Gabrielle Watts on developing a career in Jamaica's animation industry

Gabrielle Watts is a production coordinator and storyboard artist currently working at ListenMi, an animation studio in Kingston, Jamaica. Since studying animation at the University of the West Indies, she has dedicated her career to elevating Jamaican voices and creating an environment that nurtures artistic expression in Jamaica’s growing animation industry.

She is also a mentee in ScreenCraft Works’s current animation mentorship cohort. ScreenCraft Works aims to create mentorship, networking, and collaboration opportunities for underrepresented voices in the films and TV industry. Gabrielle's mentor is Allison Brownmoore, a BAFTA-nominated Australian director and studio founder.

We had the chance to catch up with Gabrielle to discuss the Jamaican animation industry, its growth, and how it can be further supported – both within the Caribbean and internationally.

It’s always great to speak with ScreenCraft Works mentees! What has your mentorship experience been like so far?

Gabrielle: With ScreenCraft Works, I came about it through a friend. Her name is Tajha [Winkle]. She was in the previous cohort, and I saw her Linkedin post about it. And so that's where I encountered ScreenCraft. And looking into it, I really appreciated it ensuring that people who may not have immediate access to certain rooms, certain education, or certain opportunities get to have that opportunity through ScreenCraft.

At the same time, I was wondering if I’d get in. So much so, I was overthinking so much that I ended up applying two hours before the deadline. So I was like, “If I'm supposed to get this, it will happen.” And then within the next week I got an email from Elizabeth McIntyre about the interview, and ultimately I ended up being in the next cohort. Which, of course, is very exciting. 

I really really enjoyed the interview process because they make sure to ask questions that were pointed, and really really seem to care about my career development as well as personal development. And the mentorship reflects that. With my mentor, Allison Brownmoore, I feel like they did an excellent job pairing us. We were so well-suited. It was almost scary. I think Alison's just a wonderful mentor. She's been able to point me in the right direction. 

Normally, when you look at internships, they have this thing where you can only apply if you live in the U.S. or Canada. That kind of thing. So once you're always facing that barrier, it can be really disenchanting. 

It's through opportunities like this, through mentorships, that you feel you get the tools necessary to break through as well as those important connections. Because I think a lot about the entertainment industry, the film and TV industry, the animation industry, is built on these connections.

I think ScreenCraft has done a really good job in building this community and offering resources, different workshops, opportunities to network and opportunities to really sit down with your mentor and address your career goals in a pointed way, almost like a navigator. Because you don't know what you don't know, and knowledge is power. 

And so Alison has done a great job in calling out the ways in which I have had short-sighted vision, and really encouraging me to be more pointed in my vision. We're focusing a lot on pitching as well as IP development and leadership, especially since I'm on the producer track right now. I'm a production coordinator. 

But ultimately the goal is to be a producer. Allison is helping me get into that mindset of a producer, which is a lot different than just working as an animator or a storyboarder. A lot of different things to do with scope, timeline, budgets, all of the things that kind of scare a creative or an artist. But I do like these things as well. 

So yeah, ScreenCraft, it's something that I would definitely suggest to other people in Jamaica as a good starting point or a jump-off point, especially if you have a distinct goal in mind.

What has it been like working at ListenMi?

Gabrielle: I'm full time at ListenMi as their production coordinator. I've been blessed to work on everything, from short trailers to feature length films. So since I've been there I've been exposed to more animated projects. Not just freelance or short-term things but actual productions. And that's an invaluable experience for me. 

It has such a great culture of growth, and ensuring that there is communication. But a lot of growth is happening, because we know that this is a very small and niche industry in Jamaica.

You’ve worked as both a project coordinator and a storyboard artist on a number of ListenMi productions. What got you into storyboarding in particular?

Gabrielle Watts: Once I graduated, storyboarding was actually my main focus. I just enjoy storytelling overall. Having that knowledge of storytelling, core elements, and shot direction and everything involved with visual storytelling, I really enjoyed it. So that's what I pursued during that time when I was a freelancer.

