Derick Wicks

Derick Wicks

Senior Unreal Generalist / 15 yrs

Vancouver, Canada

Hire Me

Visual Effects Unreal Generalist

Madame Web (2024)

Visual Effects Generalist Artist

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

Visual Effects Generalist Artist

Meg 2: The Trench (2023)

Visual Effects Unreal Generalist

Ghosted (2023)

Unreal Generalist

Black Adam (2022)

Unreal Generalist

The Gray Man (2022)

Work History
  • Unreal Engine Technical Artist

    The Third Floor

    August 2024 - Present
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • Senior Unreal Generalist

    Critical Mass

    May 2024 - July 2024
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · Remote

    As a Senior Unreal Engine Product Engineer I created Environments, advanced shader networks, Real world accurate models, buildings , vehicles, props and character for real-time final pixel renders, Including Vehicle and characters rigging, Cloth simulation and Fur and Hair Grooms to support the BMW advertising campaign for 2025.

  • Senior Unreal Generalist

    Tippett Studio

    February 2024 - April 2024
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · Remote

    short term Freelance Contract.

    Created Environments, Characters, models, textures, shaders and animation including Crowd simulations and blueprints in unreal engine prepared for Cinematic sequences and rendering for Commercial and film.

    I acted as a lead Unreal Generalist Solving challenging Production issues under tight deadline and budget. using both Windows and Linux based systems.

  • Unreal Generalist

    Zoic Studios

    August 2023 - August 2023
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · Remote

    Short Term Freelance Contract

    Layout, set design, shaders, textures and rendering from unreal Engine

  • Unreal Generalist

    beloFX

    November 2022 - May 2023
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • Unreal Engine Generalist

    ScanlineVFX

    June 2021 - August 2022
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    As a generalist at Scanlines, I have the opportunity to work on exciting projects, across many teams including:


    Virtual Art Direction
    (Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, 2022)

    • Environmental Art (Modeling / Texturing Assets, Props, Set Dressing & Scene Setup)

    • Technical Art (Lighting, Materials, Rendering, Post Processing)

    • Visual Effects & Simulations

    • Research & Development

    • Engine Integration & Optimization


    Virtual Production
    (Black Adam & The Gray Man, 2021)

    • Previsualization (Technical Visualization & Look Development)

    • Unreal Engine (Cinematics | Lighting | Environment | Visual Effects | Animation)

    • LED Stage Operation (Virtual Scouting | Real-Time Compositing | Visual Effects)

    • Rendering for Post Production

  • Technical Director

    Imaginera Studios

    September 2020 - August 2021
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    • Directed CG technical art - 3D models, textures, shaders and environments

    • Integrations of software and hardware into Unreal Engine 4 :
    ( Rokoko Motion Capture Systems | AutoDesk Maya Alembic Cache to Unreal )

    • 3D Modeling, digital sculpting Textures and PBR shaders prepared for Unreal Engine

    • Unreal Engine artist environments, blueprints, animation, UI, shader networks, AI pathing

  • Senior 3D artist

    bitHeads, inc.

    May 2021 - June 2021
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Worked as a Senior 3D artist managing and creating 3D assets at the highest level of detail optimized for mobile applications using unity.

    •Worked Directly with Unity and integrated 3D art into mobile products.

    •Worked heavily with source control using Github

    •Created models, shaders for look development.

  • Freelance 3D Artist

    Freelance

    July 2020 - September 2020
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    • Created various logo designs and car wraps for commercial clients
    • 3D digital art for marketing for local spas
    • 2D Market Branding for Inksession, a local tattoo shop
    • Architectural auto-cad render specialist
    • 3D models texturing rigging, animation.

  • Freelance Artist

    Dream Dark Productions

    June 2018 - September 2020
    Ottawa, Canada Area

    • Created various logo designs and car wraps for commercial clients
    • 3D digital art for marketing for local spas
    • Market Branding for Inksession, a local tattoo shop

  • 3D Artist

    Big Jump Entertainment

    May 2019 - July 2020
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    • Assisted in the development of the 3D department
    • Built multiple real time render computers in a closed network, as well as TD work of
    implementation of Toon Boom harmony to Unreal Engine and Autodesk Maya
    o Implemented techniques to cut down render times covering all aspects of production and
    implementation of 3D assets into Toon Boom Harmony
    • 3D Modeler, 3D animator, composition from motion tracking, Rotoscoping, as well as special FX
    work to bring large projects to life
    o Vehicle modeling, texturing and rigging as well as animated. Vehicles composited 3D
    elements into film
    • Supervised all 3D asset production during final months
    o Created background pans using Unreal Engine to provide real world locations entire cities
    and neighborhoods developed technology to implement a no render output for 2D artists
    to use in animations, layouts and backgrounds

  • Lead Character Artist

    Vascotia Studios

    August 2013 - April 2014
    Norway

    • Responsible for Creating all 3D Characters, modeling, texturing, rigging and polishing in
    Substance Designer and Substance Painter
    • Animating characters from conceptual art to finalized product
    • Implemented innovative strategies for writing the Human IK Rig systems into the Substance
    Alchemist

  • Motion graphics artist/ animator/video editor

    inMotion film. commercial. tv.

    November 2011 - February 2012

    • Contract based work helping integrate and accelerate innovations as well as educate staff in
    Adobe Photoshop and Marmoset Tool Bag
    • Canadian Armed Forces
    o 3D Graphics for recruitment content
    • Canadian health care products marketing
    o Compositing and Editing with Keith Savage, an industry leader in his field

Education
  • 3D animation, 3D animation

    Herzing College Ottawa, Ontario

    2010 - 2011