Faculty Confirmed

for Special Animation/ Visual Effects workshop

The three-week animation and visual effects workshop for 20 artists from
Tata Elxsi¹s departments in Mumbai, India, will include many of the top
specialists in their fields. 

Among the instructors Animation chair Kathy Smith has
lined up are R.T. Taylor who will lecture on the World of Visual
Effects over two days.  Taylor has worked as a visual effects supervisor at
Technicolor, Pacific Title, and Apogee, and has headed the training
departments of Wavefront, ILM and Rhythm and Hues.

Animation adjunct Maureen Furniss will give an overview of the history
of animation.  She is the founding editor of Animation Journal and the author
of two books on animation.  Animation adjunct Tom Sito will discuss character
design, story and techniques, and will help critique some of Tata's current work. 
Tom's extensive career includes several years working at Disney, helping to set up
Dreamworks¹ animation unit, and he is currently directing episodes of the
television series, Biker Mice from Mars.

Adjunct Eric Hanson will explore digital lighting, rendering and texturing
over a two-day period.  Hanson is a visual effects designer specializing in
the creation of digital environments and effects for feature films.  His
credits include The Day After Tomorrow, Fantasia 2000, Cast Away and
numerous others.  

Will Weston will cover Visual Development over two days.
He is also an adjunct, teaching a class in life drawing who has worked with
Disney Features and Television, Warner Brothers Feature & Television
Animation, Nickelodeon, and others. 

Maks Naporowski will teach 3D animation assets and character
production and workflow.  His most recent work includes
being a CG artist for Sony Pictures Imageworks on the Harry Potter films,
and character animation on Superman Returns, Polar Express, and The Matrix.  He
is also an Oscar winner for Best Animated Short Film, The Chubbchubbs.

Cinematographer Janusz Sikora will lecture and demonstrate Elements of
Cinematic Expression‹the use of lighting and camera movement.  He currently
teaches cinematography to artists at Dreamworks Animation, and his specialty
is lighting. 

Digital Systems Specialist Eric Furie will spend three days with the group
on motion capture and facial animation.  In addition to the
classes, the group will visit Rhythm & Hues with two Animation alums who
currently work there. MFA Production Supervisor Mar Elepano will coordinate
the classes and activities for the visiting Tata staff.

Associated Person:

Kathy Smith Eric Hanson Maureen Furniss Eric Furie