Den Johnson Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

North Hollywood, California, Us

• Led the placement team at Gnomon, achieving a 90%+ placement rate, which is among the highest in the field by aligning educational outcomes with the specific demands of the VFX and gaming industries.• Established and maintained strong industry relationships with AAA studios and visual effects houses, creating a direct pipeline for graduates to enter major companies, such as Blizzard Entertainment, Sony, and Lucasfilm/ILM.• Oversaw compliance with regulatory bodies such as ACCSC and BPPE, ensuring full adherence to industry and educational standards while maintaining detailed reporting and record-keeping.• Developed and executed strategic communication and marketing plans, resulting in enhanced alumni engagement and continued career support post-graduation.

North Hollywood, California, Us

• Led career placement initiatives that resulted in consistent placement rates exceeding 85%, thanks to personalized mentorship, industry workshops, and close ties with recruiters from leading studios.• Played a key role in expanding Gnomon’s industry footprint by facilitating guest lectures, industry panels, and networking events featuring industry veterans and leaders.• Ensured regulatory compliance and utilized data-driven analysis to improve placement strategies, refine curriculum, and ensure alignment with current industry needs.• Fostered relationships with leading VFX, gaming, and media companies, enhancing job placement opportunities for alumni.

• Specialized in high caliber AAA voice acting performances for video games, commercials, promos, animation, and trailers.• Collaboration with leading studios and video game developers.• Recognized for delivering compelling, versatile voice performances that enhance character development and narrative immersion.• 2021 | Winner | One Voice USA | Best Performance | Male | Video Games | Demo Reel• 2021 | Nominee | SOVAS | “Outstanding Animation or Gaming Demo | Best Voiceover”• 2019 | TOP 10% Finalist | CBS Audition Spotlight | SOVAS/That’s Voiceover® | Los Angeles, California• 2018 | TOP 10% Finalist | CBS Audition Spotlight | SOVAS/That’s Voiceover® | Los Angeles, California

Tampa, Fl, Us

• Recruited top creative and technical talent across a variety of industries, managing the full recruitment lifecycle—from sourcing to salary negotiation—for positions at major studios and tech companies.• Partnered with key clients, including AAA studios and creative agencies, to place top-tier talent in critical roles, helping them meet project deadlines and maintain high-quality output.• Developed long-term relationships with both clients and candidates, ensuring placements that resulted in high retention rates and career advancement for talent.• Conducted market research and analysis to adjust recruitment strategies and align with evolving industry needs, ensuring client satisfaction and continued success in talent placement.

Boston, Ma, Us

• Successfully placed creative talent in a wide range of industries, including visual effects, game development, and advertising, by staying ahead of industry trends and understanding the unique needs of each client.• Managed recruitment efforts from initial contact to salary negotiations and onboarding, consistently delivering high-caliber candidates to companies such as Electronic Arts and Lucasfilm.• Built and nurtured relationships with both clients and talent, ensuring placements were well-matched and aligned with the long-term goals of both parties.

Redwood City, Us

• Established and led the Art Outsourcing Department for the development of "Defiance", a AAA title for Xbox 360, PC, and PS3. Managed the production and delivery of over 70% of the game’s art assets.• Oversaw high profile contracts with external vendors, ensuring timely delivery of AAA-quality assets that met the high standards of the project.• Directed the outsourcing process from vendor selection to final integration, providing detailed reports and risk assessments to ensure seamless communication between internal and external teams.• Successfully delivered all assets on time and under budget, while maintaining the game’s artistic vision and AAA quality standards.

Irvine, Ca, Us

• Led the creation of high-quality environment assets for titles on Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, managing the entire art pipeline and ensuring assets met technical and artistic requirements.• Managed outsourcing workflows to maintain project timelines and quality standards, while overseeing the production of key environment assets for projects like “AxeMan” and “Devil May Cry” ports.• Utilized advanced tools like Unreal Engine, Maya, and ZBrush to develop optimized environments that supported gameplay and storytelling objectives.

Hollywood, Ca, Us

• Developed and Directed Accredited Course: Created and led the “Art Creation for Games” course, focusing on advanced Unreal Engine training within a production environment.• Consulted on Department Launch: Provided expert consultation in establishing the Game Design and Animation department, including curriculum development and industry alignment.• Mentored and Guided Students: Delivered hands-on art and technical direction, tracking progress and fostering strong work ethics.• Maintained Key Partnerships: Managed relationships with educational institutions, government agencies, and industry stakeholders.• Produced Educational Content: Created supplemental training videos to enhance student learning and course effectiveness.

