Monika Sawyer

Work History

• Environment Texture Artist - Rocket League Cinematic Game Trailer

  Cloud 10 Studios

  August 2020 - August 2020

  Dallas, Texas, United States

  Worked as an Environment Texture Artist on Rocket League's cinematic trailer. Updated and created high resolution textures for Champion's Field stadium and grounds in UE4. Textured Hero asset, Trophy Monument.
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  Professor of Instruction in Animation

  The University of Texas at Dallas

  August 2017 - May 2020

  Richardson, TX

  I'm very excited to take on a full-time teaching roll at UT-Dallas in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication. I teach students CFX grooming and simulation with xGen and nCloth and Surfacing with Mari! I am hoping to include some more advanced Grooming and Simulation classes in the near future.
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  Sr. CFX Artist - RUMBLE

  Reel FX

  May 2019 - January 2020

  Dallas/Fort Worth Area

  Groomed beautifully designed characters for Paramount's Animated Feature RUMBLE coming out January 2021! Created cloth and hair simulation rigs for characters to prepare for per-shot simulation.
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  Groom Artist - Paramount Animation’s Star Skipper

  ATK PLN

  June 2019 - August 2019

  Dallas, TX
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  Groom Artist - Arli and the World of Wonderful

  ATK PLN

  December 2018 - January 2019

  Dallas, TX
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  CFX Supervisor - Scooby Doo (Development)

  Reel FX

  August 2015 - August 2017

  Dallas/Fort Worth Area

  I'm ready to take on the CFX Supervisor role again for Reel FX's latest development project, Scooby Doo! As CFX Supervisor for this show, I will be working with my expanded team to take cloth and fur simulation here at Reel FX to the next level and we couldn't be more ready! On top of the new advances in simulation for the studio, we have also been tasked with continuing to create great feature quality fur grooms using Maya's xGen system, as well as detailed clothing for sim with Marvelous Designer. Couldn't be more excited!
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  CFX Development Artist - Book of Life

  Reel FX

  September 2014 - July 2015

  Dallas/Fort Worth Area

  I had the chance to work with my fellow CFX Supervisor to help develop the simulation process for Maria's skirt and Joaquin's cape. I also had the opportunity to work on shots later on in the film, creating cloth simulations for various characters for shot production.
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  CFX Supervisor - RockDog

  Reel FX

  September 2013 - July 2015

  Dallas/Fort Worth Area

  For Reel FX's project for Mandoo Pictures, my department took on not only fur, feathers, trees, grass, and all other vegetation, but Cloth and Fur simulation as well. Using Maya's new release of xGen and the latest of nCloth, along with all the options that Arnold and MtoA had to offer.
  It was great to finally take groom creation and simulation back into a single department so my artists had the opportunity to see their creature creations from static assets through to final frames. This department structure worked so well, we are going to continue this setup for our next few films.
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  Fur and Feather Supervisor - Free Birds

  Reel FX

  December 2011 - September 2013

  Dallas/Fort Worth Area

  Designed and helped develop the current proprietary Feather system (Avian) for ReelFX's upcoming movie, "Free Birds", formerly "Turkeys", which came out Nov 1st, 2013.
  Worked with CG Sups and TD Sups to create and integrate a newly born Fur Department into their current CG pipeline.
  I was responsible for hiring and training new Fur Artists as well as helped with the development of seasoned Artists in creating Feature Film quality Fur, Feathers and Hair on a vast variety of characters for the film.
  Integrated into my daily tasks, I was also responsible for character bids, time management of the team and communication with my Production Management team to make sure that my team and I delivered our assets in a time-efficient manner.

  
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  Senior Fur Technical Director

  Blue Sky Studios

  April 2006 - December 2011

  Responsible for grooming and maintaining characters and environmental Fur assets for several films as well as Environment Lead for Ice Age: Continental Drift.

  

  
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  Lighting Technical Director - Temp

  Blue Sky Studios

  January 2007 - June 2009

  Greater New York City Area

  I have had the opportunity throughout my 6 years at Blue Sky to work with the Blue Sky lighting team as a temp Lighting TD for many of their productions and was able to utilize my lighting skills to light shots for Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, Horton Hears a Who, and Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

  

  
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  Lighting TA

  Blue Sky Studios

  August 2005 - April 2006

  Greater New York City Area

  Responsible for technical problem solving for all movie shots when shot is in lighting, test render and final render.

  
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  Assistant Shader Writer - Superman

  Electronic Arts

  March 2005 - August 2005

  Altamonte Springs, FL

  Assisted in writing, developing, and updating HLSL shaders for all aspects of the games including enviroment and character.
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  Lighting Intern - NCAA Football

  EA Sports

  January 2005 - March 2005

  Assisted the NCAA team with lighting and updating cinema shots as well as texture work on stadium environments.

• Graphic Designer/Web Development

  Team Schierl Companies

  May 2000 - August 2002

  Responsible for designing and writing copy for radio and newspaper ads, billboards, posters, and in-store displays for locally owned Subway Restaurants, TCBY and Cousins Subs restaurants, and Goodyear Schierl Tire and Automotive stores. Also responsible for creating and maintaining company website.

• Graphic Designer

  Portage County Gazette

  May 1999 - May 2000

  Created copy and newspaper advertising for locally owned companies.

• Promotions Coordinator

  Centertainment Productions

  August 1998 - May 2000

  Stevens Point, WI

  Designed promotional materials for various entertainment venues for entertainers including Bill Cosby, Lone Star, and Live. Also created T-Shirt designs, displays, flyers, entertainment menus, etc. Was also responsible for printing and promotions budget management.