VFX and design company Blur Studio has hired Dan Akers as visual effects supervisor. With nearly 15 years of experience in the VFX industry, Akers has among his credits the photoreal “Become Legend” piece for online shooter Destiny which garnered VFX honors at last year’s AICP Show while also earning 2015 VES Award nominations.
“Dan has a great track record of handling both the creative and technical aspects involved in creating beautiful imagery. He is a key hire for Blur as we extend our reach deeper into the live-action VFX world and beyond. He’ll help us push the studio forward as we explore new ways to tell stories,” shared Tim Miller, Blur co-founder and Deadpool director.
Akers stated, “I’ve always admired the work coming out of Blur and I believe in the company’s vision for the future. I can’t wait to work with a team that’s made world class work and continues to innovate.”
Akers comes to Blur from Digital Domain, where he most recently served as VFX and compositing supervisor, largely for commercial projects, overseeing the Nike spot “HyperAdapt 1.0 self-lacing shoe,” as well as spots for UFC, Lexus, Cadillac, Nissan, Kia, Assassin’s Creed, and the Destiny franchise. Akers’ recent VFX work has included films, from David Fincher’s Gone Girl to this summer’s controversial Eye in the Sky. Throughout his career Akers has lent his talents to the Star Trek, Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, Tron: Legacy and Oblivion. He's also been part of Oscar-winning/nominated teams for Best VFX on projects including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Real Steel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Transformers and Star Trek. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design.
The addition of Akers to Blur underscores the studio’s momentum in the commercial and VFX worlds, having recently completed end-to-end services, including compositing, color and finishing, on live-action projects for GMC and upcoming first-person shooter “DOOM.”
In addition to hiring Akers, Blur has brought on DP Ken Seng as a visual consultant. Seng is a seasoned shooter with film credits on Deadpool and Project X, and award-winning commercials for clients such as American Express, Coke, Samsung, Gatorade, Audi and others. Seng will provide creative consultation for Blur projects, leveraging his live-action experience to enhance Blur’s CG and animation work.
Eleanor Adds Director Candice Vernon To Its Roster For Spots and Branded Content
Director Candice Vernon has joined production house Eleanor for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. She has already wrapped several jobs at Eleanor, which waited to announce her until they had a body of work together.
Via Eleanor, Vernon made history as the first Black director on a Febreze commercial. The “Small Spaces” campaign marks a major departure from Febreze’s typical blue-and-white world. The home of the “Revolving Door” commercial is a beautiful array of bold sunset hues, African prints, and African art.
Vernon said, “I asked myself, what feels right to me? What feels new? I wanted to bring an essence of not just Black Americans but the full diaspora. I wanted to make a statement that we’re not a monolith.”
Following the success of the “Small Spaces” campaign, Febreze brought Vernon back for a comedy-infused trifecta exploring the hilarious situations that call for an air freshening hero.
Febreze Brand VP Angelica Matthews said, “About two years ago, we realized the consumers that were the most loyal to Febreze were the African American consumers. And the more we learned, the more we realized the richness that we were really missing. So we said we have to go beyond just Black casting, we need to get Black directors that truly understand the culture that truly understand how to bring authentic performances out on screen. We really looked around the industry and noticed there’s actually a shortage of African American directors who have experience doing commercials. When we all saw Candice’s reel, we could all tell the passion for the craft, passion for really trying to help us from where we are to where we’re trying to go.”
Vernon brings a unique lens to... Read More