Mike Schaeffer

Ackshuaulllly... it’s still winter. ☃️ ​ ​Before it officially ends, wanted to share this fleeting sunny winter vibe. We crafted this at The Mill in collaboration with Google Creative Lab. Bigups to @austin.marola and the talented Mill Alum to make this one sparkle. Client: Google Creative Lab Creative Director: Mike Schaeffer @mschaeffs Art Director: Austin Marola @austin.marola Executive Producer: Katie Tricot @katietricot Producer: Dara Ó Cairbre @dcairbre Additional Production: Ronny Stillwell @smokeebeer , Juli Wright @joeyshakez , Kyra Hendricks 2D Lead Artist: Heather Keister Designers: Eddie Livingstone @eddielivingstone , James Gardner @native.j , Lucas Barbuzzi @lucasbarbuzzi , Zach Landua @zlandua , Akshay Tiwari @9_to_phi Modelling: James Chan Digital Matte Painting: Charles Lee @charles_b48 Colourist: Ashley Ayarza Woods @ash.ra.woods Colour Assist: Amonnie Nicolas @tylerart_ Colour EP: Alex Lubrano @alexandra_lubrano Colour Producer: Colleen Valentino Color Coordinator: Joanne Lee

So hyped to see the response to The Beast in Me (and the love for the titles). After reading the early scripts, the tone was clear. The opening needed that same weight, so we started with bold, oversized typography, directly referencing classic book cover design. The concept of "titles as book covers" landed well with director/EP Antonio Campos and showrunner Howard Gordon, and we riffed, combined, and ruthlessly edited in a refreshingly human, old school way. We wanted it to feel kinetic and unskippable, so Sean Callery’s score was crucial as we traded versions earlier this year. The music greatly influenced and was in response to our animation as we refined the tone together. Thanks to all those involved, such a fun process on this one. Will hold a special place in my creative heart as this was the last project I CD’d at The Mill 🫶 Can you judge a book by its cover? I always do... 📖 swipe to view episodes 1-4 Credits: Managing Director: Angela Lupo Executive Producer: Katie Tricot @katietricot , Justin Matzen @stackzen Creative Director: Mike Schaeffer @mschaeffs Producer: Chloe Gauthier @chloemichelleg Art Director: Ilgi Candar Dyer @ilgi_candar_dyer Design & Animation: Kiel Mutschelknaus @kiel.d.m , Hana Yean @hanayean , Alphonse Swinehart @alphonseswinehart , Laura Nash @lauraraisa Client: Netflix @netflix Producer: Sean Sforza Associate Producer: Chris Farrow ...& so many other talented people 💕 Started at The Mill, finished by ARC Creative. #TheBeastInMe #Netflix #maintitledesign #MotionDesign #Typography

Such an honor to have been nominated for an Emmy for the titles we made for @gdtreal ‘s Cabinet of Curiosities. Packing light on the way home from an unforgettable weekend. Bags are lighter without a big statue but the emotions are heavy. ❤️‍🔥 Thanks to Guillermo for trusting in us and his expert creative leadership, to J Miles Dale, Julie Lawrence and the rest of the production team. Thanks also to @netflix , the entire @millchanneldesign global fam, & @hollyamberchurch for the killer title score that made it all sing — err.. scream! Big ups to the team Chet Hirsch, @brookie_rowley , @9_to_phi , and our Mill producers on the project @tfearonx & @clairestiefel . Thanks to my parents and family for supporting this niche career and, saving the best for last, thanks to my wife @lindley_pierce for always supporting the late nights and being my number one champion. I would not have been here without you. 💘 Huge congrats to @thelastofus winners for their 8 wins last night (!!) including Main Titles by Andy Hall and the team @elastic.tv — I’m a huge fan! 🍄 #guillermodeltoro #CabinetOfCuriosities #75thEmmys #televisionacad #redshift #maxon #houdini

POV: running with a pastry to give my talk at OFFFMX ✌️🐾

Me encanta la arquitectura de Barcelona. #offf

My first skull! Sculpted in #zbrush textured and rendered 🙊 in #substancepainter and dipped in #gold

✨❄️Looking back to the holidays now that we’re fully thawed out. ✨❄️ Stills from a film I directed last year for @davidyurman in collaboration with 🎥@tristansheridan @makeriestudio @aranquinn @wenyeb and many more @millchannel ! Link to the full film in bio.

Sam’s matryoshka dolls from Nura last year.

Thrilled to share a snippet of the film we made for @nurasound , the first headphones to consider humans in the equation of listening to recorded music. Full link in bio. Collaboration of many, including @oj_davies & @adamcarboni

Pointy AF