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california scheming JibJab job brings joy By Ken Marten Anthony Denha is pursuing his dream. It took him about 2,300 miles from home, but that’s a small step as far as dreams go. Denha is the technical director for production at Los Angeles-based JibJab, an industry leader in ecards, interactive videos and other “Sendables.” “In high school I went to a lot of concerts,” Denha said, “and I just fell into this kind of work by picking up a camera and filming concerts.” Denha, 26, made the trek westward from Metro Detroit in January 2009, settling in the Los Angeles suburb of West Hollywood. After freelancing for 18 months or so, he landed the JibJab job and celebrated his first anniversary this past July. Anthony grew up in Bloomfield Hills and is one of Hazim and Ahlam Denha’s three children. He attended school at St. Hugo of the Hills and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. After high school, Denha enrolled at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit. He earned a bachelor’s of fine arts degree in animation and digital media in 2008. Like many young Chaldeans, he initially faced family pressures regarding his non-traditional career choice. “My parents were really worried early on,” Denha recalled. “My mom wanted me to go into something more business-oriented. In my mind, I wanted to direct movie videos or something like that.” Brothers Evan and Gregg Spiridellis founded JibJab in their Brooklyn garage in 1999. Three years later, having survived the infamous dot com crash, they moved operations to Los Angeles and have lured likeminded talent westward ever since. JibJab has created works for Disney, Sony, Yahoo and Anheuser Busch, to list a few. But it’s JibJab’s creative content that people use as a form of personal expression (visit jibjab.com for a flavor). As JibJab’s technical director for production, Denha is involved in the company’s newest personal expression product: JibJab Junior. It’s an iPod application based on the idea of a children’s adventure book and geared towards interaction between kids and their parents. But instead of following the exploits of an established character, Denha explained, parents upload a photo of their child, who then becomes the star of the adventure. “The people I work with did a fantastic job on this one,” Denha said. “There are the writers and animators on the production side, the people who run the website on the technical side, and I’m the guy in the middle of both.” JibJab Junior application books can be bought outright, or parents can pay a subscription fee and receive a book featuring their child every month. Adjusting to a new lifestyle is always challenging, and the differences between southern California and the Midwest – particularly Los Angeles and Detroit – are many. “Driving is a big one,” Denha said. “They say any place is 20 to 25 minutes away in L.A. But that could easily become an hour just because a cop has pulled someone over and caused a traffic jam. It can be miserable, and frustrating, too.” Being a lifelong Metro Detroiter, Denha knows a thing or two about traffic congestion. Not only did he commute from Bloomfield Hills to the CCS campus for coursework, he lived in downtown Detroit – with its winding streets, one-way traffic, traffic lights and potholes – for two years. The cost of living in Los Angeles is also higher. “Everything seems twice as expensive here,” Denha said. “You easily pay or for a decent meal. And rent is sky high.” He and a friend share a two-bedroom apartment for ,500 a month. Denha says most folks generally have vague ideas about who Chaldeans are. Anthony Denha is all smiles over his cool job. “I’ve met people who are aware of Chaldeans, but their information is minimal,” Denha said. “They know the term basically, but that’s all.” He said there are a number of Hasidic Jews in his West Hollywood neighborhood who are knowledgeable about Chaldeans. But Denha contrasted his neighbors with an L.A. transplant from Canton, Michigan, who knew very little. “Luckily, everyone here in L.A. is open. They’re willing to listen. This is a melting pot of people, so people almost have to be open,” he said. “You don’t meet a lot of native L.A. people.” Denha isn’t concerned about the bonds of family and ethnicity loosening. As the only family member to have left Metro Detroit, he’s returned numerous times for holidays and other family gatherings. “I still follow up with Michigan,” Denha says. “It’s my home, and I love it.” RON GARMO Licensed and Insured Contractor 248.884.1704 runningright@gmail.com “We’re working to keep your systems Running Right!” Now offeriNg Duct cleaNiNg ServiceS > HEATING > VENTILATION > AIR CONDITIONING > REFRIGERATION > COMMERCIAL / RESIDENTIAL > NEW CONSTRUCTION > RADIANT FLOOR HEATING StartiNg at 0 per SyStem NO HASSLE WARRANTIES www.runningrighthvacr.info WE ACCEPT VISA & MASTERCARD 32 CHALDEAN NEWS SEPTEMBER 2011
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