DON J. MYERS

West Hollywood, CA 90069  • 

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SKILLS

3D Animation/Lighting

I create photorealistic 3D animation for movies, TV and commercials using NewTek’s Lightwave 3D. I do lighting, layout, key frame animation, inverse kinematics, particles, voxels, bones and more while taking into account the specific limitations of film, video or digital media.  I’ve animated oceans, shoes, sharks, Xena’s skeleton, Gotham City, fish, lizards, robots, spaceships, zero-G debris, ancient Egypt, Las Vegas on the moon, etc!. 

3D Modeling/Texturing

I’m known for quickly, accurately modeling complex structures from photos without measurements, especially rigid bodies like machines and architecture, but I’ve also made my share of mummies and monsters. I use polygon, spline and algorithmic creation methods. Learning 3D on slow Amigas and working in interactive games taught me the importance of good looks with low poly counts and tileable textures. Nevertheless I most often work on extremely high poly film res scenes doing the tough stuff like storms at sea.

Compositing/2D Art/Animation

I composite my own shots using Digital Fusion and they are usually showstoppers. I often get to do openings that go on and on, a very exciting challenge! Someday I would like to create a shot that is 3 minutes long so it could be my entire demo reel! I am getting close as my opening to "Birds of Prey" was over a minute. I use Photoshop and Painter to create backgrounds and seamless textures for characters and objects. My style incorporates great detail, realism and chiaroscuro, and is more painterly and naturalistic than many computer artists.  I’m also great at hand animating FX like slobber, sparks and zaps following the contours of objects.

Analog Media

I’ve drawn and painted since high school in the early 1980’s using charcoal, colored pencil, pastels, pen, acrylic, egg tempera, and oils. I rarely use these any more since their undo function is poorly implemented (despite a great user interface). I’m good at highly textured and detailed organic images like landscapes and rocks. I stink at drawing people.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

You can see by my long list of studio features that I'm not one to screw around.  I have been on teams which have won both Emmys and VES awards.

FEATURE FILMS

HOUSE

DUTIES

The Pacific (Dreamworks/HBO - 2010)Flash Film Works3D modeling, animation and compositingEmmy Award winner
All About Steve (Sony - 2009)Flash Film Works3D modeling, animation and compositing
Defiance (Paramount - 2008)Flash Film Works3D modeling and animation
Day The Earth Stood Still (Fox - 2008)Flash Film Works3D modeling, animation and compositing
Blood Diamond (WB - 2006) (Uncred.)Flash Film Works2D compositing.
The Guardian (Disney - 2006)Flash Film Works3D modeling, animation and compositing.
Man of the House  (Sony - 2005) Flash Film Works2D compositing.
The Last Samurai (WB - 2003) (Uncred) Flash Film Works3D modeling, animation and compositing.

Holes (Disney – 2003)

Flash Film Works

3D modeling, animation and compositing. 

Adventures of Pluto Nash (WB –2002)

Flash Film Works

3D modeling, animation and compositing. 

Collateral Damage (WB – 2002) (Uncred)

Flash Film Works

3D modeling, animation and compositing.

Red Planet (WB – 2000)

Flash Film Works

3D modeling, animation and compositing.

Deep Blue Sea (WB – 1999)

Flash Film Works

3D model supervisor, animator.

Deep End of the Ocean (Sony – 1999)

Flash Film Works

3D modeling and animation.

TELEVISION

Lost In Space Pilot The Robinsons: Lost In Space Pilot (Sci Fi Ch. - Unaired, John Woo Dir.)Zoic Studios3D modeling, animation and compositing.

Birds of Prey Pilot (WB – 2003)

Flash Film Works

3D modeling, animation and compositing.

Xena Warrior Princess
(Renaissance Pictures – 1998)

Flat Earth Productions

3D modeling and animation.

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys 
(Renaissance Pictures – 1998)

Flat Earth Productions

3D modeling and animation.

COMMERCIALS

Onstar/Batman Series - Batcave, Minor Setbacks, Jokerface, Hot Date, Riddle Me This

Flash Film Works

3D modeling, animation and compositing. 

SOFTWARE

3D:  Lightwave (wizard), water software, Syntheyes, custom apps.

2D:  Photoshop (expert), Digital Fusion (expert), other compositors, nonlinear editing, Painter (intermediate), custom apps.

EDUCATION/SPECIAL SKILLS

I’m a professional computer doctor and have fixed PCs and Macs for over ten years. I also design websites like this one, edit video and sound plus author DVDs.
Typing speed: 80 wpm.

BA in English from Indiana University of PA, Indiana PA 1988. Communications minor. 

Online Portfolio: www.DonJMyers.com