Mark Thielen

Work History

• 

  Product Support Specialist and Trainer

  Walt Disney Imagineering

  February 2018 - Present

  Glendale, California

  Expanding the use of Shotgun Software for integration. Shotgun Software training pertaining to the specific use cases with in Walt Disney Imagineering.
• 

  Product Support Specialist

  Autodesk

  May 2017 - February 2018

  Los Angeles, California

  Supporting clients using Shotgun Software.
• 

  Massive Artist

  Method Studios

  January 2017 - January 2017

  Santa Monica, California
• 

  Guest Lecturer

  USC School of Cinematic Arts

  2017 - January 2017

  Los Angeles, California

  Teaching Generative Animation using artificial intelligence from Massive Software.

• Animation Director

  Hanson Robotics

  May 2015 - August 2016

  Santa Monica, CA

  Bringing life to our robot Sophia through the animation of emotions, gestures, and performances.
  Working closely with the mechanical and AI team to bring all the pieces together to have a believable performance for the people interacting with Sophia.
  Present Sophia for demos and high profile interviews for places such as CNBC.
• 

  Pipeline TD

  Big Block

  March 2015 - March 2015

  Max to Maya tools
• 

  Lighter

  Zoic Studios

  February 2015 - February 2015

  Lighter on TV show, Arrow
• 

  Walt Disney Animation Studios

  June 2013 - September 2014
• 

  Crowd Artist

  Walt Disney Animation Studios

  June 2013 - September 2014

  Designing crowd animation pipeline for future films using Massive. Creating agents to interact in the films. Writing python scripts to support the pipeline.

  
• 

  Crowd TD

  NOZON / VFX-3D Animation

  February 2013 - April 2013

  Create crowd animation using Massive Software for the animated film Minuscule.
  Design and implement python scripts to automate the workflow of the Massive assets, rendering, and comp in Nuke.
• 

  Crowd Lead

  Digital Domain

  October 2011 - January 2013

  Recreated crowd pipeline for all shows using Massive Software. Wrote python scripts to interface with the old pipeline tools and integrate into the new pipeline.
  Research and development of crowd systems for Paradise Lost and Ender's Game.

  

• Rig/Pipeline

  WemoMedia

  2011 - December 2011
• 

  CG Generalist/CG Supervisor

  Zoic Studios

  September 2011 - October 2011
• 

  CG Supervisor

  Radium

  February 2007 - June 2011
• 

  MassiveSpecialist/Maya Generalist - Commercial Division

  Reel FX

  January 2007 - June 2011
• 

  CG Generalist/Massive Specialist

  Reel FX

  January 2007 - June 2011
• 

  CG Generalist/Massive Specialist

  Reel FX

  January 2007 - June 2011

• CG Supervisor

  Radium/Reelfx

  January 2007 - June 2011
• 

  CG Supervisor

  Radium

  January 2007 - June 2011

  -Worked with producers and artists to establish estimates and bid on new projects.
  -On set supervision for live action shoots used for VFX and CG incorporation.
  -Managed and led the commercial team of up to 20 CG artists.
  -Developed and consulted international multi-million dollar business deal with Animation Lab.
  -Redesigned and integrated the commercial pipeline with the entertainment pipeline.
  -Spearheaded the implementation and simplification of the Maya pipeline tool for artists working together on shared assets.
  -Guided the commercial TD team for t

• Massive Specialist/Animator

  Hanson Robotics

  June 2007 - January 2008

  Building brains for robotics.
  Animating robots.
• 

  Crowd Animation Supervisor - Massive

  Rainmaker Entertainment

  June 2006 - January 2007

  Establish a new department to accommodate crowds.
  Work with Motion Builder to bring in motion capture data.
  Plan for motion capture sessions and help direct the actors for the needs of the projects.
  Developing tools and scripts for streamlining production workflow for Massive and Maya.
  Planning for the workflow, timing, and preparation necessary to deliver the director's needs.

  

• Crowd Supervisor

  Rainmaker Digital Pictures (now CIS Vancouver)

  2006 - 2007
• 

  Crowd Animation Supervisor - Massive

  DNA Productions

  September 2004 - June 2006

  Establish a new department to accommodate crowds of ants, wasps, and beetles for The Ant Bully.
  Managing a team of 4 Massive artists, 7 animators, 3 script writers and programmers.
  Working with the director throughout the project to discuss the requirements of the crowds of characters.
  Leading the 7 animators for the specifics necessary for the keyframed animation used within Massive.
  Developing tools and scripts for streamlining production workflow for Massive and Maya.
  Giving direction to massive artists for shots and sequences.
  Planning for the

• Instructor

  Texas A&M - Commerce

  August 2002 - December 2004

  Guide students using Maya for animation, technical direction, texture and lighting
  Raise the level of expectations of the students to prepare them for the industry
• 

  Animator

  DNA Productions

  January 2002 - September 2004

  Character animation for all characters in shots completed for the TV series of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron.
  Expected to complete 850-1100 frames per week for the television series.
• 

  Character Rigger

  DNA Productions

  September 2001 - January 2002

  Presented Maya as the best software package for the new animation pipeline.
  Transition studio from using Lightwave to Maya for the animation and rigging pipeline.
  Setup chatacters for Maya animation pipeline and teach others how to take over the tasks.
• 

  Animator

  DNA Productions

  January 2001 - September 2001

  Character animation for primary characters for the feature film Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

• Instructor

  Ex'pression

  2000 - 2000