Erik Zimmermann

Work History

• 

  Chicken Bone FX

  January 2018 - Present

  Greater Los Angeles Area

• DeConstruct Studio & Labs

  January 2018 - Present

  Los Angeles, California
• 

  Senior Houdini FX Artist & Designer

  Freelance

  May 2017 - Present

  - Senior FX Artist & Designer with 14 years of Houdini experience and 17 in VFX/Post Production
  - Specializing in Effects Technical & Look Development as well as Creative Direction
  
  Credits:
  - Kendrick Lamar "Loyalty" (CG Supervisor, Timber, 7/2017)
  - Carl's Junior (FX Artist, JAMM, 7/2017)
  - Kelly Clarkson "Love So Soft" (FX TD, Timber, 8/2017)
  - Ryder Truck (FX TD, Timber, 8/2017)
  - Katy Perry "Swish Swish" (FX TD, Timber, 8/2017)
• 

  Griffith Observatory

  March 2018 - February 2019

  Los Angeles, California

  Houdini FX Lead for The Griffith Observatory’s upcoming planetarium show. I was responsible for setting up the Houdini pipeline for startup VFX studio co-funded by City of LA and non-profit Friends of the Observatory, as well as bidding all FX shots, developing custom tools,
• 

  FX Lead

  The Mill

  October 2015 - May 2017

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Houdini effects lead and effects look & technical development.
  Most recently developed cg ocean toolset for KIA Niro "Hero's Journey"
  
  
• 

  Senior Houdini FX Technical Director

  Freelance

  February 2015 - October 2015

  Based in Los Angeles / Available Globally

  - Senior FX Artist & Designer with 14 years of Houdini experience and 17 in vfx/post production
  - Specializing in effects look development and creative direction
  
  Black Sails (Season 3)
  Pan

  
• 

  Sr. FX Artist

  DreamWorks Animation

  November 2010 - January 2015

  How to Train Your Dragon 2
  Turbo
  Puss in Boots
  Boo

  

  

  
• 

  Senior FX Artist

  Digital Domain

  October 2006 - November 2010

  Tron Legacy
  2012
  Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Transformers 2)
  G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  Star Trek (2009)
  Mummy 3
  Bacardi Mojito (commercial)
  Speed Racer
  The Golden Compass
  Pirates of the Caribbean 3 - At World's End
  Meet the Robinsons 3D

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
• 

  Rhythm & Hues Studios

  June 2006 - October 2006

  Lighting in Houdini [Mantra] on "Happy Feet" - Lookdev, shot setup, technical troubleshooting,
• 

  Digital Domain

  November 2005 - June 2006

  Houdini FX animation for "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" - Electricity, Water, Breaking Glass,

• Automa of Los Angeles, Inc.

  January 2002 - February 2003

  Santa Monica, CA

  Helped build a startup VFX boutique from the ground up.
  
  Coordinated team of visual effects artists.

• Core Group, Inc., Boston, MA

  July 2000 - September 2001

  Edited high-end corporate video and commercials on Avid and Final Cut Pro systems. Created 3D animations in Maya, and composited video elements in After Effects andFlint/Flame. Worked

• Rule Broadcast Systems, Inc., Watertown, MA

  December 1999 - November 2000

• State and Main (Feature directed by David Mamet)

  October 1999 - November 1999