Big ideas; bite-sized presentations. We're thrilled to introduced Popcorn Talks sponsored by RevThink– a dynamic series of short, impactful presentations delivered by trailblazers in the animation and motion design industry. Forget the formal lectures; these are authentic insights straight from the source. Hear firsthand about the passions, processes, and pivotal moments that have shaped these leaders' careers.
Barbara Astrini
Bárbara Astrini is an Emmy-winning art director and motion designer, with a focus on preschool animation and branding. She creates for brands like Scholastic, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Street, at her studio LOJA in Queens, and teaches at FIT. As a young immigrant from Brazil to the USA, television and books were Astrini’s gateway to understanding the new world around her.
Nol Honig
Nol Honig is an award-winning director, motion designer, and educator based in New York City. He is the founder of The Drawing Room, a design-focused animation studio whose clients include Netflix, Coca-Cola, The History Channel, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A longtime educator, Nol taught motion graphics at Parsons School of Design for nearly two decades, earning a Distinguished Teaching Award in 2017. His recent work includes the Silver Cube-winning title sequence for Netflix’s The Andy Warhol Diaries.
Stephanie Rabins
Stephanie Rabins walked in through the ART door and - against all odds - one day found herself in a department called BUSINESS.
While she enjoys representing Black Math because she believes in the integrity of the work, she's also come to see project development; negotiation; and new business growth as a creative pursuit in itself.
David Jeffers
David Jeffers is a sound designer, digital artist, and disabilities advocate with a deep-rooted love for music and storytelling through sound. A former mechanical engineer in the automotive industry, David's life took a dramatic turn in 2011 when a tragic accident left him a quadriplegic. Since then, he’s transformed adversity into opportunity—using his heightened sensitivity to sound and a lifelong passion for music to craft rich, immersive audio experiences. Drawing from years of technical expertise and a uniquely personal relationship with sound, David creates work that is both innovative and deeply human. He is also a peer mentor for individuals with spinal cord injuries and a consultant on accessibility and disability inclusion. As David puts it, he does sound design “just like everybody else—but with a different interface.”
Jeffery Lawson
Jeffery Lawson is a U.S. Army combat veteran, art director, senior designer, and illustrator born and raised in North Carolina. A graduate of SCAD and currently designing at Bandwidth, Jeffery brings a tactile, hands-on approach to storytelling—infused with curiosity, care, and a deep love of nature.
A tradesman at heart, his tools range from brushes and ink to CRT monitors and ‘90s Handycams, all used to craft work that feels lived-in, emotional, and intentional. His practice spans illustration, printmaking, digital design, photography, and motion—each medium feeding into the next as part of a larger narrative.
Inspired by his faith, culture, film, and a belief in spreading kindness wherever he goes, Jeffery’s work aims to evoke joy, reflection, and change. Through mentorship at Gunner School, he helps guide the next generation of artists while continuing to grow in his own creative and personal journey.
Whether you're starting a new project or just want to say hello, Jeffery’s always open to connection—one story, one image, one conversation at a time.
Tim Thompson [Moderator]
Tim Thompson's vision and leadership have established RevThink as the industry’s leading supporter of creative entrepreneurs. Renowned for sharing his practical wisdom, resources, and industry best practices, he provides valuable management tools and sage advice through advising, writing, podcasting (RevThinking), and speaking.
Following his tenure at Imaginary Forces (cat herding such heralded projects as the SE7EN title sequence), Tim started helping friends who were running top studios... but struggling to master the business side.
Curious why conventional business wisdom wasn't working, Tim set about inventing a methodology specifically designed for creative businesses.
It worked. And RevThinking was born in 2006.