On this week's episode of The Character Select Podcast, Julia and Anjali sit down with the incredible art director Jacinda Chew to get her perspective on all things games. Jacinda is the Senior Art Director at Insomniac Games and breaks down her perspective on the industry, her work on the Spiderman game series, and her ultimate respect for Laura Bailey's performance as Abby Anderson in The Last of Us Part II.

Please excuse our mic/tech issues on this episode... we appreciate your understanding, and hope you love this conversation as much as we did!

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Guest: Jacinda Chew
Follow Jacinda on Instagram and Twitter/X: @jacinda_chew
Find us online at charselectpod.com or email us at charselectpod@gmail.com. Be sure to follow us on socials so you don't miss a thing!

@charselectpod | Instagram
@characterselectpod | TikTok
@charselectpod_ | Twitter/X

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Credits

- Hosts: Anjali Bhimani (https://anjalibhimani.com/) and Julia Bianco (http://www.juliabs.com/)

- Executive Producers: Rick Barrio Dill, Julia Bianco Schoeffling, & Anjali Bhimani
- Producer/Sound Engineer/Editor: Bri Coorey
- Producer: Madigan Hunt
- Animation: Bri Coorey and Larissa Donahoe
- Research: W. Amanda Mack
- Additional Editing/Graphics: Josie Scott

- Art: Laura Medeiros
- Music: Rick Barrio Dill
- Ad Sales and Production Consultation: Multitude (http://multitude.productions/)

This is a SLAP Music Media Production with support from Bad Auntie Productions (http://badauntie.com/) and The Halp Network (https://www.halpnet.com/)

About The Show
Unlock the inspirations for the people who made your favorite video games with Character Select! Each episode brings on gaming veterans from all aspects of game development–including actors, composers, writers, directors, artists, and more–as they share the gaming moments that inspired and kickstarted their creative journeys. Hosted by industry veterans actress Anjali Bhimani and casting director Julia Bianco, Character Select is your guide to leveling up your appreciation and knowledge of the world of video game development, voiceover performance, and performance capture. New episodes every Monday!

This week, we are thrilled to sit down with Jay-Ann Lopez, CEO and Founder of Black Girl Gamers!

Named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and a fierce advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Jay-Ann opens up to us about her efforts to build a progressive presence in the world of gaming. Inspired to create more spaces for black women and girls at a young age, she transitioned from steering a Facebook community into the expansive network of brands that continue to empower underrepresented voices.

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Guest:
Follow Jay-Ann on Instagram @jayannlopez_ and Twitter/X @jayannlopez_
Follow Black Girl Gamers on Instagram @theblackgirlgamers and Twitter @blackgirlgamers
Links: https://www.theblackgirlgamers.com/links
Find us online at charselectpod.com or email us at charselectpod@gmail.com. Be sure to follow us on socials so you don't miss a thing!

@charselectpod | Instagram
@characterselectpod | TikTok
@charselectpod_ | Twitter/X

=============
Credits

- Hosts: Anjali Bhimani (https://anjalibhimani.com/) and Julia Bianco (http://www.juliabs.com/)

- Executive Producers: Rick Barrio Dill, Julia Bianco Schoeffling, & Anjali Bhimani
- Producer/Sound Engineer/Editor: Bri Coorey
- Producer: Madigan Hunt
- Animation: Bri Coorey and Larissa Donahoe
- Research: W. Amanda Mack
- Additional Editing/Graphics: Josie Scott

- Art: Laura Medeiros
- Music: Rick Barrio Dill
- Ad Sales and Production Consultation: Multitude (http://multitude.productions/)

This is a SLAP Music Media Production with support from Bad Auntie Productions (http://badauntie.com/) and The Halp Network (https://www.halpnet.com/)

About The Show
Unlock the inspirations for the people who made your favorite video games with Character Select! Each episode brings on gaming veterans from all aspects of game development–including actors, composers, writers, directors, artists, and more–as they share the gaming moments that inspired and kickstarted their creative journeys. Hosted by industry veterans actress Anjali Bhimani and casting director Julia Bianco, Character Select is your guide to leveling up your appreciation and knowledge of the world of video game development, voiceover performance, and performance capture. New episodes every Monday!

On this episode of Character Select, Anjali and Julia sit down with renowned actor Abubakar Salim. Well-known to television audiences for his roles in Raised By Wolves and House of the Dragon, as well as for his BAFTA-winning performance of Bayek of Siwa in Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Abubakar’s most recent role is even more impressive and unexpected: that of a studio founder and game director. His first release on April 23 was the sensational Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, which he conceived and shepherded into life through his own game company, Surgent Studios. From the first announcement he made at the Game Awards in 2023 to now, he has shared with the world his own journey of grief over the loss of his father a decade before through the story and beautiful manifestation of this game.

Thanks to our episode sponsor, @HeroForgeMinis! Visit https://www.heroforge.com to learn more.

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Guest:

Follow Abubakar on Instagram @abzysalim and Twitter/X @abzybabzy

Follow Tales of Kenzera on Twitter @zauthegame

Liinks: https://www.liinks.co/ZauTheGame

Download Tales of Kenzera: ZAU now on ALL platforms!

Find us online at charselectpod.com or email us at charselectpod@gmail.com. Be sure to follow us on socials so you don't miss a thing!

@charselectpod | Instagram

@characterselectpod | TikTok

@charselectpod_ | Twitter/X

WATCH: My Shoes, Your Feet: https://youtu.be/tYa1tzJpe2Q?si=7oANyet64Plh_FkH

WATCH: Play, Watch, Listen episode with Abubakar Salim and Austin Wintory: https://youtu.be/mjlIsw5nFdU?si=NRI2PYvNoNjHeviY

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Credits

- Hosts: Anjali Bhimani (https://anjalibhimani.com/) and Julia Bianco (http://www.juliabs.com/)

- Executive Producers: Rick Barrio Dill, Julia Bianco Schoeffling, & Anjali Bhimani

- Producer/Sound Engineer/Editor: Bri Coorey

- Producer: Madigan Hunt

- Animation: Bri Coorey and Larissa Donahoe

- Research: W. Amanda Mack

- Additional Editing/Graphics: Josie Scott

- Art: Laura Medeiros

- Music: Rick Barrio Dill

- Ad Sales and Production Consultation: Multitude (http://multitude.productions/)

This is a SLAP Music Media Production with support from Bad Auntie Productions (http://badauntie.com/) and The Halp Network (https://www.halpnet.com/)

About The Show

Unlock the inspirations for the people who made your favorite video games with Character Select! Each episode brings on gaming veterans from all aspects of game development–including actors, composers, writers, directors, artists, and more–as they share the gaming moments that inspired and kickstarted their creative journeys. Hosted by industry veterans actress Anjali Bhimani and casting director Julia Bianco, Character Select is your guide to leveling up your appreciation and knowledge of the world of video game development, voiceover performance, and performance capture. New episodes every Monday!