[Music] I came to tip Lisi Georgia as an artist
I came to tip Lisi Georgia as an artist
I came to tip Lisi Georgia as an artist in distress two years ago I was living
in distress two years ago I was living
in distress two years ago I was living in Boston I was running my own freelance
in Boston I was running my own freelance
in Boston I was running my own freelance company and making a lot of money but
company and making a lot of money but
company and making a lot of money but that success felt mediocre and it took
that success felt mediocre and it took
that success felt mediocre and it took me moving 5,000 miles to figure out why
me moving 5,000 miles to figure out why
me moving 5,000 miles to figure out why I decided to be an animator when I was
I decided to be an animator when I was
I decided to be an animator when I was 11 and I told my dad and thanks to his
11 and I told my dad and thanks to his
11 and I told my dad and thanks to his enthusiasm and support I started taking
enthusiasm and support I started taking
enthusiasm and support I started taking classes immediately from there I grew my
classes immediately from there I grew my
classes immediately from there I grew my knowledge to incorporate all things
knowledge to incorporate all things
knowledge to incorporate all things post-production and I find it endlessly
post-production and I find it endlessly
post-production and I find it endlessly fascinating I’ve worked in television
fascinating I’ve worked in television
fascinating I’ve worked in television for public broadcast cartoons for
for public broadcast cartoons for
for public broadcast cartoons for Cartoon Network feature films and
Cartoon Network feature films and
Cartoon Network feature films and documentaries daily news and ultimately
documentaries daily news and ultimately
documentaries daily news and ultimately in my own independent commercial work my
in my own independent commercial work my
in my own independent commercial work my career has brought bean from the east
career has brought bean from the east
career has brought bean from the east coast to the west coast of the United
coast to the west coast of the United
coast to the west coast of the United States and back and all of these jobs
States and back and all of these jobs
States and back and all of these jobs gigs and internships – things were
gigs and internships – things were
gigs and internships – things were always the same one I tried to make more
always the same one I tried to make more
always the same one I tried to make more high-quality and innovative work and two
high-quality and innovative work and two
high-quality and innovative work and two I was always told not to I hated the way
I was always told not to I hated the way
I was always told not to I hated the way my skills were being utilized I was
my skills were being utilized I was
my skills were being utilized I was constantly being bullied into
constantly being bullied into
constantly being bullied into compromising on quality and subsequently
compromising on quality and subsequently
compromising on quality and subsequently made to dress up an unclear message
made to dress up an unclear message
made to dress up an unclear message selling some product some new photo app
selling some product some new photo app
selling some product some new photo app that was going to change the community
that was going to change the community
that was going to change the community some new marketing company that was
some new marketing company that was
some new marketing company that was going to change the world once a client
going to change the world once a client
going to change the world once a client even asked me to guarantee that his
even asked me to guarantee that his
even asked me to guarantee that his video go viral clearly he did not
video go viral clearly he did not
video go viral clearly he did not understand the meaning of the word viral
understand the meaning of the word viral
understand the meaning of the word viral I was using a bag of tricks that easily
I was using a bag of tricks that easily
I was using a bag of tricks that easily delighted my clients and bosses and all
delighted my clients and bosses and all
delighted my clients and bosses and all the while I was struggling to stay
the while I was struggling to stay
the while I was struggling to stay passionate could the purpose of all of
passionate could the purpose of all of
passionate could the purpose of all of this intense focus and commitment be to
this intense focus and commitment be to
this intense focus and commitment be to just sell a product or a brand
just sell a product or a brand
just sell a product or a brand and then move on to the next one let me
and then move on to the next one let me
and then move on to the next one let me let you inside the artists brain for a
let you inside the artists brain for a
let you inside the artists brain for a second when you have a good idea as an
second when you have a good idea as an
second when you have a good idea as an artist you have to stand behind it when
artist you have to stand behind it when
artist you have to stand behind it when you don’t good ideas deteriorate and
you don’t good ideas deteriorate and
you don’t good ideas deteriorate and when you are making something you don’t
when you are making something you don’t
when you are making something you don’t like you inevitably let go of that
like you inevitably let go of that
like you inevitably let go of that initial vision that made you excited to
initial vision that made you excited to
initial vision that made you excited to create in the first place in the end all
create in the first place in the end all
create in the first place in the end all creativity is a race you prep for the
creativity is a race you prep for the
creativity is a race you prep for the race by filling your head with work you
race by filling your head with work you
race by filling your head with work you admire and things you see you approach
admire and things you see you approach
admire and things you see you approach the start line and the starting gun is
the start line and the starting gun is
the start line and the starting gun is in your hand but you paced back and
