We were lucky to catch up with Audrey Di Faye recently and have shared our conversation below.
Audrey, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Spike & Crown Studios is an indie animation studio. We make animated films that highlight stories untold.
In the summer of 2010. John Lee, an Art Center Alumni approached Frans Kusuma with an idea to create story based on Spanish Mythology. Frans enlisted the help of Audrey di Faye to write the script for The House of La Mancha. In 2021, Audrey secured initial seed funding for the studio and Spike & Crown Studios was born.
The House of La Mancha
Today, we aim to tell Isabela’s story and begin the journey of creating a animated story to be enjoyed from people from all walks of life.
What is important to us is being able to showcase the diversity of our team. We’re made up of people of color, women, veterans, and more. We want to show more people like us can create projects that are polished and that can compete with mainstream Hollywood.
Audrey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Audrey di Faye sat on stage at the LACMA’s Leo S. Bing Theatre. A six hundred seat auditorium standing next to an array of street lamps in the heart of artistic metropolis.
One look at Di Faye, sporting a crop top, skirt, and heels, not one soul would stop to think that she was a US Army veteran who toured Afghanistan and South Korea.
Di Faye sat composed, legs crossed, as the host asked, “how did you get that shot on Hollywood boulevard?” The host, Mr. Aaron Dowell, a film instructor out of Inglewood paused, a big smirk on his face.
“Aftermath” was written in about a week and then filmed within a month, about a week dedicated to editing. The shot that Dowell referenced took about about forty minutes to shoot in the middle of the bustling intersection known as Hollywood and Highland.
“It took a whole squad,” Audrey said, “I picked up a step ladder, handed Jen the shot list and asked Franco to film while I was directing Jess in the rabbit suit all the while trying to keep pedestrians from walking in front of her.
“Christine helped block pedestrians on the other side of Jess and Franco, all the while we were dodging the vendors yelling ‘Hotdog! Hotdog!’ at us.
“Come on people, we’re making a movie here! Guerilla shooting is the absolute worst, but there was no way we’d be able to do this otherwise.”
The crowd laughed. “Stop laughing,” Audrey said, “it was a war zone.” And the crowd kept going.
Through the help of the renowned program, Veterans Make Movies, Audrey debuted her first short film, “Aftermath” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2019.
In the midst of the pandemic she was accepted into the USC Warrior Bards program where her animated short, “Burger Day,” premiered over Zoom to a crowd of over a hundred Zoom participants.
Paula Cizmar, USC Associate Professor of Theatre and playwright, originally suggested that Audrey narrate “Burger Day,” as part of the final project. Di Faye declined, even though Cizmar said, “Audrey has a nice voice.”
“Hannah’s voice is much nicer than mine, I’d prefer to let the professional handle it,” Di Faye said, referring to USC Student actor, Hannah Lloyd, who also voiced the narrator of her story.
William “Greg” Thalmann, USC Professor Emeritus, kicked off Q&A with Audrey who mentioned that reading Greek Tragedy inspired the creation of “Burger Day,” which went on to take on four honorable mentions, a screening over KPBS San Diego, and an honorable mention.
Kim Estes, Emmy-Award winning actor and producer said, “Audrey is one of the most talented artists that I know,” after the USC Warrior Bards premiere.
“Burger Day” was hand drawn and animated by Di Faye over the course of four weeks. It was this success over Zoom that inspired Di Faye to take her filmmaking in another direction.
In the Spring of 2021, Audrey co-founded Spike & Crown Studios, alongside Director and Professor Frans Kusuma. Alongside Editor and Academy Award Nominee, Edward Alva. Kim Estes also signed on as an executive producer.
In November 2021, Di Faye is collaborating with EDM DJ Duo “The Hotel Lobby” to bring the soundtrack of Spike & Crown’s first animated short to another level of entrepreneurship.
“The House of La Mancha,” Spike & Crown’s upcoming story is about a young girl who must deal with a shadowy intruder who wants to take away her family. It’s up to Isabela and her friend Sancho to save the day.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Over a Zoom meeting, di Faye leans back in her chair and uncrosses her legs to come a little closer to the microphone. “Major studios are manufacturing authenticity–you know the shows and the movies coming out–all that is beautiful and great,” Di Faye said, “but Spike & Crown Studios is 50% led by women and is made up of 90% people of color. You can’t get more authentic than that.”
Audrey di Faye, producer at Spike & Crown Studios, is helping lead a team looking to make a studio that is more inclusive for underrepresented artists and to change the stories being told in Hollywood.
di Faye says that Spike & Crown has the vision to become the American version of Studio Ghibli. “It’s just a matter of doing years of hard work to turn that vision into reality. It’s ambitious, but in the end, I want everyone to know that I did my best to amplify voices, talent, and all groups of people that have a need for representation in mainstream media. We need to do this for minorities who have put in the work but have yet to be recognized.
We’ll have to work hard to be accepted into film festivals, network, develop, and produce the way that indies have been doing it for years.
“I call on angel investors who have an interest in indie film & entertainment that want to bet on people driven projects. If you’re ready to get your name and your checkbook on the line, you’ll raise us up, get a chance at the red carpet, and help our dreams come true. Let’s get in contact,” di Faye says, “I will show you all the value we’re proud of and how we can be an immense part of a diverse portfolio.”
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
“Our mission is simple.” di Faye says, “We want to tell diverse stories that are daringly emotional, that are authentic, and that honor minorities who deserve to have a voice in Hollywood.” 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spikeandcrown.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spikeandcrown/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpikeAndCrownStudios
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spike-and-crown-studios
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/spikeandcrown
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@spikecrownstudios4909
Image Credits
Copyright Spike & Crown Studios & Casa de La Mancha Inc 2023