Mark A.J. Nazal

Work History

• 

  Business Development Executive & Consulting VFX Supervisor

  Ionart Studio Ltd

  January 2024 - Present

  Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
• 

  Chief Creative / Independent Director / VFX Supervisor

  SurrealArts

  January 2019 - Present

  Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

  Chief jack of all trades at a growing independent transmedia company with a mission to tell diverse, global, and multicultural stories through different narratives.
  
  Associated brand(s):
  SurrealArts Studios
  Diwata Komiks
• 

  VFX Post-Production Business and Creative Development Consultant

  Freelance

  January 2019 - Present

  Offers consultation on various aspects of visual effects and post-production workflows including project, business, and creative development.
  
  Training and mentorship for industry peers and emerging talent for further professional development in collaboration with academic contacts and diversity nonprofits.
• 

  Department Lead

  CoSA VFX

  February 2018 - Present

  Department Lead for the Art Department specializing in 2d/3d Environments and Digital Matte Paintings.

  

  

  
• 

  Director of Digital Content

  CoSA VFX

  March 2021 - October 2023

  Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

  Worked directly with the Exec. Team in establishing and managing several key interdepartmental studio functions from VFX Business Development to Marketing, Recruiting, and miscellaneous studio developments.
  
  • Directed and executed internal and external presentations for multiple platforms catering, but not exclusive, to the following groups listed below leading to the successful acquisition of multiple high-profile projects during a highly competitive period.
  - Business Executives and Studio Clients
  - Marketing and Publicity Representatives and Executives
  - Key Industry Organizational Partners
  
  • Liaised with various studio Department Heads in drafting and disseminating internal and external messaging about continuous company developments and sensitive issues.
  
  • Implemented and maintained the studio’s first Learning Mgmt. System that included the curation and processing of internal and external content for the platform.
  
  • Strategized and implemented cross-platform communication solutions during the studio’s transition from a predominantly in-person to a fully remote work environment.
  
  • Wrote job descriptions for strategic positions pertaining to Digital Content, Marketing, and Creative Development.
  
  • Collaborated with Administrative and Recruiting teams in crafting content and implementation strategies for global recruitment initiatives.
  
  • Established the organization’s modern marketing protocols and worked closely with the Executive Producer and the Business Development plus Marketing Teams in directing all multimedia content for public relations and publicity across multiple territories.
  
  • Brokered deals and managed relationships with external vendors and partners for various services and partnerships pertaining to Digital Content and Marketing.
  
  Furthermore, I continued to offer advisory assistance for show bidding and production methodologies to Producers, Supervisors, and other production team members based on my legacy roles at the studio.
• 

  Digital Strategy and Marketing Development Lead

  CoSA VFX

  October 2020 - March 2021

  Spearheaded the studio’s Marketing Development initiative with the goal of making the studio’s work more visible and well-represented in the competitive VFX space. Additionally, I worked with the newly formed Marketing Development Committee to rebrand the studio’s online presence with constant content development showcasing the studio’s work across multiple platforms.
• 

  VFX Department Head, Digital Environments and Design Supervisor

  CoSA VFX

  September 2018 - October 2020

  North Hollywood, California

  Supervised and managed work and resources across multiple facilities for film, television, and commercial projects in the studio. Furthermore, I reorganized the company’s previous Digital Matte Painting Department into a full-service Environments and Design Department capable of taking on specialized shots from Concept to Final Compositing.
  
  • Worked with the Global Studio Managers, Department Heads, and the Scheduling Team to manage multi-disciplinary departmental resources across all facilities.
  • Bid projects with specific Show Producers and the Executive Producer on specialized shots and sequences for both active and potential shows.
  • Collaborated with Show Producers and Show Supervisors in ensuring that specialized shots and sequences were approached in the most efficient manner - adhering to budgetary restrictions while delivering the high standard of quality expected of each project.
  • Supervised specialized shots and sequences, and reviewed multi-disciplinary visual effects work ranging from Concept Design to Digital Matte Painting to CG Asset Development and Final Compositing.
  • Managed and Art Directed Concept Design pitches for potential new client development.
  
  Broadcast/Streaming Television
  Lucifer Season 4 & 5
  Westworld S3
  Marvel's Runaways Season 2 & 3
  Swamp Thing
  Pennyworth
  Nancy Drew Season 1
  Station 19 Seasons 2 & 3
  Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Seasons 6 & 7
  NOS4A2 Season 1
  The Walking Dead Season 9
  Gotham Season 5
  The Orville Season 2
  Lethal Weapon Season 2
  Another Life
  iZombie Season 5
• 

  Adjunct Instructor

  The Art Institutes

  September 2018 - December 2018

  North Hollywood

  Taught Advanced Media Arts and Visual Effects classes and Portfolio Development.
• 

  VFX Lead Artist

  CoSA VFX

  September 2017 - February 2018

  North Hollywood, California

  Assisted in facilitating communication within the designated show and worked with Coordinators, Producers, and Supervisors when resourcing the show’s needs within the studio.
  
