WRITER/PRODUCER
A Leap of Faith Writer and producer Genevieve LeDoux lengthens her stride By Den i s e K. Jame s
S even lucky years ago, Genevieve LeDoux moved to Atlanta with her husband. Though it felt like a crazy idea at first—she’d only been to Georgia for work and felt settled in her native California—once she’d taken a peek at the housing market and discovered “dream homes” on every corner at an affordable, non- Californian price, the plans solidified. “I had gotten a fortune cookie the night before we were moving that said, ‘Take a leap—the ones who matter will follow,’” she recalls. “I stuck the fortune inside my wallet. Now, my mother, sister, cousins, friends, and everyone are here in Georgia. It’s this great migration.” Furthermore, the “take a leap” philosophy has been a prevailing theme for the prolific writer and producer since that day—perhaps since even before then. As a child, LeDoux was passionately artistic, “always drawing on everything, an idea person, with a million ideas.” She reminisces about one afternoon when her dad was trying to rename his business, and LeDoux, a mere 6 or 7 years old at the time, came up with “50 pages of ideas for names.” The simplicity of her childhood (pre-internet, of course) continues to be an inspiration for how she parents her
own children and nurtures her craft. “Art, nature, stories— really PLAYING—it was all magical and so special to me, and now, I am that way as a parent,” she says. Fast-forward to high school graduation, when LeDoux initially considered a career in fashion design. A creative dresser and thrift-store-scouter, her taste beck- oned the attention of her peers, making fashion seem like the next logical move. When it wasn’t the right fit—yes, it was creative, but something felt missing—her dad sug- gested trying out his industry: architecture and design, which she enjoyed for the next 13 years as a designer and vice president of a notable firm. But her best was still yet to come. “That entire time, I was always trying to tell a story about the designs,” she shares. “You think of a house or business and putting in new carpet or painting it … but I was always trying to tell the story.” Following her instincts, LeDoux decided to pitch a TV show to Warner Bros. Animation; at the time, her sister was nannying for the family of the vice president. They turned down the pitch because they were develop- ing something similar, but they invited LeDoux to work for them as an assistant. “I learned about animation, kids’
Genevieve LeDoux
content, storytelling—and I got to work on great TV shows and learn from great men- tors,” she says. Opportunities with household-name companies soon followed, along with the chance to work on popular shows like My Lit- tle Pony and Yo Gabba Gabba . Then LeDoux found a clear-cut path with Christopher Keenan, who owned a company called Cre- ating4Kids (C4K) and who swiftly became her mentor. She easily thrived at C4K, noting Keenan was the “kind of boss who pushed you out of your comfort zone.” The results of being pushed, by the way, evolved into her
had help—her cousin, Andy Kurtz, an audio engineer and composer, was brand-new to kids’ music but ral- lied, thanks to LeDoux’s infectious enthusiasm. Also instrumental to the process is Chris LeDoux, her loyal husband, who, she says, “has been so supportive, doesn’t mind me singing at 3 a.m., and is pushing me forward every day.” So what’s next for Star Forest? Plenty—live concerts with the Star Forest virtual band that are family-friendly and perfect for kids, and a second album, already in the works as you read this. LeDoux has assembled a team of creatives who believe in the vision. From forest conser- vation partnerships to fully animated music videos, the stars have really begun to align. “We recorded the first album in three days in a shut- down office building,” she exclaims. “Now, we’re working on the second album. We feel less restricted and [more] sure of our sound–synth-fantasy folk pop, and it’s going to be even cooler.” She adds, “I want to celebrate kids and help them find their voices. You can’t make a difference if you aren’t different. That’s my mission. These kids are going to change the world.”
Images courtesy of Star Forest Music
current project: Star Forest. Like most great inventions, Star Forest Music came about on a whim, while LeDoux was enjoying a leisurely drive with her two children during the COVID-19 quarantine. Noticing there was no ideal music for her 6-year-old (everything was either too babyish or too grown-up), her wheels started turning. The pandemic had slowed down TV production—before that, she’d been writing and producing with her new company, Silver Comet Productions—and she needed a project. First, she made a list of everything elementary kids are into, from outer space to video games. Those themes would assemble to create an innovative musical record, the first exclusive to her son’s age group. Of course, she
“ I want to celebrate kids and help them find their voices. You can’t make a difference if you aren’t different. ”
@starforestrocks
14 | T H E G E O R G I A H O L L Y WO O D R E V I E W | M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 2 2
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs