Join us for a conversation with Kris Wimberly, co-founder of Studio Smokescreen and Steph Kowal, a composer and screenwriter. We will chat with them about the importance of authenticity in your writing, and how the animation industry is making strides to incorporate new voices. Come ask questions about animation writing, the entertainment industry and anything in between.
About the speakers:
Studio Smokescreen is an independent Black-owned animation studio dedicated to leading significant changes in diversity and inclusion across the animation industry.
Kris Wimberly is Co-Founder and Head of Creative for Studio Smokescreen, Kris is a classically trained director and storyboard artist who currently serves as director on Disney’s hit animated series, “Firebuds,” and supervising director on a yet-to-be-announced high-profile spinoff series for Disney Branded Television.
Kris’ additional credits include HBO Max's “Close Enough,” Disney’s “Elena of Avalor,” Universal's “Curious George 4: Royal Monkey,” Nickelodeon's “Spongebob SquarePants” and Cartoon Network's “Teen Titans Go!” He specializes in comedy and action-comedy and has worked on animated productions of nearly every type - from 2D, CG and Flash Animation to script-driven and storyboard-driven, and across preschool, kids and primetime television series, as well as feature films.
A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Kris worked as a custodian at Disneyland while working his way up the ranks to pursue his passion for animation. Welcome, Kris!
Steph Kowal is a composer for film & TV. She has spent the last eight years developing her career as a composer and has achieved some notable milestones such as writing the score for the 95th Academy Award shortlisted documentary ‘Bad Axe’ as well as the score for the first original Amazon Kids+ program, ‘Super Spy Ryan’. She has also written additional music for composers like Tony Morales, Zach Robinson and Brad Breeck for popular shows like 'Reacher', 'Fright Krewe' and 'We Bare Bears'. It was through working as a composer's assistant and being exposed to development meetings and score previews that she developed an interest in story development and a love of screenwriting. Now, having spent the last three years spending her free time writing scripts and the last year developing her ideas, she is ecstatic to be working with Kris Wimberly on bringing her show 'Adulting' to the world.
