Career in Film & Animation
I began my career in the film industry in 2003 after graduating with a MSc. in Computer Science from Imperial College, with a pivotal role at Framestore UK for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
My journey has since taken me through major studios like Walt Disney Animation and Pixar, where I significantly contributed to the lighting and compositing of globally beloved films.
Over the years, I have expanded my expertise to include videography and production. At MasterClass, I served as a Creative Producer, leading the creation of engaging, educational long-form videos. My freelance work in San Francisco and Los Angeles further highlights my versatility, where I have directed numerous projects from concept to delivery. More recently, I established a successful photography business in Los Angeles, CA where I currently reside.
In addition to my work in film and videography, I have also been involved in creating immersive large-scale art installations at Burning Man, blending artistic vision with technical execution to craft memorable experiences for participants.
Scroll down for most recent animation reel.
CG Lighting and Compositing
This showreel showcases some of my favorite work in the animation industry, highlighting my expertise in CG lighting and compositing from various film projects I collaborated on between Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
I am currently working on an upcoming feature film at Paramount.
Previous Employers
Skills & Experience
Creative Leadership
At Pixar Animation Studios, I was responsible for supervising one of the teams of rendering artists during the making of Cars, meticulously reviewing their work for final QC, and ensuring it met the gold standard before presentation in dailies to directors. At Masterclass, I supervised both production and post-production artists. I bridged the gap between our feature-length course content and the nuanced requirements of editing, motion graphics, and color grading. My role was paramount in molding the raw materials into the story-driven class content like Natalie Portman teaches Acting, ensuring that every narrative thread worked seamlessly to convey knowledge in its most engaging form.
Skills & Experience
Innovation
Throughout my career, I have consistently driven innovation and seamlessly integrated cutting-edge technologies into creative workflows. My work has included leading the transition to Houdini at Walt Disney Animation Studios, which significantly optimized our production pipeline, and spearheading the switch from Shake to Nuke at Pixar, enhancing our compositing processes. I have also collaborated closely with system architects to identify creative use cases and implement solutions that advance digital media production. My ability to stay at the forefront of technology trends and adapt them to enhance creative projects ensures that I bring a forward-thinking approach to every team I join.
Skills & Experience
Immersive ARt
My creative journey includes extensive work at Burning Man on immersive large-scale art installations, such as multiple Temples, parts of the city, art cars, and theme camps. Notable projects include being a build lead for Catacomb of Veils, a 20,000 sq ft installation standing 65 ft tall. As part of the core design and build team, I developed expertise in large-scale project management supervising dozens of volunteers, intricate lighting design, and interactive storytelling. These experiences have developed my ability to innovate, collaborate cross-functionally, and execute complex projects efficiently.
Skills & Experience
Collaboration
There is nothing I love more than creative collaboration, having worked extensively with various teams including artists, engineers, system architects, and executives. My role at MasterClass required me to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring alignment and driving projects forward, including creative pitches with our high-profile instructors. I have led collaborative efforts at Pixar and Disney to develop innovative workflows, conducted training sessions to enhance team productivity, and presented project outcomes to executive leadership. My ability to bridge the gap between creative and technical teams ensures cohesive project execution and fosters a collaborative environment that drives innovation.
Skills & Experience
Lighting
My extensive career working as a lighting artist revolves around three fundamental aspects of the department: foundation, key, and shot lighting. Foundation Lighting sets the core ambient conditions for entire sequences or environments, establishing the base mood, ambient tones, and generalized light sources to ensure consistency and integration of subsequent lighting elements. Key Lighting then focuses on the primary light sources that shape the main subjects, adding depth, volume, and emotional undertones, and serves as a template or reference for other similar shots in the sequence. Finally, Shot Lighting refines individual shots, adjusting lighting for unique requirements, and enhancing intricate details.
One of my sequences from Strange World was part of the official submission from Disney Animation to the VES Awards.
Skills & Experience
Compositing
Starting with render passes, characters, backgrounds, and effects, I integrate them seamlessly in Nuke to compose the final image while diving into the subtleties of color and light to achieve a consistent mood and aesthetic that resonates with the narrative's emotional story. Compositing requires a strong inter-departmental collaborative workflow, such as FX, set extension, animation, etc.
One of my sequences from Strange World was part of the official submission from Disney Animation to the VES Awards.
Creative Producer
At MasterClass I played an instrumental role in curating, developing, and producing a diverse range of top-tier educational content. Collaborating closely with industry experts and celebrities, I ensured the seamless translation of their knowledge into compelling and accessible lessons for our global audience.
I managed and led multifaceted production timelines, budgets, and cross-functional teams, all while upholding the highest standards of quality and creativity that MasterClass is renowned for.
My leadership not only drove the execution of standout courses but also fostered a culture of innovation and excellence within our production team.
Creating Powerful Stories for brands
This has enabled me to consistently produce content that not only resonates with the target audience but also amplifies the brand narratives of the corporations I have collaborated with.
From viral crowdfunding campaigns and documentary projects, to close collaborations with solar companies and non-profits, every project was story-driven.
While freelancing as a videographer and creative producer, I led and directed story-driven content tailored specifically for an array of pioneering technology corporate clients in the Bay Area and abroad.
My comprehensive end-to-end management of these projects ensured a smooth transformation from initial conceptualization to polished, final delivery. My commitment to visual storytelling is deeply rooted in my understanding of film, video, photography, and advanced post-production workflows.