AJ Briones

Work History

• 

  Virtual Lab Lead

  Lightstorm Entertainment

  March 2017 - Present

  Manhattan Beach, CA

  dos, tres, quatro, cinco.

• Writer / Director

  [dramatic whoosh]

  2012 - Present

  Los Angeles, CA

  THE VISITING STONE (Feature film, in development)
  Written by. Quarterfinalist: Academy Nicholl Felllowship 2022, The Black List: 9
  
  APT 215 (Short screenplay)
  Written by. Awarded Best Unproduced Short Screenplay at Filmquest 2016.
  
  THE SMILING MAN (Short film)
  Produced, wrote, directed, edited and created visual effects on a short horror film. Currently distributed by ALTER with over 10 MILLION views, with over 25 MILLION total aggregate views.
  
  Official Selection of 66 film festivals, including:
  SXSW 2015, Filmquest 2015, Telluride Horror Show 2016, Nashville Film Festival 2015, Phoenix Film Festival 2015, Horrible Imaginings 2015, Macabre Film Festival 2015, Hollyshorts 2015, Shriekfest 2015
  
  Awards:
  Best Film Overall (Another Hole in the Head 2016) Best Paranormal Short / Best Actor / Best Director (Fright Night Film Fest 2015) Best Director (Midwest Horror Shorts) Best Micro Short Film (Fear Fete 2015) Best Post Production (Connect Film Festival) Best of the Fest (Idaho Horror Film Festival) Best Super Short Film (Shriekfest 2015) Best Monster Show Short Film (Horrible Imaginings Film Festival 2015) Best Sci-Fi/Horror Short Film (The Underground Film Festival 2015) Best Makeup (HollyShorts 2015)
  
  CAROLINA PARAKEET (Short film)
  Produced, wrote, directed, edited and created visual effects on a short horror film.
  
  Official Selection:
  Catalina Film Festival 2014, HollyShorts Film Festival 2014, The Los Angeles Fear and Fantasy Film Festival 2014, Lost Episode Toronto Festival 2014, FilmQuest 2014, Fester LA, Asians on Film Festival 2014, Sydney Underground Film Festival, Underground Short Film Festival 2014, Geek Fest, Arizona Underground Film Festival 2014, SF Indie Another Hole in the Head International Genre Film Festival 2014, Videodrunk Film Festival 2014, New York Horror Film Festival 2014

• Writer / Director

  Defiant Images

  2012 - Present

  Los Angeles, CA

  APT 215 (Short / Feature film)
  Written by, currently a short film being adapted into a feature.
  
  Awards
  Best Unproduced Short Screenplay (Filmquest 2016)
  
  The Smiling Man (Short film)
  Produced, wrote, directed, edited and created visual effects on a short horror film. More information and screening calendar available at www.thesmilingmanmovie.com
  
  OFFICIAL SELECTION:
  SXSW 2015, Nashville Film Festival 2015, Phoenix Film Festival 2015, Filmquest 2015, Macabre Film Festival 2015, Fester: The Mindf*ck Festival 2015
  
  Awards
  Best Film Overall (Another Hole in the Head 2016) Best Paranormal Short / Best Actor / Best Director (Fright Night Film Fest 2015) Best Director (Midwest Horror Shorts) Best Micro Short Film (Fear Fete 2015) Best Post Production (Connect Film Festival) Best of the Fest (Idaho Horror Film Festival) Best Super Short Film (Shriekfest 2015) Best Monster Show Short Film (Horrible Imaginings Film Festival 2015) Best Sci-Fi/Horror Short Film (The Underground Film Festival 2015) Best Makeup (HollyShorts 2015)
  
  Carolina Parakeet (Short film)
  Produced, wrote, directed, edited and created visual effects on a short horror film. More information and screening calendar available at www.carolinaparakeetmovie.com
  
