Donald Ferns

Donald Ferns

Freelance VFX artist & Supervisor

Senior VFX Artist / 24 yrs

Wellington, New Zealand

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VFX Artist / vfx
Life Force Season 2
“Don is a very talented VFX artist and producer who is great at visualising what's required and who works closely with producers to take a concept through to completion with stunning results and a high level of client satisfaction. He has a relaxed manner, good people and organisational skills and successfully managed the VFX team during his time with our company.”

- John Crawford, General Manager at Natural History New Zealand Limited, Dunedin.
Work History

  • Freelance

    Pedal FX

    June 2012 - Present

    3D Generalist, Compositor, Motion Graphics and VFX.

  • VFX artist

    NHNZ

    March 2012 - Present

    Visual effects and graphics for various NHNZ productions

    - ZooMoo
    - Wild 24
    - Our Big Blue Backyard
    - The End of the Wild (US title: Saving Africa's Giants with Yao Ming)
    - LA Frock Stars (Season 2)
    - I escaped Jaws (1 & 2)
    - Gem Hunt
    - Fur Seal Secrets
    - Ten Deadliest Sharks
    - World's Smart Cities: Adelaide
    - I survived Hurricane Sandy

  • VFX Supervisor

    Lifeforce Productions Limited (NHNZ)

    March 2013 - July 2014

    VFX Supervisor for Season two of blue chip science and nature series Lifeforce (US title: Mutant Planet).

  • Freelance VFX artist

    Pendragon Productions Ltd

    August 2012 - December 2012

    Compositing, motion graphics and 3D modelling for advertising and promotions. Samsung Series 9 stories, Samsung Smart TV Angry Birds, Samsung Smart Classroom, Bucket List, Aurelia Probiotic Skincare, Limitless Performance.

  • Visual Effects Producer

    NHNZ

    March 2009 - April 2012

    Design & production of CGI animation and VFX for television
    Supervision of NHNZ in-house VFX studio
    Supervision of external CGI/VFX vendors on behalf of NHNZ
    On location supervision of VFX plate shooting & stills/texture photography
    Recruitment & Management of NHNZ in-house CGI/VFX staff
    3D/2D artist & animator, compositor.

  • Visual Effects Supervisor

    NHNZ

    September 2005 - February 2009

    Design & production of CGI animation and VFX for television
    Supervision of NHNZ in-house VFX studio
    Supervision of external CGI/VFX vendors on behalf of NHNZ
    On location supervision of VFX plate shooting & stills/texture photography
    Recruitment & Management of NHNZ in-house CGI/VFX staff
    3D/2D artist & animator, compositor.

  • Computer graphics/animation

    NHNZ

    October 2001 - August 2005

    3D/2D artist & animator, compositor.

  • Visual Effects Artist

    PRPVFX

    August 2000 - June 2001

    Compositing & 2D VFX

  • Graphic Artist

    Allied Press Limited

    January 1998 - July 2000

    Production of design work, illustrations and other art-related material for editorial and advertising in the Otago Daily Times newspaper and other Allied Press publications

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Education

  • University of Otago

    1992 - 1995

  • Southland Boys' High School

    1987 - 1991