Directing Duos: Michael Alcock and Craig George of Spy Kids: Mission Critical
Animation is an inherently collaborative medium, and no one knows that better than the directing duos at Mainframe Studios. With two seasons of Spy Kids: Mission Critical under their belt and a new project on the way, directors Michael Alcock and Craig George shared their process; the results are available on Netflix for your viewing pleasure.
How long have you been working together, and on what projects? Mike: We've been working together at Mainframe Studios since 2016. We've worked on Spy Kids: Mission Critical, Ready2Robot and another, yet to be announced project. We also worked together in 2012 at Atomic Cartoons - Craig hired me (Mike) for my first storyboarding job!
Craig: It's very strange not to be working together [at the moment]. We're still both at Mainframe but on different projects now, so I personally had some separation anxiety when they moved us apart. Slightly kidding. But I'm hopeful we'll be working together again soon.
In what ways do your strengths complement each other in the directing role? Mike: Craig has more experience directing than I do, which has helped to guide my approach to working with the team and developing a critical eye. We also share a similar sense of humour and storytelling sensibility, which is very helpful during the early stages of development. We're able to bounce ideas off of one another, hopefully weeding out the bad ones and keeping as many of the ones that "work" or make us laugh as possible.
Craig: We really do have the same sensibilities and we’re cursed (or blessed) with the same twisted view of what's funny - which is vital! And when we do disagree, we're able to talk it out and come to the best solution for the project. Mike is an incredible communicator, he's articulate and diplomatic -- all key to being a good director. I keep telling him that someday I'm going to pay him heaps of cash to work for me!
How did your collaboration style grow or change while working on Spy Kids: Mission Critical? Mike: During Spy Kids: Mission Critical we didn’t work directly together on the same episodes. We were each responsible for half of the episodes in the season, so our collaboration was limited to the seasonal arc and "big picture" stuff. Once we moved onto Ready2Robot (and the yet to be announced project) we worked together to provide feedback and notes on each script and saw each episode through to the end as a team, rather than individually.
Craig: On SpyKids we were not always working together but in conjunction to get our respective episodes across the finish line. But because I came onto the production in the last season, Mike was a wellspring of knowledge in regards to all aspects of the show. It wasn't until they put us both on the (yet to be announced project) that our collaboration really congealed. We were working on the same script - solving the same problems - and literally trying to find solutions that made the other guy laugh. And to be honest, it's been one of the highlights of my career in this industry.
What’s your favorite part about season two? Or memorable moment from the production process of the new season? Mike: My favorite part about season two was watching the entire team rally together to make a fun, appealing product. It was hectic at times, but everyone on the team did their best to bring Mission Critical to life, which makes all the difference. It's rewarding to be a part of that kind of passion and dedication - so congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped to make Spy Kids: Mission Critical possible!
Craig: Season two is my favorite because it's the one I worked on the most! But seriously, Golden Brain is a natural born scene-stealer and I loved pushing the animators for that over the top performance that set up his comedic moments. And of course the best part of most season two's is that the big problems have been dealt with and things are starting to hum along nicely. Everyone is in good spirits and everyday it's fun to come to work. Mike nailed it on the head, our team was amazing and the proof is on the screen. Great job everyone!
-- Andie Newell
