Kickstart Spotlight: Ashlynn Skelly
Ashlynn is one of our Line Producers here at Kickstart Entertainment in Vancouver! She has one giant cat (Strat) and one very small dog (Rufus). She grew up in Hamilton, Ontario and moved out to BC when she was 26. She had never worked in animation before but the first job she got out here was as a PA in the same building that is now the home of Kickstart!
PHOTO BY @VERONICABONDERUDPHOTO FOR @THEPORTRAITSESSIONS
What was your first job?
My first job was at KFC. I can't pinpoint the most memorable because they all have been in their own way - I have had so many different kinds of jobs from working in a flower pot factory to bartending to working at my stepmom's trucking company.
How many years have you been working in this industry?
I've been working in the industry for 6 years!
How did you get started with Kickstart Entertainment?
One of my friends who was working at Kickstart at the time posted on Facebook that they were looking for a coordinator. She posted it THE SAME DAY I found out that my previous studio wasn't going to extend my contract. #meanttobe
What piece of advice do you wish you had been given when you first started working in this industry?
So many things.. Be patient with yourself. No one knows everything. We're making cartoons, it's supposed to be fun!
If you could give one piece of advice on how to get through a hard day, what would that be?
One step at a time and make sure you remember to eat lunch!
What is the highlight of your career so far?
I got to choreograph a dance sequence for a feature film! And being able to bring Rufus to work :)
What continues to motivate your work, or has that changed over the years?
It's fascinating to watch a show come together from start to finish. Every project has its own unique, fun problems to solve so the experience you gain is never ending. I always say I learn 20 new things a day.
What’s your idea of a perfect Sunday?
A lazy morning > an afternoon adventure > a comfy evening - with lots of good food along the way!
What is your superpower?
Seeing the future ;)
You’re stuck on a desert island with a laptop and a USB stick containing the entirety of one cartoon - what show is it?
The Simpsons.