Whether it’s selling Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Crackers in a commercial campaign or turning the world of American Dad! into a bananas, retro, steam punk epic, I’m confident in my ability to understand what story needs to be told.

Animation has taught me to be ruthlessly economical with storytelling. I’m used to communicating ideas, collaborating with writers, artists and executives, hitting impossible deadlines and keeping a cool head when things go sideways.

When I made my first short film, I understood that no matter how prepared I was, a live action set is a place where you have to think fast, be flexible and have enough of a plan that you can abandon that plan. I didn’t know how I would really handle it until we were in it. It was challenging, but I loved it. I’m really proud of how I worked with my crew, the actors, and the rest of our team through post production.

I’m a magical combination of a grizzled veteran and a new kid on the block who’s got something to prove! Yup, I said it— magical!

I share my number one rule in life with my Grandma Helen and the great Jason Bourne. That rule is — Hope for the best, plan for the worst. My number two rule is— If you put real care into a thing, it can’t help but be good.

-J