Michael Conelly Resume

GOALS:
To continue to push the cutting edge of computer generated imagery and entertainment, in the company of the best minds in the industry. The ideal position will exercise three of my strengths: The highest end 3D CG; my creative and aesthetic abilities; and my skills and history as a manager and team leader.

EDUCATION:

London School of Economics, London, England 1992-
M.Sc. Political Theory;
In moratorium as of 1993

Bard College, Annandale, NY
1992, B.A. Philosophy
Lensing Prize in Philosophy; Marshall Scholarship nominee
Minor in Computer Science

PROFESSIONAL:

RHYTHM & HUES, INC., LOS ANGELES, CA

1996-Present

Digital Supervisor

2005-Present

As a Digital Supervisor at this Academy Award winning visual effects studio, I oversee all aspects of CG production on a Feature Film: Modeling, Rigging, Animation, Lighting, Effects, and Compositing. I participate in bidding, planning, staffing, execution and delivery of a complex suite of CG assets. This requires expertise ranging from software development, to cinematography, to on-set production constraints, to technical and aesthetic input on every stage of CG production. I am a liaison to producers, directors, and designers, and am an energetic representative of the full scope of R&H's production capacity. I lead coordination with other vendors. I enjoy the constant, changing challenge of this position a great deal.
Of particular importance to me is fostering healthy, comfortable, collaborative work environments. I lead teams where the best ideas win.

2006: Charlottes Web; Night at the Museum (Trailer)
2007: The Kingdom
2008: Miscellaneous commercials (as VFX supervisor); R&D: Cirque Du Freak, Fast and Furious 4, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past; Night at the Museum 2 (Trailer)

Lighting Technical Manager

2002-2005

As the head of Lighting I ensured that work in that department happens as well as can be throughout the studio. R&H uses proprietary software; I oversaw the development of our rendering and choreography software (Equivalent to Maya and Renderman in industry terms), as well as the lighting and compositing production workflow for all studio projects. I lead a team of programmers and senior technical directors to push R&D, and integrate the results of that work into a robust pipeline for production staff.
Thousands of shots went through the studio during my tenure in this position, including recent projects such as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Garfield; and many others.
Attached is a list of the projects I’ve had a direct hand in over the years.

Lighting Supervisor

1998-2002

As a Lighting Supervisor, I was responsible for delivering hundreds of FX shots for various feature films. This meant overseeing teams as large as 65 Lighters and Sequence Supervisors. The work required a confident balance between aesthetic and technical issues, in tandem with accurate capacity planning. I’m proud of my record of overseeing shows with minimal overtime in Lighting, in an industry where often egregious overtime is the norm.

Designer and Technical Director

1996-1998

Design and production work for feature films, a playstation video game, and commercials.

RENAISSANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC., BOSTON, MA

1993-1996

Principal
Incorporated new media development company. Clients included Microsoft, Spectrum Holobyte, WGBH Boston, BK&S New York, NAPC, Boston Digital, Alpha Press, various law firms. This included Consulting work; CAD/CAM; and a publishing deal for a CD-ROM project. I dissolved Renaissance Tech in 1996, prior to moving to California.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL

2004-Present

Board of Advisors
I help faculty at the VFS develop curriculum for students; share my experiences in visual effects with their student body; and act as liaison for hiring amongst their graduates.

VISUAL EFFECTS SOCIETY

2007-Present

LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS, SEMINARS
I've enjoyed dialogues with various universities and professional groups around the world for many years now. I've been a guest lecturer at various schools (USC Film School; Texas A&M), and presented papers at conferences (Siggrad, in Sweden; CGO in Singapore). The CG community is diverse and exciting. I've been honored by these invitations to build relationships with students and professionals around the world.

References available upon request.

Hobbies: Writing, photography, movies, computers & technology. I’ve been developing a video game, and two feature films over several years. Please see www.michaelconelly.com for further details.