Us

• Developed high- and low-resolution models, UV layouts, and textures for outsourced projects, ensuring consistent quality and timely delivery.• Utilized Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, and Unreal Engine to meet client specifications while working remotely, maintaining seamless communication with project teams.

Redwood City, Ca, Us

• Led environment art creation for "Tiberium" and "Medal of Honor: Vanguard", ensuring high-quality visuals that aligned with game design.• Contributed voiceovers for characters in "Boom Blox", adding depth to the game's immersive experience.• Managed outsourcing workflows, ensuring that outsourced models met project standards and deadlines.• Utilized Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, and Unreal Engine to meet client specifications, maintaining seamless communication with project teams.

Agoura Hills, Ca, Us

• Led the artistic and technical development of levels for "Ratatouille" on PS2 and Xbox 360, ensuring seamless integration of gameplay and visual design.• Full Level Ownership: Directed the creation of entire levels from greybox blockout to final prop modeling, lighting, and texturing, ensuring high-quality, immersive environments.• Collaborative Development: Worked closely with game designers to align environments with gameplay objectives, delivering levels that supported and enhanced the player experience.• Tools & Techniques: Utilized Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, and a proprietary game engine to develop and refine game assets, maintaining consistency with the game's artistic vision.

Los Angeles, California, Us

• Played a key role in shaping the artistic vision and development of AAA 3D game environments, collaborating with Art Direction, Design, and Animation teams.• 3D Art Development: Led the creation of 3D models, textures, and materials using Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, and a proprietary game engine. Owned full level development from greybox layout to final environment/prop modeling, texturing, vertex lighting, and particle placement.• Project Contributions: Contributed to the iconic "God of War" and "God of War 2" (PS2), taking full ownership of level design, including bounding volumes, triggers, and load zone placement.• Artistic Leadership: Ensured the highest quality standards by maintaining the artistic direction across all phases of development, particularly in key regions of the game.• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Worked closely with Art Directors, Designers, Technical Artists, and Animators to achieve both artistic and technical goals.• Mentorship: Provided guidance and feedback to junior artists, fostering their skill development and ensuring consistent quality across the team.

• Contributed to the development and artistic execution of levels for "Deus Ex: Invisible War" on Xbox and PC, with full ownership of the creative and technical aspects.• 3D Art Development: Utilized Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, and a proprietary game engine to create high-quality environment assets. Led the entire level development process, from initial layout to final prop modeling, texturing, and layout integration.• Full Level Ownership: Took charge of the complete design and implementation of game levels, ensuring alignment with the game’s artistic vision and technical requirements.• Artistic Collaboration: Worked closely with multidisciplinary teams, including Designers, Technical Artists, and Animators, to ensure that environments met both artistic and gameplay goals.• Quality Assurance: Maintained the highest quality standards in environment art, focusing on consistency, visual fidelity, and integration with overall game design.

Irving, Texas, Us

• Played a critical role in the development of immersive environments and character voiceovers for PC titles, including "Nocturne", "The Blair Witch Project: Volume 1", and "Fly!" and "Fly2!".• 3D Art Development: Utilized Maya, 3D Studio Max, Lightwave3D, Photoshop, and proprietary game engines to create detailed environments and props. Took full ownership of level design, including layout, modeling, texturing, lighting, camera placement, and rendering.• Project Contributions: Led the artistic and technical execution of environments for multiple PC games, ensuring a seamless integration of game design and visual aesthetics.• Voice Acting: Provided voiceovers for various NPCs, contributing both scratch tracks and final recordings, adding depth and personality to the characters within the games.• Full Level Ownership: Managed all aspects of level creation, from initial concept through final implementation, maintaining high standards of quality and consistency.• Collaborative Integration: Worked closely with game designers and other departments to ensure the environments supported and enhanced gameplay and narrative elements.

• Laser Scanning Services: Provided non-contact laser scanning services for major motion pictures, ensuring precise digital replication with .6mm accuracy.• Project Management: Scheduled and delivered completed wireframe mesh files to clients, managing timelines and ensuring high-quality output.• Team Leadership: Led a team of artists, integrating production strategies and best practices for efficient daily operations.• On-Site Expertise: Traveled extensively between the U.S. and U.K. for on-site scanning, contributing to high-profile films like "Mighty Joe Young," "Starship Troopers," "The Island of Dr. Moreau," and "Deep Rising."• Data Processing & Cleanup: Specialized in proprietary scanning and dense point cloud data cleanup, using tools like Maya, 3D Studio Max, Lightwave3D, and Photoshop to create accurate polygonal models.• 3D Modeling: Developed 3D models and textures for "Holusion" stereographical art, showcasing versatility and creativity in digital artistry.

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Associate Of Applied Arts, Computer Animation And Multimedia