Powerhouse VFX, which has turned out work featured on such projects as Silo (Apple TV +)and Stranger Things (Netflix), has expanded into the Vancouver, BC area and hired sr. VFX supervisor Michael Cliett to lead the new operation. Cliett was recently nominated for a visual effects Emmy on the strength of his teamโs work on Shลgun. He served as overall VFX supervisor and second unit director on the FX Networkโs lauded series.
Powerhouse VFX now has both a Vancouver and Toronto presence, as well as locations in Los Angeles, Atlanta and its flagship in New York.
Prior to his expansive work on Shลgun, Cliett gained industry notoriety for his contributions as VFX supervisor on Warner Bros.โ post-apocalyptic series The 100. Before that, he worked at Method Studios as the companyโs VFX supervisor on Guy Ritchieโs action/adventure film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
Ryan Cunningham, SVP, managing director of Powerhouse, said, โVancouver has such a rich talent base and community. We are excited to bring our boutique culture and provide this offering to our clients.โ
Kevin Blank, sr. VFX supervisor/creative director at Powerhouse VFX, said of Cliett, โIโve been a fan of his many years, and we are all excited to have him join in helping to spearhead our growth.โ
Cliett said of his new roost, โIโve admired their work and Iโm looking forward to help build a special team here in Vancouver. The relationship Powerhouse and Company 3 have to their many loyal clients is very impressive. I look forward to developing that kind of reputation for Powerhouse VFX in Vancouver in the years to come.โ
Cliett is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, the Television Academy and the Visual Effects Society (VES).
Optimus promotes Caralyn Moore to editor
Caralyn Moore has been promoted to editor at Optimus, the production and post house with offices in Chicago and New York. Moore started at Optimus in 2019 as a seasoned assistant editor, next earning the title of senior assistant and now making the jump to editor.
Moore has cut spots for such brands as CDW, Chicago Humanities Festival, Famous Footwear, Hillshire Farm, Walgreens and WW. In addition, she edited the independent feature film All Happy Families, which premiered at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival last fall and is releasing in select AMC Theatres nationwide on September 20.
โEditing is like a big open-ended puzzle, where you only use a fraction of the pieces and there are no right answers (though there are definitely wrong ones),โ said Moore. โI love the challenge of finding the right balance of visuals, pacing, music, sound, and information--itโs precarious, itโs challenging, itโs endlessly creative and fun.โ
โCaralyn has proven time and again how skilled she is in her craft,โ said Angelo Valencia, Optimus managing editor/partner. โHer calming presence always makes you feel you are going to be well taken care of and her attention to detail is second to none. I am so excited for her to showcase her talent for everyone to see.โ
Born and raised in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, DC, Moore was passionate about theater classes at school and making short films with her friends and family. Her love of writing, acting and especially editing, landed her at Northwestern University for film school. Following graduation, Moore spent time in the documentary production world in Washington, DC, and then several years freelance assistant editing back in Chicago.
โCaralynโs... Read More