Young Guns 16: Thomas Harnett O’Meara
By Brett McKenzie on Nov 01, 2018
Showcasing the incredible winners of Young Guns 16
After months of decisions, discussions and debate, The One Club For Creativity is thrilled to unveil the winners of Young Guns 16! These 30 art directors, illustrators, filmmakers, photographers and designers of all types stood above all in this career-making, globe-spanning portfolio-based competition.
Ahead of the Young Guns 16 Ceremony + Party taking place on November 15, we are shining a spotlight on the various superstars who will be honored that evening.
Thomas Harnett O’Meara
Filmmaker
London, UK
What does winning Young Guns mean to you?
It really means a lot to win the award, it's great when someone notices what you are up to. My friend Nicolas Ménard won Young Guns 12, and I remember looking at the website, thinking "yeah that's pretty cool, I'd like to be involved."
This was my first time entering, although I had considered sending some stuff in last year. I did not have enough work that I thought was up to scratch.
It’s not easy to be a successful creative. What sorts of challenges have you encountered to get where you are today?
Honestly there are far too many challenges to list but in general I really struggle with producing the films, organising, budgeting, scheduling etc takes up way more of my energy than any design work or creative decisions. I have managed to get by through the kindness of others, everyone in the stop motion industry is so patient and supportive.
How did you decide what to enter into Young Guns? Was it a challenge to curate yourself?
It was quite easy to decide which six projects to enter; as a stop motion animator, I barely had six projects in the bag!
Can you name any past Young Guns winners who you look up to, whose work you admire or are even inspired by?
I'm a huge fan of Mikey Please (YG10), who nominated me. When I was on my B.A. course in Manchester, a tutor showed me his graduation film, The Eagleman Stag. It completely blew my mind and inspired me to become an animator on the spot. So Mikey is doubly the reason I have won this award.
What keeps you going, creatively speaking?
Creatively I feel as though I get to execute only a tiny percentage of my ideas, so what keeps me going is wanting to get them all out into the world. One frame at a time.
Now that you’re a Young Guns winner, what’s next?
Next up is a new animation company me and my friend Matt are working on.
The Young Guns 16 Ceremony & Party takes place on Thursday, November 15 in New York City.
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