Brian Pohl

Work History

• 

  Independent Previs Consultant / Instructor

  Self Employed

  February 2011 - Present

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Work-for-hire freelance artist or supervisor for the film production and previsualization industries. Workstation equipped, insured, and mobile. Capable of translating written concepts or rough thumbnails into visual story sequences via 3D animation software.
  
  Also supplies group or one-on-one instruction on previsualization techniques through dedicated lecture presentations and/or online training venues.
• 

  M&E Technical Program Manager

  Epic Games

  January 2021 - October 2023

  Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

  Designs and deploys Unreal Engine and virtual production curriculum for the media and entertainment enterprise market vertical within Epic Games. Directs the educational efforts of a collection of instructors who supply live and pre-recorded courses to animation and visual effects studios. Provides live and online delivery of educational content to the general public and industry clients while also acting as the academic Dean of the Unreal Engine Fellowship Program.
  
  Has lectured at Unreal Fest, Unreal Academy, Unreal Fellowship, and number of Unreal client based lecture series.
• 

  M&E Technical Account Manager - North America

  Epic Games

  April 2017 - January 2021

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Represents Epic Games and the Unreal Engine to the film, animation and visual effects communities in North America. Supplies subject matter film production support to individuals and companies wishing to integrate the Unreal Engine into their creative pipelines. Additional responsibilities include educational and training support, product demonstrations, client representation to the Unreal developer team, and artistic cinematics production creation, workflow and management.
• 

  Previs Supervisor

  Proof Inc

  October 2016 - May 2018

  Senior previsualization supervisor specializing in live action film production, virtual reality, indie content creation, and video game cinematics.
  
  Previs and Technical Supervisor Filmography:
  • Inversion (2018)
  • Bright (2017) - Netflix
  
  Previs and Techvis for Television & Commercial Work:
  • 24 Legacy VR - The Raid
  • Clash of Clans VR 360
  
  Game Engine Work:
  • Undisclosed Live Action / CG Stage and Theater Performance - Using Unreal Engine
• 

  Adjunct Instructor

  Gnomon School of Visual Effects

  2004 - February 2017

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Part-time instructor teaching previsualization and Autodesk Maya. As of 2010, the class has been integrated into Gnomon's curriculum on three different career tracks. Offered on a quarterly basis to average size of 6 to 12 students per term, the class supplies students a total of 30 hours of instruction.
• 

  Previs Supervisor

  Proof Inc

  September 2016 - September 2016

  Sub-contract Previs supervisor on 24:Legacy. Constructed Previs sequences for The Mill, Here Be Dragons and Proof Inc.
• 

  Previs Supervisor

  Method Studios

  November 2014 - April 2016

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  
• 

  Principal User Experience Designer / Subject Matter Expert

  Autodesk

  June 2011 - July 2014

  Venice, CA

  Works within the Autodesk Cloud Services group and Design Department as a film industry expert on preproduction and previsualization. Acts as client advocate between Autodesk’s engineering staff and the end user. Supplies film production guidance and information to formulate new animation workflows and tools. Creates and monitors user experience stories into product features with DEV and QA teams.

• Owner and Previs Supervisor

  POV Previs LLC

  December 2005 - January 2011

  Oversaw the deployment of multiple previsualization teams for film production within all of the major film studios in the Los Angeles area. Provided technical and artistic direction, modeling, cinematography and editorial support for artists when on productions. Animated complete shots when required. Interfaced with Directors, Producers, and VFX Supervisors to conceptualize and technically plan shots for principle photography in live action film.
  
  Administration duties included CEO for 2.5 years and COO for remaining years. Recruitment, bidding, invoi
• 

  Rough Layout Technical Director

  Sony Pictures Imageworks

  March 2005 - November 2005

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Technical Director / Rough Layout Artist within the SPI/SPA layout department. Performed basic character animation, rough blocking, digital set dressing, sequence design and camera animation for Sony Pictures Animation.
  
  Sony Filmography Includes:
  
  • Open Season

  

  

  

• Previsualization & VFX Artist

  Persistence of Vision Digital Entertainment

  November 2004 - December 2004

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Freelance previs and vfx artist for:
  
  • Flight of the Phoenix

  
• 

  Previsualization Artist

  Bay Films

  October 2004 - November 2004

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Freelance previs artist for:
  
  • The Island
• 

  Previsualization Supervisor

  Digital Domain

  May 2003 - October 2004

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Oversaw a team of 12 digital artists to create previs sequences for film production. Implemented the director's and VFX supervisor’s vision into 3D animated sequences for story and technical development.
  
  Digital Domain Filmography Includes:
  
  • I,Robot
  • Stealth

  

  
• 

  Previsualization Artist

  Industrial Light & Magic

  August 2001 - May 2003

  San Francisco Bay Area

  Utilized Autodesk Maya to create previs sequences for film production. Duties included camera layout, low-resolution modeling, character and hard surface animation, hardware rendering, compositing, and occasional digital set construction for final shot matte paintings.
  
  ILM Filmography includes:
  
  • Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
  • K-19: The Widowmaker
  • Van Helsing
  • Men In Black II
  • Terminator 3
  • THX 1138 Special Edition

  

  

  
• 

  Previsualization Artist

  Lucasfilm - JAK Films

  January 2001 - August 2001

  San Francisco Bay Area

  Utilized Autodesk Maya in a rapid, deadline orientated, environment to create previsualization sequences for Star Wars: Episode II for nine months. Duties included low-resolution modeling, lighting, texturing, animating, camera animation, rotoscoping, and compositing.
  
  Lucasfilm Filmography Includes:
  
  • Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
• 

  Motion Graphics Artist

  Reality Check Studios

  January 2000 - December 2000

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Freelance motion graphics artist on multiple broadcast projects. Co-collaborated with Persistence of Vision Digital Entertainment to provide previs on:
  
  • Behind Enemy Lines
• 

  Motion Graphics Artist

  Warner Bros. Television

  June 2000 - September 2000

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Freelance motion graphics artist providing flying logos, interstitials, bumpers and show openings for the WB Television Network.