Chris chats to the Creative Team 

I recently have tasked myself with interviewing the creative team to find out more about my coworkers and how they came to work at Studio Orange.

Today I sat down with Michael (Mike) our Animator & Editor. Mike is the ‘swiss army knife’ of the Studio Orange team, he can do a bit of everything.

‘Animator & Editor’ is a bit of a broad job title, so what might your day to day entail?

I usually rock up to work around 9 am, make a quick iced latte and boot up the computer. From there it’s really up to the projects that we have on hand and what needs my attention first. It can be anything from animated scenes, characters or products to creating graphics for animation. Occasionally there will be client liaising about upcoming or in-process projects, with storyboard meetings, feedback and script writing.

I always see your passion come through when speaking about your work, did you always want to work in this field?

I actually started my adult career doing Astro-physics. However, I always had a deep infatuation with film and cinema and it was a subscription to a VFX based youtube channel that opened my first door in after effects and motion graphics. The rest is basically history.

You are such a positive force in the office, bringing energy and happiness everyday. What do you love about working here?

I love the environment and the people I work with. I am a very loud and sociable kind of person. So being in a smaller intimate business is so much fun, being able to banter away with my colleagues and poking fun at each other. It just really helps create an overall creative and enjoyable workspace.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to work at Studio Orange?

It really depends on what you want to do here at Studio Orange. Every position requires a certain level of attention and skill range, but as a piece of overall advice, I would say there are a few important things. 

1- Be creative, open-minded and social. It’s hard to judge, but being able to gel with the rest of the team is hugely important. Anyone can come into work, clack on the keyboard and leave, but you gotta spend 8 hours 5 days a week with us. So don’t be afraid to chat and join in with the jokes.

2- Show some initiative. There’s always work to be done. So whether you can clean the coffee machine, wash some dishes or even your actual job. We are all here to do the best we can so stand up and make your voice heard because we love that.

Not that we want you to leave, but where do you want to holiday next?

I think my wife has decided that we are going back and travelling to America again. Most likely to Florida and a few other places. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I never really get a say when she has her mind made up (not that I am going to protest against any holiday).

Ok the question we are all here for, Mr movie himself. What is your go-to movie

I’ll do you 1 better and recommend my 2 favourite movies of all time.

‘Alien (1979)’, You can watch any of the re-releases, I’m not fussed, because they are all good. It is a perfectly paced movie, never letting the audience settle too much before it hits you with another bump that literally keeps you on the edge of your seat. 

‘When Harry met Sally’ is quite possibly the best movie/screenplay I have ever seen/read. Nora Ephron kills it, and Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are the culmination of the perfect love story. I honestly, don’t know what it is about this movie, but it just gets me. I cannot recommend this one enough.

Mike brings such positivity and laughter to the office. He is always willing to offer his help and produce great work on a constant basis. See some of his latest work here

Keep an eye out on our social channels for behind the scenes shots of our upcoming projects.