As the Talent League reaches its final stretch, we spoke with two of its mentors, Ricardo Cabral and Ryan Lastimosa, about their journey in the program. They shared insights on what makes a project stand out, the qualities they look for in new ideas, and how the Talent League has impacted them so far.
What are the three essential characteristics that a project must have to succeed? What distinguishes an innovative project from others?
Ricardo Cabral (RC) - Newness: If you look at a work and you go "Oh, I've never seen anything quite like this before". Even something that might seem quite familiar, like a fairytale, a story or a character, but is presented in a new way or a new point of view, that makes the work look unexpected and new. Inbound Character: (I just made that up) but when the outside/looks/visuals of the project are able to show the inside/nature of that same project without relying on an explanation. And Soul: when the project is so much a part of it´s creator/creators emotional, artistic and personal need of self-expression that it makes it uniquely their own.
Ryan Lastimosa (RL) - Three essential characteristics are: 1. Realistic goals/milestones. 2. Accurate scoping and management. 3. Funding. What I find distinguishes an innovative project from others is talent, experience, and grit. The combination of these three attributes is an indicator of success.
When a mentor analyzes a project, is there anything in particular that signals it's a special idea?
RC - Just to be clear, I don't usually mentor. I'm not a teacher, and I don't usually work with teams (like in games or movies) where I judge other people's work. This being said, I've spent many years as an illustrator sharing processes, ideas, and projects with friends, colleagues, and clients, and after all that time, I've come to realize that having ideas is easy, but realizing them is not, so when you see someone who has an idea that makes itself so present, so persistent, so demanding, that you see that the person works on it tirelessly on it to bring it to life, that's when an idea is special.
RL - A special idea needs to be remarkable. A truly unique idea needs to be jaw-dropping. When an amazing project is supported by highly motivated and capable team members, usually that is a sign of a team that is worth investing in.
How would you describe your mentoring experience in the Talent League so far? What aspects of the projects have been the most surprising or inspiring?
RC - There's such excitement in people devoting themselves to a personal project that you can't help being inspired by it.
RL - So far my experience has been great. I've taken the opportunity to reflect on the journey I've had in my career. I can apply those experiences to teams that are starting on their own adventure. I hope I can be the person that I needed when I started in the industry.
What do you think is the added value of having mentors supporting young creators' projects?
RC - What young creators go through when developing an idea is the same questions/problems/anxiety/existential crises mentors went through in their early days of being young creators themselves. I've found that developing an idea is knowing what questions to ask, how to apply the answers to those questions in the work process, and then making that process practical so that in the end, you have the illustration, comic book, game or a movie that you set out to make in the first place, and now exists in the real world and other people can enjoy it.
RL - I have a rule: "Have a mentor, be a mentor." As a creative, at any given point in time, you need to have someone to help guide you. You also need to pay it forward by helping guide young creators towards success. It's important to keep that cycle going.