Can Colorado become a major hub for animation?

On this episode of Set Talks, host Nick Fiorella sitsdown with Jason Shwartz, Emmy-nominated animation director, producer, and President of ASIFA-Colorado, to talk about the growing animation community in Colorado and what it will take to build a sustainable industryhere.

Jason has worked across animation for more than two decades, including projects for Adult Swim, Disney, Netflix, Hulu, Comedy Central and more. After building his career outside Colorado, he returned home and began helping connect the state’s animators, students, studios, filmmakers and educators through ASIFA-Colorado.

We talk about:

• Jason’s journey from Colorado to the professionalanimation industry

• Working in animation for Adult Swim and other major networks and studios

• The mission behind ASIFA-Colorado

• Why networking is just as important as artistic ability

• How young animators can break into the industry

• The importance of mentorship and working alongside other artists

• Colorado’s film incentives and what they could mean for animation

• How incentives helped transform Atlanta into a major production hub

• Remote work vs. building local animation studios

• Independent animation and the decreasing barriers to making your own films

• Sundance’s arrival in Colorado and opportunities for animation

• Why filmmakers need to stop chasing perfection and actually release theirwork

• What Colorado needs to become a serious destination for animation production

Jason also shares practical advice for aspiring animators,including why learning filmmaking fundamentals matters just as much as learning animation and why your second full-time job should be networking.

Whether you’re an animator, filmmaker, motion designer,student, or simply interested in the future of Colorado’s creative industry, this conversation offers a fascinating look at where animation in the state could be headed.

Learn more about ASIFA-Colorado:
ASIFAColorado.org

Set Talks is Colorado’s film industry podcast, featuring conversations with the filmmakers, artists, organizations andindustry leaders helping build Colorado’s production community.

Subscribe for more conversations about filmmaking and theColorado film industry.

#Animation #ColoradoFilm #ASIFAColorado #SetTalks#Filmmaking #ColoradoAnimation #AnimationIndustry #DenverFilm

Learn More about ASIFA Colorado here:

www.asifa-colorado.org/

Follow ASIFA-Colorado on Instagram and Facebook @ASIFAColorado

Check out Jason’s Animation Work here:

https://www.greenshoeanimation.com/jason/

The 5 C’s of Cinematography Book:

https://store.ascmag.com/products/the-five-cs-of-cinematography-motion-picture-filming-techniques?srsltid=AfmBOopyeb8JuzWCSNiCgFksfD1QtmvtZ_rkH4SYKuBK4JIKTI8rCtrv

Connect with the Local Colorado Film community!

Become a member of WIFMCO - https://www.wifmco.org/members

Become a Member at CFVA - https://www.cfva.com/memberships

00:00 Introduction

01:18 Jason Shwartz, Animation Experience

11:08 Relaunching ASIFA-Colorado

12:33 What is ASIFA?

13:51 Animation Education & Events

17:04 Who should join ASIFA?

18:21 Colorado Film Scene Success

22:23 Building an Animation Career in Colorado

24:49 Remote Work in Animation

27:29 ASIFA working with Film Festivals

30:27 Independent Animated Films

32:52 Advice for Animation Filmmakers

35:56 Animation Skillsets & Advice

46:38 Follow ASIFA-Colorado

Can Colorado become one of America's top filmmaking destinations?

In this episode of Set Talks, host Nick Fiorella sits down with Colorado Film Commissioner Lauren Grimshaw Sloan to discuss the future of filmmaking in Colorado, the state's film incentive program, Sundance's move to Boulder, and what it will take to create more jobs, attract major productions, and grow Colorado's film economy.

Lauren shares insights from her experience in independent film, production, SeriesFest, and the Colorado Film Office while outlining her vision for strengthening Colorado's film infrastructure and supporting local filmmakers.

Whether you're a filmmaker, producer, crew member, student, actor, or simply passionate about Colorado's creative economy, this conversation offers valuable insight into where the industry is headed.

🎬 Lauren's journey to becoming Colorado Film Commissioner

🎬 Colorado's film tax incentive explained

🎬 How productions qualify for the incentive

🎬 Why Colorado loses productions to neighboring states

🎬 Building a stronger film industry and creating jobs

🎬 Supporting independent filmmakers and film festivals

🎬 Sundance's move to Boulder and what it means for Colorado

🎬 Growing Colorado's film infrastructure

🎬 Why filmmakers should connect with their state legislators

🎬 Lauren's vision for the next five years of Colorado filmmaking

Lauren also encourages Colorado filmmakers, crew members, production companies, and supporters to contact their state legislators and explain why a stronger film program matters to them, emphasizing that constituent voices can directly influence future policy discussions.

Learn more about the Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media:⁠https://oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-office-of-film-television-media⁠

🎬 Want to help growColorado's film industry?If you believe Colorado should attract more film and television productions,take a few minutes to contact your state Senator and Representative. Share howa stronger film incentive would impact you, your business, your career, or yourcommunity.

