Today we’d like to introduce you to Geoff Ross
Hi Geoff, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a child, I immediately took to drawing thanks to my grandfather. Even though I only knew him toward the end of his storied life, the lasting impression I gleaned was the passion and talent he had as a painter. Little did I know that this brief overlap in our journeys would become the catalyst to my pursuit of a creative career.
There has always been a part of me that has known I wanted to work in animation, particularly for TV. This is thanks to the works of animators like Chuck Jones and Bob Clampett, along with the geniuses that make Saturday Night Live happen each week. After earning my Bachelor of Arts degree in media study – production from the University at Buffalo; S.U.N.Y., where I took any and all animation electives I could, I gained experience as a production assistant for small companies on Long Island and in New York City. It was during this time that I was fortunate enough to not only learn the ins and out of video production, but hone my skills in editing and motion graphics. Adobe After Effects was the program that really changed the game. It motivated me to take the first step toward pursuing a career in animation; grad school.
I initially deferred my acceptance into the graduate program at Savannah College of Art and Design a full year. I know this may sound counter-productive, but I did this in order to gain more work experience. While working at Everyday Health, Inc., I was fortunate enough to work as a production assistant with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who came on as one of our correspondents. He was supportive of my decision to pursue animation at SCAD. Given that he is based in Atlanta, I even got to continue working as a freelance P.A., whenever the Everyday Health video production team would travel to work with him.
Once I finally entered the animation graduate program at SCAD in Atlanta, I was off to the races! It was a challenging experience to say the least, but SCAD presented me with opportunities and networking I never thought I would have otherwise. It was during this time that I met artists from Floyd County Productions; the studio that produced the adult animated sitcom, Archer, amongst other projects. At first, the imposter syndrome was overwhelming, but I had a gut feeling that this was where I was meant to be. Luckily, F.C.P. was willing to keep in touch while I finished my Master of Fine Arts degree. They would send me art tests throughout the years, each of which I knew was an improvement from the last.
After briefly moving back home to New York and working as a video editor again, I received news that Floyd County was hiring. Before I knew it, I was moving back to Atlanta to work as an illustrator on season 10 of Archer. I couldn’t believe it. I had only expected to work on one season of the show, but thanks to the animation experience I gained at SCAD and my After Effects experience as a P.A. and editor, I worked with the company for five and a half years. I even had the chance to work on other productions such as season one of Hit-Monkey, America: The Motion Picture, and Agent Elvis. I continued as an animator on Archer for seasons 12 and 13 before eventually becoming a lead animator on the 14th and final season of the show. I still can’t believe I have been fortunate enough, not only to have the experiences I have had, but to be part of such a talented and supportive community.
Currently, I am still in Atlanta, contracted as a creative lead for The Sketch Effect where I guide the creative production of every animated, B2B video we produce. I continue to collaborate with unbelievably talented artists and animators and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Simultaneously, and thanks to the inspiration from my grandfather, I continue to create. In my spare time, I write animated TV pitches of my own, sometimes even submitting them to competitions or other outlets. I continue to collaborate with the immensely talented folks around me!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would be truly amazed if there is anyone out there who can say pursuing their career has been a smooth road. Personally, I believe it is the setbacks and unexpected challenges that make people who they are. It has taken many of those for me to gain the mindset that there is no such thing as failure, only learning experiences.
From a broader perspective, I would say the fear of failure is a challenge many people face, especially when pursuing a career in something they are passionate about. I know, because I almost didn’t even apply to graduate school for animation. It wasn’t until hurricane Sandy in 2012, that I knew it was time to act despite my fear. Nothing is guaranteed, so why not go for it? Ultimately, this single step forward was what led me on the path I knew I was meant for.
Even though I was now headed in the right direction, several obstacles would continue to present themselves along the way. These have ranged from things like imposter syndrome and rejection, to having to move back home with my parents more than once, along with other personal challenges. Going back to school was no easy feat, as I learned I may be in over my head when seeing the competition. I had taken the illustration test for Floyd County three separate times, before the timing was right for me to join the team. When I was finally hired, there was a death in my family not too long after. On top of this, I have gone many months without work during regularly scheduled hiatuses or slow times in the industry. I have often been forced to live in uncertainty. However, none of this has stopped me from continuing along my path.
With much of the personal work I create, I tend to incorporate a theme of acting despite fear. Personally, I believe there are more talented people than me out there not achieving their goals, simply due to fear of failure. I don’t mean to sound negative in any way, but I am saying this due to personal experience. I have repeatedly and willingly put myself in the face of rejection, with the long term knowledge that each opportunity, regardless of outcome, leads to another as well as with self-improvement.
One more point I would like to make here is that pursuing a creative career will never be easy. The only thing that becomes easier is the way in which one handles each situation. I believe a collective and productive step forward we can all take is to be supportive of one another. There is a lot of competition out there, but it doesn’t have to be cut-throat. Like anything else, everyone is living a life of obstacles you may know nothing about, so the least we can do is be encouraging and kind.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in 2D animation with proficiency in Adobe After Effects and digital puppet animation. Thanks to this knowledge and experience, I have been able to apply certain concepts to other programs and parts of the pipeline, such as Toon Boom Harmony, specifically in character rigging as well as animation. Thanks to my diverse background, spanning from editing to motion graphics and animation, I have been able to pursue more leadership roles, guiding others through production pipelines.
These days, I have been exploring writing comedic television pitches and scripts as a creative outlet. Pursuing leadership roles has allowed me to gain a new insight into animated productions as a whole, and writing has allowed me to truly create something unique starting from inception. I consider myself a comedy nerd and have always had a tendency to lean in that direction with my work. During the pandemic, I even submitted 48 cartoons to The New Yorker. None were accepted, but it was a fun, worthwhile experience nonetheless. I continue to educate and immerse myself in the worlds of animation and comedy, looking for new, creative ways to incorporate both into what I produce.
How do you think about luck?
Luck is a funny thing and I find myself somewhat hesitant to talk about it. I say this not because I don’t believe it plays a role, but I believe it balances itself out with the actions one takes. I am definitely lucky when it comes to the support of my family and friends. Without that support, I may not have found the confidence to take certain steps toward achieving my goals. I have also consistently tried to work hard and put myself out there, to continue to open certain doors. The results of stepping through those doors can come with varied results.
An example of “good luck” was when I lived back home on Long Island for a bit at one point in my career. It was not an ideal situation, but necessary for that time in my life. Once I finally made the firm decision to move back to Atlanta for work, everything seemed to fall into place. Unbeknownst to me, a coworker of mine needed a roommate, thus giving me a place to live. As a result, I met and became friends with more people at work. I even ended up getting promoted not too long after. I would consider this good luck that came as a result of certain necessary actions I had decided to take.
I believe networking and building relationships is never not worth it. Much of the “good luck” I have had so far has come from simply talking to people. Sometimes, I don’t even discuss anything work related. More often than not, I just want to learn more about a person. Talking to people in my industry has led me to achieve both “good luck” and “bad luck” and I consider both worthwhile. I say this because it relates back to the point I made about there being no such thing as failure. Even my negative experiences have become major life lessons and played a significant role in pivoting my career to somewhere positive down the line.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.geoffrossanimation.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grosstoons/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grross/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/grossproductions
Image Credits
Adam Gambrel
Elyse Filigheri
Geoff Ross
