Big American Films
We can grasp what you want
Founders

Evan Ricks
Evan has a long history in film and television, as well as technology and art. His CV can be found below on this page.
Company
Big American Films started as a virtual company in 2002 with one employee, Evan Ricks. After directing animation, consulting and supervising effects on several Chinese films it was decided to move from virtual to a real location. So in 2007, with a large amount of work looming, the small offices were opened with a core team. With the growth of the company we moved in 2009 to our current beautiful, custom designed offices. We are at the fringe of the city proper, but conveniently located near transportation and the large shopping area of XuJiaHui.
Services
Take a look at the company portfolio to get a feel for what we usually do. We are happy to take large or small projects. If it is too large we have many talented freelancers we can utilize.
We have also developed relationships with other local companies with various strengths so we can work as the hub for larger projects, dealing with quality and scheduling issues so the client doesn’t need to.
Evan Ricks
on-air graphics. After leaving Evan went on to supervise and direct commercials, animation, online content and even game development. Along the way he started what was to become “House of Moves”, the definitive mocap studio. In 1998-2000 he directed the worlds first all motion capture feature film “Sinbad: Beyond the veil of Mists”, starring Brendan Frasier. He has also supervised effects for films such as “Titanic”, “Mortal Kombat II”, “Money Talks” and designed sequences for popular Imax films such as “Alaska” and “Forces of Nature”.
He has supervised visual effects for two Chinese films, “Prince of the Himalayas” and “the Dream is Alive”, and recently finished work on the US live action films “Dragonball : Evolution” and the Tom Cruise action comedy “Knight & Day”. Last year he produced and directed Asia’s first Virtual boy band for Pernod-Ricard Chivas worldwide. Evan retains his love of animation and is developing scripts that he hopes one day can be produced in China.
Currently working to design surreal effects as the supervisor on a live-action feature film in Shanghai, China.
Evan is a member of the Visual Effects Society, and has been a member of several other professional societies such as ASIFA and BDA. He has spoken internationally and has garnered several awards and recognition.
Relevant Experience
Amazing! (Shanghai Film Group)
Visual Effects Supervisor
Responsible for delivery of all effects. This will be a film mashing up the NBA with a virtual Tron-like world. Filming summer 2010.
Soaring over China (Independent)
Director / Visual Effects Supervisor
Will be produced at Big American Films. 70mm Ride film for North China. Live action with Animation. In pre-production.
Shanghai Pavilion - 2010 world Expo
Visual Effects Supervisor
Supervised several shots for the motion ride.
Knight & Day (FOX) - 2010
Independent Visual Effects Supervisor
Supervising various effects for the International film “Knight & Day” (live action) staring Tom Cruise. Shots mostly featuring Tom’s stunt work.
Chivas - Voices of Chivalry 2009-2010
Producer / Director /Supervisor
Hi end motion captured musical group. 4 songs produced over 6 months utilizing talent from LA, China and Serbia. Supervised work from original designs through to final product. Used some technicians from Avatar.
Dragonball (FOX) - 2008-2009
Independent Visual Effects Supervisor
Supervising various effects for the International film “Dragonball” (live action). Producing and supervising over 140 shots. Most are wire removal and other roto work, with some more advanced effects.
Animation SP, Shanghai - The Dream is Alive
Visual Effects Supervisor - Post Production Supervisor
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.
Animation SP, Shanghai - Prince of the Himalayas - 2005- 2006
Visual Effects Supervisor
Designed and Supervised effects for over 70 shots for Independent feature film shot in Southwestern China. Some set supervision as well. Followed through post.
French/Chinese Animation project - 2005- 2006
Director / Screenwriter
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.
Pixel Play Studios, LA – Forces of Nature - 2003-2004
Effects Producer, Director, Supervisor
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.
Pixel Play Studios, LA – Mogao Caves Visitors Center - 2003-2004
Director
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.
Pixel Play / Pixel Play Shanghai - ARJ aircraft - 2002
Writer / Director
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.
Simex – Lego Racers4D – 2001-02
Visual Supervisor
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.
Digimax (Taipei) – The Tomb of Kahn- 2000
Director
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.
UPN / Artists Inc. - Syndra - 1999
Director / Designer / Editor
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.
Improvision - Sinbad : Beyond the Veil of Mists – 1997-1999
Feature Director / Writer / Visual Concepts
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.
