Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Babin.
Annie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I moved to LA from San Francisco following the dot-com crash in 2001. I was working as a freelance motion graphics artist, so as agencies and post-production houses went out of business, LA seemed like my only option.
I was working around LA as a freelance motion graphic artist and loved the teams I was part of…other freelancers…but the time spent was usually temporary. When a show aired, the project would end and off we’d go in our separate directions. I wanted to change that, even though I had little to no capital to launch from. In 2002, I founded LAVA Creative, a collaboration of artists, writers, coders and educators out of the belief that creativity benefits from solid collaboration. Our common interest, talent and experience was the capital, so we avoided the overhead of a brick and mortar office.
Has it been a smooth road?
Freelancing can be a lonely prospect, especially if working out of a home office. In forming LAVA, our collaboration helped bridge an otherwise isolating career. I remember years ago feeling strange that my work was being seen by millions of people, but while I was creating those graphics, I felt isolated and lonely!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with LAVA Creative – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
At LAVA, we approach projects as a team and provide clients the staff they need. As a result, we help each other stay gainfully employed and have fun in the process. Our clients range from television, large venue/live events to technical explainer videos. A favorite part of my work is being a vendor for shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show (SYN). I’ve been with Ellen since its launch in 2002 and have earned two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Main Title Design. I enjoy the achievements that come from doing what I love.
Additionally, curiosity has played a big part in my professional development. Navigating studio work and the sometimes challenging personalities in the industry left me wanting to understand more about organizations and group dynamics. I was particularly interested in the creative individuals who provide the backbone of this industry but are often left undervalued. So in 2010, I went back to grad school to become a clinical psychologist. I now consult with advocacy groups and was recently appointed to main title design chair of the Advisory Committee for the Daytime Emmy Awards/National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS).
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Los Angeles for its vibrant, diverse population. So many rich, unique stories unfold here and contribute to what I feel is a dreamer’s city. Movies and television are alive with it, projecting its magic out into the world, beckoning us with its gravitational pull! However, through my own experience and my work as a psychologist, I see people struggle to navigate what they perceive to the be broken or unachievable dreams. I believe that is why psychotherapy is alive and well here. So much growth can happen through understanding ourselves and the dynamics we find ourselves in.
Contact Info:
- Website: lavacreative.tv
Image Credit:
LAVA Creative
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