AJ is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dlala Studios making video games in Witham in Essex. Dlala Studios made the Battletoads sequel in 2020 and more recently Disney Illusion Island starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. Illusion Island is available on the Nintendo Switch. How did AJ start a computer games studio from his Mum’s garage in 2012? Starting as a programmer as a Game Content Developer at Jagex, then at Bossa, then winning a BAFTA, then starting Dlala Studios with Craig. Dlala have now been nominated for two BAFTAs for Illusion Island - Best British Game and Best Family Game. What are the rules for working with Mickey Mouse? There is no Mickeypedia! The ears on Epic Mickey on 3D vs 2D Mickey now. (Nick was wrong about Megadrive, that was Mickey Mouse and Castle of Illusion). New Mickey games are hand drawn animation! 2012 and the Indie Game Boom where the small game studios could release their own games. Indie games were a bit like the punk music of video games when distribution and publishing models changed. How Valve changed the industry. It can take over 3 years to make a video game, even with a studio of 43 people like Dlala, and 5 to 10 years for bigger titles like Grand Theft Auto. Working with Microsoft in their incubator. A chance encounter at a developer conference lead to creating a Windows 8 launch title, which lead to a cover article in Develop Magazine, which landed on a desk at Microsoft incubator, which lead to a paying gig just as AJ and Craig were about to run out of money. Getting out there, making an impression on people, and making connections. Pulling the best talent from all over the world to work in Witham, Essex. What does someone from California think when they move to Essex? AJ works with local education as a stakeholder at Chelmsford College, Colchester Institute, and as Cultural Ambassador for Essex. AJ didn’t excel at school or uni, but still found creative success. Nick’s game he made with his kids on Scratch ‘Mega Bum Poo’. AJ taught himself visual basic from ‘for Dummies’ books that he got from the library - pre-internet - inspired by his uncle. He made a South Park wrestling game at home - oh my god they suplexed Kenny! Getting work out quickly and get fast feedback and experience. AJ’s wrestling manager game. Finding projects to do based on your passion points. If you’ve got enough time to play games, you’ve got enough time to make them! Play testing games with user testing. Using testing feedback to refine games. AJ’s job as director making the games perfect and improving the play experience. Making marginal gains and nudges to perfect something, and caring about getting the product perfect for players. Getting reviews in the media, and the impact they can have. AJ’s philosophy is ‘negatives i can action, positives don’t help me.’ Dlala Studios have received over 40 awards and nominations for Illusion Island, including BAFTAs, Game Awards, Dice, Webbys. All awards for Essex! Working with Emmy award winning writers from Rick & Morty and Clarence for dialogue. Getting to work with incredible Disney voice talent recording dialogue that AJ has co-written for games. The importance of finding varied opinions and life experiences in employees and keeping it fresh with new voices. What does AJ do as an Essex Cultural Ambassador? And does he get Ferrero Rocher?

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Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Art as escape and a therapeutic outlet. Kat Toronto is Miss Meatface. Garry Vanderhorne the wrestling promoter told us about her in EP1 of Are You Creative? Miss Meatface is a photographic alter-ego for Kat. She was an escape for Kat to express how she was feeling at a dark time in her life in 2015 - like an art therapy. Kat uses latex masks to remove her identity and create the anonymous character. Kinky and kitchy. 1950s typical domestic scenes, made playful and surreal with latex. Miss Meatface was born in America. Kat studied photography at art school. And went on to become a librarian. The mild-mannered librarian that became a latex superstar. Miss Meatface has a wonderfully muscular Meat Maid who serves her and cleans her house in PVC. A strong part of the aesthetic is patterns and contrast. Shooting with vintage cameras and Polaroid and getting the aesthetic. Starting out art brut, a personal project with no aim for public consumption. Then moving to Instagram. Then building a global audience. Moving to the UK and discovering the differences between US and UK art appreciation. Kat’s artistic life, making hats, being in bands, creating art. Lady Viola was Kat’s ‘Ragwater Revue’ band alter-ego - she’d escaped from the circus and wore an eye-patch. Kat’s house is full of vintage clothing, props, and cameras. Kat buys props from Brentwood’s amazing charity shops. A weakness for vintage curtains, and using them as backdrops. Making mini meat-sets for photoshoots. The anti-Barbie! Miss Meatface ugly holiday sweater announcement. Styling a fondue shoot. Aspic chat! Microwave chat! Sangita has been buying lamb chops. The Miss Meatface origin story. Learning prosthetics. How a brush with mortality fired up Kat’s creative output. Talking about art brut - what even is art brut? A new obsession with vintage ventriloquist dolls. Going out in character - like Barkley Bandon in Dalston. Creating art for your own mindfulness. Nick has been enjoying Rivals and explains Bonkbusters. We love Essex’s number one actor Danny Dyer!

And that's how you fold a napkin!

Miss Meatface
Miss Meatface Shop
Miss Meatface on Instagram
Miss Meatface on TikTok

Are You Creative? recorded by Jaiden 'the ragga enforcer' at City Sound
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

PROFESSIONAL violinist! Making money doing the creative thing that you love. Life as a musician can be hard. It’s not a 9-5 job, and there is a lot of practicing! Streamlining practice, and finding the time to do it. Diminishing returns in practicing. Setting goals for quality practice. What is score reading? Being inspired by an older sibling learning music and attending her cello lessons. Big up Classic FM - no adverts though please! Being inspired by BBC Young Musician of the Year. Attending a Nicola Benedetti concert and getting creatively inspired as a six year old. And Jennifer Pike listening to little Elodie playing violin. Five degrees of Benedetti - a chance spotting on TV leads to getting the greatest violin mentor. Getting to play a Stradivarius. Finding the right violin for you. Rich benefactors loaning out amazing instruments - thanks for supporting the arts and recent graduates! Elodie blind tested instruments to not be influenced by age and provenance and chose a modern violin. Performing a solo violin and choir piece with the BBC Singers. Difficult bits in gigs, and not being able to enjoy the performance until afterwards. Getting jobs as a freelance violinist. Word of mouth and recommendations are essential - especially with fixers. Fixers book musicians for sessions. Freelance vs salaried positions. Playing live with Ed Sheeran at Hammersmith Apollo and for Dave at Reading. Being on the Young Musician of the Year final 2018 - actually on Elodie’s 19th birthday! Exposing kids to high quality music early on in their lives. Nick goes on about Hackney Empire and watching My Neighbour Totoro live. Finding discounted tickets for classical music in London, especially for younger people. Elodie tells us about her upcoming show at Hot Box on Nov 15th 2024 with her amazing sister Miss Satin Beige. AND we’ve all had a creative week - Nick’s been canoeing over the world’s highest aqueduct with an ex-Blue Peter presenter, Sangita’s been hanging out with Big Narstie.

Elodie's website
Elodie on Instagram

Gig details for 15th Nov 2024 at Hot Box, Chelmsford

Recorded at City Sound Chelmsford with Jaiden and Paul
Edited by Nick.
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

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Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK