Daniel Kruse

Work History

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  Senior II Lighting/Compositing Artist

  Blizzard Entertainment

  September 2015 - Present

  Irvine

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
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  CG Supervisor

  Logan

  April 2015 - July 2015
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  Lighting TD

  Industrial Light & Magic

  March 2014 - September 2014

  san francisco, california

  Used Katana and Renderman to photorealistically light CG charaters and elements to match live action footage.

  

  
• 

  Lighting/Compositing Artist

  Walt Disney Animation Studios

  May 2012 - October 2013

  Responsible for lighting and compositing CG elements together to match the look and style created by the art director. Stereoscopically converted finaled composites.

  

  
• 

  CG Generalist

  Brewster Parsons

  February 2013 - February 2014

  Venice California

  Look Developed and lit shots to photorealistically match live action footage and full CG shots. Helped set up and problem solve linear lighting pipeline and render farm using Mental Ray and Vray. Camera Tracked and Match Moved elements.
• 

  CG Supervisor

  Zoic Studios

  December 2013 - April 2015

  culver city

  Model adjusted, LookDeved , Rigged and animated Forrest assets.
  Used Vray to light shots to match shot plates
  Created dynamic cloud FX
  
  2 St. Ives lotion comercials

  
• 

  Vray Lighter/Look Dev/Compositing

  Mirada Studios

  November 2012 - January 2013

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Look developed Vray shaders and lit shots to photorealistically match live action footage.
• 

  Lighting/Compositing TD

  Sony Pictures Imageworks

  February 2011 - May 2012

  (Arnold/Katana) Responsible for lighting and compositing CG elements together to match the look and style created by the art director. Stereoscopically converted finaled composites.

  

  
• 

  CG Supervisor

  Hydraulx

  January 2007 - January 2011

  Managed a team of CG artist through out post production. Checked assets, and animation against notes given from the VFX Supervisor and Director to make sure all shots were completed on time. Created light rigs and look developed shaders for a team of CG lighting Artist so that they could photorealistically match live action footage. Helped problem solve and create lighting pipeline procedures.
  Lead CG Lighting Artist/Look Dev Artist (June 2009 – January 2011)
  Created light rigs and look developed shaders for a team of CG lighting Artist so that they can photorealistically match live action footage, and helped problem solve and create lighting pipeline procedures.
  Lead Camera Tracker/Digital Lighter/LookDev (January 2007 – June 2009)
  Using Lighting and shader Look Development to create CG elements that photorealistically match live action footage, while managing a team of Camera trackers that are creating 3d cameras that match the movements of the live action camera for seamless integration of CG elements.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Roto/Compostior

  Barbed Wire FX

  January 2007 - January 2007

  Responsible for rotoscoping and keying actors for change of backgrounds, for a Mattell Hot Wheels TV commercial.

• Visual Effects Supervisor

  Juicebox Films/Film Who Productions

  January 2006 - November 2006

  Responsible for realizing the Directors vision, and managing a team of visual effects artists. Directed second unit background plate photography, supervised 3d modeling, texturing, lighting, animation, rotoscoping and compositing.

• Graphic Artist/Media Analyst

  Si International

  July 2004 - August 2004

  Edited digitally recorded audio into smaller clips for easier use in training programs for the US Marine Corp. Also created and acquired graphics for use in training programs for the US Marine Corp.

• Lead Compositor

  Global Learning Systems

  May 2000 - August 2002

  Production team member for driver-safety project, ARTBA Workzone Safety for the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. Lead compositor of driving simulations, and secondary digital video editor. Was cameraman, mounted video cameras to vehicle for mobile video shoot, and labeled videotapes.
  Production team member. Produced on-line training, LM-21, for Lockheed Martin Corporation. Set up and tested Cleaner Live digital video-capture system, and audiovisual equipment. Supported the California POST II project, a commercial CD-ROM product developed for police officer training.
  Digital Artist (May 2001 – August 2001)
  Produced animated logo for the Digital Media group (DMG). DMG is the production department for Global Learning Systems.
  Assisted the director in lighting, camera set up and audio levels. Set up equipment for
  each video shoot for HealthMark. This was a medical training CD-ROM that
  discussed aspects of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. The subject
  matter/content of this project required additional professionalism and sensitivity in
  editing the audio portions.
  Production Assistant (May 2000 – August 2000) was Electronic Learning Facilitators
  Created a blue screen composite demo for a Computer Training CD-ROM for retail salesmen; resulted in contract award with Intel. Team member for TrainLogic.com project. TrainLogic.com offers safety and security training to the public, private, and educational sectors. This project designed and developed real-time instructional
  web-based training. Edited audio and shot digital still images for the production department. Also did graphics work and minor Flash programming. Progressed to assistant video compositor.