Born and raised in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, Nicholas Daniels is an industrious Visual Effects Professional with a solid background in visual imagery in an array of digital mediums. Since entering the craft in 2007, his work has been featured in an extensive portfolio of Film, Television, Commercial, Virtual Reality, Architecture, Archaeology, Installations, and Interactive Media. He is an advocate for efficient methodology to enable strong emphasis on visual fidelity meeting storytelling.
Today his works focus on fast-paced and high-end visual effects in all media formats, with emphasis in Supervision and Look Development to ensure team synergy with well thought-out processes and methodology to meet and exceed studio & client expectations. Nicholas’ experience across 2D and 3D VFX workflows make him a particularly dynamic asset to productions of any size, with the ability to cross-examine methodology and execution, whether on set or in post - his involvement ensures a well executed experience for the team.
Nicholas is an Alumni of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Full Sail University, with emphasis in the field of Electronic Media, Film & Digital Animation, and Computer Science. His studies have set personal groundwork for deeper understanding the effects of cognition by visual representation through digital media. Further explorations have been in developing a strong portfolio that creates visual imagery of imaginary and realistic settings to provide impact that best compliments storytelling and entertainment.
Work History
Senior Compositor
Crafty Apes
February 2019 - May 2019
El Segundo, CA
Flame Artist
Mr. Wolf
November 2018 - December 2018
Culver City, CA
Flame Artist
Mr. Wolf
November 2018 - December 2018
Culver City, CA
Flame Artist
The Mill
August 2018 - November 2018
Los Angeles, CA
Compositing Supervisor & Flame Artist
Zoic Studios
September 2014 - July 2018
Los Angeles, CA
Compositor
Shade VFX
July 2014 - August 2014
Provide compositing services for feature film and episodic work.
Compositor
Mind Over Eye
June 2014 - July 2014
Provided compositing services for a quick turn around project for BET.
Assisted in on-set supervision.
Compositor
Drawn by the Light
May 2014 - June 2014
Composite shots to completion for final episode of NBC's Believe.
CG+Comp for Fox/Vice Promo
Sequence Lead / Modular Asset Developer / Compositor
Zoic Studios
September 2013 - May 2014
Technical Consultation and Evaluation on Nuke Pipeline.
Tool & Asset Development.
Lead a team of Mid and Senior Compositors to bring shots to final.
Delegated tasks between artists and managed workflows to ensure continuity and timely delivery.
Mid-Senior Compositor
Drawn by the Light
July 2013 - August 2013
Appended new and updated Nuke/Python tools to the repository.
Lead Compositing role for a TV-Movie.
Finalized a handful of shots for TV-Pilot.
Established Look-Dev and RnD for incoming Stop-Motion Film.
Compositor
Mind Over Eye
June 2013 - July 2013
Product visualization for commercial magazine and online media.
Consultation on a per-shot basis to assist in scheduling and delivery.
Brought shots to final output while maintaining support for multiple projects.
Compositor
Zoic Studios
April 2013 - May 2013
Seamlessly integrated a multitude of shots.
Applied Pythonic knowledge to assist in other artist's tasks.
Problem-solved situation-specific issues and streamline to work in many situations.
Participated in analysis between artist and client.
Mid-Senior Compositor
Bad Robot
March 2013 - April 2013
Compositing and scene finishing.
Provided Nuke + Python pipeline support to create tools and preset scripts for faster shot assembly.
Assisted in machine setup for converting to a network/team workflow for Nuke scripts.
Mid-Senior Compositor
Drawn by the Light
February 2013 - March 2013
Handled a multitude of shots requiring 2D and 2.5D compositing work using Nuke.
Composited CG with live-action footage including shot elements to bring to final integration.
Appended useful Nuke toolsets, gizmos, and python tools to speed up workflow.
Provided support to Vancouver team involving intricate detail of script setups and notes.
Compositor
King and Country
January 2013 - February 2013
Provided Nuke + Python pipeline support to create tools and preset scripts for faster shot assembly.
Brought compositing artists up to speed on newly applied tools in the pipeline to promote fast workflow.
Exercised Nuke's CameraTracker and Modeler for scene recreation and export to Maya for CG Team.
Seamlessly prepped and finaled a multitude of shots.
Compositor
Ingenuity Engine
August 2011 - December 2012
Nuke + Max/Vray workflow to deliver CG integrated shots.
Nuke + Python scripting to enhance workflow and tool creation.
Handled a multitude of shots to meet tight deadlines.
Provided visually creative and timely solutions to supervisors and producers for presentation to clients.
Occasionally consulted with clients to address notes and present options for look development and final image.
Assisted in training interns for post-production workflow and Nuke.
Compositor
Scoundrel Inc.
April 2011 - August 2011
Utilized advanced compositing workflows to integrate and final film images.
Render Wrangler / Production Assistant
Nanotoon Entertainment
August 2008 - March 2009
Maintaining Renders on the farm, checking frames and producing slap composites in After Effects to ensure proper renders.
VFX Artist | 3D Generalist
LQ Studios
February 2007 - February 2009
Contributed as a CG artist to develop assets to meet client's expectations and needs.
Projects ranged in areas of architectural and archeological research, walk-throughs, and conceptual renderings.