FOUNDATIONS

These are works I return to regularly while directing, mentoring, and leading complex productions. They continue to shape how I think about performance, systems, culture, and creative decision-making.

Upstart
Scott Ross
A direct examination of what it takes to build and sustain a creative studio. Essential reading for anyone developing IP, managing vendors, or navigating the realities of production economics.
https://www.amazon.com/Upstart-Scott-Ross/dp/0984201012

Herding Tigers: Be the Leader That Creative People Need
Todd Henry
A practical framework for leading strong creative personalities while protecting both morale and output. Especially relevant for directors and supervisors working under deadline pressure.
https://www.amazon.com/Herding-Tigers-Leader-Creative-People/dp/0814436477

The New Animation & VFX Playbook
Angie Jones
A strategic guide for navigating shifting pipelines, evolving job roles, and the impact of AI on production. Focused on identifying where real opportunity still exists.
https://thinkinganimation.com/shop/the-new-animation-vfx-playbook/

Thinking Animation: Bridging the Gap Between 2D and CG
Angie Jones & Jamie Oliff
A foundational resource for animators transitioning from classical principles into CG pipelines, with emphasis on timing, spacing, performance, and storytelling across formats.
https://thinkinganimation.com

Creativity, Inc. (Expanded Edition)
Ed Catmull
An examination of creative culture, candor, and organizational structure at scale. One of the clearest articulations of how trust and systems support high-level creative work.
https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Expanded-Edition/dp/0812993012

The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Rick Rubin
A reflection on creativity as practice. Less about output, more about awareness, intuition, and sustained artistic discipline.
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Act-Way-Being/dp/0593652886

The Creative Ambush
Sefirot
A structured creative disruption tool designed to challenge rigid thinking under pressure. A reminder that constraints can expand possibility.
https://www.sefirot.co.uk/products/the-creative-ambush

Alien: The Original Screenplay
Dan O’Bannon
A study in restraint, pacing, and character tension. A reminder that strong execution begins with disciplined storytelling on the page.
https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Original-Screenplay-Dan-OBannon/dp/1785659343