We recently connected with Taylor Aseere and Caitlin Schrader and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Taylor Aseere and Caitlin Schrader, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?
Knowing your worth is extremely important in this industry. We have both been in unfortunate situations where management made us feel insignificant, easily replaceable, and downright worthless. This has taught us a valuable lesson in knowing what you bring to the table, and having confidence in that. These experiences have given us the opportunity to foster a positive environment as business owners. It is crucial that everyone at the studio feels valued and important and has a safe space to speak their mind and share ideas. Don’t ever let anyone dim your light or try to convince you that you are worth less than you are as an artist.
Taylor Aseere and Caitlin Schrader, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Shattered Glass Film LLC (SGF) is a women-led animation and previsualization studio based in Los Angeles, CA. Our vision is to revolutionize the animation industry by creating a more diverse and inclusive landscape through high-quality, socially relevant animated content that fosters empathy, understanding, and positive change while prioritizing safety, equity, and accessibility for all by breaking down barriers in the entertainment industry. The idea of Shattered Glass Film came to us during the Covid-19 lockdown. With the mandatory curfew in place in Los Angeles, we had a lot of time on our hands and an itch to be creative. We were living together during much of the pandemic, so we had a great opportunity to bounce ideas off of one another.
Together we have over a decade of years of studio experience in the entertainment industry. Something that we noticed during our time was how truly male-dominated the industry is, especially in the world of VFX and animation. This is something that led us to the inception of SGF. We knew that the two of us, both with leadership experience and fresh ideas and perspectives, could really spark something in this industry. The two of us are confident we will be trailblazers in paving the way for future generations of female artists, filmmakers, and storytellers.
How’d you meet your business partner?
We met in college at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD). We were introduced through a mutual friend, and Caitlin ended up working on my Senior thesis film. We had so much fun working together and quickly became friends. A couple years later after graduation, I contacted Taylor asking how she was doing and if she had any connections out in Los Angeles where I could get my foot in the door. Being the incredibly kind human being that she is, she suggested I come and crash on her couch for a while while I looked for work. And so I did! We quickly became inseparable best friends for life!
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Just make sure everyone is having a good time. Everyone who first joins this industry does so because they are passionate and love what they do. It can be extremely discouraging when you are miserable at work; it sucks when you hate doing what you previously have always loved. In addition, ensure that everyone on your team is doing what they actually want to do. If they are unhappy with their role/duties, encourage them to speak up so everyone involved can come to a solution. Always make sure your team members are being paid fairly and appropriately. Open communication is key. Encourage your team to ask questions if they are confused or stuck. It is best for everyone to be on the same page! It is important to put emphasis on the community and culture of the studio. Someone can be a fantastic artist, but if they aren’t kind or don’t get along with the team, then it’s most likely not going to work out in the end.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shatteredglassfilm.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shattered_glass_film/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shatteredglassfilm
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shattered-glass-film/