Daniel Smith

Work History

• Owner

  Danimation

  October 1996 - Present

  Compositing with end to end visual effects creation. Stereoscopic consultation and training. Green screen keying, lighting, roto, full film rez 3D CGI, and compositing.
• 

  Senior Compositor and On Set VFX supe

  Stargate Studios

  September 2024 - May 2025
• 

  Senior Compositor/Lead

  FuseFX

  June 2024 - August 2024
• 

  Senior Compositor

  Stargate Studios

  December 2023 - May 2024

  Insidious: The Red Door
• 

  Senior Pixel Disruptor

  FuseFX

  August 2023 - August 2023

  Atlanta, Georgia, US

  Lawmen: Bass Reeves
• 

  Compositing Supervisor

  FuseFX

  May 2022 - April 2023

  Atlanta, Georgia, United States

  I make pixels look pretty
• 

  Senior Compositor

  Crafty Apes

  January 2019 - May 2022

  Atlanta Metropolitan Area

  Compositing for Film, Television, and Streaming.
  
  2019:
  Dolly Parton's Heartstrings: Netflix
  Creepshow: Shudder AMC Networks
  Zombieland Double Tap: Sony Pictures
  Jumanji The Next Level: Sony Pictures
  
  2020:
  Just Mercy: Warner Bros Pictures
  Like a Boss: Paramount Pictures

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
• 

  Compositing Instructor

  CG Masters School of 3D Animation & VFX

  February 2021 - April 2021

  Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

  Fundamental introduction to NUKE compositing. Introducing students to NUKE the node based workflow and understanding the role of compositing in the VFX pipeline.
• 

  Senior Compositor

  FuseFX

  December 2020 - March 2021

  Atlanta, Georgia, United States

  TV shows and film VFX compositing using Nuke.
  
  Black Lightning Season 4
  Pose
• 

  VFX Instructor

  The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School

  June 2012 - January 2019

  Orlando, Florida Area

  I teach a class in digital VFX production and compositing. We start out looking in detail of the history of visual effects and learn to develop a critical eye while teaching the class how to create these effects. In a true production environment getting them ready for their first real job in the industry they learn NUKE, PFtrack, RealFlow and Maya.
• 

  Course Author

  Pluralsight

  March 2017 - November 2017

  Created a course that focuses on the core fundamentals of channels and math logic operations for the Foundry's NUKE. This course was part of PluralSight's "Learning Path" for VFX work. This course has been watched by thousands of learners.
  
  Courses included :
  
  Nuke Channel Fundamentals (2017)
• 

  Professor

  FXPHD

  October 2009 - March 2017

  Nuke and Stereoscopic Professor for FXPHD.com an online international training for visual FX.
  
  Courses included :
  
  STR101 - Introduction to Stereoscopic (2009)
  NUK203 - Nuke and Stereoscopic (2010)
  NUK212 - Nuke 2D to 3D Stereo Conversion (2010)
  NUK213 - Nuke Stereoscopic Workshop (2011)
  NUK215 - Zombie Apocalypse (2011)
  NUK220 - Nuke 3D Conversion and Stereo Techniques (2012)
  NUK224 - Nuke Zombie Panic! (2014)
  FUS203 - Fusion Production Workshop (2015)
  NUK234 - Nuke Immersive VR Compositing (2016)
  FUS204 - Fusion Production Workshop II: Micro World (2016)
  
  
  
• 

  Compositing Supervisor & Stereoscopic

  Falcon's Treehouse

  November 2014 - June 2015

  Orlando, Florida Area

  Working on several ride films for new theme parks around the world as a stereoscopic consultant and a Nuke compositor. This including several dark ride films that use complex moving points of convergence including Avengers: Battle of Ultron for IMG Worlds of Adventure.
• 

  Final Project Director/Instructor

  The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School

  December 2009 - June 2012

  Orlando, Florida Area

  Designed short films and projects for a group of 20-30 students to produce a film that culminated their education at The Dave School. Projects would range from short form narrative to single camera ride films. Students would also learn NUKE compositing software and compete the project in 3 months. I was also the first to bring stereoscopic projects to the school and implemented the use of DCP delivery for theatrical exhibition. Some of the projects include the award winning "Solo Adventures" which won a Golden Droid award from George Lucas for the best animation fan film.

