Episode 12 - Day in the Life - Production Management

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What’s the difference between a PA and a PC? Why is Shotgun so important? In episode 12, we sit down with our friends, Alaia Braxton-Walker and Demi Chen, to talk about the ins and outs of production management.

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Meet the Guest: alaia braxton-walker

Alaia always knew she wanted to be in the Animation Industry in some form. Her passion for the Arts started from reading the 'funnies' in the newspaper. Her favorites were The Peanuts, Garfield, and Boondocks. Along with reading comics, she enjoyed watching Looney Tunes, Disney Animated Films, and other animated television shows.  

She moved to California from Minnesota to attend college and be closer to the industry. During her time in college, Alaia started her career at Disneyland Resort. Later she transitioned to Disney Animation Studios and became a Production Assistant on Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Alaia is currently a Production Coordinator at Disney Animation Studios. In her career at the studio, Alaia has worked on projects including Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Frozen 2, where she was an Animation Coordinator. She also had an opportunity to work in Creative Legacy, assisting in projects related to Hotels, Restaurants, and Disney Cruise Lines.

Currently, Alaia is working in Editorial on a future Production that has not yet been announced.

The most rewarding part of Alaia's job is there are still more things to learn AND beautiful art to gawk at in the process!

meet the guest: demi chen

During her freshman year at NYU, Demi watched Disney's "Tangled" in theaters and promptly transferred into the film program. She graduated in 2014 as an award-winning President of the NYU Student Animation League.

Demi is currently a production coordinator at Walt Disney Animation Studios, the studio that inspired her from the very start. She has previously coordinated a variety of animated projects for Disney Junior, DreamWorks TV, and DreamWorks Feature. Her feature film experience includes coordinating Visual Development on "Trolls World Tour", Lighting on "Frozen 2", and most recently, Character Assets and Lighting on "Raya & the Last Dragon". 

There's nothing more rewarding to her than partnering with artistic teams and nurturing along the filmmaking process!

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episode outline

1) 0:05:17 Introduction: alaia

2) 0:12:02 introduction: demi

• 0:19:00 Alaia and Demi’s Art can be found here: @bwalker_art @demi.draws

3) 0:22:55 Episode Overview & Structure

4) 0:24:23 What is Production Management?

5) 0:38:33 What is the Production Management Hierarchy?

6) 0:43:26 What is your day to day like?

7) 0:54:00 What software do you need to know?

• 0:56:40 Shotgun Production Software

8) 1:03:30 Is there a specific personality type?

9) 1:13:07 Any tips for breaking in?

10) 1:17:02 Do you need to go to school for production management?

11) 1:18:44 Do you need to know the CG pipeline?

12) 1:20:40 Does production management experience translate across studios?

13) 1:29:37 What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

14) 1:39:00 Do you have good job security? Do you have to reapply at the end of a project?

15) 1:40:04 What are your thoughts on the production management to artist career path?

16) 1:57:38 How does your artistic background inform your production management skills? How do you balance production and your art?

17) 2:12:10 Any tips for applying and filling out applications?

18) 2:20:14 Any tips on interviewing?

19) 2:26:15 What is the impact of quarantine on production management?

20) 2:28:30 Inside the Producer’s Studio

21) 2:36:30 Tip Jar

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relevant links

• Rise Up Animation’s “Journey to Production” talk with Alaia

• My Day as a PA at Dreamworks Animation