  OFFICIAL SELECTION:
  Catalina Film Festival 2014, HollyShorts Film Festival 2014, The Los Angeles Fear and Fantasy Film Festival 2014, Lost Episode Toronto Festival 2014, FilmQuest 2014, Fester LA, Asians on Film Festival 2014, Sydney Underground Film Festival, Underground Short Film Festival 2014, Geek Fest, Arizona Underground Film Festival 2014, SF Indie Another Hole in the Head International Genre Film Festival 2014, Videodrunk Film Festival 2014, New York Horror Film Festival 2014
  
  AWARDS:
  
  Videodrunk Film Festival 2014)
  Winner:Best Performance (Myles Cranford)
  
  Asians on Film Festival (Winter Quarter 2014)
  Winner: Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror
  Winner: Best Actor (Myles Cranford)
  Honorable Mention: Best Director (A.J. Briones)
• 

  Previs / Postvis / VFX Supervisor

  Halon Entertainment

  December 2009 - Present

  Santa Monica, CA

  Previs, Postvis, Finals Supervisor / War for the Planet of the Apes
  (2017, Fox, director: Matt Reeves)
  
  Postvis Supervisor / Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
  (2016, Disney, director: JJ Abrams)
  
  Virtual Art Department Motionbuilder Artist / Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass
  (2016, Disney, director: James Bobin)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / Tomorrowland
  (2015, Disney, director: Brad Bird)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / PIXELS
  (2015, Sony Pictures Entertainment, director: Chris Colombus)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
  (2014, Twentieth Century Fox, director: Matt Reeves)
  
  Visual Effects Supervisor / Ride Along
  (2014, Universal, director: Tim Story)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / Superbowl Commercial: KIA Space Babies
  (2013, commercial, Director: Jake Scott)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / TBA Feature Film
  (2014, TBA)
  
  Previs/Postvis CG Supervisor / 47 Ronin
  (2013, Universal, Director: Carl Erik Rinsch)
  
  Previs Artist / World War Z
  (2013, Director: Marc Forster)
  
  Previs / Postvis Artist/Supervisor / Life of Pi
  (2012, Director: Ang Lee)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / Kia Soul: Bringing Down the House
  (2012, commercial, Director: Carl Erik Rinsch)
  
  Previs/Postvis CG Supervisor / Twilight: Breaking Dawn 2
  (2011-2012, Summit Entertainment, Director: Bill Condon)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / Northwestern Mutual
  (2011, commercial, agency: a52)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / Verizon Droid "Arena" Commercial
  (2011, commercial, Director: Noam Murro)
  
  Previs Artist / Snow White and the Huntsman
  (2012, Director: Rupert Sanders)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / Twilight: Breaking Dawn 1
  (2011-2012, Summit Entertainment, Director: Bill Condon)
  
  Previs CG Supervisor / HALO Reach: Deliver Hope
  (2010, commercial, Director: Noam Murro)
  WINNER: 2011 VES Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Live Action Commercial
  
  Lead Previs Artist / Battleship
  (2012, Universal Studios, Director: Pete Berg)

  

  

  
• 

  Previs / Postvis Artist

  The Third Floor

  September 2009 - December 2009

  Previsualization / Postvisualization Artist and Animator on Iron Man 2 (2010, Marvel Studios, director: Jon Favreau)
  Previs Artist / Battleship (2012, Universal, director: Pete Berg)
  
  Create shots from tracked plate photography. Add motion captured elements or keyframe new character animation as desired by VFX Supervisor. Polish shots and compositions, complete with lighting, particle effects and other elements as desired. Composite shots in After Effects to match finished content for Editorial. Assist other artists with technical, application and animation support as needed.
• 

  Lead Virtual Cinema Artist

  Lightstorm Entertainment

  June 2008 - September 2009

  Lead Virtual Cinema Artist on James Cameron's feature film AVATAR / Project 880 (2009, Fox, director: James Cameron)
  
  Lead full shot sequences from concept to turnover. Work closely with the director, animation director, cg supervisors, stage ops, editorial, concept and production teams to create key sequences, shots and elements as needed. Work with a team of leads and artists to create and assemble scenes for camera. Work interactively with the director and animation director to create, modify, edit and alter various elements on set as needed to achieve the desired shot. Dress shots with final approved cameras for delivery to editorial and down the pipeline. Assign, track and QC work for lab artists while providing direction and support as needed.
  
  WINNER: 82nd Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
  WINNER: 2010 VES Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Feature Motion Picture
  WINNER: 2010 VES Award for Best Single Visual Effect of the Year (Neytiri drinking)
• 

  Digital Artist

  Digital Domain

  April 2008 - June 2008

  Work with CG Leads, VFX Supervisors, animators, massive artists, lighting, compositing and FX artists to create final shots for Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Implement "hero" animation into assigned shots. Keyframe motion to push the performance. Create test composites for dailies using Nuke. Publish approved shots downstream. Assist other digital artists with MotionBuilder questions or issues as needed.
• 

  Motion Capture Studio Supervisor / Animator

  High Moon Studios

  February 2006 - February 2008

  Manage the Motion Capture Studio at High Moon Studios. Assemble a team of Motion Capture specialists and animators to build a world-class full-service motion capture facility from the ground up. Assist teams with pre-production, casting, prop creation, shoot planning. Assist character TD's with character setup, testing and optimization for use with motion capture. Provide on-set shoot supervision and assist with talent direction. Deliver high-quality motion data for in-game and cinematics, internal and external teams (High Moon Studios is the motion capture hub for Vivendi Universal Games). Create and improve on current mocap pipelines and methodology. Track data, solve & retarget to final CG characters, motion editing and post-animation to final output.
• 

  Motion Capture Animator

  Midway Games

  2005 - February 2006

  Create all animatics for the internal and external teams doing motion capture through the San Diego studio, including tightening up voiceovers and bringing the still images to life in order to help evolve the pacing of the scene. Help run and maintain Midway San Diego's internal Motion Capture studio and all mocap shoots. Assist with casting and direction of motion capture actors. Integrate motion capture data into animation scenes. Clean and label data. Apply and retarget data to CG characters. Keyframe data to push the motion further. Output to multiple formats in a timely manner. Work with teams to resolve any camera, pacing and story related issues.
• 

  QA Supervisor

  Midway Games

  2002 - 2005

  Worked closely with Production and Development to deliver consumer console games that exhibit high quality gameplay and execution with a minimum of defects. Provided online test training to QA Personnel. Created Online testing methodologies for use with all Online titles tested in Midway. Managed the testing direction for PS2 Online and XBOX Live titles developed by Midway.

• Freelance Designer / Developer

  Inhouse Design Studios (Owner)

  2000 - 2002

  Designed, developed, deployed and maintained web content using Flash, CSS, PHP, MySQL. Created logos, print ads, brochures and other print materials.

• Manager, Dreamcast Online Development > Senior Producer

  SEGA of America

  1998 - 2000

  Produced the Sega Dreamcast Browser. Served as primary contact for SOA First and Third Party Browser SDK integration. Managed the design, production and development schedule of Sega.com and the Sega Dreamcast Network. Managed available development resources (Production, Design, Content and Technology teams) in the creation and maintenance of Sega.com, Dreamcast.net, Segasports.com and Sega.net websites. Created online content for various first and third party Sega Dreamcast titles, including: Sonic Adventure, ChuChu Rocket!, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer, etc.

• Senior Web and Graphic Designer

  Autoweb.com

  1998 - 1998

  Coordinated with Marketing, Business Development, Design and Technology teams to help redesign the look and feel of the Autoweb.com website. Created numerous websites for member automobile dealers throughout the US. Brainstormed, presented, designed and deployed the company’s print and web advertising campaigns.

• Senior Graphic Artist and Pre-Press Manager

  San Lorenzo Unified School District

  1995 - 1998

  Managed a Graphics Department consisting of 3 Press Operators and 1 Bindry Technician. Created layout designs for print publishing. Designed, developed and maintained the district intranet. Coordinated workflow and managed the production timeline, with high volume print output for 16 schools and 5 internal departments.