085: Heading a Creative Department

Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 10 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.

Diving into our first interview this week, we have Montana Dobrovich-Fago talking with Patrick Smith, the head of visualization at MPC Visualization Studios, a major visual effects company in Los Angeles. Through the interview we learn about Patrick’s past studying computer animation at Savannah College of Arts and Design, to his current role at MPC where he has worked on projects such as Avengers: Infinity War, Nope, Prehistoric Planet, and Emmy award winning Chip ‘N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers. Patrick discusses what it is like to Head the visualization department including where he finds creative freedom in the position, and how he and his department navigated shifts in the industry due to COVID19. They conclude with some tips and tricks from Patrick for creatives hoping to navigate a similar career.

Gianna Ormonde brings us to a close this week with her interview of Bloom Nutrition’s Head of Creative Marketing, Nareh Vartanian. Ormonde leads in with Vartanian’s education background by discussing her degree in Creative Advertising from Michigan University. The pair go on to discuss how Nareh started as a Graphic Designer for Bloom and what the journey then was to Head of Creative Marketing with this growing company. They also discuss what is entailed in being the head of a creative department, including some of the struggles and challenges she has encountered in the role. The pair end the interview with Vartanian reflecting on some personal experiences and offering insight and advice to those hoping to carve out a career in the Creative and Cultural Industries.