Managing Creative Studios

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, we chat with Nigel McCulloch, producer, writer, and co-founder of The Downlow Concept. Nigel shares how a love of comedy and a chance introduction to communication studies led him into film and television, eventually forming the creative team behind Off The Wire and the long-running comedy institution 7 Days. He talks about the realities of pitching, rejection, financing, and why unders...

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, Susan Mann talks with Andrew McDowall, musician, composer, and audio engineer, and the founder of Digicake, a boutique sound studio based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Andrew shares his journey through the world of sound, from composing music for children’s television and short films to mixing podcasts like the award-winning The Commune. He talks about how Digicake began, what it’s like ...

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, I talk with Bryan Millar, toymaker, cancer survivor and owner of Pioneer Wooden Toys, a beloved New Zealand brand known for its handcrafted wooden toys that have been delighting children for more than four decades.

Bryan shares his career move from a corporate background into the world of traditional toy making, a leap that reconnected him with creativity, craftsmanship, and purpose....

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, Susan Mann talks with Alex Leighton, co-founder and creative director of Mukpuddy Animation, one of New Zealand’s most recognisable and enduring animation studios.

Alex shares the incredible story of how Mukpuddy began over two decades ago in a small basement in Pakuranga and grew into a thriving studio creating shows like The Barefoot Bandits, Jandal Burn, Badjelly the Witch, and Ni...

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, Susan Mann chats with Caleb Thompson, award-winning visual effects artist and founder of Masters of Reality, a leading New Zealand VFX studio.

Caleb shares his journey from studying at Media Design School to working on blockbuster productions such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Game of Thrones, Jumanji, Spartacus, and M3GAN. He talks about what inspired him to start his own studio, how Maste...

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, Susan Mann talks with Dylan Coburn, a veteran storyboard artist, animator, and director whose career spans three decades in film, television, and animation.

Dylan shares how he began in hand-drawn animation at Toonz in the 1990s, went on to found his own studio Karactaz, and led projects for global clients including Marvel, Cartoon Network, and Warner Bros. He opens up about the real...

In this episode, Susan Mann speaks with Raymond McGrath — writer, illustrator, director, musician, and educator — about his diverse creative journey. Raymond shares how he moved from hand-drawn animation into digital pipelines, and why adaptability and a willingness to learn new tools have sustained his career.

They explore the role of mentorship in creative industries, the importance of mistakes as part of the learning process,...

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, I sit down with Carl Moody, co-founder of Bootleg Design, the workshop behind some of New Zealand’s most iconic large-scale builds. From restoring Auckland’s infamous “Creepy Santa” to transporting a giant Shaun the Sheep across the country, or building a 5 tonne lolly jar for Air NZ, Carl shares how his team brings wild ideas to life.

We talk about the balance between crea...

In this episode, I sit down with animator Fraser Munro to trace his journey from a latchkey kid watching cartoons to becoming a seasoned animator and freelancer. Fraser shares how his early love of animation led him to train at Freelance Animation School, his 13-year stint in NZ animation studios, and eventually his transition to freelancing from Foxton Beach.

We talk about the realities of shifting from studio life to working i...

When you think “landscape architect,” you might picture someone planting a back lawn—but as Lisa reveals in this episode of Managing Creative Studios, the work goes far deeper (and sometimes even involves creating hotels for bats!).

Lisa, Studio Manager at Harrison Grierson, takes us inside the world of large-scale design where ecology, culture, and community all intersect. She shares how she worked with conservationists and eco...

In this episode Amanda Chambers takes us on a rich journey through her remarkable career in advertising and production—from her early days at Flux Animation working with her brother Brent, to executive roles at Saatchi & Saatchi, Assembly, and True. Amanda shares heartfelt stories about building creative teams, navigating agency life, and balancing compassion with leadership in high-pressure environments.

She opens up about ...

In this episode, we talk with David and Jamie, the co-founders of One to One Hundred (OTOH), a leading architectural visualisation studio. From their first meeting at architecture school to moonlighting as grad architects and launching a startup from a dilapidated office, their journey is a story of grit, experimentation, and creative evolution.

They reflect on early career missteps, the value of artistic intuition in hiring, th...

In this episode we sit down with the incredibly talented Claire deZoete—animator, illustrator, and now studio manager at SkyCity Entertainment Group. Claire takes us through her journey from hand-animating Belle for Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas to leading one of New Zealand’s busiest in-house design teams. We chat about finding your creative voice, navigating career pivots, motherhood, imposter syndrome, and how to...