Post-Its
Matt Daly has come aboard Optimus, Chicago, as visual effects director. He comes over from Digital Kitchen, Chicago, where he served in the same capacity. At Optimus, Daly will be the primary designer and animator for all CGI projects. He also brings expertise in live action, effects supervision and design/creative direction to his new roost. The addition of Daly rounds out a newly structured department staffed by nine full-time designer/editors and three full-time assistants. Partner/effects editor Glen Noren heads the department, which is balanced between effects editors and compositors on Flames and designers working on desktop software. Leading the design group is creative director Mike Ciacciarelli. The department has turned out national campaigns for such clients as Sears, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, U.S. Army, Suave, Dove, Aveeno, VO5, Kellogg’s, McDonald’s and Budweiser…..Editor Dave Smalheiser has joined Bluerock, New York. He was previously with 3 Fingered Louie, a New York shop that recently closed; he was a cofounder of that house. Prior to 3 Fingered Louie, Smalheiser cut at Bug Editorial, New York. Earlier affiliations included New York houses Invisible Dog and First Edition……Editor Stephen Berger has joined Final Cut, Los Angeles, where he reunites with the shop’s partner/senior editor Eric Zumbrunnen. Prior to Final Cut, Berger was with Spot Welders, Venice, Calif., where he started as an assistant under Zumbrunnen. Berger eventually got the opportunity to edit assorted projects, including spots (Volvo, Porsche Cayenne, eBay) and music videos (for such artists as Ludacris and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs)…..Homestead Editorial, New York, has added editor John Young to its roster. Young’s prior New York shop roosts include Crew Cuts (where he began with an assistantship under Chris Hellman), Isis Post and Consulate. Among Young’s editing credits are TV spots for ESPN Sportscenter, Verizon Wireless, Reese’s, Captain Morgan and Chevrolet. He has also cut longer form fare such as Meow on TV, a branded show sponsored by Meow Mix, which aired on the Oxygen network, a comedic feature, Fortunes, and a documentary, Muskrat Lovely….. Editor Neil Gust has joined Outside Editorial, the New York-based editorial, visual effects and design boutique. As a freelancer, Gust recently collaborated with Outside founder/editor Scott Gaillard on a package of TV and cinema spots for Jaguar via Euro RSCG Fuel, New York. Impressed with Gust’s contributions to the project, Gaillard asked him to join Outside. Prior to freelancing in New York earlier this year, Gust was with Portland, Ore.-based creative studio Johnson & Wolverton, where he served as an editor and graphics animator. There he worked on such jobs as promos and interstitials for The Sundance Channel, and projects for Showtime, BBC, Food Network and Comedy Central…..Senior compositor/visual effects supervisor Jon Wank has joined Spy Post, San Francisco. He had most recently been freelancing as a lead compositor/efx supervisor on a mix of films (Sin City, AI, Hellboy) and commercials (Saab, Burger King, Mass Mutual, AT&T, McDonald’s, Ford, Sony, Dell). Wank began his career as an online editor at Hollywood Digital. He then moved to Bob ‘n Sheila’s Edit World, San Francisco, and then ILM, San Rafael (now San Francisco). At ILM, he served as an Avid editor, post supervisor and graphic artist. He then shifted over to ILM’s former commercials division as a Flame compositor……
