PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Art Instructor
Pearson College UWC September 2023 - present
Art Director
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic
August 2022 - Feb 2023 Copernicus Studios
Lead a team of concept artists in developing environments, characters, props and some FX for Care Bears: Unlock the Magic tv show. Worked with Directors, Producers and the client to achieve their vision from new scripts through to finished colour, I used Photoshop to sketch out ideas, develop drawings and give notes and draw overs to the team. Microsoft Teams was used for meetings and ongoing communication. Excel was used for scheduling.
Facial Animation/Rapid Prototyping Lead
Pinocchio directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
April 2019 - Jan 2022
Shadowmachine
Set up the Facial Animation Department and co-lead a small team in establishing characters’ personalities and building all 3D printed facial animation shots in the film. Photoshop and Maya were used to paint character faces for 3D printing and Harmony to explore characters’ facial animation. Shotgun, Google Suite and Excel were used for project management, scheduling and meetings.
Facial Animation Supervisor (Pre-Production Only) Kubo and the Two Strings Directed by Travis Knight 2014 - April 2015 LAIKA, Inc
Worked with Directors, Editorial, Animation and Rapid Prototype teams in developing characters’ personalities and facial expressions. Built and managed the schedule in Excel for the Facial Animation team and worked with production to ensure all deliveries were on time. Was involved in hiring and training new Facial and CG Animators.
Facial Animation Supervisor The Boxtrolls directed by Tony Stacci and Graham Annabel
Mar 2012 - April 2015 LAIKA, Inc. Worked with Directors, Editorial, Animation and Rapid Prototype teams in establishing characters’ personalities and building all facial animation shots in the film. Was creative supervisor in the build of all face libraries. Built and managed the schedule in Excel for Facial Animation and worked extensively with production to ensure all deliveries were on time. Managed a team of both Facial and CG Facial Animators through all stages of production. Was involved in hiring and training new Facial and CG Facial Animators.
Facial Animation Supervisor
Paranorman directed by Chris Butler and Sam Fell
May 2010 - April 2012
LAIKA, Inc.
Worked with Directors, Editorial, Animation and Rapid Prototype teams in establishing characters’ personalities and building all facial animation shots in the film. Was creative supervisor in the build of all face libraries. Built and managed the schedule for Facial Animation and worked extensively with production to ensure all deliveries were on time. Managed a team of both facial and CG facial animators through all stages of production. Was involved in hiring and training new Facial and CG Facial Animators.
Rapid Prototype Animator
Pirates! Directed by Peter Lord
Nov 2009 - May 2010
Aardman Animations
Helped Aardman build processes and procedures for facial animation within their new 3D Printing department. Worked with the pre-production team and editorial to ensure a smooth process. Built the Facial Animation for all characters in the lead up to production. Trained new Facial Animators coming in.
Facial Animation Lead
Coraline Directed by Henry Selick
Feb 2007 - Oct 2008
LAIKA, Inc. Worked extensively with Production to problem solve and build a successful department. Had regular meetings with the Animation Supervisor and Director to discuss facial animation and expectations for specific shots. Scheduled shots and sequences for the Facial Animation department. Was Lead Facial Animator for the film, and trained and managed a small team throughout production.
Stop Motion Animator
2002 - Feb 2007
Cuppa Coffee Studios
Was a stop motion animator for various tv shows over a five year period. Managed my own sequences and schedules under an Animation Supervisor and Production Manager. Animated with both wire and ball and socket armatures. Worked in puppet triage during down times
PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS
Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, Shotgun, Google Suite, Microsoft Teams. I have worked with Agile, Scrum and Waterfall methodologies.
EDUCATION
Brock University Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy and Human Geography Sheridan College Classical Animation Diploma 2002