I'm going back to university! I kid, I kid, but I did spend a full day with third year animation students at Oakfields College in Pretoria, South Africa. I'm really excited for you to meet the students, see their work, spend time in their classes and introduce Oakfields College to those who haven't heard about it! Seeing the experience of studying animation from the student's perspective is very powerful - maybe even more powerful than traditional advertising. That's why I'm spending a...

Today's episode is sponsored by TVPaint French 2D animation software. To learn more & download the free trial visit: ⁠⁠⁠tvpaint.com⁠⁠ What do you think of when I say “Industry Standard”. Do you think of the most popular tools? Do you feel pressure when you hear someone use the term? Or can we think about more deeply? I asked you guys about it on Instagram and I’ll be sharing your responses and my thoughts to your responses in today’s episode. Tell me how you enjoyed the show. Send a...

I would say 2022 is the year where I gained the most experience pivoting our sales strategy. I don’t know how many times I pitched, re-pitched, re-packaged and revised our presentations this year. We had to re-adjust to manage some unexpected financial woes or risk falling apart. Since book 2 is all about learning from the set-backs while still making progress today’s lessons fit just right. Tell me how you enjoyed the show. Send a DM on Instagram @cabblow.podcast or a voice mail on the...

Today's episode is all about how hiring yourself and bootstrapping can pay off and we have friends! I’ve asked my friends and mentors in the industry to share some of their opinions about competitions & incubators and the impact they’ve had on their careers or on the industry. You’ll hear the voice notes sprinkled in the episode! Today's guests are: Brian Wilson - Story Writer & Founder of Zero Gravity Studios, Nigeria  Brian's Ciclic Experience:...

Competitions! Love them or hate them they can be a really useful tool to motivate you to make progress in your business. I’ve done a few competitions both in business and in animation and in this episode I share some of the lessons I’ve learnt from those experiences. If you’re thinking about entering that business contest or animation pitching event this episode could be the tool that helps you make a decision. Tell me how you enjoyed the show. Send a DM on Instagram @cabblow.podcast or a...

Today's episode is sponsored by TVPaint French 2D animation software. To learn more & download the free trial visit: tvpaint.com “Don’t concentrate on the finger or you’ll miss all that heavenly glory” is a quote by Bruce Lee in the movie “Enter The Dragon”. Bruce is trying to get his pupil to understand that the focus of his martial arts is content. In Bruce’s words, “Emotional content”, not the finger pointing to the moon, but the moon! How does Bruce Lee pointing at the moon have...

In this episode we recap & reflect on season 1 of the podcast as we gear up for season 2. Cabblow shares some behind the scenes and the makeshift processes followed to even get the podcast going in the first place.  In this episode we also reflect on some highlights and favourite moments of the season. What went well? Where we can improve and where where are we going next?! Tell me how you enjoyed the show. Send a DM on Instagram @cabblow.podcast or a voice mail on the Anchor...

I remember when I was in film school I had zero zilch idea how films and series are bought and sold. How does a film (or tv show) go from the hands of a creator and end up in front of the eyes of a viewer? Answer... Film markets! Durban Film Mart is an international film market where creators, producers or animators can meet with buyers and broadcasters to pitch their projects or sell their finished productions. In this episode I sat down with Magdalene Reddy - the General Manager of the...

Listen, after talking to Lise in today's episode I was seriously considering getting an iPad just so I can try Callipeg and work it into my current workflow. Callipeg started a year ago (2020) and after its successful Kickstarter the app has already seen so much momentum and success with a growing user base. If this is not a great case study for starting a successful business in unprecedented times then I don't know what is. Two more things: 1. As an artist and an animator I also came to...

Up until now all the episodes we've released have been about business and money and strategy etc... but now it's time to talk about the other aspects of this job/career/industry, which is loving what you do and finding fulfilment. I had such a great time listening to Daby's story from growing up in Iraq & studying architecture in Israel to working in Animation in Hollywood. Her production credits include The Breadwinner & Shaun the Sheep (I almost wrote "of the dead"), Harley Quinn TV...

In today's episode I interview Stuart Forrest - the CEO of Triggerfish Animation Studios. The Cape Town based studio is (as of this recording) the largest animation studio on the African continent. Triggerfish has become a powerhouse in the animation industry. From projects like the award-winning "Revolting Rhymes" Christmas specials on BBC based on Roald Dahl classics to the Netflix original animated series "Mama K's Team 4". The show is Africa's first Netflix original animated series. It...

Today's episode I break down some of the ways that we've been able to make money through our short film "3 Teaspoons of Sugar". This doesn't have to be an illusive process. What I've discovered is that it's more about trying different methods of making money and treating your film like a product that you can milk to your heart's content. ALL THE LINKS: BUY SOME MERCH ON OUR STORE: https://hellopretty.co.za/cabblowstudios WATCH OUR SHORT FILM "3 TEASPOONS OF SUGAR": VIMEO ON DEMAND:...

In this episode I talk about all the times when pushing to have a career in animation and start a business in animation is not easy. Essentially it's working without a template. It's not cute, it's "unfun" and just plain hard! There is a plus side to being a trailblazer, though, and making your own way path. You get to discover the true worth of the work that you do. You get to learn just how capable you are and you learn how to charge the true value of the work you put out there!! HERE...

In this episode I share some elements (or tools or principles) that I believe would give you a good starting point if you were looking to break out into the animation business independently. This list is by no means a "one-size-fits-all" situation - nor is it exhaustive. I came up with this list based on my experience and observations. Always relate what I'm saying to your specific context and apply what's most relevant.  In the second half of the podcast I dive into the eco-system of the...

Ok, so in the previous episode I shared why I started a business, but what is business exactly? Isn't it just a means of money exchange for products and services. I think, "Yes", but I'm also learning that it's more than just selling products or services. It's about something called "value" and that's what I'm talking about in today's episode. ... In continuing from episode 1 I thought the most logical place to start is at the beginning with a definition of business. I find that as I'm...

Maybe you're toying with the idea of starting your own studio and you're looking for a valid reason - I'm willing to bet that you already know the answer and might be afraid that it's not valid enough. Well, in this episode I share the very simple and short reason why I started Cabblow Studios and the long story of how that came to be.  You don't need an extensively substantiated reason to start, all you need is a reason that is is compelling enough to you and that's what makes it valid all...

A little prologue before the first episode of the podcast introducing Cabblow Studios - the company behind the podcast, the host Kabelo "Cabblow" Maaka and the overall purpose of the podcast. Things mentioned in today's episode: Cabblow Studios: @cabblowstudios Our first short film 3 Teaspoons of Sugar - Tour dates coming soon We have merchandise from our short film on sale on the Cabblow Studios online store - looks like I launched it on time for the podcast after all :) --- Send in...