more about your goals at the studio this summer! What do you hope to accomplish?
I’m hoping to come out of this internship with a better understanding of the animation methods used in a studio. I also hope to strengthen my storyboard skills and pick up any new skills relating to art and animation along the way. I’m also excited about the intern project, and look forward to making something awesome with the other interns!
Troy has to choose between singing and basketball. What is your dramatic extracurricular dichotomy—and can you make it to both in one night?
Trying to make it to an animation screening and another event at MassArt. There’s always so much going on! Usually I can manage both, but if they’re ever at the same time, I always go to the animation screenings.
If you were in the High School Musical cast, who would you be and why? Probably Zeke. I love baking!
Favorite website from your childhood? Webkinz.
Favorite summertime movie? Lilo & Stitch.
Beyoncé song of choice? “Countdown.”
Name one person who inspires you: Noelle Stevenson! I’ve been following her work since she first posted Nimona.
When’s the last time you did a cartwheel? Probably 12 years ago.
Got any go-to musicals? Wicked and Fun Home!
Nathalie Ye
Education: Boston University, Computer Science and Communication Studies
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Position: Production Intern
Portfolio: nathalieye.com
How did you hear about FableVision?
I wanted to stay in Boston over the summer, so I looked up game and animation studios in Boston and found FableVision’s website! I was excited to apply to be a production intern and learn more about the games and animation industries in general.
How has working on the Production Team helped strengthen your skills and diversify your interests?
After attending the producers’ meetings and learning about the production pipeline, I’m impressed by how the production team keeps everything organized with all the projects we have going on in the studio. I’ve also been noting the process of how games and animations are made when a lot of people work on the same project. I definitely plan to incorporate what I’ve learned into my workflow for future projects.
Tell us more about your goals at the studio this summer! What do you hope to accomplish?
I really hope to digest the production pipeline for both games and animations, and learn as many new skills as possible! I’m also excited about our intern project, which will be a valuable experience, because we’ll have the freedom to try out things we’ve never done before.
Troy has to choose between singing and basketball. What is your dramatic extracurricular dichotomy—and can you make it to both in one night?
I have a lot of homework as a Computer Science major, so I often have to choose between drawing or karate club.
If you were in the High School Musical cast, who would you be and why? I’d be Troy, but only because I was also on the basketball team in high school!
Favorite website from your childhood? Neopets or Cartoon Network.
Favorite summertime movie? Spirited Away.
Beyoncé song of choice? “Halo.”
Name one person who inspires you: Oda Eiichiro, the creator of One Piece. I love how he’s able to build a world that is so fantastical, but real at the same time. He incorporates real-life issues into such a long-running series using amazing art and writing.
When’s the last time you did a cartwheel? Never. I wish I could do one.
Got any go-to musicals? Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Orsi Nagy
Education: Tufts University, Film and Media Studies with a Minor in Child Study and Human Development
Hometown: Clearwater, Florida
Position: Marketing Intern
How did you hear about FableVision?
I heard about FableVision in my sophomore year of college when my professor, Julie Dobrow, invited two of her former students who worked at the studio to talk to us about their work. After hearing about FableVision’s mission, I knew immediately that I wanted to apply for an internship, especially when I glanced through the portfolio page and saw essentially an exact intersection of my studies. After getting in touch with Sarah Ditkoff and Monica Chen, I was lucky enough to get a position. It’s a dream come true!
“We’re all in this together!” How has working on the Marketing Team helped strengthen your skills and diversify your interests?
I’ve loved learning more about marketing and strategy! It’s taught me to pay closer attention to the planning and teamwork that underpins the brands and public figures I follow, which I find myself doing all the time now. In terms of interests—I ordered Animal Crossing for Nintendo DS during my first week here (after seeing Allie Caton’s Tom Nook plush), and since many people on the marketing team are avid journalers, I was inspired to expand my pen supply!
Tell us more about your goals at the studio this summer! What do you hope to accomplish?
I’m looking forward to getting the hang of using the FableVision voice in the copy and social media content that I create, and also gaining a better understanding of the studio’s marketing principles. I’m also excited about the intern project, which is shaping up to be pretty cool!
Troy has to choose between singing and basketball. What is your dramatic extracurricular dichotomy- and can you make it to both in one night?
Probably an evening film shoot and my best friend’s orchestra recital. I have tried numerous times, but no—I can’t make it to both! Sorry Mary Kate!
If you were in the High School Musical cast, who would you be and why? Ms. Darbus, because she’s the drama queen I aspire to be.
Favorite website from your childhood? Neopets or Poptropica.
Favorite summertime movie? Dirty Dancing.
Beyoncé song of choice? “Irreplaceable.” Always. Forever. Period.
Name one person who inspires you: Olivia Wilde, who recently made her feature film directorial debut and knocked it out of the park!
When’s the last time you did a cartwheel? Mardi Gras at Universal Studios circa 2015, FTB (For The Beads).
Got any go-to musicals? Grease, specifically because of “Beauty School Dropout!”