Rising Stars: Meet Jim Mortensen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Mortensen.

Hi Jim, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been a storyboard artist in the animation industry since 2010. Around 2020 when the pandemic hit and BLM was happening, I started thinking about how to give to the community in a specific and personal way. So in 2020, I put a call out on Twitter saying, “Hi! I would like to personally mentor 3 BIPOC artists for a year of 1:1 storyboard mentorship.” I met three amazing BIPOC artists over Zoom, and we had a year of personal mentorship!

After that year, I thought “Hmmmm, maybe other people would like to do this too.” So I put another call out on Twitter asking if any industry artists wanted to join in. And holy crap, did people respond. In the 2021 round of mentorship, we had 20 mentors and ~25 mentees engaging in a year of personal 1:1 artist mentorship. It was about that time that we kicked around names for the organization, and “Story for All” won out!

Since then, over 75 mentors and ~120 mentees pass through the Story for All “program”. We’ve had some great success with mentees being hired into the industry. But more than that, we’ve built an incredible little community of people trying to make a difference in the world in a very personal and actionable way. And the whole thing has been organic and amazing and we’re still doing it!

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 mean, I feel like I should say “OMG it’s been really tough”. But the only real tough part has been figuring out how to help each mentee in a way that’s best for them. Some need help with storyboard fundamentals. Some need help just staying motivated. And some just need a connection to the industry.

But since the SfA program is driven by passion and magic and dope people volunteering their spare time to help out, it has been organic and wonderful.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In my professional life, I’m a Director/Writer/Producer/Storyboard artist for animation. I’m a comedy guy, which is why my responses to these questions are so incredibly funny and witty wokka wokka wokka.

I have no idea what I’m “known for”. I think I’m good at building animation crews and creating a welcome and positive show culture? But I dunno. Maybe I’m just known as the guy that wears a purple hat.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Making the world just a tiny bit better every single day.

• Website: http://jimmortensen.net
• Instagram: instagram.com/jimmortensen
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimmmortensen/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-mortensen-8481987/
• Twitter: twitter.com/jimmortensen/
• Other: http://storyforall.net

Image Credits
Headshot by Cheers Babe Photo https://www.instagram.com/cheersbabephoto/