Todd/AO Digital division - 1996-1997
In-house Visual Effects Supervisor
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)
Atomix - 1996
Creative Director, Exec. Producer
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.
Sculptured Software [Acclaim Studios SLC] - 1996
Creative Director / Producer
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.
Dimension X - 1996
Creative Director
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.
Viewpoint Datalabs - 1995
Creative Director, Vice President of Production
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.
The Lightspan Partnership - 1994
Principal, Animation Director / Writer
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).
Paramount Studios - Viper 1993
Digital Effects Supervisor
Designed and Supervised car transformation effects for the show. Bid effects to specialty houses.
Freelance / RicksTricks - 1992-1994
Producer / Director / Visual Effects
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!).
UCLA - 1992-1993
Instructor - Motion Graphics
Concurrent with production work.
ReZn8 Productions - 1987-1992
Founder / CEO / Animation Director
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.
The Post Group - 1985-1987
Animator
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.
Animation Consultant
Worked on broadcast animations around the world, primarily FGS4000.
Bosch Fernseh - 1982-1984
Programmer / Artist
First turn-key graphics system (FGS4000) for broadcast use. Wrote a modeling language and the graphic modeler in Pascal.
Evans & Sutherland - 1980-1982
Content Designer / Modeler
University of Utah
Bachelor of Science degree, Cum Laude : Physical Geography, Geomorphology.
Multi-disciplinary pre-Architecture , Minor in Film.
One year Graduate work : Computer graphics / geography / film
Partial list of projects
Sinbad : Beyond the Veil of Mists : Feature : Writer, Director
Max (Taiwan) : 5 min. short : Director, Art Dir.
Shanghai Aviation (China) : Corp. Video : Writer, Director
Forces of Nature - 6 min. Imax CG sequences : Director, Sup., Prod.
Everest - 1 min. Imax sequence : Designer, Producer
Alaska - graphic sequence for Imax movie : Designer, Producer
Faces of Man - Disneyland (Light parade) : Seq. Supervisor
Daewoo - 1997 Worldwide identity : Director
Alice and the Head Mirage Entertainment Writer, Director
Lightspan - The Secret of Googol : Director
Syndra UPN - Director
Mrs. Santa Claus - Reindeer sequences : Supervisor
Paramount Studios - Viper : CGI Supervisor
Dominos Pizza - Somthin for Nothin : Seq. Director, Producer
Dominos Pizza - Deep dish : Seq. Director, Producer
Michael Jackson - Open for special : Supervisor
Anaconda - snake graphics for trailer : Designer, Supervisor
Backgrounds for Beyonce concert : Designer, Supervisor
1992 Winter Olympics graphics : Producer
1991 CBS Fall campaign : Producer
1990-1992 FOX Fall campaign & affil. graphics : Co-producer
Circuitry Man : Title Design (and cameo appearance !)
3 successive Superbowl opens : Co-producer
Duck! - Universal Cartoon Studios : Producer
Def Leopard - Do you want to get rocked : Supervisor
Paula Abdul - Will you marry me : Supervisor
Mitsubishi Bank - Disney babies : Supervisor
Sapporo - (Jap.) beer glass composites : Supervisor
Chrysler - Intrepid, 10 million things : Animator, Supervisor
Subaru - (Jap.) leaves : Supervisor
Hyundai - Paper crunch : Animator, Supervisor
Twizzlers - I love it when it twizzles : Designer, Supervisor
FlavorIce - Dancing Popsicles : Producer
Ryder Trucks - down the road : Producer
Reach toothbrush - (Jap.) : Producer, Supervisor
Amtrak - Washington to NY : Producer
Weyerhauser - transparent house : Producer
Crest - More Brightness : Animator
Cheer - Butterflies : Animator
VH1 bumpers : Animator
CBS NBA open : Supervisor, Animator
CBS Baseball open : Supervisor
ESPN open : Supervisor
PrimeTime Live : Animator
1988 Summer Olympics promos : Animator
Good Morning America : Animator
Mr. Ricks has won many awards and is a member of several professional organizations including the Visual Effects Society. Past member of the Broadcast Designers Association and ASIFA. Mr. Ricks has spoken widely on visual effects, creating stories, computers and animation. Recognized in 1996 Premiere magazine as one of a dozen digital revolutionaries, including Lasseter, Lucas, Kubrick, Cameron. Contributor to the “Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology” on the subject of Artistic Computer Graphics.