Design Coordinator Lauren Clinton Clark shares her journey into animation, her fervent support of workers rights, and how she became a champion for her colleagues on Rick and Morty.
Name: Lauren Clinton Clark
Job Title: Design Coordinator
Studio: Rick and Morty
Contact Info: stewards-rickmorty@tag839.org
Tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey.
My life in the film and television industry started pretty early. I was a kid actor, and it helped me realize very early on just how much I love telling stories, especially in this medium. However, it wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I decided to study filmmaking properly. While I loved performing, writing and directing became an even greater love, and I pivoted my focus to that. In school, I quickly realized that my natural penchant for organization made me an asset in all phases of production, and so I began working freelance as a Production Assistant on absolutely any project I could. That PA work turned into coordinator work, which eventually turned into producing music videos. As much as I loved my freelance work, it left very little space for me to focus on directing my own short films. Animation allows me that freedom. I cut my teeth at Nickelodeon as a Storyboard Coordinator on Transformers: EarthSpark, then forayed into design coordinating on Batwheels at Warner Bros., before landing at my current home as a Design Coordinator on Rick and Morty. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I love the work I do! But I try to remember that just because I get to pay my bills as a coordinator doesn’t mean I can’t still be an artist. And it’s so fantastic to work in an industry that allows the time and space for it.
What do you love most about working in animation?
The people!!! The entertainment industry can be tough—it’s infamously known to be cutthroat and lonely. There were definitely a few times I experienced that working in live action. But animation isn’t like that. The people who make up our crews are some of the kindest and most honest, talented, and patient people I’ve ever worked with. When the work gets difficult, it’s the people who keep me sane. I feel fortunate to be a part of this corner of the industry!
Why did you volunteer to serve as a Shop Steward?
I’ve always been a fervent supporter of workers rights. It seems that every day, more and more exploitative tactics are used to oppress and control the labor class. It’s so easy to feel small in the shadow of modern enterprise, and if you’re not sure who to reach out to in times of confusion or frustration, it can feel like a losing battle. Stewards are such an important antidote to that feeling. Not all workers should have to memorize the ins and outs of their rights. Ideally, they should be confident that their employer is looking out for their best interests. But companies do not often operate with altruistic tendencies. It’s comforting to know there’s someone in the office with you, who understands the nuances of your shared workplace, and can apply that knowledge to the specifics of our rights and our contracts.
When I decided to be a Steward, I had already been involved in the production organizing committee at Warner Bros. Animation and was on the negotiating committee at Rick and Morty. Through repeated exposure to union-related matters, I felt confident that I could begin supporting and advocating for my co-workers as a Steward, and I was proud to take it on!
As a Shop Steward, what are your priorities in helping TAG members at your studio?
Knowing the specifics of our contract and sharing that information with members is one of my top priorities. Contract language frankly sucks, and no one wants to decipher it every time they have a question. While deciphering it is certainly not my favorite pastime, it’s one of the most important parts of my job as a Steward. Being attuned to the specifics in the Master Agreement can make the difference between ignoring an unfair labor practice and overcoming a breach of contract to achieve the rights every member is entitled to. It’s important that the crew at my studio sees me and our other Stewards as the open door to the Union and its benefits.
You can learn more about Lauren at her website, her Western Gothic Pictures Instagram, and her personal Instagram.