USC Comedy at the School of Cinematic Arts,
USC Visions and Voices: The Arts and Humanities Initiative,
and Hulu, invite you to attend
 

Spotlight on Hulu's ADULT ANIMATION

A Conversation with the creatives behind
Crossing Swords, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.,
and Solar Opposites

Featuring:
JOHN HARVATINE IV (Co-Creator, Crossing Swords)
TOM ROOT (Co-Creator/EP, Crossing Swords)
JORDAN BLUM (Co-Creator/Showrunner, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.)
PATTON OSWALT (Co-Creator/Star, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.)
JOSH BYCEL (Co-Showrunner/EP, Solar Opposites)
MIKE MCMAHAN (Co-Creator/Co-Showrunner/EP, Solar Opposites)

Moderated by Brian DeAngelis, USC Comedy’s Oakie Fellow

The event will begin with a 2-minute sizzle reel featuring
Crossing Swords, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K., and Solar Opposites

3:00 P.M. PDT on Sunday, April 11th, 2021

REGISTER NOW TO PARTICIPATE:
http://cinema.usc.edu/AdultAnimationRSVP

Open to USC Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and the General Public.

Presented during the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5,
taking place from April 9th - 11th, 2021.

Visit the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5 Homepage: http://cinema.usc.edu/ComedyFestival
Follow the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USCComedy
Follow the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5 on Instagram: @USCComedy
Follow the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5 on Twitter: @USCComedy
 

About the Guests

JOHN HARVATINE IV (Co-Creator, Crossing Swords)

Emmy-winning producer and director, John “Harv” Harvatine IV is a visual storyteller who combines his love of photography with his passion for stop-motion. After starting his career as an animator, Harv quickly learned the ropes from the stop-motion studios he worked at and formed his own production company. Starting in 2003 with Make Out City Studios, Harv created content for the NFL, G4TV and Interscope Records. In 2008, he co-founded Buddy System Studios with Eric Towner, where they created groundbreaking animations for heavyweights such as Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Harv partnered with Seth Green, Matthew Senreich and Eric Towner in 2011 to create Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, which produces the longest running stop-motion show on television, the Emmy-winning Robot Chicken. Harv is currently directing season 2 of Crossing Swords, which will premiere on Hulu later this year.

TOM ROOT (Co-Creator/EP, Crossing Swords)

Tom Root is an Emmy-winning writer, producer, director and voice actor. He is the co-creator and executive producer of Crossing Swords, as well as co-head writer and executive producer of the longest running stop-motion show on television, the Emmy-winning Robot Chicken. In addition, Root is currently serving as a consulting producer for DC’s Stargirl on The CW. Root previously co-created the Emmy-winning Adult Swim series Titan Maximum. He served as a writer, producer and voice actor for Sony Crackle’s SuperMansion. Root wrote two award-winning opening title sequences for The Simpsons. As a voice actor, he has guested on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, American Dad and numerous commercials. Root was one of the original staffers of ToyFare Magazine and was a staff writer and copy editor for Wizard Entertainment's family of publications. During his tenure he co-wrote ToyFare's popular Twisted ToyFare Theatre feature. In 2010, he wrote Archie Comics' 200th anniversary issue of Jughead. Root holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Central Michigan University.

JORDAN BLUM (Co-Creator/Showrunner, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.)

Jordan Blum has been a writer and producer on multiple shows including American Dad for Fox & TBS and Community for NBC. As a lifelong comic book fan, getting to co-create and showrun Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. for Hulu is a nerd-dream come true.

PATTON OSWALT (Co-Creator/Star, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.)

