• EspaƱol
  • Office of the Texas Governor
Texas Film Commission Logo
Texas Film Commission
Menu
Texas Film Commission
  • Home
  • Production
    • Production Overview
    • Location Services
    • Permits & Procedures
    • Regional Film Commissions
    • State Property Use
    • Agriculture, Climate & Geography
    • Safety On Set
    • Production FAQ
    • Digital Media Production in Texas
  • Workforce
    • Workforce Overview
    • Job Hotline
    • Getting Started as an Actor
    • Getting Started as a Production Assistant
    • Getting Started in Digital Media
    • Skills Development & Workforce Training
  • Programs
    • Programs Overview
    • Film Friendly Texas
    • Media Production Development Zone Program
    • Texas Moving Image Archive
    • Texas Film Trails
  • Incentives
    • Incentives Overview
    • Texas Production Incentive
    • Underutilized Areas Incentive & Map
    • Media Production Development Zone Program
    • Sales Tax Exemptions & Refunds
    • Economic Impact
    • Local Production Incentives
    • Forms & Guidelines
    • State Production Incentive FAQs
  • Directory
    • Directory Overview
    • TPD Crew
    • TPD Support Services
  • Film Trails
  • Resources
    • Resources Overview
    • Coronavirus Resources & Response
    • Events
    • News & Announcements
    • Festivals & Conferences
    • Organizations & Unions
    • University & College Programs
    • Small Business Owners in Texas
    • Submit Your Property as a Production Location
    • Your Music in Films
  • About
    • About Overview
    • 50th Anniversary
    • History
    • Employment
    • Student Internships
    • Texas Production Industries
    • Filmography & Gameography
    • Contact Us
  • Open Search
  • Home
  • Resources
  • News & Announcements
  • At Work With… Steph Swope, Producer at Minnow Mountain

At Work With… Steph Swope, Producer at Minnow Mountain

February 8, 2021 | Austin, TX

The ‘At Work With…’ Interview Series is our way of bringing you behind-the-scenes with the names and businesses included in our Texas Production Directory (TPD). We want to showcase the creatives that cover all levels of production experience, backgrounds, and geographies around the state. 

This week’s spotlight is on Steph Swope, Producer at Minnow Mountain, based in Austin and a Texan for 20 years.

Your claim to fame: What special skill or fun fact differentiates you from others?
Minnow Mountain is the only rotoscope animation studio in Texas and possibly the world. Nobody else does it like us! We formed in 2012 and in 2016 released Tower, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Historical Documentary. In 2019 we released Undone on Amazon Prime, which got great reviews. We are currently producing Undone Season 2 and Apollo 10 1/2, directed by Richard Linklater.

What’s the most memorable experience on a project or production that you’ve had and what made it so special?
Working with Richard Linklater was a dream of mine and part of the reason I moved to Austin in the first place, so it's absolutely amazing to get to work with him now. We create art every single day and I can only describe that as magical.

Have you had an industry mentor or colleague that has made an impact on you or helped you along your career path? If so who, and how did they impact you?
Tommy Pallotta has done a lot for Minnow Mountain. It was his suggestion that brought us on to Undone and Apollo 10 1/2. He advised us when we started Tower. If it weren't for him my business partner Craig Staggs wouldn't even be in this business. Craig was an animator on A Scanner Darkly and after that decided to keep doing it for a living. Prior to that he was an artist and painter on canvas, so if it weren't for Tommy Pallotta, Minnow Mountain likely wouldn't exist.

What advice have you been given that continues to be helpful in your work?
Undone creator Kate Purdy greatly inspired me with these words: "Trust the process." I try to remember that when times are tough. Filmmaking is a large process, and a lot of people's work goes into it. She has faith in the folks working on her production, and that is really important. It reminds me to trust the artists who work with us, just like Kate trusts us to animate her creation.

In your industry, collaboration is the key to success. How do you best foster collaboration with your colleagues from project to project?
Shotgun tracking software really is a lifesaver. We keep up on how each other’s processes are going while watching the animation go from live action filmed shots, to roto line work, to color, adding in painted backgrounds, to composite. It's amazing to see what happens with our work after it leaves our hands. Weekly meetings are also a must.

Why do you choose the Lone Star State as a place to live and work?
Where else is there?

Interview has been edited for brevity.


Texas has thousands of freelance individuals, companies and associations that serve the film, television, commercial, video game, animation & XR industries.

Explore the Texas Production Directory

If you or your business are listed in the Texas Production Directory, we want to hear about your special skills, memorable experiences and more. 

Participate in 'At Work With...'

News_AWW_Steph_Swope.jpg Image
Texas Film Commission Logo

Texas Film Commission

P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-9200


  • Site Policies
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Site Map
  • TRAIL Search
  • Texas.gov
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

© 2021, State of Texas, Office of the Governor, Texas Film Commission
This is a reference website. No endorsement or quality judgment is implied. Unless noted, all information is provided by listee.