The Visual Effects Society (VES) announced today the 2013 Board of Director officers, who were elected at the January 2013 board meeting. The list of officials includes Jeffrey A. Okun, Sr. V.P of visual effects for Prana Studios, who was re-elected for a fifth one-year term as Board Chair.
“To be elected the Chair of the VES is not only an honor but a responsibility to our artists to insure they are recognized for what they do,” said Okun. “The VES represents members in twenty-nine countries. These members are the artists that drive the industry to new heights, increase the ability to tell compelling stories, imagine new horizons and deliver the unimaginable. I will continue to shine the light and to look for new and better ways to have them recognized,” Okun added.
“I look forward to continuing to support the Board under the passionate leadership that Jeff brings to the table,” states Eric Roth, VES Executive Director. “He’s the kind of guy any nonprofit would be lucky to have leading them. And for visual effects artists around the world, they couldn’t be represented by anyone more dedicated or talented on their behalf,” said Roth.
The 2013 Officers of the VES Board of Directors are:
Chair: Jeffrey A. Okun
Jeffrey A. Okun has contributed visual effects design and execution to a wide-range of films including the award-winning sci-fi hit Stargate (1994), Deep Blue Sea (1999), The Last Starfighter (1984), Sphere (1998), The Last Samurai (2003), Blood Diamond (2006) and The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008).
Okun is known for creating ‘organic’ and invisible effects, as well as spectacular effects that seamlessly expand both the look and scope of a film, but also enhance the storytelling aspect of the movie. Additionally, Jeff is the creator of the revolutionary visual effects techniques dubbed the “PeriWinkle Effect” and the “Pencil Effect”, which have been used in many projects to help achieve a sense of the fantastic and wonder on more accurate budgets. Okun is the author of breakdown, budgeting and tracking software currently being used by professionals throughout the industry.
1st Vice Chair: Michael Fink, Visual Effects Supervisor
Michael has earned degrees from California State University Northridge, San Francisco Art Institute, and California Institute of the Arts, in an attempt to disguise a checkered past.
Michael began working in film on China Syndrome in 1977. He “cut his eye teeth” on films such as Star Trek the Motion Picture and Blade Runner, and became a Visual Effects Supervisor on War Games (BAFTA Nomination) in 1982. He has since worked on over 50 films, including Buckaroo Banzai, Batman Returns (BAFTA and Academy Nominations), Braveheart, Mars Attacks!, X-Men, X-Men 2, Constantine, The Golden Compass (BAFTA Award, Academy Award), Tropic Thunder, Avatar, Tron: Legacy, Sucker Punch, Tree of Life, and Life of Pi. Michael is a founding member of the Visual Effects Society, a member of the Executive Committee of the Visual Effects Branch of the Academy, and is a Visiting Professor at the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California while continuing his visual effects career.
2nd Vice Chair: Mike Chambers – Visual Effects Producer
Mike Chambers is an independent Visual Effects Producer and freelance VFX Consultant, specializing in large-scale feature film productions. Most recently completing work on The Dark Knight Rises for Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros Studios, it is his second collaboration with the esteemed director of Inception.
With a professional career spanning 30 years, some of them pre-dating the “Digital Era”, he has been both witness to and participant in the development, acceptance and widespread integration of digital technology and methodology into the VFX & film production industry.
As a VFX Producer, he has worked with man