Find your Colorado legislators here:⁠https://leg.colorado.gov/find-my-legislator⁠

Your voice matters. Legislators often hear fromorganizations—but hearing directly from Colorado filmmakers, crew members, actors, business owners, students, and film fans can help demonstrate the real economic and creative impact of investing in Colorado's film industry.

Set Talks is Colorado's film industry podcast featuringconversations with filmmakers, producers, actors, crew members, film commissioners, and industry leaders working to grow Colorado's film and television community.

Subscribe for new episodes featuring Colorado's filmprofessionals and creative leaders.

#Filmmaking #FilmProducer #FilmFinancing #FilmDistribution#IndependentFilm #ColoradoFilm #SetTalks #FilmIndustry #Producer #Screenwriting#Sundance #FilmFunding #MovieMaking #FilmBusiness #CFVA

Connect with the LocalColorado Film community!

Become a member of WIFMCO - ⁠https://www.wifmco.org/members⁠

Become a Member at CFVA - ⁠https://www.cfva.com/memberships⁠

00:00 Introduction

02:06 Lauren Grimshaw Sloan Film Career

04:10 Colorado Film Commissioner

06:03 Working with Colorado Creative Industries

07:01 Colorado Film Community

09:16 Local Independent Filmmakers

11:32 Colorado Film Festivals

13:42 Colorado Film Tax Incentive

16:13 How can we improve Colorado Tax Incentive?

19:56 Sundance Film Festival Impact

23:54 How can the film community help?

25:17 The Future of Colorado Film

What does it really take to make an ambitious independent feature film in Colorado?In this episode of Set Talks, host Nick Fiorella sits down with two filmmakers helping build Colorado’s independent film scene: writer-director Jesse Stewart, founder and CEO of Epocene Motion Picture Company, and producer Alex Rhodes-Wilmere, CEO of ARWorks Motion Picture Company.Together, Jesse and Alex share the journey behind their independent feature film Piggy Duster, from developing the script and building their production companies to filming in the Colorado mountains, navigating production challenges, protecting the creative vision of the project, and bringing the finished film to audiences.The conversation also explores their award-winning short film Mt. Molehill, an ambitious Colorado production that helped lay the groundwork for Piggy Duster and shaped their approach to independent filmmaking.In this episode, we discuss:🎬 Building an independent film production company🎥 Taking a feature film from script to screen🏔️ Making ambitious independent films in Colorado✍️ Writing and developing Piggy Duster🎞️ How Mt. Molehill helped pave the way for a feature film🤝 The relationship between writers, directors, and producers📋 Planning for complex low-budget productions🌲 Filming in remote Colorado mountain locations🎭 Working with actors to protect a film’s emotional core📸 Storyboarding, shot lists, and visual storytelling💰 Producing independent films with limited resources🎪 Navigating the film festival circuit📺 Distribution and releasing an independent feature🏢 Why filmmakers build their own production companies🎯 Protecting a film’s creative vision from development through distributionWhether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, producer, writer, director, film student, or independent creator trying to get your first feature made, this episode offers a candid look at what it takes to build a production company and bring an ambitious film from idea to finished release.ABOUT THE GUESTSJesse Stewart is the founder and CEO of Epocene Motion Picture Company, as well as a writer and director whose award-winning short film Mt. Molehill helped lead to the development of the independent feature Piggy Duster.Alex Rhodes-Wilmere is the CEO of ARWorks Motion Picture Company and a producer behind both Mt. Molehill and Piggy Duster. His work focuses on helping ambitious independent films move from development into production while building sustainable filmmaking infrastructure.www.piggyduster.comFollow @Piggyduster on Social MediaMt. Molehill | Award Winning Short Film | Action Adventurehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af4JHGx8rkk ABOUT SET TALKSSet Talks is Colorado’s film industry podcast, featuring conversations with filmmakers, producers, directors, actors, crew members, educators, film commissioners, and industry leaders working across film, television, commercial production, and independent media.Subscribe for more conversations with the people making films and building Colorado’s creative community.Connect with the Local Colorado Film community!Become a member of WIFMCO - https://www.wifmco.org/membersBecome a Member at CFVA - https://www.cfva.com/memberships#SetTalks #IndependentFilm #ColoradoFilm #Filmmaking #FilmProducer #FilmDirector #IndieFilmmaking #FeatureFilm #FilmProduction #ColoradoFilmmakers #PiggyDuster #FilmIndustry

00:00 Introduction

01:55 Jesse Stewart

03:35 Alex Rhodes-Wilmere

07:53 Starting a Film Production Company

14:05 Award Winning short Film Mt. Molehill

18:59 Mt. Molehill Short Film – Cinematography

23:02 Producing Mt. Molehill Short Film

30:58 From Mt. Molehill to Piggy Duster

35:47 Piggy Duster Script

40:40 Piggy Duster – Shooting on Location

1:03:34 Filming with a Bear & Bear VFX

1:21:52 Piggy Duster Distribution

1:29:01 Follow Piggy Duster