What Makes a Meaningful Story With Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa

Pixel Retentive Podcast

Carl Cleanthes is a lifelong artist and an entrepreneur, founding his creative studio, Epic Made, in 2006. With over 15 years of experience in animation, illustration, and design, the studio has worked with beloved brands such as SYFY, Nickelodeon, USA Network, WWE, TNT, and many more. In addition to his work with Epic Made, he volunteers for the Hampton Roads Chapter of AIGA and is the current sitting President.

Ross Ciuppa is a digital painter, 3D animator, and modeler. As the Creative Director at Epic Made, he is responsible for leading the studio's creative vision and ensuring the quality of its output. With a background in sales and the arts, including set design and direction for short films, Ross brings a unique perspective to his role at Epic Made.

In this episode…

Even if it can be challenging to place, people know when they have experienced a meaningful story. There is a difference between simple entertainment and something that leaves a lasting mark on the audience. Whether for advertising, production, or personal creativity, imbuing meaning into stories will always make something memorable. So how do you create something with genuine meaning?

By delving into the intricacies of meaningful storytelling, Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa provide valuable insights that can empower creators to craft narratives that resonate with audiences on a profound level. They underscore the importance of storytelling in comprehending and navigating life, noting that stories have served as fundamental elements in various cultures throughout history.

In this episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa discuss meaningful storytelling and how to do it well. They break down the relationship between entertainment and pure storytelling, why being surprising is not always best, and leaving the audience on the right note. The two also touch on how these concepts relate to their webcomic and the new D&D movie.