By Dave Basulto

Many of you might have run into Rampant Design’s Sean Mullen at a trade show or conference at some point in your career. He likely had his wife and business partner by his side, and he was likely smiling. You probably left that conversation thinking, “Wow, that is a nice man.” And he was. Sean died this week after losing a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was just 43 years old.

Dave Basulto, Sean and Stef Mullen

Sean was one of the best people I ever met, and I’ll never forget the NAB Show some eight years ago when he first entered my world. I had attended NAB many times, but this was my first as an exhibitor, displaying my new company’s iOgrapher product line. I was fortunate to have my booth placed next to Rampant Design Tools. As we set up, I glanced over to see these huge TV monitors showing amazing motion graphics and effects. Secretly, I was a huge After Effects and Apple Motion wannabe, so I walked over to them, asked what they do, and quickly realized I had just met a friend for life. Actually, two of them. Sean and Stef. Their names said together are etched into my brain.

What made Sean so special? I meet a lot of talented people in this business, and, sadly, many of them are pretty full of themselves. This guy wasn’t. He was as real as it comes. Absolutely one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

We chatted a while about mograph stuff, and he told me that, with practice, I could be as good as him. And dammit if I didn’t go home and try. Sean was a true artist, and he loved what he did. He was amazing at Adobe After Effects, an app that takes years to master.

We exchanged numbers and said how we should do this again next year at NAB. I figured that was that, and I would go back to my life. Nope. I called Sean about a week later to ask a question about something I wanted to create. He gave me help, but then we chatted and chatted and chatted.

One call led to many, along with texts, emails and invites to live streams. Sean became the little brother I never had. He would ask my business advice, and I would beg him to show me some mograph tricks. On and on for years.

postPerspective editor-in-chief Randi Altman and Sean at Dave Basulto’s NAB booth.

Sean and Stef settled in Orlando, and whenever a conference would take me there, I would visit with them. We always ate, laughed, told stories and planned world domination.

In early 2020, Sean messaged me that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. It felt like Mike Tyson punched me in the gut. After our call I remember weeping, my wife consoling me. She knew how much I loved Sean.

Sean held on for over a year. He battled like no other. I can’t imagine his suffering. His wife is a rock. She was there every single second, taking care of her beloved. She is my hero.

Sean passed away March 6th. I was devastated, yet relieved. Relieved because he suffered no more. Devastated because he is gone. Gone, but never forgotten. He’ll live on with all of those who had the privilege to know him.

Rest in peace, Sean, and thank you for being my friend. XOXO

[Editor’s Note: Sean was a friend of postPerspective, and we interviewed him a number of times over the years. Here are a few of those pieces.]

Dave Basulto is a mobile video expert, author and the founder/inventor of iOgrapher.com.