January 27, 2020
5 Questions With… Tom Akkala
5 Questions with Tom Akkala
1. Where were you/what did you do before working at Seriously?
Prior to Seriously, I worked as a freelance copywriter in Finland’s film and television industry. I did some script work, some sales, some marketing, and basically anything that needed to be translated to English. Before moving to Finland in 2016, I worked at Warner Bros. in Burbank, California. At WB, I started out at a development production company on the lot, then moved into physical production for a number of shows on the lot, and finally ended up working for the Studio in production management.
2. What is your current role at Seriously?
At Seriously, I’m a Creative Writer. As this is a new position within the company, we’re still working to define everything that I’m responsible for. Generally, if there is copy that’s customer facing produced by the Helsinki office, I’ll probably take a look at it. Currently, I’m more focused around the original Best Fiends, but as STARS ramps up, I’ll be working closely with that team, as well
3. What’s your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of the job (so far) is the creative freedom everyone is giving me. It’s a breath of fresh air to work with creatives who are open and receptive to new ideas, directions, and voices. It’s a rare quality among established IP, and I appreciate it immensely.
4. Who is your favorite Fiend or Slug and why?
Currently, my favorite Fiend is Whisper because she’s got awesome styles and a fantastic backstory. There’s something powerful about growing up wanting to be something else (in her case, a bee). And I’d say my favorite Slug is Pikku. He’s crazy!
5. When you are not working at Seriously or playing Best Fiends, what do you enjoy doing?
Outside of work, I mainly just hang around with my family because they’re pretty cool. Other than that, I like to read and work on my own writing projects. I play FIFA on occasion, and I’m a big Liverpool fan (we’re finally good!). I also hope to get back into playing some recreational football here in Helsinki, so if anyone knows a good adult league, let me know!