I develop, produce and create original animation for television and mobile devices.

EDUCATION | Master's degree in Film Production from San Diego State University Undergraduate Degree, American studies major, film studies minor from Brandeis University

HOW TO GET STARTED | Always be positive even if a job is boring or dull. Do your best. Find a way to show off your creativity and skills, and that way you'll quickly rise up, get more interesting work, and everyone will want to work with you on other interesting projects as well. Get a liberal arts education rather than focusing solely on film classes. It helps to have a well rounded background to get a job that encompasses business, art, etc. You'll be able to draw upon your life experiences to tell stories people care about.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Massive creativity balanced with practicality, ability to brainstorm a million ideas and then narrow it down to the one you'll actually be able to pull off well in the time given, and being self-motivated because nobody will be there cracking the whip all the time.

how I got started | After college graduation, one of my classmates started working at Hollywood Center Studios; I followed him and got a job in the art department, working in TV production doing everything from painting sets to props on the show "Crank Yankers" for Comedy Central. It was like going from one show to another with the same group of people. Then a client approached me about producing an original animated segment for a new show on the Sci-Fi channel. I felt I was ready to break off and start my own company and did, calling it Smorgasbord Productions. Unfortunately a week later the show was canceled and I had to close up the office I had just opened. But I felt that Smorgasbord was still the right career move for me. It was difficult at the beginning, but then I was able to expand my client base to where it is today: Pontiac, Coca-cola, Toshiba. I direct and animate spots for those clients for their billboards in Time Square. I've also been called up for assignments from the G4 network's "Attack of the Show." At the same time I'm creating original animated properties on my own like Mad Beanz. In 2006, one of my shows, called "Teapot" was picked up as a short for Nickelodeon and now we're pursuing independent investments to produce it and other shows through our company.

why this job?| The career chose me. I've been creating artwork since before I could walk. I've always used images to tell stories, through comic books, videos, etc. I've always been driven to do this.

why I love this job!| I love the people I get to work with. They are very creative, ambitious, motivated, great collaborators, and fun to work with. Every day is like recess where you get to play and use your imagination to come up with great ideas. Every job is completely different from the last; dealing with a new set of personalities, challenges, rewards. Things never get really stale. There is something new with every job.

my typical day| After I wake up I check voicemail and email for anything urgent needing my immediate attention. Then I hit the gym and get pumped up for day. My assistants arrive between 10am-12pm. I have set up assignments for them. Typically we're all working on the same animation project. I supervise the work while doing admin, paying bills, following up with clients, looking for new jobs, etc. Sometimes I get to do the fun parts: animation, illustration, writing, editing. Some evenings, around 7pm-8pm, I go to industry networking events with my producing partners. I'm usually back by 11pm and try to crunch in more work at the end of the day. At midnight I unwind by watching cartoons!

what they are | Sustaining yourself emotionally and financially is the main challenge. It's an industry where you'll work really, really hard on a project, and then have a lot of downtime until the next one comes along. It's important to be self-motivated and independent, especially if you're used to having a boss looking over your shoulder.

all about growth | Growth in this industry comes from your personal contacts and experiences. If there's a ladder to climb it's a lot like the game "Chutes and Ladders" where one day you're up the ladder and the next, you're down the chute. A lot of career paths are very straight, where you can climb, climb, climb. In this one you climb during a job and then down the chute back to square one at the end of the job, looking for work. It's important to remember to be nice to everyone. The intern who works for you today may be your boss a couple weeks later. The only progress you can really chart is through your connections. It's not like any other career where you can chart your progress up the corporate ladder. That's the fun and terrifying part - certain personalities would hate that.

my website| www.smorgasbordproductions.com