MSSN XXIV
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Spotify | In Focus
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Multi
Animation
2022
Gabe Bornstein
Partner / Executive Producer
Gabe’s first ever job was working as a grom at his local surf shop at the age of 13 and was paid in surfboard wax. He inherited a love of film and image-making from his dad and never looked back.
After a stint working as a cinematographer at VICE under Spike Jonze’s creative department and for VICE On HBO, he went on to create films in the surf and outdoor industries across Hawaii and Australia (there was still surfboard wax involved but slightly less this time around). As a founding partner of ROVE, managing the big picture of the company while also making time to be involved with each of the projects is where he thrives.
Outside of work, Gabe is on the board of More Women Surf+, a non-profit dedicated to fostering an inclusive outdoor community in board sports, and is an advisor to Blueprint Surf Company, a 3D-printed surfboard manufacturer.
Jay Brown
Partner / Executive Creative Director
One part hip-hop nerd, one part sci-fi lover, a heavy dose of skateboarding, and a garnish of abstract animation, that’s how you concoct a Jay cocktail (make sure to get yourself a nice rocks glass, trust us).
Before co-founding ROVE and putting his creative stamp on work for clients like Spotify, Google, Toyota, Complex, and many more, Jay began his career creating branded content for the likes of Pernod Ricard and JEEP. He later discovered a love for mixed media which led to three years of traveling all over the United States directing psychedelic music videos and working with record labels like Mello Music Group, Stones Throw Records, Atlantic Records, and Virgin Records.
When he’s not doing nose manuals on his skateboard (Google it, it’s impressive), he can be found conjuring up conceptual, playful, and inventive work spanning the design, animation, and live-action landscapes.
Jared Flynn
Lead Animator / Post Supervisor
Who else do you know that has extensive 2D and 3D animation chops and is also a budding theremin musician? There can only be one and it’s Jared Flynn.
Cutting his teeth in the broadcast space for clients such as National Geographic, NOVA, and The History Channel, Jared began his career pushing keyframes around at an award-winning documentary house. From there, he moved on to running the animation capability at a large digital agency for clients like Welch’s and Harvard Business School.
You can now find Jared masterfully conducting keyframes at ROVE for all of our animated projects like the maestro he is, and lending his expertise every step of the way. He’s basically a superhero in human form.
Mari Ray
Motion Designer
Mari is a born and raised Cuban Puerto Rican, whose love for exploration extends from traversing the globe to infusing life into her vibrant 2D designs and animations.
With a BFA in Motion Media Design from SCAD fueling her ambition, Mari’s journey started in Atlanta, where she worked at a leading consulting firm, adding her creative touch to brands like Tapestry, Sysco, and John Deere, among a myriad of others. But that was just the beginning—Mari then took her keyframes and voyaged on to put her stamp on the work coming from a healthcare and wellness design studio in Chicago, for clients like Takeda and Meridian.
Mari’s desire to push the boundaries is expressed through constant exploration. She’s always finding new techniques and ways to deliver an idea or message. In her spare time, you can find her creating art, hanging out by the water, or skateboarding around with her dog and cat chasing close behind.
Devon LaBonte
Post Producer
Meet Devon, a New Hampshire native, former community theatre nerd turned Vermonter. She’s a spicy food fanatic, and finds solace in wintry wonderlands.
After a stint in Scotland where she received her Master’s Degree from the University of Edinburgh, she traded bagpipes for tapas and jet-setted off to Barcelona to teach English for a year. Devon’s journey led her to the concrete jungle of NYC where she spent two years working in the publishing industry. Her life took a wild turn into the realm of “virtual celebrities.” Yes, you read that right—Devon worked her way up from production coordinator to animation producer at an IP + Media startup, focusing on creating synthetic influencers and an animated music group. She fell in love with the animation process and developed an extensive set of skills managing post-production pipelines.
When Devon isn’t keeping all of us in line, post-producing ROVE projects with careful attention, she can be found cuddling up with a classic novel or watching a spine-tingling horror film.
120 Main St., Suite #102
Saco, ME, 04072
Kristen Huffines
kristen@aspireartistsagency.com
+1 (310) 902-6880