I applied to ListenMi as a storyboarder. When you're applying, you can list the areas in which you're interested. I put storyboarding, and the very last thing I put was project management. And they approached me for the production coordinator role. 

So at the time I had to make a decision. Am I going to undertake this? Because initially, I'm thinking storyboarding is where I'm going. But it's funny how goals and visions change once you're in it. I like to say that once you have a vision or a goal, a lot of yourself is found in the doing.

Once I was hired I was still put on as a storyboard artist for the Party Crew movie, so I still got to get that experience. But at the same time, I'm also getting experience as a production coordinator. I'm finding myself liking that role as well. I found my passion for creating environments where creativity can thrive. I think that's what producers do.

On one of the projects, an animator afterwards said that normally, on projects, once deadlines are looming and the pressure is on, he tends to hear hard words from his employer. But he said, “Gabrielle never spoke to me like that.” 

And just in that interaction, where he was so appreciative of the way that he was treated during that production, I was so happy that I was able to create that safe space for him to just animate, just to do the thing that he loves. That experience really opened my eyes to what was possible. I definitely believe that we need more creatives in executive roles to make executive decisions.

The prevailing idea that logistics, math, and finances are somehow the antithesis of creativity, that we’re either good in STEM or good in arts, is so limiting.

Gabrielle: I was actually a med student. I was pursuing medicine, and so I started off as a science and math girly. And then once it came to going to university, I realized I don't have the passion for it. I never wanted to be in a position where I'm a doctor, and I can't even be kind to people because I'm not happy with my job. So I realized that medicine was not my passion, and I had to take a leap of faith into animation. 

And of course that's a very interesting conversation to have with your single mother, who’s ready to send you to med school with a full scholarship lined up. I did have a full scholarship to go to Cuba.

But thankfully, my mom ultimately wants me to be fulfilled in my life, and she was never the type to define that for me. So thankfully that conversation ended in support. And shortly after I was still able to get a scholarship to pursue animation at University of the West Indies. So from the beginning I was science and math, and I guess that's why it doesn't terrify me now when those things come up.

I think a lot of creatives have a story like that, where a loving parent was a bit nervous about their career path.

Gabrielle: Especially in a society where traditional jobs are stable. There is this “starving artist” narrative in Jamaica, that if you're an artist, there's not much opportunity for you. There's not much on your path. Ultimately it does take a lot of work on your own to carve out that path. And yes, there are still a lot of roadblocks to success. But it’s possible.

I guess we're pivoting towards the animation industry in Jamaica. Yes, it's still an emerging industry. But it's rife with talent just needing opportunity. And right now the government is actually putting forth more and more grants towards the TV and film industry through certain initiatives.

But it's only made possible through the hard work of those that came before us who really really were tenacious in spite of everything. They've really paved the way for all these opportunities and initiatives that we're seeing now. And so I'm very hopeful for the future, because I know Jamaicans. Once we've set our minds to something, it's already ours.

Longterm, do you want to specifically pitch and produce productions in Jamaica, or are you looking for international work as well?

Gabrielle Watts: Well, of course my heart is in Jamaica. I really, really want to be a part of building this industry to a point where it's competitive on an international scale. And I think a part of that is gaining that international experience. So of course, I'm not opposed to working internationally. 

We get a lot of opportunities through the connections we build. And so I think it's important to have that experience internationally and build those connections there. So when we have our stories to tell, they're familiarized with the storytellers, and are willing to give us a chance, give us that space and create a lane where we can tell our story.

You see companies like Disney partnering with creatives in Africa to create the new shows that we're seeing on Disney+. I think partnerships like that are imperative for emerging industries like the ones we have in Jamaica. So yeah, I'm not opposed to working internationally. I look forward to an opportunity like that. But of course my heart is with Jamaica. I just think we have so much to offer.

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• Gabrielle Watts can be found on LinkedIn, and be sure to visit ListenMi’s website for news about their past and current productions.
• For more info on ScreenCraft Works and their initiatives, visit the program's website.
• Ready to get started on your next animation project? Artists can download a 21-day trial of Harmony Premium.