in your hand but you paced back and
in your hand but you paced back and forth waiting you only get to fire that
forth waiting you only get to fire that
forth waiting you only get to fire that gun when you get that lightning bolt of
gun when you get that lightning bolt of
gun when you get that lightning bolt of inspiration a figment of something you
inspiration a figment of something you
inspiration a figment of something you need to see you take off and from then
need to see you take off and from then
need to see you take off and from then you’re to racing the developing vision
you’re to racing the developing vision
you’re to racing the developing vision of that initial lightning bolt and if
of that initial lightning bolt and if
of that initial lightning bolt and if you take too long or if something throws
you take too long or if something throws
you take too long or if something throws you off course you become disoriented
you off course you become disoriented
you off course you become disoriented fragmented intangible yourself because
fragmented intangible yourself because
fragmented intangible yourself because when you have a great idea you live that
when you have a great idea you live that
when you have a great idea you live that idea you are that idea those lightning
idea you are that idea those lightning
idea you are that idea those lightning bolt ideas are borrowed from somewhere
bolt ideas are borrowed from somewhere
bolt ideas are borrowed from somewhere we can’t understand and we don’t get to
we can’t understand and we don’t get to
we can’t understand and we don’t get to linger on the thought inspiration has a
linger on the thought inspiration has a
linger on the thought inspiration has a shelf life and so it was in this
shelf life and so it was in this
shelf life and so it was in this intangible fragmented state that I moved
intangible fragmented state that I moved
intangible fragmented state that I moved through many industries staying in each
through many industries staying in each
through many industries staying in each place just long enough to learn all of
place just long enough to learn all of
place just long enough to learn all of the new skills that the job required of
the new skills that the job required of
the new skills that the job required of me I would add it to my resume and move
me I would add it to my resume and move
me I would add it to my resume and move on to a new beginning somewhere else as
on to a new beginning somewhere else as
on to a new beginning somewhere else as I negotiated more and more impressive
I negotiated more and more impressive
I negotiated more and more impressive job titles I was unchallenged
job titles I was unchallenged
job titles I was unchallenged unsatisfied although in arguably a huge
unsatisfied although in arguably a huge
unsatisfied although in arguably a huge success exactly one year ago today I
success exactly one year ago today I
success exactly one year ago today I came to Georgia to work with BBC legend
came to Georgia to work with BBC legend
came to Georgia to work with BBC legend natalia antonova and her journalism
natalia antonova and her journalism
natalia antonova and her journalism start-up Kota story the idea who was not
start-up Kota story the idea who was not
start-up Kota story the idea who was not so simple we were going to be
so simple we were going to be
so simple we were going to be reimagining how to visualize text pieces
reimagining how to visualize text pieces
reimagining how to visualize text pieces for journalism these stories
for journalism these stories
for journalism these stories didn’t have any photos didn’t have any
didn’t have any photos didn’t have any
didn’t have any photos didn’t have any videos were sensitive in nature and
videos were sensitive in nature and
videos were sensitive in nature and therefore we could use none of the usual
therefore we could use none of the usual
therefore we could use none of the usual animation gimmicks that was used to so I
animation gimmicks that was used to so I
animation gimmicks that was used to so I said okay this is a challenge I was
said okay this is a challenge I was
said okay this is a challenge I was ready to take on a challenge to make
ready to take on a challenge to make
ready to take on a challenge to make beautiful videos while maintaining the
beautiful videos while maintaining the
beautiful videos while maintaining the dignity of the subjects in art form and
dignity of the subjects in art form and
dignity of the subjects in art form and to do it in a turnaround time
to do it in a turnaround time
to do it in a turnaround time appropriate for news typically one of
appropriate for news typically one of
appropriate for news typically one of our animations can be made in a week
our animations can be made in a week
our animations can be made in a week from scripting to final deliverable two
from scripting to final deliverable two
from scripting to final deliverable two days of which are actual animating that
days of which are actual animating that
days of which are actual animating that is a very fast turnaround time there was
is a very fast turnaround time there was
is a very fast turnaround time there was the added hurdle a finding way to reach
the added hurdle a finding way to reach
the added hurdle a finding way to reach people without using my usual gimmicks a
people without using my usual gimmicks a
people without using my usual gimmicks a carefully built toolset of canned visual
carefully built toolset of canned visual
carefully built toolset of canned visual concept that sparkled shined and awed
concept that sparkled shined and awed
concept that sparkled shined and awed clients pretty easily without a lot of
clients pretty easily without a lot of
clients pretty easily without a lot of effort on my part but it’s just not
effort on my part but it’s just not
effort on my part but it’s just not appropriate for the subject matter and
appropriate for the subject matter and
appropriate for the subject matter and so we got to work and some of our first
so we got to work and some of our first
so we got to work and some of our first stories were about LGBTQ rights in the
stories were about LGBTQ rights in the
