To kick-off our interview series Behind The Bylines, we're we are excited to feature Stephen Price: Epica juror and founder of Stash, the streaming platform all about motion design, animation, and VFX. In this special interview, Stephen shares his thoughts on journalism, the creative industry and his role as an Epica juror.
What inspired you to become a journalist and how did you get into the profession?
I started writing after spending 15 years on the production side of the industry, working on everything from commercials and music videos, to TV series and feature films. The opportunity to switch to the press side came unexpectedly when a friend who edited a production trade magazine asked me to write articles on design, animation, and VFX.
This gig was freelance but led directly to the idea of launching Stash as I soon realized that production and advertising magazines did not take design, animation, and VFX seriously at all. So I rounded up two partners and launched Stash as a monthly DVD magazine in 2004. Suddenly, I was a full-time journalist.
What’s your role at Stash - and what are the latest developments there?
I have served as the editor and creative director of Stash since launch. In 2010 we switched from DVDs to an online streaming format and then in 2022 we rebuilt that streaming product (The Stash Permanent Collection) to mimic a proper Netflix-type UI/UX. The response by subscribers to that upgrade has been very rewarding.
What essential qualities and skills do journalists need to thrive in today’s media landscape?
You absolutely need to love what you cover because you could make more money doing just about anything else.
As a member of the Epica Awards jury, how do you approach evaluating and selecting the best creative work from around the world?
I evaluate Epica entries the same way I curate the work selected for the Stash Permanent Collection: it must first resonate on some emotional level. If it passes that test, I move on to look at the project’s creative and technical qualities.
How important is the relationship between journalism and the creative community, and how can it be further strengthened?
I can’t speak for other journalists but I know by reactions from our subscribers and fans, they definitely rely on Stash to stay informed and inspired. On another level they consider it an aspirational goal to have their work featured on Stash. We take that responsibility seriously.
One simple (but time consuming) thing we have always done to strengthen our connection to the industry is to respond personally to all submissions whether they are selected for publication or not.
You absolutely need to love what you cover because you could make more money doing just about anything else
At Stash we make a conscious effort to run hiring news that shows the progress women and minorities are making in the industry
How d’you stay informed and updated on the latest trends and developments in the creative industry?
Besides the hundreds of submissions we receive every month, we track approximately 650 studios and individuals on a daily basis for news and new work.
What’s the biggest challenge facing the creative industry today – and how might it be addressed?
Commodification. It started with crowd-sourcing, is currently flourishing on freelancer platforms, and will only get worse as AI learns to generate everything from logos to fully executed ad campaigns.
What role do you see journalism playing in promoting and advocating for diversity and inclusion within the creative industry?
I don’t have an opinion on what journalism in general should do, but at Stash we make a conscious effort to run hiring news that shows the progress women and minorities are making in the industry.
Who are your role models or mentors in journalism and the creative world? And what’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
My background is in graphic design, so my mentors are from the visual side of the creative industries. They tend to be pioneers and iconoclasts from the 20th century like Mies Van der Rohe, Saul Bass, Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles and Ray Eames, Paul Rand, Neville Brody.