Big American Films

Supervising various effects for the International film “Dragonball” (live action).  Running company Big American Films, producing and supervising over 140 shots.  Most are wire removal and other roto work, with some more advanced effects.

Supervising effects for the Chinese production “Dong Fang Da Gong”.  Setting up pipeline and organization for film to enter Digital Intermediate stage outside China.  Responsible for the successful post and delivery of final print.

Childrens film test, all 3D CG.  Directing a short meant as a test for a 2008 film project, of which I am also suggested as director.

Writing and preproduction for long format project, intended for US / Chinese cross-cultural interest.

Designed and Supervised effects for over 70 shots for Independent feature film shot in Southwestern China.  Some set supervision as well.  Followed through post.

30 minute fully animated CG pilot. Produced at an independent studio in Shanghai for the French market.  Based on Chinese history and folk tales of a Dao master, the style is simple and sophisticated, yet very unique.

Production Studio devoted to high quality visuals and stories, produced most of the effects for the Imax film “Forces of Nature”.  All effects at 4k resolution. The film has won many awards, including best Imax film.  Effects for some other projects as well.

Handled all effects from concept to film delivery.

Project for Chinese government, Dunhuang China.  Produced simulations for the content to be shown in new digital theaters.  Also in 2005,  as consultant related to the design of new dome theaters and content.

8 minute video prepared for the Chinese government aeronautics industry (AVIC 1) to promote new ARJ aircraft.  Live action and effects, responsible for all creative from concept to delivery.  Shot several locations in China.  Project was done through Pixel Play office formed in Shanghai, China.

13 minute attraction for Legoland (International).  Hi-Definition STEREO projection.  Assumed responsibilities for look and quality of final product.  In charge of over 50 people during 6 months of production.  Personally setup stereo for each shot.

3 minute promo. Motion capture / Computer graphics. Created trailer for feature entering preproduction for use as sales tool.  Also served as Art Director.  Very short schedule.

Series of 16 short opens, motion captured (30 to 70 seconds each) for Blockbuster Shockwave Cinema. Designed series, look, set. All creative for each episode (except writing).  Each done on very short turn around.

Directed first all motion captured feature. Involved in all aspects of production, including story, character and set design, script re-write (with Alan Jacobs and Robert Litz), storyboards, animation supervision, edit, music.

Cast includes Brendan Frazer as Sinbad, Leonard Nimoy as his nemesis and Mark Hamill as the lead guard.  Preproduction and design done in Hollywood, most production moved to India.

Supervisor duties to complete effects for Mortal Kombat II (40 shots), this included visual design. Doubled number of shots originally given from New Line. Supervised matte shots for Titanic. Also effects shots for:

Money Talks (New Line)

This included producing film and commercial projects as well as in-house art direction. Art directed pieces for IMAX films such as “Alaska”. Oversaw opens for Jeopardy, Disney bumpers, film trailers for various films. Supervised shots for cgi reindeer for the film “Mrs Santa Claus”.

Directed commercial for Daewoo, worldwide corp. identity.

Shot bluescreen, created shots for Disneyland parade piece.

Directly oversaw over 50 people in game creation and conversions.  Oversaw upgrade to Alias/Wavefront for game asset creation.  Was involved in the creation of 3 new games.  Reorganized work flow.

Responsible for a creative team in developing sophisticated web sites. Worked in conjunction with technical half of company, pitched approaches to potential clients. Created sites for Kenwood, Pacific Stock exchange, and others.

As a member of the executive team, responsible for general management of company involving creative, technology and production (50+ people). Produced budgets, created technology group, started internet and web awareness, hired ad agency, created all demo reels, organized production process, changed production pay plan, put together E3 and Siggraph shows, redesigned advertising look, started motion capture groups in UK and LA (became “House of Moves”), media front person, many other things.

Interactive education content company. Involved with the company from startup. Helped define direction for educational games. Director, directly responsible for one of two first titles. CG, traditional animation, live-action. Planning, production and staging title from initial concept through to post. Title involved combining classic cel animation with computer generated environments, with live teaser (the Secret of Googol).

Helped design and supervise car transformation effects for the show. Bid effects to specialty houses such as Metrolight.

Produced several movie opens, commercials and effects. Directed animation seq. for Dominos pizza.  Consulted on Visual Effects for several projects. Consulted with Walt Disney Pictures on approach for the movie “Dinosaur” (also did illustration!).

Introduction to motion graphics, evening classes. Concurrent with production work.

Created animations for many commercials and full CGI spots. Company became world known for graphic style, premiere content. I took most responsibility for commercial realm and music videos. Competed directly with other high-end CGI houses such as PDI, Rhythm and Hues, ILM, etc.  Best known for creating full graphics packages for 3 different Winter Olympics.

At this time known as probably the worlds best post production facility.  Put together early Silicon Graphics setup running new software, Wavefront. Did dozens of broadcast animations, effects for many commercials and effects work.  Also worked on The Twilight Zone and Max Headroom and many music videos. Helped develop custom software.

Worked on broadcast animations around the world, primarily FGS4000.

First turn-key graphics system (FGS4000) for broadcast use.  Wrote a modeling language and the graphic modeler in Pascal.

Everest - 1 min. Imax sequence : Designer, Producer

Lightspan - The Secret of Googol : Director

Syndra UPN - Director