We were lucky to catch up with Alexander Austin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alexander thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I realized I wanted to change my career and my major! To pursue something greater in my last year of college at the University of Central Florida. It was the fall of 2019 and it all happened pretty quickly. I called a couple of Florida schools, trying to decide the best fit for me. FAU, FAMU, and UF but I didn’t want to go anywhere major. No, just a simple university was what I wanted. So, I took the advice of a good friend who’s school I’ve already been to. After a couple calls a submitted application and finding a place to live, just like that I was off to pursue a career in film and television, more specifically in animation.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi everyone. I’m Alexander Austin, I am a screen writer working on the producing a first cartoon series. I love films, movies and animation. I found out that I wanted to produce animated cartoons and write films after I was just about to finish my final semester of college. What luck right? Still, I don’t regret it, but maybe finding that out a little sooner would’ve been nicer.

The ball began rolling after I officially became a USF Bull. I was in my apartment binging all the Hulu, Netflix and online cartoons I could ingest and it hit me. I want to make shows and movies that take you on an adventure. That grab ahold of your imagination and bring it along for a ride. The hard part was figuring out how best to do that by myself. How to make new cartoons? A lot of reading; I MEAN ALOT. Many phone calls. Many hours of watching rewatching shows and movies that paid off when I spoke with Animation Director Kevin Riley. For the past couple of years he’s been a mentor, a friend and a professional guide to bringing to life our work of animation. I don’t thank you could be enough.

I think it was bound to happen. Me doing something involving film and leaving behind an idea to be a pro athlete. From a young age I acted, drew whatever I could think of after I finished my homework. I used all the pastels, colored pencils, markers and even these special pens my brother got me from Germany to draw with. I remember one time a drawing of mine was featured on Cartoon Networks: Cartoon Cartoon. I attended plays and watched movies and television every day. Mom didn’t encourage the television but when it came to the arts she was the one by my side through it all.

I started the company Full Couch from the idea that unity and family are what binds us to films and entertainment. Whenever I watched a film alone and enjoyed it I still felt I was missing something? I didn’t know what that was, not until I found myself alone and isolated. Away from my friends and family during a period (2020) that seemed as unreal as everything else that transpired that year.

I’m not an animator and I’m not a creator. I’m just someone who loves a good cartoon and a good film once in a while. Being together with friends and family watching a film or cartoon does something to you…for you, that you might not even realize what it is until after many, many times of doing it. A feeling of happiness and warmth. An appreciation of a living art with those closest to you. In some cases complete strangers. I am someone who wants to make films – cartoon films.

While currently working on different projects, they all hold the same heart, in one way or another. But I think the one that’s dearest to me is the story of the normal misadventures of an alpaca and a monkey who’s jobs are to keep the peace in a city filled with animals and supernatural beings. I call this one Straight Justice. I’m happy about the progress made but still I want to achieve so much more, it keeps me up at night. Working. Until finally I realize that it’s a new day and one needs to sleep.

As quickly as it comes is as quickly as it leaves. Good films are like home cooked meals, when prepared and served right they serve as an endless feast for those with a hungry gullet.

We can see an imperative need for new cartoons and animation, not just for children but for people. For people to see and experience something new, something that feels good not just once but many times over.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My answer to this question would be this. Be willing to learn what’s necessary. It comes and goes but as you arrive to different obstacles most times I’ve learned that actual answers come from those that have done it before myself. My go to’s have been MasterClass, Walt Disney, Fred Seibert, Animators, Aaron Sorkin, Christoper Nolan, and plenty of shows and movies

Read books of people of the past and listen to those in the present. I couldn’t put it any better than that. While experience is fantastic knowledge is the actual power.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I pivoted from wanting to be a pro athlete to making film cartoons.

I switched colleges to learn about film, and to be to myself away from friends and family. Though it wasn’t hard it’s interesting looking back how without any after thought, I made all the necessary preparations and up and left leaping for an idea that I didn’t have the full picture of then.

As of now I’m glad I did because as crazy as it seems it’s not as crazy as Blockbuster passing on the opportunity to acquire Netflix.

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