stories were about LGBTQ rights in the region
here we were tasked with visualizing the
here we were tasked with visualizing the brutal beating and murder of numerous
brutal beating and murder of numerous
brutal beating and murder of numerous gay men in the Ukraine now there’s
gay men in the Ukraine now there’s
gay men in the Ukraine now there’s nothing funny about that there’s nothing
nothing funny about that there’s nothing
nothing funny about that there’s nothing cute about that it’s not a cartoon it’s
cute about that it’s not a cartoon it’s
cute about that it’s not a cartoon it’s a serious piece of journalism we started
a serious piece of journalism we started
a serious piece of journalism we started with toe tags and body bags for drama
with toe tags and body bags for drama
with toe tags and body bags for drama and then evolved our idea to something
and then evolved our idea to something
and then evolved our idea to something more tasteful and just as powerful but
more tasteful and just as powerful but
more tasteful and just as powerful but it took a lot of effort to get it right
it took a lot of effort to get it right
it took a lot of effort to get it right and many overdramatize concepts and it’s
and many overdramatize concepts and it’s
and many overdramatize concepts and it’s important not just for the men that have
important not just for the men that have
important not just for the men that have been hurt or killed it’s important for
been hurt or killed it’s important for
been hurt or killed it’s important for an entire region miss categorizing
an entire region miss categorizing
an entire region miss categorizing sexual preference as evil I got to
sexual preference as evil I got to
sexual preference as evil I got to visualize this story in a way that I
visualize this story in a way that I
visualize this story in a way that I think is beautiful
think is beautiful
think is beautiful ethical and respectful to all subjects
ethical and respectful to all subjects
ethical and respectful to all subjects involved we’ve made video after video
involved we’ve made video after video
involved we’ve made video after video like this
like this
like this visualizing brutal and cruel are
visualizing brutal and cruel are
visualizing brutal and cruel are unbelievable stories with as much
unbelievable stories with as much
unbelievable stories with as much honesty and respect as possible I had no
honesty and respect as possible I had no
honesty and respect as possible I had no idea that we were creating a style and
idea that we were creating a style and
idea that we were creating a style and technique that was going to grow in
technique that was going to grow in
technique that was going to grow in popularity so much and give us such a
popularity so much and give us such a
popularity so much and give us such a foothold in the industry and as we grow
foothold in the industry and as we grow
foothold in the industry and as we grow in popularity we are given the
in popularity we are given the
in popularity we are given the opportunity to put more time and
opportunity to put more time and
opportunity to put more time and resources into these stories elevating
resources into these stories elevating
resources into these stories elevating the medium I get to visualize story
the medium I get to visualize story
the medium I get to visualize story after story in a way that has dignity in
after story in a way that has dignity in
after story in a way that has dignity in a way that’s important and in a way that
a way that’s important and in a way that
a way that’s important and in a way that has no gimmicks and so I’ve returned to
has no gimmicks and so I’ve returned to
has no gimmicks and so I’ve returned to the education of my film school years
the education of my film school years
the education of my film school years I’m telling stories in an incredibly
I’m telling stories in an incredibly
I’m telling stories in an incredibly cinematic way by focusing on beautiful
cinematic way by focusing on beautiful
cinematic way by focusing on beautiful compositions and communicating using
compositions and communicating using
compositions and communicating using simple movements with the help of a
simple movements with the help of a
simple movements with the help of a network of local artists on building
network of local artists on building
network of local artists on building scenes that recreate moments in life
scenes that recreate moments in life
scenes that recreate moments in life that are hard to describe or connect to
that are hard to describe or connect to
that are hard to describe or connect to unless you can see something and with
unless you can see something and with
unless you can see something and with how desensitized audiences are too
how desensitized audiences are too
how desensitized audiences are too horrific photography and video
horrific photography and video
horrific photography and video visual storytellers need to get more
visual storytellers need to get more
visual storytellers need to get more creative with how they reach people
creative with how they reach people
creative with how they reach people journalists and animators belong
journalists and animators belong
journalists and animators belong together
together
together animation + journalism equals gold as it
animation + journalism equals gold as it
animation + journalism equals gold as it turns out not a lot of news companies
turns out not a lot of news companies
turns out not a lot of news companies are doing this for some reason there’s
are doing this for some reason there’s
are doing this for some reason there’s the if it’s not broken don’t fix it
the if it’s not broken don’t fix it
the if it’s not broken don’t fix it argument they have plenty of readers so
argument they have plenty of readers so
argument they have plenty of readers so why risk wasting resources on a pricing
why risk wasting resources on a pricing
why risk wasting resources on a pricing gamble to reach new audiences
gamble to reach new audiences
gamble to reach new audiences unfortunately attention spans are
unfortunately attention spans are
unfortunately attention spans are shortening and our audiences are getting
shortening and our audiences are getting
