26. Sarah Smith: Creating a Global Animation Studio

Future of Film Podcast with Alex Stolz

Sarah Smith is CEO of Locksmith Animation which she launched with Julie Lockhart in 2014 with backing from Liz Murdoch. Described as the UK’s only high-end feature animation studio dedicated to making films for a global family audience, Locksmith recently signed a major multi-year output deal with 20th Century Fox. In this episode Sarah shares how she built the business, moving into this entrepreneurial space from her career as a multi-award winning director and writer. She also talks about her time as a senior executive at Aardman Studios - where she was not only instrumental in securing a game-changing Sony Pictures Deal but for who she also directed the family classic and box office smash Arthur Christmas. In a wide ranging conversation, we also cover #TimesUp in relation to animation, new tech innovation in the space as well as Sarah’s powerful and practical tips for navigating the Hollywood machine. Discover more about this and other podcasts at www.futureoffilm.live