  • Reviewed shots for comments and delivery.
  • Checked in with artists with shots on the project/episode and provided assistance and guidance on shot progression.
  • Troubleshooted artist scripts when necessary.
  • Reviewed resource overview using in-house tracking tools to assist Compositing Supervisor and Producer in assuring overall project/episode progress.
  
  In addition to working on various aspects of shots on the show, provided look-development and leadership when sequences required consistency of look across multiple shots.
  
  Discussed and implemented efficient ways to approach shots on the show with the Compositing Supervisor and maintained close communication with the Producer and CG Supervisors regarding the show's needs for delivery.
  
  Lucifer - S3 (FOX)
• 

  Digital Artist - Visual Effects

  CoSA VFX

  August 2013 - September 2017

  North Hollywood, CA

  Visual effects generalist working in the development and implementation of 2d and 3d computer graphics and compositing for film and television.
  TV
  Gotham (FOX) (2014-)
  Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) (2013-)
  Westworld (2015-)
  Person of Interest (CBS) (2013-)
  The Astronaut Wives Club (CBS) (2015-)
  CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) (2014-2015)
  The Flash (2014)
  The Last Ship (TNT) (2014-)
  Almost Human (FOX) (2013-2014)
  Revolution (NBC) (2013)
  --
  Pilots
  Minority Report (FOX) 2015
  Down Dog (Amazon Studios) (2014)
  Hysteria (Amazon Studios) (2014)
  Gotham (FOX) (2014)
  Jane the Virgin (TheCW) (2014)
  CSI: Cyber (CBS) (2014)
  Film
  Divergent (2014)
• 

  Multimedia Project Developer

  Freelance

  January 2010 - August 2017

  Los Angeles, California

  Provides miscellaneous multimedia services for independent clients on special projects.
  • Consultation, on-set supervision, and creation of digital visual effects
  • Consultation and implementation of print and web design campaigns as well as video and motion graphics
• 

  Digital Compositor

  Ingenuity Studios

  May 2016 - June 2016

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Compositing duties that included keying, roto, and matchmoving on on a variety of shots from monitor comps and beauty fixes to look development on effects-driven sequences for episodic television.
  
  Powers (PlayStation Network) (2016)
  Scream (MTV) (2016)
  Grace and Frankie (Netflix) (2016)
  Get Out (2017)
• 

  Freelance Computer Graphics Generalist, Project Developer

  Studio Bunker LLC

  May 2013 - August 2013

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  • Catalogued and organized shots for post-production processing.
  • Performed various post-production duties as needed which included 3D asset development, editing, and compositing.

  ---
  
• Pitched ideas for execution based on the project and client's requirements.

  • Reviewed contracts and assisted in hiring talent and independent contractors (production crew, post-production artists).
  
• Assisted in managing production budgets per project.

  • Managed production schedules and took on miscellaneous on-set duties as needed.

  ---
  
• Directed commercial.
• 

  Stereoscopic Compositor

  Legend 3D VR VFX

  October 2012 - April 2013

  Greater San Diego Area

  Was responsible for combining live-action and computer generated elements to create seamless stereoscopic images by incorporated techniques that include element layering, painting, rotoscoping, color correction, grain management, and matte extraction using Nuke, Mocha Pro, and the company's proprietary software. In addition to combining images, I also generated whatever assets were required to make stereoscopic conversion cleaner and more efficient as well as managing shots and shot assets using the company's work tracking and management software.
  
  Man of Steel (Warner Bros. & Legendary Pictures) (2013)
  The Little Mermaid 3D (Disney) (2013)

  

• Project Developer, CG Generalist

  SurrealArts in Association with Red Giant Productions

  September 2010 - September 2012

  Los Angeles, CA

  • Managed artists during pre-production and look development to post-production.
  • Catalogued and organized shots for post-production processing and developed a web-based post-production tracking system optimized for working with independent contractors.
  • Performed various post-production duties as needed which included 3D asset development, editing, and compositing.
  ---
  • Developed client relationships and pitched ideas for execution based on the project and client's requirements.
  • Assisted Casting Director with the casting process for talent.
  • Reviewed contracts and assisted in hiring talent and independent contractors (production crew, post-production artists).
  • Assisted in managing production budgets per project.
  • Managed production schedules and took on miscellaneous on-set duties as needed.
  ---
  • Directed pilot presentation.

• Jr. Compositor and Rotoscope Artist (Internship)

  Rareform Pictures Inc.

  September 2009 - September 2010

  In addition to rotoscoping and compositing duties, I also conducted a workshop for other junior artists on compositing with emphasis on rotoscoping for stereoscopic conversion.

• Part-Time Tutor and Note-Taker

  Art Institute of California - Los Angeles

  2009 - 2010

  Tutored and provided miscellaneous academic aid to a number of students by assignment or request. Subjects include but were not limited to:
  • Node-based and Linear Compositing • 3D Modeling, Lighting, and Texturing • Dynamics (Rigid Bodies, Cloth, and Particles) • Design and Image Manipulation