There are many creative and important jobs in Film and Television. Up till now, we have focused on live-action as well as voice over work. Producing in animation is another fascinating and important aspect of the Canadian film and TV industry. We met Julie Nguyen at the Leo Awards in Vancouver. Here is our conversation.
HNMAG: Were you born in Vancouver?
Julie Nguyen: I’m originally from Brampton, Ontario. I have lived in Toronto for most of my adult life.
HNMAG: When did you come to Vancouver?
Julie Nguyen: I moved to Vancouver in May of 2022. I’ve always wanted to work here ever since I started in Animation. I applied at Atomic Cartoons for the role of Line Producer and it worked out.
HNMAG: You got a job right out of Humber College?
Julie Nguyen: Humber was really great. The last semester, they had us do a co-op. Everyone in the Film and TV program found a job placement. I had a friend who was a production manager at an animation studio and she got me an office Production Assistant (PA) position.
HNMAG: Did you have an ambition in Film and TV growing up?
Julie Nguyen: Yes, I’ve always been pretty extroverted. I was in print modeling as a kid and I auditioned for small extra parts. I was exposed to the industry as young as six. I also love to sing, so I wanted to sing and act. I was always involved in theater in school. However, I was told as a young kid by my modeling agency that “nobody was looking for Asians” and that discouraged me from pursuing acting as a career. So I pursued Production, behind the camera instead since I still loved film and TV.
HNMAG: How long did it take to get a full-time job after your co-op?
Julie Nguyen: I was very keen and worked hard as a PA. I did that assignment for six months. I graduated in the Spring and in the Fall of that year, the studio offered me a job as a production coordinator. I worked with Elliott Animation for eight years in total. During that time, I became an Executive Assistant for the parent company Fresh TV. In 2013, I wanted to get back into production and became a production coordinator for Guru Studios. Several jobs after that, I became a Line Producer for Brown Bag Films. I worked on a pre-school show called StoryBots. I was with them for around four years.
HNMAG: What skills are required to be a good producer?
Julie Nguyen: It’s a hidden art because people don’t know exactly what production is doing. It’s mostly organizing but also reliant on being a great people person. You are not only managing the budget and schedule, you are also managing people and their personalities. You have to figure out how everyone’s personality works together and you cater to that.
HNMAG: What is the hierarchy of producing positions in an animation studio?
Julie Nguyen: There’s an executive producer, supervising producer, line producer, and sometimes below that is associate producer.
HNMAG: What is your responsibility as a line producer?
Julie Nguyen: To manage a tv show budget and schedule, along with hiring and managing a team of artists.
HNMAG: How did you know that Atomic Cartoons was looking for a line producer.
Julie Nguyen: I saw the posting on LinkedIn because I was following the industry in Vancouver.
HNMAG: How long did you work at Atomic?
Julie Nguyen: I was with them for about two years and the project I worked on wrapped up in October.
HNMAG: That was Rocket Saves The Day.
Julie Nguyen: Yes that was the project that was nominated for the Leo’s.
HNMAG: Did you get another job?
Julie Nguyen: Yes, I’m currently a production manager with Mainframe Studios. There is a slowdown in the animation industry. I was headhunted and I wanted to work again.
HNMAG: Would you like to work on a show that is set in Canada?
Julie Nguyen: Most of the animated shows are service work for the US. It’s almost like the US outsources to Canada, the same as live-action.
HNMAG: What would it take to get animated productions to be set in Canada?
Julie Nguyen: There’s not enough funding in the Canadian industry to produce the projects with the same quality. There are studios that have their own IP’s made but usually, it’s a co-production with a US company. You can pitch those IP’s to networks.
HNMAG: What are you working on at Mainframe?
Julie Nguyen: I can’t say what the project is but it’s also for PBS and it’s a preschool show. The Canadian animated industry for preschool is quite large.
Julie is a hard-working and passionate professional. She has had a long career in animation production in Toronto and Vancouver. Her organizational and interpersonal skills have served her well. She will continue to be part of many successful productions to come. Julie is an inspiration to aspiring young producers and production managers.