Daveed Kaplan

Work History

• 

  Sr. Character Artist (Marketing Art / Cinematics)

  Machine Zone

  December 2016 - April 2018

  Palo Alto, CA

  Production of believable character assets and look development for the MZ Marketing Art team, training / mentoring artists and helping to build MZ's believable character pipeline.

• Character Modeling Supervisor

  Telltale Games (Telltale closed)

  May 2016 - November 2016

  San Francisco Bay Area

  Leading the internal character modeling department, establishing workflows, shape libraries, deformable topology standards and efficient modeling / sculpting / painting techniques to streamline the asset creation process.
  
  Collaboration with Designers, Art Directors, Character Concept Artists, Animators, and Riggers to
  achieve both creative and technical goals within scheduled time frames.
  
  Overseeing external character modeling vendors.

  

• Asset Lead

  DreamWorks Animation - NOVA Team (NOVA closed)

  May 2015 - May 2016

  Leading a product visualization team of CG artists in organic and hard surface modeling and surfacing standards.

• Character Modeling Supervisor

  Outpost (Startup - Unannounced Game)

  December 2014 - May 2015

  Supervision and establishment of character art pipeline and workflow standards.
  Production of digital 'design-sculpts' and in-game production character assets, established character topology / high resolution believable sculpts, textures, look development for game demo. Supervised external rigging service and directed mocap shoots.

• Star Wars - Game Demo- Character Development

  Electronic Arts (EA) Visceral (Visceral closed)

  September 2013 - December 2014

  Creature and Character Development: Production of character 'design-sculpts' and in -game production models, textures and look development of a plethora of aliens, creatures and human characters for a Star Wars demo.
• 

  Digital Artist - Character / Creature Development - 'Maleficent'

  Digital Domain

  January 2013 - September 2013

  
  Film : Maleficent -Contract based - Creature Development: Production of faerie character 'design-sculpts', costume models, production models and blend shape sculpting under the supervision of Director Robert Stromberg
  

  
• 

  Lead Character Artist

  Spark Unlimited

  2012 - 2013

  
  Leading a team of character artists in the production of in-game character assets and look development design sculpts/ conceptual models for the upcoming title of Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. Finalized character pre-production work on the in-game demo of our title.
  
• 

  "Man of Steel" - Lead Modelling TD

  MPC

  September 2011 - March 2012

  Vancouver, Canada Area

  
  'Man of Steel' - Contract Based-
  
  VFX production on Zack Snyder's 'Man of Steel' -
  
  - Character Development / Design - produced character concept models for the Director of the film.
  
  - Leading a team of modelers in the production of high resolution digital double characters, environment and prop assets.
  
• 

  Sr. Character Artist (343 Industries)

  Microsoft

  July 2010 - August 2011

  
  Halo 4: Microsoft (343 Industries) - Game Development: Production of look development, design sculpts and in-game character and creature assets.
  

• Contract Based - Art Director / Digital Sculptor- Marvel / McFarlane

  Todd McFarlane Design, Gazillion/ Marvel etc..

  December 2009 - July 2010

  
  Freelance:- Project Based:
  
  Marvel MMO - Gazillion Inc.
  Marvel MMO: Digital Sculpting, Character Look Development, 3d modeling of characters from the Marvel Universe
  
  Todd McFarlane Productions: Halo Reach Action Figures,
  3d modeling and tooling preparation of next gen game action figures (characters, armor and weapons), toys and maquettes for Halo Reach / first person shooter
  
• 

  Modeler

  Blue Sky Studios

  2009 - 2010

  
  Credits include: Ice Age 3 and Rio
  Feature Films: "Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and "Rio"
  Character Models, hard surface models, environment / prop models, vehicles and pre- production digital sculpts with the sculpture department - Production of characters, vehicles, props environments
  

  
• 

  Art Director/ Lead Conceptual Designer- Project based

  Atari

  August 2009 - November 2009

  
  Freelance: Art Director / Lead Conceptual Designer -Next Gen Sports Title- Character Bible-
  Next Gen Sports Title: Backyard Sports (Reboot)- Sandlot Sluggers
  Wii / XBOX360
  Production of Character Bible and Look Development//Art Directing Game Developer who is producing assets based on my conceptual designs and digital sculpts// - Complete reboot of characters with more edgy style, design sculpts/ digital models
  
• 

  Lead Character Artist

  Factor 5

  2008 - June 2009

  
  I was responsible for revamping the look development, character pipeline and aesthetic digital sculpting of all super hero characters in the game 'Blue Steel' (D.C comics- Superman) to fit a more dynamic Next--Gen look.
  We were all very excited about the new look and release of our in-game demo, however shortly after I took over as Lead Artist Factor 5 went out of business.
  
• 

  Sr.Organic Modeler

  Tippett Studio

  2007 - 2008

  
  Creature development, Digital Sculpting, 3d Modeling,and Face Shape sculpting
  Credits include: Cloverfield and Beverly Hills Chihuahua
  
• 

  Sr. Organic Modeler

  Lucasfilm

  2006 - 2007

  
  "Strange Magic" Animated Feature (Feature Film) - First Crew
  Pre Production on Animated Feature Film. The production was delayed due to script re-writes.
  Character Modeling, Modeling of facial shapes, clothing, environment modeling, textures etc..
  
• 

  Senior Character / Creature Artist

  Naughty Dog

  2005 - 2006

  
  Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)
  Responsible for sculpting characters, clothing, weapons, background objects, conceptual design, textures, UV layouts, integrating Zbrush into the pipeline
  
• 

  Pre-Vis Artist

  Pixel Liberation Front

  2004 - 2005

  
  Spiderman 3 (Feature Film)
  Character and environmental pre-visualization
  Worked closely with Sam Raimi and the storyboard staff
  Previz, animatics, set prep
  3D modeling, creature FX -pre-vis, texturing
  
• 

  Product Designer

  Mattel

  2003 - 2004

  
  Product Designer | Conceptual Artist
  Male Action Department “Legion of Gotham” Project: Wave 1 Fall 2004” Action Figure Construction Kits
  

• Product Designer

  JAKKS Pacific

  2002 - 2003

  
  Product Designer within the Boys Action Department
  Licenses included WWE, DragonballZ, Remco, Radio Shack Trendmasters etc..
  

• Storyboard Artist

  Stretch Films

  2001 - 2002

  
  Courage the Cowardly Dog: Season 4 (TV)
  Cartoon Network | Stretch Films, New York, NY
  Contract Character & Storyboard Artist
  Storyboard and Character Design