Meet Lorenzo Volpintesta

We were lucky to catch up with Lorenzo Volpintesta recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lorenzo, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I didn’t have to search far to find my purpose. I struggled in school when I was young and had difficulty connecting with my teachers and classmates. However, I always had a love for creating and entertaining, which led me to develop a strong interest in puppeteering and animation, particularly stop-motion. Stop-motion appealed to me due to its approachability; it’s easy to pick up and learn, yet it has unlimited potential to engage audiences. I distinctly remember deciding to pursue animation professionally after seeing Henry Selick’s *The Nightmare Before Christmas* (1993). A couple of years later, I was withdrawn from public school, and since then, I have cherished every day that I have been free to focus on my passion for animation.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’ve been publishing stop-motion films since I was 11 years old. I initially found an online audience by recreating Spongebob Squarepants episodes using LEGO stop-motion, eventually amassing 200,000 subscribers and 130,000,0000 views on YouTube. Since then, I’ve been exploring other aspects of animation filmmaking, including directing, writing, and editing. For me, animation isn’t just an art or a trade; it’s given me a voice when I struggled to speak. Today, I still receive mail from viewers who grew up watching my animated films, reminding me that my work has value, and is worth pursuing. Currently, I’m working on bringing more animated projects to fruition while breaking into the professional animation industry.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

First, be bored. I cannot stress enough how important boredom was to me growing up. Although boredom is uncomfortable, it is crucial for helping you discover what you are interested in. Today, people have instant access to stimulation through smartphones, which staves off boredom and, consequentially, creativity.

Second, imitate. I began my career by imitating work that I enjoyed; however, when I started writing original projects, I felt that imitation was plagiarism. As a result, I wrote very little. As I’ve become more acquainted with writing, I’ve learned to embrace imitation constructively. Imitation opens the door, then originality can enter.

And finally, consistency. Even if you can’t devote an entire day to a project, making small progress each day will yield results. When I was young, I could complete an animated short in one day. However, as my projects have expanded in scope, so does production time. So if I can’t devote an entire day to working on a project, I embrace taking small steps.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Internet culture has profoundly changed since I began my YouTube career in 2014. As an online-based creator, I am always concerned with how I can reach and appeal to audiences in a saturated, and ever-changing market. As a professional artist, I am still determining how I will earn a living in a fluctuating job market. Despite these challenges, I strongly believe in having a student mindset. I define a student mindset as always seeking new ways to challenge your brain, and embracing the opportunity to learn new things. This approach nurtures both curiousity and discipline. Regardless of whether you are currently enrolled in school, adopting a student mindset fosters versatility, which is a crucial quality in living a rich productive life. Every day presents a chance to learn, no matter the circumstances.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Lorenzo Volpintesta, Leah Graham, Jhonny Parks

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