• VFX Supervisor

  IBC Digital

  May 2005 - April 2009

  Work with Director and Producers to successfully run the day-to-day operations of the department. Communicate pipeline issues, team priorities, department information through the project. Manage Human Relation issues to keep team on track. Advertise, scout,interview and hire employees. As well as, Visual Effects Supervisor for Video Mods for MTV2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for the creation of several invisibility effects. Also Supervised the Kid Cuisine commercial campaign. Modeled the hero character, rigged facial animation system, created shader, lighting, and final compositing. Supervised team of remote animators and other artist.
• 

  Lead Compositor

  Reel FX

  January 2004 - May 2005

  For Action Man, a 70 minute all CG feature, composited nearly 300 visual effect shots in 2 months. On Halloween Town High, a made for TV live action movie, completed nearly 40 visual effects shots in 2 months. Utilized combinations of CG element, live action, and FX layers to create magical effects and green screen composites. Working on Valor Vs Venom, an 80 minute all CG feature, composited over 500 visual effect shots in 3 months. Wrote work flow tracking scripts, complex composite scripts, automated tasks,and set the tone, look and feel for several key sequences

• Technical Supervisor

  PowderKeg

  December 2002 - November 2003

  I was the lead Tech Director/Supervisor for PowderKeg. Setup pipeline, supervised compositing and Stereoscopy for Several of the 3D ride films and Passive 3D films produced during this time frame. TinkerDoodles Christmas, Seahawk, Safari Ride, and Bat Man Dark Tommorow cinematics. Also designed the studios in house ride film "Solor Coaster" Using off the shelf coaster simulation software I was able to rapidly design the layout of the ride film before it was handed off to being completed in Maya.
• 

  Stereoscopic Compositing Supervisor

  CafeFX

  May 2003 - July 2003

  I was in charge of the pipeline look and feel of the sterescopic effects for the 15 minutes or 120 shots Computer Cafe completed for the film SpyKidds 3D. I worked closly with the compositing supervisor Jeff Goldman and VFX supervisor John Parentau during the 9 week mad dash to pull off these shots.

• Stereoscopic Compositing Supervisor

  Kleiser Walczak

  May 2000 - January 2002

  Compositing Supervisor and Stereoscopic Implementation Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, a dual 70 mm interlocked stereo projection of a 2 minutes all CG film. Supervising the creation of the 3D stereoscopic camera, creation of stereo testing alignment charts, and setting up the compositing pipeline. Supervised the creation of stereoscopic aspects for the ride film for Busch Gardens Williamsburg called "Corkscrew Hill". Was also responsible for modeling and texturing of many props and environments for the film. Lead artist on "The Drop" and "Graveyard".

  
• 

  Technical Director

  Will Vinton Studios

  January 1996 - May 2000

  Supervised a team of animators, and solving anything that may arise in a production environment. On-set supervisor for live action shoots. Supervising Technical Director for M&M 3D, an eight minute Lightwave CG stereoscopic film for M&M's World in Las Vegas. Effects animator/Technical Director on season 2 of "The PJ's" Special Effects Supervisor for episodes one through six of "Gary & Mike."
• 

  Digital Artist

  Westwood Studios

  June 1995 - December 1995

  I worked on the video game Lands of Lore2 as a digital artist and a Make up artists for live action actors.

• Technical Animator

  Kleiser Walczak

  January 1995 - June 1995

  Animation for Judge Dredd and Technical Supervision

• Pre Viz Animator

  Mass.Illusion / Cinergi FX

  September 1994 - January 1995

  I was part of the ground breaking Pre-Visualization team on Judge Dredd. We used Softimage to pre-viz many complicated model shots in the film. We then exported the camera data directly to the motion control stage where the miniatures were photographed directly from our animation data. This was my first feature, and I got to work with some amazing people.

• Creative Director

  Gardy McGrath

  September 1992 - September 1994

  Video production for Government and Maritime industry. Used 3D animation for simulations, logos and VFX work to augment video production.