Post Break 18 - The Business of Animation: Past, Present, and Future

Post New York Alliance Podcast

Post Break- The Business of Animation: Past, Present and Future (Audio)

Post Break- The Business of Animation: Past, Present and Future

Animation house owners in conversation about the pre and post pandemic landscape, how tax credits help or hurt and what positions are animation companies looking to fill.

Thursday, August 27th at 4pm EST via ZOOM

PANELISTS:
James Belfer, Founder and CEO, Cartuna

James Belfer is the Founder and CEO of Cartuna - an award-winning, Brooklyn based, full-service animation studio. James has executive produced original series with NBCU, Comedy Central, Quibi, SYFY and Snap Originals. He executive produced the first two adult animated series for Facebook Watch, one of which was nominated for Best TV Production at the 2019 Annie Awards. Additional original series have been licensed to Comcast, IFC and Comedy Central. Recently Cartuna produced the new animated opening sequence for the At-Home Edition of the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a 30-minute special report for HBO's VICE News Tonight, and animated segments for Showtime’s Desus and Mero.
As an independent film producer, James has produced thirteen feature films - four animated and nine live-action. He has premiered work at the Sundance Film Festivals eight times, winning the 2011 Grand Jury Prize for the film Like Crazy and a 2016 Special Jury Prize for the animated documentary NUTS!. His films have also premiered at SXSW, Berlinale (Golden Bear for Best Director), Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Tribeca Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. His films have been acquired by Paramount Pictures, Amazon Studios, Shudder, Magnolia Pictures, IFC Films, Sony, Anchor Bay and Kino Lorber.
James is a graduate of Northwestern University and received his MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. Since 2013 James has been an Adjunct Professor for NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Currently, James resides/quarantines in Brooklyn, NY with his dog Leela.
Mary Nittolo/ Founder/ECD

Mary was born in Brooklyn and except for a 2 year stint in San Francisco has lived in NY her entire life. Her segue from street kid with a Rosie Perez accent to a degree in Philosophy and Comparative Religions to Founder and Creative
Director is largely based on the native Brooklynite’s penchant for self invention.
She founded the STUDIO, a creative production and animation company, just over 30
years ago. Her clients include everyone from media giants like Disney and Viacom to
major brands, museums, artists and filmmakers, start-ups, non-profits, etc., essentially
creating for them the images that are needed to persuade, influence and inspire. the
STUDIO’s projects have included feature films, Museum exhibitions, Time Square &
Stadium takeovers, installations, data visualization, internal communications, advertising,
social media content, and so on.
In addition to her role at the STUDIO, she is an adjunct professor at NYU and serves on the Advisory Board of AoIT High School in Brooklyn, NY.
She is proudest however of having been a single mother of two extraordinary daughters
both active voices for social change.
MODERATOR:

Yana Collins Lehman, Chairman of the PNYA Board & President and COO of Trevanna Post - Yana currently oversees strategy and operations of the New York, Los Angeles and London offices, overseeing a staff of 40. She has been a post production accountant at Trevanna, working on feature films and television shows since 2004. She is an active member of Local 161.