shortening and our audiences are getting desensitized to familiar formats
desensitized to familiar formats
desensitized to familiar formats that’s why journalism has to be right at
that’s why journalism has to be right at
that’s why journalism has to be right at the forefront of visual storytelling
the forefront of visual storytelling
the forefront of visual storytelling right there with the movies the tech
right there with the movies the tech
right there with the movies the tech companies and video games we can’t be
companies and video games we can’t be
companies and video games we can’t be chasing an audience that has already
chasing an audience that has already
chasing an audience that has already moved on to something cooler if we want
moved on to something cooler if we want
moved on to something cooler if we want to change minds we need to be brand new
so I’d like to ask those of you in
so I’d like to ask those of you in journalism a question why not open your
journalism a question why not open your
journalism a question why not open your mind to some new ways of visualizing a
mind to some new ways of visualizing a
mind to some new ways of visualizing a story why not bring art into your
story why not bring art into your
story why not bring art into your journalism journalism speaks to the
journalism journalism speaks to the
journalism journalism speaks to the intellectual side an art to the
intellectual side an art to the
intellectual side an art to the emotional the merging of the tube is not
emotional the merging of the tube is not
emotional the merging of the tube is not only natural but electric it’s more true
only natural but electric it’s more true
only natural but electric it’s more true to the way we experience reality artists
to the way we experience reality artists
to the way we experience reality artists want work that we can care about and we
want work that we can care about and we
want work that we can care about and we are sick of the gimmicks so why not hire
are sick of the gimmicks so why not hire
are sick of the gimmicks so why not hire an artist no the artists don’t settle
an artist no the artists don’t settle
an artist no the artists don’t settle for a job making something that you
for a job making something that you
for a job making something that you don’t believe in the market is changing
don’t believe in the market is changing
don’t believe in the market is changing we are in higher demand now than ever
we are in higher demand now than ever
we are in higher demand now than ever before and in many different industries
before and in many different industries
before and in many different industries we don’t have to work for free anymore
we don’t have to work for free anymore
we don’t have to work for free anymore or beg for work from undeserving clients
or beg for work from undeserving clients
or beg for work from undeserving clients don’t settle making art for people that
don’t settle making art for people that
don’t settle making art for people that can’t make art themselves you are not
can’t make art themselves you are not
can’t make art themselves you are not the vessel for someone else
the vessel for someone else
the vessel for someone else creativity and I promise you if you keep
creativity and I promise you if you keep
creativity and I promise you if you keep pushing for the right job you will find
pushing for the right job you will find
pushing for the right job you will find something that makes you feel like
something that makes you feel like
something that makes you feel like you’re selling more than other people’s
you’re selling more than other people’s
you’re selling more than other people’s ideas you’ll be selling truth journalism
ideas you’ll be selling truth journalism
ideas you’ll be selling truth journalism has saved animation for me and I think
has saved animation for me and I think
has saved animation for me and I think animation can save journalism as well
animation can save journalism as well
animation can save journalism as well there are always people that will read
there are always people that will read
there are always people that will read news but how do you make people that are
news but how do you make people that are
news but how do you make people that are not inclined to news more aware of
not inclined to news more aware of
not inclined to news more aware of issues they need to understand about
issues they need to understand about
issues they need to understand about their world so that’s what we’re doing
their world so that’s what we’re doing
their world so that’s what we’re doing here at Kota that’s what I’m doing here
here at Kota that’s what I’m doing here
here at Kota that’s what I’m doing here in Georgia in an increasingly polarized
in Georgia in an increasingly polarized
in Georgia in an increasingly polarized world what can be more important than a
world what can be more important than a
world what can be more important than a profession that fosters empathy people
profession that fosters empathy people
profession that fosters empathy people need to have a better understanding of
need to have a better understanding of
need to have a better understanding of the world around them I am proud to be
the world around them I am proud to be
the world around them I am proud to be able to translate it into a visual
able to translate it into a visual
able to translate it into a visual format and we are going to keep pushing
format and we are going to keep pushing
format and we are going to keep pushing and we are going to keep finding new
and we are going to keep finding new
and we are going to keep finding new ways to show these stories whether it’s
ways to show these stories whether it’s
ways to show these stories whether it’s 360 or interactive apps or graphic
360 or interactive apps or graphic
360 or interactive apps or graphic novels or augmented reality we will find
novels or augmented reality we will find
novels or augmented reality we will find a way to bring these very important
a way to bring these very important
a way to bring these very important stories to you thank you
stories to you thank you
stories to you thank you [Applause]
”
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