A comedian, actor, and writer, Patton Oswalt is known for his award-winning comedy specials and his many memorable film roles and guest appearances on his favorite TV shows (including NBC’s Parks and Recreation, for which he received a TV Critics Choice Award). He currently stars as ‘Principal Durbin’ on the NBCUniversal comedy A.P. Bio and recently served as the lead voice of ‘Max’ the dog in Illumination’s THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2. Oswalt’s latest stand-up special I LOVE EVERYTHING was released on Netflix in May 2020 and was nominated for an Emmy; he also received a Grammy nomination for his comedy album of the same name. In 2017, he received Grammy and Emmy nominations for his album and Netflix special ANNIHILATION. In 2016, he won the Emmy for 'Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special’ for his Netflix comedy special TALKING FOR CLAPPING and a Grammy Award in 2017 for his comedy album of the same name. Oswalt was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for his performance in Jason Reitman’s film YOUNG ADULT, starring opposite Charlize Theron. In 2009, he also received critical acclaim for his performance in Robert Siegel’s BIG FAN; the film was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and Oswalt earned a Gotham Award nomination for his performance.

JOSH BYCEL (Co-Showrunner/EP, Solar Opposites)

Josh Bycel has written and produced shows for Hulu, Netflix, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, USA, MTV, Dreamworks and Comedy Central, as well writing for the Academy Awards with Jon Stewart. He is currently the Co-Showrunner for Solar Opposites on Hulu and the Co-Creator of The Big Show Show on Netflix. Josh is also the Executive Director and Founder of OneKid OneWorld, which is an international non-profit focused on rebuilding schools using green technologies and creating sports, education and health programs for rural schools in Kenya, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

MIKE MCMAHAN (Co-Creator/Co-Showrunner/EP, Solar Opposites)

Mike McMahan is the co-creator, co-showrunner, and executive producer of Hulu’s hit animated comedy series Solar Opposites, which was renewed for a third season after the show’s debut was the streamer’s most-watched original comedy premiere to date. Additionally, McMahan is creator and executive producer of Star Trek: Lower Decks at CBS All Access, which has a two-season order. Previously, McMahan was executive producer on Adult Swim’s hit animated series Rick and Morty, sharing in the show’s Animated Program Emmy® win in 2018 and again in 2020.

BRIAN DEANGELIS (USC Comedy's Oakie Fellow, Moderator)

Brian DeAngelis is a comedy writer-producer and MFA candidate in Film and Television Production at USC School of Cinematic Arts. Formally a producer for SilconANGLE Media’s theCUBE and SCTV28’s On The Spot, he now serves as USC Comedy’s Oakie Fellow.

About Crossing Swords

Created by Robot Chicken's John Harvatine IV and Tom Root, Crossing Swords stars Nicholas Hoult as Patrick, a good hearted peasant who lands a coveted squire position at the royal castle. However, his dream job quickly turns into a nightmare when he learns his beloved kingdom is run by a hornet’s nest of horny monarchs, crooks and charlatans. Even worse, Patrick’s valor made him the black sheep in his family, and now his criminal siblings have returned to make his life hell. War, murder, full frontal nudity—who knew brightly colored peg people led such exciting lives?

About Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.

In Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K., the megalomaniacal supervillain M.O.D.O.K. (Patton Oswalt) has long pursued his dream of one day conquering the world. But after years of setbacks and failures fighting the Earth’s mightiest heroes, M.O.D.O.K. has run his evil organization A.I.M. into the ground. Ousted as A.I.M.’s leader, while also dealing with his crumbling marriage and family life, the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing is set to confront his greatest challenge yet!

FOLLOW M.O.D.O.K. ON SOCIAL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvelsmodok/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarvelsMODOK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarvelsMODOK

About Solar Opposites

Co-created by Justin Roiland (Rick & Morty) and Mike McMahan (ex-writer's assistant on Rick & Morty), Solar Opposites centers around a team of four aliens who escape their exploding home world only to crash land into a move-in ready home in suburban America. They are evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome. Korvo (Justin Roiland) and Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone) only see the pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty while Terry (Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (Mary Mack) love humans and all their TV, junk food and fun stuff. Their mission: protect the Pupa, a living super computer that will one day evolve into its true form, consume them and terraform the Earth. On season two of Solar Opposites, the Solar Opposites take it bigger, funnier, and more opposite than ever before.

About the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5

The 5th Edition of the USC Comedy Festival comes after a year of unprecedented social isolation and demands for social justice. Staring at screens or out in the streets, we learned why we still needed comedy and discovered new ways to make each other laugh in spite of everything. Affiliated with the USC Comedy track at the School of Cinematic Arts and the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Foundation, the festival will honor legendary performer, impressionist, and character-ologist Bill Hader. Over the course of three days, panels will feature well-known guests such as Aidy Bryant, Demetri Martin, Lisa Kudrow, Lindy West, Matt Besser, Patton Oswalt, and Ramy Youssef; capture new voices exploding onto the scene; and celebrate the work of our newest generation of USC Comedy students.

Visit the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5 Homepage: http://cinema.usc.edu/ComedyFestival
Follow the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USCComedy
Follow the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5 on Instagram: @USCComedy
Follow the USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 5 on Twitter: @USCComedy

About USC Comedy at the School of Cinematic Arts

In 2010 USC became the first university in the nation to offer a program dedicated to training filmmakers in the art of comedy. USC Comedy at the School of Cinematic Arts offers instruction in the writing, directing, production as well as the history and theory of comedy. Students work with a distinguished, award-winning faculty of comedy professionals to discover and develop their comedic voices, while getting unrivaled access to the field through workshops, internships, demonstrations and screenings and festivals.

USC Comedy boasts an award-winning faculty that includes Jack Epps Jr. (The Secret of My Success, Legal Eagles, Top Gun), Barnet Kellman (Murphy Brown, Mad About You, George Lopez), David Isaacs (Cheers, Frasier, M*A*S*H*), Robert Townsend (Diary of A Single Mom, The Parent Hood), Rob Schiller (The King of Queens), Andy Cadiff (Last Man Standing, Spin City) John Bowman (Saturday Night Live, In Living Color), Dave Goetsch (The Big Bang Theory), F J Pratt (Sullivan & Son) and Tim Marx (Young Sheldon), to name just a few.
 
Our students benefit from the expertise and participation of SCA Comedy Alumni such as Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents), Tim Story (Barber Shop, Ride Along), Judd Apatow (Girls, Superbad, Knocked Up),  Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Spy), Peter Segal (Tommy Boy, Get Smart), Gabe Sachs (Freaks and Geeks), Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air), Nahnatchka Khan (Fresh Off The Boat), and Prentice Penny (Insecure), among many other luminaries and industry professionals.

For more information, visit: http://cinema.usc.edu/comedy

About USC Visions and Voices: The Arts and Humanities Initiative

Visions and Voices is a university-wide arts and humanities initiative that is unparalleled in higher education. The initiative was established by USC President C. L. Max Nikias during his tenure as provost in order to fulfill the goals set forth in USC's strategic plan; to communicate USC's core values to students; and to affirm the human spirit. Emphasizing the university's commitment to interdisciplinary approaches, the initiative features a spectacular array of events conceived and organized by faculty and schools throughout the university. The series includes theatrical productions, music and dance performances, conferences, lectures, film screenings and many other special events both on and off campus. Each program invites students to dialogue and interact with artists, writers, professors and special guests. These interactions provide a dynamic experience of the arts and humanities and encourage active exploration of USC's core values, including freedom of inquiry and expression, team spirit, appreciation of diversity, commitment to serving one's community, entrepreneurial spirit, informed risk-taking, ethical conduct and the search for truth.

Visit the Official Visions and Voices Website: https://visionsandvoices.usc.edu/
Follow Visions and Voices on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisionsAndVoices
Follow Visions and Voices on Instagram: @visionsandvoices
Follow Visions and Voices on Twitter: @VisionsnVoices

#visionsandvoices

Contact Information

Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu